Related Party Transactions

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Related Party Transactions [Abstract]

Related Party Transactions

Note 7. Related Party Transactions

Merger Consideration

At the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”), Edward Kovalik (Chief Executive Officer and Chairman) and Gary C. Hanna (President and Director) were each issued 1,148,834 shares of common stock as merger consideration pursuant to the Merger Agreement.

Series D PIPE

Bristol Investment Fund, Ltd. (“Bristol Investment Fund”), an entity affiliated with Paul L. Kessler, a director of the Company, purchased $1,250,000 of Series D Preferred Stock and Series D PIPE Warrants in the Series D PIPE. First Idea Ventures LLC, an entity affiliated with Jonathan H. Gray, a director of the Company, purchased $750,000 of Series D Preferred Stock and Series D PIPE Warrants in the Series D PIPE Transaction. First Idea International Ltd. (included with First Idea Ventures LLC, “the First Idea Entities”), an entity affiliated with Jonathan H. Gray, purchased $254,875 of Series D Preferred Stock and Series D PIPE Warrants from another holder.

Liquidated damages of $548,144 were paid under the registration rights agreement associated with the Series D PIPE for the year ended December 31, 2023. Of this total, $46,229 was paid to Bristol Investment Fund and $31,767 was paid to the First Idea Entities.

Stockholders Agreement

Prior to the Effective Time, the Company, Bristol Capital Advisors, LLC (“Bristol Capital Advisors”), Paul L. Kessler, Gary C. Hanna and Edward Kovalik entered into a Stockholders Agreement (the “Stockholders Agreement”) pursuant to which the parties agreed to use reasonable best efforts, including taking certain necessary actions, to cause the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) to cause certain nominees to be elected to serve as a director on the Board under the following conditions: (i) one nominee designated by Bristol Capital Advisors and Paul L. Kessler, collectively, so long as Bristol Capital Advisors, Paul L. Kessler and their respective affiliates collectively beneficially own at least 50% of the number of shares of common stock collectively beneficially owned by such parties on the Closing Date and (ii) (A) four nominees designated by Gary C. Hanna and Edward Kovalik (the “Prairie Members”) so long as the Prairie Members and their affiliates collectively beneficially own at least 50% of the number of shares of common stock collectively beneficially owned by such parties on the Closing Date; (B) three nominees designated by the Prairie Members so long as the Prairie Members and their affiliates collectively beneficially own at least 40% (but less than 50%) of the number of shares of common stock collectively beneficially owned by such parties on the Closing Date; (C) two nominees designated by the Prairie Members so long as the Prairie Members and their affiliates collectively beneficially own at least 30% (but less than 40%) of the number of shares of common stock collectively beneficially owned by such parties on the Closing Date; or (D) one nominee designated by the Prairie Members so long as the Prairie Members and their affiliates collectively beneficially own at least 20% (but less than 30%) of the number of shares of common stock collectively beneficially owned by such parties on the Closing Date.

Lock-up Agreements

In connection with the Closing, the Company entered into lock-up agreements with the Prairie Members, Paul Kessler, John D. Maatta, Michael Breen (former director), Alan Urban (former Chief Financial Officer) and Scott Sheikh (former Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel), that impose limitations on any sale of shares of common stock until 180 days after the Closing, subject to certain exceptions. These agreements expired in November 2023.

In addition, the Company entered into a lock-up agreement with Bristol Investment Fund that impose limitations on any sale of an aggregate of 50% of its shares of common stock until 120 days after the Closing, subject to certain exceptions, and Bristol Investment Fund agreed, subject to such lock-up, to effect only open market sales and not to sell an aggregate daily amount of shares of common stock exceeding 1%, for every $100,000 invested in the Series D PIPE, of the average daily volume of the trading day on which the open market sales of the shares of common stock occurs. This agreement expired in September 2023.

Amended and Restated Senior Secured Convertible Debenture and Amended and Restated Security Agreement

In connection with the Closing, the Company entered into the AR Debentures as further described in Note 8.

Amended and Restated Non-Compensatory Option Agreement

Upon consummation of the Merger, the Company assumed and converted options to purchase membership interests of Prairie LLC outstanding and unexercised as of immediately prior to the Merger into non-compensatory options to acquire an aggregate of 8,000,000 shares of common stock for $7.14 per share, which are only exercisable if specific production hurdles are achieved, and the Company entered into option agreements with each of Gary C. Hanna, Edward Kovalik, Paul Kessler and BOKA Energy LP, a third-party investor (the “Option Agreements”) as further described in Note 15.

On August 30, 2023, the Company, Gary C. Hanna, Edward Kovalik, Bristol Capital and Georgina Asset Management entered into a non-compensatory option purchase agreement, pursuant to which Georgina Asset Management agreed to purchase, and each of the Sellers agreed to sell to Georgina Asset Management, Non-Compensatory Options to acquire an aggregate of 200,000 shares of common stock for the Option Purchase. The Option Purchase closed on August 30, 2023. In connection with the Option Purchase, the Company entered into an amendment to the Option Agreements with each of the Sellers (or an assignee thereof) to reflect that each Seller owns a lesser number of Non-Compensatory Options after the Option Purchase.

Reimbursements

Following the Merger, on May 5, 2023, the Board approved a one-time payment of $250,000 for each of Edward Kovalik and Gary Hanna as former members of Prairie LLC and Paul Kessler, former Chairman of the Company, and all of whom are current members of the Board of Directors. These payments were made in light of the significant unpaid time and resources expended by each of these parties to finalize the Merger, including extensive travel, due diligence, negotiation, structuring, legal management and investment banking disciplines.

Series E PIPE

To fund the Exok Option Purchase, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with the Series E PIPE Investor on August 15, 2023, pursuant to which the Series E PIPE Investor agreed to purchase, and the Company agreed to sell to the Series E PIPE Investor, for an aggregate of $20.0 million, securities consisting of (i) 39,614 shares of common stock, (ii) 20,000 shares of Series E Preferred Stock, and (iii) Series E PIPE Warrants to purchase 8,000,000 shares of common stock, each at a price of $6.00 per share, in a private placement.

In connection with the Series E PIPE and the Exok Option Purchase, the Company entered into the Series E Registration Rights Agreement with the Series E PIPE Investor and Exok affiliates pursuant to which the Company agreed to submit to or file with the SEC a registration statement registering the resale of the shares of common stock issued to Exok (the “Exok Shares”), shares of common stock underlying the Series E Preferred Stock and Series E PIPE Warrants, Exok Shares and shares of common stock underlying the Exok Warrants. Such registration statement was declared effective by the SEC on December 5, 2023.

Exercise of Series D B Warrants

On November 13, 2023, Narrogal Nominees Pty Ltd ATF Gregory K O’Neill Family Trust (“O’Neill Trust”) delivered notice to the Company of the exercise of Series D B Warrants to purchase 2,000,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $6.00 per share for total proceeds to the Company of $12 million (the “Warrant Exercise”). These warrants were originally issued on May 3, 2023, in connection with the Series D PIPE