As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 20, 2024
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
__________________________________
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
_______________________________________
RING ENERGY, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| | | | | | | | |
| Nevada | | 90-0406406 |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | | (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
1725 Hughes Landing Blvd., Suite 900
The Woodlands, Texas 77380
(281) 397-3699
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
__________
Paul D. McKinney
Chief Executive Officer
1725 Hughes Landing Blvd., Suite 900
The Woodlands, Texas 77380
(281) 397-3699
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
The Commission is requested to send copies of all communications to:
| | | | | | | | |
| Reid A. Godbolt, Esq. Adam J. Fogoros, Esq. Jones & Keller, P.C. 1675 Broadway, 26th Floor Denver, Colorado 80202 Telephone: (303) 573-1600 | |
___________
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale 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: o
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be 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, check the following box: x
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. o
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. o
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. o
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. o
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.
Large accelerated filer o Accelerated filer x
Non-accelerated filer o Smaller reporting company ¨
Emerging growth company ¨
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. o
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 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. WE MAY NOT SELL THESE SECURITIES UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL THESE SECURITIES AND IT IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THESE SECURITIES IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED DECEMBER 20, 2024
PROSPECTUS
$150,000,000
RING ENERGY, INC.
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Debt Securities
Depositary Shares
Warrants
Units
Rights
Ring Energy, Inc. (the “Company”) may offer and sell up to an aggregate of $150,000,000 of our common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“common stock”), our preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share (“preferred stock”), debt securities, depositary shares, warrants, units and rights (collectively, “securities”) from time to time, separately or together, in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined at or prior to the time of such offering.
We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis. This prospectus describes the general terms of these securities. The specific terms of any securities and the specific manner in which we will offer them will be included in a supplement to this prospectus relating to that offering.
We encourage you to carefully read this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement before you invest in our securities. We also encourage you to read the documents we have referred you to in the “Where You Can Find More Information” section of this prospectus for information on us and for our financial statements. This prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of our securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
Our executive offices are located at 1725 Hughes Landing Blvd., Suite 900, The Woodlands, Texas 77380 and our telephone number is (281) 397-3699. Our common stock is traded on the NYSE American under the symbol “REI.” On December 17, 2024, the last reported sales price of our common stock was $1.32 per share. Each prospectus supplement will indicate if the securities offered thereby will be listed on any securities exchange.
Investing in our securities involves risks. You should consider the risk factors referred to in the section entitled “Risk Factors” on page 4 of this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement hereto, as well as documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
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The date of this prospectus is , 2024.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
Unless the context requires otherwise, references in this prospectus to “Ring Energy, Inc.,” “Ring,” “Ring Energy,” the “Company,” the “Registrant,” “we,” “us,” “our” and similar terms refer to Ring Energy, Inc.
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. Under this shelf registration process, we may, over time, offer and sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings up to an aggregate amount of $150,000,000. This prospectus provides a general description of the securities. Each time we sell any of the securities described herein, we may provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering and may include a discussion of any risk factors or other special considerations that apply to those securities. The prospectus supplement may also add to, update or change the information contained in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to the offering. Please carefully read this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement, any free writing prospectus that we authorize to be distributed to you, and any information incorporated by reference herein or therein, together with additional information described herein under the headings “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” and “Where You Can Find More Information,” before buying any of the securities offered under this prospectus.
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus and in any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, including any information incorporated herein or therein by reference. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement, any free writing prospectus or any document incorporated by reference herein or therein is accurate as of any date other than the date on its front cover. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since the date indicated on the front cover of such documents. We further note that the representations, warranties and covenants made by us in any agreement that is filed as an exhibit to any document that is incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus were made solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreement on the date thereof, including, in some cases, for the purpose of allocating risk among the parties to such agreements, and should not be deemed to be a representation, warranty or covenant to you. Moreover, such representations, warranties or covenants were accurate only as of the date when made or expressly referenced therein.
This prospectus incorporates by reference, and any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may contain and incorporate by reference, market data and industry statistics and forecasts that are based on independent industry publications and other publicly available information. Although we believe these sources are reliable, we do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and we have not independently verified this information. In addition, the market and industry data and forecasts that may be included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any applicable free writing prospectus may involve estimates, assumptions and other risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on this information.
Neither this prospectus nor any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the securities to which they relate, nor does this prospectus or a prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction.
RISK FACTORS
Investing in our securities involves risks. Before you make a decision to buy our securities, in addition to the risks and uncertainties discussed below under “Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements,” you should carefully consider the specific risks set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in any applicable prospectus supplement, as
well as information included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, any subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and any subsequently filed Current Reports on Form 8-K, as incorporated herein by reference. If any of these risks actually occur, it may materially harm our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations. As a result, the market price of our securities could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment. Additionally, the risks and uncertainties described in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or in any document incorporated by reference herein or therein are not the only risks and uncertainties that we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial may also adversely affect our business.
ABOUT RING ENERGY, INC.
Ring Energy, Inc. is an oil and gas exploration, development, and production company with current operations focused on the development of its Permian Basin assets. Our primary drilling operations target the oil and liquids rich producing formations in the Northwest Shelf and the Central Basin Platform.
Our executive offices are located at 1725 Hughes Landing Blvd., Suite 900, The Woodlands, Texas 77380 and our telephone number is (281) 397-3699. Our website address is www.ringenergy.com. Our periodic reports and other information filed with or furnished to the SEC are available, free of charge, through our website, as soon as reasonably practicable after those reports and other information are electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC. Information on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus and does not constitute a part of this prospectus.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). All statements, other than statements of historical fact included or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, regarding our strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues and expenses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by us in light of our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors we believe are appropriate under the circumstances. Although we believe that these forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, they are subject to several risks and uncertainties and are made in light of information currently available to us. If the risks or uncertainties materialize or the assumptions prove incorrect, our results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions.
When used in this prospectus, the words “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “expect,” “plan,” “pursue,” “target,” “continue,” “potential,” “guidance,” “project” or other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We assume no obligation, nor do we intend, to update these forward-looking statements, unless required by law.
The information included in this prospectus includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could materially affect our expected results of operations, liquidity, cash flows and business prospects. Such statements specifically include our expectations as to our future financial position, liquidity, cash flows, results of operations and business strategy, potential acquisition opportunities, other plans and objectives for operations, capital for sustained production levels, expected production and operating costs, reserves, hedging activities, capital expenditures, return of capital, improvement of recovery factors and other guidance. Actual results may differ from anticipated results, sometimes materially, and reported results should not be considered an indication of future performance. For any such forward-looking statement that includes a statement of the assumptions or bases underlying such forward-looking statement, we caution that, while we believe such assumptions or bases to be reasonable and make them in good faith, assumed facts or bases almost always vary from actual results, sometimes materially. You should carefully consider the statements under the heading “Risk Factors” herein and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Such factors (but not necessarily all the factors) that could cause results to differ include, among others:
•declines or volatility in the prices we receive for our oil and natural gas;
•our ability to raise additional capital to fund future capital expenditures;
•our ability to generate sufficient net cash provided by operating activities, borrowings or other sources to enable us to fully develop and produce our oil and natural gas properties;
•general economic conditions, whether internationally, nationally or in the regional and local market areas in which we do business;
•risks associated with drilling of wells, including completion risks, cost overruns, mechanical failures and the drilling of non-economic wells or dry holes;
•uncertainties associated with estimates of proved oil and natural gas reserves;
•the presence or recoverability of estimated oil and natural gas reserves and the actual future production rates and associated costs;
•unanticipated reductions in the borrowing base under our credit agreement;
•the effect of our oil and natural gas derivative activities;
•our ability to service our outstanding debt obligations;
•the effects of inflation on our cost structure;
•substantial declines in the estimated values of our proved oil and natural gas reserves;
•our ability to replace our oil and natural gas reserves;
•the effects of rising interest rates on our cost of capital and the actions that central banks around the world undertake to control inflation, including the impacts such actions have on general economic conditions;
•the potential for production decline rates and associated production costs for our wells to be greater than we forecast;
•risks and liabilities associated with the acquisition and integration of companies and properties;
•cost and availability of drilling rigs, and related equipment, supplies, personnel, and oilfield services;
•geological concentration of our oil and natural gas reserves;
•the timing and extent of our success in acquiring, discovering, developing, and producing oil and natural gas reserves;
•our dependence on the availability, use and disposal of water in our drilling, completion and production operations;
•significant competition for oil and natural gas acreage and acquisitions;
•environmental or other governmental regulations, including legislation related to hydraulic fracture stimulation and climate change measures;
•our ability to secure reliable transportation for oil and natural gas we produce and to sell the oil and natural gas at market prices;
•future environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) compliance developments and increased attention to such matters which could adversely affect our ability to raise equity and debt capital;
•management’s ability to execute our plans to meet our optimal goals;
•the occurrence of cybersecurity incidents, attacks or other breaches to our information technology systems or on systems and infrastructure used by the oil and gas industry;
•our ability to find and retain highly skilled personnel and our ability to retain key members of our management team on commercially reasonable terms;
•adverse weather conditions;
•costs and liabilities associated with environmental, health, and safety laws;
•social unrest, political instability, or armed conflict in major oil and natural gas producing regions outside the United States, including evolving geopolitical and military hostilities in the Middle East, Russia, and Ukraine and acts of terrorism or sabotage;
•our insurance coverage may not adequately cover all losses that may be sustained in connection with our business activities;
•possible adverse results from litigation and the use of financial resources to defend ourselves; and
•the other factors discussed elsewhere in this prospectus and under “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Reserve engineering is a process of estimating underground accumulations of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids that cannot be measured in an exact way. The accuracy of any reserve estimate depends on the quality of available data, the interpretation of such data and price and cost assumptions made by reserve engineers. In addition, the results of drilling, testing and production activities may justify revisions of estimates that were made previously. If significant, such revisions
would change the schedule of any further production and our development program. Accordingly, reserve estimates may differ significantly from the quantities of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids that are ultimately recovered.
All forward-looking statements, expressed or implied, included in this prospectus are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. This cautionary statement should also be considered in connection with any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements that we or persons acting on our behalf may issue.
USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless otherwise indicated in the accompanying prospectus supplement, we expect to use the net proceeds from the sale of our securities for general purposes, which may include, among other things:
•reduction or refinancing of debt or other obligations;
•additions to our working capital;
•capital expenditures; and
•potential future acquisitions.
Any specific allocation of the net proceeds of an offering of securities to a specific purpose will be determined at the time of the offering and will be described in the accompanying prospectus supplement.
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
The following is a description of our capital stock and a summary of the rights of our stockholders. This description and summary is not complete, and you should also refer to our articles of incorporation, as amended (the “articles of incorporation”), our bylaws, as amended (the “bylaws”), and to Nevada law.
We are authorized to issue up to 450,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and up to 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share. As of December 19, 2024, there were 198,196,034 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding, and no shares of preferred stock are issued and outstanding. All outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and nonassessable.
Common Stock
Voting Rights. Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share on all matters submitted to a stockholder vote, except as matters that relate only to a series of our preferred stock. Holders of common stock do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors.
Each outstanding share of voting capital stock of the Company is entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of stockholders, except as otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation. Except as otherwise provided by the corporation law of the State of Nevada, the articles of incorporation or the bylaws, if a quorum is present: (a) directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares of capital stock of the Company present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors; and (b) action on any matter other than the election of directors shall be approved if the votes cast by the holders of shares represented at the meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter favoring the action exceed the votes cast opposing such action.
Our Board of Directors (the “Board”) is elected annually at the meeting of our stockholders. Each director holds office until the next annual meeting of our stockholders at which his or her term expires and until his or her successor is elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal.
Any action that the stockholders could take at a meeting may be taken without a meeting if one or more written consents, setting forth the action taken, shall be signed and dated, before or after such action, by the holders of outstanding stock of each voting group entitled to vote thereon having not less than the minimum number of votes with respect to each voting group that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all voting groups and shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted. The consent shall be delivered to us for inclusion in the minutes or filing with
the corporate records. We will give notice of any action so taken within 10 days of the date of such action to those stockholders entitled to vote thereon who did not give their written consent and to those stockholders not entitled to vote thereon.
According to the articles of incorporation, the authority to adopt, amend or repeal our bylaws is reserved exclusively to the Board.
Liquidation. In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up, each outstanding share of common stock entitles its holder to participate pro rata in all assets that remain after payment of liabilities and after providing for any class of stock, having preference over the common stock.
Dividend Rights. The Board may from time to time declare, and we may pay, dividends on our outstanding shares in the manner and upon the terms and conditions provided by the corporation law of the State of Nevada.
We have not declared or paid any cash dividends on our common stock during the last five years. We currently intend to retain future earnings, if any, to finance the expansion of our business. As a result, we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
Redemption. Our common stock is not redeemable.
Conversion Rights. Our common stock is not convertible into any other securities of the Company.
Preemptive Rights. Holders of our common stock do not have preemptive rights.
Transfer Agent. The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Standard Registrar and Transfer Company. Its address is 12528 South 1840 East, Draper, Utah 84020, and its telephone number is (801) 571-8844.
Listing. Our common stock is listed on the NYSE American under the symbol “REI.”
This section is a summary and may not describe every aspect of our common stock that may be important to you. We urge you to read applicable Nevada law, our articles of incorporation and bylaws because they, and not this description, define your rights as a holder our common stock. See “Where You Can Find More Information” for information on how to obtain copies of these documents.
Anti-Takeover Provisions of Nevada Law, Our Charter Documents and Our Bylaws
Nevada Law. Sections 78.378 to 78.3793 of the Nevada Revised Statutes, (“NRS”), contain provisions that may prevent any person acquiring a controlling interest in a Nevada company from exercising voting rights. Under NRS Sections 78.378 to 78.3793, an acquiring person who acquires a controlling interest in a company’s common shares may not exercise voting rights on any of these shares unless these voting rights are granted by a majority vote of our disinterested stockholders at a special stockholders’ meeting held upon the request and at the expense of the acquiring person. We have expressly opted-out of, or elect not to be governed by, the “Acquisition of Controlling Interest” provisions contained in NRS Sections 78.378 through 78.3793, inclusive, or any successor statutes.
Board Vacancies Are Generally Filled by Remaining Directors and Not Stockholders. Our bylaws provide that any vacancies on the Board may be filled by the vote of the majority of the remaining directors, although less than a quorum. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, the Board may by resolution determine that any such vacancies or newly created directorships shall be filled by our stockholders representing at least one-third (1/3) of the issued and outstanding shares of our capital stock that would be entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders.
Stockholder Meetings. The bylaws provide that a special meeting of stockholders, other than those required by Nevada law, may be called by or at the request of the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer, and shall be called by the Secretary at the written request of, or by resolution adopted by, a majority of the Board or the holders of 10% of the outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote at the meeting.
Undesignated Preferred Stock. The ability to authorize undesignated preferred stock makes it possible for our Board to designate and issue, without stockholder approval, one or more series of preferred stock with voting or other rights or preferences that could make it more difficult to effect or that could prevent a change of control of our Company or the removal of our management.
Requirements for Advance Notification of Stockholder Nominations and Proposals. Our bylaws establish advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and the nomination of candidates for election as directors.
Preferred Stock
In general. Our preferred stock may be issued from time to time by our Board as shares of one or more classes or series. Except as otherwise provided herein or required by law, the Board is vested with the authority to provide, out of the unissued shares of preferred stock, for one or more additional classes or series of preferred stock and, with respect to each such class or series, to prescribe the classes, series and the number of each class or series of preferred stock and the voting powers, designations, preferences, limitations, restrictions and relative rights of each class or series of preferred stock.
The issuance of shares of preferred stock, or the issuance of rights to purchase shares of preferred stock, could be used to discourage an unsolicited acquisition proposal. For instance, the issuance of a series of preferred stock might impede a business combination by including class voting rights that would enable the holders to block such a transaction; or the issuance might facilitate a business combination by including voting rights that would provide a required percentage vote of the stockholders. In addition, under some circumstances, the issuance of preferred stock could adversely affect the voting power of the holders of the common stock. Although our Board is required to make any determination to issue preferred stock based on its judgment as to the best interests of our stockholders, the Board could act in a manner that would discourage an acquisition attempt or other transaction that some or a majority of the stockholders might believe to be in their best interests or in which stockholders might receive a premium for their stock over the then market price of the stock. The Board does not currently intend to seek stockholder approval prior to any issuance of currently authorized stock, unless otherwise required by law or the rules of any market on which our securities are traded.
Limitations of Liability and Indemnification
The articles of incorporation contain provisions that limit the liability of our directors for monetary damages to the fullest extent permitted by Nevada law. Consequently, our directors generally are not personally liable to the Company or its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duties as directors, except liability for any act or omission not in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law.
The articles of incorporation and bylaws provide that the Company will indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any person who is or was a party or is threatened to be made a party to any action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she is or was one of the Company’s directors or officers or is or was serving at the Company’s request as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise. The articles of incorporation and bylaws provide that the Company may indemnify to the fullest extent permitted by law any person who is or was a party or is threatened to be made a party to any action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she is or was one of the Company’s employees or agents or is or was serving at its request as an employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise.
The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions included in the articles of incorporation, bylaws and in any indemnification agreements that the Company may enter into with its directors and executive officers may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against its directors and executive officers for breach of their fiduciary duties. They may also reduce the likelihood of derivative litigation against its directors and executive officers, even though an action, if successful, might benefit the Company and its stockholders. Further, a stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent that the Company pays the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and executive officers as required by these indemnification provisions.
The Company has obtained insurance policies under which, subject to the limitations of the policies, coverage is provided to its directors and executive officers against loss arising from claims made by reason of breach of fiduciary duty or other wrongful acts as a director or executive officer, including claims relating to public securities matters, and to the
Company with respect to payments that may be made by it to these directors and executive officers pursuant to its indemnification obligations or otherwise as a matter of law.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the Company has been informed that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
The Debt Securities may be either our senior debt securities (“Senior Debt Securities”) or our subordinated debt securities (“Subordinated Debt Securities”) or a combination of both and may be secured or unsecured. The Senior Debt Securities and the Subordinated Debt Securities will be issued under separate indentures between us and a trustee to be determined (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.”
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 such prospectus supplement.
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. Capitalized terms used in the summary have the meanings specified in the Indentures.
General
The Indentures will 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. Unless indicated in a prospectus supplement applicable to a series of Debt Securities, the Debt Securities may be our secured or 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.
The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the price or prices at which the Debt Securities to be issued will be offered for sale and will describe the following terms of such Debt Securities:
(1)the title of the Debt Securities;
(2)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)each date 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;
(6)each place 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 redeem or otherwise repurchase 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 or covenants described in this prospectus;
(12)whether the Debt Securities are convertible into our common 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; and
(13)any other terms of the Debt Securities not inconsistent with the provisions of the Indenture, except as permitted by clause (11) of the first paragraph under the caption “—Modification and Waiver.”
Debt Securities, including any Debt Securities that provide for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof (“Original Issue Discount Securities”), may be sold at a substantial discount below their principal amount. Special U.S. 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 U.S. federal income tax or other considerations applicable to any Debt Securities that are denominated in a currency or currency unit other than U.S. dollars may be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Subordination of 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 subordinated 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:
•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 marshalling of assets or any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar proceedings;
•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 during which we will be prohibited from making payments on the Subordinated Debt Securities; and
•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 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 below 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 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 occurred and is continuing and the Trustee has received a written request from the Depositary to issue certificated Debt Securities;
(3)subject to the rules of the Depositary, we shall have elected to terminate the book-entry system through the Depositary; or
(4)other circumstances exist, in addition to or in lieu of those described above, as may be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
All certificated 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 it 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 may require that some purchasers of Debt Securities take physical delivery of such Debt Securities in certificated 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 us, the Trustees or the agents of us 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.
Subject to applicable abandoned property laws, 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 remains 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
Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, we may not consolidate with or merge into, or transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets to, any person (a “Successor Person”), and may not permit any person to consolidate with or merge into us, unless:
(1)the Successor Person (if not us) is a corporation, partnership, trust or other entity organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and assumes our obligations on the Debt Securities and under the Indentures;
(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; and
(3)several other conditions, including any additional conditions with respect to any particular Debt Securities specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, are met.
The Successor Person (if not us) will be substituted for us under the applicable Indenture with the same effect as if it had been an original party to such Indenture, and, except in the case of a lease, we will be relieved from any further obligations under such Indenture and the Debt Securities.
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” above;
(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;
(6)any Debt of ours is not paid within any applicable grace period after final maturity or is accelerated by its holders because of a default and the total amount of such Debt unpaid or accelerated exceeds $50.0 million; provided, however, that if any such default is cured or waived or any such acceleration rescinded, or such Debt is repaid, within a period of 30 days from the continuation of such default beyond the applicable grace period or the occurrence of such acceleration, as the case may be, such Event of Default and any consequential acceleration of the Debt Securities shall be automatically rescinded, so long as such rescission does not conflict with any judgment or decree;
(7)any judgment or decree for the payment of money in excess of $50.0 million (net of any amounts covered by insurance or a binding indemnity agreement) is entered against us remains outstanding for a period of 60 consecutive days following entry of such judgment and is not discharged, waived or stayed; and
(8)certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization affecting us.
If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default with respect to Ring Energy, Inc. described in clause (8) 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 amount of the Debt Securities of that series (or, in the case of any Debt Security that is an Original Issue Discount Debt 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, together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon. If an Event of Default with respect to Ring Energy, Inc. described in clause (8) 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, together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon. After any such acceleration and its consequences, 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 with respect to that series, 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.
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, no Trustee will be under any 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 security or 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 security or 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.
Modification and Waiver
We may modify or amend an Indenture without the consent of any holders of the Debt Securities in certain circumstances, including:
(1)to evidence the succession under the Indenture of another person to us and to provide for its assumption of our obligations to holders of Debt Securities;
(2)to add any additional covenants of us for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of Debt Securities or to surrender any right or power under the applicable Indenture conferred upon us;
(3)to add any additional Events of Default with respect to all or any series of Debt Securities;
(4)to provide for uncertificated notes in addition to, or in place of, certificated notes;
(5)to secure the Debt Securities;
(6)to establish the form or terms of any series of Debt Securities;
(7)to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment under the Indenture of a successor Trustee;
(8)to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;
(9)in the case of any Subordinated Debt Security, to make any change in the subordination provisions that limits or terminates the benefits applicable to any holder of Senior Debt;
(10)to make other changes that do not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Debt Securities of any series issued thereunder in any material respect; or
(11)to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of the applicable Indenture in respect of one or more series of Debt Securities, provided that any such addition, change or elimination (a) shall neither (i) apply to any Debt Security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provision nor (ii) modify the rights of the Holder of any such Debt Security with respect to such provision or (b) shall become effective only when there is no such Debt Security outstanding.
Other 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 such 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;
(9)modify such provisions with respect to modification, amendment or waiver; or
(10)following the making of an offer to purchase Debt Securities from any Holder that has been made pursuant to a covenant in such Indenture, modify such covenant with respect to such offer in a manner adverse to such Holder.
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 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;
(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); and
(4)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 been not 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
(3)we have delivered an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the Trustee 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
To the extent indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may elect, at our option at any time, to have our obligations discharged under provisions relating to defeasance and discharge of indebtedness, which we call “legal defeasance,” or 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 series of 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 U.S. 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 (in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants) 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 U.S. 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 (other than a default or an Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit (and any similar concurrent deposit relating to other Indebtedness) and the granting of liens to secure such borrowing) or, with respect to any Event of Default described in clause (8) 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 (other than the applicable Indenture) 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 Senior Debt shall have occurred and be continuing, no event of default shall have resulted in the acceleration of any Senior Debt and no other event
of default with respect to any 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 fail to comply with certain restrictive covenants (but not with respect to conversion, if applicable), including those that may be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, and the occurrence of certain Events of Default, which are described above in clause (5) (with respect to such restrictive covenants) and clauses (6), (7) and (9) 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 deposit, in trust for the benefit of the Holders of such Debt Securities, money or U.S. 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 (in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants) 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 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 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 series of 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 U.S. 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.
No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders
No director, officer, employee, incorporator, stockholder, member, manager, partner or trustee of the Company shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Debt Securities, the Indentures or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. By accepting a Debt Security, each Holder shall be deemed to have waived and released all such liability. The waiver and release shall be a part of the consideration for the issue of the Debt Securities. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws, and it is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy.
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 or electronically int eh case of Global Securities.
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 (the “Trust Indenture Act”), 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.
DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES
We may offer fractional interests in shares of preferred stock rather than full shares of preferred stock. In that event, depositary receipts will be issued to evidence depositary shares, each of which will represent a fraction of a share of a particular series of preferred stock, as described in the prospectus supplement relating to the particular issue of depositary shares.
The shares of preferred stock represented by depositary shares will be deposited under a deposit agreement between us and a depositary that is a bank or trust company, as depositary, that we select as set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the particular issue of depositary shares. Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of depositary shares, each owner of a depositary share will be entitled, in proportion to the applicable fraction of a share of preferred stock represented by such depositary share, to all the rights and preferences of the shares of preferred stock represented by such depositary share, including dividend and liquidation rights and any right to convert the shares of preferred stock into common stock.
We will describe the terms of any depositary shares we offer and the related depositary agreement, as well as the terms of the shares of preferred stock represented thereby, in the prospectus supplement relating to the particular issue of depositary shares.
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
We may issue warrants that entitle the holder to purchase common stock, preferred stock, debt securities or other securities. Warrants may be issued independently or together with common stock, preferred stock, debt securities or other securities offered by any prospectus supplement and may be attached to or separate from any such offered securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be 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 will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will 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:
•the number of shares of common stock purchasable upon the exercise of warrants to purchase common stock and the price at which such number of shares of common stock may be purchased upon such exercise;
•the number of shares and series of preferred stock purchasable upon the exercise of warrants to purchase preferred stock and the price at which such number of shares of such series of preferred stock may be purchased upon such exercise;
•the designation, aggregate principal amount, denominations and terms of the series of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of warrants to purchase debt securities and the price at which such debt securities may be purchased upon such exercise;
•the number of other securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants to purchase such other securities and the price at which such securities may be purchased upon exercise;
•the date on which the right to exercise such warrants shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire;
•U.S. federal income tax consequences applicable to such warrants;
•the amount of warrants outstanding as of the most recent practicable date; and
•any other terms of such warrants.
Warrants will be offered and exercisable for U.S. dollars only. 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, preferred stock or other securities or such principal amount of debt securities 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, preferred stock, debt securities or other securities, holders of such warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of such common stock, preferred stock, debt securities or other securities, as the case may be, purchasable upon such exercise, including the right to receive payments of dividends, if any, on the common stock or preferred stock purchasable upon such exercise, or to receive payments of principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the debt securities purchasable upon such exercise or to enforce covenants in the applicable indenture.
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS
We may issue units comprised of one or more of the other classes of securities described in this prospectus in any combination. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The units may be issued under unit agreements to be entered into between us and a unit agent, as detailed in the prospectus supplement relating to the units being offered. The prospectus supplement will describe:
•the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances the securities comprising the units may be held or transferred separately;
•a description of the terms of any unit agreement governing the units;
•a description of the provisions for the payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units;
•a discussion of material U.S. federal income tax considerations, if applicable; and
•whether the units if issued as a separate security will be issued in fully registered or global form.
The descriptions of the units in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement are summaries of the material provisions of the applicable agreements. These descriptions do not restate those agreements in their entirety and may not contain all the information that you may find useful. We urge you to read the applicable agreements because they, and not the summaries, define your rights as holders of the units. For more information, please review the forms of the relevant agreements, which will be filed with the SEC promptly after the offering of units and will be available as described in the sections titled “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.”
DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS
We may issue rights to purchase our common stock, preferred stock, debt securities or depositary shares. These rights may be offered independently or together with any other security offered hereby and may or may not be transferable by the stockholder receiving the rights in such offering. In connection with any offering of rights, we may enter into a standby arrangement with one or more underwriters or other purchasers pursuant to which the underwriters or other purchasers may be required to purchase any securities remaining unsubscribed for after such offering.
The prospectus supplement relating to any rights we offer, if any, will, to the extent applicable, include specific terms relating to the offering, including some or all of the following:
•the price, if any, for the rights;
•the exercise price payable for our common stock, preferred stock, debt securities or depositary shares upon the exercise of the rights;
•the number of rights to be issued to each stockholder;
•the number and terms of our common stock, preferred stock, debt securities or depositary shares which may be purchased per each right;
•the extent to which the rights are transferable;
•any other terms of the rights, including the terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the rights;
•the date on which the right to exercise the rights shall commence, and the date on which the rights shall expire;
•the extent to which the rights may include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities or an over-allotment privilege to the extent the securities are fully subscribed; and
•if applicable, the material terms of any standby underwriting or purchase arrangement which we may enter into in connection with the offering of rights.
The description in the applicable prospectus supplement of any rights we offer will not necessarily be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable rights certificate, which will be filed with the SEC if we offer rights. We urge you to read the applicable rights certificate and any applicable prospectus supplement in their entirety.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may sell the securities offered by this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement in and outside the United States pursuant to underwritten public offerings, negotiated transactions, block trades or a combination of these methods. We may sell our securities separately or together (1) through underwriters or dealers, (2) directly to purchasers, including our affiliates and stockholders, (3) through agents or (4) through a combination of any of these methods. We may distribute securities from time to time in one or more transactions:
•at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed;
•at market prices prevailing at the time of sale;
•at prices related to such prevailing market prices; or
•at negotiated prices.
The prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the offering of the securities, including, to the extent applicable:
•the terms of the offering;
•the names of any underwriters or agents;
•the name or names of any managing underwriter or underwriters;
•the purchase price of the securities;
•the estimated net proceeds to us from the sale of the securities;
•any delayed delivery arrangements;
•any underwriting discounts, commissions and other items constituting underwriters' compensation;
•any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and
•any commissions paid to agents.
Sale Through Underwriters or Dealers
If underwriters are used in the sale or a firm commitment basis, the underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account for resale to the public. The underwriters may also be engaged to sell our securities on a best efforts basis. 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 and except as described below, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions. The underwriters may change from time to time any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed 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 overallotment and stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover syndicate short positions created in connection with the offering. The underwriters may also impose a penalty bid, which means that 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 the 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, the underwriters may discontinue these activities at any time.
If dealers are used, we will sell the securities to them as principals. The dealers may then resell that 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 those securities. We will include in the prospectus supplement the names of the dealers and the terms of the transaction.
At-the-Market Offerings
Underwriters or agents could make sales in privately negotiated transactions and/or any other method permitted by law, including sales deemed to be an “at-the-market” offering as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act, which includes sales made directly on or through the NYSE American, the existing trading market for our common stock, or sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange.
To the extent that we make sales through one or more underwriters or agents in “at-the-market” offerings, we will do so pursuant to the terms of a sales agency financing agreement or other “at-the-market” offering arrangement with such underwriters or agents. If we engage in at-the-market sales pursuant to any such agreement, we will issue and sell securities through one or more underwriters or agents, which may act on an agency basis or on a principal basis. During the term of any such agreement, we may sell securities on a daily basis in exchange transactions or otherwise as we agree with the underwriters or agents. The agreement will provide that any securities sold will be sold at prices related to the then prevailing market prices for such securities. Therefore, exact figures regarding proceeds that will be raised or commissions to be paid cannot be determined at this time. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, we also may agree to sell, and the relevant underwriters or agents may agree to solicit offers to purchase, blocks of securities. The terms of each such agreement will be set forth in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus. In the event that any underwriter or agent acts as principal, or any broker-dealer acts as underwriter, it may engage in certain transactions that stabilize, maintain, or otherwise affect the price of the securities. Any such activities will be described in the prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus relating to the transaction.
Direct Sales and Sales Through Agents
We may sell the securities directly. In this case, 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 offered 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 those securities. We will describe the terms of any such sales in the prospectus supplement.
Derivative Transactions
We may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If any applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third parties may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third parties in these sale transactions will be underwriters and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be identified in any applicable prospectus supplement or in a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. In addition, we may otherwise loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third party that in turn may sell the securities short using this prospectus.
Such financial institution or other third party may transfer its economic short position to investors in our securities or in connection with a concurrent offering of other securities.
Remarketing Arrangements
Offered securities may also be offered and sold, if so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, in connection with a remarketing upon their purchase, in accordance with a redemption or repayment pursuant to their terms, or otherwise, by one or more remarketing firms, acting as principals for their own accounts or as agents for us. Any remarketing firm will be identified and the terms of its agreements, if any, with us and its compensation will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Remarketing firms may be deemed to be underwriters, as that term is defined in the Securities Act, in connection with the securities remarketed.
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.
General Information
We may have agreements with the agents, dealers, underwriters and remarketing firms to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute with respect to payments that the agents, dealers, underwriters or remarketing firms may be required to make. Agents, dealers, underwriters and remarketing firms may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for us in the ordinary course of their businesses.
Other than the common stock, which is listed on the NYSE American, each series of offered securities will have no established trading market. We may elect to list any series of offered securities on an exchange, but we are not obligated to do so. It is possible that one or more underwriters may make a market in a series of offered securities. However, they will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue market making at any time without notice. We cannot assure you as to the liquidity of, or the trading market for, any of our offered securities.
A prospectus and any applicable accompanying prospectus supplement in electronic form may be made available on the websites maintained by the underwriters. The underwriters may agree to allocate a number of securities for sale to their online brokerage account holders. Such allocations of securities for internet distributions will be made on the same basis as other allocations. In addition, securities may be sold by the underwriters to securities dealers who resell securities to online brokerage account holders. To the extent required, this prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to time to describe a specific plan of distribution. The place and time of delivery for the securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered may be set forth in any applicable accompanying prospectus supplement, if required.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Jones & Keller, P.C., Denver, Colorado. Legal counsel to any underwriters may pass upon legal matters for such underwriters and will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement.
EXPERTS
The audited financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement have been so incorporated by reference in reliance upon the reports of Grant Thornton LLP, independent registered public accountants, upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
The information incorporated by reference in this prospectus regarding estimated quantities of proved reserves of Ring Energy, Inc. and the net present value of such reserves as of December 31, 2023 is based on reserve reports prepared by Cawley, Gillespie & Associates, Inc., independent petroleum engineers. Such information is incorporated by reference in this prospectus in reliance on the authority of such firm as experts in petroleum engineering.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act, covering the securities offered by this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all of the information that you can find in that registration statement and its exhibits. Certain items are omitted from this prospectus in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. For further information with respect to us and the securities offered by this prospectus, reference is made to the registration statement and the exhibits filed with the registration statement. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract or other document referred to are not necessarily complete and in each instance such statement is qualified by reference to each such contract or document filed with or incorporated by reference as part of the registration statement. We are required to file annual and quarterly reports and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. The address of that site is http://www.sec.gov.
You can also find our SEC filings on our website at www. https://www.ringenergy.com/investors/sec-filings. The information contained on our website or any other website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus and does not constitute a part of this prospectus.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information that we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to documents previously filed with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus except for any information that is superseded by information included directly in this prospectus, and the information that we file later with the SEC will automatically supersede this information. Any statement contained in this prospectus or a document incorporated by reference in this prospectus will be deemed 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 incorporated by reference in this prospectus modifies or superseded the statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus is current as of the date other than the date on the cover page of this prospectus.
The following documents previously filed by us with the SEC are incorporated by reference in this prospectus:
•our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2024, June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2024, filed with the SEC on May 6, 2024, August 6, 2024 and November 6, 2024, respectively; •the description of our capital stock as set forth on Exhibit 4.2 in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 7, 2024.
We are also incorporating by reference into this prospectus any additional documents that we may file with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (excluding any information furnished and not filed with the SEC) after the date on which the registration statement that includes this prospectus was initially filed with the SEC (including all such documents that we may file with the SEC after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement) and until all offerings under this registration statement are terminated shall be deemed to be incorporated in this prospectus by reference and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.
We will provide to each person, including any beneficial holder, to whom a prospectus is delivered, at no cost, upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the information that has been incorporated by reference in the prospectus but not delivered with the prospectus. You should direct any requests for documents to the following address or telephone number:
Ring Energy, Inc.
Attention: Secretary
1725 Hughes Landing Boulevard, Suite 900
The Woodlands, Texas 77380
(281) 397-3699
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus or in any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not making an offer to sell, or soliciting an offer to buy, securities in any jurisdiction where the offer and sale is not permitted.
RING ENERGY, INC.
$150,000,000
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Debt Securities
Depositary Shares
Warrants
Units
Rights
PROSPECTUS
, 2024
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
The following table sets forth an itemized statement of the amounts of all expenses (excluding underwriting discounts and commissions) payable by us in connection with the registration of the securities offered hereby.
| | | | | | | | |
| SEC registration fee | | $ | 22,965 |
| Accountants’ fees and expenses | | * |
| Legal fees and expenses | | * |
| Miscellaneous | | * |
| Total | | * |
* Estimates not presently known.
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Under the provisions of Section 78.751 of the Nevada Revised Statutes (“NRS”), the Company is required to indemnify any present or former officer or director against expenses arising out of legal proceedings in which the director or officer becomes involved by reason of being a director or officer, if the director or officer is successful in the defense of such proceedings. Section 78.7502 also provides that the Company may indemnify a director or officer in connection with a proceeding in which he is not successful in defending if it is determined that he acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, in the case of a criminal action, if it is determined that he or she had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful, and in either event, provided the director is not liable for a breach of the duties set out in Section 78.138 of the NRS. Liabilities for which a director or officer may be indemnified include amounts paid in satisfaction of settlements, judgments, fines and other expenses (including attorneys’ fees incurred in connection with such proceedings). In a stockholder derivative action, no indemnification may be paid in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which the director or officer has been adjudged to be liable to the Company (except for expenses allowed by a court).
The articles of incorporation and bylaws also provide for indemnification of directors and officers of the Company to the full extent permitted by applicable law. Under the provisions of the Company’s bylaws, the Company is required to indemnify officers or directors (while the current provisions of Section 78.7502 of the NRS provide for “permissive” indemnification). Except with respect to stockholder derivative actions, the bylaw provisions generally state that the director or officer will be indemnified against expenses, amounts paid in settlement and judgments, fines, penalties and/or other amounts incurred with respect to any threatened, pending or completed proceeding, provided that (i) such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and (ii) with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, such person had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.
The foregoing standards also apply with respect to the indemnification for expenses incurred in a stockholder derivative suit. However, a director or officer may only be indemnified for settlement amounts or judgments incurred in a derivative suit to the extent that the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the court shall deem proper.
In accordance with the NRS, the articles of incorporation contain a provision to limit the personal liability of the directors of the Company for violations of their fiduciary duty. This provision eliminates each director’s personal liability for monetary damages for breach of a director’s fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of law, and (ii) under Section 78.300 of the NRS, which relates to unlawful payment of dividends. The effect of this provision is to eliminate the personal liability of directors for monetary damages for actions involving a breach of their fiduciary duty including any such actions involving gross negligence.
Item 16. Exhibits.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Incorporated by Reference | | | |
Exhibit No. | | Description | | Form | | SEC File No. | | Exhibit | | Filing Date | | Filed Herewith |
| 1.1* | | Form of Underwriting Agreement. | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3.1 | | | | 10-K | | 001-36057 | | 3.1 | | April 1, 2013 | | |
| 3.1(a) | | | | 8-K | | 001-36057 | | 3.1 | | December 17, 2021 | | |
| 3.1(b) | | | | 8-K | | 001-36057 | | 3.1 | | May 26, 2023 | | |
| 3.2 | | | | 8-K | | 001-36057 | | 3.1 | | April 15, 2021 | | |
| 4.1 | | | | 10-K | | 001-36057 | | 4.2 | | March 7, 2024 | | |
| 4.2 | | | | | | | | | | | | X |
| 4.3 | | | | | | | | | | | | X |
| 5.1 | | | | | | | | | | | | X |
| 23.1 | | | | | | | | | | | | X |
| 23.2 | | | | | | | | | | | | X |
| 23.3 | | | | | | | | | | | | X |
| 24.1 | | | | | | | | | | | | X |
| 25.1** | | Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification respecting the Senior Indenture. | | | | | | | | | | |
| 25.2** | | Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification respecting the Subordinated Indenture. | | | | | | | | | | |
| 107 | | | | | | | | | | | | X |
* To be filed by amendment or incorporated by reference in connection with the offering of the securities.
** 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.
Item 17. Undertakings.
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this 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 the 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 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
(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 (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) do not apply if 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 purpose 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 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 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 this 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.
(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes 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.
(c) 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 Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 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 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
(d) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:
(1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or Rule 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.
(2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus 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.
(e) 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 (“Act”) in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Act.
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 the City of The Woodlands, State of Texas, on December 20, 2024.
| | | | | | | | |
| RING ENERGY, INC. |
| |
| By: | /s/ Paul D. McKinney |
| Paul D. McKinney Chairman and Chief Executive Officer |
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each individual whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Paul D. McKinney and Travis T. Thomas, and each of them, either one of whom may act without joinder of the other, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all pre- and post- effective amendments to this registration statement (including any registration statement for the same offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other 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 might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, or the substitute or substitutes of any or all of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on December 20, 2024.
| | | | | | | | |
| Signature | | Title |
| | |
| /s/ Paul D. McKinney | |
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) |
| Paul D. McKinney | |
| | |
| /s/ Travis T. Thomas | | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) |
| Travis T. Thomas | |
| | |
| /s/ Anthony B. Petrelli | |
Lead Director |
| Anthony B. Petrelli | |
| | |
| /s/ John A. Crum | |
Director |
| John A. Crum | |
| | |
| /s/ David Habachy | | Director |
| David Habachy | |
| | |
| /s/ Richard E. Harris | |
Director |
| Richard E. Harris | |
| | |
| /s/ Thomas L. Mitchell | |
Director |
| Thomas L. Mitchell | |
| | |
| /s/ Regina Roesener | |
Director |
| Regina Roesener | |
| | |
