Exhibit 10.4


 


REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT


 


THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
(this “Agreement”) is entered into as of the 1st day of December, 2021, by and among ROC Energy Acquisition
Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the undersigned parties listed under Investors on the signature
page hereto (each, an “Investor” and collectively, the “Investors”).


 


WHEREAS, the Investors and
the Company desire to enter into this Agreement to provide the Investors with certain rights relating to the registration of the securities
held by them as of the date hereof;


 


NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration
of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of
which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:


 


1. DEFINITIONS.
The following capitalized terms used herein have the following meanings:


 


“Agreement”
means this Agreement, as amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time.


 


“Business Combination”
means the acquisition of direct or indirect ownership through a merger, stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization,
reorganization or other similar type of transaction, of one or more businesses or entities.


 


“Commission”
means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any other Federal agency then administering the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.


 


“Common Stock”
means the common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company.


 


“Company”
is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.


 


“Demand Registration”
is defined in Section 2.1.1.


 


“Demanding Holder”
is defined in Section 2.1.1.


 


“Exchange Act”
means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, all
as the same shall be in effect at the time.


 


“Form S-3”
is defined in Section 2.3.


 


“Founder Shares”
means the 5,175,000 shares of Common Stock of the Company issued to its sponsor prior to the Company’s initial public offering.


 


“Extension Loan
Units” means Units issued to Investors as a result of the conversion of loans made by the Investors or their designees to
the Company to extend the period of time of the Company has to consummate a Business Combination.


 


“Indemnified Party”
is defined in Section 4.3.


 


“Indemnifying
Party” is defined in Section 4.3.


 


“Investor”
is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.


 


“Investor Indemnified
Party” is defined in Section 4.1.


 






    


     


    

 


“Maximum Number
of Shares” is defined in Section 2.1.4.


 


“Notices”
is defined in Section 6.3.


 


“Piggy-Back Registration”
is defined in Section 2.2.1.


 


“Private Units”
means the Units certain of the Investors are privately purchasing simultaneously with the consummation of the Company’s initial
public offering.


 


“Pro Rata”
is defined in Section 2.1.4.


 


“Register,”
 “Registered” and “Registration” mean a registration effected by preparing and filing
a registration statement or similar document in compliance with the requirements of the Securities Act, and the applicable rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder, and such registration statement becoming effective.


 


“Registrable Securities”
means (i) the Founder Shares, (ii) the Representative Shares (as defined below) (iii) the Private Units (and underlying
securities), (iv) the Working Capital Units (and underlying securities), if any, and (v) the Extension Loan Units (and underlying
securities), if any. Registrable Securities include any units, shares of capital stock or other securities of the Company issued as a
dividend or other distribution with respect to or in exchange for or in replacement of such Registrable Securities. As to any particular
Registrable Securities, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when: (a) a Registration Statement with respect
to the sale of such securities shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been sold, transferred,
disposed of or exchanged in accordance with such Registration Statement; (b) such securities shall have been otherwise transferred,
new certificates for them not bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by the Company, and subsequent public
distribution of them shall not require registration under the Securities Act; (c) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding,
or (d) the Registrable Securities are freely saleable under Rule 144 under the Securities Act without volume limitations.


 


“Registration
Statement” means a registration statement filed by the Company with the Commission in compliance with the Securities Act
and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder for a public offering and sale of equity securities, or securities or other
obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into, equity securities (other than a registration statement on Form S-4
or Form S-8, or their successors, or any registration statement covering only securities proposed to be issued in exchange for securities
or assets of another entity).


 


“Release Date”
means the date on which the Founder Shares are disbursed from escrow pursuant to Section 3 of that certain Stock Escrow Agreement
dated as of December 1, 2021 by and among the holders of Founder Shares and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company.


 


“Representative”
means EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.


 


“Representative
Shares” means the 180,000 shares of Common Stock of the Company issued to the Representative and its designees prior to
the consummation of the Company’s initial public offering.


 


“Securities Act”
means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, all as the
same shall be in effect at the time.


 


“Underwriter”
means a securities dealer who purchases any Registrable Securities as principal in an underwritten offering and not as part of such dealer’s
market-making activities.


 


“Units”
means the units of the Company, each comprised of one share of Common Stock and one right to receive one-tenth of one share of Common
Stock.


 


“Working Capital
Units” means any Units held by Investors, officers or directors of the Company or their affiliates which may be issued in
payment of working capital loans made to the Company.


 






    


     


    

 


2. REGISTRATION RIGHTS.


 


2.1 Demand Registration.


 


2.1.1 Request for
Registration. At any time and from time to time on or after (i) three months prior to the Release Date with respect to the Founder
Shares or (ii) the date that the Company consummates a Business Combination with respect to all other Registrable Securities, the
holders of a majority-in-interest of such Founder Shares, Representative Shares, Private Units (or underlying securities), Working Capital
Units (or underlying securities), Extension Loan Units (or underlying securities) or other Registrable Securities, as the case may be,
held by the Investors, officers or directors of the Company or their affiliates, or the transferees of the Investors may make a written
demand for registration under the Securities Act of all or part of their Founder Shares, Representative Shares, Private Units (or underlying
securities), Working Capital Units (or underlying securities), Extension Loan Units (or underlying securities) or other Registrable Securities,
as the case may be (a “Demand Registration”). Any demand for a Demand Registration shall specify the number
of shares of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold and the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. The Company will notify
all holders of Registrable Securities of the demand, and each holder of Registrable Securities who wishes to include all or a portion
of such holder’s Registrable Securities in the Demand Registration (each such holder including shares of Registrable Securities
in such registration, a “Demanding Holder”) shall so notify the Company within fifteen (15) days after the receipt
by the holder of the notice from the Company. Upon any such request, the Demanding Holders shall be entitled to have their Registrable
Securities included in the Demand Registration, subject to Section 2.1.4 and the provisos set forth in Section 3.1.1. The Company
shall not be obligated to effect more than an aggregate of two (2) Demand Registrations under this Section 2.1.1 in respect
of all Registrable Securities.


 


2.1.2 Effective Registration.
A registration will not count as a Demand Registration until the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such
Demand Registration has been declared effective and the Company has complied with all of its obligations under this Agreement with respect
thereto; provided, however, that if, after such Registration Statement has been declared effective, the offering of Registrable Securities
pursuant to a Demand Registration is interfered with by any stop order or injunction of the Commission or any other governmental agency
or court, the Registration Statement with respect to such Demand Registration will be deemed not to have been declared effective, unless
and until, (i) such stop order or injunction is removed, rescinded or otherwise terminated, and (ii) a majority-in-interest
of the Demanding Holders thereafter elect to continue the offering; provided, further, that the Company shall not be obligated to file
a second Registration Statement until a Registration Statement that has been filed is counted as a Demand Registration or is terminated.


 


2.1.3 Underwritten
Offering. If a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders so elect and such holders so advise the Company as part of their written
demand for a Demand Registration, the offering of such Registrable Securities pursuant to such Demand Registration shall be in the form
of an underwritten offering. In such event, the right of any holder to include its Registrable Securities in such registration shall be
conditioned upon such holder’s participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such holder’s Registrable Securities
in the underwriting to the extent provided herein. All Demanding Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through
such underwriting shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter or Underwriters selected for such
underwriting by a majority-in-interest of the holders initiating the Demand Registration.


 


2.1.4 Reduction
of Offering. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters for a Demand Registration that is to be an underwritten offering advises
the Company and the Demanding Holders in writing that the dollar amount or number of shares of Registrable Securities which the Demanding
Holders desire to sell, taken together with all other shares of Common Stock or other securities which the Company desires to sell and
the shares of Common Stock, if any, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to written contractual piggy-back registration
rights held by other stockholders of the Company who desire to sell, exceeds the maximum dollar amount or maximum number of shares that
can be sold in such offering without adversely affecting the proposed offering price, the timing, the distribution method, or the probability
of success of such offering (such maximum dollar amount or maximum number of shares, as applicable, the “Maximum Number of
Shares”), then the Company shall include in such registration: (i) first, the Registrable Securities as to which Demand
Registration has been requested by the Demanding Holders (pro rata in accordance with the number of shares that each such Person has requested
be included in such registration, regardless of the number of shares held by each such Person (such proportion is referred to herein as
 “Pro Rata”)) that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (ii) second, to the extent
that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clause (i), the shares of Common Stock or other securities
that the Company desires to sell that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (iii) third, to the extent that
the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), the Registrable Securities of
holders exercising their piggy-back registration rights pursuant to Section 2.2; and (iv) fourth, to the extent that the Maximum
Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i), (ii), and (iii), the shares of Common Stock or other securities
for the account of other persons that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to written contractual arrangements with such persons
and that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares.


 






    


     


    

 


2.1.5 Withdrawal.
If a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders disapprove of the terms of any underwriting or are not entitled to include all of their
Registrable Securities in any offering, such majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders may elect to withdraw from such offering by
giving written notice to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters of their request to withdraw prior to the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Demand Registration. If the majority-in-interest of the Demanding
Holders withdraws from a proposed offering relating to a Demand Registration, then such registration shall not count as a Demand Registration
provided for in Section 2.1.


 


2.2 Piggy-Back Registration.


 


2.2.1 Piggy-Back
Rights. If at any time on or after the date the Company consummates a Business Combination the Company proposes to file a Registration
Statement under the Securities Act with respect to an offering of equity securities, or securities or other obligations exercisable or
exchangeable for, or convertible into, equity securities, by the Company for its own account or for shareholders of the Company for their
account (or by the Company and by shareholders of the Company including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 2.1), other than
a Registration Statement (i) filed in connection with any employee stock option or other benefit plan, (ii) for an exchange
offer or offering of securities solely to the Company’s existing shareholders, (iii) for an offering of debt that is convertible
into equity securities of the Company or (iv) for a dividend reinvestment plan, then the Company shall (x) give written notice
of such proposed filing to the holders of Registrable Securities as soon as practicable but in no event less than ten (10) days before
the anticipated filing date, which notice shall describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such offering, the intended
method(s) of distribution, and the name of the proposed managing Underwriter or Underwriters, if any, of the offering, and (y) offer
to the holders of Registrable Securities in such notice the opportunity to register the sale of such number of shares of Registrable Securities
as such holders may request in writing within five (5) days following receipt of such notice (a “Piggy-Back Registration”).
The Company shall cause such Registrable Securities to be included in such registration and shall use its best efforts to cause the managing
Underwriter or Underwriters of a proposed underwritten offering to permit the Registrable Securities requested to be included in a Piggy-Back
Registration on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Company and to permit the sale or other disposition of
such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. All holders of Registrable Securities
proposing to distribute their securities through a Piggy-Back Registration that involves an Underwriter or Underwriters shall enter into
an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter or Underwriters selected for such Piggy-Back Registration.


 


2.2.2 Reduction of
Offering. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters for a Piggy-Back Registration that is to be an underwritten offering advises
the Company and the holders of Registrable Securities in writing that the dollar amount or number of shares of Common Stock which the
Company desires to sell, taken together with shares of Common Stock, if any, as to which registration has been demanded pursuant to separate
written contractual arrangements with persons or entities other than the holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, the Registrable
Securities as to which registration has been requested under this Section 2.2, and the shares of Common Stock, if any, as to which
registration has been requested pursuant to the written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other stockholders of the Company,
exceeds the Maximum Number of Shares, then the Company shall include in any such registration:


 


a) If the registration is undertaken
for the Company’s account: (A) the shares of Common Stock or other securities that the Company desires to sell that can be
sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (B) to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under
the foregoing clause (A), the shares of Common Stock or other securities, if any, comprised of Registrable Securities, as to which registration
has been requested pursuant to the applicable written contractual piggy-back registration rights of such security holders, Pro Rata, that
can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; and (C) to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been
reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the shares of Common Stock or other securities for the account of other persons
that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to written contractual piggy-back registration rights with such persons and that can
be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; and


 






    


     


    

 


b) If the registration is a “demand”
registration undertaken at the demand of persons other than either the holders of Registrable Securities, (A) first, the shares of
Common Stock or other securities for the account of the demanding persons that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares;
(B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the shares of Common
Stock or other securities that the Company desires to sell that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (C) third,
to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), collectively, the shares
of Common Stock or other securities comprised of Registrable Securities, Pro Rata, as to which registration has been requested pursuant
to the terms hereof, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; and (D) fourth, to the extent that the Maximum
Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A), (B) and (C), the shares of Common Stock or other securities
for the account of other persons that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to written contractual arrangements with such persons,
that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares.


 


2.2.3 Withdrawal.
Any holder of Registrable Securities may elect to withdraw such holder’s request for inclusion of Registrable Securities in any
Piggy-Back Registration by giving written notice to the Company of such request to withdraw prior to the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement. The Company (whether on its own determination or as the result of a withdrawal by persons making a demand pursuant to written
contractual obligations) may withdraw a Registration Statement at any time prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement.
Notwithstanding any such withdrawal, the Company shall pay all expenses incurred by the holders of Registrable Securities in connection
with such Piggy-Back Registration as provided in Section 3.3.


 


2.2.4 Unlimited Piggy-Back
Registration Rights. For the avoidance of doubt, any registration effected pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof shall not be counted
as a registration pursuant to a Demand Registration effected pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof. The holders of Registrable Securities
may participate in an unlimited number of Piggy-Back Registrations.


 


2.3 Registrations
on Form S-3. The holders of Registrable Securities may at any time and from time to time request in writing that the Company
register the resale of any or all of such Registrable Securities on Form S-3 or any similar short-form registration which may be
available at such time (“Form S-3”); provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to effect
such request through an underwritten offering. Upon receipt of such written request, the Company will promptly give written notice of
the proposed registration to all other holders of Registrable Securities, and, as soon as practicable thereafter, effect the registration
of all or such portion of such holder’s or holders’ Registrable Securities as are specified in such request, together with
all or such portion of the Registrable Securities or other securities of the Company, if any, of any other holder or holders joining in
such request as are specified in a written request given within fifteen (15) days after receipt of such written notice from the Company;
provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to effect any such registration pursuant to this Section 2.3: (i) if
Form S-3 is not available for such offering; or (ii) if the holders of the Registrable Securities, together with the holders
of any other securities of the Company entitled to inclusion in such registration, propose to sell Registrable Securities and such other
securities (if any) at any aggregate price to the public of less than $500,000. Registrations effected pursuant to this Section 2.3
shall not be counted as Demand Registrations effected pursuant to Section 2.1.


 






    


    


    

 


3. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES.


 


3.1 Filings; Information.
Whenever the Company is required to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2, the Company shall
use its best efforts to effect the registration and sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of
distribution thereof as expeditiously as practicable, and in connection with any such request:


 


3.1.1 Filing Registration
Statement. The Company shall use its best efforts to, as expeditiously as possible after receipt of a request for a Demand Registration
pursuant to Section 2.1, prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement on any form for which the Company then qualifies
or which counsel for the Company shall deem appropriate and which form shall be available for the sale of all Registrable Securities to
be registered thereunder in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof, and shall use its best efforts to cause
such Registration Statement to become effective and use its best efforts to keep it effective for the period required by Section 3.1.3;
provided, however, that the Company shall have the right to defer any Demand Registration for up to thirty (30) days, and any Piggy-Back
Registration for such period as may be applicable to deferment of any demand registration to which such Piggy-Back Registration relates,
in each case if the Company shall furnish to the holders a certificate signed by the President or Chairman of the Company stating that,
in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, it would be materially detrimental to the Company and its shareholders
for such Registration Statement to be effected at such time; provided further, however, that the Company shall not have the right to exercise
the right set forth in the immediately preceding proviso more than once in any 365-day period in respect of a Demand Registration hereunder.


 


3.1.2 Copies.
The Company shall, prior to filing a Registration Statement or prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish without charge
to the holders of Registrable Securities included in such registration, and such holders’ legal counsel, copies of such Registration
Statement as proposed to be filed, each amendment and supplement to such Registration Statement (in each case including all exhibits thereto
and documents incorporated by reference therein), the prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary prospectus),
and such other documents as the holders of Registrable Securities included in such registration or legal counsel for any such holders
may request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such holders.


 


3.1.3 Amendments
and Supplements. The Company shall prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments, and
supplements to such Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such Registration
Statement effective and in compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act until all Registrable Securities and other securities
covered by such Registration Statement have been disposed of in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution set forth
in such Registration Statement or such securities have been withdrawn.


 


3.1.4 Notification.
After the filing of a Registration Statement, the Company shall promptly, and in no event more than two (2) business days after such
filing, notify the holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement of such filing, and shall further notify
such holders promptly and confirm such advice in writing in all events within two (2) business days of the occurrence of any of the
following: (i) when such Registration Statement becomes effective; (ii) when any post-effective amendment to such Registration
Statement becomes effective; (iii) the issuance or threatened issuance by the Commission of any stop order (and the Company shall
take all actions required to prevent the entry of such stop order or to remove it if entered); and (iv) any request by the Commission
for any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or any prospectus relating thereto or for additional information or of
the occurrence of an event requiring the preparation of a supplement or amendment to such prospectus so that, as thereafter delivered
to the purchasers of the securities covered by such Registration Statement, such prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
and promptly make available to the holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement any such supplement or amendment;
except that before filing with the Commission a Registration Statement or prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, including
documents incorporated by reference, the Company shall furnish to the holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration
Statement and to the legal counsel for any such holders, copies of all such documents proposed to be filed sufficiently in advance of
filing to provide such holders and legal counsel with a reasonable opportunity to review such documents and comment thereon, and the Company
shall not file any Registration Statement or prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto, including documents incorporated by reference,
to which such holders or their legal counsel shall object.


 






    


     


    

 


3.1.5 State Securities
Laws Compliance. The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the
Registration Statement under such securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the holders
of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement (in light of their intended plan of distribution) may request and (ii) take
such action necessary to cause such Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by
such other governmental authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company and do any and all other
acts and things that may be necessary or advisable to enable the holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement
to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required
to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this paragraph or
subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction.


 


3.1.6 Agreements
for Disposition. The Company shall enter into customary agreements (including, if applicable, an underwriting agreement in customary
form) and take such other actions as are reasonably required in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities.
The representations, warranties and covenants of the Company in any underwriting agreement which are made to or for the benefit of any
Underwriters, to the extent applicable, shall also be made to and for the benefit of the holders of Registrable Securities included in
such registration statement. No holder of Registrable Securities included in such registration statement shall be required to make any
representations or warranties in the underwriting agreement except, if applicable, with respect to such holder’s organization, good
standing, authority, title to Registrable Securities, lack of conflict of such sale with such holder’s material agreements and organizational
documents, and with respect to written information relating to such holder that such holder has furnished in writing expressly for inclusion
in such Registration Statement.


 


3.1.7 Cooperation.
The principal executive officer of the Company, the principal financial officer of the Company, the principal accounting officer of the
Company and all other officers and members of the management of the Company shall cooperate fully in any offering of Registrable Securities
hereunder, which cooperation shall include, without limitation, the preparation of the Registration Statement with respect to such offering
and all other offering materials and related documents, and participation in meetings with Underwriters, attorneys, accountants and potential
investors.


 


3.1.8 Records.
The Company shall make available for inspection by the holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement, any
Underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such registration statement and any attorney, accountant or other professional
retained by any holder of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement or any Underwriter, all financial and other records,
pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company, as shall be necessary to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility,
and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information requested by any of them in connection with
such Registration Statement.


 


3.1.9 Opinions and
Comfort Letters. The Company shall furnish to each holder of Registrable Securities included in any Registration Statement a signed
counterpart, addressed to such holder, of (i) any opinion of counsel to the Company delivered to any Underwriter and (ii) any
comfort letter from the Company’s independent public accountants delivered to any Underwriter. In the event no legal opinion is
delivered to any Underwriter, the Company shall furnish to each holder of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement,
at any time that such holder elects to use a prospectus, an opinion of counsel to the Company to the effect that the Registration Statement
containing such prospectus has been declared effective and that no stop order is in effect.


 


3.1.10 Earnings Statement.
The Company shall comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and the Securities Act, and make available to
its shareholders, as soon as practicable, an earnings statement covering a period of twelve (12) months, which earnings statement shall
satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder.


 


3.1.11 Listing.
The Company shall use its best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities included in any registration to be listed on such exchanges
or otherwise designated for trading in the same manner as similar securities issued by the Company are then listed or designated or, if
no such similar securities are then listed or designated, in a manner satisfactory to the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities
included in such registration.


 






    


     


    

 


3.1.12 Road Show.
If the registration involves the registration of Registrable Securities involving gross proceeds in excess of $25,000,000, the Company
shall use its reasonable efforts to make available senior executives of the Company to participate in customary “road show”
presentations that may be reasonably requested by the Underwriter in any underwritten offering.


 


3.2 Obligation to
Suspend Distribution. Upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3.1.4(iv),
or, in the case of a resale registration on Form S-3 pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof, upon any suspension by the Company, pursuant
to a written insider trading compliance program adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors, of the ability of all “insiders”
covered by such program to transact in the Company’s securities because of the existence of material non-public information, each
holder of Registrable Securities included in any registration shall immediately discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities
pursuant to the Registration Statement covering such Registrable Securities until such holder receives the supplemented or amended prospectus
contemplated by Section 3.1.4(iv) or the restriction on the ability of “insiders” to transact in the Company’s
securities is removed, as applicable, and, if so directed by the Company, each such holder will deliver to the Company all written copies,
other than permanent file copies then in such holder’s possession, of the most recent prospectus covering such Registrable Securities
at the time of receipt of such notice.


 


3.3 Registration Expenses.
The Company shall bear all costs and expenses incurred in connection with any Demand Registration pursuant to Section 2.1, any Piggy-Back
Registration pursuant to Section 2.2, and any registration on Form S-3 effected pursuant to Section 2.3, and all expenses
incurred in performing or complying with its other obligations under this Agreement, whether or not the Registration Statement becomes
effective, including, without limitation: (i) all registration and filing fees; (ii) fees and expenses of compliance with securities
or “blue sky” laws (including fees and disbursements of counsel in connection with blue sky qualifications of the Registrable
Securities); (iii) printing expenses; (iv) the Company’s internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries
and expenses of its officers and employees); (v) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable
Securities as required by Section 3.1.11; (vi) Financial Industry Regulatory Authority fees; (vii) fees and disbursements
of counsel for the Company and fees and expenses for independent certified public accountants retained by the Company (including the expenses
or costs associated with the delivery of any opinions or comfort letters requested pursuant to Section 3.1.9); (viii) the fees
and expenses of any special experts retained by the Company in connection with such registration; and (ix) the fees and expenses
of one legal counsel selected by the holders of a majority-in-interest of the Registrable Securities included in such registration. The
Company shall have no obligation to pay any underwriting discounts or selling commissions attributable to the Registrable Securities being
sold by the holders thereof, which underwriting discounts or selling commissions shall be borne by such holders. Additionally, in an underwritten
offering, all selling shareholders and the Company shall bear the expenses of the Underwriter pro rata in proportion to the respective
amount of shares each is selling in such offering.


 


3.4 Information.
The holders of Registrable Securities shall provide such information as may reasonably be requested by the Company, or the managing Underwriter,
if any, in connection with the preparation of any Registration Statement, including amendments and supplements thereto, in order to effect
the registration of any Registrable Securities under the Securities Act pursuant to Section 2 and in connection with the Company’s
obligation to comply with federal and applicable state securities laws.


 


3.5 Limitations on
Registration Rights. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the Representative may not exercise its rights under
Section 2.1 and 2.2 hereunder after five (5) and seven (7) years after the effective date of the registration statement
relating to the Company’s initial public offering, respectively, and (ii) the Representative may not exercise its rights under
Section 2.1 more than one time.


 






    


     


    

 


4. INDEMNIFICATION
AND CONTRIBUTION.


 


4.1 Indemnification
by the Company. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Investor and each other holder of Registrable Securities, and
each of their respective officers, employees, affiliates, directors, partners, members, attorneys and agents, and each person, if any,
who controls an Investor and each other holder of Registrable Securities (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act
or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) (each, an “Investor Indemnified Party”), from and against any expenses,
losses, judgments, claims, damages or liabilities, whether joint or several, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement (or allegedly
untrue statement) of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement under which the sale of such Registrable Securities was registered
under the Securities Act, any preliminary prospectus, final prospectus or summary prospectus contained in the Registration Statement,
or any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement, or arising out of or based upon any omission (or alleged omission) to state
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or any violation by the Company
of the Securities Act or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder applicable to the Company and relating to action or inaction
required of the Company in connection with any such registration; and the Company shall promptly reimburse the Investor Indemnified Party
for any legal and any other expenses reasonably incurred by such Investor Indemnified Party in connection with investigating and defending
any such expense, loss, judgment, claim, damage, liability or action whether or not any such person is a party to any such claim or action
and including any and all legal and other expenses incurred in giving testimony or furnishing documents in response to a subpoena or otherwise;
provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such expense, loss, claim, damage or liability
arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or allegedly untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in such Registration
Statement, preliminary prospectus, final prospectus, or summary prospectus, or any such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and
in conformity with information furnished to the Company, in writing, by such selling holder expressly for use therein. The Company also
shall indemnify any Underwriter of the Registrable Securities, their officers, affiliates, directors, partners, members and agents and
each person who controls such Underwriter on substantially the same basis as that of the indemnification provided above in this Section 4.1.


 


4.2 Indemnification
by Holders of Registrable Securities. Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 4.4.3 hereof, each selling holder of Registrable
Securities will, in the event that any registration is being effected under the Securities Act pursuant to this Agreement of any Registrable
Securities held by such selling holder, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors and officers and each Underwriter
(if any), and each other selling holder and each other person, if any, who controls another selling holder or such Underwriter within
the meaning of the Securities Act, against any losses, claims, judgments, damages or liabilities, whether joint or several, insofar as
such losses, claims, judgments, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement
or allegedly untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement under which the sale of such Registrable Securities
was registered under the Securities Act, any preliminary prospectus, final prospectus or summary prospectus contained in the Registration
Statement, or any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, or arise out of or are based upon any omission or the alleged
omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statement therein not misleading, if the statement
or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by such selling holder expressly
for use therein, and shall reimburse the Company, its directors and officers, and each other selling holder or controlling person for
any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by any of them in connection with investigation or defending any such loss, claim, damage,
liability or action. Each selling holder’s indemnification obligations hereunder shall be several and not joint and shall be limited
to the amount of any net proceeds actually received by such selling holder.


 


4.3 Conduct of Indemnification
Proceedings. Promptly after receipt by any person of any notice of any loss, claim, damage or liability or any action in respect of
which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 4.1 or 4.2, such person (the “Indemnified Party”) shall,
if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against any other person for indemnification hereunder, notify such other person (the “Indemnifying
Party”) in writing of the loss, claim, judgment, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the failure by the
Indemnified Party to notify the Indemnifying Party shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party from any liability which the Indemnifying
Party may have to such Indemnified Party hereunder, except and solely to the extent the Indemnifying Party is actually prejudiced by such
failure. If the Indemnified Party is seeking indemnification with respect to any claim or action brought against the Indemnified Party,
then the Indemnifying Party shall be entitled to participate in such claim or action, and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with
all other Indemnifying Parties, to assume control of the defense thereof with counsel satisfactory to the Indemnified Party. After notice
from the Indemnifying Party to the Indemnified Party of its election to assume control of the defense of such claim or action, the Indemnifying
Party shall not be liable to the Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the Indemnified Party in connection
with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, that in any action in which both the Indemnified
Party and the Indemnifying Party are named as defendants, the Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (but no
more than one such separate counsel) to represent the Indemnified Party and its controlling persons who may be subject to liability arising
out of any claim in respect of which indemnity may be sought by the Indemnified Party against the Indemnifying Party, with the fees and
expenses of such counsel to be paid by such Indemnifying Party if, based upon the written advice of counsel of such Indemnified Party,
representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them.
No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, consent to entry of judgment or effect any settlement
of any claim or pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which the Indemnified Party is or could have been a party and indemnity
could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Party, unless such judgment or settlement includes an unconditional release of such
Indemnified Party from all liability arising out of such claim or proceeding.


 






    


     


    

 


4.4 Contribution.


 


4.4.1 If the indemnification
provided for in the foregoing Sections 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3 is unavailable to any Indemnified Party in respect of any loss, claim, damage,
liability or action referred to herein, then each such Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall contribute
to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such loss, claim, damage, liability or action in such proportion
as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnified Parties and the Indemnifying Parties in connection with the actions
or omissions which resulted in such loss, claim, damage, liability or action, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative fault of any Indemnified Party and any Indemnifying Party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether
the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information
supplied by such Indemnified Party or such Indemnifying Party and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information
and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.


 


4.4.2 The parties hereto
agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 4.4 were determined by pro rata allocation
or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding
Section 4.4.1.


 


4.4.3 The amount paid or
payable by an Indemnified Party as a result of any loss, claim, damage, liability or action referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph
shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Party
in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 4.4, no holder
of Registrable Securities shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the dollar amount of the net proceeds (after payment
of any underwriting fees, discounts, commissions or taxes) actually received by such holder from the sale of Registrable Securities which
gave rise to such contribution obligation. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of
the Securities Act) with respect to any action shall be entitled to contribution in such action from any person who was not guilty of
such fraudulent misrepresentation.


 


5. UNDERWRITING AND
DISTRIBUTION.


 


5.1 Rule 144.
The Company covenants that it shall file any reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and shall
take such further action as the holders of Registrable Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time
to enable such holders to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions
provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such Rules may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation
hereafter adopted by the Commission.


 


6. MISCELLANEOUS.


 


6.1 Other Registration
Rights. The Company represents and warrants that no person, other than the holders of the Registrable Securities, has any right to
require the Company to register any shares of the Company’s capital stock for sale or to include shares of the Company’s capital
stock in any registration filed by the Company for the sale of shares of capital stock for its own account or for the account of any other
person.


 


6.2 Assignment; No
Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the Company hereunder may not be assigned or delegated
by the Company in whole or in part. This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the holders of Registrable Securities hereunder
may be freely assigned or delegated by such holder of Registrable Securities in conjunction with and to the extent of any transfer of
Registrable Securities by any such holder. This Agreement and the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit
of each of the parties, to the permitted assigns of the Investors or holder of Registrable Securities or of any assignee of the Investors
or holder of Registrable Securities. This Agreement is not intended to confer any rights or benefits on any persons that are not party
hereto other than as expressly set forth in Article 4 and this Section 6.2.


 






    


     


    

 


6.3 Notices. All
notices, demands, requests, consents, approvals or other communications (collectively, “Notices”) required or
permitted to be given hereunder or which are given with respect to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be personally served,
delivered by reputable air courier service with charges prepaid, or transmitted by hand delivery, telegram, telex or facsimile, addressed
as set forth below, or to such other address as such party shall have specified most recently by written notice. Notice shall be deemed
given on the date of service or transmission if personally served or transmitted by telegram, telex or facsimile; provided, that if such
service or transmission is not on a business day or is after normal business hours, then such notice shall be deemed given on the next
business day. Notice otherwise sent as provided herein shall be deemed given on the next business day following timely delivery of such
notice to a reputable air courier service with an order for next-day delivery.


 


To the Company:


 


ROC Energy Acquisition Corp.


16400 Dallas Parkway

Dallas, Texas 75248

Attn: Daniel Jeffrey Kimes


 


with a copy to:


 


Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP


1345 Avenue of the Americas


New York, New York 10105


Attn: Stuart Neuhauser, Esq.


 


To an Investor, to the address set forth below such Investor’s
name on Exhibit A hereto.


 


6.4 Severability.
This Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the
validity or enforceability of this Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable
term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Agreement a provision as similar in terms to
such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible that is valid and enforceable.


 


6.5 Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which taken together shall
constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of a signed counterpart of this Agreement by facsimile or email/pdf transmission shall
constitute valid and sufficient delivery thereof.


 


6.6 Entire Agreement.
This Agreement (including all agreements entered into pursuant hereto and all certificates and instruments delivered pursuant hereto and
thereto) constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior and contemporaneous
agreements, representations, understandings, negotiations and discussions between the parties, whether oral or written.


 


6.7 Modifications
and Amendments. No amendment, modification or termination of this Agreement shall be binding upon any party unless executed in writing
by such party.


 


6.8 Titles and Headings.
Titles and headings of sections of this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction of any provision of this
Agreement.


 


6.9 Waivers and Extensions.
Any party to this Agreement may waive any right, breach or default which such party has the right to waive, provided that such waiver
will not be effective against the waiving party unless it is in writing, is signed by such party, and specifically refers to this Agreement.
Waivers may be made in advance or after the right waived has arisen or the breach or default waived has occurred. Any waiver may be conditional.
No waiver of any breach of any agreement or provision herein contained shall be deemed a waiver of any preceding or succeeding breach
thereof nor of any other agreement or provision herein contained. No waiver or extension of time for performance of any obligations or
acts shall be deemed a waiver or extension of the time for performance of any other obligations or acts.


 






    


     


    

 


6.10 Remedies Cumulative.
In the event that the Company fails to observe or perform any covenant or agreement to be observed or performed under this Agreement,
the Investor or any other holder of Registrable Securities may proceed to protect and enforce its rights by suit in equity or action at
law, whether for specific performance of any term contained in this Agreement or for an injunction against the breach of any such term
or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Agreement or to enforce any other legal or equitable right, or to take any one
or more of such actions, without being required to post a bond. None of the rights, powers or remedies conferred under this Agreement
shall be mutually exclusive, and each such right, power or remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to any other right, power or remedy,
whether conferred by this Agreement or now or hereafter available at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise.


 


6.11 Governing Law.
This Agreement shall be governed by, interpreted under, and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York applicable
to agreements made and to be performed within the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice-of-law provisions thereof that
would compel the application of the substantive laws of any other jurisdiction. The Company irrevocably submits to the nonexclusive jurisdiction
of any New York State or United States Federal court sitting in The City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, over any suit, action or proceeding
arising out of or relating to this Agreement. The Company irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that
they may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such a court and any claim that
any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such a court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.


 


6.12 Waiver of Trial
by Jury. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO A TRIAL
BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, SUIT, COUNTERCLAIM OR OTHER PROCEEDING (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF, CONNECTED
WITH OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, OR THE ACTIONS OF THE INVESTOR IN THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION,
PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF.


 


[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]


 






    


     


    

 


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties
have caused this Registration Rights Agreement to be executed and delivered by their duly authorized representatives as of the date first
written above.


 


	 	 	COMPANY:
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	ROC ENERGY ACQUISITION CORP.
	 	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ Daniel Jeffrey Kimes
	 	 	Name: 	Daniel Jeffrey Kimes
	 	 	Title:	Chief Executive Officer 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	INVESTORS:
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	ROC ENERGY HOLDINGS, LLC
	 	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ Joseph Drysdale
	 	 	Name: 	 Joseph Drysdale
	 	 	Title:	 Managing Member
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	EARLYBIRDCAPITAL, INC.
	 	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ Steven Levine 
	 	 	Name:	Steven Levine
	 	 	Title:	Chief Executive Officer


 


[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


 






    


     


    

 


EXHIBIT A


 


	Name and Address of Investor	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	ROC Energy Holdings LLC
 16400 Dallas Parkway 

Dallas, TX 75248	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.
 366 Madison Avenue, 8th Floor 

New York, NY 10017