STOCK TITAN

Empire Petroleum (NYSE: EP) launches $30M at-the-market stock program

Filing Impact
(Moderate)
Filing Sentiment
(Neutral)
Form Type
8-K

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Empire Petroleum Corporation entered into a Sales Agreement with Roth Capital Partners that allows it to issue and sell up to $30,000,000 of common stock in at-the-market offerings from time to time.

Shares will be sold through Roth as sales agent or principal at prevailing market prices or as otherwise agreed, under the company’s effective Form S-3 shelf registration statement. Empire will pay Roth a 3.0% commission on gross proceeds and reimburse certain expenses. Neither party is obligated to complete any sales, and both can terminate the agreement as provided in the contract.

Positive

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Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement Business
The company signed a significant contract such as a merger agreement, credit facility, or major partnership.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits Exhibits
Financial statements, pro forma financial information, and exhibit attachments filed with this report.
ATM capacity $30,000,000 aggregate offering price Maximum common stock that may be sold under Sales Agreement
Sales commission 3.0% of gross proceeds Commission payable to Roth Capital Partners on ATM sales
Shelf registration Form S-3, File No. 333-274327 Registration statement used for issuing ATM shares
Sales Agreement financial
"On May 1, 2026, Empire Petroleum Corporation entered into a Sales Agreement"
A sales agreement is a written contract that sets out the terms for selling goods, services, or assets, specifying price, delivery, payment schedule and responsibilities of each side. For investors it matters because it creates a predictable stream of revenue or cash obligations, clarifies timing and risk, and can change a company’s value or forecasts much like a signed order turns a customer’s verbal intent into a firm commitment.
at the market offerings financial
"sell shares ... having an aggregate offering price of up to $30,000,000 in “at the market” offerings"
At-the-market offerings are a way for a company to raise cash by selling newly issued shares directly into the open market at the current trading price through a broker, rather than in a single large sale. Think of it like topping up a gas tank a little at a time at whatever the pump price is; it gives the company flexibility to raise money when conditions are favorable but can increase the number of shares outstanding and dilute existing investors, and frequent or large sales can put downward pressure on the stock price.
Rule 415(a)(4) regulatory
"method deemed an “at-the-market offering” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act"
Rule 415(a)(4) is a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rule that lets a company add more securities to an already effective shelf registration, so those additional shares or bonds can be sold later without filing a completely new registration. For investors it matters because it gives the issuer the flexibility to raise cash quickly—like having an open credit line—while creating the possibility of dilution or changes in supply that can affect share price.
shelf registration statement regulatory
"The Shares will be issued pursuant to the Company’s shelf registration statement on Form S-3"
A shelf registration statement is a document a company files with regulators that allows it to sell shares or bonds quickly when it’s a good time to raise money. It’s like having a pre-approved plan ready so the company can act fast without going through lengthy paperwork each time they want to sell, making fundraising more flexible.
Form S-3 regulatory
"shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-274327)"
Form S-3 is a legal document companies use to register their stock sales with the government, making it easier and faster for them to raise money by selling shares to investors. It’s like having a pre-approved shopping list that lets a company quickly sell new shares when they need funds, without going through a lengthy approval process each time.
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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

_________________

 

FORM 8-K

_________________

Current Report

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

 

 

Date of Report (date of earliest event reported):

 

 

MAY 1, 2026

_______________________________

EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

_______________________________

 

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

 

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

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)       (Zip Code)

 

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

 

 

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

 

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

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

  

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

Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock $0.001 par value

EP

NYSE American

  

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

Emerging growth company

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

 

Item 1.01Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On May 1, 2026, Empire Petroleum Corporation (the “Company”) entered into a Sales Agreement (the “Sales Agreement”) with Roth Capital Partners, LLC (the “Agent”), under which the Company may, from time to time, sell shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share, having an aggregate offering price of up to $30,000,000 (“Shares”) in “at the market” offerings through or to the Agent, as sales agent and/or principal. Sales can be made by any method deemed an “at-the-market offering” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act or through privately negotiated transactions. Sales of the Shares, if any, will be made at prevailing market prices at the time of sale, or as otherwise agreed with the Agent.

 

The Company is not obligated to sell, and the Agent is not obligated to sell or offer to sell, any Shares under the Sales Agreement. No assurance can be given that the Company will sell any Shares under the Sales Agreement, or, if it does, as to the price or amount of Shares that it sells or the dates when such sales will take place. Each time the Company wishes to issue and sell the Shares under the Sales Agreement, the Company will provide the Agent with a placement notice describing the number or dollar value of Shares, the time period during which sales are requested to be made, any limitation on the number of Shares that may be sold in any one day and any minimum price below which sales may not be made. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Sales Agreement, the Agent will use commercially reasonable efforts, consistent with its normal trading and sales practices, and applicable state and federal laws, rules and regulations and the rules of the NYSE American to sell the Shares under the terms and subject to the conditions of the placement notice.

 

The Agent will receive a commission from the Company of 3.0% of the gross proceeds of any Shares sold under the Sales Agreement. In addition, the Company has agreed to reimburse the Agent for the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses of the Agent.

 

Pursuant to the terms of the Sales Agreement, the Company agreed to indemnify the Agent against certain liabilities, including under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or to contribute to payments that the Agent may be required to make because of such liabilities. The Company and the Agent may each terminate the Sales Agreement as provided in the Sales Agreement.

 

The Shares will be issued pursuant to the Company’s shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-274327), including a base prospectus contained therein, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 1, 2023, and declared effective on September 22, 2023.

 

The Sales Agreement contains customary representations and warranties, agreements and obligations, conditions to closing and termination provisions. The foregoing descriptions of terms and conditions of the Sales Agreement do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by the full text of the form of the Sales Agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1.

 

The legal opinion and consent of Porter Hedges LLP relating to the validity of the Shares that may be sold pursuant to the Sales Agreement is filed herewith as Exhibit 5.1.

 

The above disclosure shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation, or sale of the securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state.

 

 

 

Item 9.01.Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)Exhibits.
   
The following exhibits are filed or furnished herewith.

Exhibit

Number

 

 

Description

5.1 Opinion of Porter Hedges LLP.

 

10.1 Sales Agreement by and between Empire Petroleum Corporation and Roth Capital Partners, LLC, dated May 1, 2026.

 

104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

 

2

 

  

SIGNATURES

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

 

 

 

EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORPORATION

 

 

 

 
Date:    May 1, 2026 By:  /s/ Michael R. Morrisett  
 

Name:   

Title: 

Michael R. Morrisett

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

 

FAQ

What did Empire Petroleum (EP) announce in this 8-K filing?

Empire Petroleum entered a Sales Agreement with Roth Capital Partners to sell up to $30,000,000 of common stock in at-the-market offerings, giving the company flexibility to issue shares over time under its existing shelf registration statement.

How large is Empire Petroleum’s at-the-market program with Roth?

The at-the-market program allows Empire Petroleum to sell common stock with an aggregate offering price of up to $30,000,000. Shares may be issued periodically, at prevailing market prices or as otherwise agreed with Roth Capital Partners as sales agent or principal.

How will Roth Capital Partners be compensated in the Empire Petroleum (EP) ATM deal?

Roth Capital Partners will receive a 3.0% commission on the gross proceeds from any shares Empire Petroleum sells under the Sales Agreement, and the company has also agreed to reimburse Roth for reasonable, documented out-of-pocket expenses related to the arrangement.

Is Empire Petroleum required to sell shares under this at-the-market agreement?

No, Empire Petroleum is not obligated to sell any shares under the Sales Agreement, and Roth Capital Partners is not obligated to sell or offer to sell shares. Both parties may terminate the agreement according to its terms, limiting any ongoing commitment.

Under what registration statement will Empire Petroleum (EP) issue ATM shares?

Shares sold under the Sales Agreement will be issued pursuant to Empire Petroleum’s effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-274327), which includes a base prospectus declared effective by the SEC on September 22, 2023.

What types of transactions are permitted under Empire Petroleum’s ATM program?

Empire Petroleum may sell shares in transactions deemed “at-the-market offerings” under Rule 415(a)(4), or through privately negotiated deals. Sales will generally occur at prevailing market prices at the time of sale or on other terms mutually agreed with Roth Capital Partners.

Filing Exhibits & Attachments

5 documents