At Market Issuance Sales Agreement dated December 19, 2014 between Yuma Energy, Inc. and MLV & Co. LLC

Common Stock

(no par value per share)

9.25% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock

(no par value per share)

 

December 19, 2014

 

MLV & Co. LLC

1251 Avenue of the Americas

41st Floor

New York, NY  10020

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

YUMA ENERGY, INC., a California corporation (the “Company”), confirms its agreement (this “Agreement”) with MLV & Co. LLC (“MLV”), as follows:

 

1. Issuance and Sale of Shares.  The Company agrees that, from time to time during the term of this Agreement, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, it may issue and sell through MLV, shares of (a) the Company’s 9.25% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, no par value per share with a liquidation preference of $25.00 per share (the “Preferred Stock”), and (b) shares of the Company’s common stock, no par value per share (the “Common Stock” and together with the Preferred Stock, the “Placement Shares”); provided, however, that in no event shall the Company issue or sell through MLV such number of Placement Shares that (i) would cause the Company not to satisfy the eligibility requirements for use of Form S-3, (ii) exceeds the number of shares of either Common Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable, registered on the effective Registration Statement and included in the Prospectus (each as defined below) pursuant to which the offering is being made, or (iii) exceeds the number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable, (the lesser of (i), (ii) and (iii), the “Maximum Amount”).  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the parties hereto agree that compliance with the limitations set forth in this Section 1 on the number or amount of Placement Shares issued and sold under this Agreement shall be the sole responsibility of the Company and that MLV shall have no obligation in connection with such compliance.  The issuance and sale of Placement Shares through MLV will be effected pursuant to the Registration Statement (as defined below) filed by the Company and declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), although nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as requiring the Company to use the Registration Statement to issue any Placement Shares.

 

The Company has filed, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “Securities Act”), with the Commission a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-192094), including a base prospectus, relating to certain securities, including the Placement Shares to be issued and sold from time to time by the Company hereunder, and which incorporates by reference documents that the Company has filed or will file in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “Exchange Act Regulations”).  The Company has prepared a prospectus supplement specifically relating to the Placement Shares (the “Prospectus Supplement”) to the base prospectus included as part of such registration statement.  The Company will furnish to MLV, for use by MLV, copies (which may be in electronic form) of the prospectus included as part of such registration statement, as supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement, relating to the Placement Shares.  Except where the context otherwise requires, such registration statement, including all documents filed as part thereof or incorporated by reference therein, and including any information contained in a Prospectus (as defined below) subsequently filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act or deemed to be a part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B of the Securities Act, is herein called the “Registration Statement.”  The base prospectus, including all documents incorporated or deemed incorporated therein by reference to the extent such information has not been superseded or modified in accordance with Rule 412 under the Securities Act (as qualified by Rule 430B(g) of the Securities Act), included in the Registration Statement, as it may be supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement, in the form in which such prospectus and/or Prospectus Supplement have most recently been filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, is herein called the “Prospectus.” Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference therein, and any reference herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing after the execution hereof of any document with the Commission deemed to be incorporated by reference therein (the “Incorporated Documents”).

 

 

For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or to any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed to include the most recent copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval System, or if applicable, the Interactive Data Electronic Application system when used by the Commission (collectively, “EDGAR”).

 

2. Placements.  Each time that the Company wishes to issue and sell Placement Shares hereunder (each, a “Placement”), it will notify MLV by email notice (or other method mutually agreed to in writing by the parties) of the number of Placement Shares to be issued and sold, the time period during which sales are requested to be made, any limitation on the number of Placement Shares that may be sold in any one day and any minimum price below which sales may not be made (a “Placement Notice”), the form of which is attached hereto as Schedule 1.  The Placement Notice shall originate from any of the individuals from the Company set forth on Schedule 3 (with a copy to each of the other individuals from the Company listed on such schedule), and shall be addressed to each of the individuals from MLV set forth on Schedule 3, as such Schedule 3 may be updated from time to time with respect to the individuals of each party, by such party providing written notice to the other party of the addition or deletion of individuals of such party.  Provided that the Company is otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Agreement, the Placement Notice shall be effective unless and until (i) MLV declines to accept the terms contained therein for any reason, in its sole discretion, (ii) the entire amount of the Placement Shares thereunder have been sold, (iii) the time period during which sales are requested to be made in the Placement Notice expires, (iv) the Company suspends or terminates the Placement Notice or (iv) this Agreement has been terminated under the provisions of Section 13.  The amount of any discount, commission or other compensation to be paid by the Company to MLV in connection with the sale of the Placement Shares shall be calculated in accordance with the terms set forth in Schedule 2.  It is expressly acknowledged and agreed that neither the Company nor MLV will have any obligation whatsoever with respect to a Placement or any Placement Shares unless and until the Company delivers a Placement Notice to MLV and MLV does not decline such Placement Notice pursuant to the terms set forth above, and then only upon the terms specified therein and herein. In the event of a conflict between the terms of Section 2 or 3 of this Agreement and the terms of a Placement Notice, the terms of the Placement Notice will control.

 

3. Sale of Placement Shares by MLV.

 

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, MLV, for the period specified in a Placement Notice, will use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable state and federal laws, rules and regulations, and the rules and regulations of such national securities exchange that the Company’s Common Stock and/or Preferred Stock is listed on (the “Exchange”), to sell the Placement Shares up to the amount specified in, and otherwise in accordance with the terms of, such Placement Notice.  MLV will provide written confirmation to the Company no later than the opening of the Trading Day (as defined below) immediately following the Trading Day on which it has made sales of Placement Shares hereunder setting forth the number of Placement Shares sold on such day, the compensation payable by the Company to MLV pursuant to Section 2 with respect to such sales, and the Net Proceeds (as defined below) payable to the Company, with an itemization of the deductions made by MLV (as set forth in Section 5(b)) from the gross proceeds that it receives from such sales.  Subject to the terms of a Placement Notice, MLV may sell Placement Shares by any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415, including without limitation sales made directly on the Exchange, on any other existing trading market for the Common Stock and Preferred Stock or to or through a market maker.  Subject to the terms of a Placement Notice, MLV may also sell Placement Shares by any other method permitted by law and the rules and regulations of the Exchange, including but not limited to negotiated transactions, with the Company’s prior written consent.  “Trading Day” means any day on which Common Stock and/or Preferred Stock, as applicable, are purchased and sold on the Exchange.

 

 

(b) During the term of this Agreement, neither MLV nor any of its affiliates or subsidiaries shall engage in (i) any short sale of any security of the Company or (ii) any sale of any security of the Company that MLV does not own or any sale which is consummated by the delivery of a security of the Company borrowed by, or for the account of, MLV, or (iii) any market making, bidding, purchasing, stabilization or other trading activity with regard to the Common Stock and/or Preferred Stock or related derivative securities, or attempting to induce another person to do any of the foregoing, if such activity would be prohibited under Regulation M or other anti-manipulation rules under the Securities Act.  During the term of this Agreement, neither MLV nor any of its affiliates or subsidiaries shall engage in any proprietary trading or trading for MLV’s (or its affiliates’ or subsidiaries’) own account.

 

4. Suspension of Sales.  The Company or MLV may, upon notice to the other party in writing (including by email correspondence to each of the individuals of the other party set forth on Schedule 3, if receipt of such correspondence is actually acknowledged by any of the individuals to whom the notice is sent, other than via auto-reply) or by telephone (confirmed immediately by verifiable facsimile transmission or email correspondence to each of the individuals of the other party set forth on Schedule 3), suspend any sale of Placement Shares; provided, however, that such suspension shall not affect or impair any party’s obligations with respect to any Placement Shares sold hereunder prior to the receipt of such notice.  Each of the parties agrees that no such notice under this Section 4 shall be effective against any other party unless it is made to one of the individuals named on Schedule 3 hereto, as such Schedule 3 may be amended from time to time.

 

5. Sale and Delivery to MLV; Settlement.

 

(a) Sale of Placement Shares. The Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) there can be no assurance that MLV will be successful in selling Placement Shares, (ii) MLV will incur no liability or obligation to the Company or any other person or entity if it does not sell Placement Shares for any reason other than a failure by MLV to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable law and regulations to sell such Placement Shares as required under this Agreement, and (iii) MLV shall be under no obligation to purchase Placement Shares on a principal basis pursuant to this Agreement, except as otherwise agreed by MLV and the Company.

 

(b) Settlement of Placement Shares. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Placement Notice, settlement for sales of Placement Shares will occur on the third (3rd) Trading Day (or such earlier day as is industry practice for regular-way trading) following the date on which such sales are made (each, a “Settlement Date”).  The amount of proceeds to be delivered to the Company on a Settlement Date against receipt of the Placement Shares sold (the “Net Proceeds”) will be equal to the aggregate sales price received by MLV for the Placement Shares, after deduction for (i) MLV’s commission, discount or other compensation for such sales payable by the Company pursuant to Section 2 hereof, and (ii) any transaction fees imposed by any governmental or self-regulatory organization in respect of such sales.

 

(c)  Delivery of Placement Shares.  On or before each Settlement Date, the Company will, or will cause its transfer agent to, electronically transfer the Placement Shares being sold by crediting MLV’s or its designee’s account (provided MLV shall have given the Company written notice of such designee at least two Trading Days prior to the Settlement Date) at The Depository Trust Company through its Deposit and Withdrawal at Custodian System or by such other means of delivery as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto which in all cases shall be freely tradable, transferable, registered shares in good deliverable form.  On each Settlement Date, MLV will deliver the related Net Proceeds in same day funds to an account designated by the Company on, or prior to, the Settlement Date.  The Company agrees that if the Company, or its transfer agent (if applicable), defaults in its obligation to deliver Placement Shares on a Settlement Date, through no fault of MLV, then in addition to and in no way limiting the rights and obligations set forth in Section 11(a) hereto, the Company will (i) hold MLV harmless against any loss, claim, damage, or reasonable, documented expense (including reasonable and documented legal fees and expenses), as incurred, arising out of or in connection with such default by the Company or its transfer agent (if applicable) and (ii) pay to MLV (without duplication) any commission, discount, or other compensation to which MLV would otherwise have been entitled absent such default; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to pay to MLV any commission, discount or compensation on any Placement Shares that are not timely delivered due to (1) a suspension or material limitation in trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange or the Exchange or (2) a material disruption in securities settlement or clearance services in the United States.

 

(d) Limitations on Offering Size.  Under no circumstances shall the Company cause or request the offer or sale of any Placement Shares if, after giving effect to the sale of such Placement Shares, the aggregate number or aggregate gross sales proceeds of Placement Shares sold pursuant to this Agreement would exceed the lesser of (A) together with all sales of Placement Shares under this Agreement, the Maximum Amount,  (B) the amount available for offer and sale under the currently effective Registration Statement, and (C) the amount authorized from time to time to be issued and sold under this Agreement by the Company’s board of directors, a duly authorized committee thereof or a duly authorized executive committee, and notified to MLV in writing.  Under no circumstances shall the Company cause or request the offer or sale of any Placement Shares pursuant to this Agreement at a price lower than the minimum price authorized from time to time by the Company’s board of directors, a duly authorized committee thereof or a duly authorized executive committee, and notified to MLV in writing.  Further, under no circumstances shall the Company cause or permit the aggregate offering amount of Placement Shares sold pursuant to this Agreement to exceed the Maximum Amount.

 

6. Representations and Warranties of the Company.  Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, the Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with MLV that as of the date of this Agreement and as of each Applicable Time (as defined below), unless such representation, warranty or agreement specifies a different date or time:

 

(a) Effectiveness of Registration Statement; Certain Defined Terms.  The Company and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement meet the requirements and comply with the conditions for the use of Form S-3 under the Securities Act.  The Registration Statement meets, and the offering and sale of the Placement Shares by the Company as contemplated hereby complies with, the requirements of Rule 415 under the Securities Act (including, without limitation, Rule 415(a)(4) and (a)(5) of the Securities Act).  No stop order preventing or suspending use of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued by the Commission, and no proceedings for such purpose pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act against the Company or related to the sale of Placement Shares have been instituted or are pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, are contemplated or threatened by the Commission, and any request received by the Company on the part of the Commission for additional information with respect thereto has been complied with.

 

(b) Conformity with the EDGAR filing.  The Prospectus delivered by the Company to MLV for use in connection with the sale of the Placement Shares pursuant to this Agreement will be identical to the versions of the Prospectus transmitted to the Commission for filing via EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

 

(c) Contents of Registration Statement.  As of each Applicable Time, the Registration Statement complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading.

 

(d) Contents of Prospectus.  The Prospectus, as of its date and as of each Applicable Time will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

(e) Incorporated Documents.  Each of the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, at the time such document was filed with the Commission or at the time such document became effective, as applicable, complied, in all material respects, with the requirements of the Exchange Act, was filed on a timely basis with the Commission and did not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

(f) Distributed Materials; Conflict with Registration Statement.  Other than the base prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company has not made, used, authorized, approved or referred to and will not make, use, authorize, approve or refer to any “written communication” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) that constitutes an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the Placement Shares other than (i) any document not constituting a prospectus pursuant to Section 2(a)(10)(a) of the Securities Act or Rules 134 and 135 under the Securities Act or (ii) other written communications approved in advance by MLV.

 

(g) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses.  Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, if any, conformed or will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act on the date of first use, and the Company has complied or will comply with any filing requirements applicable to such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus pursuant to the Securities Act.  Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, if any, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the Prospectus Delivery Period did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, including any document incorporated by reference therein and any prospectus supplement deemed to be a part thereof that has not been superseded or modified, or include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances prevailing at the subsequent time, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of MLV or its representatives specifically for inclusion therein, which information the parties hereto agree is limited to the MLV Information.  As used herein, the term “Prospectus Delivery Period” means such period of time after the first date of the offering any of the Placement Shares under a Placement Notice as in the reasonable opinion of counsel for MLV a prospectus relating to the Securities is required by law to be delivered (or required to be delivered but for Rule 172 under the Securities Act) in connection with sales of the Placement Shares by MLV.

 

(h) Not an Ineligible Issuer.  (i) At the earliest time after the filing of the Registration Statement that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) under the Securities Act) of the Placement Shares and (ii) at the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

 

(i) Due Incorporation.

 

(1)           The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of California, with the corporate power and authority to own its properties and to conduct its business as it is currently being conducted and as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.  The Company is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation or other legal entity in each other jurisdiction in which its ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing or have such power or authority would not (i) have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect upon the general affairs, business, operations, prospects, properties, financial condition, or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (ii) impair in any material respect the power or ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or to consummate any transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the issuance and sale of the Placement Shares (any such effect as described in clauses (i) or (ii), a “Material Adverse Effect”).

 

(2)           Each of the subsidiaries of the Company has been duly incorporated or formed, as the case may be, and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its respective jurisdiction of organization, each with full power and authority (corporate or otherwise) to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and each has been duly qualified as a foreign corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership for the transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties or conducts any business so as to require such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not result in any Material Adverse Effect.

 

(j) Subsidiaries.  The Company has no subsidiaries and does not own any beneficial interest, directly or indirectly, in any corporation, partnership, joint venture or other business entity other than as set forth on Schedule 4 hereto.  The entities set forth on Schedule 4 hereto are referred to herein as the “subsidiaries” of the Company, or the “Company’s subsidiaries”, and no reference to the term “subsidiaries” herein when used in relation to the Company shall include any entity that is not set forth on Schedule 4 hereto unless otherwise expressly stated.

 

(k) Due Authorization and Enforceability.  The Company has the full legal right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform the transactions and its obligations contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and is a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Company enforceable in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that (i) enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles and (ii) the indemnification and contribution provisions of Section 11 hereof may be limited by federal or state securities laws and public policy considerations in respect thereof.

 

(l) The Placement Shares. The issuance of the Placement Shares, and the issuance of the Company’s Common Stock upon conversion of the Preferred Stock, has been duly and validly authorized by the Company. The Placement Shares and Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock, when issued, delivered and paid for in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, (i) will have been duly and validly issued and will be fully paid and nonassessable, (ii) will not be subject to any statutory or contractual preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or purchase or acquire any shares of capital stock of the Company which have not been waived or complied with, and (iii) will conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and such description conforms in all material respects to the rights set forth in the instruments defining the same.

 

(m) Capitalization.  The information set forth under the caption “Capitalization” in the Prospectus is fairly presented on a basis consistent with the Company’s financial statements.  The description of the Common Stock and the Preferred Stock in the Prospectus is complete and accurate in all material respects.  The issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable, and have been issued in compliance with all federal and state securities laws.  None of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company was issued in violation of any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights to subscribe for or purchase or acquire any securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, except for such rights as may have been fully satisfied or waived prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement.  There are no authorized or outstanding shares of capital stock, options, warrants, preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other rights to purchase, or equity or debt securities convertible into or exchangeable for, any capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries other than as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.  The description of the Company’s stock incentive, stock bonus and other stock plans or arrangements, and the options or other rights granted thereunder, as described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, accurately and fairly presents the information required to be shown with respect to such plans, arrangements, options and rights.  The issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the Company’s subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable, have been issued in compliance with all federal and state securities laws, and, except as set forth on Schedule 4 hereto or to the extent set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, are owned directly by the Company or by another wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, except for the security interests, in each case as described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus (collectively, the “Permitted Encumbrances”), are free and clear of any lien, encumbrance, security interest, claim or charge, other than those described in, or incorporated by reference into, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

 

(n) No Conflict.  The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the issuance and sale of the Placement Shares by the Company, and the issuance of Common Stock upon the conversion of the Preferred Stock, will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under (nor constitute any event which with or without notice, lapse of time or both would result in any breach or violation of or constitute a default under), give rise to any right of termination or other right or the cancellation or acceleration of any right or obligation or loss of a benefit under, or give rise to the creation or imposition of any lien, encumbrance, security interest, claim or charge upon any property or assets of the Company or its subsidiaries pursuant to any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which either the Company or its subsidiaries or any of their properties may be bound or to which any of their property or assets is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or (iii) result in any violation of any law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties or assets, except, with respect to clauses (i), (ii) (only with respect to the Company’s subsidiaries), and (iii), for any such conflict, breach, violation or default as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(o) No Consents Required.  No approval, authorization, consent or order of or filing, qualification or registration with, any court or governmental agency or body, foreign or domestic, which has not been made, obtained or taken and is not in full force and effect, is required of the Company in connection with the Company’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby or the issuance and sale of the Placement Shares other than (i) such as have been obtained, (ii) such filings as may be required under the Securities Act, (iii) any necessary qualification of the Placement Shares under the securities or blue sky laws of the various jurisdictions in which the Placement Shares are being offered, (iv) such filings as may be required by the Exchange, (v) such consents, approvals, authorizations or orders as may be required by the rules and regulations of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”), or (vi) any required filing on Form 8-K under the Exchange Act.

 

(p) Preemptive Rights.  There are no preemptive rights or other rights (other than rights which have been waived in writing in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise satisfied or as described in the Prospectus) to subscribe for or to purchase any shares of capital stock of the Company or other equity interests of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any agreement or arrangement between the Company and any of the Company’s stockholders or between any of the Company’s subsidiaries and any of such subsidiary’s stockholders, or to the Company’s knowledge, between or among any of the Company’s stockholders or any of its subsidiaries’ stockholders, which grant special rights with respect to any shares of the Company’s or any of its subsidiaries’ capital stock or which in any way affect any stockholder’s ability or right to alienate freely or vote such shares.

 

(q) Registration Rights.  Except as described in the Prospectus, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company or any of its subsidiaries and any person granting such person the right (other than rights which have been waived in writing in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or are otherwise satisfied) to require the Company or any of its subsidiaries to register any securities with the Commission.

 

(r) Independent Accountants.

 

(i) SingerLewak LLP (“SingerLewak”), whose report on the consolidated financial statements of the Company is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, is, and during the periods covered by its report, was (i) an independent public accounting firm within the meaning of the Securities Act, (ii) a registered public accounting firm (as defined in Section 2(a)(12) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”)), and (iii) to the Company’s knowledge, not in violation of the auditor independence requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and as pre-approved in accordance with the requirements set forth in Section 10A of the Exchange Act, SingerLewak has not been engaged by the Company at any time to perform any “prohibited activities” (as defined in Section 10A of the Exchange Act).

 

(ii) Grant Thornton LLP (“Grant Thornton”), whose report on the consolidated financial statements of The Yuma Companies, Inc. is incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, is, and during the periods covered by its report, was (i) an independent public accounting firm within the meaning of the Securities Act, (ii) a registered public accounting firm (as defined in Section 2(a)(12) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), and (iii) to the Company’s knowledge, not in violation of the auditor independence requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and as pre-approved in accordance with the requirements set forth in Section 10A of the Exchange Act, Grant Thornton has not been engaged by the Company at any time to perform any “prohibited activities” (as defined in Section 10A of the Exchange Act).

 

(s) Financial Statements.  The consolidated financial statements of the Company, together with the related schedules and notes thereto, set forth or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable, and present fairly in all material respects (i) the financial condition of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and (ii) the consolidated results of operations, stockholders’ equity and changes in cash flows of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries for the periods therein specified; and such financial statements and related schedules and notes thereto have been prepared in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied throughout the periods involved (except as otherwise stated therein and subject, in the case of unaudited financial statements, to the absence of notes and normal year-end adjustments).  There are no other financial statements (historical or pro forma) that are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; and the Company does not have any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent (including any off-balance sheet obligations), not disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; and all disclosures contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission) comply with Regulation G of the Exchange Act and Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, to the extent applicable, and present fairly in all material respects the information shown therein and the Company’s basis for using such measures.

 

(t) Absence of Material Changes.  Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and except as may be otherwise stated or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there has not been (i) any Material Adverse Effect, (ii) any transaction which is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, (iii) any obligation, direct or contingent (including any off-balance sheet obligations), incurred by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, which is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, (iv) any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made on the capital stock of the Company, or (v) any change in the capital stock (other than a change in the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock due to the issuance of shares upon the exercise of outstanding options or warrants or the conversion of convertible indebtedness) or material change in the short-term debt or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (other than upon conversion of convertible indebtedness) or any issuance of options, warrants, convertible securities or other rights to purchase the capital stock (other than grants of stock options under the Company’s stock option plans existing on the date hereof) of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

 

(u) Legal Proceedings.  Except as disclosed in the Company’s filings with the Commission, there are no legal or governmental actions, suits, claims or proceedings pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened or contemplated to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or would be a party or of which any of their respective properties is or would be subject at law or in equity, before or by any federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory commission, board, body, authority or agency, or before or by any self-regulatory organization or other non-governmental regulatory authority which are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or a document incorporated by reference therein and are not so described therein, or which, singularly or in the aggregate, if resolved adversely to the Company or such subsidiary, would reasonably be likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect or prevent or materially and adversely affect the ability of the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(v) No Violation.  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in breach or violation of or in default (nor has any event occurred which with notice, lapse of time or both would result in any breach or violation of, or constitute a default) (i) in the performance or observance of any term, covenant, obligation, agreement or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, bank loan or credit agreement or other evidence of indebtedness, or any license, lease, contract or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or such subsidiary is a party or by which any of its properties may be bound or affected, or (ii) in the performance or observance of any statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, judgment, order or decree of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Company or such subsidiary or any of its properties, as applicable, except, with respect to clauses (i) and (ii) above, to the extent any such contravention has been waived or would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(w) Permits.  The Company and each of its subsidiaries have made all filings, applications and submissions required by, and own or possess all approvals, licenses, certificates, certifications, clearances, consents, exemptions, marks, notifications, orders, permits and other authorizations issued by, the appropriate federal, state or foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement or Prospectus (collectively, “Permits”), and is in compliance in all material respects with the terms and conditions of all such Permits, except where failure to comply would not, singly or in the aggregate, cause a Material Adverse Effect.  Except as would not result in a Material Adverse Effect, all such Permits are valid and in full force and effect.  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any written notice of any proceedings relating to revocation or modification of, any such Permit, which, individually or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would have a Material Adverse Effect.  Except as may be required under the Securities Act and state and foreign blue sky laws, the rules and regulations of FINRA, and the Exchange, no other Permits are required of the Company for the Company or any of its subsidiaries to enter into, deliver and perform this Agreement, to issue and sell the Placement Shares to be issued and sold by the Company hereunder or to issue Common Stock upon the conversion of the Preferred Stock.

 

(x) Not an Investment Company.  The Company is not or, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Placement Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, will not be (i) required to register as an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder or (ii) a “business development company” (as defined in Section 2(a)(48) of the Investment Company Act).

 

(y) No Price Stabilization.  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, or any of their respective officers, directors, affiliates or controlling persons has taken or will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would be reasonably expected to cause or result in, or which has constituted or which would reasonably be expected to constitute the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Placement Shares.

 

(z) Good Title to Property.  The Company and each of its subsidiaries has (i) good and defensible title to all of its oil and gas properties (including oil and gas wells, oil, gas and mineral leases or mineral interests, licenses, leasehold interests and appurtenant personal property and facilities), with such exceptions as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (ii) good and defensible title to all other real and personal property owned by the Company and each of its subsidiaries, in each case free and clear of all liens, claims, security interests, other encumbrances or defects, except for the Permitted Encumbrances and such as are described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus or such as do not materially affect the value of the properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise, and do not interfere in any material respect with the use made and proposed to be made of such oil, gas and mineral leases or mineral interests, licenses, leasehold interests and properties by the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise; and all of the leases and subleases and licenses under which the Company or any of its subsidiaries holds or uses properties described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus are, to the knowledge of the Company, in full force and effect, with such exceptions as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has any written notice of any claim of any sort that has been asserted by anyone adverse to the rights of the Company or its subsidiaries under any of the leases or subleases or licenses or with respect to the properties mentioned above, or affecting or questioning the rights of the Company or any subsidiary thereof to the continued possession or use of the leased or subleased or licensed premises or the properties mentioned above, other than such claims which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (iii) the net revenue interest of the Company and its subsidiaries in the oil, gas and mineral leases or mineral interests, licenses and leasehold interests or other properties mentioned above and described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus are, to the knowledge of the Company, as stated in such Registration Statement and Prospectus, with such exceptions as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The working interests in oil, gas and mineral leases, licenses or mineral interests which constitute a portion of the real property and interests in real property held by the Company or its subsidiaries reflect in all material respects the right of the Company and each of its subsidiaries to explore, develop or receive and market production from such real property and interests in real property, and the care taken by the Company and each of its subsidiaries with respect to acquiring or otherwise procuring such leases, licenses or mineral interests was generally consistent with standard industry practices in the areas in which the Company and its subsidiaries operate for acquiring or procuring leases, licenses, mineral interests and interests in the foregoing to explore, develop, produce and market hydrocarbons.  To the knowledge of the Company, the Company and each of its subsidiaries have such consents, easements, rights-of-way or licenses and other rights from any person (“rights-of-way”) as are necessary to enable the Company and each of its subsidiaries to conduct its business in the manner described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, subject to such qualifications as may be set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and except for such rights-of-way the lack of which would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(aa) Intellectual Property Rights.  The Company and each of its subsidiaries owns or possesses the right to use all patents, trademarks, trademark registrations, service marks, service mark registrations, trade names, copyrights, licenses, inventions, software, databases, know-how, Internet domain names, trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures, and other intellectual property (collectively, “Intellectual Property”) necessary to carry on its businesses as currently conducted, and as proposed to be conducted as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and the Company is not aware of any claim to the contrary or any challenge by any other person to the rights of the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the foregoing except for those that could not have a Material Adverse Effect.  The Intellectual Property licenses described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus are, to the knowledge of the Company, valid, binding upon, and enforceable by or against the parties thereto in accordance with their terms.  The Company and each of its subsidiaries has complied in all material respects with, and is not in breach nor has received any asserted or threatened claim of breach of, any Intellectual Property license, and the Company has no knowledge of any breach or anticipated breach by any other person of any Intellectual Property license.  The Company’s and each of its subsidiaries’ business as now conducted, does not and will not infringe or conflict with any patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, trade secrets, licenses or other Intellectual Property or franchise right of any person.  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received written notice of any claim against the Company or any of its subsidiaries alleging the infringement by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any patent, trademark, service mark, trade name, copyright, trade secret, license in or other intellectual property right or franchise right of any person.  The Company and each of its subsidiaries has taken all reasonable steps to protect, maintain and safeguard its rights in all Intellectual Property, including the execution of appropriate nondisclosure and confidentiality agreements.  The consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not result in the loss or impairment of or payment of any additional amounts with respect to, nor require the consent of any other person in respect of, the Company’s or any of its subsidiaries’ right to own, use, or hold for use any of the Intellectual Property as owned, used or held for use in the conduct of the businesses as currently conducted.  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries owns any patents or has made application for the issuance of a patent.

 

(bb) No Labor Disputes.  No labor problem or dispute with the employees of the Company or any of the Company’s subsidiaries exists, or, to the Company’s knowledge, is threatened or imminent, which would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.  The Company is not aware that any key employee or significant group of employees of the Company or any of the Company’s subsidiaries plans to terminate employment with the Company or any of the Company’s subsidiaries.  Except for matters which would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, (i) there is (A) no unfair labor practice complaint pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against the Company or any of its subsidiaries before the National Labor Relations Board, and no grievance or arbitration proceeding arising out of or under collective bargaining agreements is pending or to the Company’s knowledge, threatened, (B) no strike, labor dispute, slowdown or stoppage pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against the Company or any of its subsidiaries and (C) no union representation dispute currently existing concerning the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries and (ii) to the Company’s knowledge, (A) no union organizing activities are currently taking place concerning the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries and (B) there has been no violation of any federal, state, local or foreign law relating to discrimination in the hiring, promotion or pay of employees, any applicable wage or hour laws or any provision of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder concerning the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

 

(cc) Taxes.  Except as disclosed in its filings with the Commission, the Company and each of its subsidiaries (i) has timely filed all necessary federal, state, local and foreign income and franchise tax returns (or timely filed applicable extensions therefor) that have been required to be filed and (ii) is not in default in the payment of any taxes which were payable pursuant to such returns or any assessments with respect thereto, other than any which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is contesting in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been provided and reflected in the Company’s financial statements included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has any tax deficiency that has been or, to the knowledge of the Company, is reasonably likely to be asserted or threatened against it that would result in a Material Adverse Effect.  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has engaged in any transaction identified as a “listed transaction” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.6011-4(b)(2) or any transaction that is “substantially similar” (within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.6011-4(c)(4)) to a “listed transaction.”

 

(dd) ERISA.  To the knowledge of the Company, the Company and each of its subsidiaries is in compliance in all material respects with all presently applicable provisions of ERISA; no “reportable event” (as defined in ERISA) has occurred with respect to any “pension plan” (as defined in ERISA) for which the Company or any of its subsidiaries would have any liability; neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has incurred and does not expect to incur liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any “pension plan” or (ii) Sections 412 or 4971 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (the “Code”); and each “pension plan” for which the Company or any of its subsidiaries would have any liability that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified in all material respects and nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which would cause the loss of such qualification.

 

(ee) Compliance with Environmental Laws.  The Company and each of its subsidiaries (i) is in compliance with any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws, orders, rules, regulations, directives, decrees, decisions and judgments relating to the use, treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous or toxic substances or waste and protection of human health and safety or the environment which are applicable to their businesses (“Environmental Laws”); (ii) has received and is in compliance with all permits, licenses or other approvals required of it under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct its business; and (iii) is in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval, except, with respect to clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) where such noncompliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals or failure to comply with the terms and conditions of such permits, licenses or approvals would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.  There are no costs or liabilities associated with Environmental Laws (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties) which would, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(ff) Insurance.  The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintains or is covered by insurance provided by recognized, financially sound and reputable institutions with insurance policies in such amounts and covering such risks as is adequate for the conduct of its business and the value of its properties and as is customary for companies engaged in similar businesses in similar industries.  All such insurance is fully in force on the date hereof and will be fully in force as of the Closing.  The Company has no reason to believe that it and its subsidiaries will not be able to renew their existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not have a Material Adverse Effect. Since January 1, 2009, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has been denied any material insurance policy or coverage for which it has applied.  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries insures risk of loss through any captive insurance, risk retention group, reciprocal group or by means of any fund or pool of assets specifically set aside for contingent liabilities other than as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

 

(gg) Accounting Controls.  The Company maintains a system of internal accounting controls designed to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.

 

(hh) Disclosure Controls.  The Company has established, maintains and evaluates “disclosure controls and procedures” (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act), which (i) are designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company and its subsidiaries is made known to the Company’s principal executive officer and its principal financial officer by others within those entities, particularly during the periods in which the periodic reports required under the Exchange Act are being prepared, (ii) have been evaluated for effectiveness as of the end of the last fiscal period covered by the Registration Statement; and (iii) except as described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, such disclosure controls and procedures are effective to perform the functions for which they were established.  Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there are no significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize, or report financial data to management and the board of directors of the Company.  The Company is not aware of any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a role in the Company’s internal controls; and since the date of the most recent evaluation of such disclosure controls and procedures, there have been no significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls, other than any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

 

(ii) Minute Books.  The minute books of the Company have been made available (other than certain personnel and other information) upon request to MLV and counsel for MLV, and such books (i) contain a materially complete summary of all meetings and actions of the board of directors (including each board committee) and stockholders of the Company (or analogous governing bodies and interest holders, as applicable) for the requested periods, through the date of the latest meeting and action, to the extent the minutes of such meetings have been reduced to writing as of the date of this Agreement, and (ii) accurately in all material respects reflect all transactions referred to in such minutes.

 

(jj) Contracts; Off-Balance Sheet Interests.  There is no document, contract, permit or instrument, or off-balance sheet transaction (including without limitation, any “variable interests” in “variable interest entities,” as such terms are defined in Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 46) of a character required by the Securities Act to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or document incorporated by reference therein, which is not described or filed as required.  Each description of a document, contract, permit or instrument in the Registration Statement or Prospectus accurately reflects in all material respects the terms of the underlying document, contract, permit or instrument.  The documents, contracts, permits and instruments described in the immediately preceding sentence to which the Company is a party have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, constitute valid and binding agreements of the Company, are enforceable against and, to the knowledge of the Company, by the Company in accordance with the terms thereof and are in full force and effect on the date hereof.  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, if a subsidiary is a party, nor to the Company’s knowledge, any other party is in default in the observance or performance of any term or obligation to be performed by it under any such agreement, and no event has occurred which with notice or lapse of time or both would constitute such a default, in any case which default or event, individually or in the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect.  No default exists, and no event has occurred which with notice or lapse of time or both would constitute a default, in the due performance and observance of any term, covenant or condition, by the Company or a subsidiary, if a subsidiary is a party thereto, of any agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or its properties or business or a subsidiary or the subsidiary’s properties or business may be bound or affected which default or event, individually or in the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(kk) No Undisclosed Relationships.  No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company on the one hand and the directors, officers, stockholders, customers or suppliers of the Company or any of their affiliates on the other hand, which is required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or a document incorporated by reference therein and which has not been so described.

 

(ll) Brokers’ Fees.  Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any person (other than this Agreement) that would give rise to a claim against the Company or MLV for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or other like payment in connection with the offering and sale of the Placement Shares.

 

(mm) Forward-Looking Statements.  The Company has no actual knowledge that any forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained in either the Registration Statement or the Prospectus at the time it was made or upon any reaffirmation thereof by the Company, was false or misleading in any respect.

 

(nn) Sarbanes-Oxley Act.  To the knowledge of the Company, the Company and each of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, are in compliance in all material respects with all applicable effective provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and any related rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission.  Each of the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer of the Company (and each former principal executive officer of the Company and each former principal financial officer of the Company as applicable) has made all certifications required by Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act with respect to all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be filed by him or her with the Commission.  For purposes of the preceding sentence, “principal executive officer” and “principal financial officer” shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

 

(oo) Foreign Corrupt Practices.  Neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company, including without limitation any director, officer, agent or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has, directly or indirectly, while acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (i) used any corporate funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating to political activity or failed to disclose fully any contribution in violation of law, (ii) made any payment to any federal or state governmental officer or official, or other person charged with similar public or quasi-public duties, other than payments required or permitted by the laws of the United States or any jurisdiction thereof, (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or (iv) made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment.

 

(pp) Affiliate Transactions.  There are no transactions, arrangements or other relationships between and/or among the Company, any of its affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 405) and any unconsolidated entity, including, but not limited to, any structured finance, special purpose or limited purpose entity that could reasonably be expected to materially affect the Company’s liquidity or the availability of or requirements for its capital resources required to be described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or a document incorporated by reference therein which have not been described as required.  The Company does not, directly or indirectly, including through any subsidiary, have any outstanding personal loans or other credit extended to or for any of its directors or executive officers.

 

(qq) Statistical or Market-Related Data.  Any statistical, industry-related or market-related data included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or, are based on or derived from sources that the Company reasonably and in good faith believes to be reliable and accurate, and such data agree with the sources from which they are derived.

 

(rr) Money Laundering Laws.  The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance in all material respects with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the USA PATRIOT Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency within the United States, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending, or to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

 

(ss) OFAC.  Neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the Placement, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any affiliate, joint venture partner or other person or entity, which, to the Company’s knowledge, will use such proceeds for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

 

(tt) Margin Securities.  The Company does not own any “margin securities” as that term is defined in Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve Board”), and none of the proceeds of the sale of the Placement Shares will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin security, for the purpose of reducing or retiring any indebtedness which was originally incurred to purchase or carry any margin security or for any other purpose which might cause any of the Placement Shares to be considered a “purpose credit” within the meanings of Regulation T, U or X of the Federal Reserve Board.

 

(uu) FINRA Affiliations.  There are no affiliations or associations between (i) any member of the FINRA and (ii) the Company or, to the knowledge of the Company, any of the Company’s officers, directors or 5% or greater security holders or any beneficial owner of the Company’s unregistered equity securities that were acquired at any time on or after the one hundred eightieth (180th) day immediately preceding the date the Registration Statement was initially filed with the Commission, except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, or on Schedule 5 hereto.

 

(vv) Exchange Act Requirements.  The Company has filed in a timely manner all reports required to be filed pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(e), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the preceding 12 months (except to the extent that Section 15(d) requires reports to be filed pursuant to Sections 13(d) and 13(g) of the Exchange Act, which shall be governed by the next clause of this sentence); and the Company has filed in a timely manner all reports required to be filed pursuant to Sections 13(d) and 13(g) of the Exchange Act, except where the failure to timely file could not reasonably be expected individually or in the aggregate to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(ww) Trading Market.  No approval of the stockholders of the Company under the rules and regulations of the Exchange is required for the Company to issue and deliver the Placement Shares.

 

(xx) Independent Engineers. Each of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. (“Netherland”) and MHA Petroleum Consultants, Inc. (“MHA”) are petroleum engineering consulting firms from whose reserve reports information is contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, and act as independent petroleum engineers with respect to the Company. Other than (i) the production of reserves in the ordinary course of business, (ii) intervening price fluctuations or (iii) as described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, the Company is not aware of any facts or circumstances that would result in a material adverse change in its proved net reserves in the aggregate, or the aggregate present value of estimated future net revenues of the Company or the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows therefrom, as described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, and reflected in the reserve information as of the respective dates such information is given. The information underlying the estimates of the proved net reserves of the Company and each of its subsidiaries that was supplied by the Company and/or its subsidiaries to Netherland and MHA for the purposes of preparing the reports of Netherland and MHA referenced in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, and estimates of proved reserves of the Company and its subsidiaries disclosed in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, including, production, costs of operation, and future operations and sales of production, was true and correct in all material respects on the dates such information was provided, and such information was supplied and was prepared in accordance with customary industry practices. The estimates of proved reserves of the Company and its subsidiaries that were prepared by or on behalf of the Company that are disclosed in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, including, production, costs of operation, and future operations and sales of production, are true and correct in all material respects. Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, including the oil and natural gas production and reserve information and estimates of future net revenues and discounted future net cash flows identified as the SEC Case (and with respect to discounted future net cash flows, the “standardized measure” and not the pre-tax PV-10) included or incorporated by reference therein, will comply, in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and Item 1200 of Regulation S-K and Rule 4.10(a) of Regulation S-X, Industry Guide 2 under the Securities Act and Statement of Financial Accounting Standards Board No. 69, Disclosures about Oil and Petroleum Producing Activities, as amended to date.

 

Any certificate signed by an officer of the Company and delivered to MLV or to counsel for MLV pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Company to MLV as to the matters set forth therein.

 

 

7. Covenants of the Company.  The Company covenants and agrees with MLV that:

 

(a) Registration Statement Amendments.  After the date of this Agreement and during any period in which a prospectus relating to any Placement Shares is required to be delivered by MLV under the Securities Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act) (the “Prospectus Delivery Period”), (i) the Company will notify MLV promptly of the time when any subsequent amendment to the Registration Statement, other than documents incorporated by reference or amendments not related to any Placement, has been filed with the Commission and/or has become effective or any subsequent supplement to the Prospectus, other than documents incorporated by reference, has been filed and of any request by the Commission for any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus related to the Placement or for additional information related to a Placement, (ii) the Company will prepare and file with the Commission, promptly upon MLV’s request, any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus that, upon advice of the Company’s legal counsel, may be necessary or advisable in connection with the distribution of the Placement Shares by MLV (provided, however, that the failure of MLV to make such request shall not relieve the Company of any obligation or liability hereunder, or affect MLV’s right to rely on the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement and provided, further, that the only remedy MLV shall have with respect to the failure to make such filing shall be to cease making sales under this Agreement until such amendment or supplement is filed); and (iii) the Company will cause each amendment or supplement to the Prospectus to be filed with the Commission as required pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act or, in the case of any document to be incorporated therein by reference, to be filed with the Commission as required pursuant to the Exchange Act, within the time period prescribed (the determination to file or not file any amendment or supplement with the Commission under this Section 7(a), based on the Company’s reasonable opinion or reasonable objections, shall be made exclusively by the Company). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company will not file any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus, other than documents incorporated by reference, relating to the Placement Shares or a security convertible into the Placement Shares unless a copy thereof has been submitted to MLV within a reasonable period of time before the filing and MLV has not reasonably and in good faith objected thereto (provided, however, that (A) the failure of MLV to make such objection shall not relieve the Company of any obligation or liability hereunder, or affect MLV’s right to rely on the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement and (B) the Company has no obligation to provide MLV with any advance copy of such filing or to provide MLV with the opportunity to object to such filing if such filing does not name MLV or does not relate to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and provided, further, that the only remedy MLV shall have with respect to the failure by the Company to obtain such consent shall be to cease making sales under this Agreement) and the Company will furnish to MLV at the time of filing thereof a copy of any document that upon filing is deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement or Prospectus, except for those documents available via EDGAR.

 

(b) Notice of Commission Stop Orders.  The Company will advise MLV, promptly after it receives notice or obtains knowledge thereof, of the issuance or threatened issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, of the suspension of the qualification of the Placement Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose; and it will promptly use its commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such a stop order should be issued.  The Company will advise MLV promptly after it receives any request by the Commission for any amendments to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplements to the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or for additional information related to the offering of the Placement Shares or for additional information related to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.

 

(c) Delivery of Prospectus; Subsequent Changes.  During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to comply in all material respects with all requirements imposed upon it by the Securities Act, as from time to time in force, and to file on or before their respective due dates all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, 15(d) or any other provision of or under the Exchange Act.  If the Company has omitted any information from the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act, it will use its commercially reasonable efforts to comply with the provisions of and make all requisite filings with the Commission pursuant to said Rule 430A and to notify MLV promptly of all such filings.  If during such period any event occurs as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances then existing, not misleading, or if during such period it is necessary to amend or supplement the Registration Statement or Prospectus to comply with the Securities Act, the Company will promptly notify MLV to suspend the offering of Placement Shares during such period and the Company will promptly amend or supplement the Registration Statement or Prospectus (at the expense of the Company) so as to correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may elect to delay the filing of any such amendment or supplement if, in the Company’s judgment, it is in the best interest of the Company to do so.

 

(d) Listing of Placement Shares.  During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Placement Shares to be listed on the Exchange and to qualify the Placement Shares for sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as MLV reasonably designates and to continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Placement Shares; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith to qualify as a foreign corporation or dealer in securities or file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction.

 

(e) Delivery of Registration Statement and Prospectus.  The Company will furnish to MLV and its counsel (at the reasonable expense of the Company) copies of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus (including all documents incorporated by reference therein) and all amendments and supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus that are filed with the Commission during the Prospectus Delivery Period (including all documents filed with the Commission during such period that are deemed to be incorporated by reference therein), in each case as soon as reasonably practicable and in such quantities as MLV may from time to time reasonably request and, at MLV’s reasonable request, will also furnish copies of the Prospectus to each exchange or market on which sales of the Placement Shares may be made; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to furnish any document (other than the Prospectus) to MLV to the extent such document is available on EDGAR.

 

(f) Earnings Statement.  The Company will make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than 15 months after the end of the Company’s current fiscal quarter, an earnings statement covering a 12-month period that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 under the Securities Act.

 

(g) Use of Proceeds.  The Company will use the Net Proceeds as described in the Prospectus in the section entitled “Use of Proceeds.”

 

(h) Notice of Other Sales.  Without the prior written consent of MLV, the Company will not, directly or indirectly, offer to sell, sell, contract to sell, grant any option to sell or otherwise dispose of any Common Stock or Preferred Stock (other than the Placement Shares offered pursuant to this Agreement) or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock or Preferred Stock, warrants or any rights to purchase or acquire, Common Stock or Preferred Stock during the period beginning on the fifth (5th) Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which any Placement Notice is delivered to MLV hereunder and ending on the fifth (5th) Trading Day immediately following the final Settlement Date with respect to Placement Shares sold pursuant to such Placement Notice (or, if the Placement Notice has been terminated or suspended prior to the sale of all Placement Shares covered by a Placement Notice, the date of such suspension or termination); and will not directly or indirectly in any other “at the market offering” or continuous equity transaction offer to sell, sell, contract to sell, grant any option to sell or otherwise dispose of any Common Stock or Preferred Stock (other than the Placement Shares offered pursuant to this Agreement) or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock or Preferred Stock, warrants or any rights to purchase or acquire, Common Stock or Preferred Stock prior to the termination of this Agreement; provided, however, that such restrictions will not be required in connection with the Company’s issuance or sale of (i) Common Stock or Preferred Stock, options to purchase Common Stock or Preferred Stock or Common Stock or Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise of options, pursuant to any employee or director stock incentive or benefits plan, stock ownership plan or dividend reinvestment plan (but not Common Stock or Preferred Stock subject to a waiver to exceed plan limits in its dividend reinvestment plan) of the Company whether now in effect or hereafter implemented; (ii) Common Stock or Preferred Stock issuable upon conversion of securities or the exercise of warrants, options or other rights in effect or outstanding, and disclosed in filings by the Company available on EDGAR or otherwise in writing to MLV and (iii) Common Stock or Preferred Stock, or securities convertible into or exercisable for Common Stock or Preferred Stock, offered and sold in a privately negotiated transaction to vendors, customers, consultants, strategic partners or potential strategic partners or other investors conducted in a manner so as not to be integrated with the offering of the Placement Shares hereby.

 

(i) Change of Circumstances.  The Company will, at any time during the pendency of a Placement Notice advise MLV promptly after it shall have received notice or obtained knowledge thereof, of any information or fact that would alter or affect in any material respect any opinion, certificate, letter or other document required to be provided to MLV pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(j) Due Diligence Cooperation.  During the term of this Agreement, the Company will cooperate with any reasonable due diligence review conducted by MLV or its representatives in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, providing information and making available documents and senior corporate officers, during regular business hours and at the Company’s principal offices or such other location as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties, as MLV may reasonably request.

 

(k) Required Filings Relating to Placement of Placement Shares.  The Company agrees that on such dates as the Securities Act shall require, the Company will (i) file a prospectus supplement with the Commission under the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act (each and every filing under Rule 424(b), a “Filing Date”), which prospectus supplement will set forth, within the relevant period, the amount of Placement Shares to be sold through MLV, the Net Proceeds to the Company and the compensation payable by the Company to MLV with respect to such Placement Shares (provided that the Company may satisfy its obligations under this Section 7(k)(i) by effecting a filing in accordance with the Exchange Act with respect to such information, and (ii) deliver such number of copies of each such prospectus supplement to each exchange or market on which such sales were effected as may be required by the rules or regulations of such exchange or market.

 

(l) Representation Dates; Certificate.  Each time during the term of this Agreement that the Company:

 

(i) amends or supplements (other than a prospectus supplement relating solely to an offering of securities other than the Placement Shares) the Registration Statement or the Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares by means of a post-effective amendment, sticker, or supplement but not by means of incorporation of documents by reference into the Registration Statement or the Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares;

 

(ii) files an annual report on Form 10-K under the Exchange Act (including any Form 10-K/A containing amended financial information or a material amendment to the previously filed Form 10-K);

 

(iii) files its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q under the Exchange Act; or

 

(iv) files a current report on Form 8-K containing amended financial information (other than information “furnished” pursuant to Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K or to provide disclosure pursuant to Item 8.01 of Form 8-K relating to the reclassification of certain properties as discontinued operations in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144) under the Exchange Act;

 

(Each date of filing of one or more of the documents referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) shall be a “Representation Date”)

 

the Company shall furnish MLV (but in the case of clause (iv) above only if MLV reasonably determines that the information contained in such Form 8-K is material) with a certificate, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 7(l).  The requirement to provide a certificate under this Section 7(l) shall be waived for any Representation Date occurring at a time at which no Placement Notice is pending, which waiver shall continue until the earlier to occur of the date the Company delivers a Placement Notice hereunder (which for such calendar quarter shall be considered a Representation Date) and the next occurring Representation Date; provided that such waiver shall not apply for any Representation Date on which the Company files its annual report on Form 10-K.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company subsequently decides to sell Placement Shares following a Representation Date when the Company relied on such waiver and did not provide MLV with a certificate under this Section 7(l), then before the Company delivers the Placement Notice or MLV sells any Placement Shares, the Company shall provide MLV with a certificate, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 7(l), dated the date of the Placement Notice.

 

(m) Legal Opinion.  On or prior to the date of the first Placement Notice given hereunder and thereafter within five (5) Trading Days of each Representation Date with respect to which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 7(l) for which no waiver is applicable, the Company shall cause to be furnished to MLV written opinions and negative assurance of Jones & Keller, P.C. (“Company Counsel”), or other counsel reasonably satisfactory to MLV, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to MLV and its counsel, modified, as necessary, to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented, and with customary assumptions and exceptions; provided, however, the Company shall be required to furnish to MLV no more than one opinion hereunder per calendar quarter; provided, further, that in lieu of such opinions for subsequent periodic filings under the Exchange Act, counsel may furnish MLV with a letter (a “Reliance Letter”) to the effect that MLV may rely on the negative assurance letter previously delivered under this Section 7(m) to the same extent as if it were dated the date of such letter (except that statements in such prior letter shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented as of the date of the Reliance Letter).

 

(n) Comfort Letter.  On or prior to the date of the first Placement Notice given hereunder and thereafter within five (5) Trading Days after each subsequent Representation Date, other than pursuant to Section 7(l)(iii), with respect to which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 7(l) for which no waiver is applicable, the Company shall cause its independent accountants to furnish MLV letters (the “Comfort Letters”), dated the date the Comfort Letters are delivered, which shall meet the requirements set forth in this Section 7(n); provided that MLV may request that the Company cause the Comfort Letters to be furnished to MLV within ten (10) Trading Days of the date of occurrence of any restatement of the Company’s financial statements.  The Comfort Letters from the Company’s independent accountants shall be in a form and substance reasonably satisfactory to MLV, (i) confirming that they are an independent public accounting firm within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”), (ii) stating, as of such date, the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and other matters ordinarily covered by accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters in connection with registered public offerings (the first such letter, the “Initial Comfort Letter”) and (iii) updating the Initial Comfort Letter with any information that would have been included in the Initial Comfort Letter had it been given on such date and modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as amended and supplemented to the date of such letter.

 

(o) Market Activities.  The Company will not, directly or indirectly, (i) take any action designed to cause or result in, or that constitutes or would reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of Common Stock or Preferred Stock or (ii) sell, bid for, or purchase Common Stock or Preferred Stock in violation of Regulation M, or pay anyone any compensation for soliciting purchases of the Placement Shares other than MLV.

 

(p) Investment Company Act.  The Company will conduct its affairs in such a manner so that neither it nor any of its subsidiaries will be or become, at any time prior to the termination of this Agreement, an “investment company,” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act.

 

(q) No Offer to Sell.  Other than an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus approved in advance by the Company and MLV in its capacity as agent hereunder, neither MLV nor the Company (including its agents and representatives, other than MLV in its capacity as such) will make, use, prepare, authorize, approve or refer to any written communication (as defined in Rule 405), required to be filed with the Commission, that constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy Placement Shares hereunder.

 

(r) Sarbanes-Oxley Act.  The Company will maintain and keep accurate books and records reflecting its assets and maintain internal accounting controls in a manner designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and including those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company, (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, (iii) that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with management’s and the Company’s directors’ authorization, and (iv) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on its financial statements.  The Company will maintain such controls and other procedures, including, without limitation, those required by Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and the applicable regulations thereunder that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, including, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and to ensure that material information relating to the Company or the subsidiaries is made known to them by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which such periodic reports are being prepared.

 

 

8. Representations and Covenants of MLV.  MLV represents and warrants that (a) it has full legal right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and perform the transactions contemplated hereby, (b) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by MLV and is a legal, valid and binding agreement of MLV enforceable against MLV in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that (i) enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles and (ii) the indemnification and contribution provisions of Section 11 hereof may be limited by federal or state securities laws and public policy considerations in respect thereof, (c) there are no legal, governmental or regulatory actions, suits or proceedings pending, nor, to the knowledge of MLV, any legal, governmental or regulatory investigations, to which MLV is a party or to which any property of MLV is the subject that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the ability of the MLV to perform its obligations under this Agreement, and to the knowledge of MLV, no such actions, suits or proceedings are threatened or contemplated by any governmental or regulatory authority or threatened by others, and (d) it is duly registered as a broker-dealer under FINRA, the Exchange Act and the applicable statutes and regulations of each state in which the Placement Shares will be offered and sold, except such states in which MLV is exempt from registration or such registration is not otherwise required.  MLV shall continue, for the term of this Agreement, to be duly registered as a broker-dealer under FINRA, the Exchange Act and the applicable statutes and regulations of each state in which the Placement Shares will be offered and sold, except such states in which MLV is exempt from registration or such registration is not otherwise required, during the term of this Agreement. MLV will comply with all applicable laws and regulations in connection with the Placement Shares, including but not limited to Regulation M, in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the issuance and sale through MLV of the Placement Shares.

 

9. Payment of Expenses.  The Company will pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including (i) the preparation, filing, including any fees required by the Commission, and printing of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits) as originally filed and of each amendment and supplement thereto and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, in such number as MLV shall deem reasonably necessary, (ii) the printing and delivery to MLV of this Agreement and such other documents as may be reasonably required in connection with the offering, purchase, sale, issuance or delivery of the Placement Shares, (iii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the certificates, if any, for the Placement Shares to MLV, including any stock or other transfer taxes and any capital duties, stamp duties or other duties or taxes payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the Placement Shares to MLV, (iv) the fees and disbursements of the counsel, accountants and other advisors to the Company, (v)  the fees and disbursements of counsel to MLV in connection with this Agreement up to $15,000 in the aggregate, (vi) the fees and expenses of the transfer agent and registrar for the Placement Shares, (vii) the filing fees incident to any review by FINRA of the terms of the sale of the Placement Shares, and (viii) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Placement Shares on the Exchange.

 

10. Conditions to MLV’s Obligations.  The obligations of MLV hereunder with respect to a Placement will be subject to the continuing accuracy and completeness of the representations and warranties made by the Company herein, to the due performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder, to the completion by MLV of a due diligence review satisfactory to it in its reasonable judgment, and to the continuing satisfaction (or waiver by MLV in its sole discretion) of the following additional conditions:

 

(a) Registration Statement Effective.  The Registration Statement shall have become effective and shall be available for the sale of all Placement Shares contemplated to be issued by any Placement Notice.

 

(b) No Material Notices.  None of the following events shall have occurred and be continuing: (i) receipt by the Company of any request for additional information from the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority during the period of effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the response to which would require any post-effective amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus  which have not, as of the time of such Placement, been so made; (ii) the issuance by the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose; (iii) receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Placement Shares for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; or (iv) the occurrence of any event that makes any material statement made in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any material document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement, it will not contain any materially untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and, that in the case of the Prospectus, it will not contain any materially untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

(c) No Misstatement or Material Omission.  MLV shall not have advised the Company that the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, contains an untrue statement of fact that in MLV’s reasonable opinion is material, or omits to state a fact that in MLV’s reasonable opinion is material and is required to be stated therein or is necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

 

(d) Material Changes.  Except as contemplated in the Prospectus, or disclosed in the Company’s reports filed with the Commission, there shall not have been any Material Adverse Effect, or any development that would reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Effect in each case is so material as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering of the Placement Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.

 

(e) Legal Opinion.  MLV shall have received the opinions and negative assurance letter of Company Counsel required to be delivered pursuant Section 7(m) on or before the date on which such delivery of such documents are required pursuant to Section 7(m).

 

(f) Comfort Letter.  MLV shall have received the Comfort Letter required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7(n) on or before the date on which such delivery of such letter is required pursuant to Section 7(n).

 

(g) Representation Certificate.  MLV shall have received the certificate required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7(l) on or before the date on which delivery of such certificate is required pursuant to Section 7(l).

 

(h) No Suspension.  Trading in the Common Stock or Preferred Stock shall not have been suspended on the Exchange, and the Common Stock or Preferred Stock shall not have been delisted from the Exchange.

 

(i) Securities Act Filings Made.  All filings with the Commission required by Rule 424 under the Securities Act to have been filed prior to the issuance of any Placement Notice hereunder shall have been made within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by Rule 424.

 

(j) Approval for Listing.  The Placement Shares shall either have been approved for listing on the Exchange, subject only to notice of issuance, or the Company shall have filed an application for listing of the Placement Shares on the Exchange at, or prior to, the issuance of any Placement Notice.

 

(k) No Termination Event.  There shall not have occurred any event that would permit MLV to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 13(a).

 

11. Indemnification and Contribution.

 

(a) Company Indemnification.  The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless MLV, its partners, members, directors, officers, employees and agents and each person, if any, who controls, is under common control with or is controlled by, MLV within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act as follows:

 

(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, joint or several, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any related Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

 

(ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, joint or several, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that (subject to Section 11(d) below) any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company, which consent shall not unreasonably be delayed or withheld; and

 

(iii) against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above,

 

provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made solely in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by MLV expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or in any related Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).

 

(b) MLV Indemnification.  MLV agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its directors and each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who (i) controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act or (ii) is controlled by or is under common control with the Company against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in Section 11(a), as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any amendments thereto) the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to MLV and furnished to the Company in writing by MLV expressly for use therein.

 

 

(c) Procedure.  Any party that proposes to assert the right to be indemnified under this Section 11 will, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action against such party in respect of which a claim is to be made against an indemnifying party or parties under this Section 11, notify each such indemnifying party of the commencement of such action, enclosing a copy of all papers served, but the omission so to notify such indemnifying party will not relieve the indemnifying party from (i) any liability that it might have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 11 and (ii) any liability that it may have to any indemnified party under the foregoing provision of this Section 11 unless, and only to the extent that, such omission results in the forfeiture or material impairment of substantive rights or defenses by the indemnifying party.  If any such action is brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies the indemnifying party of its commencement, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in and, to the extent that it elects by delivering written notice to the indemnified party promptly after receiving notice of the commencement of the action from the indemnified party, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense of the action, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the defense, the indemnifying party will not be liable to the indemnified party for any legal or other expenses except as provided below and except for the reasonable costs of investigation subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense.  The indemnified party will have the right to employ its own counsel in any such action, but the fees, expenses and other charges of such counsel will be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (1) the employment of counsel by the indemnified party has been authorized in writing by the indemnifying party, (2) the indemnified party has reasonably concluded (based on written advice of counsel) that there may be legal defenses available to it or other indemnified parties that are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party, (3) a conflict or potential conflict exists (based on written advice of counsel to the indemnified party) between the indemnified party and the indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party will not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party) or (4) the indemnifying party has not in fact employed counsel to assume the defense of such action within a reasonable time after receiving notice of the commencement of the action, in each of which cases the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel will be at the expense of the indemnifying party or parties.  It is understood that the indemnifying party or parties shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of more than one separate firm admitted to practice in such jurisdiction at any one time for all such indemnified party or parties.  All such fees, disbursements and other charges will be reimbursed by the indemnifying party promptly after the indemnifying party receives a written invoice relating to fees, disbursements and other charges in reasonable detail. An indemnifying party will not, in any event, be liable for any settlement of any action or claim effected without its written consent.  No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of each indemnified party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any pending or threatened claim, action or proceeding relating to the matters contemplated by this Section 11 (whether or not any indemnified party is a party thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (1) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (2) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

 

(d) Contribution.  In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in circumstances in which the indemnification provided for in the foregoing paragraphs of this Section 11 is applicable in accordance with its terms but for any reason is held to be unavailable from the Company or MLV, the Company and MLV will contribute to the total losses, claims, liabilities, expenses and damages (including any investigative, legal and other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with, and any amount paid in settlement of, any action, suit or proceeding or any claim asserted, but after deducting any contribution received by the Company from persons other than MLV, such as persons who control the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, officers of the Company who signed the Registration Statement and directors of the Company, who also may be liable for contribution) to which the Company and MLV may be subject in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and MLV on the other hand.  The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and MLV on the other hand shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the sale of the Placement Shares (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total compensation received by MLV (before deducting expenses) from the sale of Placement Shares on behalf of the Company.  If, but only if, the allocation provided by the foregoing sentence is not permitted by applicable law, the allocation of contribution shall be made in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in the foregoing sentence but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and MLV, on the other hand, with respect to the statements or omission that resulted in such loss, claim, liability, expense or damage, or action in respect thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations with respect to such offering.  Such relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or MLV, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.  The Company and MLV agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 11(d) were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein.  The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, liability, expense, or damage, or action in respect thereof, referred to above in this Section 11(d) shall be deemed to include, for the purpose of this Section 11(d), any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim to the extent consistent with Section 11(c) hereof.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 11(d), MLV shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the commissions received by it under this Agreement and no person found guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) will be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.  For purposes of this Section 11(d), any person who controls a party to this Agreement within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any officers, directors, partners, employees or agents of MLV, will have the same rights to contribution as that party, and each officer and director of the Company who signed the Registration Statement will have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the provisions hereof.  Any party entitled to contribution, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action against such party in respect of which a claim for contribution may be made under this Section 11(d), will notify any such party or parties from whom contribution may be sought, but the omission to so notify will not relieve that party or parties from whom contribution may be sought from any other obligation it or they may have under this Section 11(d) except to the extent that the failure to so notify such other party materially prejudiced the substantive rights or defenses of the party from whom contribution is sought.  Except for a settlement entered into pursuant to the last sentence of Section 11(c) hereof, no party will be liable for contribution with respect to any action or claim settled without its written consent if such consent is required pursuant to Section 11(c) hereof.

 

 

12. Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery.  The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in Section 11 of this Agreement and all representations and warranties of the Company and MLV herein or in certificates delivered pursuant hereto shall survive, as of their respective dates, regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of MLV, any controlling persons, or the Company (or any of their respective officers, directors or controlling persons), (ii) delivery and acceptance of the Placement Shares and payment therefor or (iii) any termination of this Agreement.

 

13. Termination.

 

(a) MLV may terminate this Agreement, by notice to the Company, as hereinafter specified at any time (1) if there has been, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the date as of which information is given in the Prospectus, any Material Adverse Effect, or any development has occurred that is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect or, in the reasonable judgment of MLV, is material and adverse and makes it impractical or inadvisable to market the Placement Shares or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Placement Shares, (2) if there has occurred any material adverse change in the financial markets in the United States or the international financial markets, any outbreak of hostilities or escalation thereof or other calamity or crisis or any change or development involving a prospective change in national or international political, financial or economic conditions, in each case the effect of which is such as to make it, in the reasonable judgment of MLV, impracticable or inadvisable to market the Placement Shares or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Placement Shares, (3) if trading in the Common Stock or Preferred Stock has been suspended or limited by the Commission or the Exchange, or if trading generally on the Exchange has been suspended or limited, or minimum prices for trading have been fixed on the Exchange, (4) if any suspension of trading of any securities of the Company on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market shall have occurred and be continuing, (5) if a major disruption of securities settlements or clearance services in the United States shall have occurred and be continuing, or (6) if a banking moratorium has been declared by either U.S. Federal or New York authorities.  Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 9 (Payment of Expenses), Section 11 (Indemnification and Contribution), Section 12 (Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery), Section 18 (Governing Law and Time; Waiver of Jury Trial) and Section 19 (Consent to Jurisdiction) hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.  If MLV elects to terminate this Agreement as provided in this Section 13(a), MLV shall provide the required notice as specified in Section 14 (Notices).

 

 

(b) The Company shall have the right, by giving ten (10) days’ notice as hereinafter specified to terminate this Agreement in its sole discretion at any time after the date of this Agreement.  Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 9 (Payment of Expenses), Section 11 (Indemnification and Contribution), Section 12 (Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery), Section 18 (Governing Law and Time; Waiver of Jury Trial) and Section 19 (Consent to Jurisdiction) hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.

 

(c) MLV shall have the right, by giving ten (10) days’ notice as hereinafter specified to terminate this Agreement in its sole discretion at any time after the date of this Agreement.  Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 9 (Payment of Expenses), Section 11 (Indemnification and Contribution), Section 12 (Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery), Section 18 (Governing Law and Time; Waiver of Jury Trial) and Section 19 (Consent to Jurisdiction) hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.

 

(d) Unless earlier terminated pursuant to this Section 13, this Agreement shall automatically terminate upon the issuance and sale of all of the Placement Shares through MLV on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein except that the provisions of Section 9 (Payment of Expenses), Section 11 (Indemnification and Contribution), Section 12 (Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery), Section 18 (Governing Law and Time; Waiver of Jury Trial) and Section 19 (Consent to Jurisdiction) hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.

 

(e) This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect unless terminated pursuant to Sections 13(a), (b), (c), or (d) above or otherwise by mutual agreement of the parties; provided, however, that any such termination by mutual agreement shall in all cases be deemed to provide that Section 9 (Payment of Expenses), Section 11 (Indemnification and Contribution), Section 12 (Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery), Section 18 (Governing Law and Time; Waiver of Jury Trial) and Section 19 (Consent to Jurisdiction) hereof shall remain in full force and effect.  Upon termination of this Agreement, the Company shall not have any liability to MLV for any discount, commission or other compensation with respect to any Placement Shares not otherwise sold by MLV under this Agreement.

 

(f) Any termination of this Agreement shall be effective on the date specified in such notice of termination; provided, however, that such termination shall not be effective until the close of business on the date of receipt of such notice by MLV or the Company, as the case may be.  If such termination shall occur prior to the Settlement Date for any sale of Placement Shares, such Placement Shares shall settle in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

 

14. Notices.  All notices or other communications required or permitted to be given by any party to any other party pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing, unless otherwise specified, and if sent to MLV, shall be delivered to:

 

MLV & Co. LLC

1251 Avenue of the Americas, 41st Floor

New York, NY  10020

Attention: President

Email: ***@***

Facsimile No.: (212) 542-5870

 

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

LeClairRyan, A Professional Corporation

885 Third Avenue

Sixteenth Floor

New York, New York 10022

Attention:  James T. Seery

Email: ***@***

Facsimile No.:   ###-###-####

 

 

and if to the Company, shall be delivered to:

Yuma Energy, Inc.

1177 West Loop South, Suite 1825

Houston, Texas 77027

Attn: Chief Financial Officer

Email: ***@***

Facsimile No.: (713) 968-7015

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Jones & Keller, P.C.

1999 Broadway, Suite 3150

Denver, Colorado 80202

Attn: Reid A. Godbolt

Email: ***@***

Facsimile No.: (303) 573-8133

Each party to this Agreement may change such address for notices by sending to the parties to this Agreement written notice of a new address for such purpose.  Each such notice or other communication shall be deemed given (i) when delivered personally, by email, or by verifiable facsimile transmission (with an original to follow) on or before 4:30 p.m., New York City time, on a Business Day or, if such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day, (ii) on the next Business Day after timely delivery to a nationally-recognized overnight courier and (iii) on the Business Day actually received if deposited in the U.S. mail (certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid).  For purposes of this Agreement, “Business Day” shall mean any day on which the Exchange and commercial banks in the City of New York are open for business.

 

An electronic communication (“Electronic Notice”) shall be deemed written notice for purposes of this Section 14 if sent to the electronic mail address specified by the receiving party under separate cover.  Electronic Notice shall be deemed received at the time the party sending Electronic Notice receives confirmation of receipt by the receiving party.  Any party receiving Electronic Notice may request and shall be entitled to receive the notice on paper, in a nonelectronic form (“Nonelectronic Notice”) which shall be sent to the requesting party within ten (10) days of receipt of the written request for Nonelectronic Notice.

 

15. Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and MLV and their respective successors and the affiliates, controlling persons, partners, members, officers, directors, employees and agents referred to in Section 11 hereof.  References to any of the parties contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to include the successors and permitted assigns of such party.  Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and permitted assigns any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement.  Neither party may assign its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other party.

 

16. Adjustments for Stock Splits.  The parties acknowledge and agree that all share-related numbers contained in this Agreement shall be adjusted to take into account any share consolidation, stock split, stock dividend, corporate domestication or similar event effected with respect to the Placement Shares.

 

17. Entire Agreement; Amendment; Severability.  This Agreement (including all schedules and exhibits attached hereto and Placement Notices issued pursuant hereto) constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all other prior and contemporaneous agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, among the parties hereto with regard to the subject matter hereof. Neither this Agreement nor any term hereof may be amended except pursuant to a written instrument executed by the Company and MLV.  In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable as written by a court of competent jurisdiction, then such provision shall be given full force and effect to the fullest possible extent that it is valid, legal and enforceable, and the remainder of the terms and provisions herein shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable term or provision was not contained herein, but only to the extent that giving effect to such provision and the remainder of the terms and provisions hereof shall be in accordance with the intent of the parties as reflected in this Agreement.

 

18. GOVERNING LAW AND TIME; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS. SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

19. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS SITTING IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, AND HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, AND AGREES NOT TO ASSERT IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING, ANY CLAIM THAT IT IS NOT PERSONALLY SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY SUCH COURT, THAT SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING IS BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM OR THAT THE VENUE OF SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING IS IMPROPER.  EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES PERSONAL SERVICE OF PROCESS AND CONSENTS TO PROCESS BEING SERVED IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BY MAILING A COPY THEREOF (CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED) TO SUCH PARTY AT THE ADDRESS IN EFFECT FOR NOTICES TO IT UNDER THIS AGREEMENT AND AGREES THAT SUCH SERVICE SHALL CONSTITUTE GOOD AND SUFFICIENT SERVICE OF PROCESS AND NOTICE THEREOF.  NOTHING CONTAINED HEREIN SHALL BE DEEMED TO LIMIT IN ANY WAY ANY RIGHT TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW.

 

20. Use of Information.                                MLV may not use any information gained in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including due diligence, to advise any party with respect to transactions not expressly approved by the Company.

 

21. Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.  Delivery of an executed Agreement by one party to the other may be made by facsimile transmission.

 

22. Effect of Headings.

 

The section and exhibit headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

23. Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses.

 

The Company represents, warrants and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of MLV, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, and MLV represents, warrants and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Placement Shares that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405, required to be filed with the Commission.  Any such free writing prospectus consented to by MLV or by the Company, as the case may be, is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.”  The Company represents and warrants that it has treated and agrees that it will treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, and has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including timely filing with the Commission where required, legending and record keeping.  For the purposes of clarity, the parties hereto agree that all free writing prospectuses, if any, listed in Exhibit 23 hereto are Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses.

 

 

24. Absence of Fiduciary Relationship.

 

The Company acknowledges and agrees that:

 

(a) MLV is acting solely as agent in connection with the public offering of the Placement Shares and in connection with each transaction contemplated by this Agreement and the process leading to such transactions, and no fiduciary or advisory relationship between the Company or any of its respective affiliates, stockholders (or other equity holders), creditors or employees or any other party, on the one hand, and MLV, on the other hand, has been or will be created in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, irrespective of whether or not MLV has advised or is advising the Company on other matters, and MLV has no obligation to the Company with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement;

 

(b) it is capable of evaluating and understanding, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

 

(c) MLV has not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and it has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate;

 

(d) it is aware that MLV and its affiliates are engaged in a broad range of transactions which may involve interests that differ from those of the Company and MLV has no obligation to disclose such interests and transactions to the Company by virtue of any fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship or otherwise; and

 

(e) it waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims it may have against MLV for breach of fiduciary duty or alleged breach of fiduciary duty in connection with the sale of Placement Shares under this Agreement and agrees that MLV shall not have any liability (whether direct or indirect, in contract, tort or otherwise) to it in respect of such a fiduciary duty claim or to any person asserting a fiduciary duty claim on its behalf or in right of it or the Company, employees or creditors of Company, other than in respect of MLV’s obligations under this Agreement and to keep information provided by the Company to MLV and MLV's counsel confidential to the extent not otherwise publicly-available.

 

25. Definitions.

 

As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the respective meanings set forth below:

 

“Applicable Time” means (i) each Representation Date and (ii) the time of each sale of any Placement Shares pursuant to this Agreement.

 

“Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, relating to the Placement Shares that (1) is required to be filed with the Commission by the Company, (2) is a “road show” that is a “written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i) whether or not required to be filed with the Commission, or (3) is exempt from filing pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) because it contains a description of the Placement Shares or of the offering that does not reflect the final terms, in each case in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g) under the Securities Act.

 

“Rule 163,” “Rule 164,” “Rule 172,” “Rule 405,” “Rule 415,” “Rule 424,” “Rule 424(b),” “Rule 430B” and “Rule 433” refer to such rules under the Securities Act.

 

All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information that is “contained,” “included” or “stated” in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (and all other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be.

 

 

All references in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR; all references in this Agreement to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (other than any Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses that, pursuant to Rule 433, are not required to be filed with the Commission) shall be deemed to include the copy thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR; and all references in this Agreement to “supplements” to the Prospectus shall include, without limitation, any supplements, “wrappers” or similar materials prepared in connection with any offering, sale or private placement of any Placement Shares by MLV outside of the United States.

 

[Remainder of the page intentionally left blank]

 

 

If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding between the Company and MLV, please so indicate in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding agreement between the Company and MLV.

 

 

YUMA ENERGY, INC.
By:	/s/ Kirk F. Sprunger
	Name: Kirk F. Sprunger
	Title: Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Corporate Secretary

                                                                 ACCEPTED as of the date first-above written:

 

MLV & CO. LLC
By:	/s/ Dean M. Colucci
	Dean M. Colucci
	President

 

 

_________________________________

 

 

_________________________________

 

 

From:                      Yuma Energy, Inc.

 

To:

MLV & Co. LLC

 

Attention: Patrice McNicoll

 

Subject:                      At Market Issuance--Placement Notice

 

Gentlemen:

 

Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the At Market Issuance Sales Agreement between Yuma Energy, Inc., a California corporation (the “Company”), and MLV & Co. LLC (“MLV”), dated December 19, 2014, the Company hereby requests that MLV sell up to ____________ of the Company’s [9.25% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock] / [Common Stock], no par value per share, at a minimum market price of $_______ per share, during the time period beginning [month, day, time] and ending [month, day, time].

 

 

 

__________________________

 

 

__________________________

 

The Company shall pay to MLV in cash, upon each sale of Placement Shares pursuant to this Agreement, an amount up to 6.0% of the gross proceeds from sales of Placement Shares.

 

 

 

__________________________

 

 

__________________________

 

 

 

Sam L. Banks                                           

 

Kirk F. Sprunger                                

 

 

Ron Ormand                                

Randy Billhardt                                

Dean Colucci                                           

Ryan Loforte                                

Patrice McNicoll                                

With a copy to                                :           

 

 

 

Subsidiary	Jurisdiction of Incorporation	Percentage Ownership of Company or Wholly-Owned Company Subsidiary
The Yuma Companies, Inc.	Delaware	100%
Yuma Exploration and Production Company, Inc.	Delaware	100%
Yuma Petroleum Company	Delaware	100%
Texas Southeastern Gas Marketing Company	Texas	100%
Pyramid Delaware Merger Subsidiary, Inc.	Delaware	100%
Pyramid Oil LLC	California	100%

 

 

FINRA Affiliation Disclosure

 

None.

 

 

 

 

This Representation Date Certificate (this “Certificate”) is executed and delivered in connection with Section 7(l) of the At Market Issuance Sales Agreement (the “Agreement”), dated December 19, 2014, and entered into between Yuma Energy, Inc. (the “Company”) and MLV & Co. LLC.  All capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Agreement.

The Company hereby certifies as follows:

 

1.           As of the date of this Certificate, (i) the Registration Statement does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading and (ii) neither the Registration Statement nor the Prospectus contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and (iii) no event has occurred as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not untrue or misleading for (i) and (ii) to be true.

 

2.           Each of the representations and warranties of the Company contained in the Agreement were, when originally made, and, except for those representations and warranties that speak solely as of a specific date, is true and correct as of the date of this Certificate in all material respects.

 

3.           Except as waived by MLV in writing, each of the covenants required to be performed by the Company in the Agreement on or prior to the date of the Agreement, this Representation Date, and each such other date prior to the date hereof as set forth in the Agreement, has been duly, timely and fully performed in all material respects and each condition required to be complied with by the Company on or prior to the date of the Agreement, this Representation Date, and each such other date prior to the date hereof as set forth in the Agreement has been duly, timely and fully complied with in all material respects.

 

4.           Subsequent to the date of the most recent financial statements in the Prospectus, and except as described in the Prospectus, including Incorporated Documents, there has been no Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.           No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any part thereof has been issued, and to the Company’s knowledge, no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or threatened by any securities or other governmental authority (including, without limitation, the Commission).

 

6.           No order suspending (a) the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or (b) the qualification or registration of the Placement Shares under the securities or blue sky laws of any jurisdiction are in effect and no proceeding for such purpose is pending before, or threatened, to the Company's knowledge or in writing by, any securities or other governmental authority (including, without limitation, the Commission).

 

The undersigned has executed this Representation Date Certificate as of the date first written above.

 

YUMA ENERGY, INC.

By:

Name:  ________________________________

Title:    ________________________________

 

None.

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