Form 8-K - Current report

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

_________________

FORM 8-K

_________________

Current Report

Pursuant To Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (date of earliest event reported):

FEBRUARY 28, 2024

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EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

_______________________________

Delaware	001-16653	73-1238709
(State or Other Jurisdiction	(Commission	(I.R.S. Employer
of Incorporation)	File Number)	Identification No.)

2200 S. Utica Place, Suite 150, Tulsa Oklahoma   74114

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)       (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:   (539) 444-8002

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock $.001 par value	EP	NYSE American

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 7.01.

Regulation FD Disclosure.

On February 28, 2024, Empire Petroleum Corporation (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing a record date for its proposed rights offering. A copy of this press release is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1.

Also on February 28, 2024, the Company issued a press release announcing a correction related to its proposed rights offering. A copy of this press release is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.2.

In accordance with General Instruction B.2 of Form 8-K of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), the press releases shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall such information and such exhibits be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

Item 9.01.

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)		Exhibits.

The following exhibits are filed or furnished herewith.

Exhibit Number	Description
99.1	Press Release of Empire Petroleum Corporation dated February 28, 2024.
99.2	Press Release of Empire Petroleum Corporation dated February 28, 2024.
104	Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORPORATION

Date:      February 28, 2024

By: 

/s/ Michael R. Morrisett

Michael R. Morrisett

President and Chief Executive Officer

EXHIBIT 99.1

EMPIRE PETROLEUM ANNOUNCES RECORD DATE FOR PROPOSED RIGHTS OFFERING

TULSA, Okla., February 28, 2024 -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- 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 its Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on March 7, 2024 as the record date (the “Record Date”) for a subscription rights offering (“Rights Offering”) pursuant to which it intends to raise gross proceeds of up to approximately $25 million. The Company will distribute at no charge to holders of its common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Common Stock”), as of the close of business on the Record Date one subscription right for each share of Common Stock held. Each subscription right will entitle the holder to purchase 4,132,232 shares of Common Stock at a subscription price of $6.05 per share. 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 will be entitled to over-subscribe for additional shares of Common Stock, subject to proration.

The Rights Offering is expected to expire at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on March 25, 2024 (“Expiration Date”), subject to extension or earlier termination.

Holders of subscription rights who hold their shares directly will receive a prospectus, a prospectus supplement, a letter from Empire describing the Rights Offering, and a subscription rights certificate. 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 supplement.

The Rights Offering will be more fully described in the prospectus supplement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on or about the Record Date. Once available, a copy of the prospectus, prospectus supplement 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.

About Empire Petroleum

Empire Petroleum Corporation is a publicly traded, Tulsa-based oil and gas company with current producing assets in New Mexico, North Dakota, Montana, Texas, and Louisiana. Management is focused on organic growth and targeted acquisitions of proved developed assets with synergies with its existing portfolio of wells. More information about Empire can be found at www.empirepetroleumcorp.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements involve a wide variety of risks and uncertainties, and include, without limitations, statements with respect to the Company’s estimates, strategy and prospects. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties which are disclosed in the Company’s reports filed with the SEC, including its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, and its other filings with the SEC. Readers and investors are cautioned that the Company’s actual results may differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the Company’s ability to acquire productive oil and/or gas properties or to successfully drill and complete oil and/or gas wells on such properties, general economic conditions both domestically and abroad, and other risks and uncertainties related to the conduct of business by the Company. Other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, subsequent events or circumstances, changes in expectations, or otherwise.

Contacts

Empire Petroleum Corporation:

Mike Morrisett, President and CEO

539-444-8002

info@empirepetrocorp.com

Investor Relations:

Al Petrie Advisors

Wes Harris, Partner

281-740-1334

wes@alpetrie.com

EXHIBIT 99.2

EMPIRE PETROLEUM ISSUES CORRECTION FOR PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED PROPOSED RIGHTS OFFERING

TULSA, Okla., February 28, 2024 -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- 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 a correction to its prior announcement regarding its subscription rights offering (“Rights Offering”) with a record date of the close of business on March 7, 2024 (the “Record Date”) pursuant to which it intends to raise gross proceeds of up to approximately $25 million. The initial release indicated that each subscription right entitled the holder to purchase 4,132,232 shares at the subscription price of $6.05. It should have indicated that the Company is offering holders the right to purchase an aggregate of 4,132,232 shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the subscription rights at a subscription price of $6.05 per share.

This press release should be read in conjunction with the initial press release. These corrections do not change any other information reported in the initial press release.