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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 11, 2014

Registration No. 333-                


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549



FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933



EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



Nevada
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  41-1781991
(IRS Employer
Identification Number)

Evolution Petroleum Corporation
2500 CityWest Blvd., Suite 1300
Houston, Texas 77042
(713) 935-0122
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)



Robert S. Herlin
President and Chief Executive Officer
Evolution Petroleum Corporation
2500 CityWest Blvd., Suite 1300
Houston, Texas 77042
(713) 935-0122
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)



Copies to:
Michael T. Larkin
Porter Hedges LLP
1000 Main Street, 36th Floor
Houston, Texas 77002
(713) 226-6000



Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:
From time to time after this registration statement becomes effective.



           If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.    o

           If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.    ý

           If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.    o

           If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.    o

           If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.    o

           If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.    o

           Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer o   Accelerated filer ý   Non-accelerated filer o
(Do not check if a
smaller reporting company)
  Smaller reporting company o



CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

               
 
Title of Each Class of Securities
to be Registered

  Amount to be Registered(1)
  Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share(2)
  Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price(2)
  Amount of
Registration Fee

 

Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share(3)

  3,604,238   $12.40   $44,692,551.20   $5,756.40

 

(1)
Represents shares offered by the selling stockholders named in this registration statement. In accordance with Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), the common stock offered hereby shall also be deemed to cover additional securities to be offered or issued to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.

(2)
Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the amount of the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, based on the average of the high and low prices of the shares of common stock as reported on the NYSE MKT on February 10, 2014.

(3)
Represents shares of the registrant's common stock being registered for resale that have been issued to the selling security holders named in the prospectus.



           The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

   


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The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is declared effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell nor does it seek an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED FEBRUARY 11, 2014

PROSPECTUS

LOGO

3,604,238 Shares of Common Stock



        This prospectus relates to the offer and sale from time to time by certain holders of our shares of common stock. The registration of the shares of our common stock does not necessarily mean that any of the shares of common stock will be offered or sold by the selling stockholders. We will receive no proceeds from any sales of the shares of our common stock, but will incur expenses in connection with any offering. See "Selling Stockholders" and "Plan of Distribution."

        The selling stockholders may sell the shares of our common stock offered hereby from time to time on the NYSE MKT or such other national securities exchange or automated interdealer quotation system on which the shares of our common stock are then listed or quoted, through negotiated transactions or otherwise at market prices prevailing at the time of the sale or at negotiated prices.

        Our common stock is traded on the NYSE MKT under the symbol "EPM." On February 10, 2014, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the NYSE MKT was $12.52.

        Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the matters discussed under the section entitled "Risk Factors" on page 2 of this prospectus and included in our periodic reports and other information filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission before investing in our common stock.

        Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities, or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

   

The date of this Prospectus is February     , 2014


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

    1  

RISK FACTORS

   
2
 

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

   
15
 

USE OF PROCEEDS

   
16
 

SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

   
16
 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

   
17
 

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

   
19
 

LEGAL MATTERS

   
24
 

EXPERTS

   
24
 

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

   
24
 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

   
25
 

Exhibit 4.9

 

Registration Rights Agreement

       

Exhibit 5.1

 

Opinion of Porter Hedges LLP

       

Exhibit 23.1

 

Consent of Hein & Associates LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

       

Exhibit 23.2

 

Consent of Porter Hedges LLP (included in its legal opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1).

       

Exhibit 23.3

 

Consent of W.D. Von Gonten & Co.

       

Exhibit 23.4

 

Consent of DeGolyer and MacNaughton.

       

Exhibit 23.5

 

Consent of Pinnacle Energy Services, LLC.

       

Exhibit 24.1

 

Power of Attorney of the Officers and Directors of Evolution Petroleum Corporation (included on the signature page).

       

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About this Prospectus

        This prospectus forms a part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") using a "shelf" registration process. Under the shelf registration rules, using this prospectus and, if required, one or more prospectus supplements, the stockholders identified in this prospectus may sell, from time to time, the securities covered by this prospectus in one or more offerings.

        We may provide a prospectus supplement containing specific information about the terms of a particular offering by any of the selling stockholders. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. If the information in this prospectus is inconsistent with a prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in that prospectus supplement. You should also carefully read the additional information and documents described under "Where You Can Find Additional Information."

        You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement or incorporated by reference into these documents. No dealer, salesperson or other person is authorized to give any information or to represent anything not contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus or the accompanying prospectus supplement. If anyone provides you with different, inconsistent or unauthorized information or representations, you must not rely on them. This prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement are an offer to sell only the securities offered by these documents, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information contained in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is current only as of the date on the front of those documents.

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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

        This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Because this summary provides only a brief overview of the key aspects of the offering, it does not contain all of the information that you should consider before investing in our common stock. You should read the entire prospectus carefully, including "Risk Factors" beginning on page 2, "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" beginning on page 15 and the documents incorporated by reference, which are described under "Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference" beginning on page 24, before making an investment decision. As used in this prospectus, unless otherwise indicated, "we," "our," "us" or similar terms refer collectively to Evolution Petroleum Corporation and its operating subsidiaries.


Overview

        We are a company engaged primarily in the exploitation, development and re-development of known oil and gas resources for the production of crude oil and natural gas, utilizing conventional, specialized and proprietary technology to increase production, ultimate recoveries, or both.

        We are focused on increasing underlying net asset values on a per share basis. In doing so, we depend on a conservative capital structure, allowing us to maintain financial control of our assets for the benefit of our shareholders. By policy, every employee maintains a material beneficial ownership of common stock in the Company.

        Our strategy is intended to generate scalable, low unit cost, development and re-development opportunities that minimize exploration risks. These opportunities involve the application of modern technology, our own proprietary technology using the trade name of GARP® and our specific expertise in overlooked areas of the United States.

        The assets we exploit currently fit into two types of project opportunities:

    Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR), and

    Bypassed Primary Resources

        We expect to fund our base fiscal 2014 development plan from working capital, with any increases to the base funded out of working capital and net cash flows from our properties.


Risk Factors

        An investment in our common stock is risky. You should consider carefully the risk factors beginning on page 2 of this prospectus before investing in our common stock.


Use of Proceeds

        Although we will incur expenses in connection with the registration of the securities, we will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the shares of common stock by the selling stockholders.


Principal Executive Offices and Additional Information

        Our principal executive offices are located at 2500 CityWest Boulevard, Suite 1300, Houston, Texas 77042. Our telephone number is (713) 935-0122. Our website is located at www.evolutionpetroleum.com. Information on our website does not constitute part of this prospectus and should not be relied upon in connection with making any decision with respect to an investment in our securities. We are required to file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any documents filed by us with the SEC at the SEC's Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. Our filings with the SEC are also available to the public from commercial document retrieval services and at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

 

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RISK FACTORS

        An investment in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should consider and read carefully all of the risks and uncertainties described below, together with all of the other information contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, before deciding to invest in our common stock. If any of the following risks, or any risk described elsewhere in this prospectus or in the documents incorporated by reference herein, actually occurs, our business, business prospects, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows could be materially adversely affected. In any such case, the trading price of our common stock could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment. The risks described below and in the documents incorporated by reference herein are not the only ones facing our company. Additional risks not currently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also adversely affect us. This prospectus also contains forward-looking statements, estimates and projections that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of specific factors, including the risks described below and in the documents incorporated by reference herein.

Risks relating to the Company

Operating results from oil and natural gas production may decline.

        In the near term, our production is heavily dependent on our 7.4% of royalty interests and the pending reversion to us of a 23.9% working interest in EOR production that began during March 2010 in the Delhi Field. In addition, our production will be impacted by the results of wells in which we have installed our GARP® technology and any future installations. Although EOR production from proved reserves at Delhi has and is expected to grow over time and we expect to grow the number of GARP® installations, our net production of oil and natural gas could decline significantly over time as a result of environmental or operating problems, lack of future investment at Delhi, lack of success in adding GARP® installations, lack of further development activities in new or existing projects or lack of acquisitions of producing properties, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.

The types of resources we focus on have substantial operational risks.

        Our business plan focuses on the development and re-development of known resources in partially depleted reservoirs, naturally fractured or low permeability reservoirs, or relatively shallow reservoirs. Shallower reservoirs usually have lower pressure, which translates into fewer natural gas volumes in place; low permeability reservoirs require more wells and substantial stimulation for development of commercial production; naturally fractured reservoirs require penetration of sufficient undepleted fractures to establish commercial production; and depleted reservoirs require successful application of newer technology to unlock incremental reserves.

        Our CO2-EOR project in the Delhi Field, operated by a subsidiary of Denbury Resources Inc., requires significant amounts of CO2 reserves, development capital and technical expertise, the sources of which to date have been committed by the operator. Although initial CO2 injection began at Delhi in November 2009, initial oil production response began in March 2010 and a large part of the expected capital budget has already been expended, substantial capital remains to be invested to fully develop the EOR project and further increase production. The operator's failure to manage these and other technical, environmental, operating, strategic, financial and logistical risks may cause ultimate enhanced recoveries from the planned CO2-EOR project to fall short of our expectations in volume and/or timing. Such occurrences would have a material adverse effect on us and our results of operations.

        The existing well bores in which we are installing GARP® were originally drilled years or decades earlier. As such, they contain older casing or debris that could be more subject to failure, or the well

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files, if available, may be incomplete or incorrect. Such problems can result in the complete loss of a well or a much higher costs. Expected results are based on theoretical estimates using historical data, which may not be complete or accurate, and thus such estimates may not prove accurate. Terms of compensation for installing GARP® may well change over time based on results achieved, industry acceptance, marketing efforts and other factors.

        Our Mississippian Lime project in Oklahoma, although believed to have oil and gas resources, have yet to exhibit any proved reserves. Therefore, the economic outcome is uncertain.

        Our projects generally require that we acquire new leases in and around established fields or other known resources, and drill and complete wells, some of which may be horizontal, as well as negotiate the purchase of existing well bores and production equipment or install our proprietary artificial lift technology that has yet to be universally proven. Leases may not be available and required oil field services may not be obtainable on the desired schedule or at the expected costs. While the projected drilling results may be considered to be low to moderate in risk, there is no assurance as to what productive results may be obtained, if any.

Our revenues are concentrated in one asset and declines in production or other events beyond our control could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

        Over 90% of our revenues come from our royalty interests in the Delhi Field in Louisiana and our future revenues will be further concentrated in that field upon reversion of our working interest there, currently expected to occur during calendar year 2014. Any significant downturn in production, oil and gas prices, or other events beyond our control that impact the Delhi Field could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. We are not the operator of the Delhi Field or our interests in the Mississipian Lime play in Oklahoma, and our revenues and future growth are heavily dependent on the success of operations which we do not control. During the quarter ended June 30, 2013, an environmental event occurred at the Delhi Field which resulted in a significant temporary downturn in the daily oil production at the Delhi Field which has had a near term impact on the revenues received from our royalty interest and according to the operator, has delayed the reversion date of our working interest.

The loss of a large single purchaser of our oil and natural gas could reduce the competition for the purchase of our production.

        For the year ended June 30, 2013, seven purchasers each accounted for all of our oil and natural gas revenues. The loss of a large single purchaser for our oil and natural gas production could negatively impact the prices we receive.

We may be unable to continue licensing from third parties the technologies that we use in our business operations.

        As is customary in the oil and natural gas industry, we utilize a variety of widely available technologies in the oil and natural gas development and drilling process. We do not have any patents or copyrights for the technology we currently utilize, except for the registered trademark and issued patent on our GARP® artificial lift technology that is in the process of commercialization. We generally license or purchase services from the holders of such technology, or outsource the technology integral to our business from third parties. Our commercial success will depend in part on these sources of technology and assumes that such sources will not infringe on the proprietary rights of others. We cannot be certain whether any third-party patents will require us to utilize or develop alternative technology or to alter our business plan, obtain additional licenses, or cease activities that infringe on third-parties' intellectual property rights. Our inability to acquire any third-party licenses, or to integrate the related third-party products into our business plan, could result in delays in development

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unless and until equivalent products can be identified, licensed, and integrated. Existing or future licenses may not continue to be available to us on commercially reasonable terms or at all. Litigation, which could result in substantial cost to us, may be necessary to enforce any patents licensed to us or to determine the scope and validity of third-party obligations or to protect our patent rights on GARP®.

Our patented GARP® technology may not achieve acceptance or widespread adoption by industry.

        We have developed, field tested and initiated commercialization of our artificial lift technology, GARP® (Gas Assisted Rod Pump), though it may not generate material value. Our further success in commercializing the technology will depend upon additional positive field tests, acceptance by industry and our ability to defend the technology from competitors through confidentiality and patent protection.

Regulatory and accounting requirements may require substantial reductions in reporting proven reserves.

        We review on a periodic basis the carrying value of our oil and natural gas properties under the applicable rules of the various regulatory agencies, including the SEC. Under the full cost method of accounting that we use, the after-tax carrying value of our oil and natural gas properties may not exceed the present value of estimated future net after-tax cash flows from proved reserves, discounted at 10%. Application of this "ceiling" test requires pricing future revenues at the previous 12-month average beginning-of-month price and requires a write down of the carrying value for accounting purposes if the ceiling is exceeded. We may in the future be required to write down the carrying value of our oil and natural gas properties when oil and natural gas prices are depressed or unusually volatile. Whether we will be required to take such a charge will depend in part on the prices for crude oil and natural gas during the previous period and the effect of reserve additions or revisions and capital expenditures during such period. If a write down is required, it would result in a current charge to our earnings but would not impact our current cash flow from operating activities.

Our profitability is highly dependent on the prices of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids, which have historically been very volatile.

        Our estimated proved reserves, revenues, profitability, operating cash flow and future rate of growth are highly dependent on the prices of oil, natural gas and NGLs, which are affected by numerous factors beyond our control. Historically, these prices have been very volatile and are likely to remain volatile in the future. A significant and extended downward trend in commodity prices would have a material adverse effect on our revenues, profitability and cash flow, and could result in a reduction in the carrying value of our oil and natural gas properties and the amounts of our estimated proved oil and natural gas reserves. To the extent that we have not hedged our production with derivative contracts or fixed-price contracts, any significant and extended decline in oil and natural gas prices may adversely affect our financial position.

We may be unable to acquire and develop the additional oil and natural gas reserves that are required in order to sustain our business operations.

        In general, the volumes of production from oil and natural gas properties decline as reserves are depleted, with the rate of decline depending on reservoir characteristics. Except to the extent we acquire properties containing proved reserves or conduct successful development activities, or both, our proved reserves will decline. Our future oil and natural gas production is, therefore, highly dependent upon our level of success in finding or acquiring additional reserves. Our near-term future growth and financial condition are dependent upon our ability to realize further production increases expected at Delhi, installations of our GARP® technology, and /or the development of additional oil and natural gas reserves.

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We are subject to substantial operating risks that may adversely affect our results of operations.

        The oil and natural gas business involves numerous operating hazards such as well blowouts, mechanical failures, explosions, uncontrollable flows of oil, natural gas or well fluids, fires, formations with abnormal pressures, hurricanes, flooding, pollution, releases of toxic gas and other environmental hazards and risks. We could suffer substantial losses as a result of any of these events. While we carry general liability, control of well, and operator's extra expense coverage typical in our industry, we are not fully insured against all risks incident to our business. Environmental events similar to that experienced in the Delhi Field in June 2013 could defer revenue, postpone the payout of our reversionary working interest or increase operating costs and maintenance capital expenditures.

        We may not be the operator of some of our wells in the future, and we are not the operator of our high value assets in the Delhi Field. As a result, our operating risks for those wells and our ability to influence the operations for these wells will be less subject to our control. Operators of these wells may act in ways that are not in our best interests. If this occurs, the development of, and production of crude oil and natural gas from, some wells may not occur timely or at all, which would have an adverse effect on our results of operations.

The loss of key personnel could adversely affect us.

        We depend to a large extent on the services of certain key management personnel, including our executive officers, the loss of any of whom could have a material adverse effect on our operations. In particular, our future success is dependent upon Robert S. Herlin, our Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Randall D. Keys, our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, and Daryl V. Mazzanti, our Vice-President of Operations, for sourcing, evaluating and closing deals, capital raising, and oversight of development and operations. Presently, the Company is not a beneficiary of any key man insurance.

The loss of any of our skilled technical personnel could adversely affect our business.

        We depend to a large extent on the services of skilled technical personnel to lease, drill, complete, operate and maintain our oil and natural gas fields. We do not have the resources to perform all of these services and therefore we outsource many of our requirements. Additionally, as our production increases, so does our need for such services. Generally, we do not have long-term agreements with our drilling and maintenance service providers. Accordingly, there is a risk that any of our service providers could discontinue servicing our oil and natural gas fields for any reason. Although we believe that we could establish alternative sources for most of our operational and maintenance needs, any delay in locating, establishing relationships, and training our sources could result in production shortages and maintenance problems, with a resulting loss of revenue to us. We also rely on third-party carriers for the transportation and distribution of our production, the loss of any of which could have a material adverse effect on our operations.

We may have difficulty managing future growth and the related demands on our resources and may have difficulty in achieving future growth.

        Although we hope to experience growth through acquisitions and development activity, any such growth may place a significant strain on our financial, technical, operational and administrative resources. Our ability to grow will depend upon a number of factors, including:

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        We cannot assure you that we will be able to successfully grow or manage any such growth.

We face strong competition from larger oil and gas companies and oil field service companies.

        Our competitors include major integrated oil and natural gas companies and numerous independent crude oil and natural gas companies, individuals and drilling and income programs. Our GARP® business also faces competition from much larger oil field service companies. Many of our competitors are large, well-established companies with substantially larger operating staffs and greater capital resources than ours. We may not be able to successfully conduct our operations, evaluate and select suitable properties and consummate transactions in this highly competitive environment. Specifically, these larger competitors may be able to pay more for development projects and productive oil and natural gas properties and may be able to define, evaluate, bid for and purchase a greater number of properties and prospects than our financial or human resources permit. In addition, such companies may be able to expend greater resources on hiring contract service providers, obtaining oilfield equipment and acquiring the existing and changing technologies that we believe are and will be increasingly important to attaining success in our industry.

Our crude oil and natural gas reserves are only estimates and may prove to be inaccurate.

        There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating oil and natural gas reserves and their estimated values. Our reserves are only estimates that may prove to be inaccurate because of these uncertainties. Reservoir engineering is a subjective and inexact process of estimating underground accumulations of oil and natural gas that cannot be measured in an exact manner. Estimates of economically recoverable oil and natural gas reserves depend upon a number of variable factors, such as historical production from the area compared with production from other producing areas and assumptions concerning effects of regulations by governmental agencies, future oil and natural gas product prices, future operating costs, severance and excise taxes, development costs and work-over and remedial costs. Some or all of these assumptions may in fact vary considerably from actual results. For these reasons, estimates of the economically recoverable quantities of oil and natural gas attributable to any particular group of properties, classifications of such reserves based on risk of recovery, and estimates of the future net cash flows expected there from prepared by different engineers or by the same engineers but at different times, may vary substantially.

        Accordingly, reserve estimates may be subject to downward or upward adjustment. Actual production, revenue and expenditures with respect to our reserves will likely vary from estimates, and such variances may be material. The information regarding discounted future net cash flows included in our SEC filings incorporated herein by reference should not be considered as the current market value of the estimated oil and natural gas reserves attributable to our properties. The estimated discounted future net cash flows from proved reserves are based on the 12-month average price, calculated as the

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unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month price for each month within the 12-month period prior to the end of the reporting period, and costs as of the date of the estimate, while actual future prices and costs may be materially higher or lower. Actual future net cash flows also will be affected by factors such as the amount and timing of actual production, supply and demand for oil and natural gas, increases or decreases in consumption, and changes in governmental regulations or taxation. In addition, the 10% discount factor, which is required by the SEC to be used in calculating discounted future net cash flows for reporting purposes, is not necessarily the most appropriate discount factor based on interest rates in effect from time to time and risks associated with us or the crude oil and natural gas industry in general. PV-10 does not necessarily correspond to market value.

We cannot market the oil and natural gas that we produce without the assistance of third parties.

        The marketability of the oil and natural gas that we produce depends upon the proximity of our reserves to, and the capacity of, facilities and third-party services, including oil and natural gas gathering systems, pipelines, trucking or terminal facilities, and processing facilities necessary to make the products marketable for end use. The unavailability or lack of capacity of such services and facilities could result in the shut-in of producing wells or the delay or discontinuance of development plans for properties. A shut-in or delay or discontinuance could adversely affect our financial condition. In addition, federal and state regulation of oil and natural gas production and transportation could affect our ability to produce and market our oil and natural gas on a profitable basis.

Our operations require significant amounts of capital and additional financing may be necessary in order for us to continue our exploitation activities, including meeting certain drilling obligations under our existing lease obligations.

        Our cash flow from our reserves may not be sufficient to fund our ongoing activities at all times. From time to time, we may require additional financing in order to carry out our acquisitions, exploitation and development activities. Certain of our undeveloped leasehold acreage is subject to leases that will expire unless production is established. If our revenues from our reserves decrease as a result of lower oil and natural gas prices or otherwise, it will affect our ability to expend the necessary capital to replace our reserves or to maintain our current production. If our cash flow from operations is not sufficient to satisfy our capital expenditure requirements, there can be no assurance that additional debt or equity financing will be available to meet these requirements or available to us on favorable terms.

We have limited control over the activities on properties we do not operate.

        Some of our properties, including our Delhi interests and our acreage in the Mississippi Lime Play in Oklahoma, are operated by other companies and involve third-party working interest owners. As a result, we have limited ability to influence or control the operation or future development of such properties, including compliance with environmental, safety and other regulations, or the amount of capital expenditures that we will be required to fund with respect to such properties. Moreover, we are dependent on the other working interest owners of such projects to fund their contractual share of the capital expenditures of such projects. These limitations and our dependence on the operator and other working interest owners for these projects could cause us to incur unexpected future costs, result in lower production and materially and adversely affect our financial conditions and results of operations.

We are, and in the future may become, involved in legal proceedings related to our Delhi interest or other properties or operations and, as a result, may incur substantial costs in connection with those proceedings.

        We and our wholly owned subsidiary are defendants in a lawsuit brought by John C. McCarthy et. al (the "McCarthy Plaintiffs") in the Fifth District Court of Richland Parish, Louisiana in July 2011. The McCarthy Plaintiffs alleged, among other claims, that we fraudulently and wrongfully

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purchased the McCarthy Plaintiffs' income royalty rights in the Delhi Field Unit in the Holt-Bryant Reservoir in May 2006. The District Court dismissed the case against us and our wholly owned subsidiary NGS Sub Corp, finding that the McCarthy Plaintiffs had "no cause of action" under Louisiana law, assuming that the McCarthy Plaintiff's claims were valid on their face. The McCarthy Plaintiffs filed an appeal and the Louisiana Second Circuit Court of Appeal affirmed the dismissal, but allowed the McCarthy Plaintiffs to amend their petition to state a different possible cause of action, which the McCarthy Plaintiffs did, re-filing with the District Court. The District Court again dismissed the McCarthy Plaintiffs' case on September 23, 2013, and the McCarthy Plaintiffs' have again filed another appeal.

        On August 23, 2012, we, and our wholly owned subsidiary NGS Sub Corp and Robert S. Herlin, our Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, were served with a lawsuit filed in federal court by James H. and Kristy S. Jones (the "Jones Lawsuit") in the Western District Court of the Monroe Division, Louisiana. The plaintiffs allege primarily that we (defendants) wrongfully purchased the plaintiffs' 0.048119 overriding royalty interest in the Delhi Unit in January 2006 by failing to divulge the existence of an alleged previous agreement to develop the Delhi Field for EOR. We believe that the claims are without merit and are not timely, and we are vigorously defending against the claims. We filed a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b) (6) on April 1, 2013. On September 17, 2013, the federal court in the Western District Court of the Monroe Division, Louisiana, dismissed a portion of the claims and a portion of the claims were allowed to continue. Our motion to dismiss was for lack of cause of action, assuming that the Plaintiff's claims were valid on their face. On September 25, 2013, plaintiff Jones filed a Motion to Alter or Amend the September 17, 2013 judgment. On December 27, 2013, the court denied said Plaintiffs' Motion, and on January 21, 2014 we filed a motion asking the Court to reconsider its decision not to dismiss the balance of Plaintiff's claims. Counsel has advised us that on the based on information developed to date the risk of loss in this matter is remote.

        On December 13, 2013, we, and our wholly owned subsidiaries Tertiaire Resources Company and NGS Sub. Corp., filed a lawsuit in the 133rd Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas, against Denbury Onshore, LLC alleging numerous breaches of certain 2006 agreements between the parties regarding the Delhi Field in Richland Parish, Louisiana. The specific allegations include improperly charging the payout account for capital expenditures and costs of capital, failure to adhere to preferential rights to participate in acquisitions within the defined Area of Mutual Interest, breach of the promises to assume environmental liabilities and indemnify us from such costs, and other breaches. We are seeking declaration of the validity of the 2006 agreements and recovery of damages and attorneys' fees.

        On December 3, 2013, our wholly owned subsidiary NGS Sub. Corp. was served with a lawsuit filed in the 8th Judicial District Court of Winn Parish, Louisiana by Cecil M. Brooks, a resident of Louisiana, alleging that a former subsidiary of NGS Sub. Corp. improperly disposed of off lease water in a well located on the plaintiff's land in Winn Parish in 2006. NGS Sub. Corp. disposed of the property in question along with its ownership of the subsidiary in 2008 to a third party. We have denied the claims.

        An adverse resolution of the Jones Lawsuit, an appeal filed by the McCarthy Plaintiffs, or our lawsuit against Denbury Onshore, LLC could subject us to significant monetary damages and other penalties, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity.

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Risks Relating to the Oil and Gas Industry

Oil and natural gas development, re-completion of wells from one reservoir to another reservoir, restoring wells to production and drilling and completing new wells are speculative activities and involve numerous risks and substantial uncertain costs.

        Our growth will be materially dependent upon the success of our future development program. Drilling for oil and natural gas and re-working existing wells involve numerous risks, including the risk that no commercially productive oil or natural gas reservoirs will be encountered. The cost of drilling, completing and operating wells is substantial and uncertain, and drilling operations may be curtailed, delayed or cancelled as a result of a variety of factors beyond our control, including:

        Drilling or re-working is a highly speculative activity. Even when fully and correctly utilized, modern well completion techniques such as hydraulic fracturing, horizontal drilling or CO2 injection or other injectants do not guarantee that we will find and produce crude oil and/or natural gas in our wells in economic quantities. Our future drilling activities may not be successful and, if unsuccessful, such failure would have an adverse effect on our future results of operations and financial condition. We cannot assure you that our overall drilling success rate or our drilling success rate for activities within a particular geographic area will not decline. We may identify and develop prospects through a number of methods, some of which do not include horizontal drilling, hydraulic fracturing or tertiary injectants, and some of which may be unproven. The drilling and results for these prospects may be particularly uncertain. Our drilling schedule and costs may vary from our capital budget. The final determination with respect to the drilling of any scheduled or budgeted prospects will be dependent on a number of factors, including, but not limited to:

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        We cannot assure you that these projects can be successfully developed or that the wells discussed will, if drilled, encounter reservoirs of commercially productive oil or natural gas. There are numerous uncertainties in estimating quantities of proved reserves, including many factors beyond our control.

Oil and natural gas prices are highly volatile in general and low prices will negatively affect our financial results.

        Our revenues, operating results, profitability, cash flow, future rate of growth and ability to borrow funds or obtain additional capital, as well as the carrying value of our properties, are substantially dependent upon prevailing prices of oil and natural gas. Lower oil and natural gas prices also may reduce the amount of oil and natural gas that we can produce economically. Historically, the markets for oil and natural gas have been very volatile, and such markets are likely to continue to be volatile in the future. Prices for oil and natural gas are subject to wide fluctuation in response to relatively minor changes in the supply of and demand for oil and natural gas, market uncertainty and a variety of additional factors that are beyond our control, including:

        It is extremely difficult to predict future crude oil and natural gas price movements with any certainty. Declines in crude oil and natural gas prices may materially adversely affect our financial condition, liquidity, ability to finance planned capital expenditures and results of operations. Further, oil and natural gas prices do not move in tandem. Because approximately 93% of our proved reserves at June 30, 2013 are oil reserves and 7% are natural gas liquids reserves, we are heavily impacted by movements in oil prices, which can influence natural gas liquids prices.

Oil field service and materials' prices may increase, and the availability of such services may be inadequate to meet our needs.

        Our business plan to develop or redevelop crude oil and natural gas resources requires third party oilfield service vendors and various materials such as steel tubulars, which we do not control. Long lead times and spot shortages may prevent us from, or delay us in, maintaining or increasing the production volumes we expect. In addition, if costs for such services and materials increase, it may render certain or all of our projects uneconomic, as compared to the earlier prices we may have assumed when deciding to redevelop newly purchased or existing properties. Further adverse economic outcomes may result from the long lead times often necessary to execute and complete our redevelop plans.

Our current GARP® installation agreements require timely cooperation of our customers in scheduling installations and providing required equipment and materials.

        Our recently announced contract to install GARP® on up to ten wells specifies that the customer will remain as operator of the wells and provide certain equipment and other tangible materials such as tubulars. Actual installations and their timing will depend upon the customer adhering to the terms of the contract. Installations in wells after the first five installations will further depend upon the customer

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not terminating the contract due to uneconomic performance. We will benefit from the installations only to the extent that the wells generate net profits. At this time, we do not know if this contract will be the model for future installations with this customer or any other customer.

Government regulation and liability for environmental matters may adversely affect our business and results of operations.

        Oil and natural gas operations are subject to extensive federal, state and local government regulations, which may be changed from time to time. Matters subject to regulation include discharge permits for drilling operations, drilling bonds, reports concerning operations, the spacing of wells, unitization and pooling of properties and taxation. From time to time, regulatory agencies have imposed price controls and limitations on production by restricting the rate of flow of oil and natural gas wells below actual production capacity in order to conserve supplies of oil and natural gas. There are federal, state and local laws and regulations primarily relating to protection of human health and the environment applicable to the development, production, handling, storage, transportation and disposal of oil and natural gas, by-products thereof and other substances and materials produced or used in connection with oil and natural gas operations. In addition, we may inherit liability for environmental damages, whether actual or not, caused by previous owners of property we purchase or lease or nearby properties. As a result, we may incur substantial liabilities to third parties or governmental entities. We are also subject to changing and extensive tax laws, the effects of which cannot be predicted. The implementation of new, or the modification of existing, laws or regulations could have a material adverse effect on us, such as diminishing the demand for our products through legislative enactment of proposed new penalties, fines and/or taxes on carbon that could have the effect of raising prices to the end user.

        For example, currently proposed federal legislation, that, if adopted, could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations, includes the following:

We could be adversely affected by a weak domestic or global economy.

        The current anemic recovery from a recessionary economic environment has limited the recovery in demand for oil and natural gas and, therefore, in commodity prices, particularly natural gas. If the current economic environment continues, lower realized prices may adversely impact our profitability. These factors could negatively impact our operations and may limit our growth.

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Ownership of our oil, gas and mineral production depends on good title to our property.

        Good and clear title to our oil and natural gas properties is important. Although title reviews will generally be conducted prior to the purchase of most oil and natural gas producing properties or the commencement of drilling wells, such reviews do not assure that an unforeseen defect in the chain of title will not arise to defeat our claim which could result in a reduction or elimination of the revenue received by us from such properties.

Poor general economic, business, or industry conditions may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, liquidity, and financial condition.

        During the last few years, concerns over inflation, energy costs, geopolitical issues, the availability and cost of credit, the U.S. mortgage market, uncertainties with regard to European sovereign debt, and a declining real estate market in the United States have contributed to increased economic uncertainty and diminished expectations for the global economy. Concerns about global economic conditions have had a significant adverse impact on global financial markets and commodity prices. If the economic recovery in the United States or abroad remains prolonged, demand for petroleum products could diminish or stagnate, which could impact the price at which we can sell our oil, natural gas, and NGLs, affect our vendors', suppliers' and customers' ability to continue operations, and ultimately adversely impact our results of operations, liquidity, and financial condition.

Risks Associated with Our Common Stock

Our stock price has been and may continue to be very volatile.

        Our common stock is thinly traded and the market price has been, and is likely to continue to be, highly volatile. For example, since June 30, 2012, our stock price as traded on the NYSE MKT ranged from $13.20 to $7.48. The variance in our stock price makes it extremely difficult to forecast with any certainty the stock price at which an investor may be able to buy or sell shares of our common stock. The market price for our common stock could be subject to wide fluctuations as a result of factors that are out of our control, such as:

Our executive officers, directors and affiliates may be able to control the election of our directors and all other matters submitted to our stockholders for approval.

        Our executive officers and directors, in the aggregate, beneficially own approximately 3.2 million shares, or approximately 10% of our beneficial common stock base. JVL Advisors LLC ("JVL Advisors") controls approximately 5.1 million shares or approximately 16% of our outstanding common stock. As a result, these holders could exercise significant influence over matters submitted to our stockholders for approval (including the election and removal of directors and any merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of our assets). This concentration of ownership may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our company, impede a merger, consolidation, takeover or other business combination involving our company or discourage a potential

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acquirer from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of our company, which in turn could have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.

The market for our common stock is limited and may not provide adequate liquidity.

        Our common stock is currently thinly traded on the NYSE MKT. Since June 30, 2013, the actual daily trading volume in our common stock ranged from 12,700 shares of common stock to a high of 439,800 shares of common stock traded, excluding an extraordinary one-day volume of 2.25 million shares. On most days, this trading volume means there is limited liquidity in our shares of common stock. Selling our shares is more difficult because smaller quantities of shares are bought and sold and news media coverage about us is limited. These factors result in a limited trading market for our common stock and therefore holders of our stock may be unable to sell shares purchased, should they desire to do so.

If securities or industry analyst do not publish research reports about our business, or if they downgrade our stock, the price of our common stock could decline.

        Small, relatively unknown companies can achieve visibility in the trading market through research and reports that industry or securities analysts publish. To our knowledge there are four independent analysts that cover our company. The limited number of published reports by independent securities analysts could limit the interest in our common stock and negatively affect our stock price. We do not have any control over the research and reports these analysts publish or whether they will be published at all. If any analyst who does cover us downgrades our stock, our stock price could decline. If any analyst ceases coverage of our company or fails to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause our stock price to decline.

The issuance of additional common stock and preferred stock could dilute existing stockholders.

        We currently have in place a registration statement which allows the Company to publicly issue up to $500 million of additional securities, including debt, common stock, preferred stock, and warrants. At any time we may make private offerings of our securities. The shelf registration is intended to provide greater flexibility to the company in financing growth or changing our capital structure. We are authorized to issue up to 100,000,000 shares of common stock. To the extent of such authorization, our board of directors has the ability, without seeking stockholder approval, to issue additional shares of common stock in the future for such consideration as our board may consider sufficient. The issuance of additional common stock in the future would reduce the proportionate ownership and voting power of the common stock now outstanding. We are also authorized to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock , the rights and preferences of which may be designated in series by our board of directors, of which, at least 317,319 shares of Series A Preferred Stock are issued and outstanding as of February 3, 2014. Such designation of new series of preferred stock may be made without stockholder approval, and could create additional securities which would have dividend and liquidation preferences over the common stock now outstanding. Preferred stockholders could adversely affect the rights of holders of common stock by:

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Continued payment of cash dividends on our common stock is not assured.

        Any payment of cash dividends on our common stock in the future will be dependent upon the amount of funds legally available, our earnings, if any, our financial condition, restrictions contained in our Series A Preferred Stock and any debt instruments, our anticipated capital requirements and other factors that our board of directors may think are relevant.

Future sales of our common stock may depress our stock price.

        No prediction can be made as to the effect, if any, that future sales of our common stock, or the availability of our common stock for future sales, will have on the market price of our common stock. Sales in the public market of substantial amounts of our common stock, or the perception that such sales could occur, could adversely affect prevailing market prices for our common stock. The potential effect of these shares being sold may be to depress the price at which our common stock trades.

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

        Certain information included in this prospectus may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Where any forward-looking statement includes a statement of the assumptions or bases underlying the forward-looking statement, we caution that, while we believe these assumptions or bases to be reasonable and made in good faith, assumed facts or bases almost always vary from the actual results, and the differences between assumed facts or bases and actual results can be material, depending upon the circumstances. Where, in any forward-looking statement, we or our management express an expectation or belief as to future results, such expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and is believed to have a reasonable basis. We cannot assure you, however, that the statement of expectation or belief will result or be achieved or accomplished. These statements relate to analyses and other information which are based on forecasts of future results and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. These statements also relate to our future prospects, developments and business strategies. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "predict," "project," "will," and similar terms and phrases, including references to assumptions. These statements are contained in the section "Risk Factors" and other sections of this prospectus. These forward looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual future activities and results of operations to be materially different from those suggested or described in this prospectus. These risks include the risks that are identified in the "Risk Factors" section of this prospectus, and also include, among others, expectations regarding the following:

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        We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or otherwise. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results may vary materially from those expected, estimated or projected.


USE OF PROCEEDS

        We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares by the selling stockholders. The selling stockholders named in this prospectus will pay any underwriting fees, discounts and commissions, along with certain of the selling stockholders' out-of-pocket expenses, incurred in connection with their sale of shares registered under this prospectus. We will bear all other costs, fees and expenses incurred by us, or by the selling stockholders, in effecting the registration, offer and sale of the shares covered by this prospectus, to the extent not paid by the selling stockholders.


SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

        The following table sets forth information relating to the selling stockholders' beneficial ownership of our shares as of February 3, 2014. This prospectus covers the offering for resale from time to time of up to 3,604,238 shares owned by the selling stockholders. As used herein, "selling stockholders" includes pledgees, donees, transferees or other successors-in-interest selling shares received from a named selling stockholder after the date of this prospectus.

        No offer or sale under this prospectus may be made by a stockholder unless that holder is listed in the table below, in a supplement to this prospectus or in an amendment to the related registration statement that has become effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). We will supplement or amend this prospectus to include additional selling stockholders upon request and upon provision of all required information to us, subject to the terms of the Selling Stockholders Registration Rights Agreement, as described under the "Description of Capital Stock Registration Rights Agreement."

        The following table and related footnotes set forth:

        Unless otherwise indicated, none of the selling stockholders is a broker-dealer registered under Section 15 of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or an affiliate of a broker-dealer registered under Section 15 of the Exchange Act.

        We prepared the table based on information supplied to us by the selling stockholders. We have not sought to verify such information. The percentages of shares beneficially owned and being offered are based on 32,394,999 shares of common stock that were outstanding as of February 3, 2014, unless otherwise stated in the footnotes to the table below. Additionally, some or all of the selling stockholders may have sold or transferred some or all of their shares in exempt or non-exempt

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transactions since such date. Other information about the selling stockholders may also change over time.

 
  Common Stock
Beneficially
Owned Prior to
Offering
   
   
   
 
 
  Number of
Shares
Which May
be Sold in
This Offering
  Common Stock
Beneficially Owned
After this Offering(1)
 
Selling Stockholder
  Number   Percent   Number   Percent  

Robert S. Herlin(2)

    1,609,380     5.0 %   920,000 (3)   689,380     2.1 %

Navitas Fund, LP

    975,041 (4)   3.0 %   887,462     87,579 (4)   *  

JVL Partners, LP

    279,860 (4)   *     279,860          

Belridge Energy Advisors, LP

    1,469,510 (4)   4.5 %   1,000,000     469,510 (4)   1.5 %

Luxiver, LP

    1,294,859 (4)   4.0 %   409,708     885,151 (4)   2.7 %

Hephaestus Energy Fund, LP

    700,972 (4)   2.2 %   107,208     593,764 (4)   1.8 %

*
Less than one percent.

(1)
Assumes that the selling stockholders will sell all of the common stock offered pursuant to this prospectus.

(2)
Robert S. Herlin is the Chairman of our board of directors, and is our President and Chief Executive Officer.

(3)
Represents shares received by Mr. Herlin in 2003 as founders shares.

(4)
Based solely on information supplied by JVL Advisors, LLC, John V. Lovoi is the managing member of JVL Advisors, LLC, which is the ultimate controlling entity of each of Navitas Fund LP, JVL Partners, LP, and Hephaestus Energy Fund, LP. Mr. Lovoi is a managing member of Peninsula-JVL Capital Advisors, LLC, which is the general partner of Belridge Energy Advisors, LP, and is a managing member of Lobo Baya, LLC, which is the ultimate controlling entity of Luxiver, LP. Because of Mr. Lovoi's control of Belridge Energy Advisors, LP, Luxiver, LP, Navitas Fund LP, JVL Partners, LP, and Hephaestus Energy Fund, LP, Mr. Lovoi may be deemed to share the power to vote and the sole power to dispose of the shares of common stock held by those entities, thus he may also be deemed to be the beneficial owner of these shares of common stock. Mr. Lovoi disclaims beneficial ownership of the reported securities except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.


PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

        The selling stockholders and any of their pledgees, donees, transferees or other successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of their shares of common stock offered by this prospectus on the NYSE MKT or any other stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the shares are traded or in private transactions. These sales may be at fixed prices, the prevailing market prices or negotiated prices. The selling stockholders may use any one or more of the following methods when selling such shares:

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        The selling stockholders may also sell shares under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, if available, rather than under this prospectus.

        Broker-dealers engaged by the selling stockholders may arrange for other broker-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions or discounts from the selling stockholders (or, if any broker-dealer acts as agent for the purchaser of shares, from the purchaser) in amounts to be negotiated, but, except as set forth in a supplement to this prospectus, in the case of any agency transaction not in excess of a customary brokerage commission in compliance with Financial Industry Regulatory Authority NASD Rule 2440, and, in the case of a principal transaction a markup or markdown in compliance with NASD IM-2440.

        In connection with the sale of the common stock or interests therein, the selling stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the common stock in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The selling stockholders may also sell common stock short and deliver these securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the common stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities. The selling stockholders may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or the creation of one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of shares offered by this prospectus, which shares such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the selling stockholders have been advised that they may not use shares registered on the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part to cover short sales of our common stock made prior to the date such registration statement has been declared effective by the SEC.

        The selling stockholders may, from time to time, pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the shares of common stock owned by them and, if they default in the performance of their secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell the shares of common stock from time to time pursuant to this prospectus or any amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or other applicable provision of the Securities Act, amending, if necessary, the list of selling stockholders to include the pledgee, transferee or other successors in interest as selling stockholders under this prospectus. The selling stockholders also may transfer and donate the shares of common stock in other circumstances in which case the transferees, donees, pledgees or other successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this prospectus.

        The selling stockholders and any broker-dealers or agents that are involved in selling the shares may, under certain circumstances, be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any commissions received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the resale of the shares purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. Each selling stockholder has informed us that it does not have any written or oral agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any person to

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distribute the common stock. There is no underwriter or coordinating broker acting in connection with the proposed sale of the common stock by the selling stockholders.

        Because a selling stockholder may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act, it will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act. The selling stockholders will be responsible for complying with the applicable provisions of the Securities Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder promulgated, as applicable to such selling stockholders in connection with resales of their respective shares under the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. These provisions and regulations may limit the timing of purchases and sales of common stock by them and the marketability of such securities.

        We agreed to keep the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part effective until the earlier of (i) all of the shares have been sold pursuant to this prospectus or Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect, (ii) all of the shares may be sold pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act without volume restrictions or (iii) the first anniversary of the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. The shares will be sold only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers if required under applicable state securities laws. In addition, in certain states, the shares may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and is complied with.

        Each selling stockholder and any other person participating in such distribution will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, including, without limitation, Regulation M of the Exchange Act, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of the shares of common stock by the selling stockholder and any other participating person. Regulation M may also restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of the shares of common stock to engage in market-making activities with respect to the shares of common stock. All of the foregoing may affect the marketability of the shares of common stock and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to the shares of common stock. We will make copies of this prospectus available to the selling stockholders and have informed them of the need to deliver a copy of this prospectus to each purchaser at or prior to the time of the sale (including by compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act).

        JVL Advisors has agreed to pay all expenses of the registration of the shares of common stock pursuant to the Selling Stockholders Registration Rights Agreement, including, without limitation, SEC filing fees and expenses of compliance with state securities or "blue sky" laws including all underwriting discounts and selling commissions, if any. We will indemnify the selling stockholders against certain liabilities, including some liabilities under the Securities Act, in accordance with the Selling Stockholders Registration Rights Agreement. We may be indemnified by the selling stockholders against civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act that may arise from any written information furnished to us by the selling stockholders specifically for use in this prospectus, in accordance with the Selling Stockholders Registration Rights Agreement.


DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

        The following description of our capital stock summarizes general terms and provisions that apply to our capital stock. Since this is only a summary, it does not contain all of the information that may be important to you. The summary is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to our articles of incorporation, as amended, our Certificate of Designation of Rights and Preferences for our 8.5% Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock and our bylaws, as amended, which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and incorporated by reference into this prospectus. See "Where You Can Find More Information."

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        Our authorized capital consists of 105,000,000 shares of stock $0.001 par value per share. Of the authorized capital, 100,000,000 shares are authorized to be issued as common stock, 1,000,000 shares are authorized to be issued as 8.5% Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock and 4,000,000 shares remain authorized and undesignated to be issued as preferred stock. As of February 3, 2014, we have 32,394,999 issued and outstanding shares of our common stock and 317,319 issued and outstanding shares of our 8.5% Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock.

Common Stock

        For all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders, holders of common stock are entitled to one vote for each share registered in his or her name on our books, and they do not have cumulative voting rights. Each share of the common stock is entitled to share equally with each other share of common stock in dividends from sources legally available therefore, when, as, and if declared by the board of directors and, upon our liquidation or dissolution, whether voluntary or involuntary, to share equally in the assets that are available for distribution to the holders of the common stock. We initiated a $0.10 quarterly cash dividend per share of common stock in December 2013. Holders of our common stock have no preemptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights. The board of directors is authorized to issue additional shares of common stock within the limits authorized by our Articles of Incorporation and without stockholder action.

        Our common stock is listed and traded on the NYSE MKT under the symbol "EPM".

Preferred Stock

        Our board of directors, without further action by shareholders, may issue shares of our preferred stock. The rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of each series of preferred stock will be fixed by the certificate of designation relating to that series. We presently have authorized one series of preferred stock.

Series A Preferred Stock

        As of February 3, 2014, there were 1,000,000 shares of our authorized preferred stock designated as 8.5% Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock, of which 317,319 shares were issued and outstanding.

        The rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of shares of the Series A Preferred Stock have been fixed in a certificate of designation (as amended or supplemented, the "Series A Certificate of Designation") and the material provisions are described below. The following description of our Series A Preferred Stock is intended as a summary only and does not purport to be complete, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Series A Certificate of Designation, our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws, which are filed as exhibits to this registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part, and to the applicable provisions of Nevada law. We urge you to read the certificate of designation because it, and not this description, defines the rights of holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock.

Dividends

        Holders of the Series A Preferred Stock are entitled to receive, when and as declared by the board of directors, out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends, cumulative cash dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock at a rate of 8.5% per annum of the $25.00 liquidation preference per share payable monthly at the rate of $0.177083 per share (equivalent to $2.124996 per annum per share). However, if any four consecutive or non-consecutive "Quarterly Dividend Defaults" (as described below) occur or if we fail to maintain the listing of the Series A Preferred Stock on the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE.MTK or The NASDAQ Global, Global Select or Capital Market, or a comparable national securities exchange (each a "national exchange") for 180 consecutive days,

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the dividend rate on the Series A Preferred Stock will increase to 10.5% per annum until such time as the dividend arrearage is eliminated or the Series A Preferred Stock becomes listed on a national exchange. A "Quarterly Dividend Default" occurs if we fail to pay cash dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock in full for any monthly dividend period within a calendar quarter, provided that only one Quarterly Dividend Default may occur during each calendar quarter and only four Quarterly Dividend Defaults may occur within a calendar year.

Redemption Rights

        The Series A Preferred Stock does not have any stated maturity date and is not subject to any sinking fund or mandatory redemption provisions, except under some circumstances upon a "Change of Ownership or Control" (as described below). Accordingly, the shares of Series A Preferred Stock will remain outstanding indefinitely unless we decide to redeem them or purchase all or a portion of the shares in the open market. We are not required to set aside funds to redeem the Series A Preferred Stock. We may not redeem the Series A Preferred Stock prior to July 1, 2014, except pursuant to the special redemption upon a Change of Ownership or Control discussed below. On and after July 1, 2014, we may redeem the Series A Preferred Stock for cash at our option, from time to time, in whole or in part, at a redemption price of $25.00 per share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends (whether or not earned or declared) up to the redemption date.

        Following a "Change of Ownership or Control" (as such term is defined in the Series A Certificate of Designation) of us by a person, entity or group other than a "Qualifying Public Company" (as such term is defined in the Series A Certificate of Designation), we (or the acquiring entity) will have the option to redeem the Series A Preferred Stock, in whole but not in part, within 90 days after the date on which the Change of Ownership or Control has occurred, for cash at the following price per share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends (whether or not earned or declared) up to the redemption date:

Redemption Date
  Redemption Price  

On or before July 1, 2012

  $ 25.75  

After July 1, 2012 and on or before July 1, 2013

  $ 25.50  

After July 1, 2013 and on or before July 1, 2014

  $ 25.25  

On or after July 2, 2014

  $ 25.00  

Liquidation Preference

        In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock are entitled to receive, from the assets remaining after payment of liabilities, subject to the distribution rights of any parity shares or senior shares (as described below), but before any distribution of assets to the holders of our common stock or other junior shares (as described below), cash in an amount equal to $25.00 per share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends (whether or not earned or declared) up to the distribution date.

Conversion Rights

        The Series A Preferred Stock is not convertible into or exchangeable for any stock or other securities or property of the Company.

Ranking

        The Series A Preferred Stock ranks (i) senior to our common stock and any other equity securities that we may issue in the future, the terms of which specifically provide that such equity securities rank junior to the Series A Preferred Stock, in each case with respect to payment of dividends and amounts upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, referred to as "junior shares"; (ii) equal to any shares of

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equity securities that we may issue in the future, the terms of which specifically provide that such equity securities rank on par with the Series A Preferred Stock, in each case with respect to payment of dividends and amounts upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, referred to as "parity shares"; (iii) junior to all other equity securities issued by us, the terms of which specifically provide that such equity securities rank senior to the Series A Preferred Stock, in each case with respect to payment of dividends and amounts upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up (any such creation would require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock), referred to as "senior shares"; and (iv) junior to all our existing and future indebtedness.

Voting Rights

        Holders of our Series A Preferred Stock will generally only be entitled to vote on certain acquisitions and share exchange transactions and changes that would be materially adverse to the rights of holders of Series A Preferred Stock. However, if cash dividends on any outstanding Series A Preferred Stock have not been paid in full for any monthly dividend period for any four accumulated consecutive or non-consecutive quarterly periods (or nonpayment of one monthly dividend which remains unpaid until the next succeeding dividend payment date for payment defaults occurring after the initial payment default), or if we fail to maintain the listing of the Series A Preferred Stock on a national exchange for at least 180 consecutive days (or 90 consecutive days for listing defaults occurring after the initial listing default), the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class with holders of all other series of parity shares upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, will have the right to elect two directors to serve on our board of directors in addition to those directors then serving on our board of directors until such time as the Series A Preferred Stock becomes listed on a national exchange or the dividend rate is restored to the stated rate.

        Our Series A Preferred stock is listed and traded on the NYSE MKT under the symbol EPM.PR.A.

        If we offer additional series of preferred stock, or increase the authorized shares of our Series A Preferred Stock, we will file the terms of the preferred stock with the SEC, and the prospectus supplement relating to that offering will include a description of the specific terms of the offering, including the following specific terms:

        Our board of directors is authorized to designate and issue shares of preferred stock in one or more series without stockholder approval. Our board of directors has discretion to determine the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions, including voting rights, dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption privileges and liquidation preferences, of each series of preferred stock.

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        It is not possible to state the actual effect of the issuance of any additional shares of preferred stock upon the rights of holders of our common stock until the board of directors determines the specific rights of the holders of the preferred stock. However, these effects might include:

Anti-Takeover Provisions Under Nevada Law.

        Combinations with Interested Stockholder.    Sections 78.411-78.444, inclusive, of the Nevada Revised Statutes ("NRS") contain provisions governing combinations with an interested stockholder. For purposes of the NRS, "combinations" include: (i) any merger or consolidation with any interested stockholder, (ii) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition to any interested stockholder of corporate assets with an aggregate market value equal to 5% or more of the aggregate market value of the corporation's consolidated assets, 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the corporation or 10% or more of the earning power or net income of the corporation; (iii) the issuance to any interested stockholder of voting shares (except pursuant to a share dividend or similar proportionate distribution) with an aggregate market value equal to 5% or more of the aggregate market value of all the outstanding shares of the corporation, (iv) the dissolution of the corporation if proposed by or on behalf of any interested stockholder, (v) any reclassification of securities, recapitalization or corporate reorganization that will have the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the corporation's outstanding voting shares held by any interested stockholder and (vi) any receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit (except proportionately as a stockholder) of any loan, advance, guarantee, pledge or other financial assistance. For purposes of the NRS, an "interested stockholder" is defined to include any beneficial owner of more than 10% of any class of the voting securities of a Nevada corporation and any person who is an affiliate or associate of the corporation and was at any time during the preceding three years the beneficial owner or more than 10% of any class of the voting securities of the Nevada corporation.

        Subject to certain exceptions, the provisions of the NRS statute governing combinations with interested stockholders provide that a Nevada corporation may not engage in a combination with an interested stockholder for two years after the date that the person first became an interested stockholder unless the combination or the transaction by which the person first became an interested stockholder is approved by the board of directors before the person first became an interested stockholder.

        Control Share Acquisitions.    The NRS also contains a "control share acquisitions statute." If applicable to a Nevada corporation this statute restricts the voting rights of certain stockholders referred to as "acquiring persons," that acquire or offer to acquire ownership of a "controlling interest" in the outstanding voting stock of an "issuing corporation." For purposes of these provisions a "controlling interest" means with certain exceptions the ownership of outstanding voting stock sufficient to enable the acquiring person to exercise one-fifth or more but less than one-third, one-third or more but less than a majority, or a majority or more of all voting power in the election of directors and "issuing corporation" means a Nevada corporation that has 200 or more stockholders of record, at least 100 of whom have addresses in Nevada appearing on the stock ledger of the corporation, and which does business in Nevada directly or through an affiliated corporation. The voting rights of an acquiring person in the affected shares will be restored only if such restoration is approved by the holders of a majority of the voting power of the corporation. The NRS allows a corporation to "opt-out" of the control share acquisitions statute by providing in such corporation's articles of incorporation or bylaws that the control share acquisitions statute does not apply to the corporation or to an acquisition of a controlling interest specifically by types of existing or future stockholders, whether or not identified.

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Transfer Agent or Registrar

        Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company is the transfer agent and registrar of our common stock and our Series A Preferred Stock.

Selling Stockholders Registration Rights Agreement

        The Company entered into an agreement with JVL Advisors and certain of its affiliates to register the up to 2,684,238 shares of common stock (the "Selling Stockholders Registration Rights Agreement"). As part of the Selling Stockholders Registration Rights Agreement, JVL Advisors agreed to be responsible for the expenses of registration. In addition, JVL Advisors agreed for a period of six months to not sell or transfer one-half of the shares covered by the registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part.


LEGAL MATTERS

        The validity of our common stock will be passed upon for us by Porter Hedges LLP, Houston, Texas.


EXPERTS

        Hein & Associates LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2013, as set forth in their report, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Our financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance on Hein & Associates LLP's report, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

        Certain estimates of the oil and gas reserves for Evolution Petroleum Corporation and related future net cash flows and the present values thereof incorporated by reference in this prospectus were based in part upon engineering reports prepared by DeGolyer and McNaughton, Pinnacle Energy Services L.L.C. and W.D. Von Gonten & Co., independent petroleum engineers. These estimates are included and incorporated herein in reliance on the authority of each such firm as an expert in such matters.


INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

        The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" information contained in documents that we file with the SEC into this prospectus. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents and that the information included in those documents is considered part of this prospectus. The following documents filed with the SEC are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, unless otherwise indicated:

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        All documents filed by us pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (excluding any information furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 on any Current Report on Form 8-K) after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement and after the date of this prospectus and prior to the termination of this offering shall be deemed to be incorporated in this prospectus by reference and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any statement contained herein, or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.

        We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered these incorporated documents without charge, excluding any exhibits to these documents unless the exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference in such document, upon request received in writing or by telephone at the following address: Corporate Secretary, Evolution Petroleum Corporation, 2500 CityWest Boulevard, Suite 1300, Houston, Texas 77042, (713) 935-0122.


WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

        This prospectus forms a part of a registration statement on Form S-3 we filed with the SEC. This prospectus does not contain all of the information found in the registration statement. For further information regarding us and our common stock, you may desire to review the full registration statement, including its exhibits and schedules, filed under the Securities Act. The registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, including its exhibits and schedules and the documents incorporated by reference therein, may be inspected and copied at the public reference room maintained by the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Copies of the materials may also be obtained from the SEC at prescribed rates by writing to the public reference room maintained by the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the public reference room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains a website on the Internet at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding companies that file electronically with the SEC. We maintain a website on the Internet at www.evolutionpetroleum.com. Our registration statement, of which this prospectus constitutes a part, can be downloaded from the SEC's website or from our website. Information on the SEC website, our website or any other website is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus and does not constitute part of this prospectus.

        We are subject to the proxy solicitation rules, annual and periodic reporting requirements, restrictions of stock purchases and sales by affiliates and other requirements of the Exchange Act. We furnish our stockholders with annual reports containing audited financial statements certified by independent auditors. You may read and copy any documents filed by us with the SEC at the public reference room and website of the SEC and at our website referred to above.

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3,604,238 Shares of Common Stock

LOGO



PROSPECTUS



February     , 2014

   


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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14.    Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.*

        The following table sets forth all expenses payable by Evolution Petroleum Corporation (sometimes referred to as the "Company" in this Part II of the registration statement) in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities.

SEC registration fee

  $ 5,757  

Legal fees and expenses

  $ 20,000  

Accounting fees and expenses

  $ 5,000  

Printing expenses

  $ 2,500  

Miscellaneous expenses

  $ 5,000  
       

Total

  $ 38,257  
       
       

*
Other than the SEC registration fee, all amounts set forth above are estimates.

Item 15.    Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

        Under Nevada law, a corporation shall indemnify a director or officer against expenses, including attorneys' fees, actually and reasonably incurred by him, to the extent the director or officer has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding. A corporation may indemnify a director or officer who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, against expenses, including attorneys' fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with the action, suit or proceeding. Excepted from that immunity are:

        Our bylaws include an indemnification provision under which we have the power to indemnify our directors, officers and former officers and directors (including heirs and personal representatives) against all costs, charges and expenses actually and reasonably incurred, including an amount paid to settle an action or satisfy a judgment to which the director or officer is made a party by reason of being or having been a director or officer of Evolution Petroleum Corporation or any of our subsidiaries.

        Our bylaws also provide that our directors may cause us to purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of a person who is or was serving as a director, officer, employee or agent of Evolution Petroleum Corporation or any of our subsidiaries (including heirs and personal representatives) against a liability incurred by him or her as our director, officer, employee or agent.

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ITEM 16.    Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

(a)
A list of the exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K to be filed as a part of this registration statement is set forth in the Index to Exhibits on page II-8, which immediately precedes such exhibits.

ITEM 17.    Undertakings.

        The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

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Signatures

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Houston, Texas, on the 11th day of February, 2014.

EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION    

By:

 

/s/ ROBERT S. HERLIN

Robert S. Herlin
Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 


Power of Attorney

        KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints each of Robert S. Herlin and Randall D. Keys his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign, execute and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission and any state securities regulatory board or commission any documents relating to the proposed issuance and registration of the securities offered pursuant to this registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, including any amendment or amendments relating thereto (and, in addition, any post-effective amendments), with all exhibits and any and all documents required to be filed with respect thereto with any regulatory authority, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises in order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do if personally present, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or either of them, or their or his substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done.

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated below on the 11th day of February, 2014.

Signature
 
Title

 

 

 
/s/ ROBERT S. HERLIN

Robert S. Herlin
  Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ RANDALL D. KEYS

Randall D. Keys

 

Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

/s/ EDWARD J. DIPAOLO

Edward J. DiPaolo

 

Director

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Signature
 
Title

 

 

 
/s/ GENE STOEVER

Gene Stoever
  Director

/s/ WILLIAM DOZIER

William Dozier

 

Director

/s/ KELLY W. LOYD

Kelly W. Loyd

 

Director

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit
Number
  Description
  4.1     Articles of Incorporation (previously filed as an exhibit to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K on February 7, 2002)
            
  4.2     Certificate of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation (previously filed as an exhibit to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K on February 7, 2002)
            
  4.3     Certificate of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation (previously filed as an exhibit to Form SB 2/A on October 19, 2005).
            
  4.4     Bylaws (previously filed as an exhibit to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K on February 7, 2002)
            
  4.5     Amended Bylaws (previously filed as an exhibit to Form 10KSB on March 31, 2004)
            
  4.6     Certificate of Designation of Rights and Preferences for the Company's 8.5% Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock (previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Form 8-K filed on June 29, 2011).
            
  4.7     Specimen form of the Company's Common Stock Certificate (previously filed as Exhibit 4.7 to Form S-3/A filed on June 19, 2013) (File No. 333-188705)
            
  4.8     Specimen Form of the Company's 8.5% Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock Certificate (previously filed as Exhibit 3.5 to Form 8-A filed on June 29, 2011).
            
  4.9 *   Registration Rights Agreement dated February 10, 2014 among the Company and the Selling Shareholders named therein
            
  5.1 *   Legal Opinion of Porter Hedges LLP
            
  23.1 *   Consent of Hein & Associates LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
            
  23.2 *   Consent of Porter Hedges, LLP (included in its legal opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1).
            
  23.3 *   Consent of W.D. Von Gonten & Co.
            
  23.4 *   Consent of DeGolyer and MacNaughton.
            
  23.5 *   Consent of Pinnacle Energy Services, LLC.
            
  24.1 *   Power of Attorney of the Officers and Directors of Evolution Petroleum Corporation (included on the signature page).

*
Filed with this Registration Statement.

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Exhibit 4.9

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), is made and entered into as of February 10, 2014, by and among EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the persons identified on the signature pages hereto (collectively, the “Investors” and each individually, an “Investor”).

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual and dependent covenants hereinafter set forth, the parties agree as follows:

 

1.             Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Affiliate” of a Person means any other Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. The term “control” (including the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Board” means the board of directors of the Company (and any successor governing body of the Company or any successor of the Company).

 

Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other federal agency administering the Securities Act and the Exchange Act at the time.

 

Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company and any other common equity securities issued by the Company, and any other shares of stock issued or issuable with respect thereto (whether by way of a stock dividend or stock split or in exchange for or upon conversion of such shares or otherwise in connection with a combination of shares, distribution, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other corporate reorganization).

 

Company” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor federal statute, and the rules and regulations thereunder, which shall be in effect from time to time.

 



 

Governmental Authority” means any federal, state, local or foreign government or political subdivision thereof, or any agency or instrumentality of such government or political subdivision, or any self-regulated organization or other non-governmental regulatory authority or quasi-governmental authority (to the extent that the rules, regulations or orders of such organization or authority have the force of law), or any arbitrator, court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction.

 

Investors” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Lock-Up Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.

 

Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, Governmental Authority, unincorporated organization, trust, association or other entity.

 

Prospectus” means the prospectus or prospectuses included in any Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement and by all other amendments and supplements to the prospectus, including post-effective amendments and all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus or prospectuses.

 

Registrable Securities” means (a) the shares of Common Stock held by the Investor and listed on the Signature Page attached hereto opposite each such Investor’s name, and (b) any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable with respect to any shares described in subsection (a) above by way of a stock dividend or stock split or in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other reorganization. As to any particular Registrable Securities, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when (i) a Registration Statement covering such securities has been declared effective by the Commission and such securities have been disposed of pursuant to such effective Registration Statement, (ii) such securities are sold under circumstances in which all of the applicable conditions of Rule 144 (or any similar provisions then in force) under the Securities Act are met, (iii) such securities are otherwise transferred and such securities may be resold without subsequent registration under the Securities Act, (iv) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding, or (v) one (1) year after the effective date of the Registration Statement.

 

Registration Statement” means any registration statement of the Company which covers any of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits and all materials incorporated by reference in such Registration Statement.

 

2



 

Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act or any successor rule thereto or any complementary rule thereto (such as Rule 144A).

 

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor federal statute, and the rules and regulations thereunder, which shall be in effect from time to time.

 

Selling Expenses” means all underwriting discounts, selling commissions and stock transfer taxes applicable to the sale of Registrable Securities, and fees and disbursements of counsel for any holder of Registrable Securities and counsel for the Company.

 

2.             Required Registration.

 

(a)           Within thirty (30) days after the date hereof, the Company agrees to use its commercially reasonable best efforts to file a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (or any successor form) and to use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to be declared effective by the Commission as soon as practicable thereafter.

 

(b)           The Company may postpone for up to one hundred eighty (180) days the filing or effectiveness of such Registration Statement if the Company’s Board determines in its reasonable good faith judgment that such filing or effectiveness of the Registration Statement would (i) materially interfere with a significant acquisition, corporate organization or other similar transaction involving the Company; (ii) require premature disclosure of material information that the Company has a bona fide business purpose for preserving as confidential; or (iii) render the Company unable to comply with requirements under the Securities Act or Exchange Act. The Company may delay the filing or effectiveness of a Registration Statement hereunder only twice in any period of twelve consecutive months.

 

3.             Lock-up Agreement. Each holder of Registrable Securities agrees that such holder shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, during the one hundred eighty (180) days after the effective date of the Registration Statement pursuant to which such Registrable Securities are registered, so long as such Registration Statement is effective, (a) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, grant any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, hedge the beneficial ownership of or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, one half (1/2) of the Registrable Securities held by such holder (the “Lock-Up Shares”) or any securities convertible into, exercisable for or exchangeable for Lock-Up Shares, or (b) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of such securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (a) or (b) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise. Each holder of Registrable Securities agrees to execute and deliver such other agreements

 

3



 

as may be reasonably requested by the Company which are consistent with the foregoing or which are necessary to give further effect thereto.

 

4.             Registration Procedures.  With respect to the Registration filed pursuant to Section 2 above, the Company shall as soon as reasonably practicable:

 

(a)           prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, post-effective amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be reasonably necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for a period of not less than one (1) year after the effectiveness of such Registration Statement, or if earlier, until all of such Registrable Securities have been disposed of and to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended methods of disposition set forth in such Registration Statement;

 

(b)           within a reasonable time before filing such Registration Statement, Prospectus or amendments or supplements thereto, furnish to the holders of such Registrable Securities copies of such documents proposed to be filed;

 

(c)           notify each selling holder of Registrable Securities, promptly after the Company receives notice thereof, of the time when such Registration Statement has been declared effective or a supplement to any Prospectus forming a part of such Registration Statement has been filed;

 

(d)           furnish to each selling holder of Registrable Securities such number of copies of the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary Prospectus) and any supplement thereto (in each case including all exhibits and documents incorporated by reference therein) and such other documents as such seller may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such seller;

 

(e)           use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify such Registrable Securities under such other securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions as any selling holder reasonably requests and do any and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such holders to consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities owned by such holders; provided, that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business, subject itself to general taxation or consent to general service of process in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to do so but for this Section 4(f);

 

(f)            notify each selling holder of such Registrable Securities, at any time when a Prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits any fact necessary to

 

4



 

make the statements therein not misleading, and, at the request of any such holder, the Company shall prepare a supplement or amendment to such Prospectus so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such Prospectus shall not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;

 

(g)           provide a transfer agent and registrar (which may be the same entity) for all such Registrable Securities not later than the effective date of such registration;

 

(h)           use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registrable Securities to be listed on each securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed or, if the Common Stock is not then listed, on a national securities exchange selected by the holders of such Registrable Securities;

 

(i)            otherwise use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and make available to its stockholders an earnings statement (in a form that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder) no later than thirty (30) days after the end of the 12-month period beginning with the first day of the Company’s first full fiscal quarter after the effective date of such Registration Statement, which earnings statement shall cover said 12-month period, and which requirement will be deemed to be satisfied if the Company timely files complete and accurate information on Forms 10-Q, 10-K and 8-K under the Exchange Act and otherwise complies with Rule 158 under the Securities Act; and

 

(j)            without limiting Section 4(f) above, use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registrable Securities to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company to enable the holders of such Registrable Securities to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with their intended method of distribution thereof;

 

(k)           notify the holders of Registrable Securities promptly of any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of such Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information;

 

(l)            advise the holders of Registrable Securities, promptly after it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of the issuance of any stop order by the Commission suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose and promptly use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal at the earliest possible moment if such stop order should be issued;

 

(m)          otherwise use its reasonable best efforts to take all other steps necessary to effect the registration of such Registrable Securities contemplated hereby.

 

5



 

5.             Expenses. All expenses, including Selling Expenses, incurred by the Company in complying with its obligations pursuant to this Agreement and in connection with the registration and disposition of Registrable Securities, including, without limitation, all registration and filing fees, underwriting expenses (other than fees, commissions or discounts), expenses of any audits incident to or required by any such registration, fees and expenses of complying with securities and “blue sky” laws, printing expenses, fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel and accountants and fees and expenses of one counsel for the holders of Registrable Securities, shall be paid by the Investors. All Selling Expenses relating to Registrable Securities registered pursuant to this Agreement shall be borne and paid by the Investors.

 

6.             Indemnification.

 

(a)           The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by law, each holder of Registrable Securities, such holder’s officers, directors, managers, members, partners, stockholders and Affiliates, each underwriter, broker or any other Person acting on behalf of such holder of Registrable Securities and each other Person, if any, who controls any of the foregoing Persons within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, against all losses, claims, actions, damages, liabilities and expenses, joint or several, to which any of the foregoing Persons may become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, actions, damages, liabilities or expenses arise out of or are based upon any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, Prospectus, preliminary Prospectus, free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act) or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the Securities Act or any other similar federal or state securities laws or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder applicable to the Company and relating to action or inaction required of the Company in connection with any such registration, qualification or compliance; and shall reimburse such Persons for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by any of them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, action, damage or liability, except insofar as the same are caused by or contained in any information furnished in writing to the Company by such holder expressly for use therein or by such holder’s failure to deliver a copy of the Registration Statement, Prospectus, free-writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act) or any amendments or supplements thereto (if the same was required by applicable law to be so delivered) after the Company has furnished such holder with a sufficient number of copies of the same prior to any written confirmation of the sale of Registrable Securities.

 

(b)           In connection with any registration in which a holder of Registrable Securities is participating, each such holder shall furnish to the Company in writing such

 

6



 

information and affidavits as the Company reasonably requests for use in connection with any such Registration Statement or Prospectus and, to the extent permitted by law, shall indemnify and hold harmless, the Company, each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who shall sign such Registration Statement, each underwriter, broker or other Person acting on behalf of the holders of Registrable Securities and each Person who controls any of the foregoing Persons within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any losses, claims, actions, damages, liabilities or expenses resulting from any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in the Registration Statement, Prospectus, preliminary Prospectus, free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act) or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing by such holder; provided, that the obligation to indemnify shall be several, not joint and several, for each holder and shall be limited to the net proceeds (after underwriting fees, commissions or discounts) actually received by such holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement.

 

(c)           Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party of notice of the commencement of any action involving a claim referred to in this Section 6, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is made against an indemnifying party, give written notice to the latter of the commencement of such action. The failure of any indemnified party to notify an indemnifying party of any such action shall not (unless such failure shall have a material adverse effect on the indemnifying party) relieve the indemnifying party from any liability in respect of such action that it may have to such indemnified party hereunder. In case any such action is brought against an indemnified party, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate in and to assume the defense of the claims in any such action that are subject or potentially subject to indemnification hereunder, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified to the extent that it may wish, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party, and after written notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be responsible for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof; provided, that if (i) any indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be one or more legal or equitable defenses available to such indemnified party which are additional to or conflict with those available to the indemnifying party, or that such claim or litigation involves or could have an effect upon matters beyond the scope of the indemnity provided hereunder, or (ii) such action seeks an injunction or equitable relief against any indemnified party or involves actual or alleged criminal activity, the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party without such indemnified party’s prior written consent (but, without such consent, shall have the right to participate

 

7


 

therein with counsel of its choice) and such indemnifying party shall reimburse such indemnified party and any Person controlling such indemnified party for that portion of the fees and expenses of any counsel retained by the indemnified party which is reasonably related to the matters covered by the indemnity provided hereunder. If the indemnifying party is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim, it shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim. In such instance, the conflicting indemnified parties shall have a right to retain one separate counsel, chosen by the holders of the Registrable Securities included in the registration, at the expense of the indemnifying party.

 

(d)           If the indemnification provided for hereunder is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to an indemnified party with respect to any loss, claim, damage, liability or action referred to herein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party hereunder, shall contribute to the amounts paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage, liability or action in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and of the indemnified party on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as well as any other relevant equitable considerations; provided, that the maximum amount of liability in respect of such contribution shall be limited, in the case of each holder of Registrable Securities, to an amount equal to the net proceeds (after underwriting fees, commissions or discounts) actually received by such seller from the sale of Registrable Securities effected pursuant to such registration. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and of the indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the indemnifying party or by the indemnified party and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The parties agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant hereto were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method or allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to herein. No Person guilty or liable of fraudulent misrepresentation shall be entitled to contribution from any Person.

 

7.             Participation in Underwritten Registrations. No Person may participate in any registration hereunder which is underwritten unless such Person (a) agrees to sell such Person’s securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Person or Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (b) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

 

8



 

8.             Rule 144 Compliance. With a view to making available to the holders of Registrable Securities the benefits of Rule 144 under the Securities Act and any other rule or regulation of the Commission that may at any time permit a holder to sell securities of the Company to the public without registration or pursuant to a registration on Form S-3 (or any successor form), the Company shall:

 

(a)           make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, at all times after the Registration Date; and

 

(b)           use reasonable best efforts to file with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, at any time after the Company has become subject to such reporting requirements.

 

9.             Termination. This Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force or effect when there shall no longer be any Registrable Securities outstanding; provided, that the provisions of Section 5 and Section 6 shall survive any such termination.

 

10.          Notices. All notices, requests, consents, claims, demands, waivers and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given (a) when delivered by hand (with written confirmation of receipt); (b) when received by the addressee if sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier (receipt requested); (c) on the date sent by facsimile or e-mail of a PDF document (with confirmation of transmission) if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, and on the next Business Day if sent after normal business hours of the recipient or (d) on the [third] day after the date mailed, by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. Such communications must be sent to the respective parties at the addresses indicated below (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 10).

 

If to the Company:

Evolution Petroleum Corporation

 

2500 CityWest Blvd., Suite 1300

 

Houston, TX 77042

 

Facsimile:

713-935-0199

 

E-mail:

bherlin@evolutionpetroleum.com

 

Attention:

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

with a copy to:

Porter Hedges LLP

 

1000 Main St., 36th Floor

 

Houston, TX 77002

 

Facsimile:

713-226-6229

 

E-mail:

mlarkin@porterhedges.com

 

Attention:

Michael T. Larkin

 

9



 

If to any Investor, to such Investor’s address as set forth on the signature pages hereto.

 

11.          Entire Agreement. This Agreement and any related exhibits and schedules thereto, constitutes the sole and entire agreement of the parties to this Agreement with respect to the subject matter contained herein, and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous understandings and agreements, both written and oral, with respect to such subject matter.

 

12.          Successor and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Each Investor may assign its rights hereunder to any purchaser or transferee of Registrable Securities; provided, that such purchaser or transferee shall, as a condition to the effectiveness of such assignment, be required to execute a counterpart to this Agreement agreeing to be treated as an Investor whereupon such purchaser or transferee shall have the benefits of, and shall be subject to the restrictions contained in, this Agreement as if such purchaser or transferee was originally included in the definition of an Investor herein and had originally been a party hereto.

 

13.          No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns and nothing herein, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever, under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

14.          Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement.

 

15.          Amendment, Modification and Waiver. The provisions of this Agreement may only be amended, modified, supplemented or waived with the prior written consent of the Company and the holders of the Registrable Securities. No waiver by any party or parties shall operate or be construed as a waiver in respect of any failure, breach or default not expressly identified by such written waiver, whether of a similar or different character, and whether occurring before or after that waiver. Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, no failure to exercise, or delay in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege arising from this Agreement shall operate or be construed as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege.

 

16.          Severability. If any term or provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other term or provision of this Agreement or invalidate or render unenforceable such term or provision in any other jurisdiction. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as

 

10



 

closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.

 

17.          Remedies. Each holder of Registrable Securities, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law, including recovery of damages, shall be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. The Company acknowledges that monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of the provisions of this Agreement and the Company hereby agrees to waive the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.

 

18.          Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Texas without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Texas or any other jurisdiction). Any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby may be instituted in the federal courts of the United States or the courts of the State of Texas in each case located in the city of Houston and County of Harris, and each party irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. Service of process, summons, notice or other document by mail to such party’s address set forth herein shall be effective service of process for any suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court. The parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or any proceeding in such courts and irrevocably waive and agree not to plead or claim in any such court that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

19.          Waiver of Jury Trial. Each party acknowledges and agrees that any controversy which may arise under this Agreement is likely to involve complicated and difficult issues and, therefore, each such party irrevocably and unconditionally waives any right it may have to a trial by jury in respect of any legal action arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. Each party to this Agreement certifies and acknowledges that (a) no representative of any other party has represented, expressly or otherwise, that such other party would not seek to enforce the foregoing waiver in the event of a legal action, (b) such party has considered the implications of this waiver, (c) such party makes this waiver voluntarily, and (d) such party has been induced to enter into this Agreement by, among other things, the mutual waivers and certifications in this Section 19.

 

11



 

20.          Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same agreement. A signed copy of this Agreement delivered by facsimile, e-mail or other means of electronic transmission shall be deemed to have the same legal effect as delivery of an original signed copy of this Agreement.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

12



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Registration Rights Agreement on the date first written above.

 

 

 

EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 /s Robert Herlin

 

Name:

 Robert Herlin

 

Title:

 President and CEO

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT]

 



 

Counterpart Signature Page

 

INVESTOR:

 

Belridge Energy Advisors, LP

 

Navitas Fund, LP

 

 

 

By:

Penninsula — JVL Capital Advisors, LLC,
its general partner

 

By:

JVL Advisors, LLC,
its general partner

 

 

 

By:

/s/ J. V. Lovoi

 

By:

/s/ J. V. Lovoi

Name:

J. V. Lovoi

 

Name:

J. V. Lovoi

Title:

Managing Partner

 

Title:

Managing Partner

Taxpayer ID#:

20-2809889

 

Taxpayer ID#:

20-2267080

Registrable Securities:

1,000,000

 

Registrable Securities:

887,462

 

 

JVL Partners, LP

 

Luxiver, LP

 

 

By:

JVL Advisors, LLC,

 

By:

JVL Advisors, LLC,

 

its general partner

 

 

its general partner

 

 

 

By:

/s/ J. V. Lovoi

 

By:

/s/ J. V. Lovoi

Name:

J. V. Lovoi

 

Name:

J. V. Lovoi

Title:

Managing Partner

 

Title:

Managing Partner

Taxpayer ID#:

03-0504092

 

Taxpayer ID#:

 45-1504333

Registrable Securities:

279,860

 

Registrable Securities:

409,708

 

 

Hephaestus Fund, LP

 

 

 

By:

JVL Advisors, LLC,

 

 

its general partner

 

 

 

By:

/s/ J. V. Lovoi

 

Name:

J. V. Lovoi

 

Title:

Managing Partner

 

Taxpayer ID#:

36-4747789

 

Registrable Securities:

107,208

 

 

 

NOTICE ADDRESS FOR ALL:

 

 

 

c/o JVL Advisors, LLC

 

10,000 Memorial Dr., Suite 500

 

Houston, TX 77042

 

Attn:

Derek Michaelis

 

Tel:

(713) 579-2617

 

Email:

dmichaelis@jvladvisors.com

 

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT]

 




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Exhibit 5.1

LOGO

February 11, 2014

Evolution Petroleum Corporation
2500 CityWest Boulevard, Suite 1300
Houston, Texas 77042

Ladies and Gentlemen:

        We have acted as special counsel to Evolution Petroleum Corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the Company's registration statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement"), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), relating to the offer and sale by the selling stockholders named in the Registration Statement of up to an aggregate of 3,604,238 shares (the "Shares") of the Company's common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Common Stock").

        As the basis for the opinions hereinafter expressed, we have examined: (i) originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified, of (a) the Registration Statement; (b) the Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as amended to date; (c) the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company; (d) certain resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company; and (e) such other instruments and documents as we have deemed necessary or advisable for the purposes of this opinion; and (ii) such statutes, including the Nevada Revised Statutes, and regulations as we have deemed necessary or advisable for the purposes of this opinion. We have not independently verified any factual matter relating to this opinion.

        In making our examination, we have assumed and have not verified (i) that all signatures on documents examined by us are genuine, (ii) the legal capacity of all natural persons, (iii) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and (iv) the conformity to the original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies thereof.

        Based on the foregoing and such legal considerations as we deem relevant, and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications set forth herein, we are of the opinion that the Shares have been validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable.

        We express no opinion other than as to the federal laws of the United States of America and the laws of the State of Texas. For purposes of this opinion, we assume that the Shares were issued in compliance with all applicable state securities or blue sky laws.

        We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the reference to this firm under the caption "Legal Matters" in the prospectus included in the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are included in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the SEC issued thereunder, or Item 509 of Regulation S-K.

        This opinion is rendered on the date hereof and we disclaim any duty to advise you regarding any changes in the matter addressed herein.

 

Very truly yours,

 

/s/ Porter Hedges LLP

 

PORTER HEDGES LLP




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Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

        We consent to the incorporation by reference in Evolution Petroleum Corporation's Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our reports dated September 13, 2013, relating to our audit of the consolidated financial statements, and internal control over financial reporting, which appear in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Evolution Petroleum Corporation for the year ended June 30, 2013.

        We also consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.

/s/ Hein & Associates LLP

Houston, Texas
February 10, 2014




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CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

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Exhibit 23.3

CONSENT OF W.D. VON GONTEN & CO.

        As independent consultants, W.D. Von Gonten & Co. hereby consents to the use of our name and the incorporation by reference in the Form S-3 of Evolution Petroleum Corporation to be filed on or about February 11, 2014, and as referenced in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2013 of Evolution Petroleum Corporation, filed on September 13, 2013, of information from our reserves report with respect to the reserves of Evolution Petroleum Corporation "as of July 1, 2005 through July 1, 2013." We also consent to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in such Registration Statement.

Yours truly,    

/s/ WILLIAM D. VON GONTEN, JR.

W.D. VON GONTEN & CO.
By: William D. Von Gonten, Jr.
TX #73244
Its:
President
February 11, 2014

 

 



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CONSENT OF W.D. VON GONTEN & CO.

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Exhibit 23.4

Degolyer And MacNaughton

5001 Spring Valley Road

Suite 800 East

Dallas, Texas 75244

February 11, 2014

Evolution Petroleum Corporation
2500 CityWest Blvd. Suite 1300
Houston, Texas 77042

Ladies and Gentlemen:

        We hereby consent to the use of the name DeGolyer and MacNaughton, and to the incorporation by reference of information taken from our letter reported dated August 8, 2012, and our "Appraisal Report as of June 30, 2012 on Certain Delhi Field Properties owned by Evolution Petroleum Corporation" (our Reports) in the Registration Statement on Form S-3 of Evolution Petroleum Corporation to be filed on or about February 11, 2014, as referenced in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2013, of Evolution Petroleum Corporation, filed on September 13, 2013. We further consent to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in such Registration Statement.

  Very truly yours,

 

/s/ DeGolyer and MacNaughton/

 

DeGOLYER and MacNAUGHTON
Texas Registered Engineering Firm F-716




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Exhibit 23.5

CONSENT OF PINNACLE ENERGY SERVICES, LLC

        As independent oil and gas consultants, we hereby consent to the use of our name and the incorporation by reference in the Form S-3 of Evolution Petroleum Corporation to be filed on or about February 11, 2014, and as referenced in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2013 of Evolution Petroleum Corporation, filed on September 13, 2013, of the information contained in our report letter in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Evolution Petroleum Corporation, filed on September 13, 2013. We further consent to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in such Registration Statement.

    PINNACLE ENERGY SERVICES, LLC

 

 

/s/ JOHN PAUL DICK, P.E.

    Name:   John Paul Dick, P.E.
    Title:   Manager, Registered Petroleum Engineer

February 11, 2014
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma




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CONSENT OF PINNACLE ENERGY SERVICES, LLC