# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0001866175
**File Stem:** 0001628280-25-057021
**Filing Date:** 2025-12
**Character Count:** 212158
**Document Hash:** a73ed9e58cda7a949e66293d31cc8608
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0001628280-25-057021.hdr.sgml**: 20251215

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0001628280-25-057021

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: 8-K

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 29

**CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT**: 20251212

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers: Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Regulation FD Disclosure

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Financial Statements and Exhibits

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20251215

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20251215

**FILER**: 

**COMPANY DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** Crescent Energy Co
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0001866175
- **STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:** CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311]
- **ORGANIZATION NAME:** 01 Energy & Transportation
- **EIN:** 871133610
- **STATE OF INCORPORATION:** DE
- **FISCAL YEAR END:** 1231

**FILING VALUES:**
- **FORM TYPE:** 8-K
- **SEC ACT:** 1934 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 001-41132
- **FILM NUMBER:** 251571783

**BUSINESS ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 600 TRAVIS STREET
- **STREET 2:** SUITE 7200
- **CITY:** HOUSTON
- **STATE:** TX
- **ZIP:** 77002
- **BUSINESS PHONE:** 713-332-7001

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 600 TRAVIS STREET
- **STREET 2:** SUITE 7200
- **CITY:** HOUSTON
- **STATE:** TX
- **ZIP:** 77002

**FORMER COMPANY:**
- **FORMER CONFORMED NAME:** IE PubCo Inc.
- **DATE OF NAME CHANGE:** 20210607

?xml version='1.0' encoding='ASCII'? crgy-20251212

**UNITED STATES**

**SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION**

**Washington, D.C. 20549**

**FORM 8-K**

**CURRENT REPORT**

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

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): **December 12, 2025**

**Crescent Energy Company**

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Delaware** | **001-41132** | **87-1133610** |
| (State or other jurisdiction<br>of incorporation) | (Commission <br>File Number) | (IRS Employer<br>Identification No.) |

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**600 Travis Street, Suite 7200, Houston, Texas 77002**

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

**(713) 332-7001**

Registrant's telephone number, including area code

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

◻ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

◻ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

◻ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

◻ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

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

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Title of each class** | **Trading Symbol(s)** | **Name of each exchange on which registered** |
| **Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share** | **CRGY** | **The New York Stock Exchange** |

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

Emerging growth company ◻

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

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**Introductory Note**

On December 15, 2025 (the "Closing Date"), Crescent Energy Company, a Delaware corporation ("Crescent" or "Parent"), completed its previously announced transaction with Vital Energy, Inc., a Delaware Corporation ("Vital" or the "Company"), pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement") with Vital, Venus Merger Sub I Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("Merger Sub Inc."), and Venus Merger Sub II LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("Merger Sub LLC"). Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined will have the meanings ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement.

Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, (i) at the effective time of the First Company Merger (as defined below) (the "Effective Time"), Merger Sub Inc. merged with and into the Company (the "First Company Merger"), with the Company continuing as the surviving entity (the "Surviving Corporation") and (ii) immediately following the First Company Merger, the Surviving Corporation merged with and into Merger Sub LLC (the "Second Company Merger" and, together with the First Company Merger, the "Mergers"), with Merger Sub LLC continuing as the surviving entity (the "Surviving Company"), in each case, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement.

Promptly following the completion of the Mergers, Crescent conducted an internal reorganization, pursuant to which (i) Crescent contributed all of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of Merger Sub LLC to Artemis Acquisition Holdings Inc. ("Artemis"), (ii) immediately following the events of clause (i), Artemis contributed all of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of Merger Sub LLC to Crescent Energy OpCo LLC ("Crescent OpCo"), (iii) immediately following the events of clause (ii), Crescent OpCo contributed all of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of Merger Sub LLC to Crescent Energy Finance, LLC ("Crescent Finance"), (iv) immediately following the events of clause (iii), Crescent Finance contributed all of the equity in its operating subsidiaries to Merger Sub LLC, and (v) immediately following the events of clause (iv), Merger Sub LLC merged with and into Crescent Finance, with Crescent Finance surviving the merger (collectively, the "Internal Reorganization").

The events described in this Current Report on Form 8-K took place in connection with the completion of the Mergers.

**Item 1.01.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.**

***Vital Notes and Supplemental Indentures***

*Vital 2029 Notes*

On July 16, 2021, Vital (formerly known as Laredo Petroleum, Inc. ("Laredo")) issued 7.75% Senior Notes due 2029 (the "Vital 2029 Notes"), pursuant to an indenture, dated as of July 16, 2021 (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the "Vital 2029 Notes Indenture"), among Laredo, the guarantors party thereto, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee. In connection with the Mergers and the subsequent Internal Reorganization, Crescent Finance assumed the obligations under the Vital 2029 Notes pursuant to the Vital 2029 Notes Supplemental Indenture (as defined below).

The Vital 2029 Notes are senior unsecured obligations of Crescent Finance. The Vital 2029 Notes rank equally in right of payment with all of the Crescent Finance's existing and future senior indebtedness and senior to any subordinated indebtedness that Crescent Finance may incur.

*Maturity and Interest*

The Vital 2029 Notes will mature on July 31, 2029, with interest accruing at a rate of 7.75% per annum and payable semi-annually, in cash in arrears, on January 31 and July 31 of each year.

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*Optional Redemption*

Crescent Finance may, on one or more occasions, redeem all or a part of the Vital 2029 Notes at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the applicable redemption date, subject to the rights of holders of the Vital 2029 Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on July 31 of the years indicated below:

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**Year** | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**Redemption Price** |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2025 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;101.9375% |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2026 and thereafter | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;100.000% |

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*Certain Covenants*

On December 12, 2025, Vital entered into that certain Second Supplemental Indenture to the Vital 2029 Notes Indenture, in connection with the previously announced exchange offer and consent solicitation relating to the Vital 2029 Notes, pursuant to which certain covenants were removed from the Vital 2029 Notes Indenture. The supplemental indenture will become operative upon the settlement of the exchange offer and consent solicitation and the payment of the applicable consent fee.

*Events of Default*

If an Event of Default (as defined in the Vital 2029 Notes Indenture) occurs and is continuing under the Vital 2029 Notes Indenture, the U.S. Bank Trustee or holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then total outstanding Vital 2029 Notes may (with written notice to Crescent Finance (and the U.S. Bank Trustee, if given by all the holders)) declare all unpaid principal of, premium, if any, and accrued interest, if any, on all outstanding Vital 2029 Notes to be due and payable immediately; provided that the Vital 2029 Notes will be due and payable immediately in an amount equal to the principal amount of the Vital 2029 Notes without further action or notice if such an Event of Default arises from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization with respect to Crescent Finance or any significant subsidiary.

*Supplemental Indenture*

On the Closing Date, Crescent Finance entered into that certain Third Supplemental Indenture (the "Vital 2029 Notes Supplemental Indenture") to the Vital 2029 Notes Indenture, among Crescent Finance and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association ("U.S. Bank Trustee"), as trustee, pursuant to which Crescent Finance assumed the obligations of Merger Sub LLC, as successor in interest to Vital.

*Vital 2030 Notes* 

On September 25, 2023, Vital issued 9.750% Senior Notes due 2030 (the "Vital 2030 Notes"), pursuant to the Fifth Supplemental Indenture (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the "Vital 2030 Notes Indenture"), among Vital, the guarantors party thereto, and U.S. Bank Trustee, as trustee, and Computershare Trust Company, National Association, as base trustee. In connection with the Mergers and the subsequent Internal Reorganization, Crescent Finance assumed the obligations under the Vital 2030 Notes pursuant to the Vital 2030 Notes Supplemental Indenture (as defined below).

The Vital 2030 Notes are senior unsecured obligations of Crescent Finance. The Vital 2030 Notes rank equally in right of payment with all of the Crescent Finance's existing and future senior indebtedness and senior to any subordinated indebtedness that Crescent Finance may incur.

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*Maturity and Interest*

The Vital 2030 Notes will mature on October 15, 2030, with interest accruing at a rate of 9.750% per annum and payable semi-annually, in cash in arrears, on April 15 and October 15 of each year.

*Optional Redemption*

On or after October 15, 2026, Crescent Finance may redeem all or a part of the Vital 2030 Notes at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the applicable redemption date, subject to the rights of holders of the Vital 2030 Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on October 15 of the years indicated below:

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**Year** | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**Redemption Price** |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2026 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;104.875% |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2027 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;102.4375% |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2028 and thereafter | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;100.000% |

---

*Certain Covenants*

On December 12, 2025, Vital entered into that certain Sixth Supplemental Indenture to the Vital 2030 Notes Indenture, in connection with the previously announce exchange offer and consent solicitation relating to the Vital 2030 Notes, pursuant to which certain covenants were removed. The supplemental indenture will become operative upon the settlement of the exchange offer and consent solicitation and the payment of the applicable consent fee.

*Events of Default*

If an Event of Default (as defined in the Vital 2030 Notes Indenture) occurs and is continuing under the Vital 2030 Notes Indenture, the U.S. Bank Trustee or holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then total outstanding Vital 2030 Notes may (with written notice to Crescent Finance (and the U.S. Bank Trustee, if given by all the holders)) declare all unpaid principal, premium, if any, of and accrued interest, if any, on all outstanding Vital 2030 Notes to be due and payable immediately; provided that the Vital 2030 Notes will be due and payable immediately in an amount equal to the principal amount of the Vital 2030 Notes without further action or notice if such an Event of Default arises from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization with respect to Crescent Finance or any significant subsidiary.

*Supplemental Indenture*

On the Closing Date, Crescent Finance entered into that certain Seventh Supplemental Indenture (the "Vital 2030 Notes Supplemental Indenture") to the Vital 2030 Notes Indenture, among Crescent Finance, U.S. Bank Trustee, as trustee, and Computershare Trust Company, National Association, as base trustee, pursuant to which Crescent Finance assumed the obligations of Merger Sub LLC, as successor in interest to Vital.

*Vital 2032 Notes* 

On March 28, 2024, Vital issued $800,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 7.875% senior unsecured notes due 2032 (the "Vital 2032 Notes"), pursuant to an indenture, dated as of March 28, 2024 (the "Vital 2032 Notes Indenture"), among Vital, Vital Midstream Services, LLC, a subsidiary of the Company ("Vital Midstream"), and U.S. Bank Trustee, as trustee. In connection with the Mergers and the subsequent Internal Reorganization, Crescent Finance assumed the obligations under the Vital 2032 Notes pursuant to the Vital 2032 Notes Supplemental Indenture (as defined below).

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The Vital 2032 Notes are senior unsecured obligations of Crescent Finance. The Vital 2032 Notes are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by the guarantors named in the Vital 2032 Notes Supplemental Indenture and may in the future be guaranteed by certain of Crescent's future restricted subsidiaries.

The Vital 2032 Notes rank equally in right of payment with all of the Crescent Finance's existing and future senior indebtedness and senior to any subordinated indebtedness that Crescent Finance may incur. Each guarantee ranks equally in right of payment with all existing and future senior indebtedness of the guarantors and senior to any subordinated indebtedness that the guarantors may incur.

*Maturity and Interest*

The Vital 2032 Notes will mature on April 15, 2032, with interest accruing at a rate of 7.875% per annum and payable semi-annually, in cash in arrears, on April 15 and October 15 of each year.

*Optional Redemption*

At any time prior to April 15, 2027, Crescent Finance may, on one or more occasions, redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Vital 2032 Notes using funds in an amount not exceeding the net proceeds from one or more private or public equity offerings at a redemption price of 107.875% of the aggregate principal amount of the Vital 2032 Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption, subject to the rights of holders of the Vital 2032 Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date, if at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the Vital 2032 Notes remains outstanding immediately after such redemption and the redemption occurs within 180 days of the closing date of each such equity offering.

At any time prior to April 15, 2027, Crescent Finance may, on one or more occasions, redeem all or a part of the Notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Vital 2032 Notes redeemed, plus a "make-whole" premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, the redemption date, subject to the rights of holders of the Vital 2032 Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date.

On or after April 15, 2027, Crescent Finance may, on one or more occasions, redeem all or a part of the Vital 2032 Notes at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the applicable redemption date, subject to the rights of holders of the Vital 2032 Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on April 15 of the years indicated below:

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**Year** | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**Redemption Price** |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2027 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;103.938% |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2028 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;101.969% |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2029 and thereafter | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;100.000% |

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*Change of Control*

If certain change of control events occur followed by a rating decline within 60 days, each holder of Vital 2032 Notes may require Crescent Finance to repurchase all or a portion of its Vital 2032 Notes for cash at a price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of such Vital 2032 Notes, plus any accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the date of repurchase.

*Certain Covenants*

The Vital 2032 Notes Indenture contains certain covenants that, among other things, limit the ability of Crescent Finance and its restricted subsidiaries to: (i) pay certain distributions or dividends on, or purchase, redeem

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or otherwise acquire or retire for value equity interests; (ii) make certain investments; (iii) incur certain additional indebtedness or liens; (iv) sell certain assets or merge with or into other companies; and (v) engage in material transactions with affiliates.

*Events of Default*

If an Event of Default (as defined in the Vital 2032 Notes Indenture) occurs and is continuing under the Vital 2032 Notes Indenture, the U.S. Bank Trustee or holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then total outstanding Vital 2032 Notes may (with written notice to Crescent Finance (and the U.S. Bank Trustee, if given by all the holders)) declare all unpaid principal, premium, if any, of and accrued interest, if any, on all outstanding Vital 2032 Notes to be due and payable immediately; provided that the Vital 2032 Notes will be due and payable immediately in an amount equal to the principal amount of the Vital 2032 Notes without further action or notice if such an Event of Default arises from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization with respect to Crescent Finance or any significant subsidiary.

*Supplemental Indenture*

On the Closing Date, Crescent Finance entered into that certain First Supplemental Indenture (the "Vital 2032 Notes Supplemental Indenture") to the Vital 2032 Notes Indenture, among Crescent Finance, the guarantors party thereto, and U.S. Bank Trustee, as trustee, pursuant to which Crescent Finance assumed the obligations of Merger Sub LLC, as successor in interest to Vital, and each subsidiary of Crescent that guarantees Crescent's existing credit facility became a guarantor of the Vital 2032 Notes.

The foregoing descriptions of the indentures and supplemental indentures do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the text of thereof, copies of which are filed as Exhibits 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9 and 4.10 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated into this Item 1.01 by reference.

**Item 2.01.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.**

As discussed in the Introductory Note above, on the Closing Date, Crescent completed its previously announced acquisition of Vital.

At the Effective Time, subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, (i) each share of capital stock of Merger Sub Inc. issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time was converted into and represents one fully paid and nonassessable share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Surviving Corporation and (ii) each share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company, issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (excluding certain Excluded Shares) ("Eligible Shares") was converted into the right to receive from Parent 1.9062 fully paid and nonassessable shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of Parent (the "Parent Common Stock") (the "Merger Consideration"), with cash to be paid in lieu of fractional shares. All such Eligible Shares, when so converted, ceased to be outstanding and were automatically cancelled and ceased to exist. Each holder of an Eligible Share that was outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time ceased to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive the Merger Consideration and any cash to be paid in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Common Stock. Further, at the effective time of the Second Company Merger (the "Second Company Merger Effective Time"), (i) each share of common stock of the Surviving Corporation issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Second Company Merger Effective Time was automatically cancelled and ceased to exist, and no consideration was delivered in exchange therefor, and (ii) the limited liability company interests of Merger Sub LLC issued and outstanding as of immediately prior to the Second Company Merger Effective Time remain outstanding and were not affected by virtue of the Second Company Merger, and no consideration was paid in respect thereof, and Parent will continue as the sole member of the Surviving Company.

Additionally, at the Effective Time, each option to purchase Company Common Stock under the Company's Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan, dated as of December 10, 2024, as amended (the "Company Equity

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Incentive Plan," and each such option, a "Company Stock Option") outstanding immediately before the Effective Time, whether vested or unvested, was automatically assumed by Parent and converted into an option to purchase shares of Parent Common Stock (each, a "Converted Option"). Each Converted Option continues to have and be subject to substantially the same terms and conditions as were applicable to such Company Stock Option immediately before the Effective Time (including expiration date, vesting conditions, and exercise provisions), except that (i) each Converted Option is exercisable for a number of shares of Parent Common Stock equal to the product (rounded down to the nearest whole number) of (A) the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to the Company Stock Option immediately before the Effective Time and (B) the Exchange Ratio, and (ii) the per share exercise price for each share of Parent Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Converted Option is equal to the quotient (rounded up to the nearest whole cent) obtained by dividing (A) the exercise price per share of Company Common Stock of such Company Stock Option immediately before the Effective Time by (B) the Exchange Ratio.

As of the Effective Time, each award of shares of Company Common Stock subject solely to time-based vesting (each, a "Company RS Award") that was outstanding under the Company Equity Incentive Plan immediately prior to the Effective Time automatically (i) vested in full immediately prior to the Effective Time and (ii) was cancelled and converted into the right to receive, at the Effective Time, without interest, the Merger Consideration and any cash to be paid in lieu of fractional shares with respect to each share of Company Common Stock subject to such Company RS Award.

As of the Effective Time, each award of outstanding restricted stock unit that was (i) subject in whole or in part to performance-based vesting and (ii) payable in cash (each, a "Company Cash-Settled PSU Award") that was outstanding under the Company Equity Incentive Plan immediately prior to the Effective Time automatically (i) vested in full, with performance conditions deemed to have been satisfied at the target level, immediately prior to the Effective Time and (ii) was cancelled without any action on the part of any holder or beneficiary thereof in consideration for the right to receive a lump sum cash payment with respect thereto equal to the product of (A) the total number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Company Cash-Settled PSU Award (after giving effect to the deemed performance attainment described in clause (i), and (B) the closing trading price per share of Company Common Stock reported on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") on the trading date immediately preceding the Closing Date, net of any applicable tax withholding.

As of the Effective Time, any amounts in a Company Board member's "Deferred Stock Account" (as such term is defined under the Company's Director Deferred Compensation Plan) (each a "Company Director Deferred Stock Award") became payable in a lump sum cash payment equal to (i) the total number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Company Director Deferred Stock Award, and (ii) the closing trading price per share of Company Common Stock reported on the NYSE on the trading date immediately preceding the Closing Date, net of any applicable tax withholding.

The issuance of shares of Crescent Class A Common Stock in connection with the Mergers was registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), pursuant to Crescent's registration statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333- 290422), which became effective in accordance with the provisions of Section 8(a) of the Securities Act.

The foregoing description of the Mergers and the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby is not complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the Merger Agreement, a copy of which is included as Exhibit 2.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference into this Item 2.01.

**Item 2.03.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.**

The information provided under the Introductory Note and Item 1.01 in this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.

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**Item 5.02.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.**

On August 24, 2025, the board of directors of Crescent (the "Board") approved, in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement, (i) increasing the number of directors constituting its Board to twelve, effective immediately prior to, and conditioned on, the Initial Merger Effective Time, and (ii) the appointment of two new directors to the Board, effective concurrently with the increase in the size of the Board and resignation of one existing member of the Board, and conditioned upon the Initial Merger Effective Time to fill the newly created vacancies on the Board.

On December 14, 2025, and in connection with the consummation of the Mergers and the appointment of William Albrecht and Jarvis Hollingsworth as directors, Michael Duginski resigned from his position as a director on the Board and his position as a member of the Nominating & Governance Committee. Mr. Duginski's resignation was not due to any dispute or disagreement.

On December 15, 2025, in connection with the consummation of the Mergers, William Albrecht and Jarvis Hollingsworth were appointed as directors of the Board. Messrs. Albrecht and Hollingsworth previously served on the board of directors of Vital, and Mr. Albrecht served as the chairman of the board of directors of Vital. Biographical information for Messrs. Albrecht and Hollingsworth is set forth in Vital's Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on April 10, 2025, which information is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.02.

Each of Messrs. Albrecht and Hollingsworth will be entitled to receive director compensation under Crescent's current director compensation program, described in Item 11 of Crescent's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed by Crescent on February 26, 2025, which disclosure is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.02.

Neither of Messrs. Albrecht and Hollingsworth are related to any officer or director of Crescent. There are no transactions or relationships between such director and Crescent that would be required to be reported under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

On the Closing Date and in connection with the consummation of the Mergers, Crescent entered into its standard indemnification agreements (together, the "Indemnification Agreements") with each of Messrs. Albrecht and Hollingsworth. The Indemnification Agreements require Crescent to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law against liabilities that may arise by reason of their service to Crescent, and to advance expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified.

The foregoing description of the Indemnification Agreements is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Indemnification Agreements, copies of which are included as Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference into this Item 5.02.

**Item 5.07.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.**

At Crescent's Special Meeting of Stockholders held on December 12, 2025 (the "Special Meeting"), in connection with the Mergers, Crescent's stockholders voted on the following proposals as set forth below. Each proposal voted on at the Special Meeting is described in detail in the joint proxy statement/prospectus included in the registration statement filed with the SEC on November 12, 2025, and mailed to Crescent stockholders on or about November 12, 2025.

As of the close of business on October 16, 2025, the record date for the Special Meeting, there were approximately 254,631,041 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of Crescent (the "Crescent Common Stock") issued and entitled to vote at the Special Meeting. Each share of Crescent Common Stock was entitled to one vote with respect to each proposal. A total of 211,259,691 shares of Crescent Common Stock, representing approximately 82.96% of the outstanding shares of Crescent Common Stock entitled to vote at the Special Meeting, were present virtually or by proxy, constituting a quorum.

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At the Special Meeting, each of the proposals set forth at the Special Meeting was approved by the affirmative vote of the number of shares of Company Common Stock required to approve such proposals.

The final voting results for each of the proposals voted on at the Special Meeting are set forth below:

1.**Crescent Issuance Proposal**: To approve the issuance of shares of Crescent Common Stock in connection with the Mergers as contemplated by the Merger Agreement (the "Crescent Issuance Proposal").

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**For** | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**Against** | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**Abstain** |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;207,032,108 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3,813,274 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;414,309 |

---

2.**Crescent Adjournment Proposal**: To approve one or more adjournments of the Special Meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies if there are not sufficient votes at the time of the Special Meeting to approve the Crescent Issuance Proposal. This proposal was rendered moot as the Crescent Issuance Proposal was approved by the requisite number of shares voted on at the Special Meeting.

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**For** | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**Against** | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**Abstain** |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;198,065,792 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;12,756,699 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;437,200 |

---

**Item 7.01.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Regulation FD Disclosure.**

On December 15, 2025, Crescent issued a press release announcing the completion of the Mergers and other matters. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference into this Item 7.01.

The information in this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, is being furnished and shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("Exchange Act"), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

**Item 9.01.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Financial Statements and Exhibits.**

*(a) Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired.*

The audited consolidated financial statements of Vital as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 and for each of the three years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 are incorporated by reference in this Current Report on Form 8-K from Vital's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on February 24, 2025 (File No. 001-35380).

The historical unaudited consolidated financial statements of Vital as of September 30, 2025 and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024 are incorporated by reference in this Current Report on Form 8-K from Vital's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2025, filed with the SEC on November 3, 2025 (File No. 001-35380).

The audited consolidated financial statements of Point Energy Partners Operating, LLC, which comprise the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in member's equity, and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes to the consolidated financial statements, are incorporated by reference in this Current Report on Form 8-K from Vital's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on September 23, 2024 (File No. 001-35380).

The unaudited consolidated financial statements of Point Energy Partners Operating, LLC, which comprise the consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2024, and December 31, 2023, the related consolidated statements of

------

operations, changes in member's equity, and cash flows for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, and the related notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements, are incorporated by reference in this Current Report on Form 8-K from Vital's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on September 23, 2024 (File No. 001-35380).

*(b) Pro forma financial information*

The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information of the Company, giving effect to the Mergers, the Ridgemar Acquisition and the SilverBow Acquisition (as each are defined therein) were previously filed with the SEC by Crescent on the Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 5, 2025, and, pursuant to General Instruction B.3 of Form 8-K, are not required to be filed herewith:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2025

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statements of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2024 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2025; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Notes to the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements.

------

*(d) Exhibits.*

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Exhibit** <br>**No.** | **Description** |
| 2.1#\* | <u>[Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 24, 2025, by and among Crescent Energy Company, Vital Energy, Inc., Venus Merger Sub I Inc. and Merger Sub II LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on August 25, 2025).](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1866175/000119312525187757/d939358dex21.htm)</u> |
| 4.1 | <u>[Indenture, dated as of July 16, 2021, among Laredo Petroleum, Inc., Laredo Midstream Services, LLC, Garden City Minerals, LLC and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Vital Energy, Inc.'s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-35380), filed with the SEC on July 16, 2021).](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001528129/000110465921093094/tm2122149d2_ex4-1.htm)</u> |
| 4.2 | <u>[First Supplemental Indenture, date](exhibit42-closing8xkdecemb.htm)[d December](exhibit42-closing8xkdecemb.htm)[5, 202](exhibit42-closing8xkdecemb.htm)[3](exhibit42-closing8xkdecemb.htm)[, among Crescent Energy Finance LLC, the guar](exhibit42-closing8xkdecemb.htm)[antors named therein, and U.S. Ban](exhibit42-closing8xkdecemb.htm)[k Trust Company, National Association.](exhibit42-closing8xkdecemb.htm)</u> |
| 4.3 | <u>[Second](exhibit43-closing8xkdecemb.htm)[Supplemental Indenture, dated December 12, 2025,](exhibit43-closing8xkdecemb.htm)[among Vital Energy, Inc., the guarantors named therein, and Computershare Trust Company, National Association.](exhibit43-closing8xkdecemb.htm)</u> |
| 4.4 | <u>[Third](exhibit44-closing8xkdecemb.htm)[Supplemental Indenture, dated December 15, 2025, among Crescent Energy Finance, LLC, the guarantors named therein, and Computershare Trust Company, National Association.](exhibit44-closing8xkdecemb.htm)</u> |
| 4.5 | <u>[Indenture, dated as of March 18, 2015, among Laredo Petroleum, Inc., Laredo Midstream Services, LLC, Garden City Minerals, LLC and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1528129/000110465915022108/a15-5234_8ex4d1.htm)[incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Vital Energy, Inc.'s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-35380), filed with the SEC on March 3, 2015).](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1528129/000110465915022108/a15-5234_8ex4d1.htm)</u> |
| 4.6 | <u>[Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 25, 2023, among Vital Energy, Inc., Vital Midstream Services, LLC and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Vital Energy, Inc.'s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-35380), filed with the SEC on September 25, 2023).](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001528129/000110465923103539/tm2326804d1_ex4-2.htm)</u> |
| 4.7 | <u>[Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated December 12, 2025, among Vital Energy, Inc., the guarantors named therein, and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association](exhibit47-closing8xkdecemb.htm)[.](exhibit47-closing8xkdecemb.htm)</u> |
| 4.8 | <u>[Seventh Supplemental Indenture, dated December 15, 2025, among Crescent Energy Finance, LLC, the guarantors named therein, and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, and Computershare Trust Company, National Association.](exhibit48-closing8xkdecemb.htm)</u> |
| 4.9 | <u>[Indenture, dated as of March 28, 2024, among Vital Energy, Inc., Vital Midstream Services, LLC and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Vital Energy, Inc.'s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-35380), filed with the SEC on March 28, 2024).](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001528129/000110465924040556/tm2410029d1_ex4-1.htm)</u> |
| 4.10 | <u>[First Supplemental Indenture, dated December 15, 2025, among Crescent Energy Finance, LLC, the guarantors named therein, and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association.](exhibit410-closing8xkdecem.htm)</u> |
| 10.1 | <u>[Indemnification Agreement (William E. Albrecht).](exhibit101-closing8xkdecem.htm)</u> |
| 10.2 | <u>[Indemnification Agreement (Jarvis V. Hollingsworth).](exhibit102-closing8xkdecem.htm)</u> |
| 23.1 | <u>[Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.](exhibit231-closing8xkdecem.htm)</u> |
| 23.2 | <u>[Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.](exhibit232-closing8xkdecem.htm)</u> |
| 23.3 | <u>[Consent of Ryder Scott Company, L.P.](exhibit233-closing8xkdecem.htm)</u> |
| 23.4 | <u>[Consent of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc.](exhibit234-closing8xkdecem.htm)</u> |
| 99.1 | <u>[Press Release, dated December 15, 2025.](exhibit991-closing8xkdecem.htm)</u> |
| 99.2 | <u>[Summary report of Ryder Scott Company, L.P. of Estimate Future Reserves and Income Attributable to Certain Leasehold and Royalty Interests owned by Vital Energy, Inc. as of December 31, 2024, dated January 17, 2025 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to Vital Energy, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-35380), filed with the SEC on February 24, 2025).](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001528129/000152812925000045/a4q24ex991.htm)</u> |
| 99.3 | <u>[Reserves report of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. certain oil and gas properties owned by Point Energy Partners Operating, LLC as of December 31, 2023, dated August 21, 2024 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.4 to Vital Energy, Inc.'s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-35380), filed with the SEC on September 24, 2024).](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001528129/000119312524223727/d847127dex994.htm)</u> |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document). |

---

______________

#&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Schedules have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. The registrant hereby undertakes to furnish supplemental copies of any of the omitted schedules upon request by the SEC.

\*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Certain portions of this exhibit are omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) or Item 601(b)(10)(iv) of Regulations S-K because they are not material and are the type that the registrant treats as private or confidential. The registrant hereby undertakes to furnish a copy of any omitted portion upon request by the SEC.

------

**SIGNATURES**

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

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| | **CRESCENT ENERGY COMPANY** | **CRESCENT ENERGY COMPANY** |
| Date: December 15, 2025 | By: | /s/ Bo Shi |
|  | Name: | Bo Shi |
|  | Title: | General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |

---

## Exhibit 4.2

**Exhibit 4.2**

**Execution Version**

**FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE**

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this "<u>First Supplemental Indenture</u>"), dated as of December 5, 2023, among Vital Energy, Inc. and formerly known as Laredo Petroleum, Inc. (the "<u>Company</u>"), the Company's subsidiaries listed on <u>Schedule A</u> hereto (each, a "<u>New Guarantor</u>"), the Company's subsidiary listed on <u>Schedule B</u> hereto (the "<u>Existing</u> <u>Guarantor</u>") and Computershare Trust Company, National Association ("<u>Computershare</u>"), as successor trustee (the "<u>Trustee</u>") to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association under the Indenture referred to below.

**W I T N E S S E T H**

WHEREAS, the Company, the Existing Guarantors and the Trustee are parties to an indenture dated July 16, 2021 (the "<u>Indenture</u>"), providing for the issuance of 7.75% Senior Notes due 2029 (the "<u>Notes</u>");

WHEREAS, Section 9.01 of the Indenture provides that, without the consent of any Holders, the Company and the Existing Guarantors, when authorized by a Board Resolution of the Company, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may supplement or amend the Indenture to add a Guarantor or additional obligor under the Indenture or permit any Person to guarantee the Notes and/or obligations under the Indenture;

WHEREAS, each New Guarantor wishes to guarantee the Notes pursuant to the Indenture;

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 4.12 and Article Ten of the Indenture, the Company, the Existing Guarantors, the New Guarantors and the Trustee have agreed to enter into this First Supplemental Indenture for the purposes stated herein; and

WHEREAS, all things necessary have been done to make this First Supplemental Indenture, when executed and delivered by the Company, the Existing Guarantor and each New Guarantor, the legal, valid and binding agreement of the Company, the Existing Guarantor and each New Guarantor, in accordance with its terms.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company, each New Guarantor, the Existing Guarantor and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes as follows:

Section 1.<u>Capitalized Terms</u>. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

Section 2.<u>Guarantee</u>. Each New Guarantor hereby guarantees, on a senior unsecured basis, to each Holder of a Note and to the Trustee, the obligations of the Company under the Indenture and the Notes pursuant to the terms and conditions of Article Ten of the Indenture (each such guarantee, a "<u>Guarantee</u>") and such New Guarantor agrees to be bound as a Guarantor under the Indenture as if and to the same extent as such New Guarantor had been a signatory thereto as an Initial Guarantor; *provided* that the New Guarantor can be released from its Guarantee to the same extent as any other Guarantor under the Indenture.

------

Section 3.<u>GOVERNING LAW</u>. THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Section 4.<u>Counterparts</u>. The parties may sign any number of copies of this First Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of this First Supplemental Indenture by facsimile or electronic transmission shall be equally as effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this First Supplemental Indenture. Any party delivering an executed counterpart of this First Supplemental Indenture by facsimile or electronic transmission also shall deliver an original executed counterpart of this First Supplemental Indenture, but the failure to deliver an original executed counterpart shall not affect the validity, enforceability and binding effect of this First Supplemental Indenture.

Section 5.<u>Effect of Headings</u>. The section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

Section 6.<u>The Trustee</u>. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this First Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Company, Existing Guarantors and the New Guarantors. The Trustee acknowledges it succeeded to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of Wells Fargo prior to the date hereof and was qualified and eligible under Article VII of the Indenture at such time.

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

------

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this First Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| VITAL ENERGY, INC. | VITAL ENERGY, INC. |
| By: | /s/ Mark D. Denny |
| Name: | Mark D. Denny |
| Title: | Executive Vice President – General Counsel and Secretary |
| BITS ENERGY MANAGEMENT LLC | BITS ENERGY MANAGEMENT LLC |
| By: | /s/ Mark D. Denny |
| Name: | Mark D. Denny |
| Title: | Executive Vice President – General Counsel and Secretary |
| HPC ENERGY LLC | HPC ENERGY LLC |
| By: | /s/ Mark D. Denny |
| Name: | Mark D. Denny |
| Title: | Executive Vice President – General Counsel and Secretary |
| BITS ENERGY LP | BITS ENERGY LP |
| By: VITAL MIDSTREAM SERVICES LLC, its General Partner | By: VITAL MIDSTREAM SERVICES LLC, its General Partner |
| By: | /s/ Mark D. Denny |
| Name: | Mark D. Denny |
| Title: | Executive Vice President – General Counsel and Secretary |
| VITAL MIDSTREAM SERVICES, LLC | VITAL MIDSTREAM SERVICES, LLC |
| By: | /s/ Mark D. Denny |
| Name: | Mark D. Denny |
| Title: | Executive Vice President – General Counsel and Secretary |

---

[Signature page to Supplemental Indenture]

------

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, | COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, |
| NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, | NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, |
| as Trustee | as Trustee |
| By: | /s/ Scott R. Little |
|  | Authorized Signatory |

---

[Signature page to Supplemental Indenture]

------

**Schedule A**

**New Guarantors**

1. BITS Management LLC

2. HPC Energy LLC

3. BITS Energy LP

------

**Schedule B**

**Existing Guarantors**

1. Vital Midstream, LLC

## Exhibit 4.3

**Exhibit 4.3**

SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

THIS SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this "***Supplemental Indenture***"), dated as of December 12, 2025, among Vital Energy, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware and formerly named Laredo Petroleum, Inc. (the "***Company***"), Vital Midstream Services, LLC, as guarantor, and Computershare Trust Company, National Association (the "***Trustee***"), as successor trustee to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association ("***Wells Fargo***").

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, the Company and Wells Fargo executed and delivered that certain indenture, dated as of July 16, 2021 (the "***Indenture***"), providing for the issuance of 7.75% Senior Notes due 2029 (the "***Notes***");

WHEREAS, the Company desires to amend and supplement the Indenture as contemplated by Articles 1 and 2 of this Supplemental Indenture;

WHEREAS, the Company entered in the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 24, 2025, by and among Crescent Energy Company ("***Crescent***"), the Company, Venus Merger Sub I Inc., and Venus Merger Sub II LLC, pursuant to which Crescent will acquire the Company in an all equity transaction;

WHEREAS, Crescent Energy Finance LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("***CE Finance***") and subsidiary of Crescent, has solicited consents from the Holders of Notes to certain proposed amendments to the Indenture as set forth in Article 1 and Article 2 of this Supplemental Indenture, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offering Memorandum and Consent Solicitation Statement, dated as of December 1, 2025 (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the "***Statement***");

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.02 of the Indenture, subject to certain exceptions, the Company and the Trustee may, in certain circumstances, amend or supplement the Indenture or the Notes with the consent of the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes;

WHEREAS, (i) pursuant to the Statement, CE Finance has received the consent of the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes to the amendments to the Indenture set forth in Articles 1 and 2 of this Supplemental Indenture as certified by an Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture and (ii) the Company has delivered to the Trustee simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture an Officers' Certificate and Opinion of Counsel as contemplated by Sections 9.02, 9.05, 12.03, and 12.04 of the Indenture and a resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of this Supplemental Indenture as contemplated by Section 9.02(b) of the Indenture; and

------

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.05 of the Indenture, the Trustee is authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture, and the Company has requested that the Trustee execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders as follows:

**ARTICLE 1** 

**AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLE 1, DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE**

SECTION 1.01. For purposes of this Supplemental Indenture, the terms defined in the recitals shall have the meanings therein specified; any capitalized terms used and not defined herein shall have the same respective meanings as assigned to them in the Indenture; and references to Articles or Sections shall, unless the context indicates otherwise, be references to Articles or Sections of the Indenture.

SECTION 1.02. Any definitions used exclusively in the provisions of the Indenture or the Notes that are deleted pursuant to the amendments to the Indenture as set forth in this Supplemental Indenture, and any definitions used exclusively within such definitions, are hereby deleted in their entirety from the Indenture and the Notes, and all textual references in the Indenture and the Notes exclusively relating to paragraphs, Sections, Articles or other terms or provisions of the Indenture that have been otherwise deleted pursuant to this Supplemental Indenture are hereby deleted in their entirety. The words "herein," "hereof" and "hereby" and other words of similar import used in this Supplemental Indenture refer to this Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular section hereof.

SECTION 1.03. Notwithstanding an earlier effectiveness date, the provisions of this Supplemental Indenture shall not become operative until the Settlement Date (and in no event prior to the satisfaction of the Vital Acquisition Condition) (as each term is defined in the Statement) (the "***Supplemental Indenture Date***"). The Company will provide written notice (which may be by e-mail) to the Trustee upon the occurrence of the Supplemental Indenture Date.

**ARTICLE 2** 

**AMENDMENTS TO THE INDENTURE AND THE NOTES**

SECTION 2.01. The Indenture and the Notes are hereby amended by deleting each of the following sections of the Indenture and all references thereto in the Indenture in their entirety:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)Section 4.03 ("Reports");

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b)Section 4.05 ("Taxes");

------

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c)Section 4.07 ("Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock");

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d)Section 4.08 ("Restricted Payments");

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(e)Section 4.09 ("Transactions with Affiliates");

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(f)Section 4.10 ("Liens");

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(g)Section 4.11 ("Asset Sales");

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(h)Section 4.12 ("Issuances of Guarantees by Restricted Subsidiaries");

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i)Section 4.13 ("Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries");

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(j)Section 4.14 ("Sale and Leaseback Transactions");

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(k)Section 4.15 ("Unrestricted Subsidiaries");

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(l)Section 4.16 ("Payments for Consent");

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(m)Section 4.17 ("Offer to Repurchase upon a Change of Control Triggering Event");

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(n)Section 4.18 ("Corporate Existence");

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(o)Section 4.19 ("Covenant Termination");

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(p)Section 5.01 ("Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets"), Paragraphs (a)(3), (a)(4) and (a)(6);

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(q)Section 6.01 ("Events of Default"), Paragraphs (4) – (7); and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(r)Section 8.04 ("Conditions to Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance"), Paragraphs (b) – (e).

SECTION 2.02. Section 3.03 ("Notice of Redemption") of the Indenture is hereby amended to reduce the notice period set forth in such provision in connection with a redemption of the Notes from at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date to at least 5 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date.

SECTION 2.03. Any and all additional provisions of the Indenture and the Notes are hereby deemed to be amended to reflect the intentions of the amendments to the Indenture set forth in this Supplemental Indenture.

------

**ARTICLE 3** 

**EFFECTIVENESS**

SECTION 3.01. Except as amended hereby, all of the terms of the Indenture shall remain and continue in full force and effect and are hereby confirmed in all respects. From and after the Supplemental Indenture Date, all references to the Indenture (whether in the Indenture or in any other agreements, documents or instruments) shall be deemed to be references to the Indenture as amended and supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture and every holder of Notes heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby.

**ARTICLE 4** 

**MISCELLANEOUS**

SECTION 4.01. The amendments to the Indenture set forth in this Supplemental Indenture shall also apply to the Notes.

SECTION 4.02. The terms and conditions of this Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed to be incorporated in and made a part of the terms and conditions of the Indenture for any and all purposes, and all the terms and conditions of both shall be read, taken and construed together as though they constitute one and the same instrument, except that in the case of conflict, the provisions of this Supplemental Indenture will control.

SECTION 4.03. All covenants and agreements in this Supplemental Indenture by the Company or the Trustee shall bind their respective successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

SECTION 4.04. In case any provision in this Supplemental Indenture shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

SECTION 4.05. Nothing in this Supplemental Indenture, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors under the Indenture and the holders of the Notes, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under the Indenture.

SECTION 4.06. THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE.

SECTION 4.07. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.

SECTION 4.08. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

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SECTION 4.09. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Company.

[*Signature Page Follows*]

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed and attested, all as of the date first above written.

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| |
|:---|
| VITAL ENERGY, INC. |
| By: /s/ Bryan J. Lemmerman |
| Name: Bryan J. Lemmerman |
| Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
| VITAL MIDSTREAM SERVICES, LLC |
| By: /s/ Bryan J. Lemmerman |
| Name: Bryan J. Lemmerman |
| Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |

---

[*Signature Page to Second Supplemental Indenture*]

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| |
|:---|
| COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY,<br>NATIONAL ASSOCIATION<br>As Trustee |
| By: /s/ Scott Little |
| Name: Scott Little |
| Title: Vice President |

---

[*Signature Page to Second Supplemental Indenture*]

## Exhibit 4.4

**Exhibit 4.4**

THIRD SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

THIS THIRD SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this "***Supplemental Indenture***"), dated as of December 15, 2025, among Crescent Energy Finance LLC, a limited liability company duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "***Company***"), as successor in interest to Venus Merger Sub II LLC ("***Merger Sub LLC***"), successor in interest to Vital Energy, Inc. (formerly named Laredo Petroleum, Inc.) (the "***Initial Issuer***"), Vital Midstream Services, LLC, as guarantor (the "***Existing Guarantor***"), and Computershare Trust Company, National Association (the "***Trustee***"), as successor trustee to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association ("***Wells Fargo***").

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, the Initial Issuer and Wells Fargo executed and delivered that certain indenture, dated as of July 16, 2021 (the "***Base Indenture***"), providing for the issuance of 7.75% Senior Notes due 2029 (the "***Notes***"), as amended and supplemented by that certain First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 5, 2023, among the Initial Issuer, the guarantors party thereto and the Trustee (the "***First Supplemental Indenture***") and by that certain Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 12, 2025, among the Initial Issuer, the Existing Guarantor and the Trustee (together with the Base Indenture and the First Supplemental Indenture, the "***Indenture***");

WHEREAS, the Initial Issuer entered into the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 24, 2025 (the "***Merger Agreement***"), by and among Crescent Energy Company ("***Crescent***"), the Initial Issuer, Venus Merger Sub I Inc. ("***Merger Sub Inc.***"), and Merger Sub LLC, pursuant to which Crescent acquired the Initial Issuer in an all equity transaction;

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, (i) Merger Sub Inc. merged with and into the Initial Issuer (the "***First Company Merger***"), with the Initial Issuer continuing as the surviving entity (the "***Surviving Corporation***") and (ii) immediately following the First Company Merger, the Surviving Corporation merged with and into Merger Sub LLC, with Merger Sub LLC continuing as the surviving entity (together with the First Company Merger, the "***Vital Merger***");

WHEREAS, promptly following the completion of the Vital Merger, Crescent conducted an internal reorganization, pursuant to which (i) Crescent contributed all of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of Merger Sub LLC to Artemis Acquisition Holdings Inc. ("***Artemis***"), (ii) immediately following (i), Artemis contributed all of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of Merger Sub LLC to Crescent Energy OpCo LLC ("***Crescent OpCo***"), the direct parent of the Company, (iii) immediately following (ii), Crescent OpCo contributed all of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of Merger Sub LLC to the Company, (iv) immediately following (iii), the Company contributed all of the equity in its operating subsidiaries to Merger Sub LLC, and (v) immediately following (iv), Merger Sub LLC merged with and into the Company, with the Company surviving the merger (collectively, the "***Internal Reorganization***");

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WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Base Indenture, the Indenture may be supplemented without the consent of the Holders of any of the Notes to provide for the succession and assumption by another Person of the covenants and obligations of the Initial Issuer under the Indenture and the Notes, pursuant to Section 5.01 of the Base Indenture;

WHEREAS, Section 5.01(c) of the Base Indenture provides that in the case of any transaction in accordance with Section 5.01(a) of the Base Indenture, and upon such assumption by the successor entity, by supplemental indenture, the Company shall succeed to and be substituted for the Initial Issuer with the same effect as if the Company had been named as the "Company" in the Indenture;

WHEREAS, in accordance with Section 5.01 of the Base Indenture, (i) the Company is delivering this Supplemental Indenture to expressly assume all the obligations of Merger Sub LLC, as successor to the Initial Issuer, under the Indenture and the Notes and (ii) the Existing Guarantor is delivering this Supplemental Indenture to confirm that its Guarantee shall apply to the Surviving Company's obligations under this Indenture and the Notes;

WHEREAS, Section 9.01(a)(4) of the Base Indenture provides that, without the consent of any Holders, the Company, the Existing Guarantor and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may supplement or amend the Indenture to make any provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the Indenture, provided that such provisions shall not adversely affect the interest of the Holders in any material respect;

WHEREAS, the Company desires to amend the Base Indenture, as set forth in Article 3 herein, pursuant to Section 9.01(a)(4) of the Base Indenture and has determined that such amendment does not adversely affect the interests of Holders in any material respect;

WHEREAS, the Company has delivered to the Trustee simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture an Officers' Certificate and Opinion of Counsel as contemplated by Sections 5.01, 9.01, 9.05, 12.03, and 12.04 of the Base Indenture and a resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of this Supplemental Indenture as contemplated by Section 9.01(b) of the Base Indenture; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.05 of the Base Indenture, the Trustee is authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture, and the Company has requested that the Trustee execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders as follows:

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**ARTICLE 1** 

**DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE**

SECTION 1.01. For purposes of this Supplemental Indenture, the terms defined in the recitals shall have the meanings therein specified; any capitalized terms used and not defined herein shall have the same respective meanings as assigned to them in the Indenture; and references to Articles or Sections shall, unless the context indicates otherwise, be references to Articles or Sections of the Indenture.

SECTION 1.02. The words "herein," "hereof" and "hereby" and other words of similar import used in this Supplemental Indenture refer to this Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular section hereof.

**ARTICLE 2** 

**ASSUMPTION; SUCCESSION**

SECTION 2.01. Effective upon the consummation of the Internal Reorganization, (i) the Company hereby expressly assumes all the obligations of Merger Sub LLC, as successor to the Initial Issuer under the Indenture and the Notes, as if the Company had been named in the Indenture as the "Company" and (ii) the Existing Guarantor hereby expressly confirms that its Guarantee shall apply to the Company's obligations under this Indenture and the Notes.

**ARTICLE 3** 

**AMENDMENT TO INDENTURE**

SECTION 3.01. The Base Indenture is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to replace Section 5.01(a)(2) with the following:

if the Company is merging into, consolidating with or disposing of assets and is not the Surviving Entity, the Surviving Entity shall expressly assume, by a supplemental indenture (or other agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee), in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, all the obligations of the Company under the Notes and this Indenture;

SECTION 3.02. Any and all additional provisions of the Indenture and the Notes are hereby deemed to be amended to reflect the intentions of the amendments to the Indenture set forth in this Article 3.

**ARTICLE 4** 

**EFFECTIVENESS**

SECTION 4.01. Except as amended hereby, all of the terms of the Indenture shall remain and continue in full force and effect and are hereby confirmed in all respects. From and after the

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date hereof, all references to the Indenture (whether in the Indenture or in any other agreements, documents or instruments) shall be deemed to be references to the Indenture as amended and supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture and every holder of Notes heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby, and each reference in the Indenture and the Notes to Vital Energy, Inc. or the "Company" shall mean and be a reference to Crescent Energy Finance LLC, as the successor issuer.

**ARTICLE 5** 

**MISCELLANEOUS**

SECTION 5.01. The amendments to the Indenture set forth in this Supplemental Indenture shall also apply to the Notes.

SECTION 5.02. The terms and conditions of this Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed to be incorporated in and made a part of the terms and conditions of the Indenture for any and all purposes, and all the terms and conditions of both shall be read, taken and construed together as though they constitute one and the same instrument, except that in the case of conflict, the provisions of this Supplemental Indenture will control.

SECTION 5.03. All covenants and agreements in this Supplemental Indenture by the Company or the Trustee shall bind their respective successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

SECTION 5.04. In case any provision in this Supplemental Indenture shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

SECTION 5.05. Nothing in this Supplemental Indenture, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors under the Indenture and the holders of the Notes, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under the Indenture.

SECTION 5.06. THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE.

SECTION 5.07. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.

SECTION 5.08. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

SECTION 5.09. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Company.

[*Signature Page Follows*]

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed and attested, all as of the date first above written.

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| |
|:---|
| **<u>Issuer</u>**<br>CRESCENT ENERGY FINANCE LLC<br>By: Crescent Energy OpCo LLC, its sole member<br>By: Crescent Energy Company, its <br>managing member |
| By: /s/ Brandi Kendall |
| Name: Brandi Kendall |
| Title: Chief Financial Officer |
| **<u>Existing Guarantor</u>**<br>VITAL MIDSTREAM SERVICES, LLC |
| By: /s/ Brandi Kendall |
| Name: Brandi Kendall |
| Title: Chief Financial Officer |

---

[*Signature Page to Third Supplemental Indenture*]

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| |
|:---|
| COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION<br>As Trustee |
| By: /s/ Scott Little |
| Name: Scott Little |
| Title: Vice President |

---

[*Signature Page to Third Supplemental Indenture*]

## Exhibit 4.7

**Exhibit 4.7**

SIXTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

THIS SIXTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this "***Supplemental Indenture***"), dated as of December 12, 2025, among Vital Energy, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware and formerly named Laredo Petroleum, Inc. (the "***Company***"), Vital Midstream Services, LLC, as guarantor, and the U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the "***Trustee***").

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association ("***Wells Fargo***") executed and delivered that certain indenture, dated as of March 18, 2015 (the "***Base Indenture***");

WHEREAS, the Company executed and delivered that certain Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 25, 2023, by and among the Company, the guarantors party thereto, U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the "***Trustee***"), and Computershare Trust Company, National Association, as successor trustee to Wells Fargo (the "***Fifth Supplemental Indenture***" and together with the Base Indenture and other amendments and supplements executed from time to time, the "***Indenture***") providing for the issuance of 9.750% Senior Notes due 2030 (the "***Notes***");

WHEREAS, the Company desires to amend and supplement the Indenture as contemplated by Articles 1 and 2 of this Supplemental Indenture;

WHEREAS, the Company entered in the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 24, 2025, by and among Crescent Energy Company ("***Crescent***"), the Company, Venus Merger Sub I Inc., and Venus Merger Sub II LLC, pursuant to which Crescent will acquire the Company in an all equity transaction;

WHEREAS, Crescent Energy Finance LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("***CE Finance***") and subsidiary of Crescent, has solicited consents from the Holders of Notes to certain proposed amendments to the Indenture as set forth in Article 1 and Article 2 of this Supplemental Indenture, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offering Memorandum and Consent Solicitation Statement, dated as of December 1, 2025 (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the "***Statement***");

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 8.02 of the Fifth Supplemental Indenture, subject to certain exceptions, the Company and the Trustee may, in certain circumstances, amend or supplement the Indenture as it relates to the Notes (including the Fifth Supplemental Indenture) or the Notes with the consent of the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes;

WHEREAS, (i) pursuant to the Statement, CE Finance has received the consent of the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes to the amendments to the Indenture set forth in Articles 1 and 2 of this Supplemental Indenture as

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certified by an Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture and (ii) the Company has delivered to the Trustee simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture an Officers' Certificate and Opinion of Counsel as contemplated by Sections 8.02, 8.06, 11.02, and 11.03 of the Fifth Supplemental Indenture and a resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of this Supplemental Indenture as contemplated by Section 8.02(b) of the Fifth Supplemental Indenture; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 8.06 of the Fifth Supplemental Indenture, the Trustee is authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture, and the Company has requested that the Trustee execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders as follows:

**ARTICLE 1** 

**AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLE 1, DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE**

SECTION 1.01. For purposes of this Supplemental Indenture, the terms defined in the recitals shall have the meanings therein specified; any capitalized terms used and not defined herein shall have the same respective meanings as assigned to them in the Indenture; and references to Articles or Sections shall, unless the context indicates otherwise, be references to Articles or Sections of the Indenture.

SECTION 1.02. Any definitions used exclusively in the provisions of the Indenture or the Notes that are deleted pursuant to the amendments to the Indenture as set forth in this Supplemental Indenture, and any definitions used exclusively within such definitions, are hereby deleted in their entirety from the Indenture and the Notes, and all textual references in the Indenture and the Notes exclusively relating to paragraphs, Sections, Articles or other terms or provisions of the Indenture that have been otherwise deleted pursuant to this Supplemental Indenture are hereby deleted in their entirety. The words "herein," "hereof" and "hereby" and other words of similar import used in this Supplemental Indenture refer to this Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular section hereof.

SECTION 1.03. Notwithstanding an earlier effectiveness date, the provisions of this Supplemental Indenture shall not become operative until the Settlement Date (and in no event prior to the satisfaction of the Vital Acquisition Condition) (as each term is defined in the Statement) (the "***Supplemental Indenture Date***"). The Company will provide written notice (which may be by e-mail) to the Trustee upon the occurrence of the Supplemental Indenture Date.

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**ARTICLE 2** 

**AMENDMENTS TO THE INDENTURE AND THE NOTES**

SECTION 2.01. The Indenture and the Notes are hereby amended by deleting each of the following sections of the Fifth Supplemental Indenture and all references thereto in the Fifth Supplemental Indenture in their entirety:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)Section 4.03 ("Reports");

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b)Section 4.05 ("Taxes");

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c)Section 4.07 ("Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock");

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d)Section 4.08 ("Restricted Payments");

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(e)Section 4.09 ("Transactions with Affiliates");

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(f)Section 4.10 ("Liens");

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(g)Section 4.11 ("Asset Sales");

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(h)Section 4.12 ("Issuances of Guarantees by Restricted Subsidiaries");

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i)Section 4.13 ("Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries");

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(j)Section 4.14 ("Unrestricted Subsidiaries");

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(k)Section 4.15 ("Payments for Consent");

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(l)Section 4.16 ("Offer to Repurchase upon a Change of Control");

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(m)Section 4.17 ("Corporate Existence");

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(n)Section 4.18 ("Covenant Termination");

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(o)Section 5.01 ("Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets"), Paragraphs (a)(3), (a)(4) and (a)(6);

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(p)Section 6.01 ("Events of Default"), Paragraphs (4) – (7); and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(q)Section 7.04 ("Conditions to Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance"), Paragraphs (b) – (e).

SECTION 2.02. Section 3.03 ("Notice of Redemption") of the Fifth Supplemental Indenture is hereby amended to reduce the notice period set forth in such provision in connection

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with a redemption of the Notes from at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date to at least 5 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date.

SECTION 2.03. Any and all additional provisions of the Indenture and the Notes are hereby deemed to be amended to reflect the intentions of the amendments to the Indenture set forth in this Supplemental Indenture.

**ARTICLE 3** 

**EFFECTIVENESS**

SECTION 3.01. Except as amended hereby, all of the terms of the Indenture shall remain and continue in full force and effect and are hereby confirmed in all respects. From and after the Supplemental Indenture Date, all references to the Indenture (whether in the Indenture or in any other agreements, documents or instruments) shall be deemed to be references to the Indenture as amended and supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture and every holder of Notes heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby.

**ARTICLE 4** 

**MISCELLANEOUS**

SECTION 4.01. The amendments to the Indenture set forth in this Supplemental Indenture shall also apply to the Notes.

SECTION 4.02. The terms and conditions of this Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed to be incorporated in and made a part of the terms and conditions of the Indenture for any and all purposes, and all the terms and conditions of both shall be read, taken and construed together as though they constitute one and the same instrument, except that in the case of conflict, the provisions of this Supplemental Indenture will control.

SECTION 4.03. All covenants and agreements in this Supplemental Indenture by the Company or the Trustee shall bind their respective successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

SECTION 4.04. In case any provision in this Supplemental Indenture shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

SECTION 4.05. Nothing in this Supplemental Indenture, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors under the Indenture and the holders of the Notes, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under the Indenture.

SECTION 4.06. THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE.

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SECTION 4.07. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.

SECTION 4.08. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

SECTION 4.09. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Company.

[*Signature Page Follows*]

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed and attested, all as of the date first above written.

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| |
|:---|
| VITAL ENERGY, INC. |
| By: /s/ Bryan J. Lemmerman |
| Name: Bryan J. Lemmerman |
| Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
| VITAL MIDSTREAM SERVICES, LLC |
| By: /s/ Bryan J. Lemmerman |
| Name: Bryan J. Lemmerman |
| Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |

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[*Signature Page to Sixth Supplemental Indenture*]

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION<br>As Trustee | U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION<br>As Trustee |
| By: | /s/ Michael K. Herberger |
|  | Name: Michael K. Herberger |
|  | Title: Vice President |

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[*Signature Page to Sixth Supplemental Indenture*]

## Exhibit 4.8

**Exhibit 4.8**

SEVENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

THIS SEVENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this "***Supplemental Indenture***"), dated as of December 15, 2025, among Crescent Energy Finance LLC, a limited liability company duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "***Company***"), as successor in interest to Venus Merger Sub II LLC ("***Merger Sub LLC***"), successor in interest to Vital Energy, Inc. (formerly named Laredo Petroleum, Inc.) (the "***Initial Issuer***"), Vital Midstream Services, LLC, as guarantor (the "***Existing Guarantor***"), and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee ("***Trustee***").

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, the Initial Issuer and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association ("***Wells Fargo***"), as trustee, executed and delivered that certain indenture, dated as of March 18, 2015 (the "***Base Indenture***");

WHEREAS, the Initial Issuer executed and delivered that certain Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 25, 2023, among the Initial Issuer, the Existing Guarantor, the Trustee and Computershare Trust Company, National Association, as successor trustee to Wells Fargo (the "***Fifth Supplemental Indenture***"), providing for the issuance of 9.750% Senior Notes due 2030 (the "***Notes***"), as amended by that certain Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 12, 2025, among the Initial Issuer, the Existing Guarantor and the Trustee (together with the Base Indenture and the Fifth Supplemental Indenture, the "***Indenture***");

WHEREAS, the Initial Issuer entered into the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 24, 2025 (the "***Merger Agreement***"), by and among Crescent Energy Company ("***Crescent***"), the Initial Issuer, Venus Merger Sub I Inc. ("***Merger Sub Inc.***"), and Merger Sub LLC, pursuant to which Crescent acquired the Initial Issuer in an all equity transaction;

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, (i) Merger Sub Inc. merged with and into the Initial Issuer (the "***First Company Merger***"), with the Initial Issuer continuing as the surviving entity (the "***Surviving Corporation***") and (ii) immediately following the First Company Merger, the Surviving Corporation merged with and into Merger Sub LLC, with Merger Sub LLC continuing as the surviving entity (together with the First Company Merger, the "***Vital Merger***");

WHEREAS, promptly following the completion of the Vital Merger, Crescent conducted an internal reorganization, pursuant to which (i) Crescent contributed all of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of Merger Sub LLC to Artemis Acquisition Holdings Inc. ("***Artemis***"), (ii) immediately following (i), Artemis contributed all of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of Merger Sub LLC to Crescent Energy OpCo LLC ("***Crescent OpCo***"), the direct parent of the Company, (iii) immediately following (ii), Crescent OpCo contributed all of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of Merger Sub LLC to the Company, (iv) immediately following (iii), the Company contributed all of the equity in its operating subsidiaries to Merger Sub LLC, and (v)

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immediately following (iv), Merger Sub LLC merged with and into the Company, with the Company surviving the merger (collectively, the "***Internal Reorganization***");

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 8.01 of the Fifth Supplemental Indenture, the Indenture may be supplemented without the consent of the Holders of any of the Notes to provide for the succession and assumption by another Person of the covenants and obligations of the Initial Issuer under the Indenture and the Notes, pursuant to Section 5.01 of the Fifth Supplemental Indenture;

WHEREAS, Section 5.01(c) of the Fifth Supplemental Indenture provides that in the case of any transaction in accordance with Section 5.01(a) of the Fifth Supplemental Indenture, and upon such assumption by the successor entity, by supplemental indenture, the Company shall succeed to and be substituted for the Initial Issuer with the same effect as if the Company had been named as the "Company" in the Indenture;

WHEREAS, in accordance with Section 5.01 of the Fifth Supplemental Indenture, the Company is delivering this Supplemental Indenture to expressly assume all the obligations of Merger Sub LLC, as successor to the Initial Issuer, under the Indenture and the Notes;

WHEREAS, Section 8.01(a)(4) of the Fifth Supplemental Indenture provides that, without the consent of any Holders, the Company, the Existing Guarantor and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may supplement or amend the Indenture to make any provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the Indenture, provided that such provisions shall not adversely affect the interest of the Holders in any material respect;

WHEREAS, the Company desires to amend the Fifth Supplemental Indenture, as set forth in Article 3 herein pursuant to Section 8.01(a)(4) of the Fifth Supplemental Indenture and has determined that such amendment does not adversely affect the interests of Holders in any material respect;

WHEREAS, the Company has delivered to the Trustee simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture an Officers' Certificate and Opinion of Counsel as contemplated by Sections 5.01, 8.01, 8.06, 11.02 and 11.03 of the Fifth Supplemental Indenture and a resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of this Supplemental Indenture as contemplated by Section 8.01(b) of the Fifth Supplemental Indenture; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 8.06 of the Fifth Supplemental Indenture, the Trustee is authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture, and the Company has requested that the Trustee execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders as follows:

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**ARTICLE 1** 

**DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE**

SECTION 1.01. For purposes of this Supplemental Indenture, the terms defined in the recitals shall have the meanings therein specified; any capitalized terms used and not defined herein shall have the same respective meanings as assigned to them in the Indenture; and references to Articles or Sections shall, unless the context indicates otherwise, be references to Articles or Sections of the Fifth Supplemental Indenture.

SECTION 1.02. The words "herein," "hereof" and "hereby" and other words of similar import used in this Supplemental Indenture refer to this Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular section hereof.

**ARTICLE 2** 

**ASSUMPTION; SUCCESSION**

SECTION 2.01. Effective upon the consummation of the Internal Reorganization, the Company hereby expressly assumes all the obligations of Merger Sub LLC, as successor to the Initial Issuer under the Indenture and the Notes, as if the Company had been named in the Indenture as the "Company."

**ARTICLE 3**

**AMENDMENT TO INDENTURE**

SECTION 3.01. The Indenture is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to replace Section 5.01(a)(2) of the Fifth Supplemental Indenture with the following:

if the Company is merging into, consolidating with or disposing of assets and is not the Surviving Entity, the Surviving Entity shall expressly assume, by a supplemental indenture (or other agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee), in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, all the obligations of the Company under the Notes and this Indenture;

SECTION 3.02. Any and all additional provisions of the Indenture and the Notes are hereby deemed to be amended to reflect the intentions of the amendments to the Indenture set forth in this Supplemental Indenture.

**ARTICLE 4** 

**EFFECTIVENESS**

SECTION 4.01. Except as amended hereby, all of the terms of the Indenture shall remain and continue in full force and effect and are hereby confirmed in all respects. From and after the date hereof, all references to the Indenture (whether in the Indenture or in any other agreements,

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documents or instruments) shall be deemed to be references to the Indenture as amended and supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture and every holder of Notes heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby, and each reference in the Indenture and the Notes to Vital Energy, Inc. or the "Company" shall mean and be a reference to Crescent Energy Finance LLC, as the successor issuer.

**ARTICLE 5**

**MISCELLANEOUS**

SECTION 5.01. The amendments to the Indenture set forth in this Supplemental Indenture shall also apply to the Notes.

SECTION 5.02. The terms and conditions of this Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed to be incorporated in and made a part of the terms and conditions of the Indenture for any and all purposes, and all the terms and conditions of both shall be read, taken and construed together as though they constitute one and the same instrument, except that in the case of conflict, the provisions of this Supplemental Indenture will control.

SECTION 5.03. All covenants and agreements in this Supplemental Indenture by the Company or the Trustee shall bind their respective successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

SECTION 5.04. In case any provision in this Supplemental Indenture shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

SECTION 5.05. Nothing in this Supplemental Indenture, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors under the Indenture and the holders of the Notes, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under the Indenture.

SECTION 5.06. THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE.

SECTION 5.07. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.

SECTION 5.08. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

SECTION 5.09. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Company.

[*Signature Page Follows*]

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed and attested, all as of the date first above written.

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| |
|:---|
| **<u>Issuer</u>**<br>CRESCENT ENERGY FINANCE LLC<br>By: Crescent Energy OpCo LLC, its sole member<br>By: Crescent Energy Company, its managing member |
| By: /s/ Brandi Kendall |
| Name: Brandi Kendall |
| Title: Chief Financial Officer |
| **<u>Existing Guarantor</u>**<br>VITAL MIDSTREAM SERVICES, LLC |
| By: /s/ Brandi Kendall |
| Name: Brandi Kendall |
| Title: Chief Financial Officer |

---

[*Signature Page to Seventh Supplemental Indenture*]

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| |
|:---|
| U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION<br>As Trustee |
| By: /s/ Michael K. Herberger |
| Name: Michael K. Herberger |
| Title: Vice President |

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[*Signature Page to Seventh Supplemental Indenture*]

## Exhibit 4.10

**Exhibit 4.10**

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this "***Supplemental Indenture***"), dated as of December 15, 2025, among Crescent Energy Finance LLC, a limited liability company duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "***Company***"), as successor in interest to Venus Merger Sub II LLC ("***Merger Sub LLC***"), successor in interest to Vital Energy, Inc. (the "***Initial Issuer***"), Vital Midstream Services, LLC, as guarantor (the "***Existing Guarantor***"), the additional guarantors listed on the signature pages hereto (collectively, the "***Additional Guarantors***") and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee ("***Trustee***").

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, the Initial Issuer, the Existing Guarantor and the Trustee executed and delivered that certain indenture, dated as of March 28, 2024 (the "***Indenture***"), providing for the issuance of 7.875% Senior Notes due 2032 (the "***Notes***");

WHEREAS, the Initial Issuer entered into the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 24, 2025 (the "***Merger Agreement***"), by and among Crescent Energy Company ("***Crescent***"), the Initial Issuer, Venus Merger Sub I Inc. ("***Merger Sub Inc.***"), and Merger Sub LLC, pursuant to which Crescent acquired the Initial Issuer in an all equity transaction;

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, (i) Merger Sub Inc. merged with and into the Initial Issuer (the "***First Company Merger***"), with the Initial Issuer continuing as the surviving entity (the "***Surviving Corporation***") and (ii) immediately following the First Company Merger, the Surviving Corporation merged with and into Merger Sub LLC, with Merger Sub LLC continuing as the surviving entity (together with the First Company Merger, the "***Vital Merger***");

WHEREAS, promptly following the completion of the Vital Merger, Crescent conducted an internal reorganization, pursuant to which (i) Crescent contributed all of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of Merger Sub LLC to Artemis Acquisition Holdings Inc. ("***Artemis***"), (ii) immediately following (i), Artemis contributed all of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of Merger Sub LLC to Crescent Energy OpCo LLC ("***Crescent OpCo***"), the direct parent of the Company, (iii) immediately following (ii), Crescent OpCo contributed all of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of Merger Sub LLC to the Company, (iv) immediately following (iii), the Company contributed all of the equity in its operating subsidiaries to Merger Sub LLC, and (v) immediately following (iv), Merger Sub LLC merged with and into the Company, with the Company surviving the merger (collectively, the "***Internal Reorganization***");

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Indenture may be supplemented without the consent of the Holders of any of the Notes to provide for the succession and assumption by another Person of the covenants and obligations of the Initial Issuer under the Indenture and the Notes, pursuant to Section 5.01 of the Indenture;

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WHEREAS, Section 5.01(c) of the Indenture provides that in the case of any transaction in accordance with Section 5.01(a) or 5.01(b) of the Indenture, and upon such assumption by the successor entity, by supplemental indenture, the Company shall succeed to and be substituted for the Initial Issuer with the same effect as if the Company had been named as the "Company" in the Indenture, and the Guarantors shall unconditionally guarantee all of the obligations of the Initial Issuer with the same effect as if the Guarantors had been named as the "Guarantors," or individually as a "Guarantor," in the Indenture;

WHEREAS, in accordance with Section 5.01 of the Indenture, the Company is delivering this Supplemental Indenture to expressly assume all the obligations of Merger Sub LLC, as successor to the Initial Issuer, under the Indenture and the Notes;

WHEREAS, Section 9.01(a)(4) of the Indenture provides that, without the consent of any Holders, the Company, the Existing Guarantor and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may supplement or amend the Indenture to make any provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the Indenture, provided that such provisions shall not adversely affect the interest of the Holders in any material respect;

WHEREAS, Section 9.01(a)(5) of the Indenture provides that, without the consent of any Holders, the Company, the Existing Guarantors, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may supplement or amend the Indenture to add a Guarantor or additional obligor under the Indenture or permit any Person to guarantee the Notes and/or obligations under the Indenture;

WHEREAS, the Company desires to amend the Indenture, as set forth in Article 3 herein pursuant to Section 9.01(a)(4) of the Indenture and has determined that such amendment does not adversely affect the interests of Holders in any material respect;

WHEREAS, the Company desires to amend the Indenture, as set forth in Article 4 herein pursuant to Section 9.01(a)(5) of the Indenture to add Guarantors to guarantee the Notes and/or obligations under the Indenture;

WHEREAS, the Company has delivered to the Trustee simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture an Officers' Certificate and Opinion of Counsel as contemplated by Sections 5.01, 9.01, 9.05, 12.03 and 12.04 of the Indenture; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.05 of the Indenture, the Trustee is authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture, and the Company has requested that the Trustee execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company, each Additional Guarantor, the Existing Guarantor and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders as follows:

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**ARTICLE 1** 

**DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE**

SECTION 1.01. For purposes of this Supplemental Indenture, the terms defined in the recitals shall have the meanings therein specified; any capitalized terms used and not defined herein shall have the same respective meanings as assigned to them in the Indenture; and references to Articles or Sections shall, unless the context indicates otherwise, be references to Articles or Sections of the Indenture.

SECTION 1.02. The words "herein," "hereof" and "hereby" and other words of similar import used in this Supplemental Indenture refer to this Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular section hereof.

**ARTICLE 2** 

**ASSUMPTION; SUCCESSION**

SECTION 2.01. Effective upon the consummation of the Internal Reorganization, the Company hereby expressly assumes all the obligations of Merger Sub LLC, as successor to the Initial Issuer under the Indenture and the Notes, as if the Company had been named in the Indenture as the "Company."

**ARTICLE 3** 

**AMENDMENT TO INDENTURE**

SECTION 3.01. The Indenture is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to replace Section 5.01(a)(2) of the Indenture with the following:

if the Company is merging into, consolidating with or disposing of assets and is not the Surviving Entity, the Surviving Entity shall expressly assume, by a supplemental indenture (or other agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee), in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, all the obligations of the Company under the Notes and this Indenture;

SECTION 3.02. Any and all additional provisions of the Indenture and the Notes are hereby deemed to be amended to reflect the intentions of the amendments to the Indenture set forth in this Supplemental Indenture.

**ARTICLE 4** 

**GUARANTEE**

SECTION 4.01. Each Additional Guarantor hereby guarantees to each Holder of a Note and to the Trustee, the obligations of the Company under the Indenture and the Notes pursuant to the terms and conditions of Article Ten of the Indenture and such Additional Guarantor agrees to

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be bound as a Guarantor under the Indenture as if and to the same extent as such Additional Guarantor had been a signatory thereto as an Initial Guarantor; provided that an Additional Guarantor can be released from its Guarantee to the same extent as any other Guarantor under the Indenture.

**ARTICLE 5** 

**EFFECTIVENESS**

SECTION 5.01. Except as amended hereby, all of the terms of the Indenture shall remain and continue in full force and effect and are hereby confirmed in all respects. From and after the date hereof, all references to the Indenture (whether in the Indenture or in any other agreements, documents or instruments) shall be deemed to be references to the Indenture as amended and supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture and every holder of Notes heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby, and each reference in the Indenture and the Notes to Vital Energy, Inc. or the "Company" shall mean and be a reference to Crescent Energy Finance LLC, as the successor issuer.

**ARTICLE 6** 

**MISCELLANEOUS**

SECTION 6.01. The amendments to the Indenture set forth in this Supplemental Indenture shall also apply to the Notes.

SECTION 6.02. The terms and conditions of this Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed to be incorporated in and made a part of the terms and conditions of the Indenture for any and all purposes, and all the terms and conditions of both shall be read, taken and construed together as though they constitute one and the same instrument, except that in the case of conflict, the provisions of this Supplemental Indenture will control.

SECTION 6.03. All covenants and agreements in this Supplemental Indenture by the Company or the Trustee shall bind their respective successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

SECTION 6.04. In case any provision in this Supplemental Indenture shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

SECTION 6.05. Nothing in this Supplemental Indenture, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors under the Indenture and the holders of the Notes, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under the Indenture.

SECTION 6.06. THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE.

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SECTION 6.07. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.

SECTION 6.08. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

SECTION 6.09. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Company, the Additional Guarantors and the Existing Guarantor.

[*Signature Page Follows*]

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed and attested, all as of the date first above written.

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| |
|:---|
| **<u>Issuer</u>** |
| CRESCENT ENERGY FINANCE LLC |
| By: Crescent Energy OpCo LLC, its sole member |
| By: Crescent Energy Company, its managing member |
| By: /s/ Brandi Kendall |
| Name: Brandi Kendall |
| Title: Chief Financial Officer |
| **<u>Existing Guarantor</u>** |
| By: /s/ Brandi Kendall |
| Name: Brandi Kendall |
| Title: Chief Financial Officer |

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[*Signature Page to First Supplemental Indenture*]

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **<u>Additional Guarantors</u>**<br>DMA ROYALTY INVESTMENTS L.P.<br>EIGF MINERALS GP LLC<br>EIGF MINERALS L.P.<br>FALCON HOLDING L.P.<br>IE BUFFALO HOLDINGS LLC<br>IE BUFFALO MINERALS LLC<br>INDEPENDENCE MINERALS GP LLC<br>INDEPENDENCE MINERALS L.P.<br>MINERAL ACQUISITION COMPANY <br>I, L.P.<br>NEWARK ACQUISITION GP I LLC<br>NEWARK ACQUISITION I L.P.<br>NEWARK C-I HOLDING L.P.<br>VINE ROYALTY GP LLC<br>VINE ROYALTY L.P.<br>COLT ADMIRAL A HOLDING GP <br>LLC<br>COLT ADMIRAL A HOLDING L.P.<br>INDEPENDENCE MINERALS <br>HOLDINGS LLC<br>INDEPENDENCE UPSTREAM <br>HOLDINGS GP LLC<br>INDEPENDENCE UPSTREAM <br>HOLDINGS L.P.<br>CRESCENT EF AGGREGATOR L.P.<br>JAVELIN EF GP LLC<br>JAVELIN EF L.P.<br>CRESCENT EFA GP LLC<br>CRESCENT EFA HOLDINGS LLC<br>CRESCENT ENERGY MARKETING, <br>LLC<br>JAVELIN OIL & GAS, LLC<br>CRESCENT PALO VERDE <br>AGGREGATOR L.P.<br>CRESCENT PALO VERDE GP LLC<br>CRESCENT PALO VERDE LP<br>SPRINGFIELD GS HOLDINGS LLC<br>TITAN ENERGY HOLDINGS L.P.<br>CRESCENT (EAGLE FORD) LLC<br>CMP CRESCENT MINERALS I <br>(GRAY) LLC | **<u>Additional Guarantors</u>**<br>DMA ROYALTY INVESTMENTS L.P.<br>EIGF MINERALS GP LLC<br>EIGF MINERALS L.P.<br>FALCON HOLDING L.P.<br>IE BUFFALO HOLDINGS LLC<br>IE BUFFALO MINERALS LLC<br>INDEPENDENCE MINERALS GP LLC<br>INDEPENDENCE MINERALS L.P.<br>MINERAL ACQUISITION COMPANY <br>I, L.P.<br>NEWARK ACQUISITION GP I LLC<br>NEWARK ACQUISITION I L.P.<br>NEWARK C-I HOLDING L.P.<br>VINE ROYALTY GP LLC<br>VINE ROYALTY L.P.<br>COLT ADMIRAL A HOLDING GP <br>LLC<br>COLT ADMIRAL A HOLDING L.P.<br>INDEPENDENCE MINERALS <br>HOLDINGS LLC<br>INDEPENDENCE UPSTREAM <br>HOLDINGS GP LLC<br>INDEPENDENCE UPSTREAM <br>HOLDINGS L.P.<br>CRESCENT EF AGGREGATOR L.P.<br>JAVELIN EF GP LLC<br>JAVELIN EF L.P.<br>CRESCENT EFA GP LLC<br>CRESCENT EFA HOLDINGS LLC<br>CRESCENT ENERGY MARKETING, <br>LLC<br>JAVELIN OIL & GAS, LLC<br>CRESCENT PALO VERDE <br>AGGREGATOR L.P.<br>CRESCENT PALO VERDE GP LLC<br>CRESCENT PALO VERDE LP<br>SPRINGFIELD GS HOLDINGS LLC<br>TITAN ENERGY HOLDINGS L.P.<br>CRESCENT (EAGLE FORD) LLC<br>CMP CRESCENT MINERALS I <br>(GRAY) LLC |
| By: | /s/ Brandi Kendall |
| Name: Brandi Kendall | Name: Brandi Kendall |
| Title: Vice President of Javelin Oil & | Title: Vice President of Javelin Oil & |
| Gas, LLC and Authorized Person of each other entity set forth above | Gas, LLC and Authorized Person of each other entity set forth above |

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[*Signature Page to First Supplemental Indenture*]

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| BRIDGE ENERGY HOLDINGS <br>LLC<br>BRIDGE ENERGY LLC | BRIDGE ENERGY HOLDINGS <br>LLC<br>BRIDGE ENERGY LLC |
| By: | /s/ Randall Breitenbach |
| Name: Randall Breitenbach | Name: Randall Breitenbach |
| Title: President | Title: President |

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[*Signature Page to First Supplemental Indenture*]

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| CMP LEGACY CO. LLC<br>CMP VENTURE CO. LLC<br>CONTANGO CRESCENT RENEE <br>LLC<br>CONTANGO CRESCENT <br>VENTURECO I LLC<br>CRESCENT CONVENTIONAL <br>LLC<br>IE L MERGER SUB LLC<br>INDEPENDENCE UPSTREAM GP <br>LLC<br>INDEPENDENCE UPSTREAM L.P.<br>NEWARK HOLDING AGENT <br>CORP.<br>JAVELIN VENTURECO, LLC<br>CRESCENT UINTA, LLC<br>ARTEMIS MERGER SUB II LLC<br>CRESCENT ENERGY <br>OPERATING, LLC<br>SILVERBOW AGENTCO INC.<br>CRESCENT GLADIATOR LLC<br>CRESCENT ENERGY MIDLAND <br>SERVICES LLC | CMP LEGACY CO. LLC<br>CMP VENTURE CO. LLC<br>CONTANGO CRESCENT RENEE <br>LLC<br>CONTANGO CRESCENT <br>VENTURECO I LLC<br>CRESCENT CONVENTIONAL <br>LLC<br>IE L MERGER SUB LLC<br>INDEPENDENCE UPSTREAM GP <br>LLC<br>INDEPENDENCE UPSTREAM L.P.<br>NEWARK HOLDING AGENT <br>CORP.<br>JAVELIN VENTURECO, LLC<br>CRESCENT UINTA, LLC<br>ARTEMIS MERGER SUB II LLC<br>CRESCENT ENERGY <br>OPERATING, LLC<br>SILVERBOW AGENTCO INC.<br>CRESCENT GLADIATOR LLC<br>CRESCENT ENERGY MIDLAND <br>SERVICES LLC |
| By: | /s/ Todd Falk |
| Name: Todd Falk | Name: Todd Falk |
| Title: Vice President, Finance of <br>CMP Venture Co. LLC, Crescent <br>Conventional LLC, Javelin <br>VentureCo, LLC, Crescent Uinta, <br>LLC, Crescent Gladiator LLC, and <br>Crescent Energy Services LLC, Vice <br>President of IE L Merger Sub LLC, <br>Independence Upstream GP LLC, and <br>Independence Upstream L.P., <br>Authorized Person of Newark <br>Holding Agent Corp., and Senior <br>Vice President of each other entity set <br>forth above | Title: Vice President, Finance of <br>CMP Venture Co. LLC, Crescent <br>Conventional LLC, Javelin <br>VentureCo, LLC, Crescent Uinta, <br>LLC, Crescent Gladiator LLC, and <br>Crescent Energy Services LLC, Vice <br>President of IE L Merger Sub LLC, <br>Independence Upstream GP LLC, and <br>Independence Upstream L.P., <br>Authorized Person of Newark <br>Holding Agent Corp., and Senior <br>Vice President of each other entity set <br>forth above |

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[*Signature Page to First Supplemental Indenture*]

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| |
|:---|
| U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION<br>As Trustee |
| By: /s/ Michael K. Herberger |
| Name: Michael K. Herberger |
| Title: Vice President |

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[*Signature Page to First Supplemental Indenture*]

## Exhibit 10.1

**Exhibit 10.1**

**<u>INDEMNIFICATION</u> <u>AGREEMENT</u>**

This Indemnification Agreement is dated as of December 15, 2025, effective as of the Effective Time (as defined herein) (this "***<u>Agreement</u>***"), and is by and between William E. Albrecht (the "***<u>Indemnitee</u>***") and Crescent Energy Company, a Delaware corporation (the "***<u>Corporation</u>***"), as of the Effective Time. Terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, dated as of December 7, 2021 and effective as of the Effective Time (the "***<u>Certificate of Incorporation</u>***").

**<u>WITNESSETH</u>**

WHEREAS, in order to, among other things, attract and retain highly competent persons to serve as directors or in other capacities, the Corporation must provide such persons with adequate protection, through rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses, against the risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their services to and activities on behalf of the Corporation;

WHEREAS, the Corporation desires and has requested the Indemnitee to serve as a director of the Corporation and, in order to induce the Indemnitee to serve as a director of the Corporation, effective as of the Effective Time, the Corporation wishes to grant and secure the Indemnitee the rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses provided for herein; and

WHEREAS, the Indemnitee is willing to so serve on the basis that such rights be provided.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the Indemnitee's agreement to serve as a director of the Corporation and the covenants and agreements set forth below, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows.

**Section 1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>Indemnification</u>.**

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Indemnification in Third-Party Proceedings. To the fullest extent permitted by law (including Section 145 of the DGCL), the Indemnitee shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation on an after tax basis from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising from any and all threatened, pending or completed claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and whether formal or informal and including appeals (other than any such action brought by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor, which is addressed in Section 1(b) below), in which the Indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of Indemnitee's status as an Indemnitee (as such term is defined in the Certificate of Incorporation) or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, whether arising from alleged acts or omissions to act occurring on, before or after the date of this Agreement; *provided*, that, the Indemnitee shall not be indemnified and held harmless if the Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner the Indemnitee reasonably

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believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the Indemnitee's conduct was unlawful. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section 3(e) of this Agreement, the Corporation shall be required to indemnify the Indemnitee in connection with any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by the Indemnitee only if (x) the commencement of such claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) by the Indemnitee was authorized by the Board of Directors or (y) there has been a final and non- appealable judgment entered by an arbitral tribunal or a court of competent jurisdiction determining that such person was entitled to indemnification by the Corporation.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Indemnification in Proceedings by or in the Right of the Corporation. To the fullest extent permitted by law (including Section 145 of the DGCL), the Indemnitee shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation on an after tax basis from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising from any and all threatened, pending or completed claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and whether formal or informal and including appeals, brought by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor, in which the Indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of Indemnitee's status as an Indemnitee (as such term is defined in the Certificate of Incorporation) or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, whether arising from alleged acts or omissions to act occurring on, before or after the date of this Agreement; *provided*, that, the Indemnitee shall not be indemnified and held harmless under this Section 1(b) if there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by an arbitral tribunal or a court of competent jurisdiction determining that the Indemnitee is liable to the Corporation, unless and only to the extent that any arbitral tribunal or any court in which such proceeding was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, the Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Successful Defense. To the extent Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, in whole or in part, the Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law (including the DGCL), indemnify Indemnitee against expenses (including legal fees and expenses) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such proceeding, the Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee against all expenses (including legal fees and expenses) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee's behalf in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such proceeding, the Corporation also shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee against all expenses (including legal fees and expenses) reasonably incurred in connection with a claim, issue or matter related to any claim, issue, or matter on which Indemnitee was successful. For purposes of this Section and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a

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proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Expenses of a Witness. To the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of Indemnitee's status as an Indemnitee (as such term is defined in the Certificate of Incorporation) or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, whether arising from alleged acts or omissions to act occurring on, before or after the date of this Agreement, a witness or deponent in any proceeding to which Indemnitee was or is not a party or threatened to be made a party, Indemnitee shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be indemnified against all expenses (including legal fees and expenses) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee's behalf in connection therewith.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(e)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Corporation for some or a portion of the expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with a proceeding, but not, however, for the total amount thereof, the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion of such expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) to which Indemnitee is entitled.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(f)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The indemnification provided by this Agreement shall be in addition to any other rights to which the Indemnitee may be entitled (i) under the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and any agreement, (ii) under any policy of insurance, (iii) pursuant to any vote of the holders of outstanding stock entitled to vote on such matter, (iv) as a matter of law, or (v) in equity or otherwise, in each such case, with respect to actions in the Indemnitee's capacity as an Indemnitee (as such term is defined in the Certificate of Incorporation) and actions in any other capacity, and shall continue as to the Indemnitee if he or she has ceased to serve in such capacity.

**Section 2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>Advance Payment of Expenses</u>.** To the fullest extent permitted by law, expenses (including legal fees and expenses) incurred by the Indemnitee in appearing at, participating in or defending any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding shall, from time to time, be advanced upon Indemnitee's request by the Corporation prior to a final and non- appealable determination that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified upon receipt by the Corporation of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such amount if it ultimately shall be determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized in this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Indemnitee shall qualify for advances upon the execution and delivery to the Corporation of this Agreement, which shall constitute an undertaking providing that the Indemnitee undertakes to repay the amounts advanced (without interest) to the extent that it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation. No other form of undertaking shall be required other than the execution of this Agreement.

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**Section 3. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>Procedure for Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses;</u> <u>Notification and Defense of Claim</u>.**

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Promptly after receipt by the Indemnitee of notice of the commencement of any action, suit, claim or proceeding, the Indemnitee shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the Corporation hereunder, notify the Corporation in writing of the commencement thereof. The failure to promptly notify the Corporation of the commencement of the action, suit, claim or proceeding, or the Indemnitee's request for indemnification, will not relieve the Corporation from any liability that it may have to the Indemnitee hereunder, except to the extent the Corporation is actually prejudiced in its defense of such action, suit, claim or proceeding as a result of such failure. To obtain indemnification or an advancement of expenses under this Agreement, the Indemnitee shall submit to the Corporation a written request therefor, including such documentation and information as is reasonably available to the Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to enable the Corporation to determine whether and to what extent the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification and advancement of expenses.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;With respect to any action, suit, claim or proceeding of which the Corporation is so notified, as provided in this Agreement, the Corporation, if appropriate, shall be entitled to assume and control the defense of such action, suit, claim or proceeding, with counsel reasonably acceptable to the Indemnitee, upon the delivery to the Indemnitee of written notice of its election to do so, and the Indemnitee shall cooperate with the Corporation in such defense as reasonably requested by the Corporation. After delivery of such notice (but subject to such approval of counsel by the Indemnitee and the retention of such counsel by the Corporation), the Corporation will not be liable to the Indemnitee under this Agreement for any fees of counsel subsequently incurred by the Indemnitee with respect to the same action, suit, claim or proceeding; *provided*, that, (1) the Indemnitee shall have the right to employ the Indemnitee's own counsel in such action, suit, claim or proceeding at the Indemnitee's expense and (2) if (i) the employment of counsel by the Indemnitee at the Corporation's expense has been previously authorized in writing by the Corporation, or (ii) counsel to the Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded (evidenced by written notice to the Corporation setting forth the basis for and explanation of such conclusion) that there likely exists a conflict of interest or position, or reasonably believes that such a conflict is likely to arise between the Corporation and the Indemnitee in the conduct of any such defense, then the fees and expenses of the Indemnitee's separate counsel shall be at the expense of the Corporation, except as otherwise expressly provided by [Section](#ic7826a19877345288714c5363401e579_1)[1](#ic7826a19877345288714c5363401e579_1) of this Agreement, and the Corporation shall not control the defense of such action, suit, claim or proceeding to the extent of such conflict of interest. The Corporation shall not be entitled, without the written consent of the Indemnitee, to assume the defense of any claim brought by or in the right of the Corporation or as to which counsel for the Indemnitee shall in accordance with clause (2)(ii) of the proviso in the immediately preceding sentence have delivered requisite notice regarding the conclusion referred to in such clause.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To the fullest extent permitted by law and subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Corporation's assumption of the defense of an action, suit, claim or proceeding in accordance with Section 3(b) will constitute an irrevocable acknowledgement by the Corporation that any loss and liability suffered by the Indemnitee and expenses (including attorneys' fees),

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judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement by or for the account of the Indemnitee actually and reasonably incurred in connection therewith are indemnifiable by the Corporation under [Section](#ic7826a19877345288714c5363401e579_1)[1](#ic7826a19877345288714c5363401e579_1) of this Agreement (including, to the fullest extent permitted by law, that the Indemnitee has met all applicable standards of conduct).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The determination whether to grant the Indemnitee's request shall be made promptly and in any event within 30 days following the Corporation's receipt of a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 3(a). A determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee's entitlement to indemnification shall be made in the specific case by one of the following methods, which shall be at the election of Indemnitee: (i) by a majority vote of the disinterested directors, even though less than a quorum of the board, (ii) by a committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such directors, (iii) by independent counsel (whose reasonable fees and expenses shall be paid by the Corporation) in a written opinion to the board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee, or (iv) by vote of the stockholders. The Corporation promptly will advise Indemnitee in writing with respect to any determination that Indemnitee is or is not entitled to indemnification, including a description of any reason or basis for which indemnification has been denied. If it is determined that the Indemnitee is entitled to such indemnification or the Corporation has acknowledged such entitlement, the Corporation shall make payment to the Indemnitee of the indemnifiable amount within such 30-day period. If the Corporation has not so acknowledged such entitlement or the Corporation's determination of whether to grant the Indemnitee's indemnification request has not been made within such 30 day period, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall nonetheless be deemed to have been made and the Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, subject to Section 5, absent (i) a misstatement by the Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make the Indemnitee's statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(e)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In the event that (i) the Corporation determines in accordance with this Section 3 that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) the Corporation denies a request for indemnification, in whole or in part, (iii) payment of indemnification is not made within such 30 day period, (iv) a request for advancement of expenses is not paid in full within 30 days after such request was received by the Corporation, or (v) the Corporation or any other person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, the Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be provided to the Indemnitee hereunder, the Indemnitee shall be entitled to seek an adjudication by, and the Indemnitee's entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of expenses shall be settled by, a court of competent jurisdiction. Alternatively, the Indemnitee, at the Indemnitee's option, may seek an award in arbitration in accordance with Section 17. The Indemnitee's expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred in connection with successfully establishing the Indemnitee's right to indemnification or advancement of expenses, in whole or in part, in such arbitration or court shall also be indemnified by the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(f)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Indemnitee shall be presumed to be entitled to indemnification and advancement of expenses under this Agreement upon submission of a request therefor in accordance with [Section 1](#ic7826a19877345288714c5363401e579_1) or Section 2 of this Agreement, as applicable, and this Section 3. The Corporation shall have the burden of proof in overcoming such presumption, and such presumption shall be used as a basis for a determination of entitlement to indemnification and advancement of expenses unless the Corporation overcomes such presumption by clear and convincing evidence.

**Section 4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>Insurance</u>.** The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of the Indemnitee against any liability that may be asserted against, or expense that may be incurred by, the Indemnitee in connection with the Corporation's activities or the Indemnitee's activities on behalf of the Corporation, regardless of whether the Corporation would have the power to indemnify the Indemnitee against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement.

**Section 5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>Presumptions</u> <u>and</u> <u>Effect of</u> <u>Certain</u> <u>Proceedings</u>.**

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person, persons or entity making such determination shall presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with this Agreement, and the Corporation shall have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption by clear and convincing evidence in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption. Neither the failure by or on behalf of the Corporation to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by or on behalf of the Corporation that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The termination of any proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation or, with respect to any criminal proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee's conduct was unlawful.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;For purposes of any determination of good faith, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee's action is based on the records or books of account of the Corporation or its subsidiaries, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the directors, managers, or officers of the Corporation or its subsidiaries in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Corporation, its subsidiaries, its board, any committee of such board or any director, trustee, general partner, manager, or managing member, or on information or records given or reports made to the Corporation, its board, any committee of the board or any director, trustee, general partner, manager, or managing member, by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected by the Corporation, its subsidiaries, its board, any committee of the board or any director, trustee, general

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partner, manager, or managing member. The provisions of this Section 5(c) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which Indemnitee may be deemed or found to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any other representative of the Corporation shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.

**Section 6.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>Limitation</u> <u>on</u> <u>Indemnification</u>.**

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;For purposes of this Agreement, (i) the Corporation shall be deemed to have requested the Indemnitee to serve as fiduciary of an employee benefit plan whenever the performance by him or her of his or her duties to the Corporation also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, him or her to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan; (ii) excise taxes assessed on the Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to applicable law shall constitute "fines" within the meaning of this Agreement; and (iii) any action taken or omitted by the Indemnitee with respect to any employee benefit plan in the performance of its duties for a purpose reasonably believed by him or her to be in the best interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose that is in the best interests of the Corporation.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Any indemnification pursuant to this Agreement shall be made only out of the assets of the Corporation. None of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be personally liable for such indemnification and shall have no obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Corporation to enable it to effectuate such indemnification. In no event may the Indemnitee subject any stockholder of the Corporation to personal liability by reason of the rights to indemnification or advancement of expenses set forth in this Agreement.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The provisions of this Agreement are for the benefit of the Indemnitee and his or her heirs, successors, assigns, executors and administrators and shall not be deemed to create any rights for the benefit of any other persons.

**Section 7. <u>Certain</u> <u>Settlement</u> <u>Provisions</u>.** The Corporation shall have no obligation to indemnify the Indemnitee under this Agreement for any amounts paid in settlement of any action, suit, claim or proceeding without the Corporation's prior written consent (which may not be unreasonably withheld). The Corporation shall not settle any action, suit, claim or proceeding in any manner that would impose any fine or other monetary obligation on the Indemnitee that is not fully indemnified by the Corporation or any equitable relief on the Indemnitee or includes, directly or indirectly, an admission of wrongdoing by or acknowledgment of fault or culpability with respect to the Indemnitee, in each case without the Indemnitee's prior written consent (which may not be unreasonably withheld). To the extent the Corporation has assumed and controls the defense of any action, suit, claim or proceeding in accordance with this Agreement, the Indemnitee shall permit the Corporation to assume and control the settlement, negotiation or compromise of such action, suit, claim or proceeding, and the Indemnitee shall cooperate with the Corporation as reasonably requested by the Corporation in such settlement, negotiation or compromise. The

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Indemnitee shall not settle, negotiate or compromise any action, suit, claim or proceeding indemnifiable under this Agreement without the Corporation's prior written consent (which may not be unreasonably withheld).

**Section 8. <u>Savings Clause</u>.** If any provision or provisions (or portion thereof) of this Agreement shall be invalidated on any ground by any arbitral tribunal or court of competent jurisdiction, then the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify the Indemnitee if the Indemnitee was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, claim or proceeding (brought in the right of the Corporation or otherwise), whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative and whether formal or informal, including appeals, by reason of its status as an Indemnitee (as such term is defined in the Certificate of Incorporation), or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, from and against all loss and liability suffered and expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement reasonably incurred by or on behalf of the Indemnitee in connection with such action, suit, claim or proceeding, including any appeals, to the fullest extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Agreement that shall not have been invalidated and to the fullest extent permitted by law.

**Section 9. <u>Contribution</u>.** In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in circumstances in which the indemnification provided for herein is finally settled by an arbitral tribunal or a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to the Indemnitee in whole or in part, it is agreed that, in such event, the Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, contribute to the payment of all of the Indemnitee's loss and liability suffered and expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement reasonably incurred by or on behalf of the Indemnitee in connection with any action, suit, claim or proceeding, including any appeals, in an amount that is just and equitable in the circumstances; *provided*, that, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, such contribution shall not be required where such settlement is due to any limitation on indemnification set forth in Section 5 or 7 hereof.

**Section 10. <u>Form and Delivery of Communications</u>.** All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if delivered by hand, mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, mailed for overnight delivery by reputable overnight courier or sent by email or facsimile transmission, upon receipt when confirmed that such transmission has been received. Notice to the Corporation shall be sent to 600 Travis Street, Suite 7200, Houston, Texas 77002, Attention: General Counsel (or at such other address or means of contact that the Corporation shall notify the Indemnitee in writing from time to time).

**Section 11. <u>Non-exclusivity</u>.** The provisions for indemnification and advancement of expenses set forth in this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights which the Indemnitee may have under any provision of law, in any court in which a proceeding is brought, other agreements or otherwise, and the Indemnitee's rights hereunder shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, successors, assigns, executors and administrators of the Indemnitee. No amendment or alteration of the Certificate of Incorporation or any agreement shall adversely affect the rights provided to the Indemnitee under this Agreement.

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**Section 13. <u>Interpretation of Agreement</u>.** It is understood that the parties hereto intend this Agreement to be interpreted and enforced so as to provide indemnification to the Indemnitee to the fullest extent now or hereafter permitted by law.

**Section 14. <u>Entire</u> <u>Agreement</u>.** This Agreement and the documents expressly referred to herein constitute the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the matters covered hereby, and any other prior or contemporaneous oral or written understandings or

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agreements with respect to the matters covered hereby are expressly superseded by this Agreement.

**Section 15. <u>Modification and Waiver</u>.** No supplement, modification, waiver or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by each of the parties hereto. No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder (other than a failure or delay beyond a period of time specified herein) shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.

**Section 16. <u>Duration of Agreement; Successor and Assigns; Not an Employment</u> <u>Contract</u>.** This Agreement shall continue until and terminate upon the latest of: (i) ten (10) years after the date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to have served as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, (ii) one (1) year after the date of final termination of any proceeding, including any appeal, that could be brought against Indemnitee by reason of Indemnitee's status as an Indemnitee (as such term is defined in the Certificate of Incorporation) or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, whether arising from alleged acts or omissions to act occurring on, before or after the date of this Agreement, or (iii) the expiration of all statutes of limitation applicable to possible claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings to which Indemnitee may be subject arising out of Indemnitee's status as an Indemnitee (as such term is defined in the Certificate of Incorporation). All of the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon, shall inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors, administrators and legal representatives. The Corporation shall require and cause any direct or indirect successor (whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of its business or assets, by written agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Corporation would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.

**Section 17.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>Arbitration</u>.**

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Any and all disputes regarding the Indemnitee's entitlement to indemnification or advancement of expenses that cannot be settled amicably, including any ancillary claims of any party arising out of, relating to or in connection with the validity, negotiation, execution, interpretation, performance or non-performance of this Agreement (including without limitation the arbitrability of any issue under this Agreement and the validity, scope and enforceability of this arbitration provision) may, at the Indemnitee's option, be finally settled by arbitration conducted by a single arbitrator in Houston, Texas in accordance with the then-existing Rules of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce. If the parties to the dispute fail to agree on the selection of an arbitrator within 30 days of the receipt of the request for arbitration, the International Chamber of Commerce shall make the appointment. The arbitrator shall be a lawyer and shall conduct the proceedings in the English language. Performance under this Agreement shall continue if reasonably possible during any arbitration proceedings. Except as required by law or as may be reasonably required in connection with ancillary judicial proceedings to compel

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arbitration, to obtain temporary or preliminary judicial relief in aid of arbitration, or to confirm or challenge an arbitration award, the arbitration proceedings, including any hearings, shall be confidential, and the parties shall not disclose any awards, any materials produced in the proceedings created for the purpose of the arbitration, or any documents produced by another party in the proceedings not otherwise in the public domain.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Except with respect to any dispute regarding an Indemnitee's entitlement to indemnification or advancement of expenses or related claims that may be settled in arbitration pursuant to Section 17(a), each party hereby (i) irrevocably agrees that any claims, suits, actions or proceedings arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement (including any claims, suits or actions to interpret, apply or enforce this Section 17 or any judicial proceeding ancillary to an arbitration or contemplated arbitration arising out of or relating to or concerning this Agreement), shall be exclusively brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, if such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction thereof, any other court in the State of Delaware with subject matter jurisdiction; (ii) irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in connection with any such claim, suit, action or proceeding; (iii) irrevocably agrees not to, and waives any right to, assert in any such claim, suit, action or proceeding that (A) it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of such courts or any other court to which proceedings in such courts may be appealed, (B) such claim, suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum, or (C) the venue of such claim, suit, action or proceeding is improper; (iv) expressly waives any requirement for the posting of a bond by a party bringing such claim, suit, action or proceeding; (v) consents to process being served in any such claim, suit, action or proceeding by mailing, certified mail, return receipt requested, a copy thereof to such party at the address in effect for notices hereunder, and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof; *provided*, that, nothing in clause (v) hereof shall affect or limit any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law; and (vi) irrevocably waives any and all right to trial by jury in any such claim, suit, action or proceeding.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, this Section 17 shall be construed to the maximum extent possible to comply with the laws of the State of Delaware, including the Delaware Uniform Arbitration Act (10 Del. C. § 5701 et seq.) (the "***<u>Delaware Arbitration Act</u>***"). If, nevertheless, it shall be determined by an arbitral tribunal or court of competent jurisdiction that any provision or wording of this Section 17, including any rules of the International Chamber of Commerce, shall be invalid or unenforceable under the Delaware Arbitration Act, or other applicable law, such invalidity shall not invalidate all of this Section 17. In that case, this Section 17 shall be construed so as to limit any term or provision so as to make it valid or enforceable within the requirements of the Delaware Arbitration Act or other applicable law, and, in the event such term or provision cannot be so limited, this Section 17 shall be construed to omit such invalid or unenforceable provision.

**Section 18.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>No Construction as Employment Agreement</u>**. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as giving the Indemnitee any right to be retained as a director of the Corporation or in the employ of the Corporation or its affiliates. For the avoidance of doubt, the indemnification and advancement of expenses provided under this Agreement shall continue as to the Indemnitee even though he or she may have ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation.

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**Section 19.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>Governing</u> <u>Law</u>**. This Agreement and any and all matters arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflict of law principles.

**Section 20.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>Counterparts</u>**. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument, notwithstanding that both parties are not signatories to the original or same counterpart.

**Section 21.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>Headings</u>**. The section and subsection headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

**Section 22.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>Effectiveness</u>**. This Agreement shall be effective, and the provisions hereof shall become operative as of the date first written above (the "***<u>Effective Time</u>***").

[*Rest of page intentionally left blank*]

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This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered to be effective as of the Effective Time.

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| INDEMNITEE: | INDEMNITEE: |
| /s/ William E. Albrecht | /s/ William E. Albrecht |
| Name: William E. Albrecht | Name: William E. Albrecht |
| CRESCENT ENERGY COMPANY | CRESCENT ENERGY COMPANY |
| By: | /s/ Bo Shi |
|  | Name: Bo Shi |
|  | Title:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;General Counsel |

---

SIGNATURE PAGE TO INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT OF

CRESCENT ENERGY COMPANY

## Exhibit 10.2

**Exhibit 10.2**

**<u>INDEMNIFICATION</u> <u>AGREEMENT</u>**

This Indemnification Agreement is dated as of December 15, 2025, effective as of the Effective Time (as defined herein) (this "***<u>Agreement</u>***"), and is by and between Jarvis V. Hollingsworth (the "***<u>Indemnitee</u>***") and Crescent Energy Company, a Delaware corporation (the "***<u>Corporation</u>***"), as of the Effective Time. Terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, dated as of December 7, 2021 and effective as of the Effective Time (the "***<u>Certificate of Incorporation</u>***").

**<u>WITNESSETH</u>**

WHEREAS, in order to, among other things, attract and retain highly competent persons to serve as directors or in other capacities, the Corporation must provide such persons with adequate protection, through rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses, against the risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their services to and activities on behalf of the Corporation;

WHEREAS, the Corporation desires and has requested the Indemnitee to serve as a director of the Corporation and, in order to induce the Indemnitee to serve as a director of the Corporation, effective as of the Effective Time, the Corporation wishes to grant and secure the Indemnitee the rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses provided for herein; and

WHEREAS, the Indemnitee is willing to so serve on the basis that such rights be provided.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the Indemnitee's agreement to serve as a director of the Corporation and the covenants and agreements set forth below, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows.

**Section 1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>Indemnification</u>.**

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Indemnification in Third-Party Proceedings. To the fullest extent permitted by law (including Section 145 of the DGCL), the Indemnitee shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation on an after tax basis from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising from any and all threatened, pending or completed claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and whether formal or informal and including appeals (other than any such action brought by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor, which is addressed in Section 1(b) below), in which the Indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of Indemnitee's status as an Indemnitee (as such term is defined in the Certificate of Incorporation) or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, whether arising from alleged acts or omissions to act occurring on, before or after the date of this Agreement; *provided*, that, the Indemnitee shall not be indemnified and held harmless if the Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner the Indemnitee reasonably

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believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the Indemnitee's conduct was unlawful. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section 3(e) of this Agreement, the Corporation shall be required to indemnify the Indemnitee in connection with any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by the Indemnitee only if (x) the commencement of such claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) by the Indemnitee was authorized by the Board of Directors or (y) there has been a final and non- appealable judgment entered by an arbitral tribunal or a court of competent jurisdiction determining that such person was entitled to indemnification by the Corporation.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Indemnification in Proceedings by or in the Right of the Corporation. To the fullest extent permitted by law (including Section 145 of the DGCL), the Indemnitee shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation on an after tax basis from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising from any and all threatened, pending or completed claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and whether formal or informal and including appeals, brought by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor, in which the Indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of Indemnitee's status as an Indemnitee (as such term is defined in the Certificate of Incorporation) or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, whether arising from alleged acts or omissions to act occurring on, before or after the date of this Agreement; *provided*, that, the Indemnitee shall not be indemnified and held harmless under this Section 1(b) if there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by an arbitral tribunal or a court of competent jurisdiction determining that the Indemnitee is liable to the Corporation, unless and only to the extent that any arbitral tribunal or any court in which such proceeding was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, the Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Successful Defense. To the extent Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, in whole or in part, the Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law (including the DGCL), indemnify Indemnitee against expenses (including legal fees and expenses) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such proceeding, the Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee against all expenses (including legal fees and expenses) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee's behalf in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such proceeding, the Corporation also shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee against all expenses (including legal fees and expenses) reasonably incurred in connection with a claim, issue or matter related to any claim, issue, or matter on which Indemnitee was successful. For purposes of this Section and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a

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proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Expenses of a Witness. To the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of Indemnitee's status as an Indemnitee (as such term is defined in the Certificate of Incorporation) or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, whether arising from alleged acts or omissions to act occurring on, before or after the date of this Agreement, a witness or deponent in any proceeding to which Indemnitee was or is not a party or threatened to be made a party, Indemnitee shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be indemnified against all expenses (including legal fees and expenses) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee's behalf in connection therewith.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(e)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Corporation for some or a portion of the expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with a proceeding, but not, however, for the total amount thereof, the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion of such expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) to which Indemnitee is entitled.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(f)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The indemnification provided by this Agreement shall be in addition to any other rights to which the Indemnitee may be entitled (i) under the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and any agreement, (ii) under any policy of insurance, (iii) pursuant to any vote of the holders of outstanding stock entitled to vote on such matter, (iv) as a matter of law, or (v) in equity or otherwise, in each such case, with respect to actions in the Indemnitee's capacity as an Indemnitee (as such term is defined in the Certificate of Incorporation) and actions in any other capacity, and shall continue as to the Indemnitee if he or she has ceased to serve in such capacity.

**Section 2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>Advance Payment of Expenses</u>.** To the fullest extent permitted by law, expenses (including legal fees and expenses) incurred by the Indemnitee in appearing at, participating in or defending any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding shall, from time to time, be advanced upon Indemnitee's request by the Corporation prior to a final and non- appealable determination that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified upon receipt by the Corporation of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such amount if it ultimately shall be determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized in this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Indemnitee shall qualify for advances upon the execution and delivery to the Corporation of this Agreement, which shall constitute an undertaking providing that the Indemnitee undertakes to repay the amounts advanced (without interest) to the extent that it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation. No other form of undertaking shall be required other than the execution of this Agreement.

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**Section 3. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>Procedure for Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses;</u> <u>Notification and Defense of Claim</u>.**

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Promptly after receipt by the Indemnitee of notice of the commencement of any action, suit, claim or proceeding, the Indemnitee shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the Corporation hereunder, notify the Corporation in writing of the commencement thereof. The failure to promptly notify the Corporation of the commencement of the action, suit, claim or proceeding, or the Indemnitee's request for indemnification, will not relieve the Corporation from any liability that it may have to the Indemnitee hereunder, except to the extent the Corporation is actually prejudiced in its defense of such action, suit, claim or proceeding as a result of such failure. To obtain indemnification or an advancement of expenses under this Agreement, the Indemnitee shall submit to the Corporation a written request therefor, including such documentation and information as is reasonably available to the Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to enable the Corporation to determine whether and to what extent the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification and advancement of expenses.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;With respect to any action, suit, claim or proceeding of which the Corporation is so notified, as provided in this Agreement, the Corporation, if appropriate, shall be entitled to assume and control the defense of such action, suit, claim or proceeding, with counsel reasonably acceptable to the Indemnitee, upon the delivery to the Indemnitee of written notice of its election to do so, and the Indemnitee shall cooperate with the Corporation in such defense as reasonably requested by the Corporation. After delivery of such notice (but subject to such approval of counsel by the Indemnitee and the retention of such counsel by the Corporation), the Corporation will not be liable to the Indemnitee under this Agreement for any fees of counsel subsequently incurred by the Indemnitee with respect to the same action, suit, claim or proceeding; *provided*, that, (1) the Indemnitee shall have the right to employ the Indemnitee's own counsel in such action, suit, claim or proceeding at the Indemnitee's expense and (2) if (i) the employment of counsel by the Indemnitee at the Corporation's expense has been previously authorized in writing by the Corporation, or (ii) counsel to the Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded (evidenced by written notice to the Corporation setting forth the basis for and explanation of such conclusion) that there likely exists a conflict of interest or position, or reasonably believes that such a conflict is likely to arise between the Corporation and the Indemnitee in the conduct of any such defense, then the fees and expenses of the Indemnitee's separate counsel shall be at the expense of the Corporation, except as otherwise expressly provided by [Section](#ie0e23734b6124ab4a1cc456eff1230da_1)[1](#ie0e23734b6124ab4a1cc456eff1230da_1) of this Agreement, and the Corporation shall not control the defense of such action, suit, claim or proceeding to the extent of such conflict of interest. The Corporation shall not be entitled, without the written consent of the Indemnitee, to assume the defense of any claim brought by or in the right of the Corporation or as to which counsel for the Indemnitee shall in accordance with clause (2)(ii) of the proviso in the immediately preceding sentence have delivered requisite notice regarding the conclusion referred to in such clause.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To the fullest extent permitted by law and subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Corporation's assumption of the defense of an action, suit, claim or proceeding in accordance with Section 3(b) will constitute an irrevocable acknowledgement by the Corporation that any loss and liability suffered by the Indemnitee and expenses (including attorneys' fees),

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judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement by or for the account of the Indemnitee actually and reasonably incurred in connection therewith are indemnifiable by the Corporation under [Section](#ie0e23734b6124ab4a1cc456eff1230da_1)[1](#ie0e23734b6124ab4a1cc456eff1230da_1) of this Agreement (including, to the fullest extent permitted by law, that the Indemnitee has met all applicable standards of conduct).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The determination whether to grant the Indemnitee's request shall be made promptly and in any event within 30 days following the Corporation's receipt of a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 3(a). A determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee's entitlement to indemnification shall be made in the specific case by one of the following methods, which shall be at the election of Indemnitee: (i) by a majority vote of the disinterested directors, even though less than a quorum of the board, (ii) by a committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such directors, (iii) by independent counsel (whose reasonable fees and expenses shall be paid by the Corporation) in a written opinion to the board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee, or (iv) by vote of the stockholders. The Corporation promptly will advise Indemnitee in writing with respect to any determination that Indemnitee is or is not entitled to indemnification, including a description of any reason or basis for which indemnification has been denied. If it is determined that the Indemnitee is entitled to such indemnification or the Corporation has acknowledged such entitlement, the Corporation shall make payment to the Indemnitee of the indemnifiable amount within such 30-day period. If the Corporation has not so acknowledged such entitlement or the Corporation's determination of whether to grant the Indemnitee's indemnification request has not been made within such 30 day period, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall nonetheless be deemed to have been made and the Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, subject to Section 5, absent (i) a misstatement by the Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make the Indemnitee's statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(e)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In the event that (i) the Corporation determines in accordance with this Section 3 that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) the Corporation denies a request for indemnification, in whole or in part, (iii) payment of indemnification is not made within such 30 day period, (iv) a request for advancement of expenses is not paid in full within 30 days after such request was received by the Corporation, or (v) the Corporation or any other person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, the Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be provided to the Indemnitee hereunder, the Indemnitee shall be entitled to seek an adjudication by, and the Indemnitee's entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of expenses shall be settled by, a court of competent jurisdiction. Alternatively, the Indemnitee, at the Indemnitee's option, may seek an award in arbitration in accordance with Section 17. The Indemnitee's expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred in connection with successfully establishing the Indemnitee's right to indemnification or advancement of expenses, in whole or in part, in such arbitration or court shall also be indemnified by the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(f)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Indemnitee shall be presumed to be entitled to indemnification and advancement of expenses under this Agreement upon submission of a request therefor in accordance with [Section 1](#ie0e23734b6124ab4a1cc456eff1230da_1) or Section 2 of this Agreement, as applicable, and this Section 3. The Corporation shall have the burden of proof in overcoming such presumption, and such presumption shall be used as a basis for a determination of entitlement to indemnification and advancement of expenses unless the Corporation overcomes such presumption by clear and convincing evidence.

**Section 4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>Insurance</u>.** The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of the Indemnitee against any liability that may be asserted against, or expense that may be incurred by, the Indemnitee in connection with the Corporation's activities or the Indemnitee's activities on behalf of the Corporation, regardless of whether the Corporation would have the power to indemnify the Indemnitee against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement.

**Section 5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>Presumptions</u> <u>and</u> <u>Effect of</u> <u>Certain</u> <u>Proceedings</u>.**

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person, persons or entity making such determination shall presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with this Agreement, and the Corporation shall have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption by clear and convincing evidence in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption. Neither the failure by or on behalf of the Corporation to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by or on behalf of the Corporation that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The termination of any proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation or, with respect to any criminal proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee's conduct was unlawful.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;For purposes of any determination of good faith, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee's action is based on the records or books of account of the Corporation or its subsidiaries, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the directors, managers, or officers of the Corporation or its subsidiaries in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Corporation, its subsidiaries, its board, any committee of such board or any director, trustee, general partner, manager, or managing member, or on information or records given or reports made to the Corporation, its board, any committee of the board or any director, trustee, general partner, manager, or managing member, by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected by the Corporation, its subsidiaries, its board, any committee of the board or any director, trustee, general

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partner, manager, or managing member. The provisions of this Section 5(c) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which Indemnitee may be deemed or found to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any other representative of the Corporation shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.

**Section 6.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>Limitation</u> <u>on</u> <u>Indemnification</u>.**

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;For purposes of this Agreement, (i) the Corporation shall be deemed to have requested the Indemnitee to serve as fiduciary of an employee benefit plan whenever the performance by him or her of his or her duties to the Corporation also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, him or her to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan; (ii) excise taxes assessed on the Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to applicable law shall constitute "fines" within the meaning of this Agreement; and (iii) any action taken or omitted by the Indemnitee with respect to any employee benefit plan in the performance of its duties for a purpose reasonably believed by him or her to be in the best interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose that is in the best interests of the Corporation.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Any indemnification pursuant to this Agreement shall be made only out of the assets of the Corporation. None of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be personally liable for such indemnification and shall have no obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Corporation to enable it to effectuate such indemnification. In no event may the Indemnitee subject any stockholder of the Corporation to personal liability by reason of the rights to indemnification or advancement of expenses set forth in this Agreement.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The provisions of this Agreement are for the benefit of the Indemnitee and his or her heirs, successors, assigns, executors and administrators and shall not be deemed to create any rights for the benefit of any other persons.

**Section 7. <u>Certain</u> <u>Settlement</u> <u>Provisions</u>.** The Corporation shall have no obligation to indemnify the Indemnitee under this Agreement for any amounts paid in settlement of any action, suit, claim or proceeding without the Corporation's prior written consent (which may not be unreasonably withheld). The Corporation shall not settle any action, suit, claim or proceeding in any manner that would impose any fine or other monetary obligation on the Indemnitee that is not fully indemnified by the Corporation or any equitable relief on the Indemnitee or includes, directly or indirectly, an admission of wrongdoing by or acknowledgment of fault or culpability with respect to the Indemnitee, in each case without the Indemnitee's prior written consent (which may not be unreasonably withheld). To the extent the Corporation has assumed and controls the defense of any action, suit, claim or proceeding in accordance with this Agreement, the Indemnitee shall permit the Corporation to assume and control the settlement, negotiation or compromise of such action, suit, claim or proceeding, and the Indemnitee shall cooperate with the Corporation as reasonably requested by the Corporation in such settlement, negotiation or compromise. The

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Indemnitee shall not settle, negotiate or compromise any action, suit, claim or proceeding indemnifiable under this Agreement without the Corporation's prior written consent (which may not be unreasonably withheld).

**Section 8. <u>Savings Clause</u>.** If any provision or provisions (or portion thereof) of this Agreement shall be invalidated on any ground by any arbitral tribunal or court of competent jurisdiction, then the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify the Indemnitee if the Indemnitee was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, claim or proceeding (brought in the right of the Corporation or otherwise), whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative and whether formal or informal, including appeals, by reason of its status as an Indemnitee (as such term is defined in the Certificate of Incorporation), or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, from and against all loss and liability suffered and expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement reasonably incurred by or on behalf of the Indemnitee in connection with such action, suit, claim or proceeding, including any appeals, to the fullest extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Agreement that shall not have been invalidated and to the fullest extent permitted by law.

**Section 9. <u>Contribution</u>.** In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in circumstances in which the indemnification provided for herein is finally settled by an arbitral tribunal or a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to the Indemnitee in whole or in part, it is agreed that, in such event, the Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, contribute to the payment of all of the Indemnitee's loss and liability suffered and expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement reasonably incurred by or on behalf of the Indemnitee in connection with any action, suit, claim or proceeding, including any appeals, in an amount that is just and equitable in the circumstances; *provided*, that, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, such contribution shall not be required where such settlement is due to any limitation on indemnification set forth in Section 5 or 7 hereof.

**Section 10. <u>Form and Delivery of Communications</u>.** All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if delivered by hand, mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, mailed for overnight delivery by reputable overnight courier or sent by email or facsimile transmission, upon receipt when confirmed that such transmission has been received. Notice to the Corporation shall be sent to 600 Travis Street, Suite 7200, Houston, Texas 77002, Attention: General Counsel (or at such other address or means of contact that the Corporation shall notify the Indemnitee in writing from time to time).

**Section 11. <u>Non-exclusivity</u>.** The provisions for indemnification and advancement of expenses set forth in this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights which the Indemnitee may have under any provision of law, in any court in which a proceeding is brought, other agreements or otherwise, and the Indemnitee's rights hereunder shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, successors, assigns, executors and administrators of the Indemnitee. No amendment or alteration of the Certificate of Incorporation or any agreement shall adversely affect the rights provided to the Indemnitee under this Agreement.

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**Section 13. <u>Interpretation of Agreement</u>.** It is understood that the parties hereto intend this Agreement to be interpreted and enforced so as to provide indemnification to the Indemnitee to the fullest extent now or hereafter permitted by law.

**Section 14. <u>Entire</u> <u>Agreement</u>.** This Agreement and the documents expressly referred to herein constitute the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the matters covered hereby, and any other prior or contemporaneous oral or written understandings or

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agreements with respect to the matters covered hereby are expressly superseded by this Agreement.

**Section 15. <u>Modification and Waiver</u>.** No supplement, modification, waiver or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by each of the parties hereto. No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder (other than a failure or delay beyond a period of time specified herein) shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.

**Section 16. <u>Duration of Agreement; Successor and Assigns; Not an Employment</u> <u>Contract</u>.** This Agreement shall continue until and terminate upon the latest of: (i) ten (10) years after the date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to have served as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, (ii) one (1) year after the date of final termination of any proceeding, including any appeal, that could be brought against Indemnitee by reason of Indemnitee's status as an Indemnitee (as such term is defined in the Certificate of Incorporation) or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, whether arising from alleged acts or omissions to act occurring on, before or after the date of this Agreement, or (iii) the expiration of all statutes of limitation applicable to possible claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings to which Indemnitee may be subject arising out of Indemnitee's status as an Indemnitee (as such term is defined in the Certificate of Incorporation). All of the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon, shall inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors, administrators and legal representatives. The Corporation shall require and cause any direct or indirect successor (whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of its business or assets, by written agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Corporation would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.

**Section 17.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>Arbitration</u>.**

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Any and all disputes regarding the Indemnitee's entitlement to indemnification or advancement of expenses that cannot be settled amicably, including any ancillary claims of any party arising out of, relating to or in connection with the validity, negotiation, execution, interpretation, performance or non-performance of this Agreement (including without limitation the arbitrability of any issue under this Agreement and the validity, scope and enforceability of this arbitration provision) may, at the Indemnitee's option, be finally settled by arbitration conducted by a single arbitrator in Houston, Texas in accordance with the then-existing Rules of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce. If the parties to the dispute fail to agree on the selection of an arbitrator within 30 days of the receipt of the request for arbitration, the International Chamber of Commerce shall make the appointment. The arbitrator shall be a lawyer and shall conduct the proceedings in the English language. Performance under this Agreement shall continue if reasonably possible during any arbitration proceedings. Except as required by law or as may be reasonably required in connection with ancillary judicial proceedings to compel

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arbitration, to obtain temporary or preliminary judicial relief in aid of arbitration, or to confirm or challenge an arbitration award, the arbitration proceedings, including any hearings, shall be confidential, and the parties shall not disclose any awards, any materials produced in the proceedings created for the purpose of the arbitration, or any documents produced by another party in the proceedings not otherwise in the public domain.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Except with respect to any dispute regarding an Indemnitee's entitlement to indemnification or advancement of expenses or related claims that may be settled in arbitration pursuant to Section 17(a), each party hereby (i) irrevocably agrees that any claims, suits, actions or proceedings arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement (including any claims, suits or actions to interpret, apply or enforce this Section 17 or any judicial proceeding ancillary to an arbitration or contemplated arbitration arising out of or relating to or concerning this Agreement), shall be exclusively brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, if such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction thereof, any other court in the State of Delaware with subject matter jurisdiction; (ii) irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in connection with any such claim, suit, action or proceeding; (iii) irrevocably agrees not to, and waives any right to, assert in any such claim, suit, action or proceeding that (A) it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of such courts or any other court to which proceedings in such courts may be appealed, (B) such claim, suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum, or (C) the venue of such claim, suit, action or proceeding is improper; (iv) expressly waives any requirement for the posting of a bond by a party bringing such claim, suit, action or proceeding; (v) consents to process being served in any such claim, suit, action or proceeding by mailing, certified mail, return receipt requested, a copy thereof to such party at the address in effect for notices hereunder, and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof; *provided*, that, nothing in clause (v) hereof shall affect or limit any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law; and (vi) irrevocably waives any and all right to trial by jury in any such claim, suit, action or proceeding.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, this Section 17 shall be construed to the maximum extent possible to comply with the laws of the State of Delaware, including the Delaware Uniform Arbitration Act (10 Del. C. § 5701 et seq.) (the "***<u>Delaware Arbitration Act</u>***"). If, nevertheless, it shall be determined by an arbitral tribunal or court of competent jurisdiction that any provision or wording of this Section 17, including any rules of the International Chamber of Commerce, shall be invalid or unenforceable under the Delaware Arbitration Act, or other applicable law, such invalidity shall not invalidate all of this Section 17. In that case, this Section 17 shall be construed so as to limit any term or provision so as to make it valid or enforceable within the requirements of the Delaware Arbitration Act or other applicable law, and, in the event such term or provision cannot be so limited, this Section 17 shall be construed to omit such invalid or unenforceable provision.

**Section 18.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>No Construction as Employment Agreement</u>**. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as giving the Indemnitee any right to be retained as a director of the Corporation or in the employ of the Corporation or its affiliates. For the avoidance of doubt, the indemnification and advancement of expenses provided under this Agreement shall continue as to the Indemnitee even though he or she may have ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation.

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**Section 19.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>Governing</u> <u>Law</u>**. This Agreement and any and all matters arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflict of law principles.

**Section 20.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>Counterparts</u>**. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument, notwithstanding that both parties are not signatories to the original or same counterpart.

**Section 21.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>Headings</u>**. The section and subsection headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

**Section 22.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>Effectiveness</u>**. This Agreement shall be effective, and the provisions hereof shall become operative as of the date first written above (the "***<u>Effective Time</u>***").

[*Rest of page intentionally left blank*]

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This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered to be effective as of the Effective Time.

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| INDEMNITEE: | INDEMNITEE: |
| /s/ Jarvis V. Hollingsworth | /s/ Jarvis V. Hollingsworth |
| Name: Jarvis V. Hollingsworth | Name: Jarvis V. Hollingsworth |
| CRESCENT ENERGY COMPANY | CRESCENT ENERGY COMPANY |
| By: | /s/ Bo Shi |
|  | Name: Bo Shi |
|  | Title:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;General Counsel |

---

SIGNATURE PAGE TO INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT OF

CRESCENT ENERGY COMPANY

## Exhibit 23.1

**Exhibit 23.1**

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statements on Form S-3 (Nos. 333-269152 and 333-277702) and Form S-8 (Nos. 333-261604, 333-275472 and 333-283004) of Crescent Energy Company of our reports dated February 24, 2025, relating to the consolidated financial statements of Vital Energy, Inc. and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Vital Energy, Inc., included in Vital Energy Inc.'s Annual Report (Form 10-K) as of and for the year ended December 31, 2024 incorporated by reference in this Current Report on Form 8-K of Crescent Energy Company.

/s/ Ernst & Young, LLP

Tulsa, Oklahoma

December 15, 2025

## Exhibit 23.2

**Exhibit 23.2**

**CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS**

We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement Nos. 333-269152 and 333-277702 on Form S-3 and Registration Statement Nos. 333-261604, 333-275472 and 333-283004 on Form S-8 of Crescent Energy Company in this Current Report on Form 8-K of Crescent Energy Company of our report dated April 10, 2024 relating to the financial statements of Point Energy Partners Operating, LLC, appearing in the Current Report on Form 8-K of Vital Energy, Inc. filed on September 23, 2024.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Dallas, Texas

December 15, 2025

## Exhibit 23.3

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| ![ryderscottlogo.jpg](ryderscottlogo.jpg) | ![ryderscottcompany.jpg](ryderscottcompany.jpg) |  | **EXHIBIT 23.3** |
| ![ryderscottlogo.jpg](ryderscottlogo.jpg) | TBPELS REGISTERED ENGINEERING FIRM F-1580<br>1100 LOUISIANA&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;SUITE 4600 | HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002-5294 | TELEPHONE (713) 651-9191 |

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**Consent of Independent Petroleum Engineers**

To the Board of Directors

Crescent Energy Company:

We have issued our report dated January 17, 2025, for Vital Energy, Inc. on estimates of oil, natural gas and NGL reserves estimates and forecasts of economics as of December 31, 2024. As independent oil and gas consultants, we hereby consent to the inclusion or incorporation by reference to Form S-3 (Nos. 333-269152 and 333-277702) and Form S-8 (Nos. 333-261604, 333-275472 and 333-283004) of Crescent Energy Company of our report and the information contained therein included in or made part of this Current Report on Form 8-K of Crescent Energy Company.

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| |
|:---|
| /s/ RYDER SCOTT COMPANY, L.P. |
| **RYDER SCOTT COMPANY, L.P.** |
| TBPELS Firm Registration No. F-1580 |

---

Houston, Texas

December 15, 2025

SUITE 2800, 350 7TH AVENUE, S.W. CALGARY, ALBERTA T2P 3N9 TEL (403) 262-2799 <br> 555 17TH STREET, SUITE 985 DENVER, COLORADO 80202 TEL (303) 339-8110

## Exhibit 23.4

**Exhibit 23.4**

![nsailogo.jpg](nsailogo.jpg)

<u>CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PETROLEUM ENGINEERS AND GEOLOGISTS</u>

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference to Form S-3 (Nos. 333-269152 and 333-277702) and Form S-8 (Nos. 333-261604, 333-275472 and 333-283004) of Crescent Energy Company, of all information from our reserves report as of December 31, 2023, dated August 21, 2024, with respect to estimates of oil and gas reserves and future revenue of Point Energy Partners incorporated by reference in this Current Report on Form 8-K of Crescent Energy Company.

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **NETHERLAND, SEWELL & ASSOCIATES, INC.** | **NETHERLAND, SEWELL & ASSOCIATES, INC.** |
| By: | */s/ Eric J. Stevens* |
|  | Eric J. Stevens, P.E. |
|  | President and Chief Operating Officer |

---

Dallas, Texas

December 15, 2025

## Exhibit 99.1

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| ![screenshot2025-12x15072220a.jpg](screenshot2025-12x15072220a.jpg) | **Exhibit 99.1** |

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**Crescent Energy Closes Transformative Acquisition of Vital Energy**

**Houston – December 15, 2025 –** Crescent Energy Company (NYSE: CRGY) ("Crescent" or the "Company") today announced the closing of its previously announced acquisition of Vital Energy, Inc. (NYSE: VTLE) ("Vital Energy"), creating a leading, returns-driven independent E&P company. The all-stock transaction positions Crescent as a top ten liquids-weighted independent with a consistent strategy focused on free cash flow generation, disciplined capital allocation and sustainable long-term value creation for shareholders. Crescent expects to provide pro forma 2026 guidance with its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results.

"Our combination with Vital Energy significantly enhances Crescent's free cash flow profile, operational scale and opportunity set," said David Rockecharlie, Crescent's CEO. "Through disciplined investing and operations, we have nearly tripled the size of our business over the last four years. Today we are focused on efficiently integrating our new assets and personnel, executing on identified synergies and demonstrating the full value proposition of Crescent as a leading mid-cap company."

**<u>Governance Update</u>**

Pursuant to the terms merger agreement, William Albrecht and Jarvis Hollingsworth, former directors of Vital Energy, have been appointed to Crescent's Board of Directors (the "Board") and Michael Duginski resigned from the Board in connection with the closing of the acquisition. With these changes, Crescent's Board now comprises twelve directors, ten of whom are independent. The newly appointed directors bring valuable expertise and will further strengthen Crescent's experienced and engaged Board. Additional information on Crescent's Board of Directors is available at <u>www.crescentenergyco.com</u>.

**<u>About Crescent Energy Company</u>**

Crescent is a differentiated U.S. energy company committed to delivering value for shareholders through a disciplined growth through acquisition strategy and consistent return of capital. Our long-life, balanced portfolio combines significant cash flow from stable production with deep, high-quality development inventory. The Company's investing and operating activities are focused in the Eagle Ford, Permian and Uinta basins. For additional information, please visit <u>www.crescentenergyco.com</u>.

**<u>Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements</u>**

The foregoing contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this communication that address activities, events or developments that Crescent expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Words such as "estimate," "project," "predict," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "potential," "create," "intend," "could," "may," "foresee," "plan," "will," "guidance," "look," "outlook," "goal," "future," "assume," "forecast," "build," "focus," "work," "continue" or the negative of such terms or other variations thereof and words and terms of similar substance used in connection with any discussion of future plans, actions, or events identify forward-looking statements. However, the absence of these words does not mean that the statements are not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, pro forma descriptions of the combined company and its operations, integration and transition plans, synergies, opportunities and anticipated future

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performance, Crescent's ability to close any divestitures in a timely manner or at all, and any future outlooks of Crescent. There are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements included in this communication. These include the expected timing and likelihood of completion of any divestitures, the risk that problems may arise in successfully integrating the businesses of the companies, which may result in the combined company not operating as effectively and efficiently as expected, the risk that the combined company may be unable to achieve synergies or it may take longer than expected to achieve those synergies and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. All such factors are difficult to predict and are beyond Crescent's control, including those detailed in Crescent's annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K that are available on its website at www.crescentenergyco.com and on the SEC's website at https://www.sec.gov. Crescent does not give any assurance (1) that it will achieve its expectations or (2) to any business strategies, earnings or revenue trends or future financial results. All forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that Crescent believes to be reasonable but that may not prove to be accurate. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and Crescent undertakes no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date hereof.

**<u>Crescent Energy Investor Relations Contact</u>**

<u>IR@crescentenergyco.com</u> 

**<u>Crescent Energy Media Contact</u>**

<u>Media@crescentenergyco.com</u>