424B5 1 d86363d424b5.htm 424B5 424B5
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Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-225828

Prospectus Supplement to Prospectus Dated July 3, 2018

12,500,000 Shares

 

LOGO

Northern Oil and Gas, Inc.

Common Stock

 

 

We are offering 12,500,000 shares of our common stock, par value $0.001 per share (our “common stock”). See “Description of Capital Stock” beginning on page S-20 of this prospectus supplement for a more complete description of the shares offered hereby.

One of the Company’s significant existing stockholders (the “Existing Stockholder”) has indicated an interest in purchasing up to 1,025,641 shares of common stock being offered hereby. In addition, one of our unaffiliated joint venture partners has indicated an interest in purchasing up to 769,230 shares of common stock being offered hereby. The underwriters will not receive any underwriting discount or commission on the sale of any shares to the Existing Stockholder.

Our common stock is listed on the NYSE American under the symbol “NOG.” On February 2, 2021, the last sale price of our common stock as reported on the NYSE American was $10.95 per share.

An investment in our common stock involves significant risks. These risks are described under “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-10 of this prospectus supplement and under similar headings in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

 

 

 

     Per Share        Total  

Public offering price

   $ 9.75        $ 121,875,000  

Underwriting discount(1)(2)

   $ 0.4875        $ 5,593,750  

Proceeds, before expenses, to Northern Oil and Gas, Inc.(2)

   $ 9.2625        $ 116,281,250  

 

(1)

We refer you to “Underwriting” in this prospectus supplement for additional information regarding underwriting compensation.

 

(2)

The Existing Stockholder has indicated an interest in purchasing up to 1,025,641 shares of common stock being offered hereby. The underwriters will not receive any underwriting discount or commission on the sale of any shares to the Existing Stockholder.

The underwriters have the option to purchase up to an additional 1,875,000 shares of common stock for a period of 30 days at the public offering price, less the underwriting discount.

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

The underwriters expect to deliver the common stock to purchasers on or about February 9, 2021.

 

 

BofA Securities

 

RBC Capital Markets   Wells Fargo Securities   Citigroup     Truist Securities  

 

Raymond James

 

Capital One Securities    Johnson Rice & Company L.L.C.    Roth Capital Partners

 

Northland Capital Markets     Seaport Global Securities

 

 

The date of this prospectus supplement is February 4, 2021.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prospectus Supplement

 

    

Page

 

About this Prospectus Supplement

     S-iii  

Glossary of Terms

     S-iv  

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

     S-vi  

Summary

     S-1  

Risk Factors

     S-10  

Use of Proceeds

     S-17  

Capitalization

     S-18  

Description of Capital Stock

     S-20  

Certain Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations

     S-24  

Underwriting

     S-29  

Legal Matters

     S-37  

Experts

     S-37  

Where You Can Find More Information

     S-38  

Prospectus

 

    

Page

 

About this Prospectus

     1  

Where You Can Find More Information

     1  

Information Incorporated by Reference

     2  

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

     3  

Risk Factors

     4  

Our Company

     4  

Use of Proceeds

     5  

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends

     6  

Description of Capital Stock

     7  

Description of Debt Securities

     11  

Description of the Warrants

     26  

Description of Purchase Contracts

     27  

Description of Units

     28  

Plan of Distribution

     29  

Legal Matters

     31  

Experts

     31  

 

 

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any free writing prospectus that we may provide to you. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized anyone to provide you with different information, and you should not rely on any information not contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any free writing prospectus that we may provide you. This prospectus supplement does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than our common stock. We are not, and the underwriters are not, offering to sell shares of our common stock or seeking offers to buy shares of our common stock in any jurisdictions where offers and sales are not permitted. The information contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any free writing prospectus that we may provide to you is accurate only as of the date of

 

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each document regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus or any sale of shares of our common stock. In case there are any differences or inconsistencies between this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any free writing prospectus that we may provide to you and the information incorporated by reference in them, you should rely on the information in the document with the most recent date.

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

Unless the context indicates otherwise, references in this prospectus supplement to “we,” “us,” “our” and the “Company” refer to Northern Oil and Gas, Inc.

This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which contains specific information about the terms on which we are offering and selling our common stock and important business information about us. The second part is the accompanying prospectus, which contains and incorporates by reference important business and financial information about us and other information about this offering. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are 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.

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not contain all of the information included in the registration statement, as permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC. For further information, we refer you to our registration statement on Form S-3, including its exhibits, of which this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus form a part. We are subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and therefore file reports and other information with the SEC. Statements contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus about the provisions or contents of any agreement or other document are only summaries. If SEC rules require that any agreement or document be filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, you should refer to that agreement or document for its complete contents.

You should read both this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus as well as additional information incorporated by reference herein and described under “Where You Can Find More Information” beginning on page S-38 of this prospectus supplement before investing in our common stock.

If the description of this offering varies between this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on the information in this prospectus supplement. Any statement made in this prospectus supplement or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus supplement to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus supplement or in any other subsequently filed document that is also incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement modifies or supersedes that statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus supplement.

 

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GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Unless otherwise indicated in this prospectus supplement, natural gas volumes are stated at the legal pressure base of the state or geographic area in which the reserves are located at 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Crude oil and natural gas equivalents are determined using the ratio of six Mcf of natural gas to one barrel of crude oil, condensate or natural gas liquids.

The following definitions shall apply to the technical terms used in this prospectus supplement.

Terms used to describe quantities of crude oil and natural gas:

“Bbl.” One stock tank barrel, or 42 U.S. gallons liquid volume, used herein in reference to crude oil, condensate or NGLs.

“Boe. A barrel of oil equivalent and a standard convention used to express crude oil, NGL and natural gas volumes on a comparable crude oil equivalent basis. Gas equivalents are determined under the relative energy content method by using the ratio of 6.0 Mcf of natural gas to 1.0 Bbl of crude oil or NGL. This is an energy content correlation and does not reflect a value or price relationship between the commodities.

“Boepd.” Boe per day.

MBoe. One thousand Boe.

“Mcf.” One thousand cubic feet of natural gas.

MMBbl. One million barrels of crude oil, condensate or NGLs.

MMBoe. One million Boe.

MMBtu. One million British Thermal Units.

MMcfe. One million cubic feet of natural gas equivalent.

“NGLs.” Natural gas liquids. Hydrocarbons found in natural gas that may be extracted as liquefied petroleum gas and natural gasoline.

Terms used to assign a present value to or to classify our reserves:

“EUR.” Estimated ultimate recovery. The sum of reserves remaining as of a given date and cumulative production as of that date.

Pre-tax PV-10% or PV-10. The estimated future net revenue, discounted at a rate of 10% per annum, before income taxes and with no price or cost escalation or de-escalation in accordance with guidelines promulgated by the SEC.

Proved developed producing reserves or PDPs. Reserves that can be expected to be recovered through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods. Additional crude oil, NGLs, and natural gas expected to be obtained through the application of fluid injection or other improved recovery techniques for supplementing the natural forces and mechanisms of primary recovery are included in “proved developed reserves” only after testing by a pilot project or after the operation of an installed program has confirmed through production response that increased recovery will be achieved.

Proved developed non-producing reserves or PDNPs. Proved crude oil, NGLs, and natural gas reserves that are developed behind pipe, shut-in or that can be recovered through improved recovery only after the necessary equipment has been installed, or when the costs to do so are relatively minor. Shut-in reserves are expected to be recovered from (1) completion intervals which are open at the time of the estimate but which have not started producing, (2) wells that were shut-in for market conditions or pipeline connections, or (3) wells not capable of production for mechanical reasons. Behind-pipe reserves are expected to be recovered from zones in existing wells that will require additional completion work or future recompletion prior to the start of production.

 

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Proved undeveloped reserves or PUDs. Reserves that are expected to be recovered from new wells on undrilled acreage, or from existing wells where a relatively major expenditure is required for development. Reserves on undrilled acreage are limited to those drilling units offsetting productive units that are reasonably certain of production when drilled. Proved reserves for other undrilled units are claimed only where it can be demonstrated with reasonable certainty that there is continuity of production from the existing productive formation. Estimates for proved undeveloped reserves will not be attributable to any acreage for which an application of fluid injection or other improved recovery technique is contemplated, unless such techniques have been proved effective by actual tests in the area and in the same reservoir or an analogous reservoir.

(i)    The area of the reservoir considered as proved includes: (A) the area identified by drilling and limited by fluid contacts, if any, and (B) adjacent undrilled portions of the reservoir that can, with reasonable certainty, be judged to be continuous with it and to contain economically producible crude oil, NGLs or natural gas on the basis of available geoscience and engineering data.

(ii)    In the absence of data on fluid contacts, proved quantities in a reservoir are limited by the lowest known hydrocarbons (“LKH”) as seen in a well penetration unless geoscience, engineering, or performance data and reliable technology establishes a lower contact with reasonable certainty.

(iii)    Where direct observation from well penetrations has defined a highest known oil (“HKO”) elevation and the potential exists for an associated gas cap, proved oil reserves may be assigned in the structurally higher portions of the reservoir only if geoscience, engineering or performance data and reliable technology establish the higher contact with reasonable certainty.

(iv)    Reserves which can be produced economically through application of improved recovery techniques (including, but not limited to, fluid injection) are included in the proved classification when: (A) successful testing by a pilot project in an area of the reservoir with properties no more favorable than in the reservoir as a whole, the operation of an installed program in the reservoir or an analogous reservoir, or other evidence using reliable technology establishes the reasonable certainty of the engineering analysis on which the project or program was based, and (B) the project has been approved for development by all necessary parties and entities, including governmental entities.

(v)    Existing economic conditions include prices and costs at which economic producibility from a reservoir is to be determined. The price shall be the average during the twelve-month period prior to the ending date of the period covered by the report, determined as an unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month price for each month within such period, unless prices are defined by contractual arrangements, excluding escalations based on future conditions.

Standardized measure. Discounted future net cash flows estimated by applying year-end prices to the estimated future production of year-end proved reserves. Future cash inflows are reduced by estimated future production and development costs based on period end costs to determine pre-tax cash inflows. Future income taxes, if applicable, are computed by applying the statutory tax rate to the excess of pre-tax cash inflows over our tax basis in the oil and natural gas properties. Future net cash inflows after income taxes are discounted using a 10% annual discount rate.

 

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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

We are including the following discussion to inform our existing and potential security holders generally of some of the risks and uncertainties that can affect our Company and to take advantage of the “safe harbor” protection for forward-looking statements that applicable federal securities law affords.

From time to time, our management or persons acting on our behalf may make forward-looking statements to inform existing and potential security holders about our Company. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including the documents incorporated herein by reference regarding our financial position, business strategy, plans and objectives of management for future operations, industry conditions, and indebtedness covenant compliance are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally accompanied by terms or phrases such as “estimate,” “project,” “predict,” “believe,” “expect,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “target,” “could,” “plan,” “intend,” “seek,” “goal,” “will,” “should,” “may” or other words and similar expressions that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. Items contemplating or making assumptions about actual or potential future production and sales, cash flows, and trends or operating results also constitute such forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and important factors (many of which are beyond our Company’s control) that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements, including the following: changes in crude oil and natural gas prices; the pace of drilling and completions activity on our properties; our ability to acquire additional development opportunities; potential or pending acquisition transactions, including the Reliance Acquisition (as defined and described below); our ability to consummate the Reliance Acquisition, the anticipated timing of such consummation, and any anticipated financing transactions in connection therewith; the projected capital efficiency savings and other operating efficiencies and synergies resulting from our acquisition transactions; integration and benefits of property acquisitions, including the Reliance Acquisition, or the effects of such acquisitions on our Company’s cash position and levels of indebtedness; changes in our reserves estimates or the value thereof; disruptions to our Company’s business due to acquisitions and other significant transactions; general economic or industry conditions, nationally and/or in the communities in which our Company conducts business; changes in the interest rate environment, legislation or regulatory requirements; conditions of the securities markets; our ability to raise or access capital; changes in accounting principles, policies or guidelines; financial or political instability, acts of war or terrorism, and other economic, competitive, governmental, regulatory and technical factors affecting our Company’s operations, products and prices; and the COVID-19 pandemic and its related economic repercussions and effect on the oil and natural gas industry.

We have based any forward-looking statements on our current expectations and assumptions about future events. While our management considers these expectations and assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, regulatory and other risks, contingencies and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. Accordingly, results actually achieved may differ materially from expected results described in these statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. You should consider carefully the statements in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” of this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, and the other documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, and the section entitled “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and other sections of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2020, June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2020, as updated by subsequent reports we file with the SEC, which describe factors that could cause our actual results to differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. We do not undertake, and specifically disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of such statements.

Readers are urged not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this prospectus supplement. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements in

 

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order to reflect any event or circumstance that may arise after the date of this prospectus supplement, other than as may be required by applicable law or regulation. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made by us in our reports filed with the SEC which attempt to advise interested parties of the risks and factors that may affect our business, financial condition, results of operation and cash flows. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results may vary materially from those expected or projected.

 

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SUMMARY

This summary highlights selected information about us but does not contain all the information that may be important to you. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus include specific terms of the offering and information about our business and financial data. You should carefully read this entire prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including the matters set forth under the caption “Risk Factors,” beginning on page S-10 of this prospectus supplement and the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus before making an investment decision. The estimates of our proved oil and natural gas reserves and the proved oil and natural gas reserves associated with the Reliance Assets (as defined herein), in each case at December 31, 2020 and that are included in this prospectus supplement are derived from the reports of Cawley, Gillespie and Associates, Inc. (“CGA”), our independent reservoir engineering firm and independent reservoir engineer for the Reliance Assets.

Our Company

We are an independent energy company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and production of oil and natural gas properties, primarily in the Bakken and Three Forks formations within the Williston Basin in North Dakota and Montana. We believe the location, size and concentration of our acreage position in one of North America’s leading unconventional oil-resource plays provide us with drilling and development opportunities that will result in significant long-term value.

Our primary focus is investing in non-operated minority working and mineral interests in oil and gas properties in the United States. As a non-operator, we are able to diversify our investment exposure by participating in a large number of gross wells, as well as entering into additional project areas by partnering with numerous experienced operating partners or pursuing value-enhancing acquisitions. In addition, because we can generally elect to participate on a well-by-well basis, we believe we have increased flexibility in the timing and amount of our capital expenditures because we are not burdened with various contractual arrangements with respect to minimum drilling obligations. Further, we are able to avoid exploratory and infrastructure costs incurred by many oil and gas producers.

We seek to create value through strategic acquisitions and partnering with low-cost operators who have significant experience in developing and producing hydrocarbons in our core areas. We have more than 40 experienced operating partners that provide technical insights and opportunities for acquisitions. Across these operators, no single operator represents more than 15% of our total reserves (as measured by net producing wells), 42% of these operators are investment grade rated and the weighted average rating of our operators is Baa2.

As of September 30, 2020, we leased approximately 183,222 net acres all located in the Williston Basin, of which approximately 164,235 were developed and owned working interests in 6,354 gross (468.8 net) producing wells with substantially all the wells targeting the Bakken and Three Forks formations. Our management team estimates that the Company has participated in approximately 40% of all Bakken and Three Forks wells drilled in the Williston Basin, providing the Company with insight into in-basin activity, leading operators and leading-edge operational completions.

Recent Developments

Preliminary Unaudited Fourth Quarter Fiscal Year 2020 Results

Our financial statements for the three months ended December 31, 2020 are not yet available. Accordingly, the financial results we present below are estimates, derived from our internal records and based on the most current information available to management. Our normal reporting processes with respect to the estimated financial data provided below have not been fully completed. As a result, these estimated results may



 

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differ from the actual results that will be reflected in our financial statements for the year and quarter ended December 31, 2020 when they are completed and publicly disclosed. These estimated results may change and those changes may be material.

Our expectations with respect to our unaudited results for the period discussed below are based upon management estimates and are the responsibility of management. The estimated financial data included in this prospectus supplement has been prepared by, and is the responsibility of, our management. Deloitte & Touche LLP has not audited, reviewed, compiled, or applied agreed-upon procedures with respect to the estimated financial data. Accordingly, Deloitte & Touche LLP does not express an opinion or any other form of assurance with respect thereto, and assumes no responsibility for and disclaims association therewith.

Although our year-end procedures are not yet complete, and are therefore subject to update, we currently estimate that our average daily production and capital expenditures for the year ended December 31, 2020 and for the three months ended December 31, 2020 were between 33.1 and 33.2 MBoe/d and 35.5 and 35.9 MBoe/d and $213.5 million and $214.8 million and $48.5 million and $49.8 million, respectively.

Reliance Acquisition

On February 3, 2021, we entered into a purchase and sale agreement (the “PSA”) with Reliance Marcellus LLC (“Reliance”), pursuant to which we agreed to acquire certain oil and gas properties, interests and related assets (the “PSA Assets”) for an unadjusted aggregate purchase price of $250.0 million plus 3,250,000 warrants to purchase shares of our common stock at an exercise price equal to $14.00 per share (the “Warrants”), subject to certain customary purchase price adjustments. The PSA contains customary representations and warranties, covenants and indemnification provisions and has an effective date of July 1, 2020.

In connection with the Reliance Acquisition, on February 3, 2021, we entered into a cooperation agreement (the “Cooperation Agreement”) with an unaffiliated third party, Arch Investment Partners, LLC (“Arch”). Pursuant to the Cooperation Agreement, we expect to assign to Arch an undivided 30% interest in and to the PSA, including the right to acquire an equivalent share of the PSA Assets transferred under the PSA, with Arch assuming the obligation to fund 30% of the aggregate cash purchase price payable to Reliance under the PSA. As a result, assuming all of the PSA Assets are transferred at closing, we will acquire an undivided 70% interest in the PSA Assets (such portion of the PSA Assets, the “Reliance Assets”) for an unadjusted aggregate purchase price payable by us comprised of $175.0 million in cash and the Warrants (the “Reliance Acquisition”).

We expect to partially fund the cash purchase price for the Reliance Acquisition with the net proceeds from this offering and the remainder with the net proceeds from the Concurrent Notes Offering (as defined herein) and/or borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility. We cannot assure you that the Concurrent Notes Offering will be completed or, if completed, on what terms it will be completed. This offering is not conditioned on the consummation of the Concurrent Notes Offering, and the Concurrent Notes Offering is not conditioned on the consummation of this offering. The foregoing description and other information in this prospectus supplement regarding the Concurrent Notes Offering is included solely for informational purposes. Nothing in this prospectus supplement should be construed as an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any New Notes (as defined below).

We expect to close the Reliance Acquisition in April 2021, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, although we cannot assure you that we will complete the Reliance Acquisition on the terms contemplated or at all. Please read the “Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Reliance Acquisition” section in this prospectus supplement for more information on the Reliance Acquisition and the risks related thereto. This offering is not conditioned on the consummation of the Reliance Acquisition, and the Reliance Acquisition is not conditioned on the consummation of this offering or the Concurrent Notes Offering. If the Reliance Acquisition is not consummated, we intend to use the net proceeds from this offering to repay or redeem outstanding indebtedness and for general corporate purposes.



 

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The Reliance Assets

The Reliance Assets, located in the Appalachian Basin of Southwest Pennsylvania, consist of Reliance’s interests in natural gas producing properties and acreage of approximately 450,000 gross (64,000 net) acres. Certain of the Reliance Assets are subject to a joint development agreement (the “JDA”) and a participation and development agreement (the “PDA”) with affiliates of EQT Corporation (“EQT”).

As of September 30, 2020, the Reliance Assets had average net daily production of approximately 98 MMcfpd (approximately 100% natural gas) from approximately 427 gross producing wells. In addition, the Reliance Assets include approximately 94 work-in-process wells (the “WIP Wells”) at various stages in the development cycle, which have approximately $50.0 million invested into them as of June 30, 2020.

As of December 31, 2020, the net proved reserves associated with the Reliance Assets was estimated at approximately 493 Bcf (approximately 55% proved developed and producing).

Management estimates that the Reliance Assets will produce between approximately 100 and 110 MMcfe/d in 2021, which will be in addition to management’s 2021 estimated production of 37.4 to 42.8 MBoe/d, and that the 2021 capital expenditure budget with respect to the Reliance Assets will be approximately $25.0 to $30.0 million, which will be in addition to its estimated 2021 capital expenditure budget of $180.0 million to $225.0 million.

Our management team estimates that there are approximately 1,200 gross undeveloped wells across the wider footprint of 64,000 net acres exhibiting attractive rates of return. Based on most recent budget provided by EQT for 2021 and 2022 development activity, seven wells were reclassified from undeveloped to WIP Wells – such revisions occurred subsequent to December 31, 2020 reserve report prepared by CGA.

The Reliance Assets covered by the JDA (the “JDA Properties”) are subject to both a preferential right to purchase, and consent right, in favor of EQT. EQT has a period of 45 days to exercise its preferential right to purchase the JDA Properties following its receipt of notice of our intent to purchase the JDA Properties, which notice was delivered in connection with execution of the PSA. Pursuant to the PSA, if, prior to the closing, EQT fails to grant consent to our acquisition of the JDA Properties or exercises its preferential right to purchase, the JDA Properties will be excluded from the transaction at closing and the purchase price will be reduced by the allocated value of the JDA Properties. If EQT does not consent to the acquisition prior to the closing, Reliance has agreed to continue to seek such consent for a period of three months from and after closing. If EQT consents to the acquisition within such three month period, we will acquire the JDA Properties on the same terms and conditions set forth in the PSA. If consent is not obtained on or prior to the expiration of such three month period, the JDA Properties will be permanently excluded from the transaction.

Based on information provided to us by Reliance, the JDA Properties include 5.6 net producing wells, 1.0 net wells in progress and 2,183 net acres, have approximately 65 Bcfe in associated proved reserves and approximately 1.8 net undrilled locations.

We intend to begin hedging expected PDP volumes, including basis differentials, commensurate with the signing of the Reliance Acquisition with a target of hedging up to 75% of volumes for approximately three years.

Acquisition Rationale

We believe the Reliance Acquisition accomplishes several strategic objectives for us and is complementary to our business strategies in the following ways:

 

   

Diversifying and Scale-enhancing Transaction. The Reliance Assets significantly increase our scale and diversify our portfolio into one of the best natural gas basins in the US with exposure to



 

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EQT, one of the leading, low-cost operators in the region. The combined portfolio offers exposure to a group of leading operators in the Williston (70% of current production) and Appalachia (30% of current production).

 

   

Balanced Commodity Mix and Capital Allocation Optionality. Combined portfolio offers a balanced commodity mix (55% liquids and 45% gas based on management’s estimates). We believe a strong and material presence across the Williston Basin and Appalachia will offer us optionality for flexible capital allocation to the highest return projects based on our expected commodities pricing outlook.

 

   

Strong Free Cash Flow Generation and Material Value Creation Opportunities. At current strip pricing, we believe we will generate material free cash flow in 2021. In addition, we believe the Reliance Assets offer value enhancing opportunities through the expected completion of the WIP Wells over next five years as well as an extensive inventory of undeveloped locations. We believe, additional cost saving opportunities exist through capital efficiencies and operational improvements.

 

   

Accretive Across Key Metrics. We believe that the Reliance Acquisition will be accretive to leverage, free cash flow, and return on capital employed. In addition, the low-decline nature of PDP is expected to reduce our corporate decline rate.

 

   

Attractive Purchase Price. The purchase price is underpinned by value assigned to PDP properties and the expected WIP Wells. As of December 31, 2020, we believe that the Reliance Acquisition represents a blended discount rate to PDP and WIP of approximately 20%. Using the unadjusted cash purchase price of $175.0 million and July 2020 production of approximately 119 MMcfe/d, the unadjusted cash purchase price implies a flowing multiple of approximately $1,471 Mcfe/d.

 

   

Strong Non-operator Governance. The JDA and PDA joint venture agreements provide us with true partnership standing with ability to review, propose and signoff on operational matters. The budgeting process under the joint venture agreements provide us with an expanded sightline to development with an ability to flex capital down as well as up in light of economic circumstances.

Our Reserves and Acreage Pro Forma for Reliance Acquisition

As of December 31, 2020, and after giving pro forma effect to the acquisition of the Reliance Assets, our proved reserves were 205 MMBoe, as estimated by our third-party independent reservoir engineering firm, CGA. The following table provides a summary of certain information regarding our assets and the assets to be acquired in the Reliance Acquisition:

 

   

Operational Data
(as of
September 30, 2020)

    Reserves
(as of December 31, 2020)
 
    Net
Acres
    Gross
Wells

(1)
    Net
Wells

(1)
    Proved
Reserves
(MMBoe)

(3)
    % Oil     % Proved
Developed
    PV-10
SEC Pricing
(in thousands)

(2)(3)
    PV-10
Strip Pricing
(in thousands)
(4)
    PV-10
of PDP
Reserves
Strip Pricing

(in thousands)
(4)
 

Northern Historical

    183,222       6,719       497.1       123       78       69       712,536       1,220,965       798,665  

Reliance Assets(5)

    63,895       521       124.8       82       0       55       85,247       268,507       149,811  

Total(6)

    247,117       7,240       621.9       205       47       63       797,783       1,489,472       948,476  

 

(1)

Includes both producing wells and wells-in-process.

(2)

PV-10 is a non-GAAP financial measure. We present PV-10 using both SEC and NYMEX strip pricing. PV-10 is derived from the Standardized Measure of discounted future net cash flows, which is the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. PV-10 is a



 

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  computation of the Standardized Measure of discounted future net cash flows on a pre-tax basis. PV-10 is equal to the Standardized Measure of discounted future net cash flows at the applicable date, before deducting future income taxes, discounted at 10 percent. We believe that the presentation of PV-10 is relevant and useful to investors because it presents the discounted future net cash flows attributable to our estimated net proved reserves prior to taking into account future corporate income taxes, and it is a useful measure for evaluating the relative monetary significance of our oil and natural gas properties. Further, investors may utilize the measure as a basis for comparison of the relative size and value of our reserves to other companies. We use this measure when assessing the potential return on investment related to our oil and natural gas properties. PV-10, however, is not a substitute for the Standardized Measure of discounted future net cash flows. Our PV-10 measure and the Standardized Measure of discounted future net cash flows do not purport to represent the fair value of our oil and natural gas reserves. At this time, we are unable to provide a reconciliation of PV-10 to a standardized measure for the year ended December 31, 2020 because we have not yet finalized our calculation of the effects of income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2020.
(3)

The prices used to calculate this measure were $39.57 per barrel of oil (WTI-Cushing spot price) and $1.99 per MMBtu of natural gas (Henry Hub price), which prices were then further adjusted for transportation, quality and basis differentials.

(4)

The prices used to calculate this measure were based on NYMEX strip prices as of January 20, 2021.

(5)

Assumes we acquire 100% of the Reliance Assets (or 70% of the PSA Assets) in the Reliance Acquisition and that EQT does not exercise its preferential purchase right as described under “Recent Developments—Reliance Acquisition—Reliance Assets.”

(6)

Pro forma for the Reliance Acquisition and based on information provided to the Company in the CGA reserve report prepared for the Reliance Assets.

Senior Secured Credit Agreement

On February 3, 2021, we entered into a second amendment to our Revolving Credit Facility (the “Amendment”), which permitted the Company to (i) issue additional unsecured senior debt securities in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $600,000,000 and (ii) repay the remaining outstanding balance of the Unsecured VEN Bakken Note (as defined below). The Amendment also amended certain other provisions of the Revolving Credit Facility, including among other things, updates to provisions regarding European bail-in legislation.

Unsecured VEN Bakken Note Repayment

On January 4, 2021, we used borrowings under our revolving credit facility to repay $65.0 million in aggregate principal amount (or 50%) (the “First VEN Bakken Note Repayment”) of the 6.0% Senior Unsecured Promissory Note due 2022 that we issued on July 1, 2019 in connection with the completion of the acquisition of certain oil and gas properties and interests from VEN Bakken, LLC in the original principal amount of $130.0 million (the “Unsecured VEN Bakken Note”). As of February 2, 2021, there remains $65.0 million in aggregate principal amount outstanding under the Unsecured VEN Bakken Note, which remaining unpaid principal amount is required to be repaid by us on or before July 1, 2022, together with all accrued but unpaid interest thereon. We intend to use a portion of the net proceeds from the Concurrent Notes Offering to repay in full the remaining $65.0 million in aggregate principal amount outstanding under the Unsecured VEN Bakken Note, as further discussed below.

Concurrent Debt Transactions

Concurrently with, or in connection with the closing of, this offering of common stock, we intend to enter into a series of transactions to refinance our outstanding indebtedness and existing capital structure, as further described below.

Concurrent Offering of Senior Notes due 2028

Concurrently with this offering of common stock, we are conducting a private offering exempt from registration under the Securities Act (the “Concurrent Notes Offering”) of $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of new senior notes due 2028 (the “New Notes”). The New Notes are being offered only to qualified institutional buyers in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act and to certain persons outside the United States under Regulation S under the Securities Act. The Concurrent Notes Offering is being made pursuant to a separate offering memorandum and nothing in this prospectus supplement should be construed as an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any New Notes. We estimate that the net proceeds from the



 

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Concurrent Notes Offering will be approximately $491.3 million, after deducting discounts and commissions to the initial purchasers of the New Notes and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

We expect to use a portion of the net proceeds from the Concurrent Notes Offering, together with the net proceeds from this offering of common stock, to fund the cash purchase price for the Reliance Acquisition. We expect to use the remainder of the net proceeds from the Concurrent Notes Offering to (i) repurchase or redeem all of our outstanding 8.50% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2023 (the “Second Lien Notes”) pursuant to the Tender Offer and/or the Redemption (each as defined below), (ii) repay in full the $65.0 million outstanding under the Unsecured VEN Bakken Note, (iii) repay approximately $67.3 million of the outstanding borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility and (iv) pay accrued and unpaid interest due in connection with such transactions and all premiums and transaction expenses associated therewith (such transactions collectively referred to herein as the “Refinancing Transactions”). In the event the purchase price for the Reliance Acquisition is reduced as a result of EQT’s exercise of its consent right or preferential right to purchase the JDA Properties, we intend to use the remaining net proceeds from the Concurrent Notes Offering to further repay outstanding borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility.

We cannot assure you that the Concurrent Notes Offering will be completed or, if completed, on what terms it will be completed. This offering is not conditioned on the consummation of the Concurrent Notes Offering, and the Concurrent Notes Offering is not conditioned on the consummation of this offering. The foregoing description and other information in this prospectus supplement regarding the Concurrent Notes Offering is included solely for informational purposes.

Second Lien Notes Tender Offer, Consent Solicitation and Redemption

Promptly following the commencement of this offering and the Concurrent Notes Offering on February 3, 2021, we intend to commence an offer (the “Tender Offer”) to purchase for cash, subject to certain conditions, any and all of our outstanding Second Lien Notes. The Tender Offer will be made pursuant to an offer to purchase. Unless extended, the Tender Offer will expire at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on March 3, 2021 (the “Expiration Time”). Holders of Second Lien Notes that are validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) and accepted at or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on February 17, 2021 (the “Early Tender and Consent Date”), will receive total cash consideration of $1,030 per $1,000 principal amount of Second Lien Notes tendered, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the early settlement date, which is expected to be February 19, 2021. Holders of Second Lien Notes that are validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) and accepted after the Early Tender and Consent Date but at or prior to the Expiration Time will receive total cash consideration of $1,000 per $1,000 principal amount of Second Lien Notes tendered, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the final settlement date, which is expected to be March 5, 2021. Assuming that all outstanding Second Lien Notes are tendered in the Tender Offer at or prior to the Early Tender and Consent Date, the holders of such Second Lien Notes will receive aggregate cash consideration of $296.4 million, excluding accrued and unpaid interest. This prospectus supplement is not an offer to purchase or a solicitation of an offer to sell the Second Lien Notes, and the Tender Offer is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase the common stock offered hereby.

The Tender Offer is conditioned on, among other things, the consummation of the Concurrent Notes Offering. However, neither this offering nor the Concurrent Notes Offering is conditioned on the consummation of the Tender Offer or the tender of any specified amount of Second Lien Notes, and the Tender Offer is not conditioned on the consummation of this offering. The foregoing description and other information in this prospectus supplement regarding the Tender Offer is included solely for informational purposes. This prospectus supplement is not an offer to purchase or a solicitation of an offer to sell the Second Lien Notes, and the Tender Offer is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase the common stock offered hereby or the New Notes. There can be no assurance as to the amount of Second Lien Notes that will be tendered in the Tender Offer or that we will consummate the Tender Offer, which is subject to market conditions and other factors.



 

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In conjunction with the Tender Offer, we commenced a solicitation of consents (the “Consent Solicitation”) from holders of the Second Lien Notes to amend certain provisions of the indentures under which the Second Lien Notes were issued and to eliminate substantially all of the restrictive covenants with respect to the Second Lien Notes.

After completion of this offering, the Concurrent Notes Offering and the Tender Offer, we intend to exercise our right to optionally redeem (the “Redemption”) any Second Lien Notes not purchased in the Tender Offer, at a price equal to 102% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date (which is expected to be May 15, 2021), plus an applicable “make-whole” premium, pursuant to the terms of the indenture governing the Second Lien Notes.

Our Principal Executive Offices

Our executive offices are located at 601 Carlson Pkwy, Suite 990, Minnetonka, Minnesota 55305, and our telephone number is 952-476-9800. We maintain an Internet website at www.northernoil.com. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus, and you should not consider information contained on our website as part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus, in each case other than the documents that we file with the SEC that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement.



 

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The Offering

The summary below describes the principal terms of this offering. Certain of the terms and conditions described below are subject to important limitations and exceptions.

 

Issuer

Northern Oil and Gas, Inc.

 

Shares of Common Stock Offered Hereby

12,500,000 shares, or 14,375,000 shares if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of common stock.

 

Option to Purchase Additional Shares

We have granted the underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional 1,875,000 shares of our common stock within 30 days of the date of this prospectus supplement.

 

Common Stock Outstanding After the Offering

58,056,326 shares, or 59,931,326 shares if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of common stock.

 

Share Allocation

The Existing Stockholder has indicated an interest in purchasing up to 1,025,641 shares of common stock being offered hereby. In addition, one of our unaffiliated joint venture partners has indicated an interest in purchasing up to 769,230 shares of common stock being offered hereby. The underwriters will not receive any underwriting discount or commission on the sale of any shares to the Existing Stockholder.

 

Use of Proceeds

We estimate that, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, we will receive approximately $115.1 million of net proceeds from this offering, or $132.4 million if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares.

 

  We expect to partially fund the cash purchase price for the Reliance Acquisition with the net proceeds from this offering and the remainder with the net proceeds from the Concurrent Notes Offering and/or borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility. However, the consummation of this offering is not conditioned upon the completion of the Reliance Acquisition or the Concurrent Notes Offering, and the consummation of this offering is not a condition to the completion of the Reliance Acquisition or the Concurrent Notes Offering.

 

  There can be no assurance that we will complete the Reliance Acquisition on the terms described herein or at all. If the Reliance Acquisition is not consummated, we intend to use the net proceeds from this offering to repay or redeem outstanding indebtedness and for general corporate purposes. See “Use of Proceeds.”

 

NYSE American Symbol

NOG

 

Risk Factors

An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before making an investment decision, investors should carefully consider



 

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the information set forth in the section of this prospectus supplement entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-10, as well as the other risks and uncertainties described in the documents that we file with the SEC that are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Transfer Agent

Equiniti Trust Company

Unless otherwise indicated, in this prospectus supplement, the number of shares of common stock to be outstanding after this offering is based on 45,556,326 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2020. This number:

 

   

assumes no exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares of common stock;

 

   

excludes 971,055 shares of common stock reserved for issuance in connection with future awards available for grant under the Northern Oil and Gas, Inc. 2018 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2018 Plan”);

 

   

excludes 12,241,403 shares of common stock reserved for issuance upon conversion of the issued and outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock (as defined below); and

 

   

excludes 3,250,000 shares of common stock to be reserved at the closing of the Reliance Acquisition for issuance upon exercise of the Warrants.



 

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RISK FACTORS

An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before deciding whether to invest in our securities, you should consider carefully all the information we have included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including the information under the caption “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, as modified by our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other SEC filings filed after such Annual Report. In addition, you should carefully consider the risk factors described below related to this offering and an investment in our securities. If any of these risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow could be seriously harmed. This could cause the trading price of our securities offered hereby to decline, resulting in a loss of all or part of your investment.

Risks Related to Our Business and the Oil, Natural Gas and NGL Industry

Our business depends on oil and natural gas transportation and processing facilities and other assets that are owned by third parties.

The marketability of our oil and natural gas depends in part on the availability, proximity and capacity of pipeline systems, processing facilities, oil trucking fleets and rail transportation assets owned by third parties. The lack of available capacity on these systems and facilities, whether as a result of proration, physical damage, scheduled maintenance, legal or other reasons such as suspension of service due to legal challenges (see below regarding the Dakota Access Pipeline), could result in a substantial increase in costs, the shut-in of producing wells or the delay or discontinuance of development plans for our properties. During 2019 and into 2020, we experienced significant delays and production curtailments that we believe were due in part to gas gathering and processing constraints. The negative effects arising from these and similar circumstances may last for an extended period of time. In many cases, operators are provided only with limited, if any, notice as to when these circumstances will arise and their duration. In addition, many of our wells are drilled in locations in the Williston Basin that are serviced to a limited extent, if at all, by gathering and transportation pipelines, which may or may not have sufficient capacity to transport production from all of the wells in the area. As a result, we rely on third party oil trucking to transport a significant portion of our production to third party transportation pipelines, rail loading facilities and other market access points.

The Dakota Access Pipeline (“DAPL”), a major pipeline running out of the Williston Basin, is subject to highly publicized ongoing litigation (the “DAPL Litigation”) that could threaten its continued operation. In July 2020, a federal district court ordered DAPL to be shut down no later than August 6, 2020, pending the completion of an environmental impact statement (“EIS”) that is expected to take at least a year to complete. The district court’s shut-down order was subsequently temporarily stayed by a federal circuit court of appeals, and DAPL currently remains operational. However, in January 2021, a federal circuit court of appeals agreed with the federal district court that the government should have conducted an EIS before going forward with the pipeline, and vacated easements granted for its construction to cross beneath Lake Oahe, a reservoir along the Missouri River maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (“USACE”). The federal circuit court of appeals did not agree with the lower court’s decision that the pipeline should be shut down, and instead left the decision on how to proceed to the USACE. A shut-down remains possible, and there is no guarantee that DAPL will be permitted to resume or continue operations following the completion of the EIS and/or the DAPL Litigation. Any significant curtailment in gathering system or pipeline capacity, or the unavailability of sufficient third party trucking or rail capacity, could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

The new Biden administration, acting through the executive branch and/or in coordination with Congress, could enact rules and regulations that restrict our ability to acquire federal leases in the future and/or impose more onerous permitting and other costly environmental, health and safety requirements.

During the campaign, President Biden stated that, if elected President, he would issue Executive Orders to permanently protect certain federal lands, establish monuments, restrict new oil and gas permitting on public

 

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lands and waters, and modify royalties to account for climate costs. In January 2021, President Biden signed an Executive Order temporarily suspending oil and gas permitting on federal lands and waters. In addition, President Biden has indicated that his administration is likely to pursue more stringent methane pollution limits for new and existing oil and gas operations. These efforts, among others, are intended to support Mr. Biden’s stated goal of addressing climate change. Potential actions of a Democratic-controlled Congress include imposing more restrictive laws and regulations pertaining to permitting, limitations on greenhouse gas emissions, increased requirements for financial assurance and bonding for decommissioning liabilities, and carbon taxes. Any of these administrative or Congressional actions could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations by restricting the lands available for development and/or access to permits required for such development, or by imposing additional and costly environmental, health and safety requirements.

The enactment of new or increased severance taxes and impact fees on natural gas production could negatively impact the Reliance Assets.

The tax laws, rules and regulations that affect the operation of the Reliance Assets are subject to change. For example, Pennsylvania’s governor has in past legislative sessions proposed legislation to impose a state severance tax on the extraction of natural resources, including natural gas produced from the Marcellus Shale formation, either in replacement of or in addition to the existing state impact fee. Pennsylvania’s legislature has not thus far advanced any of the governor’s severance tax proposals; however, severance tax legislation may continue to be proposed in future legislative sessions. Any such tax increase or change could adversely impact our earnings, cash flows and financial position.

Risks Related to this Offering and Ownership of Our Common Stock

The trading price of our common stock has been, and is likely to continue to be, volatile and could be subject to wide fluctuations in response to various factors, some of which are beyond our control.

Global stock markets in general, and stock prices of public oil and gas companies in particular, have recently experienced extreme volatility primarily as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the OPEC+ price war during the first quarter 2020. In addition to the factors discussed in these risk factors and elsewhere in our reports and other documents filed with the SEC, factors that may cause volatility in our share price include:

 

   

the duration, spread and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on global oil demand and oil price volatility;

 

   

further disagreements or price wars amongst OPEC+ members, including the effect thereof on global oil supply, oil storage capacity and oil prices;

 

   

a domestic or global economic slowdown that could affect our financial results and operations and the economic strength of our customers;

 

   

our ability to meet our working capital needs;

 

   

quarterly variations in operating results;

 

   

changes in financial estimates by us or securities analysts who may cover our stock or by our failure to meet the estimates made by securities analysts;

 

   

changes in market valuations of other similar companies;

 

   

announcements by us or our competitors of new products or of significant technical innovations, contracts, acquisitions, divestitures, strategic relationships or joint ventures;

 

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changes in laws or regulations applicable to our business;

 

   

additions or departures of key personnel;

 

   

changes in our capital structure, such as future issuances of debt or equity securities;

 

   

short sales, hedging and other derivative transactions involving our capital stock

 

   

transactions in our common stock, by directors, officers, affiliates and other major investors; and

 

   

the other risk factors described herein or incorporated by reference from our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, as amended, and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2020, June 30, 2020, and September 30, 2020.

Furthermore, from time to time, the stock markets have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have affected and continue to affect the market prices of equity securities of many companies. These fluctuations often have been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of those companies. These broad market and industry fluctuations, as well as general economic, political and market conditions, such as recessions, interest rate changes, international currency fluctuations or political unrest, may negatively impact the market price of our common stock. In the past, companies that have experienced volatility in the market price of their stock have been subject to securities class action litigation, and we have been a defendant to a securities class action claim in the past. Any future securities litigation against us could result in substantial costs and divert our management’s attention and resources, and harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

The availability of shares for sale or other issuance in the future could reduce the market price of our common stock.

Our board of directors (our “Board”) has the authority, without action or vote of our stockholders, to issue all or any part of our authorized but unissued shares of common stock, or issue additional shares of preferred stock, which are convertible into shares of common stock. In the future, we may issue securities to raise cash for acquisitions, as consideration in acquisitions, to pay down debt, to fund capital expenditures or general corporate expenses, in connection with the exercise of stock options or to satisfy our obligations under our incentive plans. We may also acquire interests in other companies by using a combination of cash, our preferred stock and our common stock or just our common stock. We may also issue securities, including our preferred stock, that are convertible into, exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, our common stock. The occurrence of any of these events or any issuance of common stock upon conversion of our currently outstanding 6.5% Series A Perpetual Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series A Preferred Stock”) may dilute your ownership interest in our Company, reduce our earnings per share and have an adverse impact on the price of our common stock.

Investors in our common stock may be required to look solely to stock appreciation for a return on their investment in us.

Any payment of future dividends will be at the discretion of our Board and will depend on, among other things, our earnings, financial condition, capital requirements, level of indebtedness, statutory and contractual restrictions applying to the payment of dividends and other considerations that our Board deems relevant. Covenants contained in the instruments governing our indebtedness and our Certificate of Designations for the Series A Preferred Stock restrict the payment of dividends. Investors may be forced to rely on sales of their common stock after price appreciation, which may never occur, as the only way to realize a return on their investment.

 

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We may issue preferred stock whose terms could adversely affect the voting power or value of our common stock.

Our governing documents authorize us to issue, without the approval of our stockholders, one or more classes or series of preferred stock having such designations, preferences, limitations and relative rights, including preferences over our common stock respecting dividends and distributions, as our Board may determine. The terms of one or more classes or series of preferred stock could adversely impact the voting power or value of our common stock. For example, we might grant holders of preferred stock the right to elect some number of our directors in all events or on the happening of specified events or the right to veto specified transactions. Similarly, the repurchase or redemption rights or liquidation preferences we might assign to holders of preferred stock could affect the residual value of our common stock.

We currently owe cumulative dividends with respect to our Series A Preferred Stock, which precludes us from paying dividends with respect to our common stock and has certain other potential or actual adverse consequences.

Our Series A Preferred Stock accrues dividends that are payable semi-annually in arrears on May 15 and November 15 of each year, which commenced on May 15, 2020, when, as and if declared by our Board. As of December 31, 2020, no dividends had been declared or paid, and there were approximately $16.3 million of accumulated dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock.

Our failure to pay dividends with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock precludes us from paying dividends or making other distributions on our common stock unless all accumulated and unpaid dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock for all preceding dividend periods have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid in full. Additionally, if dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock are in arrears and unpaid for three or more semi-annual dividend periods (whether or not consecutive), the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to elect two additional directors to serve on the Board during the term of such payment arrearage.

The terms of any future preferred equity or debt financing may give holders of any preferred securities or debt securities rights that are senior to the rights of our common stockholders or impose more stringent restrictions on our operations.

If we incur additional debt or raise equity through the issuance of preferred stock, the terms of the debt or the preferred stock issued may give the holders rights, preferences and privileges senior to those of holders of our common stock, particularly in the event of liquidation. The terms of the debt may also impose additional and more stringent restrictions on our operations. If we raise funds through the issuance of additional equity, the ownership percentage of our existing stockholders would be diluted.

There may be future sales or issuances of our common stock, which will dilute the ownership interests of stockholders and may adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

We may in the future issue additional shares of common stock, including securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, common stock or substantially similar securities, which may result in dilution to our stockholders. In addition, our stockholders may be further diluted by future issuances under our equity incentive plans. The market price of our common stock could decline as a result of sales or issuances of a large number of shares of our common stock or similar securities in the market after this offering or the perception that such sales or issuances could occur.

Your percentage ownership may be diluted by the future issuance of additional common stock, including issuances in connection with our incentive plans, acquisitions or otherwise.

Our current Certificate of Incorporation (as defined below) authorizes us to issue 135,000,000 shares of common stock, of which 45,556,326 shares were issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2020. Any shares of

 

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common stock that we issue, including under the 2018 Plan or other equity incentive plans that we may adopt in the future or in connection with an acquisition or otherwise, would dilute the percentage ownership held by the investors who purchase shares of common stock in this offering.

If securities or industry analysts publish negative reports about our business, our share price and trading volume could decline.

The market price for our common stock depends in part on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us or our business, our market and our competitors. We do not have any control over these analysts. If one or more of the analysts who cover us downgrade our shares or change their opinion of our shares, our share price would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of our company or fail to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which could cause our share price or trading volume to decline.

Risks Related to the Reliance Acquisition

We may not consummate the Reliance Acquisition or the Concurrent Notes Offering, and this offering is not conditioned on the consummation of the Reliance Acquisition or the Concurrent Notes Offering.

We expect to partially fund the cash purchase price for the Reliance Acquisition with the net proceeds from this offering and the remainder of the cash purchase price from the net proceeds from the Concurrent Notes Offering and/or borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility. However, the consummation of the Reliance Acquisition is subject to various customary and other closing conditions, some of which are beyond our control, and we cannot assure you that the Reliance Acquisition will be consummated. Further, we may not consummate the Concurrent Notes Offering, which is subject to market conditions and other factors.

This offering is not conditioned on the consummation of the Reliance Acquisition or the Concurrent Notes Offering. Therefore, upon the closing of this offering, you will become a holder of our common stock regardless of whether the Reliance Acquisition or the Concurrent Notes Offering is consummated, delayed, modified or terminated. If the Reliance Acquisition or the Concurrent Notes Offering is delayed or terminated or consummated on terms different than those described herein, the price of our common stock may decline to the extent that the current market price of our common stock reflects a market assumption that the Reliance Acquisition and the Concurrent Notes Offering will be consummated on the terms described herein.

In addition, if the Reliance Acquisition is not consummated, our management will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds from this offering and could apply the proceeds in ways that you or other stockholders may not approve. In addition, if the Concurrent Notes Offering is not consummated, our management will have broad discretion in the source of funds for the remaining portion of the cash purchase price for the Reliance Acquisition, and could draw upon such other sources of funds in ways that you or other stockholders may not approve. In either event, the market price of our common stock could be adversely affected.

The JDA Properties comprising a portion of the Reliance Assets are subject to the preferential right to purchase and consent right of Reliance’s joint venture partner, EQT. If such preferential right is exercised or we are unable to obtain the consent required to acquire the JDA Properties, we will not be able to acquire such assets as part of the Reliance Acquisition.

The JDA Properties are subject to both a preferential right to purchase, and consent right, in favor of EQT. EQT has a period of 45 days to exercise its preferential right to purchase the JDA Properties following its receipt of notice of our intent to purchase the JDA Properties, which notice was delivered in connection with execution of the PSA. Pursuant to the PSA, if prior to the closing, EQT fails to grant consent to our acquisition of the JDA Properties or exercises its preferential right to purchase, the JDA Properties will be excluded from the

 

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transaction at closing and the purchase price will be reduced by the allocated value of the JDA Properties. If EQT does not consent to the acquisition prior to the closing, Reliance has agreed to continue to seek such consent for a period of three months from and after closing. If EQT consents to the acquisition within such three month period, we will acquire the JDA Properties on the same terms and conditions set forth in the PSA. If consent is not obtained on or prior to the expiration of such three month period, the JDA Properties will be permanently excluded from the transaction. Based on information provided to us by Reliance, the JDA Properties include 5.6 net producing wells, 1.0 net wells in progress and 2,183 net acres, have approximately 65 Bcfe in associated proved reserves and approximately 1.8 net undrilled locations.

Although the total consideration to be paid in the Reliance Acquisition will be adjusted if we are unable to acquire the JDA Properties as a result of EQT’s exercise of its preferential right or if EQT does not consent to the acquisition, there can be no guarantee that such reduction in consideration will be commensurate with the lost actual or anticipated benefits of acquiring such assets.

If the Reliance Acquisition is consummated, we may be unable to successfully integrate the Reliance Assets into our business or achieve the anticipated benefits of the Reliance Acquisition.

Our ability to achieve the anticipated benefits of the Reliance Acquisition will depend in part upon whether we can integrate the Reliance Assets into our existing business in an efficient and effective manner. We may not be able to accomplish this integration process successfully. The successful acquisition of producing properties, including the Reliance Assets, requires an assessment of several factors, including:

 

   

recoverable reserves;

 

   

future oil and natural gas prices and their appropriate differentials;

 

   

availability and cost of transportation of production to markets;

 

   

availability and cost of drilling equipment and of skilled personnel;

 

   

development and operating costs including access to water and potential environmental and other liabilities; and

 

   

regulatory, permitting and similar matters.

The accuracy of these assessments is inherently uncertain. In connection with these assessments, we have performed a review of the subject properties that we believe to be generally consistent with industry practices. The review was based on our analysis of historical production data, assumptions regarding capital expenditures and anticipated production declines without review by an independent petroleum engineering firm. Data used in such review was furnished by the seller or obtained from publicly available sources. Our review may not reveal all existing or potential problems or permit us to fully assess the deficiencies and potential recoverable reserves for all of the acquired properties, and the reserves and production related to the Reliance Assets may differ materially after such data is reviewed by an independent petroleum engineering firm or further by us. Inspections will not always be performed on every well, and environmental problems are not necessarily observable even when an inspection is undertaken. Even when problems are identified, the seller may be unwilling or unable to provide effective contractual protection against all or a portion of the underlying deficiencies. We are often not entitled to contractual indemnification for environmental liabilities and acquire properties on an “as is” basis, and, as is the case with certain liabilities associated with the assets to be acquired in the Reliance Acquisition, we are entitled to indemnification for only certain environmental liabilities. The integration process may be subject to delays or changed circumstances, and we can give no assurance that the Reliance Assets will perform in accordance with our expectations or that our expectations with respect to integration or cost savings as a result of the Reliance Acquisition will materialize.

 

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We will incur significant transaction and acquisition-related costs in connection with the Reliance Acquisition.

We expect to incur significant costs associated with the Reliance Acquisition and integrating the Reliance Assets within our operations. Although we expect that the elimination of duplicative costs, as well as the realization of other efficiencies related to the integration of the Reliance Assets, should allow us to offset incremental transaction and acquisition-related costs over time, this net benefit may not be achieved in the near term or at all.

Failure to complete the Reliance Acquisition could negatively impact our future business and financial results.

If the Reliance Acquisition is not completed or if there are significant delays in completing the Reliance Acquisition, our future business and financial results and the trading price of our common stock could be negatively affected. In particular, there may be negative reactions from the financial markets due to the fact that current prices of our common stock may reflect a market assumption that the Reliance Acquisition will be completed.

In addition to the proceeds from this offering, we expect to fund a portion of the cash purchase price for the Reliance Acquisition with the net proceeds from the Concurrent Notes Offering.

In addition to the proceeds from this offering, we expect to fund a portion of the cash purchase price for the Reliance Acquisition with the net proceeds from the Concurrent Notes Offering and/or borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility. To the extent we incur additional debt, the risks associated with our leverage may be exacerbated.

The transactions in connection with this offering could trigger a limitation on the utilization of our historic U.S. net operating loss carryforwards.

Our ability to utilize U.S. net operating loss carryforwards to reduce future taxable income following this offering may be subject to various limitations under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Section 382 of the Code imposes such a limitation upon the occurrence of an ownership change resulting from issuances of a company’s stock or the sale or exchange of such company’s stock by certain stockholders if, as a result, there is an aggregate change of more than 50% in the beneficial ownership of such company’s stock by such stockholders within a rolling three-year period. The limitation with respect to such loss carryforwards generally would be equal to (i) the fair market value of the company’s equity multiplied by (ii) a percentage approximately equivalent to the yield on long-term tax-exempt bonds during the month in with the ownership change occurs. In addition, any limitation would be increased if there are recognized built-in gains during any post-change year, but only to the extent of any net unrealized built-in gains inherent in the assets sold, and further, if there is a net unrealized built-in loss at the time of an ownership change, then the limitation may apply to tax attributes other than just loss carryforwards, such as depreciable basis. Based on the information currently available, we believe that the transactions in connection with this offering should not result in an ownership change, but we cannot assure you that no such ownership change will occur.

However, issuances, sales and/or exchanges of our common stock (including, potentially, relatively small transactions and transactions beyond our control), taken together with prior transactions with respect to our common stock and this offering, could trigger an ownership change and therefore a limitation on our ability to utilize its U.S. loss carryforwards. If we experience an ownership change, any resulting limitation under Section 382 of the Code could cause some of such loss carryforwards to expire before we would be able to utilize them to reduce taxable income in future periods, possibly resulting in a substantial income tax expense or write down of tax assets or both.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We estimate that the net proceeds to us from this offering, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, will be approximately $115.1 million (or $132.4 million if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of common stock).

We expect to partially fund the cash purchase price for the Reliance Acquisition with the net proceeds from this offering and the remainder with the net proceeds from the Concurrent Notes Offering and/or borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility. However, the consummation of this offering is not conditioned upon the completion of the Reliance Acquisition or the Concurrent Notes Offering, and the consummation of this offering is not a condition to the completion of the Reliance Acquisition or the Concurrent Notes Offering. There can be no assurance that we will complete the Reliance Acquisition on the terms described herein or at all. Please read the “Summary—Recent Developments—Reliance Acquisition” section in this prospectus supplement for more information regarding the Reliance Acquisition.

If the Reliance Acquisition is not consummated, we intend to use the net proceeds from this offering to repay or redeem outstanding indebtedness and for general corporate purposes.

 

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents and our capitalization as of September 30, 2020:

 

   

on an actual basis;

 

   

on an as adjusted basis, after giving effect to (1) the repayment of approximately $39.0 million of borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility subsequent to September 30, 2020 and (2) an additional $65.0 million draw down on the Revolving Credit Facility subsequent to September 30, 2020 and the use of such funds to make the First VEN Bakken Note Repayment; and

 

   

on an as further adjusted basis, after giving effect to (1) this offering (assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of common stock) and the application of the net proceeds therefrom, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses, to fund a portion of the cash purchase price for the Reliance Acquisition (assuming no adjustments to the purchase price) and (2) the Concurrent Notes Offering and the application of the proceeds therefrom, after deducting the initial purchasers’ discounts and estimated offering expenses, including the funding of a portion of the cash purchase price for the Reliance Acquisition (assuming no adjustments to the purchase price) and the Refinancing Transactions.

This table should be read in conjunction with the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” section and our financial statements and notes thereto included in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2020, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, as well as the “Summary—Recent Developments” and “Use of Proceeds” sections in this prospectus supplement.

 

     As of September 30, 2020  
     Actual     As Adjusted     As Further
Adjusted
 
($ in thousands)       

Cash and Cash Equivalents

   $ 1,803     $ 1,803     $ —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Long-Term Debt:

      

Revolving Credit Facility(1)

   $ 571,000     $ 597,000     $ 532,154  

Second Lien Notes due 2023(2)

     287,755       287,755       —    

Unsecured VEN Bakken Note(3)

     130,000       65,000       —    

New Notes(4)

     —         —         500,000  

Unamortized debt discounts and premiums

     2,276       2,276       —    

Unamortized debt issuance costs

     (7,704     (7,704     —    

Less current portion of long-term debt(3)

     (65,000     —         —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Long-Term Debt

   $ 918,327     $ 944,327     $ 1,032,154  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Stockholders’ Equity:

      

Common Stock, Par Value $0.001(5)

     448       448       461  

Preferred Stock, Par Value $0.001(6)

     2       2       2  

Additional Paid In Capital

     1,554,053       1,554,053       1,670,322  

Retained Deficit

     (1,638,234     (1,638,234     (1,643,662
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)

   $ (83,731   $ (83,731   $ 27,123  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Capitalization

   $ 836,399     $ 862,399     $ 1,059,277  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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(1)

As of February 1, 2021, we had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $7.6 million and total borrowings of approximately $603.0 million outstanding under our Revolving Credit Facility.

(2)

Assumes all of the Second Lien Notes are tendered in the Tender Offer prior to the Early Tender and Consent Date. See “Summary—Recent Developments—Refinancing Transactions—Second Lien Notes Tender Offer, Consent Solicitation and Redemption.”

(3)

As of September 30, 2020, the current portion of our long-term debt consisted of $65.0 million related to our Unsecured VEN Bakken Note.

(4)

Assumes the New Notes to be issued in the Concurrent Notes Offering are issued at par. See “Summary—Recent Developments—Concurrent Debt Transactions—Concurrent Offering of Senior Notes due 2028.

(5)

The number of shares of common stock on an actual and as adjusted basis is based on 135,000,000 shares authorized and 45,556,326 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2020. The share information in the table:

 

   

assumes no exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares of common stock;

 

   

excludes 971,055 shares of common stock reserved for issuance in connection with future awards available for grant under the 2018 Plan;

 

   

excludes 12,241,403 shares of common stock reserved for issuance upon conversion of the issued and outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock; and

 

   

excludes 3,250,000 shares of common stock to be reserved at the closing of the Reliance Acquisition for issuance upon exercise of the Warrants.

 

(6)

As of September 30, 2020, we had 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock authorized and 2,218,732 shares of Series A Preferred Stock issued and outstanding.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

Description of our Capital Stock

The summary of general terms and provisions of our capital stock set forth below does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified by reference to our Restated Certificate of Incorporation (our “Certificate of Incorporation”), as amended by the Certificate of Amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation, dated September 18, 2020 (the “Certificate of Amendment”), Certificate of Designation for our preferred stock, as originally filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on November 22, 2019, as amended (the “Certificate of Designation”), and Bylaws (the “Bylaws,” and together with our Certificate of Incorporation, our “Charter Documents”). The Certificate of Incorporation, Certificate of Designation and Bylaws are included as exhibits to our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference herein, and the Certificate of Amendment is included as Exhibit 3.1 to our Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 24, 2020 and is incorporated by reference herein. For additional information, please read our Charter Documents and the applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”).

Authorized Capital Stock

Our authorized capital stock consists of 140,000,000, including (i) 135,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and (ii) 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share (“preferred stock”), of which, we have designated 2,218,732 shares as “Series A Preferred Stock.”

Common Stock

Voting Rights

The holders of shares of common stock have the exclusive power to vote on all matters presented to our stockholders unless Delaware law or a certificate of designation for an outstanding series of our preferred stock gives the holders of that series of preferred stock the right to vote on certain matters. Each holder of shares of common stock is entitled to one vote per share.

Except with respect to the election of directors or as otherwise required by law, all questions submitted to a vote of our stockholders are decided by the affirmative vote of the holders of the greater of (a) a majority of the voting power of the shares present and entitled to vote on that item of business or (b) a majority of the voting power of the minimum number of shares entitled to vote that would constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at a duly held meeting of stockholders. Directors are elected by a plurality of the voting power of the shares present and entitled to vote on the election of directors at a meeting at which a quorum is present, and stockholders are not entitled to cumulate their votes for the election of directors.

Dividend Rights

Subject to any prior rights of any preferred stock then outstanding, the holders of shares of common stock are entitled to receive dividends ratably out of funds legally available, when and if declared by our Board.

Liquidation Rights

Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of us, voluntary or involuntary, after the payment in full of all amounts to which the holders of shares of preferred stock shall be entitled and payment or provision for payment of our debts, our remaining assets to be distributed to the holders of common stock shall be distributed equally, on a per share basis, among the holders of the shares of common stock.

 

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No Preemptive, Redemption or Convertible Rights

The holders of common stock shall have no preemptive rights to subscribe to any or all additional issues of common stock or any of our securities convertible into common stock. The common stock is not redeemable nor convertible.

Listing

The common stock is currently listed on the NYSE American under the symbol “NOG.”

Series A Preferred Stock

We have issued 2,218,732 shares of Series A Preferred Stock. Series A Preferred Stock is not registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act. The holders of Series A Preferred Stock have no preemptive or preferential right to purchase or subscribe to stock, obligations, warrants or our other securities.

Holders of Series A Preferred Stock, are entitled to receive, if declared by our Board out of funds legally available for payment, cumulative dividends at a rate per annum of 6.5% on the sum of (i) the liquidation preference of $100 per share of Series A Preferred Stock plus (ii) all accumulated and unpaid dividends on such share, whether or not declared. Dividends on Series A Preferred Stock are payable semi-annually in arrears on May 15 and November 15 of each year, which commenced on May 15, 2020. Shares of Series A Preferred Stock have priority over common stock with regard to the payment of dividends.

Series A Preferred Stock has a liquidation preference in the amount of $100 per share of Series A Preferred Stock, plus an amount equal to all accumulated and unpaid dividends on the shares (including dividends accrued and unpaid on previously unpaid dividends), whether or not declared, to, but not including, the date fixed for liquidation, winding-up or dissolution.

Holders of Series A Preferred Stock may convert any or all of their shares of Series A Preferred Stock at any time based on a conversion rate of 4.363 shares of common stock per share of Series A Preferred Stock (which is equivalent to a conversion price of approximately $22.92 per share of common stock), subject to adjustment. We may, at any time, give notice of our election to cause all or any portion of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be automatically converted into shares of common stock if the closing sale price of common stock equals or exceeds 145% of the conversion price for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) in a period of 30 consecutive trading days, including the last trading day of such 30 trading day period, ending on, and including, the trading day immediately preceding the business day on which we issue a press release announcing the mandatory conversion of Series A Preferred Stock, in which case each holder will receive on the mandatory conversion date, for each share of Series A Preferred Stock being converted, a number of shares of common stock equal to (i) the conversion rate, plus (ii) the amount of any accumulated and unpaid dividends on such converted share through the conversion date (including dividends accrued and unpaid on previously unpaid dividends), whether or not declared, divided by the conversion price (together with a cash payment in lieu of any fractional share).

Series A Preferred Stock does not have any voting rights other than with respect to certain fundamental changes in the terms of Series A Preferred Stock and as otherwise required by applicable law. However, if dividends on Series A Preferred Stock or dividends on any other series of preferred stock or preference securities that ranks equally with Series A Preferred Stock as to payment of dividends and with similar voting rights are in arrears and unpaid for three or more semi-annual dividend periods, then the holders of Series A Preferred Stock, voting as a single class with any other series of preferred stock or preference securities having similar voting rights that are exercisable (and with voting rights allocated pro rata based on the liquidation preference of Series A Preferred Stock and each such other series of preferred stock or preference securities), will be entitled at our next regular or special meeting of stockholders to elect two additional directors to our Board. Upon the election of any additional directors, the number of directors that comprise our Board shall be increased by such number of additional directors.

 

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Anti-Takeover Provisions

Our Charter Documents and the DGCL contain certain provisions that may discourage an unsolicited takeover of us or make an unsolicited takeover of us more difficult. The following are some of the more significant anti-takeover provisions that are applicable to us:

Delaware Anti-Takeover Law

In general, Section 203 of the DGCL prohibits a Delaware corporation with a class of voting stock listed on a national securities exchange or held of record by 2,000 or more stockholders from engaging in a Business Combination (as defined below) with an Interested Stockholder (as defined below) for a three-year period following the time that this stockholder becomes an interested stockholder, unless the Business Combination is approved in a prescribed manner. A “Business Combination” includes, among other things, a merger, asset or stock sale or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the Interested Stockholder. An “Interested Stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns, or did own within three years prior to the determination of Interested Stockholder status, 15% or more of the corporation’s voting stock. Under Section 203, a Business Combination between a corporation and an Interested Stockholder is prohibited for three years unless it satisfies one of the following conditions:

 

   

Before the stockholder became an Interested Stockholder, our Board approved either the Business Combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an Interested Stockholder;

 

   

Upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an Interested Stockholder, the Interested Stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding, shares owned by persons who are directors and also officers, and employee stock plans, in some instances; or

 

   

At or after the time the stockholder became an Interested Stockholder, the Business Combination was approved by our Board and authorized at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the Interested Stockholder.

The DGCL permits a corporation to opt out of, or choose not to be governed by, its anti-takeover statute by expressly stating so in its original certificate of incorporation (or subsequent amendment to its certificate of incorporation or bylaws approved by its stockholders). Our Certificate does not contain a provision expressly opting out of the application of Section 203 of the DGCL; therefore, we are subject to the anti-takeover statute.

Authority of our Board of Directors

Pursuant to our Certificate of Incorporation, our Board, without action by the stockholders, may issue up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series with voting or other rights or preferences as designated by our Board. In some cases, the issuance of preferred stock without stockholder approval could discourage or make more difficult attempts to take control of us through a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise. Preferred stock with special voting rights or other features issued to persons favoring our management could stop a takeover by preventing the person trying to take control of us from acquiring enough voting shares necessary to take control.

In addition, our Board has the right to fill vacancies of our Board (including a vacancy created by an increase in the size of our Board).

 

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Special Meetings of Stockholders

Our Bylaws provide that a special meeting of stockholders may be called only by our Board.

Requirements for Advance Notification of Stockholder Nominations and Proposals

Our Bylaws establish advance-notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals to be brought before a stockholder meeting and the nomination of candidates for election as directors, other than nominations made by or at the direction of our Board.

 

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CERTAIN MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

General

The following is a summary of certain material U.S. federal income tax considerations related to the ownership and disposition of our common stock by U.S. holders and non-U.S. holders, each as defined below, acquired pursuant to this offering. This discussion assumes that a holder will hold our common stock issued pursuant to this offering as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held for investment purposes). This summary does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to a particular investor in light of the investor’s individual circumstances, and does not purport to be a complete analysis of all the potential tax considerations relating thereto. In addition, this discussion does not address (i) other U.S. federal tax laws, such as estate and gift tax laws, (ii) state, local or non-U.S. tax consequences, (iii) the special tax rules that may apply to certain investors, including, without limitation, banks, insurance companies, financial institutions, controlled foreign corporations, passive foreign investment companies, brokers, dealers or traders in securities, grantor trusts, personal holding companies, taxpayers who have elected mark-to-market accounting, tax-exempt entities, regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts, entities or arrangements classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes or other pass-through entities (or investors in such entities or arrangements), pension plans, U.S. holders having a “functional currency” other than the U.S. dollar, corporations that accumulate earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax, taxpayers required to accelerate the recognition of any item of gross income as a result of such income being reported on an applicable financial statement, taxpayers subject to the base erosion and anti-abuse tax, or U.S. expatriates and former long-term residents of the United States, (iv) the special tax rules that may apply to investors that acquire, hold, or dispose of our common stock as part of a straddle, hedge, constructive sale, conversion or other integrated or risk reduction transaction, or (v) the impact, if any, of the alternative minimum tax or the Medicare tax imposed on net investment income.

This summary is based on current provisions of the Code, applicable Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, judicial opinions, and published rulings of the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), all as in effect on the date of this prospectus supplement and all of which are subject to differing interpretations or change, possibly with retroactive effect. We have not sought, and will not seek, any ruling from the IRS or any opinion of counsel with respect to the tax consequences discussed herein, and there can be no assurance that the IRS will not take a position contrary to the tax consequences discussed below or that any position taken by the IRS would not be sustained.

The tax treatment of a partnership (or any other entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) and each partner thereof will generally depend upon the status and activities of the partnership and such partner. A holder that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes or a partner in such partnership should consult its own tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences applicable to it and its partners of the ownership and disposition of our common stock.

THIS DISCUSSION IS ONLY A SUMMARY OF CERTAIN MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS RELATED TO THE OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR COMMON STOCK BY U.S. HOLDERS AND NON-U.S. HOLDERS. IT IS NOT TAX ADVICE. EACH PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR SHOULD CONSULT ITS OWN TAX ADVISOR WITH RESPECT TO THE PARTICULAR TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR COMMON STOCK, INCLUDING THE APPLICABILITY AND EFFECT OF ANY STATE, LOCAL, AND NON-U.S. TAX LAWS, AS WELL AS U.S. FEDERAL ESTATE AND GIFT TAX LAWS, AND ANY APPLICABLE TAX TREATY.

U.S. Holders

For purposes of this discussion, a “U.S. holder” is any beneficial owner of our common stock that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is treated as any of the following:

 

   

an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;

 

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a corporation created or organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia;

 

   

an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or

 

   

a trust that (1) is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and the control of one or more “United States persons” (within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code), or (2) has a valid election in effect to be treated as a United States person for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Distributions on Common Stock

If we pay distributions in cash or other property to U.S. holders of shares of our common stock, such distributions generally will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits will constitute a return of capital that will be applied against and reduce (but not below zero) the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in our common stock. Any remaining excess will be treated as gain realized on the sale or other disposition of the common stock with the tax consequences described under “—U.S. Holders—Sale or Other Taxable Disposition” below.

Dividends we pay to a U.S. holder that is a taxable corporation generally will qualify for the dividends received deduction if the requisite holding period is satisfied. With certain exceptions, and provided certain holding period requirements are met, dividends we pay to a non-corporate U.S. holder generally will constitute “qualified dividends” that will be subject to tax at the maximum tax rate accorded to long-term capital gains.

Sale or Other Taxable Disposition

Upon a sale or other taxable disposition of our common stock, a U.S. holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss. Any such capital gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. holder’s holding period for the common stock so disposed of exceeds one year. Long-term capital gains recognized by non-corporate U.S. holders will be eligible to be taxed at reduced rates relative to tax rates for short-term gains and other types of income. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

Generally, the amount of gain or loss recognized by a U.S. holder is an amount equal to the difference between (i) the sum of the amount of cash and the fair market value of any property received in such disposition and (ii) the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in its common stock so disposed of. A U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in its common stock generally will equal the U.S. holder’s initial basis less any prior distributions treated as a return of capital. A U.S. holder’s initial basis in its common stock received pursuant to this offering will generally equal the U.S. Holder’s acquisition cost.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

In general, information reporting requirements may apply to dividends paid to a U.S. holder and to the proceeds of the sale or other disposition of our common stock, unless the U.S. holder is an exempt recipient. Backup withholding may apply to such payments if the U.S. holder fails to provide a taxpayer identification number or a certification of exempt status or has been notified by the IRS that it is subject to backup withholding (and such notification has not been withdrawn).

Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against a U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

 

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Non-U.S. Holders

For purposes of this discussion, a “non-U.S. holder” is any beneficial owner of our common stock that is neither a “U.S. person” nor an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Distributions on Common Stock

If we pay cash or distribute property to holders of shares of common stock, such distributions generally will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits will constitute a return of capital that will be applied against and reduce (but not below zero) the non-U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in our common stock. Any remaining excess will be treated as gain from the sale or exchange of the common stock and will be treated as described under “—Sale or Other Taxable Disposition” below.

Subject to the withholding requirements under FATCA (as defined below), which is discussed below, dividends paid to a non-U.S. holder that are not effectively connected with the non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a trade or business in the United States generally will be subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% of the gross amount of the dividend or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty. A non-U.S. holder that wishes to claim the benefit of an applicable tax treaty withholding rate generally will be required to (i) duly complete and execute an IRS Form W-8BEN or an IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or any successor form of the foregoing) and certify under penalties of perjury that such holder is not a U.S. person and is eligible for the benefits of the applicable tax treaty or (ii) if our common stock is held through certain foreign intermediaries, satisfy the relevant certification requirements of applicable Treasury regulations. These forms may need to be periodically updated.

A non-U.S. holder eligible for a reduced rate of withholding of U.S. federal income tax pursuant to an income tax treaty may be able to obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing an appropriate claim for refund with the IRS. Non-U.S. holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding their entitlement to benefits under an applicable income tax treaty and the manner of claiming the benefits of such treaty (including, without limitation, the need to obtain a U.S. taxpayer identification number).

Dividends that are effectively connected with a non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a trade or business in the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the non-U.S. holder in the United States) generally are subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at the U.S. federal income tax rates generally applicable to a U.S. person and are not subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax, provided that the non-U.S. holder establishes an exemption from such withholding by complying with certain certification and disclosure requirements (generally by providing a duly completed and executed IRS Form W-8ECI (or any successor form thereof)). Any such effectively connected dividends (and, if required, dividends attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment or fixed base) received by a non-U.S. holder that is treated as a foreign corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes may be subject to an additional branch profits tax at a 30% rate, or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty.

Sale or Other Taxable Disposition

Subject to the summary below regarding backup withholding and FATCA, any gain recognized by a non-U.S. holder on a sale or other taxable disposition of our common stock generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax, unless:

 

  (i)

the gain is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business of the non-U.S. holder in the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment or fixed base of the non-U.S. holder),

 

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  (ii)

the non-U.S. holder is an individual who is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more in the taxable year of that disposition, and certain other conditions are met, or

 

  (iii)

we are or have been a United States real property holding corporation (a “USRPHC”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes at any time during the shorter of the five-year period ending on the date of disposition or the period that the non-U.S. holder held the common stock.

Any gain recognized by a non-U.S. holder that is described in clause (i) above generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the income tax rates generally applicable to a U.S. person, and such non-U.S. holder will be required to file a U.S. federal income tax return. Any gain of a non-U.S. holder that is treated as a foreign corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes that is described in clause (i) above may also be subject to an additional branch profits tax at a 30% rate, or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty.

An individual non-U.S. holder that is described in clause (ii) above generally will be subject to a flat 30% tax (or a lower applicable tax treaty rate) on the U.S. source capital gain derived from the disposition, which may be offset by U.S. source capital losses during the taxable year of the disposition.

With respect to clause (iii) above, a U.S. corporation generally is a USRPHC if the fair market value of its U.S. real property interests equals or exceeds 50% of the sum of the fair market value of its worldwide real property interests plus its other assets used or held for use in a trade or business. Based on the nature of our business and the assets that we own, we expect that we currently are a USRPHC. Assuming we are a USRPHC, subject to the next sentence, a non-U.S. holder generally will be taxed on gain recognized on the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of our common stock in the same manner as if such non-U.S. holder were a United States person and a 15% withholding tax may apply to the gross proceeds from the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of our common stock (including a redemption treated as a sale or exchange for U.S. federal income tax purposes or a distribution treated as a return of capital, as described under “ —Distributions on Common Stock” above). A non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to U.S. net federal income tax as a result of our being a USRPHC upon the disposition of our common stock as long as our common stock is regularly traded and such non-U.S. holder holds 5% or less of our common stock throughout the shorter of the five-year period ending on the date of the sale or other taxable disposition or the non-U.S. holder’s holding period. Our common stock is currently listed on the NYSE American and, although no assurance can be given, we expect that, for as long as our common stock continues to be so listed, the common stock will be treated as “regularly traded on an established securities market.”

Non-U.S. holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the potential applicability of these rules, as well as any income tax treaty in their particular circumstances.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

We generally must report annually to the IRS and to each non-U.S. holder of our common stock the amount of dividends paid to such holder on our common stock, the tax, if any, withheld with respect to those dividends, and such holder’s name and address. Copies of the information returns reporting those dividends and withholding taxes may also be made available to the tax authorities in the country in which the non-U.S. holder is a resident under the provisions of an applicable income tax treaty or agreement. Information reporting also is generally required with respect to the proceeds from sales and other dispositions of our common stock to or through the U.S. office (and, in certain cases, the foreign office) of a broker, unless the non-U.S. holder establishes that it is not a U.S. person.

Under some circumstances, Treasury regulations require backup withholding of U.S. federal income tax, currently at a rate of 24%, on reportable payments with respect to our common stock. A non-U.S. holder

 

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generally may eliminate the requirement for backup withholding by providing certification of its foreign status, under penalties of perjury, on a duly completed and executed IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E, or other applicable IRS Form W-8 (or any successor form of the foregoing) or by otherwise establishing an exemption. Notwithstanding the foregoing, backup withholding and information reporting may apply if either we or our paying agent has actual knowledge, or reason to know, that a holder is a U.S. person. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, the amount of any backup withholding will be allowed as a credit against a non-U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, and may entitle such non-U.S. holder to a refund, provided that certain required information is timely furnished to the IRS. Non-U.S. holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the application of backup withholding and the availability of and procedure for obtaining an exemption from backup withholding in their particular circumstances.

FATCA

Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code and Treasury regulations thereunder, commonly referred to as “FATCA,” generally impose a U.S. federal withholding tax of 30% on certain types of payments, including payments of U.S.-source dividends such as dividends, if any, paid on our common stock made to (i) “foreign financial institutions” (including, in some cases, when such foreign financial institution is acting as an intermediary) unless they agree to collect and disclose to the IRS information regarding their direct and indirect U.S. account holders and (ii) certain non-financial foreign entities (including, in some cases, when such non-financial foreign entity is acting as an intermediary) unless they certify certain information regarding their direct and indirect U.S. owners. The IRS has issued proposed regulations (on which taxpayers may rely until final regulations are issued) that would generally not apply these withholding requirements to gross proceeds from the disposition of assets such as our common stock. Foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing FATCA may be subject to different rules.

We will not pay any additional amounts to non-U.S. holders in respect of any amounts withheld, including pursuant to FATCA. Under certain circumstances, a non-U.S. holder may be eligible for refunds or credits of such taxes. Non-U.S. holders are urged to consult with their own tax advisors regarding the effect, if any, of the FATCA provisions on them based on their particular circumstances.

INVESTORS CONSIDERING THE PURCHASE OF OUR COMMON STOCK ARE URGED TO CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS REGARDING THE APPLICATION OF THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX LAWS TO THEIR PARTICULAR SITUATIONS AND THE APPLICABILITY AND EFFECT OF U.S. FEDERAL ESTATE AND GIFT TAX LAWS AND ANY STATE, LOCAL OR NON-U.S. TAX LAWS AND TAX TREATIES.

 

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UNDERWRITING

BofA Securities, Inc. is acting as representative of each of the underwriters named below. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in an underwriting agreement between us and the representative, we have agreed to sell to the underwriters, and each of the underwriters has agreed, severally and not jointly, to purchase from us, the respective number of shares of common stock set forth opposite its name below.

 

          Underwriter   

    Number of    
Shares

 

BofA Securities, Inc.

     6,250,000  

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

     1,250,000  

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

     1,250,000  

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

     1,125,000  

Truist Securities, Inc.

     750,000  

Raymond James & Associates, Inc.

     750,000  

Capital One Securities, Inc.

     281,250  

Johnson Rice & Company L.L.C.

     281,250  

Roth Capital Partners, LLC

     281,250  

Northland Securities, Inc.

     140,625  

Seaport Global Securities LLC

     140,625  
  

 

 

 

Total

     12,500,000  
  

 

 

 

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the underwriting agreement, the underwriters have agreed, severally and not jointly, to purchase all of the shares sold under the underwriting agreement if any of these shares are purchased. If an underwriter defaults, the underwriting agreement provides that the purchase commitments of the nondefaulting underwriters may be increased or the underwriting agreement may be terminated.

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.

The underwriters are offering the shares, subject to prior sale, when, as and if issued to and accepted by them, subject to approval of legal matters by their counsel, including the validity of the shares, and other conditions contained in the underwriting agreement, such as the receipt by the underwriters of officer’s certificates and legal opinions. The underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify offers to the public and to reject orders in whole or in part.

Commissions and Discounts

The representative has advised us that the underwriters propose initially to offer the shares to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement and to dealers at that price less a concession not in excess of $0.29250 per share. After the initial offering, the public offering price, concession or any other term of the offering may be changed.

The underwriters may sell an aggregate of approximately 1,025,641 shares of our common stock to the Existing Stockholder at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement. The underwriters will not receive any underwriting discount on the sale of such shares. We cannot provide any assurance as to the exact number of common shares that the Existing Stockholder will purchase, if any. Any common shares not purchased by the Existing Stockholder may be sold by the underwriters to other investors on the terms set forth in this prospectus supplement.

 

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The following table shows the public offering price, underwriting discount (other than in connection with any shares of common stock Existing Stockholder may purchase in this offering) and proceeds before expenses to us. The information assumes either no exercise or full exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares.

 

    

Per Share

    

Without Option

       With Option    

Public offering price

   $ 9.75      $ 121,875,000      $ 140,156,250  

Underwriting discount(1)

   $ 0.4875      $ 5,593,750      $ 6,507,813  

Proceeds, before expenses, to us(1)

   $ 9.2625      $ 116,281,250      $ 133,648,437  

 

(1)

The Existing Stockholder has indicated an interest in purchasing up to 1,025,641 shares of common stock being offered hereby. The underwriters will not receive any underwriting discount or commission on the sale of any shares to the Existing Stockholder.

The expenses of the offering, not including the underwriting discount, are estimated at $1.2 million and are payable by us.

Option to Purchase Additional Shares

We have granted an option to the underwriters, exercisable for 30 days after the date of this prospectus supplement, to purchase up to 1,875,000 additional shares at the public offering price, less the underwriting discount. If the underwriters exercise this option, each will be obligated, subject to conditions contained in the underwriting agreement, to purchase a number of additional shares proportionate to that underwriter’s initial amount reflected in the above table.

No Sales of Similar Securities

We, our executive officers and directors and certain of our affiliates have agreed not to sell or transfer any common stock or securities convertible into, exchangeable for, exercisable for, or repayable with common stock, for 90 days after the date of this prospectus supplement without first obtaining the written consent of BofA Securities, Inc. Specifically, we and these other persons have agreed, with certain limited exceptions, not to directly or indirectly:

 

   

offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any common stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common stock, or

 

   

enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of common stock.

This lock-up provision applies to common stock and to securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for or repayable with common stock. It also applies to common stock owned now or acquired later by the person executing the agreement or for which the person executing the agreement later acquires the power of disposition.

NYSE American Listing

The shares are listed on the NYSE American under the symbol “NOG.”

 

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Price Stabilization, Short Positions

Until the distribution of the shares is completed, SEC rules may limit underwriters and selling group members from bidding for and purchasing our common stock. However, the representative may engage in transactions that stabilize the price of the common stock, such as bids or purchases to peg, fix or maintain that price.

In connection with the offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell our common stock in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, purchases on the open market to cover positions created by short sales and stabilizing transactions. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of shares than they are required to purchase in the offering. “Covered” short sales are sales made in an amount not greater than the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares described above. The underwriters may close out any covered short position by either exercising their option to purchase additional shares or purchasing shares in the open market. In determining the source of shares to close out the covered short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase shares through the option granted to them. “Naked” short sales are sales in excess of such option. The underwriters must close out any naked short position by purchasing shares in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of our common stock in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of various bids for or purchases of shares of common stock made by the underwriters in the open market prior to the completion of the offering.

Similar to other purchase transactions, the underwriters’ purchases to cover the syndicate short sales may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our common stock or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of our common stock. As a result, the price of our common stock may be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market. The underwriters may conduct these transactions on the NYSE American, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.

Neither we nor any of the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of our common stock. In addition, neither we nor any of the underwriters make any representation that the representative will engage in these transactions or that these transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.

Electronic Distribution

In connection with the offering, certain of the underwriters or securities dealers may distribute prospectuses by electronic means, such as e-mail.

Other Relationships

Some of the underwriters and their affiliates have engaged in, and may in the future engage in, investment banking and other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of business with us or our affiliates. They have received, or may in the future receive, customary fees and commissions for these transactions.

In addition, in the ordinary course of their business activities, the underwriters and their affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers. Such investments and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of ours or our affiliates. The underwriters and their affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments. In addition, we have also granted BofA Securities, Inc. a right to participate in any future public or private offering of securities by us, subject to certain limitations.

 

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European Economic Area

In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area (each a “Relevant State”), no shares have been offered or will be offered pursuant to this offering to the public in that Relevant State prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the shares which has been approved by the competent authority in that Relevant State or, where appropriate, approved in another Relevant State and notified to the competent authority in that Relevant State, all in accordance with the Prospectus Regulation, except that offers of shares may be made to the public in that Relevant State at any time under the following exemptions under the Prospectus Regulation:

 

  a.

to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined under the Prospectus Regulation;

 

  b.

to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined under the Prospectus Regulation), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the representative for any such offer; or

 

  c.

in any other circumstances falling within Article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation,

provided that no such offer of shares shall require us or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the Prospectus Regulation.

Each person in a Relevant State who initially acquires any shares or to whom any offer is made will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed to and with the Company and the representative that it is a qualified investor within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation.

In the case of any shares being offered to a financial intermediary as that term is used in Article 5(1) of the Prospectus Regulation, each such financial intermediary will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed that the Shares acquired by it in the offer have not been acquired on a non-discretionary basis on behalf of, nor have they been acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in circumstances which may give rise to an offer to the public other than their offer or resale in a Relevant State to qualified investors, in circumstances in which the prior consent of the representative has been obtained to each such proposed offer or resale.

The Company, the representative and their affiliates will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing representations, acknowledgements and agreements.

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer to the public” in relation to any shares in any Relevant State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any shares to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for any shares, and the expression “Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.

The above selling restriction is in addition to any other selling restrictions set out below.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Kingdom

In relation to the United Kingdom (“UK”), no shares have been offered or will be offered pursuant to this offering to the public in the UK prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the shares which has been approved by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK in accordance with the UK Prospectus Regulation and the FSMA, except that offers of Shares may be made to the public in the UK at any time under the following exemptions under the UK Prospectus Regulation and the FSMA:

 

  a.

to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined under the UK Prospectus Regulation;

 

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  b.

to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined under the UK Prospectus Regulation), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the representative for any such offer; or

 

  c.

at any time in other circumstances falling within section 86 of the FSMA,

provided that no such offer of shares shall require us or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Section 85 of the FSMA or Article 3 of the UK Prospectus Regulation or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the UK Prospectus Regulation.

Each person in the UK who initially acquires any shares or to whom any offer is made will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed to and with the Company and the representative that it is a qualified investor within the meaning of the UK Prospectus Regulation.

In the case of any shares being offered to a financial intermediary as that term is used in Article 5(1) of the UK Prospectus Regulation, each such financial intermediary will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed that the shares acquired by it in the offer have not been acquired on a non-discretionary basis on behalf of, nor have they been acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in circumstances which may give rise to an offer to the public other than their offer or resale in the UK to qualified investors, in circumstances in which the prior consent of the representative has been obtained to each such proposed offer or resale.

The Company, the representative and their affiliates will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing representations, acknowledgements and agreements.

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer to the public” in relation to any shares in the UK means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any shares to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for any shares, the expression “UK Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, and the expression “FSMA” means the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.

This document is for distribution only to persons who (i) have professional experience in matters relating to investments and who qualify as investment professionals within the meaning of Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended, the “Financial Promotion Order”), (ii) are persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) (“high net worth companies, unincorporated associations etc.”) of the Financial Promotion Order, (iii) are outside the United Kingdom, or (iv) are persons to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended (“FSMA”)) in connection with the issue or sale of any securities may otherwise lawfully be communicated or caused to be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). This document is directed only at relevant persons and must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not relevant persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this document relates is available only to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Switzerland

The shares may not be publicly offered in Switzerland and will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (“SIX”) or on any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. This document has been prepared without regard to the disclosure standards for issuance prospectuses under art. 652a or art. 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or the disclosure standards for listing prospectuses under art. 27 ff. of the SIX Listing Rules or the listing rules of any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. Neither this

 

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document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the shares or the offering may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.

Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the offering, the Company, the shares have been or will be filed with or approved by any Swiss regulatory authority. In particular, this document will not be filed with, and the offer of shares will not be supervised by, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA (FINMA), and the offer of shares has not been and will not be authorized under the Swiss Federal Act on Collective Investment Schemes (“CISA”). The investor protection afforded to acquirers of interests in collective investment schemes under the CISA does not extend to acquirers of shares.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the Dubai International Financial Centre

This prospectus supplement relates to an Exempt Offer in accordance with the Offered Securities Rules of the Dubai Financial Services Authority (“DFSA”). This prospectus supplement is intended for distribution only to persons of a type specified in the Offered Securities Rules of the DFSA. It must not be delivered to, or relied on by, any other person. The DFSA has no responsibility for reviewing or verifying any documents in connection with Exempt Offers. The DFSA has not approved this prospectus supplement nor taken steps to verify the information set forth herein and has no responsibility for the prospectus supplement. The shares to which this prospectus supplement relates may be illiquid and/or subject to restrictions on their resale. Prospective purchasers of the shares offered should conduct their own due diligence on the shares. If you do not understand the contents of this prospectus supplement you should consult an authorized financial advisor.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Australia

No placement document, prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document has been lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (“ASIC”), in relation to the offering. This prospectus supplement does not constitute a prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document under the Corporations Act 2001 (the “Corporations Act”), and does not purport to include the information required for a prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document under the Corporations Act.

Any offer in Australia of the shares may only be made to persons (the “Exempt Investors”) who are “sophisticated investors” (within the meaning of section 708(8) of the Corporations Act), “professional investors” (within the meaning of section 708(11) of the Corporations Act) or otherwise pursuant to one or more exemptions contained in section 708 of the Corporations Act so that it is lawful to offer the shares without disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act.

The shares applied for by Exempt Investors in Australia must not be offered for sale in Australia in the period of 12 months after the date of allotment under the offering, except in circumstances where disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act would not be required pursuant to an exemption under section 708 of the Corporations Act or otherwise or where the offer is pursuant to a disclosure document which complies with Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act. Any person acquiring shares must observe such Australian on-sale restrictions.

This prospectus supplement contains general information only and does not take account of the investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any particular person. It does not contain any securities recommendations or financial product advice. Before making an investment decision, investors need to consider whether the information in this prospectus supplement is appropriate to their needs, objectives and circumstances, and, if necessary, seek expert advice on those matters.

 

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Notice to Prospective Investors in Hong Kong

The shares have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold in Hong Kong, by means of any document, other than (a) to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) of Hong Kong and any rules made under that Ordinance; or (b) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32) of Hong Kong or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of that Ordinance. No advertisement, invitation or document relating to the shares has been or may be issued or has been or may be in the possession of any person for the purposes of issue, whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere, which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public of Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to shares which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance and any rules made under that Ordinance.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Japan

The shares have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (Law No. 25 of 1948, as amended) and, accordingly, will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan, or for the benefit of any Japanese Person or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to any Japanese Person, except in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines promulgated by relevant Japanese governmental or regulatory authorities in effect at the relevant time. For the purposes of this paragraph, “Japanese Person” shall mean any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Singapore

This prospectus supplement has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, the shares were not offered or sold or caused to be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase and will not be offered or sold or caused to be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, and this prospectus supplement or any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the shares, has not been circulated or distributed, nor will it be circulated or distributed, whether directly or indirectly, to any person in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor (as defined in Section 4A of the Securities and Futures Act (Chapter 289) of Singapore, as modified or amended from time to time (the “SFA”)) pursuant to Section 274 of the SFA, (ii) to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA) pursuant to Section 275(1) of the SFA, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the SFA, and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA, or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.

Where the shares are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is:

 

  (a)

a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or

 

  (b)

a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an individual who is an accredited investor,

securities or securities-based derivatives contracts (each term as defined in Section 2(1) of the SFA) of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferred within six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the shares pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 of the SFA except:

 

  (a)

to an institutional investor or to a relevant person, or to any person arising from an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) or Section 276(4)(i)(B) of the SFA;

 

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  (b)

where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer;

 

  (c)

where the transfer is by operation of law; or

 

  (d)

as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Canada

The shares may be sold only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the shares must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.

Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus supplement (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.

Pursuant to section 3A.3 (or, in the case of securities issued or guaranteed by the government of a non-Canadian jurisdiction, section 3A.4) of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the issuance of the common stock and certain other legal matters in connection with the issuance of the common stock will be passed upon for us by Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Houston, Texas. Certain matters will be passed upon for the underwriters by Latham & Watkins LLP, Houston, Texas.

EXPERTS

The financial statements as of December 31, 2018 and 2019, and for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2019, incorporated by reference in this Prospectus, and the effectiveness of Northern Oil and Gas’ internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated by reference herein. Such financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

The financial statements of Northern Oil and Gas for the year ended December 31, 2017, incorporated by reference in this prospectus have been so incorporated by reference in reliance upon the report of Grant Thornton LLP, independent registered public accountants, upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

Certain estimates of our oil and natural gas reserves and related information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement have been derived from the reports prepared by Cawley, Gillespie & Associates, Inc. All such information has been so included or incorporated by reference on the authority of such firm as an expert regarding the matters contained in its reports.

Certain estimates of the Reliance Assets oil and natural gas reserves and related information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement have been derived from the report prepared by Cawley, Gillespie & Associates, Inc. All such information has been so included or incorporated by reference on the authority of such firm as an expert regarding the matters contained in its reports.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We are subject to the information and periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and, in accordance therewith, file periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Such periodic reports, proxy statements and other information are available at the website of the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. We also furnish our stockholders with annual reports containing our financial statements audited by an independent registered public accounting firm and quarterly reports containing our unaudited financial information. We maintain a website at www.northernoil.com. You may access our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports, filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act with the SEC free of charge at our website as soon as reasonably practicable after this material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Information contained on, or that is or becomes accessible through, our website does not constitute a part of this prospectus supplement. The reference to our website or web address does not constitute incorporation by reference of the information contained at that site.

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act from the date of the prospectus until all of the shares of common stock offered hereby have been sold or the offering is otherwise terminated (in each case, other than any portions of any such documents that are not deemed “filed” under the Exchange Act in accordance with the Exchange Act and applicable SEC rules):

 

   

our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on March 12,  2020, as amended by our Form 10-K/A filed with the SEC on July 10, 2020 including the information specifically incorporated by reference into the Annual Report on Form 10-K from our Definitive Proxy Statement for the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders filed with the SEC on April 28, 2020;

 

   

our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on May 11, 2020, June  30, 2020, filed with the SEC on August 7, 2020 and September  30, 2020, filed with the SEC on November 6, 2020;

 

   

our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on each of January 6, 2020 , January 17, 2020, January  22, 2020, February 21,  2020, March 20, 2020, May 8,  2020, May 14, 2020, May 21, 2020, June 1,  2020, June 15, 2020, June  23, 2020, July 13, 2020; July 31, 2020, August  18, 2020, September  24, 2020, October 5, 2020 and February 3, 2021; and

 

   

our Form 8-A and Form 8-A/A filed with the SEC on March 19, 2008 and June 22, 2018, respectively.

You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address:

Chad Allen

Chief Financial Officer

Northern Oil and Gas, Inc.

601 Carlson Pkwy, Suite 990

Minnetonka, Minnesota 55305

(952) 476-9800

 

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You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of those documents.

 

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PROSPECTUS

$500,000,000

Northern Oil and Gas, Inc.

 

LOGO

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Depositary Shares

Senior Debt Securities

Subordinated Debt Securities

Warrants

Purchase Contracts

Units

 

 

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, senior debt securities, subordinated debt securities, warrants, purchase contracts and units that we may issue. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. Such prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should carefully read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” before you invest.

We may offer and sell these securities through underwriters, dealers or agents, or directly to purchasers. We will provide the names of any such agents and underwriters used in connection with the sale of any of these securities, as well as any fees, commissions or discounts we may pay to such agents and/or underwriters in connection with the sale of these securities, in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Our common stock is listed in NYSE American under the symbol “NOG.”

 

 

Investing in our securities involves risks. You should consider the risk factors referred to in the section entitled “Risk Factors” on page 4 of this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement hereto, as well as documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission or other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

The date of this prospectus is July 3, 2018.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

About this Prospectus

     1  

Where You Can Find More Information

     1  

Information Incorporated by Reference

     2  

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

     3  

Risk Factors

     4  

Our Company

     4  

Use of Proceeds

     5  

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends

     6  

Description of Capital Stock

     7  

Description of Debt Securities

     11  

Description of Warrants

     26  

Description of Purchase Contracts

     27  

Description of Units

     28  

Plan of Distribution

     29  

Legal Matters

     31  

Experts

     31  

The distribution of this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement and the offering of the securities in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons into whose possession this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement come should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. This prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement do not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer or solicitation by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation.

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or “SEC,” using a “shelf” registration process. Under this process, we may sell common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, debt securities, warrants, purchase contracts or units in one or more offerings up to an aggregate initial offering price of $500,000,000. We may sell these securities either separately or in units.

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, debt securities, warrants, purchase contracts or units that we may issue. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. Such prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should carefully read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” before you invest. We may also prepare free writing prospectuses that describe particular securities. Any free writing prospectus should also be read in connection with this prospectus and with any prospectus supplement referred to therein. For purposes of this prospectus, any reference to an applicable prospectus supplement may also refer to a free writing prospectus, unless the context otherwise requires.

The registration statement that contains this prospectus, including the exhibits to the registration statement, contains additional information about us and the securities offered under this prospectus. That registration statement can be read at the SEC web site or at the SEC offices mentioned under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

When we refer to “our company,” “we,” “us” or “our” in this prospectus or when we otherwise refer to ourselves in this prospectus, we mean Northern Oil and Gas, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We are required to comply with the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which we refer to as the “Exchange Act,” and accordingly we file annual reports, quarterly reports, current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read or obtain a copy of these reports at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the public reference room and their copy charges by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains a website that contains registration statements, reports, proxy information statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC. The address of the website is www.sec.gov.

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, which we refer to as the “Securities Act,” to register the securities offered by this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. The term “registration statement” means the original registration statement and any and all amendments thereto, including the schedules and exhibits to the original registration statement or any amendment. This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement are part of that registration statement. This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement do not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement or the exhibits to the registration statement. For further information with respect to us and the securities we are offering pursuant to this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, you should refer to the registration statement and its exhibits. Statements contained in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement as to the contents of any contract, agreement or other document referred to are not necessarily complete, and you should refer to the copy of that contract or other documents filed as an exhibit to the registration statement. You may read or obtain a copy of the registration statement at the SEC’s public reference facilities and website referred to above.

 

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INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

We “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus certain information we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus. Some information contained in this prospectus updates the information incorporated by reference, and information that we file subsequently with the SEC will automatically update this prospectus as well as our other filings with the SEC. In other words, in the case of a conflict or inconsistency between information set forth in this prospectus and/or information incorporated by reference into this prospectus, you should rely on the information contained in the document that was filed later. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, (i) following the date of the registration statement that contains this prospectus but prior to the effectiveness of such registration statement or (ii) after the date of this prospectus and prior to the time that we sell all the securities offered by this prospectus (in each case, other than any portions of any such documents that are not deemed “filed” under the Exchange Act in accordance with the Exchange Act and applicable SEC rules):

 

   

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, filed with the SEC on February 23, 2018, as amended by Amendment No.  1 on Form 10-K/A filed with the SEC on April 27, 2018;

 

   

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2018, filed with the SEC on May 7, 2018;

 

   

Current Reports on Form  8-K filed with the SEC on each of February  1, 2018, March 19,  2018, March 19, 2018, March  21, 2018, April 4, 2018, April  10, 2018, May 8, 2018, May  15, 2018, May 31, 2018, June 4, 2018, June 7, 2018, June  13, 2018 and June 20, 2018;

 

   

The description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on March 19, 2008, as amended by Amendment No. 1 on Form 8-A/A filed with the SEC on June 22, 2018, and including any subsequent amendments or reports filed with the SEC for the purpose of updating such description.

You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address:

Erik J. Romslo

General Counsel and Secretary

Northern Oil and Gas, Inc.

601 Carlson Parkway, Suite 990

Minnetonka, Minnesota 55305

(952) 476-9800

You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of those documents.

 

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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

We are including the following discussion to inform our existing and potential security holders generally of some of the risks and uncertainties that can affect our company and to take advantage of the “safe harbor” protection for forward-looking statements afforded by applicable federal securities laws.

All statements other than statements of historical facts included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus regarding our financial position, business strategy, plans and objectives of management for future operations, industry conditions, and indebtedness covenant compliance are forward-looking statements. When used in this prospectus, forward-looking statements are generally accompanied by terms or phrases such as “estimate,” “project,” “predict,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “target,” “plan,” “intend,” “seek,” “goal,” “will,” “should,” “may” or other words and similar expressions that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. Items contemplating or making assumptions about actual or potential future sales, market size, collaborations, and trends or operating results also constitute such forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and important factors (many of which are beyond our company’s control) that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements, including the following: changes in crude oil and natural gas prices, the pace of drilling and completions activity on our properties, our ability to acquire additional development opportunities, changes in our reserves estimates or the value thereof, general economic or industry conditions, nationally and/or in the communities in which our company conducts business, changes in the interest rate environment, legislation or regulatory requirements, conditions of the securities markets, our ability to raise or access capital, changes in accounting principles, policies or guidelines, financial or political instability, acts of war or terrorism, and other economic, competitive, governmental, regulatory and technical factors affecting our company’s operations, products and prices.

We have based any forward-looking statements on our current expectations and assumptions about future events. While our management considers these expectations and assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, regulatory and other risks, contingencies and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. Accordingly, results achieved may differ materially from expected results described in these statements. You should consider carefully the statements in this prospectus under the heading “Risk Factors” and the section entitled “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and other sections of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, as updated by subsequent reports we file with the SEC, which describe factors that could cause our actual results to differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. We do not undertake, and specifically disclaim, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of such statements.

 

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RISK FACTORS

An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties under the section entitled “Item 1A. Risk Factors” contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference, and under similar headings in our subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Reports on Form 10-K, as well as the other risks and uncertainties described or incorporated by reference in any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus we may authorize. Our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially and adversely affected by any of those risks. In such case, the trading price of our securities could decline and investors could lose all or part of their investment. See the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information” in this prospectus.

OUR COMPANY

We are an independent energy company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and production of oil and natural gas properties, primarily in the Bakken and Three Forks formations within the Williston Basin in North Dakota and Montana. We believe the location, size and concentration of our acreage position in one of North America’s leading unconventional oil-resource plays will provide drilling and development opportunities that result in significant long-term value. Our primary focus is oil exploration and production through non-operated working interests in wells drilled and completed in spacing units that include our acreage. As a non-operator, we are able to diversify our investment exposure by participating in a large number of gross wells, as well as entering into more project areas by partnering with numerous experienced operating partners. In addition, because we can elect to participate on a well-by-well basis, we believe we have increased flexibility in the timing and amount of our capital expenditures because we are not burdened with various contractual development agreements or a large operating support staff. Further, we are able to avoid exploratory costs incurred by many oil and gas producers.

We were initially incorporated in Minnesota in 2010 as the successor to a business formed in 2007, and we converted from a Minnesota corporation to a Delaware corporation in May 2018. Our executive offices are located at 601 Carlson Parkway, Suite 990, Minnetonka, MN 55305, and our telephone number is 952-476-9800. We maintain an internet website at www.northernoil.com. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and you should not consider information contained on our website as part of this prospectus.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement accompanying this prospectus, the net proceeds from the sale by us of the securities to which this prospectus relates will be used for general corporate purposes. General corporate purposes may include, without limitation, acquisitions, additions to working capital, capital expenditures, and repayment or refinancing of debt. Net proceeds may be temporarily invested prior to use.

 

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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS

The following table sets forth the historical ratio of our earnings to our fixed charges for the periods indicated. As of the date of this prospectus, we have no preferred stock outstanding and accordingly, the ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends is equal to the ratio of earnings to fixed charges and is not disclosed separately.

 

Year Ended December 31,

  

Three Months Ended

March 31, 2018

2013

  

2014

  

2015(1)

  

2016(1)

  

2017(1)

3.0x

   6.6x    (18.7)x    (3.6)x    0.9x    1.1x

 

(1)

Earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges by approximately $10.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2017. Earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges by approximately $295.3 million and $1,179.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, due primarily to a non-cash impairment charge.

The ratio of earnings to fixed charges is calculated as follows:

        (earnings)        

(fixed charges)

For purposes of calculating the ratios, earnings consist of:

 

   

pre-tax income from continuing operations before adjustment for income or loss from equity investees;

 

   

fixed charges;

 

   

amortization of capitalized interest;

 

   

distributed income of equity investees;

 

   

our share of pre-tax losses of equity investees for which charges arising from guarantees are included in fixed charges;

 

   

minus capitalized interest;

 

   

minus preference security dividend requirements of consolidated subsidiaries; and

 

   

minus the noncontrolling interest in pre-tax income of subsidiaries that have not incurred fixed charges.

For purposes of calculating the ratios, fixed charges consist of:

 

   

interest expensed and capitalized;

 

   

amortized premiums, discounts and capitalized expenses related to indebtedness;

 

   

an estimate of the interest portion of rental expense; and

 

   

preference security dividend requirements of consolidated subsidiaries.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

This section describes the general terms of our capital stock. Our capital stock may be offered directly or in connection with the conversion, exchange or exercise of other securities. We have filed our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You should read our certificate of incorporation and bylaws for additional information before you buy any capital stock or any securities which may be exercised or exchangeable for or converted into capital stock.

General

The following description of our capital stock is subject to and qualified in its entirety by our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, which are incorporated by reference in the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, and by the provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or the DGCL. On May 9, 2018, we reincorporated from the State of Minnesota to the State of Delaware pursuant to a plan of conversion. Under our certificate of incorporation, we are authorized to issue up to 450,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $.001 per share, and up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $.001 per share. Our common stock is listed in NYSE American under the symbol “NOG.”

Common Stock

Shares Outstanding

As of June 18, 2018, 281,605,362 shares of common stock were outstanding. All of the outstanding shares of common stock are validly issued, fully paid, and non-assessable.

Voting Rights

Each share of our common stock entitles its holder to one vote per share on all matters to be voted on by our shareholders. Except with respect to the election of directors or as otherwise required by law, all questions submitted to a vote of our shareholders are decided by the affirmative vote of the holders of the greater of (a) a majority of the voting power of the shares present and entitled to vote on that item of business or (b) a majority of the voting power of the minimum number of shares entitled to vote that would constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at a duly held meeting of shareholders. Directors are elected by a plurality of the voting power of the shares present and entitled to vote on the election of directors at a meeting at which a quorum is present, and our shareholders are not entitled to cumulate their votes for the election of directors.

Dividends

Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any outstanding preferred stock, the holders of our common stock are entitled to receive ratably such dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by the board of directors out of funds legally available for that purpose. We do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future.

Rights Upon Liquidation

Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive equally, on a per share basis, such dividends and other distributions in cash, securities or other property of our company legally available therefor. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of our company, after payment or provision for payment of our company’s debts and subject to the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock upon such dissolution, liquidation or winding up, the holders of the shares of our common stock will be entitled to the remaining net assets of our company to be distributed equally on a per share basis.

 

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Redemption, Preemptive or Conversion Rights

Our common stock is not redeemable, does not have subscription or conversion rights and does not entitle holders of our common stock to any preemptive rights to subscribe for any shares of any class or series of our capital stock, or for any obligations convertible into shares of any class or series of our capital stock, whether now or hereafter authorized.

Preferred Stock

As of June 18, 2018, no shares of our preferred stock are outstanding. Unless required by law or by any stock exchange, the authorized shares of preferred stock will be available for issuance without further action by our stockholders. Our board of directors is able to determine, with respect to any series of preferred stock, the terms and rights of that series. If we offer preferred stock, the applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms, including the following if applicable:

 

   

the designation of the series;

 

   

the number of shares of the series;

 

   

whether dividends, if any, will be cumulative or non-cumulative and the dividend rate of the series;

 

   

the dates at which dividends, if any, will be payable;

 

   

the redemption rights and price or prices, if any, for shares of the series;

 

   

the terms and amounts of any sinking fund provided for the purchase or redemption of shares of the series;

 

   

the amounts payable on shares of the series in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the affairs of our company;

 

   

whether the shares of the series will be convertible into shares of any other class or series, or any other security, of our company or any other corporation, and, if so, the specification of the other class or series or other security, the conversion price or prices or rate or rates, any rate adjustments, the date or dates as of which the shares will be convertible and all other terms and conditions upon which the conversion may be made;

 

   

restrictions on the issuance of shares of the same series or of any other class or series; and

 

   

the voting rights, if any, of the holders of the series.

Accordingly, we could issue a series of preferred stock that could, depending on the terms of the series, impede or discourage an acquisition attempt or other transaction that some, or a majority, of common stockholders might believe to be in their best interests or in which common stockholders might receive a premium for their common stock over the market price of the common stock.

Depositary Shares

We may issue fractional shares of preferred stock rather than full shares of preferred stock. If we exercise this option, we will issue receipts for depositary shares, and each of these depositary shares will represent a fraction (to be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to such depositary shares) of a share of a particular series of preferred stock.

The shares of any series of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares will be deposited under a deposit agreement between us and a bank or trust company selected by us. The depositary will have its principal office in the United States and a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. Subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, each owner of a depositary share will be entitled, in proportion to the applicable fraction of a

 

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share of preferred stock underlying the depositary share, to all of the rights and preferences of the preferred stock underlying that depositary share. Those rights may include dividend, voting, redemption, conversion and liquidation rights.

The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued under a deposit agreement. Depositary receipts will be distributed to those persons purchasing the fractional shares of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares, in accordance with the terms of the offering. We will describe the material terms of the deposit agreement, the depositary shares and the depositary receipts in a prospectus supplement relating to the depositary shares. You should also refer to the forms of the deposit agreement and depositary receipts that will be filed with the SEC in connection with the offering of the specific depositary shares.

Anti-Takeover Provisions

Advance Notice Requirements for Director Nominations and Stockholder Proposals

Our bylaws provide that stockholders seeking to nominate candidates for election as directors or to bring business before an annual meeting of stockholders must provide timely notice of their proposal in writing to our corporate secretary.

Generally, to be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be received at our principal executive offices not less than 90 days prior to the first anniversary of the previous year’s annual meeting. Our bylaws also specify requirements as to the form and content of a stockholder’s notice.

These provisions may impede stockholders’ ability to bring matters before an annual meeting of stockholders or make nominations for directors at an annual meeting of stockholders and may delay, deter or prevent tender offers or takeover attempts that stockholders may believe are in their best interests, including tender offers or attempts that might allow stockholders to receive premiums over the market price of their common stock.

Issuance of Preferred Stock

Our board of directors can at any time, under our certificate of incorporation, and without stockholder approval, issue one or more new series of preferred stock. In some cases, the issuance of preferred stock without stockholder approval could discourage or make more difficult attempts to take control of our company through a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise. Preferred stock with special voting rights or other features issued to persons favoring our management could stop a takeover by preventing the person trying to take control of our company from acquiring enough voting shares necessary to take control.

Anti-Takeover Provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law

As a Delaware corporation, we are subject to Section 203 of the DGCL. This provision provides that a corporation that is listed on a national securities exchange or that has more than 2,000 shareholders is not permitted to engage in a business combination with any interested shareholder, generally a person who owns 15% or more of the outstanding shares of a corporation’s voting stock, for three years after the person became an interested shareholder, unless (a) before the person became an interested shareholder, the board of directors approved either the transaction resulting in a person becoming an interested shareholder or the business combination, (b) upon consummating the transaction which resulted in the person becoming an interested shareholder, the interested shareholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced (excluding shares owned by persons who are both officers and directors of the corporation, and shares held by certain employee stock ownership plans), or (c) on or after the date the person becomes an interested shareholder, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and at an annual or special meeting of shareholders by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested shareholder.

 

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Under Section 203, the restrictions described above also do not apply to specific business combinations proposed by an interested shareholder following the announcement or notification of designated extraordinary transactions involving the corporation and a person who had not been an interested shareholder during the previous three years or who became an interested shareholder with the approval of a majority of the corporation’s directors, if a majority of the directors who were directors prior to any person’s becoming an interested shareholder during the previous three years, or were recommended for election or elected to succeed those directors by a majority of those directors, approve or do not oppose that extraordinary transaction.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Equiniti Trust Company.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

This section describes the general terms and provisions of our debt securities, which could be senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities. A prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of the debt securities offered through that prospectus supplement and any general terms outlined in this section that will not apply to those debt securities.

The senior debt securities will be issued under an indenture, referred to herein as the “senior indenture,” between us and the trustee named in the applicable prospectus supplement. The subordinated debt securities will be issued under an indenture, referred to herein as the “subordinated indenture,” between us and the trustee named in the applicable prospectus supplement.

We have summarized the anticipated material terms and provisions of the senior and subordinated indentures in this section. We have also filed the form of the indentures summarized in this section as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You should read the applicable indenture for additional information before you buy any debt securities. The summary that follows includes references to section numbers of the indentures so that you can more easily locate these provisions.

General

The debt securities will be our direct unsecured obligations. Neither of the indentures limits the amount of debt securities that we may issue. Both indentures permit us to issue debt securities from time to time and debt securities issued under an indenture will be issued as part of a series that has been established by us under such indenture. (Section 301)

The senior debt securities will be unsecured and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured unsubordinated debt. The subordinated debt securities will be unsecured and will rank equally with all of our other subordinated debt securities and, together with such other subordinated debt securities, will be subordinated to all of our existing and future Senior Debt (as defined below). See “—Subordination” below.

The debt securities are our unsecured senior or subordinated debt securities, as the case may be, but our assets include equity in our subsidiaries. As a result, our ability to make payments on our debt securities may depend in part on our receipt of dividends, loan payments and other funds from our subsidiaries. In addition, if any of our subsidiaries becomes insolvent, the direct creditors of that subsidiary will have a prior claim on its assets. Our rights and the rights of our creditors, including your rights as an owner of our debt securities, will be subject to that prior claim, unless we are also a direct creditor of that subsidiary. This subordination of creditors of a parent company to prior claims of creditors of its subsidiaries is commonly referred to as structural subordination.

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may, without the consent of the holders of a series of debt securities, issue additional debt securities of that series having the same ranking and the same interest rate, maturity date and other terms (except for the price to public and issue date) as such debt securities. Any such additional debt securities, together with the initial debt securities, will constitute a single series of debt securities under the applicable indenture. No additional debt securities of a series may be issued if an event of default under the applicable indenture has occurred and is continuing with respect to that series of debt securities.

A prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities being offered will include specific terms relating to the offering. (Section 301) These terms will include some or all of the following:

 

   

the title and type of the debt securities;

 

   

any limit on the total principal amount of the debt securities of that series;

 

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the price at which the debt securities will be issued;

 

   

the date or dates on which the principal of and premium, if any, on the debt securities will be payable;

 

   

the maturity date or dates of the debt securities or the method by which those dates can be determined;

 

   

if the debt securities will bear interest:

 

   

the interest rate on the debt securities or the method by which the interest rate may be determined;

 

   

the date from which interest will accrue;

 

   

the record and interest payment dates for the debt securities; and

 

   

the first interest payment date;

 

   

the place or places where:

 

   

we can make payments on the debt securities;

 

   

the debt securities can be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange; and

 

   

notices and demands can be given to us relating to the debt securities and under the applicable indenture;

 

   

any optional redemption provisions that would permit us to elect redemption of the debt securities, or the holders of the debt securities to elect repayment of the debt securities, before their final maturity;

 

   

any sinking fund provisions that would obligate us to redeem the debt securities before their final maturity;

 

   

whether the debt securities will be convertible into shares of capital stock and, if so, the terms and conditions of any such conversion;

 

   

if the debt securities will be issued in bearer form, the terms and provisions contained in the bearer securities and in the applicable indenture specifically relating to the bearer securities;

 

   

the currency or currencies in which the debt securities will be denominated and payable, if other than U.S. dollars and, if a composite currency, any special provisions relating thereto;

 

   

any circumstances under which the debt securities may be paid in a currency other than the currency in which the debt securities are denominated and any provisions relating thereto;

 

   

whether the provisions described below under the heading “—Defeasance” will not apply to the debt securities;

 

   

any events of default that will apply to the debt securities in addition to those contained in the applicable indenture;

 

   

any additions or changes to the covenants contained in the applicable indenture and the ability, if any, of the holders to waive our compliance with those additional or changed covenants;

 

   

whether all or part of the debt securities will not be issued as permanent global securities and the extent to which the description of the book-entry procedures described below under “—Book-Entry, Delivery and Form” will not apply to such global securities—a “global security” is a debt security that we issue in accordance with the applicable indenture to represent all or part of a series of debt securities;

 

   

whether all or part of the debt securities will be issued in whole or in part as temporary global securities and, if so, the depositary for those temporary global securities and any special provisions dealing with the payment of interest and any terms relating to the ability to exchange interests in a temporary global security for interests in a permanent global security or for definitive debt securities;

 

   

the identity of the trustee, security registrar and paying agent for the debt securities;

 

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any material tax implications of the debt securities;

 

   

any special provisions relating to the payment of any additional amounts on the debt securities; and

 

   

any other terms of the debt securities.

When we use the term “holder” in this prospectus with respect to a registered debt security, we mean the person in whose name such debt security is registered in the security register. (Section 101)

Exchange and Transfer

Any debt securities of a series can be exchanged for other debt securities of that series so long as the other debt securities are denominated in authorized denominations and have the same aggregate principal amount and same terms as the debt securities that were surrendered for exchange. The debt securities may be presented for registration of transfer, duly endorsed or accompanied by a satisfactory written instrument of transfer, at the office or agency maintained by us for that purpose in any place of payment that we may designate. However, holders of global securities may transfer and exchange global securities only in the manner and to the extent set forth under “—Book-Entry, Delivery and Form” below. There will be no service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange of the debt securities, but we may require holders to pay any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with a transfer or exchange of the debt securities. (Sections 305, 1002) If the applicable prospectus supplement refers to any office or agency, in addition to the security registrar, initially designated by us where holders can surrender the debt securities for registration of transfer or exchange, we may at any time rescind the designation of any such office or agency or approve a change in the location. However, we will be required to maintain an office or agency in each place of payment for that series. (Section 1002)

We will not be required to:

 

   

register the transfer of or exchange debt securities to be redeemed for a period of 15 calendar days preceding the mailing of the relevant notice of redemption; or

 

   

register the transfer of or exchange any registered debt security selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed or unpaid portion of that registered debt security being redeemed in part. (Section 305)

Interest and Principal Payments

Payments. Holders may present debt securities for payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, register the transfer of the debt securities and exchange the debt securities at the agency maintained by us for such purpose and identified in the applicable prospectus supplement. We refer to the applicable trustee acting in the capacity of a paying agent for the debt securities as the “paying agent.”

Any money that we pay to the paying agent for the purpose of making payments on the debt securities and that remains unclaimed two years after the payments were due will, at our request, be returned to us and after that time any holder of a debt security can only look to us for the payments on the debt security. (Section 1003)

Recipients of Payments. The paying agent will pay interest to the person in whose name the debt security is registered at the close of business on the applicable record date. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the “record date” for any interest payment date is the date 15 calendar days prior to that interest payment date, whether or not that day is a business day. A “business day” means any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law or regulation to close in New York, New York. However, upon maturity, redemption or repayment, the paying agent will pay any interest due to the person to whom it pays the principal of the debt security. The paying agent will make the payment on the date of maturity, redemption or repayment, whether or not that date is an interest payment date. The paying agent will make the initial interest payment on a debt

 

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security on the first interest payment date falling after the date of issuance, unless the date of issuance is less than 15 calendar days before an interest payment date. In that case, the paying agent will pay interest on the next succeeding interest payment date to the holder of record on the record date corresponding to the succeeding interest payment date. An “interest payment date” for any debt security means a date on which, under the terms of that debt security, regularly scheduled interest is payable.

Book-Entry Debt Securities. The paying agent will make payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, to the account of The Depository Trust Company, referred to herein as “DTC,” or other depositary specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, as holder of book-entry debt securities, by wire transfer of immediately available funds. The “depositary” means the depositary for global securities issued under the applicable indenture and, unless provided otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, means DTC. We expect that the depositary, upon receipt of any payment, will immediately credit its participants’ accounts in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the book-entry debt securities as shown on the records of the depositary. We also expect that payments by the depositary’s participants to owners of beneficial interests in the book-entry debt securities will be governed by standing customer instructions and customary practices and will be the responsibility of those participants.

Certificated Debt Securities. Except as indicated below for payments of interest at maturity, redemption or repayment, the paying agent will make payments of interest either:

 

   

by check mailed to the address of the person entitled to payment as shown on the security register; or

 

   

by wire transfer to an account designated by a holder, if the holder has given written notice not later than 10 calendar days prior to the applicable interest payment date. (Section 307)

Payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, upon maturity, redemption or repayment on a debt security will be made in immediately available funds against presentation and surrender of the debt security at the office of the paying agent.

Redemption and Repayment of Debt Securities

Optional Redemption by Us. If applicable, the prospectus supplement will indicate the terms of our option to redeem the debt securities. We will mail a notice of redemption to each holder which, in the case of global securities, will be the depositary, as holder of the global securities, by first-class mail, postage prepaid, at least 30 days and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption, or within the redemption notice period designated in the applicable prospectus supplement, to the address of each holder as that address appears upon the books maintained by the security registrar. The debt securities will not be subject to any sinking fund.

A partial redemption of the debt securities may be effected by such method as the applicable trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and may provide for the selection for redemption of a portion of the principal amount of debt securities held by a holder equal to an authorized denomination. If we redeem less than all of the debt securities and the debt securities are then held in book-entry form, the redemption will be made in accordance with the depositary’s customary procedures. We have been advised that it is DTC’s practice to determine by the lot the amount of each participant in the debt securities to be redeemed.

Unless we default in the payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date interest will cease to accrue on the debt securities called for redemption.

Repayment at Option of Holder. If applicable, the prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities will indicate that the holder has the option to have us repay a debt security of that series on a date or dates specified prior to its stated maturity date. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the repayment price will be equal to 100% of the principal amount of the debt security, together with accrued interest to the date of repayment.

 

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For us to repay a debt security, the paying agent must receive at least 30 days but not more than 45 days prior to the repayment date:

 

   

the debt security with the form entitled “Option to Elect Repayment” on the reverse of the debt security duly completed; or

 

   

a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or a letter from a member of a national securities exchange, or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. or a commercial bank or trust company in the United States setting forth the name of the holder of the debt security, the principal amount of the debt security, the principal amount of the debt security to be repaid, the certificate number or a description of the tenor and terms of the debt security, a statement that the option to elect repayment is being exercised and a guarantee that the debt security to be repaid, together with the duly completed form entitled “Option to Elect Repayment” on the reverse of the debt security, will be received by the paying agent not later than the fifth business day after the date of the telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter. However, the telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter will only be effective if that debt security and form duly completed are received by the paying agent by the fifth business day after the date of that telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter.

Exercise of the repayment option by the holder of a debt security will be irrevocable. The holder may exercise the repayment option for less than the entire principal amount of the debt security but, in that event, the principal amount of the debt security remaining outstanding after repayment must be an authorized denomination.

If a debt security is represented by a global security, the depositary or the depositary’s nominee will be the holder of the debt security and therefore will be the only entity that can exercise a right to repayment. In order to ensure that the depositary’s nominee will timely exercise a right to repayment of a particular debt security, the beneficial owner of the debt security must instruct the broker or other direct or indirect participant through which it holds an interest in the debt security to notify the depositary of its desire to exercise a right to repayment. Different firms have different cut-off times for accepting instructions from their customers and, accordingly, each beneficial owner should consult the broker or other direct or indirect participant through which it holds an interest in a debt security in order to ascertain the cut-off time by which an instruction must be given in order for timely notice to be delivered to the depositary.

We may purchase debt securities at any price in the open market or otherwise. Debt securities so purchased by us may, at our discretion, be held or resold or surrendered to the applicable trustee for cancellation.

Denominations

Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be issued only in registered form, without coupons, in denominations of $1,000 each and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

Consolidation, Merger or Sale

Each of the indentures generally permits a consolidation or merger between us and another entity. They also permit the sale or transfer by us of all or substantially all of our property and assets. These transactions are permitted if:

 

   

the resulting or acquiring entity, if other than us, is organized and existing under the laws of a domestic jurisdiction and assumes all of our responsibilities and liabilities under the applicable indenture, including the payment of all amounts due on the debt securities and performance of the covenants in the applicable indenture; and

 

   

immediately after the transaction, and giving effect to the transaction, no event of default under the applicable indenture exists. (Section 801)

 

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If we consolidate or merge with or into any other entity or sell or lease all or substantially all of our assets according to the terms and conditions of the indentures, the resulting or acquiring entity will be substituted for us in the indentures with the same effect as if it had been an original party to the indentures. As a result, such successor entity may exercise our rights and powers under the indentures, in our name and, except in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of our properties, we will be released from all our liabilities and obligations under the indentures and under the debt securities. (Section 802)

Modification and Waiver

Under each of the indentures, certain of our rights and obligations and certain of the rights of holders of the debt securities may be modified or amended with the consent of the holders of at least a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all series of debt securities affected by the modification or amendment, acting as one class. However, the following modifications and amendments will not be effective against any holder without its consent:

 

   

a change in the stated maturity date of any payment of principal or interest;

 

   

a reduction in payments due on the debt securities;

 

   

a change in the place of payment or currency in which any payment on the debt securities is payable;

 

   

a limitation of a holder’s right to sue us for the enforcement of payments due on the debt securities;

 

   

a reduction in the percentage of outstanding debt securities required to consent to a modification or amendment of the applicable indenture or required to consent to a waiver of compliance with certain provisions of the applicable indenture or certain defaults under the applicable indenture;

 

   

a reduction in the requirements contained in the applicable indenture for quorum or voting;

 

   

a limitation of a holder’s right, if any, to repayment of debt securities at the holder’s option; and

 

   

a modification of any of the foregoing requirements contained in the applicable indenture. (Section 902)

Under each of the indentures, the holders of at least a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all series of debt securities affected by a particular covenant or condition, acting as one class, may, on behalf of all holders of such series of debt securities, waive compliance by us with any covenant or condition contained in the applicable indenture unless we specify that such covenant or condition cannot be so waived at the time we establish the series.

In addition, under each of the indentures, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series of debt securities may, on behalf of all holders of that series, waive any past default under the applicable indenture, except:

 

   

a default in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any debt securities of that series; or

 

   

a default under any provision of the applicable indenture which itself cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holders of each outstanding debt security of that series. (Section 513)

Events of Default

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, an “event of default,” when used in the senior indenture or the subordinated indenture with respect to any series of debt securities issued thereunder, means any of the following:

 

   

failure to pay interest on any debt security of that series for 30 days after the payment is due;

 

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failure to pay the principal of or any premium on any debt security of that series when due;

 

   

failure to deposit any sinking fund payment on debt securities of that series when due;

 

   

failure to perform any other covenant in the applicable indenture that applies to debt securities of that series for 90 days after we have received written notice of the failure to perform in the manner specified in the applicable indenture;

 

   

certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization; or

 

   

any other event of default that may be specified for the debt securities of that series when that series is created. (Section 501)

If an event of default for any series of debt securities occurs and continues, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the series may declare the entire principal of all the debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. If such a declaration occurs, the holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series can, subject to conditions, rescind the declaration. (Sections 502, 513)

Each of the indentures requires us to file an officers’ certificate with the applicable trustee each year that states, to the knowledge of the certifying officers, whether or not any defaults exist under the terms of the applicable indenture. (Section 1005) The applicable trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of any default, except defaults in the payment of principal, premium, interest or any sinking fund installment, if it considers the withholding of notice to be in the best interests of the holders. For purposes of this paragraph, “default” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an event of default under the applicable indenture with respect to the debt securities of the applicable series. (Section 602)

Other than its duties in the case of a default, a trustee is not obligated to exercise any of its rights or powers under the applicable indenture at the request, order or direction of any holders, unless the holders offer that trustee reasonable indemnification. (Sections 601, 603) If reasonable indemnification is provided, then, subject to other rights of the trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may, with respect to the debt securities of that series, direct the time, method and place of:

 

   

conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee; or

 

   

exercising any trust or power conferred upon the trustee. (Sections 512, 603)

The holder of a debt security of any series will have the right to begin any proceeding with respect to the applicable indenture or for any remedy only if:

 

   

the holder has previously given the trustee written notice of a continuing event of default with respect to that series;

 

   

the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made a written request of, and offered reasonable indemnification to, the trustee to begin such proceeding;

 

   

the trustee has not started such proceeding within 60 days after receiving the request; and

 

   

the trustee has not received directions inconsistent with such request from the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series during those 60 days. (Section 507)

However, the holder of any debt security will have an absolute right to receive payment of principal of and any premium and interest on the debt security when due and to institute suit to enforce this payment.

 

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Defeasance

Defeasance and Discharge. At the time that we establish a series of debt securities under the applicable indenture, we can provide that the debt securities of that series are subject to the defeasance and discharge provisions of that indenture. Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities offered thereby will be subject to the defeasance and discharge provisions of the applicable indenture, and we will be discharged from our obligations on the debt securities of that series if:

 

   

we deposit with the applicable trustee, in trust, sufficient money or, if the debt securities of that series are denominated and payable in U.S. dollars only, Eligible Instruments, to pay the principal, any interest, any premium and any other sums due on the debt securities of that series, such as sinking fund payments, on the dates the payments are due under the applicable indenture and the terms of the debt securities;

 

   

we deliver to the applicable trustee an opinion of counsel that states that the holders of the debt securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if no deposit had been made; and

 

   

if the debt securities of that series are listed on any domestic or foreign securities exchange, the debt securities will not be delisted as a result of the deposit. (Section 403)

When we use the term “Eligible Instruments” in this section, we mean monetary assets, money market instruments and securities that are payable in U.S. dollars only and essentially risk free as to collection of principal and interest, including:

 

   

direct obligations of the United States backed by the full faith and credit of the United States; or

 

   

any obligation of a person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States if the timely payment of the obligation is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States. (Section 101)

In the event that we deposit money and/or Eligible Instruments in trust and discharge our obligations under a series of debt securities as described above, then:

 

   

the applicable indenture, including, in the case of subordinated debt securities, the subordination provisions contained in the subordinated indenture, will no longer apply to the debt securities of that series; however, certain obligations to compensate, reimburse and indemnify the trustee, to register the transfer and exchange of debt securities, to replace lost, stolen or mutilated debt securities, to maintain paying agencies and the trust funds and to pay additional amounts, if any, required as a result of U.S. withholding taxes imposed on payments to non-U.S. persons will continue to apply; and

 

   

holders of debt securities of that series can only look to the trust fund for payment of principal, any premium and any interest on the debt securities of that series. (Section 403)

Defeasance of Certain Covenants and Certain Events of Default. At the time that we establish a series of debt securities under the applicable indenture, we can provide that the debt securities of that series are subject to the covenant defeasance provisions of that indenture. Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities offered thereby will be subject to the covenant defeasance provisions of the applicable indenture, and if we make the deposit and deliver the opinion of counsel described above in this section under the heading “—Defeasance and Discharge,” we will not have to comply with any covenant we designate when we establish the series of debt securities. In the event of a covenant defeasance, our obligations under the applicable indenture and the debt securities, other than with respect to the covenants specifically designated upon establishing the debt securities, will remain in effect. (Section 1501)

If we exercise our option not to comply with certain covenants as described above and the debt securities of the series become immediately due and payable because an event of default has occurred, other than as a result of

 

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an event of default specifically relating to any of such covenants, the amount of money and/or Eligible Instruments on deposit with the applicable trustee will be sufficient to pay the principal, any interest, any premium and any other sums, due on the debt securities of that series, such as sinking fund payments, on the date the payments are due under the applicable indenture and the terms of the debt securities, but may not be sufficient to pay amounts due at the time of acceleration. However, we would remain liable for the balance of the payments. (Section 1501)

Subordination

The subordinated debt securities will be subordinate to all of our existing and future Senior Debt, as defined below. Our “Senior Debt” includes the senior debt securities and means the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, rent under, and any other amounts payable on or in or in respect of any of our indebtedness (including, without limitation, any obligations in respect of such indebtedness and any interest accruing after the filing of a petition by or against us under any bankruptcy law, whether or not allowed as a claim after such filing in any proceeding under such bankruptcy law), whether outstanding on the date of the senior indenture or thereafter created, incurred, assumed, guaranteed or in effect guaranteed by us (including all deferrals, renewals, extensions, refinancings or refundings of, or amendments, modifications or supplements to the foregoing). However, Senior Debt does not include:

 

   

any liability for federal, state, local or other taxes owed or owing by us;

 

   

our indebtedness to any of our subsidiaries;

 

   

our trade payables and accrued expenses (including, without limitation, accrued compensation) for goods, services or materials purchased or provided in the ordinary course of business; and

 

   

any particular indebtedness in which the instrument creating or evidencing the same expressly provides that such indebtedness shall not be senior in right of payment to, or is pari passu with, or is subordinated or junior to, the subordinated debt securities.

If certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur, we will first pay all Senior Debt, including any interest accrued after the events occur, in full before we make any payment or distribution, whether in cash, securities or other property, on account of the principal of or interest on the subordinated debt securities. In such an event, we will pay or deliver directly to the holders of Senior Debt any payment or distribution otherwise payable or deliverable to holders of the subordinated debt securities. We will make the payments to the holders of Senior Debt according to priorities existing among those holders until we have paid all Senior Debt, including accrued interest, in full. Notwithstanding the subordination provisions discussed in this paragraph, we may make payments or distributions on the subordinated debt securities so long as:

 

   

the payments or distributions consist of securities issued by us or another company in connection with a plan of reorganization or readjustment; and

 

   

payment on those securities is subordinate to outstanding Senior Debt and any securities issued with respect to Senior Debt under such plan of reorganization or readjustment at least to the same extent provided in the subordination provisions of the subordinated debt securities. (Section 1601 of the subordinated indenture)

If such events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur, after we have paid in full all amounts owed on Senior Debt:

 

   

the holders of subordinated debt securities,

 

   

together with the holders of any of our other obligations ranking equal with those subordinated debt securities,

will be entitled to receive from our remaining assets any principal, premium or interest due at that time on the subordinated debt securities and such other obligations before we make any payment or other distribution on account of any of our capital stock or obligations ranking junior to those subordinated debt securities.

 

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If we violate the subordinated indenture by making a payment or distribution to holders of the subordinated debt securities before we have paid all of the Senior Debt in full, then such holders of the subordinated debt securities will be deemed to have received the payments or distributions in trust for the benefit of, and will have to pay or transfer the payments or distributions to, the holders of the Senior Debt outstanding at the time. The payment or transfer to the holders of the Senior Debt will be made according to the priorities existing among those holders. Notwithstanding the subordination provisions discussed in this paragraph, holders of subordinated debt securities will not be required to pay, or transfer payments or distributions to, holders of Senior Debt so long as:

 

   

the payments or distributions consist of securities issued by us or another company in connection with a plan of reorganization or readjustment; and

 

   

payment on those securities is subordinated to outstanding Senior Debt and any securities issued with respect to Senior Debt under such plan of reorganization or readjustment at least to the same extent provided in the subordination provisions of those subordinated debt securities. (Section 1601 of the subordinated indenture)

Because of the subordination, if we become insolvent, holders of Senior Debt may receive more, ratably, and holders of the subordinated debt securities having a claim pursuant to those securities may receive less, ratably, than our other creditors.

We may modify or amend the subordinated indenture as provided under “—Modification and Waiver” above. However, the modification or amendment may not, without the consent of the holders of all Senior Debt outstanding, modify any of the provisions of the subordinated indenture relating to the subordination of the subordinated debt securities in a manner that would adversely affect the holders of Senior Debt. (Section 902 of the subordinated indenture)

Payment of Additional Amounts

Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will not pay any additional amounts on the debt securities offered thereby to compensate any beneficial owner for any United States tax withheld from payments on such debt securities.

Book-Entry, Delivery and Form

We have obtained the information in this section concerning DTC, Clearstream Banking S.A., or “Clearstream,” and Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System, or “Euroclear,” and the book-entry system and procedures from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy of this information.

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be issued as fully registered global securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC and registered, at the request of DTC, in the name of Cede & Co. Beneficial interests in the global securities will be represented through book-entry accounts of financial institutions acting on behalf of beneficial owners as direct or indirect participants in DTC. The direct and indirect participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers. Investors may elect to hold their interests in the global securities through either DTC (in the United States) or (in Europe) through Clearstream or through Euroclear. Investors may hold their interests in the global securities directly if they are participants of such systems, or indirectly through organizations that are participants in these systems. Interests held through Clearstream and Euroclear will be recorded on DTC’s books as being held by the U.S. Depositary for each of Clearstream and Euroclear (the “U.S. Depositaries”), which U.S. Depositaries will, in turn, hold interests on behalf of their participants’ customers’ securities accounts. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, beneficial interests in the global securities will be

 

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held in denominations of $1,000 and multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. Except as set forth below, the global securities may be transferred, in whole and not in part, only to another nominee of DTC or to a successor of DTC or its nominee.

Debt securities represented by a global security can be exchanged for definitive securities in registered form only if:

 

   

DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for that global security and we do not appoint a qualified successor depositary within 90 days after receiving that notice;

 

   

at any time DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and we do not appoint a successor depositary within 90 days after becoming aware that DTC has ceased to be registered as a clearing agency;

 

   

we in our sole discretion determine that such global security will be exchangeable for definitive securities in registered form or elect to terminate the book-entry system through DTC and notify the applicable trustee of our decision; or

 

   

an event of default with respect to the debt securities represented by that global security has occurred and is continuing.

A global security that can be exchanged as described in the preceding sentence will be exchanged for definitive securities issued in authorized denominations in registered form for the same aggregate amount. The definitive securities will be registered in the names of the owners of the beneficial interests in the global security as directed by DTC.

We will make principal and interest payments on all debt securities represented by a global security to the paying agent which in turn will make payment to DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, as the sole registered owner and the sole holder of the debt securities represented by a global security for all purposes under the applicable indenture. Accordingly, we, the applicable trustee and any paying agent will have no responsibility or liability for:

 

   

any aspect of DTC’s records relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests in a debt security represented by a global security;

 

   

any other aspect of the relationship between DTC and its participants or the relationship between those participants and the owners of beneficial interests in a global security held through those participants; or

 

   

the maintenance, supervision or review of any of DTC’s records relating to those beneficial ownership interests.

We understand that DTC’s current practice is to credit direct participants’ accounts on each payment date with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of such global security as shown on DTC’s records, upon DTC’s receipt of funds and corresponding detail information. The underwriters or agents for the debt securities represented by a global security will initially designate the accounts to be credited. Payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a global security will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for customer accounts registered in “street name,” and will be the sole responsibility of those participants, and not of DTC or its nominee, the trustee, any agent of ours, or us, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements. Book-entry notes may be more difficult to pledge because of the lack of a physical note.

DTC

So long as DTC or its nominee is the registered owner of a global security, DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner and holder of the debt securities represented by that global security for

 

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all purposes of the debt securities. Owners of beneficial interests in the debt securities will not be entitled to have debt securities registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the debt securities in definitive form and will not be considered owners or holders of debt securities under the applicable indenture. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a global security must rely on the procedures of DTC and, if that person is not a DTC participant, on the procedures of the participant through which that person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder of debt securities. The laws of some jurisdictions may require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of the securities in certificated form. These laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global security. Beneficial owners may experience delays in receiving distributions on their debt securities since distributions will initially be made to DTC and must then be transferred through the chain of intermediaries to the beneficial owner’s account.

We understand that, under existing industry practices, if we request holders to take any action, or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a global security desires to take any action which a holder is entitled to take under the applicable indenture, then DTC would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to take that action and those participants would authorize the beneficial owners owning through such participants to take that action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners owning through them.

Beneficial interests in a global security will be shown on, and transfers of those ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC and its participants for that global security. The conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to its participants and by its participants to owners of beneficial interests in the debt securities will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements in effect.

We understand that DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a “clearing agency” registered under the Exchange Act. DTC is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (“DTCC”). DTCC is the holding company for DTC, National Securities Clearing Corporation and Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agencies. DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries.

DTC holds the securities of its participants and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among its participants in such securities through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of its participants. The electronic book-entry system eliminates the need for physical certificates. DTC’s participants include securities brokers and dealers, including underwriters, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations, some of which, and/or their representatives, own DTCC. Banks, brokers, dealers, trust companies and others that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant, either directly or indirectly, also have access to DTC’s book-entry system. The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.

The above information with respect to DTC has been provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a representation, warranty or contract modification of any kind.

Clearstream

We understand that Clearstream was incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg as an international clearing system. Clearstream holds securities for its participating organizations, or “Clearstream Participants,” and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between Clearstream Participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of Clearstream Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. Clearstream provides to Clearstream Participants, among other things, services for safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement of internationally traded securities and securities lending

 

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and borrowing. Clearstream interfaces with domestic securities markets in several countries. As a professional depositary, Clearstream is subject to regulation by the Luxembourg Commission for the Supervision of the Financial Sector (Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier). Clearstream Participants are recognized financial institutions around the world, including underwriters, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. Clearstream’s U.S. Participants are limited to securities brokers and dealers and banks. Indirect access to Clearstream is also available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Clearstream Participant either directly or indirectly.

Distributions with respect to debt securities held beneficially through Clearstream will be credited to cash accounts of Clearstream Participants in accordance with its rules and procedures, to the extent received by the U.S. Depositary for Clearstream.

Euroclear

We understand that Euroclear was created in 1968 to hold securities for participants of Euroclear, or “Euroclear Participants,” and to clear and settle transactions between Euroclear Participants through simultaneous electronic book-entry delivery against payment, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates and any risk from lack of simultaneous transfers of securities and cash. Euroclear performs various other services, including securities lending and borrowing and interacts with domestic markets in several countries. Euroclear is operated by Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., or the “Euroclear Operator,” under contract with Euroclear plc, a U.K. corporation. All operations are conducted by the Euroclear Operator, and all Euroclear securities clearance accounts and Euroclear cash accounts are accounts with the Euroclear Operator, not Euroclear plc. Euroclear plc establishes policy for Euroclear on behalf of Euroclear Participants. Euroclear Participants include banks, including central banks, securities brokers and dealers and other professional financial intermediaries. Indirect access to Euroclear is also available to other firms that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Euroclear Participant, either directly or indirectly. Euroclear is an indirect participant in DTC.

The Euroclear Operator is a Belgian bank. As such it is regulated by the Belgian Banking and Finance Commission and the National Bank of Belgium.

Securities clearance accounts and cash accounts with the Euroclear Operator are governed by the Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear and the related Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System, and applicable Belgian law, which we will refer to herein as the “Terms and Conditions.” The Terms and Conditions govern transfers of securities and cash within Euroclear, withdrawals of securities and cash from Euroclear, and receipts of payments with respect to securities in Euroclear. All securities in Euroclear are held on a fungible basis without attribution of specific certificates to specific securities clearance accounts. The Euroclear Operator acts under the Terms and Conditions only on behalf of Euroclear Participants, and has no record of or relationship with persons holding through Euroclear Participants.

Distributions with respect to debt securities held beneficially through Euroclear will be credited to the cash accounts of Euroclear Participants in accordance with the Terms and Conditions, to the extent received by the Euroclear Operator.

We further understand that investors that acquire, hold and transfer interests in the debt securities by book-entry through accounts with the Euroclear Operator or any other securities intermediary are subject to the laws and contractual provisions governing their relationship with their intermediary, as well as the laws and contractual provisions governing the relationship between such an intermediary and each other intermediary, if any, standing between themselves and the global securities.

 

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Global Clearance and Settlement Procedures

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, initial settlement for the debt securities will be made in immediately available funds. Secondary market trading between DTC participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with DTC rules and will be settled in immediately available funds using DTC’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System. Secondary market trading between Clearstream Participants and/or Euroclear Participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with the applicable rules and operating procedures of Clearstream and Euroclear and will be settled using the procedures applicable to conventional eurobonds in immediately available funds.

Cross-market transfers between persons holding directly or indirectly through DTC, on the one hand, and directly or indirectly through Clearstream Participants or Euroclear Participants, on the other, will be effected through DTC in accordance with DTC rules on behalf of the relevant European international clearing system by its U.S. Depositary; however, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to the relevant European international clearing system by the counterparty in such system in accordance with its rules and procedures and within its established deadlines (European time). The relevant European international clearing system will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its U.S. Depositary to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving debt securities through DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day funds settlement applicable to DTC. Clearstream Participants and Euroclear Participants may not deliver instructions directly to their respective U.S. Depositaries.

Because of time-zone differences, credits of debt securities received through Clearstream or Euroclear as a result of a transaction with a DTC participant will be made during subsequent securities settlement processing and dated the business day following the DTC settlement date. Such credits or any transactions in such debt securities settled during such processing will be reported to the relevant Euroclear Participants or Clearstream Participants on such business day. Cash received in Clearstream or Euroclear as a result of sales of debt securities by or through a Clearstream Participant or a Euroclear Participant to a DTC participant will be received with value on the DTC settlement date but will be available in the relevant Clearstream or Euroclear cash account only as of the business day following settlement in DTC.

If the debt securities are cleared only through Euroclear and Clearstream (and not DTC), you will be able to make and receive through Euroclear and Clearstream payments, deliveries, transfers, exchanges, notices, and other transactions involving any securities held through those systems only on days when those systems are open for business. Those systems may not be open for business on days when banks, brokers, and other institutions are open for business in the United States. In addition, because of time-zone differences, U.S. investors who hold their interests in the securities through these systems and wish to transfer their interests, or to receive or make a payment or delivery or exercise any other right with respect to their interests, on a particular day may find that the transaction will not be effected until the next business day in Luxembourg or Brussels, as applicable. Thus, U.S. investors who wish to exercise rights that expire on a particular day may need to act before the expiration date.

Although DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear have agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of debt securities among participants of DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures and such procedures may be modified or discontinued at any time. Neither we nor any paying agent will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream or their respective direct or indirect participants of their obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations.

 

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Conversion and Exchange

If any offered debt securities are convertible into shares of any of our capital stock at the option of the holders or exchangeable for shares of any of our capital stock at our option, the prospectus supplement relating to those debt securities will include the terms and conditions governing any conversions and exchanges.

Notices

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, any notices required to be given to the holders of the debt securities in global form will be given to the depositary.

Governing Law

The indentures are, and the debt securities will be, governed by and will be construed in accordance with New York law.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

This section describes the general terms and provisions of the warrants. A prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of the warrants offered through that prospectus supplement and any general terms outlined in this section that will not apply to those warrants.

We may issue warrants for the purchase of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, or depositary shares. Warrants may be issued alone or together with common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, or depositary shares offered by any prospectus supplement and may be attached to or separate from those securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent, which will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The securities warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not act as an agent or trustee for any holders of warrants.

We have summarized the material terms and provisions of the warrant agreements and warrants in this section. We will file the form of warrant agreement for common stock (including the form of warrant), the form of warrant agreement for preferred stock (including the form of warrant), the form of warrant agreement for debt securities (including the form of warrant) with the SEC either as an exhibit to an amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K. You should read the applicable forms of warrant agreement and warrant certificate for additional information before you buy any warrants.

General

If we offer warrants, the applicable prospectus supplement will identify the warrant agent and describe the terms of the warrants, including the following:

 

   

the offering price;

 

   

the currency for which warrants may be purchased;

 

   

the designation, aggregate principal amount, currency of denomination and payment, and terms of the securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants;

 

   

if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities issued with the warrants and the number of warrants issued with such securities;

 

   

if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the underlying securities will be separately transferable;

 

   

the principal amount of securities purchasable upon exercise of one warrant, and the price at and the currency in which the principal amount of such securities may be purchased upon such exercise;

 

   

the date on which the right to exercise the warrants shall commence and the date on which the right to exercise shall expire;

 

   

the United States federal income tax considerations;

 

   

whether the warrants will be issued in registered or bearer form; and

 

   

any other terms of the warrants.

You may, at the corporate trust offices of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement:

 

   

exchange warrant certificates for new warrant certificates of different denominations;

 

   

if the warrant certificates are in registered form, present them for registration of transfer; and

 

   

exercise warrant certificates.

Before exercising warrants, holders of warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon exercise, including the right to receive payments on such securities purchasable upon exercise or to enforce covenants in the indenture.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS

The following is a general description of the terms of the purchase contracts we may issue from time to time. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any purchase contracts and, if applicable, prepaid purchase contracts. The description in the prospectus supplement will be qualified in its entirety by reference to (1) the purchase contracts, (2) the collateral arrangements and depositary arrangements, if applicable, relating to such purchase contracts and (3) if applicable, the prepaid purchase contracts and the document pursuant to which such prepaid purchase contracts will be issued.

We may issue purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holders to purchase from us, and obligating us to sell to holders, a fixed or varying number of shares of common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares or debt securities at a future date or dates. The consideration may be fixed at the time that the purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set forth in the purchase contracts. Any purchase contract may include anti-dilution provisions to adjust the number of shares issuable pursuant to such purchase contract, as applicable, upon the occurrence of certain events.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

We may, from time to time, issue units comprised of one or more of the other securities described in this prospectus in any combination. A prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of the units offered under that prospectus supplement, and any special considerations, including tax considerations, applicable to investing in those units. You must review the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable unit agreement for a full understanding of the specific terms of any units. We will incorporate by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part the form of unit agreement, including a form of unit certificate, if any, that describes the terms of the series of units we are offering. While the terms we have summarized below will generally apply to any future units that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any series of units that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement and incorporated documents. The terms of any units offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below.

General

Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time, or at any time before a specified date.

We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement and any incorporated documents the terms of the series of units, including the following:

 

   

the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately;

 

   

any provisions of the governing unit agreement that differ from those described below; and

 

   

any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer, or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units.

The provisions described in this section, as well as those described under the other sections describing the securities offered by this prospectus, will apply to each unit and to any of such other securities included in each unit.

Issuance in Series

We may issue units in such amounts and in such numerous distinct series as we determine.

Enforceability of Rights by Holders of Units

Each unit agent will act solely as our agent under the applicable unit agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any unit. A single bank or trust company may act as unit agent for more than one series of units. A unit agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable unit agreement or unit, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any holder of a unit, without the consent of the related unit agent or the holder of any other unit, may enforce by appropriate legal action its rights as holder under any security included in the unit.

Title

We, the unit agent, and any of their agents may treat the registered holder of any unit certificate as an absolute owner of the units evidenced by that certificate for any purposes and as the person entitled to exercise the rights attaching to the units so requested, despite any notice to the contrary.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the securities described in this prospectus from time to time in one or more transactions:

 

   

on the NYSE American (including through at-the-market offerings);

 

   

in the over-the-counter market;

 

   

in privately negotiated transactions;

 

   

to purchasers directly;

 

   

to underwriters for public offering and sale by them;

 

   

in a block trade in which a broker/dealer will attempt to sell a block of securities as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

 

   

through agents;

 

   

through dealers; or

 

   

through a combination of any of the foregoing methods of sale.

Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the securities offered under this prospectus may be underwriters as defined in the Securities Act and any discounts or commissions received by them from us and any profit on the resale of the offered securities by them may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. Any underwriters or agents will be identified and their compensation, including any underwriting discount or commission, will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement to the extent required. The applicable prospectus supplement will also describe other terms of the offering, including the initial public offering price, any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers and any securities exchanges on which the offered securities may be listed.

The distribution of the securities offered under this prospectus may occur from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to the prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices.

We may determine the price or other terms of the securities offered under this prospectus by use of an electronic auction. We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement how any auction will be conducted to determine the price or any other terms of the securities, how potential investors may participate in the auction and, where applicable, the nature of the underwriters’ obligations with respect to the auction.

We may authorize underwriters, dealers or agents to solicit offers by certain purchasers to purchase the debt securities offered under this prospectus and any prospectus supplement from us at the public offering price set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. The contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, and the applicable prospectus supplement will set forth any commissions we pay for solicitation of these contracts.

We may have agreements with the underwriters, dealers and agents to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute with respect to payments which the underwriters, dealers or agents may be required to make as a result of those certain civil liabilities.

In connection with any offering of the securities offered under this prospectus, underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of such securities or any other securities the prices of which may be used to determine payments on such securities. These transactions may include short sales, stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the sale

 

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by underwriters of a greater number of securities than the underwriters are required to purchase in the offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of certain bids or purchases made for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the securities while the offering is in progress.

Underwriters may also impose a penalty bid in any offering of securities offered under this prospectus through a syndicate of underwriters. This occurs when a particular underwriter repays to the underwriters a portion of the underwriting discount received by it because the other underwriters have repurchased securities sold by or for the account of such underwriter in stabilizing or short covering transactions.

These activities by underwriters may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the securities offered under this prospectus. As a result, the price of such securities may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. If these activities are commenced, they may be discontinued by underwriters at any time. These transactions may be effected in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.

Underwriters or agents and their affiliates may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us or our affiliates in the ordinary course of business.

Some or all of the securities may be new issues of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriters that purchase the securities for public offering and sale may make a market in such securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. We make no assurance as to the liquidity of or the trading markets for any securities.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the securities and certain other matters will be passed upon for us by Faegre Baker Daniels LLP, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Certain legal matters will passed upon for any underwriters, dealers or agents by the law firm identified as counsel to such underwriters, dealers or agents in the applicable prospectus supplement.

EXPERTS

The audited financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting incorporated by reference from Northern Oil and Gas, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement have been so incorporated by reference in reliance upon the reports of Grant Thornton LLP, independent registered public accountants, upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

Certain estimates of our oil and gas reserves used herein were based in part upon reports prepared by Ryder Scott Company, L.P., independent consulting petroleum engineers. These estimates are included herein in reliance on the authority of such firm as an expert in such matters.

 

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12,500,000 Shares

 

LOGO

Northern Oil and Gas, Inc.

Common Stock

 

 

PROSPECTUS    SUPPLEMENT

 

BofA Securities

RBC Capital Markets

Wells Fargo Securities

Citigroup

Truist Securities

Raymond James

Capital One Securities

Johnson Rice & Company L.L.C.

Roth Capital Partners

Northland Capital Markets

Seaport Global Securities

February 4, 2021