Empire Petroleum Corporation (NYSE American: EP) ("Empire" or the "Company"), an oil and gas company with current producing assets in New Mexico, North Dakota, Montana, Texas, and Louisiana, announced today that it has extended the expiration date of its previously announced subscription rights offering (“Rights Offering”) pursuant to which it intends to raise gross proceeds of up to approximately $10.0 million. The Company has extended the Expiration Date in order to allow its stockholders to have more time to consider their participation and arrange finances for the Rights Offering. A contributing factor is requests by Company stockholders as a result of the recent disruption caused by Hurricane Milton.
The Company has distributed at no charge to holders of its common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Common Stock”), as of the close of business on September 30, 2024 (the record date for the Rights Offering), one subscription right for each share of Common Stock held. Each subscription right entitles the holder to purchase 0.063 shares of Common Stock at a subscription price of $5.05 per share per one whole share of Common Stock. As a result, a stockholder must hold at least 16 shares of Common Stock to receive subscription rights to purchase at least one share of Common Stock. The subscription rights are non-transferable, and will not be listed for trading on any stock exchange or market. In addition, holders of subscription rights who fully exercise their subscription rights are entitled to over-subscribe for additional shares of Common Stock, subject to proration.
The Rights Offering is now expected to expire at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on October 24, 2024 (“Expiration Date”), subject to extension or earlier termination.
Phil E. Mulacek, Chairman of the Board of Empire, and Energy Evolution Fund, Ltd., our largest shareholders, have indicated that they intend to participate in the Rights Offering and fully subscribe to the shares of Common Stock corresponding to their subscription rights. They have each also indicated that they intend to fully exercise their over-subscription rights to purchase their pro rata share of the underlying securities related to the Rights Offering that remain unsubscribed at the Expiration Date.
Holders of subscription rights who hold their shares directly have received a prospectus, a prospectus supplement, a letter from Empire describing the Rights Offering, and a subscription rights certificate. Empire will also be providing an additional prospectus supplement regarding the updated terms noted in this news release. Those holders who intend to exercise their subscription rights and over-subscription rights should review all of these materials, properly complete and execute the subscription rights certificates, and deliver the subscription rights certificates and full payment to Securities Transfer Corporation, the subscription agent for the Rights Offering, at the address set forth in the prospectus supplements referenced below.
The Rights Offering is more fully described in the prospectus supplement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on September 30, 2024, as supplemented by the prospectus supplement field with the SEC on October 10, 2024. A copy of the prospectus, prospectus supplements or further information with respect to the Rights Offering may be obtained by contacting Securities Transfer Corporation, the subscription and information agent for the Rights Offering, at (469) 633-0101.
This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale of securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state.