Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Relationship with and Ownership by Camber Energy, Inc.

v3.23.1
Relationship with and Ownership by Camber Energy, Inc.
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2023
Relationship with and Ownership by Camber Energy, Inc.  
Relationship with and Ownership by Camber Energy, Inc.

Note 1 Relationship with and Ownership by Camber Energy, Inc.

 

On December 23, 2020, Camber Energy, Inc. (“Camber”) acquired a 51% interest in Viking Energy Group, Inc. (“Viking” or the “Company”). On January 8, 2021 and July 29, 2021, Camber acquired additional interests in the Company resulting in Camber owning approximately 62% of the outstanding common shares of the Company after the January transaction and approximately 73% of the outstanding common shares of the Company after the July transaction. As a result of subsequent issuances of the Company’s common shares, Camber’s ownership interest is approximately 61% as of September 30, 2022. The December 2020, January 2021 and July 2021 transactions, along with a new merger agreement executed by Viking and Camber in February 2021, and amended on April 28, 2023, are described further below.

 

December 23, 2020 Transaction

 

On December 23, 2020, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with Camber, pursuant to which Camber acquired (“Camber’s Acquisition”) 26,274,510 shares of Viking common stock (“Camber’s Viking Shares”), constituting 51% of the common stock of Viking, in consideration of (i) Camber’s payment of $10,900,000 to Viking (the “Cash Purchase Price”), and (ii) cancelation of $9,200,000 in promissory notes issued by Viking to Camber (“Camber’s Viking Notes”). Pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, if at any time between December 23, 2020 and July 2, 2022 Viking issued shares of its common stock to one or more persons such that Camber’s percentage ownership of Viking’s common stock is less than 51%, Viking was obligated to issue additional shares to Camber to ensure that Camber owns at least 51% of the common stock of Viking (the “Adjustment Entitlement”). The Adjustment Entitlement expired on July 1, 2022.

 

On December 23, 2020, Viking and Camber closed on the Camber Acquisition, with Camber paying the Cash Purchase Price to Viking and cancelling Camber’s Viking Notes, and Viking issuing Camber’s Viking Shares. At the closing, James Doris and Frank Barker, Jr., Viking’s CEO and CFO, were appointed the CEO and CFO of Camber, and Mr. Doris was appointed a member of the Board of Directors of Camber.

 

January 8, 2021 Transactions

 

On January 8, 2021, the Company entered into another purchase agreement with Camber pursuant to which Camber agreed to acquire an additional 16,153,846 shares of Company common stock (the “Shares”) in consideration of (i) Camber issuing 1,890 shares of Camber’s Series C Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock to EMC Capital Partners, LLC (“EMC”), one of the Company’s lenders which held a secured promissory note issued by the Company to EMC in the original principal amount of $20,869,218 in connection with the purchase of oil and gas assets on or about February 3, 2020 (the “EMC Note”); and (ii) EMC considering the EMC Note paid in full and cancelled pursuant to the Cancellation Agreement described below. The fair value of the 1,890 shares of Camber’s Series C Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock was determined to be $19,622,000 at the date of the transaction; as a result, the Company recognized a loss on debt settlement in the amount of $926,531.

 

Simultaneously, on January 8, 2021, the Company entered into a Cancellation Agreement with EMC (the “Cancellation Agreement”) pursuant to which the Company agreed to pay $325,000 to EMC, and EMC agreed to cancel and terminate in the EMC Note and all other liabilities, claims, amounts owing and other obligations under the Note. At the same time, Camber entered into a purchase agreement with EMC pursuant to which (i) Camber agreed to issue 1,890 shares of Camber’s Series C Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock to EMC, and (ii) EMC agreed to enter into the Cancellation Agreement with the Company to cancel the EMC Note.

Merger Agreement with Camber

 

On February 15, 2021, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger with Camber, which was amended on April 18, 2023 (as amended, the “Merger Agreement”). The Merger Agreement provides that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, a newly formed wholly owned subsidiary of Camber (“Merger Sub”) will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”), with the Company surviving the Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Camber.

 

Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”), each share: (i) of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the “Viking Common Stock”) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, other than shares owned by Camber, the Company and Merger Sub, will be converted into the right to receive one share of common stock of Camber (the “Camber Common Stock”); (ii) of Series C Convertible Preferred Stock of the Company (the “Viking Series C Preferred Stock”) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be converted into the right to receive one share of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock of Camber (the “Camber Series A Preferred Stock”), and (iii) of Series E Convertible Preferred Stock of the Company (the “Viking Series E Preferred Stock,” and, together with the Viking Series C Preferred Stock, the “Viking Preferred Stock”) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be converted into the right to receive one share of Series H Preferred Stock of Camber (the “Camber Series H Preferred Stock,” and, together with the Camber Series A Preferred Stock, the “New Camber Preferred Stock”).

 

Each share of Camber Series A Preferred Stock will be convertible into 890 shares of Camber Common Stock (subject to a beneficial ownership limitation preventing conversion into Camber Common Stock if the holder would be deemed to beneficially own more than 9.99% of Camber’s Common Stock), will be treated equally with Camber’s Common Stock with respect to dividends and liquidation, and will only have voting rights with respect to voting: (a) on a proposal to increase or reduce Camber’s share capital; (b) on a resolution to approve the terms of a buy-back agreement; (c) on a proposal to wind up Camber; (d) on a proposal for the disposal of all or substantially all of Camber’s property, business and undertaking; (f) during the winding-up of Camber; and/or (g) with respect to a proposed merger or consolidation in which Camber is a party or a subsidiary of Camber is a party.

 

Each share of Camber Series H Preferred Stock will have a face value of $10,000 per share, will be convertible into a certain number of shares of Camber Common Stock, with the conversion ratio based upon achievement of certain milestones by Viking’s subsidiary, Viking Protection Systems, LLC (provided the holder has not elected to receive the applicable portion of the purchase price in cash pursuant to that certain Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 9, 2022, by and between Viking and Jedda Holdings, LLC), will be subject to a beneficial ownership limitation of 4.99% of Camber Common Stock (but may be increased up to a maximum of 9.99% at the sole election of a holder by the provision of at least 61 days’ advance written notice) and will have voting rights equal to one vote per share of Camber Series H Preferred Stock held on a non-cumulative basis.

 

Holders of Viking common stock and Viking Preferred Stock will have any fractional shares of Camber Common Stock or New Camber Preferred Stock after the Merger rounded up to the nearest whole share.

 

At the Effective Time, each then outstanding option or warrant to purchase Viking Common Stock (a “Viking Option”) will, to the extent unvested, automatically become fully vested and will be converted automatically into an option or warrant (an “Adjusted Option”) to purchase, on substantially the same terms and conditions as were applicable to such Viking Option immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger, except that (i) instead of being exercisable into Viking Common Stock, such Adjusted Option will be exercisable into Camber Common Stock, and (ii) all references to the “Company” in the Viking Option agreements will be references to Camber in the Adjusted Option agreements.

 

At the Effective Time, each promissory note issued by Viking that is convertible into Viking Common Stock (a “Viking Convertible Note”) that, as of immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger, is outstanding and unconverted shall be converted into a promissory note convertible into Camber Common Stock (an “Adjusted Convertible Note”) having substantially the same terms and conditions as applied to the corresponding Viking Convertible Note as of immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any extended post-termination conversion period that applies following consummation of the Merger), except that (i) instead of being convertible into Viking Common Stock, such Adjusted Convertible Note will be convertible into Camber Common Stock, and (ii) all references to the “Company” in the Viking Convertible Note agreements will be references to Camber in the Adjusted Convertible Note agreements.

The Merger Agreement provides, among other things, that effective as of the Effective Time, James A. Doris, the current Chief Executive Officer of both the Company and Camber, shall serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of the combined company following the Effective Time. The Merger Agreement provides that, as of the Effective Time, the combined company will have its headquarters in Houston, Texas.

 

The Merger Agreement also provides that, during the period from the date of the Merger Agreement until the Effective Time, each of Camber and Viking will be subject to certain restrictions on its ability to solicit alternative acquisition proposals from third parties, to provide non-public information to third parties and to engage in discussions with third parties regarding alternative acquisition proposals, subject to customary exceptions. Viking is required to hold a meeting of its stockholders to vote upon the adoption of the Merger Agreement and, subject to certain exceptions, to recommend that its stockholders vote to adopt the Merger Agreement. Camber is required to hold a meeting of its stockholders to approve the issuance of Camber Common Stock and New Camber Preferred Stock (including the shares of Camber Common Stock issuable upon conversion thereof) in connection with the Merger (the “Share Issuances”) and an increase in the number of authorized Camber Common Stock (if not approved in connection with Camber’s special meeting of the stockholders scheduled to be held on April 26, 2023) (the “Increase in Authorized Share Capital”) and, subject to certain exceptions, to recommend that its stockholders approve such proposals.

 

The completion of the Merger is subject to customary conditions, including (i) adoption of the Merger Agreement by Viking’s stockholders and approval of the Share Issuances and Increase in Authorized Share Capital by Camber’s stockholders, (ii) receipt of required regulatory approvals, (iii) effectiveness of a registration statement on Form S-4 for the Camber common stock to be issued in the Merger (the “Form S-4”), and (iv) the absence of any law, order, injunction, decree or other legal restraint preventing the completion of the Merger or making the completion of the Merger illegal. Each party’s obligation to complete the Merger is also subject to certain additional customary conditions, including (i) subject to certain exceptions, the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the other party, (ii) subject to certain exceptions, performance by the other party of its obligations under the Merger Agreement and (iii) the absence of any material adverse effect on the other party, as defined in the Merger Agreement.

 

Additional closing conditions to the Merger include: (i) receipt of fairness opinions from financial advisors of both Camber and Viking that the Merger is fair from a financial point of view to the holders of each company’s common stock, (ii) confirmation from Camber that it is not in default of its outstanding agreements with a certain preferred equity holder and lender, (iii) written agreement from Camber’s warrant holders regarding the number and exercise price of Camber’s outstanding warrants and that the Merger will not trigger any price adjustments in certain outstanding warrant agreements, and (iv) that, in the event the NYSE American determines that the Merger constitutes, or will constitute, a “back-door listing”/”reverse merger”, Camber (and its common stock) is required to qualify for initial listing on the NYSE American, pursuant to the applicable guidance and requirements of the NYSE as of the Effective Time.

 

The Merger Agreement can be terminated (i) at any time with the mutual consent of the parties; (ii) by either Camber or Viking if any governmental consent or approval required for closing is not obtained, or any governmental entity issues a final non-appealable order or similar decree preventing the Merger; (iii) by either Company or Camber if the Merger shall not have been consummated on or before September 30, 2023; (iv) by Camber or Viking, upon the breach by the other of a term of the Merger, which is not cured within 30 days of the date of written notice thereof by the other; (v) by Camber if Viking is unable to obtain the affirmative vote of its stockholders for approval of the Merger; (vi) by Viking if Camber is unable to obtain the affirmative vote of its stockholders for approval of the Share Issuances and the Increase in Authorized Share Capital; and (vii) by Viking or Camber if there is a willful breach of the Merger Agreement by the other party thereto. The Merger Agreement contains customary indemnification obligations of the parties and representations and warranties.

 

July 29, 2021 Equity Transaction by Camber in Viking:

 

On July 29, 2021, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with Camber, pursuant to which Camber acquired an additional 27,500,000 shares of Viking common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $11,000,000. As a result, Camber’s ownership increased as of such date to approximately 73% of the issued and outstanding shares of Viking common stock.

Loan Transactions at Camber (Guaranteed by Viking):

 

Camber executed and delivered the following promissory notes (each a “Note” and collectively, the “Notes”) in favor of Discover Growth Fund, LLC:

 

 

a.

Promissory Note dated December 11, 2020 in the principal amount of $6,000,000;

 

 

 

 

b.

Promissory Note dated December 18, 2020 in the principal amount of $12,000,000;

 

 

 

 

c.

Promissory Note dated April 23, 2021 in the principal amount of $2,500,000; and

 

 

 

 

d.

Promissory Note dated December 31, 2021 in the principal amount of $26,315,789.

 

The Notes have the following terms: (i) Maturity Date of January 1, 2027; (ii) interest rate equal to the WSJ Prime Rate, per annum, payable at Maturity, except if Camber is noted in default in which case, at the option of the lender, the principal and interest are due immediately and the interest rate increases to the maximum rate allowed under the laws of Texas; and (iii) all or a portion of the amount owing under the Notes may, at the lender’s option, be converted into shares of common stock of Camber at price of $1.50 per share.

 

Camber granted Discover a first-priority security interest in Camber’s Viking Shares and Camber’s other assets pursuant to various pledge agreements and general security agreements, respectively. Viking entered into Guaranty Agreements, guaranteeing repayment of the Notes (see Note 3). Viking also entered into a Security Agreement in favor of Discover granting Discover a first-priority security interest in any assets purchased by Viking with funds advanced to Viking by Camber that were loaned by Discover.

 

Camber’s Series C Preferred Share Designation

 

The Certificate of Designation(s) (the “COD”) regarding Camber’s Series C Convertible Preferred Shares requires, among other things, Camber to timely file with the Securities and Exchange Commission all reports required to pursuant to the Exchange Act. Any breach under the COD is also a default under the Notes. Camber is currently in compliance with the requirements under the COD.