Vivakor (NASDAQ: VIVK) takes $750,000 secured note with steep default penalties

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Vivakor, Inc. entered into a Third Amendment to its Loan Agreement and Fourth Forbearance Agreement with J.J. Astor & Co. on February 27, 2026, and issued a Fourth Junior Secured Convertible Promissory Note with a $993,750 original principal amount, providing $750,000 in new funding maturing on April 6, 2026.

If the Fourth Note goes into default, interest increases to 19% per annum, principal is increased to 110% of the amount then owed, and the lender may convert 200% of the amount due at a price based on a steep discount to specified prior closing prices. Vivakor’s subsidiaries guaranteed the obligations, the company and subsidiaries pledged their assets as collateral for the Second and Fourth Notes, and certain real property in Blaine County, Oklahoma was conveyed as additional security, to be reconveyed if the Fourth Note is paid in full by maturity. The amendment also extends the deadline to relist on Nasdaq to April 6, 2026 and aligns certain Second Note default terms with those of the Fourth Note.

Positive

• None.

Negative

• High-cost, punitive default structure: The Fourth Note imposes 19% default interest, raises principal to 110% of amounts owed, and allows conversion of 200% of the due amount at a steeply discounted price, implying potentially severe dilution and financing costs if Vivakor defaults.
• Extensive collateral and guarantees: Vivakor’s subsidiaries guarantee the Second and Fourth Notes, company and subsidiary assets are pledged as collateral, and Blaine County, Oklahoma real property has been conveyed to the lender, increasing secured creditor claims ahead of equity.

Insights

Credit and capital structure analyst

Vivakor adds costly, highly secured debt with punitive default terms.

Vivakor obtained an additional $750,000 via the Fourth Junior Secured Convertible Promissory Note, with an original principal of $993,750 and maturity on April 6, 2026. This builds on an already significant Second Note balance of $5,995,722.21 agreed as outstanding on February 5, 2026.

Default provisions are stringent: interest jumps to 19% per annum, principal increases to 110% of the amount then owed, and the lender can convert 200% of the amount due at a price incorporating an 80% discount to the lower of specified historical closing prices or a fraction of those prices. These terms can create substantial dilution if triggered.

The company’s subsidiaries guaranteed the obligations and pledged their assets, and the lender received real property in Blaine County, Oklahoma as collateral, to be reconveyed only if the Fourth Note is paid in full by its maturity date. Together with the amended repayment schedule under the Second Note and the extended Nasdaq relisting deadline to April 6, 2026, the structure highlights reliance on high-cost, heavily secured financing, with outcomes highly sensitive to Vivakor’s ability to avoid default and meet scheduled payments.

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

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

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 27, 2026

VIVAKOR, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Nevada		001-41286		26-2178141
(State or other jurisdiction of		(Commission		(IRS Employer
incorporation or organization)		File Number)		Identification No.)

5220 Spring Valley Road, Suite 500

Dallas, TX 75254

(Address of principal executive offices)

(949) 281-2606

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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: None

Title of each class		Trading Symbol(s)		Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock		VIVK		The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (Nasdaq Capital Market)

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. ☐

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Current Report on Form 8-K or this Report contains forward-looking statements. Any and all statements contained in this Report that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed forward-looking statements. Terms such as “may,” “might,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “project,” “estimate,” “pro-forma,” “predict,” “potential,” “strategy,” “anticipate,” “attempt,” “develop,” “plan,” “help,” “believe,” “continue,” “intend,” “expect,” “future” and terms of similar import (including the negative of any of the foregoing) may be intended to identify forward-looking statements. However, not all forward-looking statements may contain one or more of these identifying terms. Forward-looking statements in this Report may include, without limitation, statements regarding the plans and objectives of management for future operations.

The forward-looking statements are not meant to predict or guarantee actual results, performance, events or circumstances, including the closing of the Membership Interest Purchase Agreement disclosed below, and may not be realized because they are based upon our current projections, plans, objectives, beliefs, expectations, estimates and assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties and other influences, many of which we have no control over. Actual results and the timing of certain events and circumstances may differ materially from those described by the forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because of the risks and uncertainties related to them We disclaim any obligation to update the forward-looking statements contained in this Report to reflect any new information or future events or circumstances or otherwise, except as required by law.

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Item 1.01 Entry Into Material Definitive Agreement

Third Amendment to Loan Agreement and Fourth Forbearance Agreement and Issuance of Fourth Junior Secured Convertible Promissory Note

As previously reported, on March 17, 2025, Vivakor, Inc. (the “Company”), issued a junior secured convertible promissory note (the “Initial Note”) to J.J. Astor & Co. (the “Lender”), in the principal amount of $6,625,000 (the “Principal Amount”), in relation to a Loan and Security Agreement by and between the Company, its subsidiaries, and the Lender (the “Loan Agreement”). The Company received $5,000,000, before fees. The Company received the funds on March 18, 2025. In relation to the Loan Agreement, the Company also entered into a Registration Rights Agreement with the Lender (the “RRA”), under which the Company was obligated to file a resale registration statement with the SEC registering any shares of its common stock issuable under the Note no later than sixty (60) days after closing. The information regarding this transaction was filed in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on March 21, 2025.

As previously reported, on July 9, 2025, the Company entered into a Forbearance and Amendment to Loan Agreement and Note, which amended the terms of the Loan Agreement, Initial Note and RRA (the “First Forbearance Agreement”). Under the terms of the First Forbearance Agreement, the Lender agreed to loan us additional funds under a Second Junior Secured Promissory Note (the “Second Note”) and agreed to forbear any default under the Initial Note in exchange for certain consideration. The information regarding this transaction was filed in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on July 21, 2025.

As previously reported, on October 8, 2025, the Company entered into a Second Forbearance and Amendment to Loan Agreement and Notes, which amended the terms of the Loan Agreement, Initial Note, the RRA, the Second Note and the First Forbearance Agreement (the “Second Forbearance Agreement”). Under the terms of the Second Forbearance Agreement: (i) the Lender agreed to loan us an additional amount up to $2,450,000, (ii) the Outstanding Principal Amount of the Initial Note was $2,259,319.89 and the Outstanding Principal Balance on the Second Note was $5,685,805.13 on the Forbearance Agreement Effective Date, (iii) the Lender provided notice of default to the under the Second Note, thereby accelerating all amounts due thereunder, (iv) the Lender agreed the Company was not in default of the Initial Note, Second Note or other Transaction Documents effective September 30, 2025 and to forbear declaring an Event of Default going forward and accelerating all amounts due under the Initial Note and the Second Note, subject to the Company complying with the terms of the Second Forbearance Agreement, (v) all amounts due under the Initial Note and the Second Note, with any accrued interest, will be due on or before November 30, 2025, (vi) interest under the Initial Note and Second Note will continue at the default interest rate of 19%, (vii) the conversion terms under the Initial Note and Second Note will remain on the Default Conversion Price under those instruments, and (viii) the Lender agreed to a standstill period until November 30, 2025, during which time the Lender will not declare an event of default or accelerate any payment obligations under the Initial Note or the Second Note, so long at the Company (a) pays interest at the Default Interest Rate on the Initial Note and the Second Note, (b) issues the Third Note to the Lender, and (c) pays in full all past due payments on the Initial Note and the Second Note on or before November 30, 2025. In connection with the Second Forbearance Agreement the Lender agreed to loan the Company up to an additional $2,450,000. On October 9, 2025, the Company entered and Lender into an Additional Junior Secured Convertible Note (the “Third Note”), under which the Company agreed to issue the Lender the Third Note in the principal amount of $1,620,000, with the Company receiving proceeds of $1,152,000 before subtracting $53,000 for legal fees and origination fees. The Company received the first funds from the Third Note on October 9, 2025 with the remainder received on October 10, 2025. As additional consideration for the Second Forbearance Agreement and the Third Note, the Company agreed to issue the Lender 286,000 shares of its common stock for $286 (the “Commitment Shares”). The information regarding this transaction was filed in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on October 14, 2025.

The Initial Note was satisfied in full on November 20, 2025 and the Third Note was satisfied in full on or about October 27, 2025, which left only the Second Note outstanding.

2

As previously reported, on February 5, 2026, the Company and the Lender entered into a fourth Forbearance, Note Payment and Registration Rights Amendment Agreement (the “Fourth Forbearance Agreement”), pursuant to which (a) the parties agreed that $5,995,722.21 was then outstanding, due and payable under the Second Note and (b) the Maturity Date of the Second Note was extended to as late as January 1, 2027, and (c) the Company agreed to pay the outstanding balance of the Second Note in the following installments, with payments, payable, at the option of the Company, either in cash or under certain conditions in Conversion Shares issued at the Default Conversion Price that are immediately salable by the Lender under Rule 144, as follows: (i) $50,000 per week commencing Monday, April 6, 2026, (ii) $100,000 per week commencing Monday, July 6, 2026, (iii) $150,000 per week commencing Monday, October 5, 2026, and (iv) $250,000 per week commencing Monday, December 7, 2026, with the outstanding balance to be paid in full by January 1, 2027 (the “Amended Repayment Terms”). The information regarding this transaction was filed in a Current Report on Form filed with the Commission on February 5, 2026.

On February 27, 2026, the Company and the Lender entered into a Third Amendment to Loan Agreement Fourth Forbearance Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement (the “Loan Agreement Amendment No. 3”) and $993,750 Original Principal Amount Junior Secured Promissory Note (the “Fourth Note”). Under the terms of the Fourth Note the Lender agreed to loan us an additional $750,000, which matures on April 6, 2026. In the event we default on the Fourth Note, the note begins accruing interest at 19% per annum, the principal amount due under the note is increased to 110% of the principal amount owed at the time of default, and the amounts due under the note become convertible with the Lender allowed to convert 200% of the amount due under the note at a conversion price equal to an 80% discount to the lesser of (a) the closing price of the Company’s common stock on (x) the Funding Date of the Initial Note and (y) the Funding Date of the Second Note (whichever closing price is lower), or (b) 20% of the closing price of the Company Common Stock on such applicable Funding Date. Under the terms of the Loan Agreement Amendment No. 3, the Lender and Company agreed the date by which the Company has to relist on Nasdaq under the Fourth Forbearance Agreement was extended to April 6, 2026, and the Second Note default terms were amended in certain respects to the default terms in the Fourth Note. The Company received the funds from the Fourth Note on February 27, 2026, minus $40,000 for legal and transaction fees. The Company and the Lender also entered into a Subsidiary Guarantee, under which the Company’s subsidiaries are guaranteeing the amounts due under the Fourth Note (the “Subsidiary Guarantee”) and a Pledge and Security Agreement, under which the Company and its subsidiaries secured the repayment of the amounts due under the Second Note and the Fourth Note with their assets as collateral (the “Pledge and Security Agreement”). Additionally, the Company conveyed certain real property and improvements it owns in Blaine County, Oklahoma to the Lender to secure the repayment of the Fourth Note. In the event the Fourth Note is paid in full by the maturity date, the Oklahoma property will be reconveyed to the Company.

This summary is not a complete description of all of the terms of the Loan Agreement Amendment No. 3, the Fourth Note, the Subsidiary Guarantee, and the Pledge and Security Agreement, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Loan Agreement Amendment No. 3, the Fourth Note, the Subsidiary Guarantee, and the Pledge and Security Agreement, forms of which are filed as Exhibits 10.1, 10.2, 10.3 and 10.4 respectively hereto, which are incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.

Item 3.02 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities

As disclosed in Item 1.01, on October 8, 2025, we issued the Fourth Note to the Lender, which contains a standard Rule 144 restrictive legend. The issuance of the foregoing securities were exempt from registration pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act promulgated thereunder as the Lender is an accredited investor and familiar with our operations based on representations in the Loan Agreement Amendment No. 3 and the Fourth Note.

3

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits

Exhibit No.		Title
10.1		Third Amendment to Loan Agreement Fourth Forbearance Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement with J.J. Astor dated February 27, 2026
10.2		Fourth Junior Secured Convertible Promissory Note to J.J. Astor dated February 27, 2026
10.3		Subsidiary Guarantee with J.J. Astor dated February 27, 2026
10.4		Pledge and Security Agreement with J.J. Astor dated February 27, 2026
104		Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL).

4

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.

	VIVAKOR, INC.
Dated: March 5, 2026	By:	/s/ James H. Ballengee
		Name:	James H. Ballengee
		Title:	Chairman, President & CEO

5

FAQ

What new financing did Vivakor (VIVK) obtain from J.J. Astor on February 27, 2026?

Vivakor received an additional $750,000 from J.J. Astor & Co. through a Fourth Junior Secured Convertible Promissory Note with a $993,750 original principal amount. The note matures on April 6, 2026 and is part of a broader amended loan and forbearance structure.

What are the default terms of Vivakor’s new Fourth Junior Secured Convertible Note?

If Vivakor defaults on the Fourth Note, interest accrues at 19% per annum, principal increases to 110% of the amount then owed, and the lender may convert 200% of the amount due at a deeply discounted price tied to specified historical closing prices.

How much did Vivakor (VIVK) owe under the Second Note before the Fourth Note was issued?

Under the February 5, 2026 Fourth Forbearance Agreement, Vivakor and the lender agreed that $5,995,722.21 was outstanding, due, and payable under the Second Note. The maturity of the Second Note was extended to as late as January 1, 2027 with structured weekly payments.

What collateral secures Vivakor’s Second and Fourth Notes with J.J. Astor?

Vivakor and its subsidiaries pledged their assets under a Pledge and Security Agreement, and the company conveyed certain real property and improvements in Blaine County, Oklahoma to the lender. The property will be reconveyed only if the Fourth Note is paid in full by maturity.

Did Vivakor’s subsidiaries guarantee the new Fourth Note obligations?

Yes. Vivakor’s subsidiaries entered into a Subsidiary Guarantee, guaranteeing amounts due under the Fourth Note. This means subsidiary assets support repayment, alongside the broader asset pledge and the separate conveyance of Blaine County, Oklahoma real property as security for the lender.

How did Vivakor’s Nasdaq relisting deadline change under the latest amendment?

Under the Third Amendment to the Loan Agreement and Fourth Forbearance Agreement, the date by which Vivakor must relist on Nasdaq under the Fourth Forbearance Agreement was extended to April 6, 2026, aligning that requirement with the maturity date of the Fourth Note.

Filing Exhibits & Attachments

7 documents

Agreements & Contracts

• EX-10.1 EXHIBIT 10.1 78.5 KB
• EX-10.2 EXHIBIT 10.2 83.6 KB
• EX-10.3 EXHIBIT 10.3 108.1 KB
• EX-10.4 EXHIBIT 10.4 255.2 KB

Other Documents

• EX-101 XBRL SCHEMA FILE 2.9 KB
• EX-101 XBRL LABEL FILE 33.4 KB
• EX-101 XBRL PRESENTATION FILE 21.8 KB