ex10-1.htm


Exhibit 10.1


 



Lucas Energy, Inc.


3555 Timmons Lane


Suite 1550


Houston, Texas 77027












Gentlemen:


 


The undersigned (the “Investor”) hereby confirms its agreement with Lucas Energy, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”) as follows:


 


1. This Subscription Agreement, including the Terms and Conditions For Purchase of Securities attached hereto as Annex I (collectively, (this “Agreement”) is made as of the date set forth below between the Company and the Investor.


 


2. The Company has authorized the sale and issuance to certain investors of up to an aggregate of ______ (the “Shares”) of its common stock, $0.001 par value, of the Company (the “Common Shares”) and (ii) warrants (each, a “Warrant” and, collectively, the “Warrants”) to purchase up to an aggregate of __________ shares of Common Stock (the “Warrant Shares”), in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B.  Each Investor will receive a unit of Company securities (“Unit”), at an initial public offering price of $2.00 per Unit (the “Purchase Price”).  Each Unit shall consist of one Share and 0.35 of a Warrant to purchase one Warrant Share.  The Units, Shares, the Warrants and the Warrant Shares are collectively referred to herein as the “Securities”.


 


3. The offering and sale of the Securities (the “Offering”) are being made pursuant to (1) an effective Registration Statement on Form S-3, File No. 333-179980 (the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) (including the prospectus contained therein (the “Base Prospectus”), (2) if applicable, certain “free writing prospectuses” (as that term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)), that have been or will be filed with the Commission and delivered to the Investor on or prior to the date hereof (the “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”), containing certain supplemental information regarding the Securities, the terms of the Offering and the Company and (3) a Prospectus Supplement (the “Prospectus Supplement” and together with the Base Prospectus, the “Prospectus”) containing certain supplemental information regarding the Securities and terms of the Offering that has been or will be filed with the Commission and delivered to the Investor (or made available to the Investor by the filing by the Company of an electronic version thereof with the Commission).


 


4. The Company and the Investor agree that the Investor will purchase from the Company and the Company will issue and sell to the Investor the Shares and the Warrants set forth below for the aggregate Purchase Price set forth below.  The Shares and the Warrants shall be purchased pursuant to the Terms and Conditions for Purchase of Securities attached hereto as Annex I and incorporated herein by this reference as if fully set forth herein.  The Investor acknowledges that the Offering is not being underwritten by the placement agent (the “Placement Agent”) named in the Prospectus Supplement and that there is no minimum offering amount.


 




  





  











  






5. The Shares purchased by the Investor shall be settled by crediting the account of the Investor's prime broker (as specified by such Investor on Exhibit A annexed hereto) with the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) through its Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian (“DWAC”) system, whereby Investor's prime broker shall initiate a DWAC transaction on the Closing Date using its DTC participant identification number, and released by ClearTrust, LLC, the Company’s transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”), at the Company's direction. NO LATER THAN ONE (1) BUSINESS DAY AFTER THE EXECUTION OF THIS AGREEMENT BY THE INVESTOR AND THE COMPANY, THE INVESTOR SHALL:


 



	
(I)  

	
DIRECT THE BROKER-DEALER AT WHICH THE ACCOUNT OR ACCOUNTS TO BE CREDITED WITH THE SHARES ARE MAINTAINED TO SET UP A DWAC INSTRUCTING THE TRANSFER AGENT TO CREDIT SUCH ACCOUNT OR ACCOUNTS WITH THE SHARES, AND







 



	
(II)  

	
REMIT BY WIRE TRANSFER THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS EQUAL TO THE AGGREGATE PURCHASE PRICE FOR THE SHARES AND THE WARRANTS BEING PURCHASED BY THE INVESTOR TO THE FOLLOWING ACCOUNT:







 


[To be separately provided to the Investor]







IT IS THE INVESTOR’S RESPONSIBILITY TO (A) MAKE THE NECESSARY WIRE TRANSFER OR CONFIRM THE PROPER ACCOUNT BALANCE IN A TIMELY MANNER AND (B) ARRANGE FOR SETTLEMENT BY WAY OF DWAC OR DVP IN A TIMELY MANNER.  IF THE INVESTOR DOES NOT DELIVER THE AGGREGATE PURCHASE PRICE FOR THE SHARES AND THE WARRANTS OR DOES NOT MAKE PROPER ARRANGEMENTS FOR SETTLEMENT IN A TIMELY MANNER, THE SHARES AND THE WARRANTS MAY NOT BE DELIVERED AT CLOSING TO THE INVESTOR OR THE INVESTOR MAY BE EXCLUDED FROM THE CLOSING ALTOGETHER AT THE COMPANY’S DISCRETION.


 


6. The executed Warrants shall be delivered to the Investor by mail, registered in such names and sent to such address as specified by the Investor below


 


7. The Investor represents that, except as set forth below, (a) it has had no position, office or other material relationship within the past three years with the Company or persons known to it to be affiliates of the Company, (b) it is not a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) or an Associated Person (as such term is defined under the FINRA’s NASD Membership and Registration Rules Section 1011) as of the Closing, and (c) neither the Investor nor any group of Investors (as identified in a public filing made with the Commission) of which the Investor is a part in connection with the Offering, acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, 20% or more of the Common Shares (or securities convertible into or exercisable for Common Shares) or the voting power of the Company on a post-transaction basis. Exceptions:


 


____________________________________________________________________


 




  





  











  






(If no exceptions, write “none.” If left blank, response will be deemed to be “none.”)


 


8. The Investor represents that it has received (or otherwise had made available to it by the filing by the Company of an electronic version thereof with the Commission) the Base Prospectus, dated March 7, 2012, which is a part of the Company’s Registration Statement, the documents incorporated by reference therein and any free writing prospectus (collectively, the “Disclosure Package”), prior to or in connection with the receipt of this Agreement.  The Investor acknowledges that, prior to the delivery of this Agreement to the Company, the Investor will receive certain additional information regarding the Offering, including pricing information (the “Offering Information”).  Such information may be provided to the Investor by any means permitted under the Securities Act, including the Prospectus Supplement, a free writing prospectus and oral communications.


 


9. No offer by the Investor to buy Shares and Warrants will be accepted and no part of the Purchase Price will be delivered to the Company until the Investor has received the Offering Information and the Company has accepted such offer by countersigning a copy of this Agreement, and any such offer may be withdrawn or revoked, without obligation or commitment of any kind, at any time prior to the Company (or Roth Capital Partners, LLC on behalf of the Company) sending (orally, in writing or by electronic mail) notice of its acceptance of such offer.  An indication of interest will involve no obligation or commitment of any kind until the Investor has been delivered the Offering Information and this Agreement is accepted and countersigned by or on behalf of the Company. The Investor understands and acknowledges that the Company may, in its sole discretion, accept or reject this subscription for Shares and Warrants, in whole or in part.


 


10. The Company acknowledges that the only material, non-public information relating to the Company or its subsidiaries that the Company, its employees or agents has provided to the Investor in connection with the Offering prior to the date hereof is the existence of the Offering.


 


 




  





  











  






Number of Shares:                                                                


 


Purchase Price per Share:  $                                                                                


 


Aggregate Purchase Price:  $                                                                                


 


Number of Warrant Shares subject to Warrants (Equal to Number of Shares multiplied by 0.35 and rounded down to the nearest whole number):


 







 


Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement between us by signing in the space provided below for that purpose.


 




	  	
Dated as of:  _______ , 2012


	 	 
	 	                                                          
	  	INVESTOR
	 	 
	  	
By:                                                          


	 	

Print Name:                                                          


	 	

Title:                                                          


	 	

Address:                                                          














Agreed and Accepted


 


this __ day of ________, 2012:


 


LUCAS ENERGY, INC.


 



	
By:

	                                                           	 






	
Title:







 




  





  











  






ANNEX I


 







 


TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR PURCHASE OF SECURITIES


 


1. Authorization and Sale of the Securities.  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company has authorized the sale of the Securities.


 


2. Agreement to Sell and Purchase the Securities; Placement Agent.


 


2.1 At the Closing (as defined in Section 3.1), the Company will sell to the Investor, and the Investor will purchase from the Company, upon the terms and conditions set forth herein, the number of Shares and Warrants set forth on the last page of the Agreement to which these Terms and Conditions for Purchase of Securities are attached as Annex I (the “Signature Page”) for the aggregate purchase price therefor set forth on the Signature Page.


 


2.2 The Company proposes to enter into substantially this same form of Subscription Agreement with certain other investors (the “Other Investors”) and expects to complete sales of Shares and Warrants to them.  The Investor and the Other Investors are hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as the “Investors,” and this Agreement and the Subscription Agreements executed by the Other Investors are hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as the “Agreements.”


 


2.3 Investor acknowledges that the Company has agreed to pay Roth Capital Partners, LLC (the “Placement Agent”) a fee (the “Placement Fee”) and to reimburse the Placement Agent for certain expenses in respect of the sale of the Shares and Warrants to the Investor; provided that, no such fee shall be paid to the Placement Agent if the Investor is a “December 2010 Investor.”  A “December 2010 Investor” shall mean any investor that previously purchased shares of Company equity securities pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of December 26, 2010 by and among the Company and such investors as listed in the Schedule of Buyers therein.   Investor further acknowledges that another broker-dealer has claimed it has a right of first refusal to act as a placement agent in connection with the sale of these Securities pursuant to a prior investment banking agreement and therefore may be entitled to additional potential fees.  While the Company denies such claim, there is no assurance the Company will prevail in such dispute.


 


2.4 The Company has entered into a Placement Agency Agreement, dated the date hereof (the “Placement Agreement”), with the Placement Agent that contains certain representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the Company that may be relied upon by the Investor, which shall be a third party beneficiary thereof.  The Company confirms that neither it nor any other person acting on its behalf has provided the Investor or their agents or counsel with any information that constitutes or could reasonably be expected to constitute material, nonpublic information, except as will be disclosed in the Prospectus and/or in the Company’s Form 8-K to be filed with the Commission in connection with the Offering.  The Company understands and confirms that the Investor will rely on the foregoing representations in effecting transactions in securities of the Company.


 




  





  











  






3. Closings and Delivery of the Securities and Funds.


 


3.1 Closing.  The completion of the purchase and sale of the Shares and the Warrants (the “Closing”) shall occur at a place and time (the “Closing Date”) to be specified by the Company and the Placement Agent, and of which the Investors will be notified in advance by the Placement Agent, in accordance with Rule 15c6-l promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).  At the Closing, (a) the Company shall cause ClearTrust, LLC, the Company’s “Transfer Agent”, to deliver to the Investor the number of Shares set forth on the Signature Page registered in the name of the Investor or, if so indicated on the Investor Questionnaire attached hereto as Exhibit A, in the name of a nominee designated by the Investor, (b) the Company shall cause to be delivered to the Investor a Warrant for the number of Warrant Shares set forth on the Signature Page and (c) the aggregate purchase price for the Shares and the Warrants being purchased by the Investor will be delivered by or on behalf of the Investor to the Company.


 


3.2 Conditions to the Obligations of the Parties.


 


(a)              Conditions to the Company’s Obligations. The Company’s obligation to issue and sell the Shares and the Warrants to the Investor shall be subject to:  (i) the receipt by the Company of the purchase price for the Shares and the Warrants being purchased hereunder as set forth on the Signature Page and (ii) the accuracy of the representations and warranties made by the Investor and the fulfillment of those undertakings of the Investor to be fulfilled prior to the Closing Date.


 


(b)              Conditions to the Investor’s Obligations. The Investor’s obligation to purchase the Shares and the Warrants will be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties made by the Company and the fulfillment of those undertakings of the Company to be fulfilled prior to the Closing Date, including without limitation, those contained in the Placement Agreement, and to the condition that the Placement Agent shall not have:  (a) terminated the Placement Agreement pursuant to the terms thereof or (b) determined that the conditions to the closing in the Placement Agreement have not been satisfied.  The Investor’s obligations are expressly not conditioned on the purchase by any or all of the Other Investors of the Shares and the Warrants that they have agreed to purchase from the Company.  The Investor understands and agrees that, in the event that the Placement Agent in its sole discretion determines that the conditions to closing in the Placement Agreement have not been satisfied or if the Placement Agreement may be terminated for any other reason permitted by such Placement Agreement, then the Placement Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, terminate such Agreement, which shall have the effect of terminating this Subscription Agreement pursuant to Section 14 below.


 


3.3 Delivery of Funds.  No later than one (1) business day after the execution of this Agreement by the Investor and the Company, the Investor shall remit by wire transfer the amount of funds equal to the aggregate purchase price for the Shares and the Warrants being purchased by the Investor to the following account designated by the Company:


 


To be separately provided to the Investor


 


3.4 Delivery of Shares.  No later than one (1) business day after the execution of this Agreement by the Investor and the Company, the Investor shall direct the broker-dealer at which the account or accounts to be credited with the Shares being purchased by such Investor are maintained, which broker/dealer shall be a DTC participant, to set up a DWAC instructing the Transfer Agent to credit such account or accounts with the Shares.  Such DWAC instruction shall indicate the settlement date for the deposit of the Shares, which date shall be provided to the Investor by the Placement Agent.  Upon the closing of the Offering, the Company shall direct the Transfer Agent to credit the Investor’s account or accounts with the Shares pursuant to the information contained in the DWAC.


 




  





  











  






4. Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the Investor.


 


The Investor acknowledges, represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Company and the Placement Agent that:


 


4.1 The Investor (a) is knowledgeable, sophisticated and experienced in making, and is qualified to make decisions with respect to, investments in securities presenting an investment decision like that involved in the purchase of the Securities, including investments in securities issued by the Company and investments in comparable companies, (b) has answered all questions and provided all requested information on the Signature Page and the Investor Questionnaire and the answers thereto are true and correct as of the date hereof and will be true and correct as of the Closing Date and (c) in connection with its decision to purchase the Shares and the Warrants set forth on the Signature Page, has received and is relying only upon the Disclosure Package and the documents incorporated by reference therein and the Offering Information.


 


4.2  (a) No action has been or will be taken in any jurisdiction outside the United States by the Company or the Placement Agent that would permit an offering of the Securities, or possession or distribution of offering materials in connection with the issuance of the Securities in any jurisdiction outside the United States where action for that purpose is required, (b) if the Investor is outside the United States, it will comply with all applicable laws and regulations in each foreign jurisdiction in which it purchases, offers, sells or delivers Securities or has in its possession or distributes any offering material, in all cases at its own expense and (c) the Placement Agent is not authorized to make and has not made any representation, disclosure or use of any information in connection with the issuance, placement, purchase and sale of the Securities, except as set forth or incorporated by reference in the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement or any free writing prospectus.


 


4.3 (a) The Investor is either an individual or an entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and has full right, power, authority and capacity to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and has taken all necessary action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, and (b) this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Investor enforceable against the Investor in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ and contracting parties’ rights generally and except as enforceability may be subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and except as to the enforceability of any rights to indemnification or contribution that may be violative of the public policy underlying any law, rule or regulation (including any federal or state securities law, rule or regulation). The Investor’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not (i) conflict with or violate any provision of the Investor’s certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational or charter documents, or (ii) conflict with or result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment, injunction, decree or other restriction of any court or governmental authority to which the Investor is subject (including federal and state securities laws and regulations), or by which any property or asset of the Investor is bound or affected.


 




  





  











  






4.4 The Investor understands that nothing in this Agreement, the Prospectus, the Disclosure Package, the Offering Information or any other materials presented to the Investor in connection with the purchase and sale of the Shares and the Warrants constitutes legal, tax or investment advice.  The Investor has consulted such legal, tax and investment advisors and made such investigation as it, in its sole discretion, has deemed necessary or appropriate in connection with its purchase of Shares and Warrants.  The Investor also understands that there is no established public trading market for the Warrants being offered in the Offering, and that the Company does not expect such a market to develop. In addition, the Company does not intend to apply for listing of the Warrants on any securities exchange or other market or quotation system. The Investor understands that without an active market, the liquidity of the Warrants will be limited.


 


4.5 The Investor will maintain the confidentiality of all information acquired as a result of the transactions contemplated hereby prior to the public disclosure of that information by the Company in accordance with Section 13 of this Annex.


 


4.6 Since the time at which the Placement Agent first contacted such Investor about the Offering, the Investor has not disclosed any information regarding the Offering to any third parties (other than its legal, accounting and other advisors) and has not engaged in any purchases or sales of the securities of the Company (including, without limitation, any Short Sales (as defined herein) involving the Company’s securities).  The Investor covenants that it will not engage in any purchases or sales of the securities of the Company (including Short Sales) prior to the time that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are publicly disclosed.  The Investor agrees that it will not use any of the Securities acquired pursuant to this Agreement to cover any short position in the Common Shares if doing so would be in violation of applicable securities laws.  For purposes hereof, “Short Sales” include, without limitation, all “short sales” as defined in Rule 200 promulgated under Regulation SHO under the Exchange Act, whether or not against the box, and all types of direct and indirect stock pledges, forward sales contracts, options, puts, calls, short sales, swaps, “put equivalent positions” (as defined in Rule 16a-1(h) under the Exchange Act) and similar arrangements (including on a total return basis), and sales and other transactions through non-U.S. broker dealers or foreign regulated brokers.


 


5. Survival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements; Third Party Beneficiary.  Notwithstanding any investigation made by any party to this Agreement or by the Placement Agent, all covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Company and the Investor herein will survive the execution of this Agreement, the delivery to the Investor of the Shares and Warrants being purchased and the payment therefor.  The Placement Agent shall be a third party beneficiary with respect to the representations, warranties and agreements of the Investor in Section 4 hereof.


 




  





  











  






6. Notices.  All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder will be in writing, will be mailed (a) if within the domestic United States by first-class registered or certified airmail, or nationally recognized overnight express courier, postage prepaid, or by facsimile or (b) if delivered from outside the United States, by International Federal Express or facsimile, and will be deemed given (i) if delivered by first-class registered or certified mail domestic, three business days after so mailed, (ii) if delivered by nationally recognized overnight carrier, one business day after so mailed, (iii) if delivered by International Federal Express, two business days after so mailed and (iv) if delivered by facsimile, upon electronic confirmation of receipt and will be delivered and addressed as follows:


 



	
(a)  

	
if to the Company, to:













	
  

	
Lucas Energy, Inc.








	
  

	
3555 Timmons Lane, Suite 1550







Houston, Texas 77027


Attention: K. Andrew Lai, Chief Financial Officer


Facsimile:  (713) 337-1510







with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:







The Loev Law Firm, PC


6300 West Loop South, Suite 280


Bellaire, Texas 77401


Attention: David M. Loev


Facsimile: (713) 524-4122







 (b) if to the Investor, at its address on the Signature Page hereto, or at such other address or addresses as may have been furnished to the Company in writing.


 


7. Changes.  This Agreement may not be modified or amended except pursuant to an instrument in writing signed by the Company and the Investor.


 


8. Headings.  The headings of the various sections of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and will not be deemed to be part of this Agreement.


 


9. Severability.  In case any provision contained in this Agreement should be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein will not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.


 


10. Governing Law, Agent for Service and Jurisdiction.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, including without limitation Section 5-1401 of the New York General Obligations Law.  No legal proceeding may be commenced, prosecuted or continued in any court other than the courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, which courts shall have jurisdiction over the adjudication of such matters, and the Company and the Investor each hereby consent to the jurisdiction of such courts and personal service with respect thereto.  The Company irrevocably appoints  InCorp Services, Inc., with an office at One Commerce Plaza - 99 Washington Ave., Suite 805-A, Albany, NY 12210-2822, as its authorized agent in the State of New York upon which process may be served in any such proceeding, and agrees that service of process upon such agent, and written notice of said service to the Company by the person serving the same to the address provided in Section 6 shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Company in any such suit or proceeding. The Company further agrees to take any and all actions as may be necessary to maintain such designation and appointment of such agent in full force and effect for a period of seven years from the date of this Agreement.  The Company and the Investor each hereby waive all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding (whether based upon contract, tort or otherwise) in any way arising out of or relating to this Agreement.  The Company agrees that a final judgment in any such legal proceeding brought in any such court shall be conclusive and binding upon the Company and the Investor and may be enforced in any other courts in the jurisdiction of which the Company is or may be subject, by suit upon such judgment.


 




  





  











  






11. Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which will constitute an original, but all of which, when taken together, will constitute but one instrument, and will become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each party hereto and delivered to the other parties.  Delivery of a signed counterpart of this Agreement by facsimile or other electronic transmission shall constitute valid and sufficient delivery thereof.  The Company and the Investor acknowledge and agree that the Company shall deliver its counterpart to the Investor along with the Prospectus Supplement (or the filing by the Company of an electronic version thereof with the Commission).


 


12. Confirmation of Sale.  The Investor acknowledges and agrees that such Investor’s receipt of the Company’s signed counterpart to this Agreement, together with the Prospectus Supplement (or the filing by the Company of an electronic version thereof with the Commission), shall constitute written confirmation of the Company’s sale of the Shares and the Warrants to such Investor.


 


13. Press Release.  The Company and the Investor agree that the Company shall (a) prior to the opening of the financial markets in New York City on or about April 12, 2012 issue a press release announcing the Offering and disclosing all material information regarding the Offering and (b) as promptly as practicable on such date file a current report on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission including, but not limited to, a form of this Agreement and the form of Warrant as exhibits thereto, but no later than the second business day after such Offering.


 


14. Termination.  In the event that the Placement Agreement is terminated by the Placement Agent pursuant to the terms thereof, this Agreement shall terminate without any further action on the part of the parties hereto.


 


 


 


 


 




  





  











  






EXHIBIT A


 


LUCAS ENERGY, INC.


 


INVESTOR QUESTIONNAIRE


 


Pursuant to Section 3 of Annex I to the Agreement, please provide us with the following information:


 



	
1.The exact name that your Shares and Warrants are to be registered in.  You may use a nominee name if appropriate:

	
___________________________


	 	 
	
2.The relationship between the Investor and the registered holder listed in response to item 1 above:

	
___________________________


	 	 
	
3.The mailing address of the registered holder listed in response to item 1 above:

	
___________________________


	 	 
	
4.The Social Security Number or Tax Identification Number of the registered holder listed in the response to item 1 above:

	
___________________________


	 	 
	
5.Name of DTC Participant (broker-dealer at which the account or accounts to be credited with the Shares are maintained):

	
___________________________


	 	 
	
6.DTC Participant Number:

	
___________________________


	 	 
	
7.Name of Account at DTC Participant being credited with the Shares:

	
___________________________


	 	 
	
8.Account Number at DTC Participant being credited with the Shares:

	
___________________________








	  





 




 




  





  











  






EXHIBIT B







FORM OF WARRANT