Document:

Exhibit 4.4

 

RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This Right Agreement (this
 “Agreement”) is made as of December [__], 2021 between ROC Energy Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation,
with offices at 16400 Dallas Parkway, Dallas, Texas 75248 (the “Company”), and Continental Stock Transfer &
Trust Company, a New York limited purposes trust company, with offices at 1 State Street, New York, New York 10004 (“Rights
Agent”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company is engaged
in an initial public offering (the “Offering”) of units of the Company’s equity securities (each, a “Unit”
and collectively, the “Units”) to EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. (the “Representative”),
as representative of the several underwriters, each such Unit comprised of one share of common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001
per share (“Common Stock”), one right to receive one-tenth of one share of Common Stock (each, a “Right”
and collectively, the “Rights”) upon the happening of an “Exchange Event” (defined
herein), and in connection therewith, has determined to issue and deliver up to 17,250,000 Rights (including up to 2,250,000 Rights subject
to the over-allotment option) to public investors in the Offering; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company has filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-260891, and the prospectus forming
a part thereof (the “Prospectus”), for the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of the
Units and each of the securities comprising the Units, and the shares of Common Stock underlying the Rights; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires
the Rights Agent to act on behalf of the Company, and the Rights Agent is willing to so act, in connection with the issuance, registration,
transfer and exchange of the Rights; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires
to provide for the form and provisions of the Rights, the terms upon which they shall be issued, and the respective rights, limitation
of rights, and immunities of the Company, the Rights Agent, and the holders of the Rights; and

 

WHEREAS, all acts and things
have been done and performed which are necessary to make the Rights, when executed on behalf of the Company and countersigned by or on
behalf of the Rights Agent, as provided herein, the valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company, and to authorize the execution
and delivery of this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration
of the mutual agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.             Appointment
of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints the Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company for the Rights, and the Rights Agent
hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to perform the same in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

 

2.             Rights.

 

2.1.         Form of
Right. Each Right shall be issued in registered form only, shall be in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto, the provisions
of which are incorporated herein and shall be signed by, or bear the facsimile signature of, the Chairman of the Board and the Secretary
of the Company and shall bear a facsimile of the Company’s seal. In the event the person whose facsimile signature has been placed
upon any Right shall have ceased to serve in the capacity in which such person signed the Right before such Right is issued, it may be
issued with the same effect as if he or she had not ceased to be such at the date of issuance.

 

2.2.         Effect
of Countersignature. Unless and until countersigned by the Rights Agent pursuant to this Agreement, a Right shall be invalid and of
no effect and may not be exchanged for shares of Common Stock.

 

2.3.         Registration.

 

2.3.1.          Right
Register. The Rights Agent shall maintain books (“Right Register”) for the registration of original
issuance and the registration of transfer of the Rights. Upon the initial issuance of the Rights, the Rights Agent shall issue and
register the Rights in the names of the respective holders thereof in such denominations and otherwise in accordance with
instructions delivered to the Rights Agent by the Company.

 

     

     

    

 

2.3.2.          Registered
Holder. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Right, the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the
person in whose name such Right shall be registered upon the Right Register (“registered holder”) as the absolute
owner of such Right and of each Right represented thereby (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing on the Right Certificate
made by anyone other than the Company or the Rights Agent), for the purpose of the exchange thereof, and for all other purposes, and neither
the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

 

2.4.          Detachability
of Rights. The securities comprising the Units, including the Rights, will not be separately transferable until ten business days
following the earlier to occur of: (i) the 90th day following the date of the Prospectus or (ii) the announcement
by EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. of its intention to allow separate earlier trading, except that in no event will the securities comprising
the Units be separately tradeable until the Company files a Current Report on Form 8-K which includes an audited balance sheet reflecting
the receipt by the Company of the gross proceeds of the Offering including the proceeds received by the Company from the exercise of the
over-allotment option, if the over-allotment option is exercised by the date thereof and the Company issues a press release and files
a Current Report on Form 8-K announcing when such separate trading shall begin.

 

3.             Terms
and Exchange of Rights

 

3.1.          Rights.
Each Right shall entitle the holder thereof to receive one-tenth of one share of Common Stock upon the happening of an Exchange Event
(defined below). No additional consideration shall be paid by a holder of Rights in order to receive his, her or its shares of Common
Stock upon an Exchange Event as the purchase price for such shares of Common Stock has been included in the purchase price for the Units.
In no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the Rights. The provisions of this Section 3.1 may not be modified, amended
or deleted without the prior written consent of the Representatives.

 

3.2.         Exchange
Event. An “Exchange Event” shall occur upon the Company’s consummation of an initial Business Combination
(as defined in the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation).

 

3.3.         Exchange
of Rights.

 

3.3.1.          Issuance
of Shares of Common Stock. As soon as practicable upon the occurrence of an Exchange Event, the Company shall direct holders of the
Rights to return their Rights Certificates to the Rights Agent. Upon receipt of a valid Rights Certificate, the Company shall issue to
the registered holder of such Right(s) a certificate or certificates, or book entry position, for the number of full shares Common
Stock to which he, she or it is entitled, registered in such name or names as may be directed by him, her or it. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
or any provision contained in this Agreement to the contrary, in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the Rights.
The Company shall not issue fractional shares upon exchange of Rights. At the time of an Exchange Event, the Company will either instruct
the Rights Agent to round up to the nearest whole share of Common Stock or otherwise inform it how fractional shares will be addressed,
in accordance with Section 155 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. Each holder of a Right will be required to affirmatively
convert his, her or its rights in order to receive the 1/10 of a share underlying each right (without paying any additional consideration)
upon consummation of the Exchange Event. Each holder of a Right will be required to indicate his, her or its election to convert the Rights
into the underlying shares as well as to return the original certificates evidencing the Rights to the Company.

 

3.3.2.          Valid
Issuance. All shares of Common Stock issued upon an Exchange Event in conformity with this Agreement shall be validly issued, fully
paid and nonassessable.

 

3.3.3.          Date
of Issuance. Each person in whose name any book entry position or certificate for shares of Common Stock is issued shall for all purposes
be deemed to have become the holder of record of such shares on the date of the Exchange Event, irrespective of the date of delivery of
such certificate.

 

3.3.4           Company
Not Surviving Following Exchange Event. Upon an Exchange Event in which the Company does not continue as the publicly held
reporting entity, the definitive agreement will provide for the holders of Rights to receive the same per share consideration the
holders of the shares of Common Stock will receive in such transaction, for the number of shares such holder is entitled to pursuant
to Section 3.3.1 above.

 

     

     

    

 

3.5          Duration
of Rights. If an Exchange Event does not occur within the time period set forth in the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate
of Incorporation, as the same may be amended from time to time, the Rights shall expire and shall be worthless.

 

4.             Transfer
and Exchange of Rights.

 

4.1.         Registration
of Transfer. The Rights Agent shall register the transfer, from time to time, of any outstanding Right upon the Right Register, upon
surrender of such Right for transfer, properly endorsed with signatures properly guaranteed and accompanied by appropriate instructions
for transfer. Upon any such transfer, a new Right representing an equal aggregate number of Rights shall be issued and the old Right shall
be cancelled by the Rights Agent. The Rights so cancelled shall be delivered by the Rights Agent to the Company from time to time upon
request.

 

4.2.         Procedure
for Surrender of Rights. Rights may be surrendered to the Rights Agent, together with a written request for exchange or transfer,
and thereupon the Rights Agent shall issue in exchange therefor one or more new Rights as requested by the registered holder of the Rights
so surrendered, representing an equal aggregate number of Rights; provided, however, that in the event that a Right surrendered for transfer
bears a restrictive legend, the Rights Agent shall not cancel such Right and issue new Rights in exchange therefor until the Rights Agent
has received an opinion of counsel for the Company stating that such transfer may be made and indicating whether the new Rights must also
bear a restrictive legend.

 

4.3.         Fractional
Rights. The Rights Agent shall not be required to effect any registration of transfer or exchange which will result in the issuance
of a Right Certificate for a fraction of a Right.

 

4.4.         Service
Charges. No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Rights.

 

4.5.         Right
Execution and Countersignature. The Rights Agent is hereby authorized to countersign and to deliver, in accordance with the terms
of this Agreement, the Rights required to be issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 4, and the Company, whenever required
by the Rights Agent, will supply the Rights Agent with Rights duly executed on behalf of the Company for such purpose.

 

5.             Other
Provisions Relating to Rights of Holders of Rights.

 

5.1.         No
Rights as Shareholder. Until exchange of a Right for shares of Common Stock as provided for herein, a Right does not entitle the registered
holder thereof to any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to receive dividends, or
other distributions, exercise any preemptive rights to vote or to consent or to receive notice as shareholders in respect of the meetings
of shareholders or the election of directors of the Company or any other matter.

 

5.2.         Lost,
Stolen, Mutilated, or Destroyed Rights. If any Right is lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed, the Company and the Rights Agent may
on such terms as to indemnity or otherwise as they may in their discretion impose (which shall, in the case of a mutilated Right, include
the surrender thereof), issue a new Right of like denomination, tenor, and date as the Right so lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed.
Any such new Right shall constitute a substitute contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the allegedly lost, stolen, mutilated,
or destroyed Right shall be at any time enforceable by anyone.

 

5.3.         Reservation
of Common Stock. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available a number of its authorized but unissued shares of Common
Stock that will be sufficient to permit the exchange of all outstanding Rights issued pursuant to this Agreement.

 

     

     

    

 

6.             Concerning
the Rights Agent and Other Matters.

 

6.1.         Payment
of Taxes. The Company will from time to time promptly pay all taxes and charges that may be imposed upon the Company or the Rights
Agent in respect of the issuance or delivery of shares of Common Stock upon the exchange of Rights, but the Company shall not be obligated
to pay any transfer taxes in respect of the Rights or such shares.

 

6.2.         Resignation,
Consolidation, or Merger of Rights Agent.

 

6.2.1.          Appointment
of Successor Rights Agent. The Rights Agent, or any successor to it hereafter appointed, may resign its duties and be discharged from
all further duties and liabilities hereunder after giving sixty (60) days’ notice in writing to the Company. If the office of the
Rights Agent becomes vacant by resignation or incapacity to act or otherwise, the Company shall appoint in writing a successor Rights
Agent in place of the Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of 30 days after it has been notified
in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the Rights Agent or by the holder of the Right (who shall, with such notice, submit his,
her or its Right for inspection by the Company), then the holder of any Right may apply to the Supreme Court of the State of New York
for the County of New York for the appointment of a successor Rights Agent at the Company’s cost. Any successor Rights Agent, whether
appointed by the Company or by such court, shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, in good
standing and having its principal office in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, and authorized under such laws to exercise
corporate trust powers and subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority. After appointment, any successor Rights
Agent shall be vested with all the authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations of its predecessor Rights Agent with
like effect as if originally named as Rights Agent hereunder, without any further act or deed; but if for any reason it becomes necessary
or appropriate, the predecessor Rights Agent shall execute and deliver, at the expense of the Company, an instrument transferring to such
successor Rights Agent all the authority, powers, and rights of such predecessor Rights Agent hereunder; and upon request of any successor
Rights Agent the Company shall make, execute, acknowledge, and deliver any and all instruments in writing for more fully and effectually
vesting in and confirming to such successor Rights Agent all such authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations.

 

6.2.2.          Notice
of Successor Rights Agent. In the event a successor Rights Agent shall be appointed, the Company shall give notice thereof to the
predecessor Rights Agent and the transfer agent for the Common Stock not later than the effective date of any such appointment.

 

6.2.3.          Merger
or Consolidation of Rights Agent. Any corporation into which the Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated or
any corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent shall be a party shall be the successor Rights Agent
under this Agreement without any further act.

 

6.3.          Fees
and Expenses of Rights Agent.

 

6.3.1.          Remuneration.
The Company agrees to pay the Rights Agent reasonable remuneration for its services as such Rights Agent hereunder and will reimburse
the Rights Agent upon demand for all expenditures that the Rights Agent may reasonably incur in the execution of its duties hereunder.

  

6.3.2.          Further
Assurances. The Company agrees to perform, execute, acknowledge, and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged, and
delivered all such further and other acts, instruments, and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Rights Agent for the carrying
out or performing of the provisions of this Agreement.

 

6.4.          Liability
of Rights Agent.

 

6.4.1.          Reliance
on Company Statement. Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement, the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary
or desirable that any fact or matter be proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such
fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved
and established by a statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer and delivered to the Rights Agent.
The Rights Agent may rely upon such statement for any action taken or suffered in good faith by it pursuant to the provisions of
this Agreement.

 

     

     

    

 

6.4.2.          Indemnity.
The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. Subject to Section 6.6
below, the Company agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent and save it harmless against any and all liabilities, including judgments, costs
and reasonable counsel fees, for anything done or omitted by the Rights Agent in the execution of this Agreement except as a result of
the Rights Agent’s gross negligence, willful misconduct, or bad faith.

 

6.4.3.          Exclusions.
The Rights Agent shall have no responsibility with respect to the validity of this Agreement or with respect to the validity or execution
of any Right (except its countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition
contained in this Agreement or in any Right; nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to
the authorization or reservation of any Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Right or as to whether any Common
Stock will when issued be valid and fully paid and nonassessable.

 

6.5.         Acceptance
of Agency. The Rights Agent hereby accepts the agency established by this Agreement and agrees to perform the same upon the terms
and conditions herein set forth.

 

6.6          Waiver.
The Rights Agent hereby waives any right of set-off or any other right, title, interest or claim of any kind (“Claim”)
in, or to any distribution of, the Trust Account (as defined in that certain Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of the date
hereof, by and between the Company and the Rights Agent as trustee thereunder) and hereby agrees not to seek recourse, reimbursement,
payment or satisfaction for any Claim against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever.

 

7.             Miscellaneous
Provisions.

 

7.1.         Successors.
All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind and inure to the
benefit of their respective successors and assigns.

 

7.2.         Notices.
Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Right to
or on the Company shall be sufficiently given when so delivered if by hand or overnight delivery or if sent by certified mail or private
courier service within five days after deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by
the Company with the Rights Agent), as follows:

 

ROC Energy Acquisition Corp.

16400 Dallas Parkway

Dallas, Texas 75248

Attn: [____________]

 

Any notice, statement or demand authorized by
this Agreement to be given or made by the holder of any Right or by the Company to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given
when so delivered if by hand or overnight delivery or if sent by certified mail or private courier service within five days after deposit
of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Rights Agent with the Company), as follows:

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

1 State Street

New York, New York 10004

Attn: Compliance Department

 

with a copy to:

 

EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.

366 Madison Avenue, 8th Floor

New York, New York 10017

Attention: Steven Levine

 

     

     

    

 

7.3.         Applicable
Law. The validity, interpretation, and performance of this Agreement and of the Rights shall be governed in all respects by the laws
of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive
laws of another jurisdiction. The Company hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of or relating in
any way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for
the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive. The Company hereby
waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Any such process or summons
to be served upon the Company may be served by transmitting a copy thereof by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested,
postage prepaid, addressed to it at the address set forth in Section 7.2 hereof. Such mailing shall be deemed personal service and
shall be legal and binding upon the Company in any action, proceeding or claim. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this
paragraph will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the
federal district courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum.

 

Any person or entity purchasing
or otherwise acquiring any interest in the Rights shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the forum provisions in this Section
7.3. If any action, the subject matter of which is within the scope the forum provisions above, is filed in a court other than a court
located within the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (a “foreign
action”) in the name of any right holder, such right holder shall be deemed to have consented to: (x) the personal jurisdiction
of the state and federal courts located within the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of
New York in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the forum provisions (an “enforcement action”),
and (y) having service of process made upon such right holder in any such enforcement action by service upon such right holder’s
counsel in the foreign action as agent for such right holder.

 

7.4.         Persons
Having Rights under this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement expressed and nothing that may be implied from any of the provisions
hereof is intended, or shall be construed, to confer upon, or give to, any person or corporation other than the parties hereto and the
registered holders of the Rights and, for the purposes of Sections 3.1, 7.4 and 7.8 hereof, the Representatives, any right, remedy,
or claim under or by reason of this Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise, or agreement hereof. The Representatives
shall be deemed to be third-party beneficiaries of this Agreement with respect to Sections 3.1, 7.4 and 7.8 hereof. All covenants,
conditions, stipulations, promises, and agreements contained in this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties
hereto (and the Representatives with respect to the Sections 3.1, 7.4 and 7.8 hereof) and their successors and assigns and of the
registered holders of the Rights. The provisions of this Section 7.4 may not be modified, amended or deleted without the prior
written consent of the Representatives.

 

7.5.         Examination
of the Right Agreement. A copy of this Agreement shall be available at all reasonable times at the office of the Rights Agent in the
Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, for inspection by the registered holder of any Right. The Rights Agent may require any
such holder to submit his, her or its Right for inspection by it.

 

7.6.         Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in any number of original or facsimile counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes
be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

7.7.         Effect
of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the
interpretation thereof.

 

     

     

    

 

7.8          Amendments.
This Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto without the consent of any registered holder for the purpose of curing any
ambiguity, or of curing, correcting or supplementing any defective provision contained herein or adding or changing any other
provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Agreement as the parties may deem necessary or desirable and that
the parties deem shall not adversely affect the interest of the registered holders. All other modifications or amendments shall
require the written consent or vote of the registered holders of a majority of the then outstanding Rights. The provisions of this
Section 7.8 may not be modified, amended or deleted without the prior written consent of the Representatives.

 

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

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

     

     

    

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly
executed by the parties hereto as of the day and year first above written.

 

	 	ROC ENERGY ACQUISITION CORP.
	 	 	 
	 	By:	 
	 	 	Name: Daniel Jeffrey Kimes
	 	 	Title:  Chief Executive Officer
	 	 	 
	 	CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY
	 	 	 
	 	By:	 
	 	 	Name: 
	 	 	Title: Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Rights Agreement]

 

     

     

    

 

Exhibit A

 

Form of Right

 

NUMBER

 

ROC ENERGY ACQUISITION CORP.

INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF DELAWARE

 

RIGHT

 

SEE REVERSE FOR

CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

 

CUSIP 77118V 207

 

THIS CERTIFIES THAT, for value
received

 

is the registered holder of a right or rights (the “Right”
or “Rights,” respectively) to receive one-tenth of one share of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”),
of ROC Energy Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), for each Right evidenced by this Right Certificate
on the Company’s completion of an initial business combination (as defined in the prospectus relating to the Company’s initial
public offering (“Prospectus”)) upon surrender of this Right Certificate pursuant to the Rights Agreement (the “Rights
Agreement”) between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Rights Agent”). In no event
will the Company be required to net cash settle any Right.

 

Upon liquidation of the Company in the event an initial business combination
is not consummated during the required period as identified in the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation,
as the same may be amended from time to time, the Right(s) shall expire and be worthless. The holder of a Right or Rights shall have no
right or interest of any kind in the Company’s trust account (as defined in the Prospectus).

 

Upon due presentment for registration of transfer of the Right Certificate
at the office or agency of the Rights Agent a new Right Certificate or Right Certificates of like tenor and evidencing in the aggregate
a like number of Rights shall be issued to the transferee in exchange for this Right Certificate, without charge except for any applicable
tax or other governmental charge.

 

The Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the registered
holder as the absolute owner of this Right Certificate (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing hereon made by anyone),
for the purpose of any conversion hereof, of any distribution to the registered holder, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company
nor the Rights Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

 

Holders of a Right or Rights are not entitled to any of the rights
of a stockholder of the Company.

 

Dated:

 

	 	 	[Corporate Seal]	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	Secretary	 	Delaware	 	Chairman of the Board 

 

     

     

    

 

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription
on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations: 

 

	TEN 

COM –	as tenants in common	UNIF GIFT 

MIN ACT -	______ Custodian ______
	TEN 

ENT –	as tenants by the entireties	 	(Cust)                        (Minor)
	JT TEN –	as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common	 	under U.S. Uniform Gifts to Minors Act

 ______________

 

Additional Abbreviations may also be used though
not in the above list.

 

ROC ENERGY ACQUISITION CORP.

 

The Company will furnish without charge to each
shareholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each
class of stock or series thereof of the Company and the qualifications, limitations, or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.
This certificate and the rights represented thereby are issued and shall be held subject to all the provisions of the Rights Agreement,
and all amendments thereto, to all of which the holder of this certificate by acceptance hereof assents.

 

For value received, ___________________________
hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto

 

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

 

	 

 

	 	 
	(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE(S))	 

 

Rights represented by the within Certificate, and do
hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint

 

___________________________________________________________________________________Attorney
to transfer the said rights on the books of the within named Company will full power of substitution in the premises.

 

	Dated	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	Notice:	The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.

 

	Signature(s) Guaranteed:
	 
	 
	THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15).Exhibit 10.1

 

____________ __, 2021

ROC Energy
Acquisition Corp.

16400 Dallas
Parkway

Dallas, Texas
75248

 

EarlyBirdCapital,
Inc.

366 Madison
Ave 8th Floor

New York, NY
10017

 

	 	Re:	Initial Public Offering

 

Gentlemen:

 

This letter is being delivered
to you in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) entered into by and between
ROC Energy Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. as representative
(the “Representative”) of the several Underwriters named in Schedule A thereto (the “Underwriters”),
relating to an underwritten initial public offering (the “IPO”) of the Company’s units (the “Units”),
each comprised of one share of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”),
and one right to receive one-tenth of one share of Common Stock (each, a “Right”). Certain capitalized terms
used herein are defined in paragraph 13 hereof.

 

In order to induce the Company
and the Underwriters to enter into the Underwriting Agreement and to proceed with the IPO, and in recognition of the benefit that such
IPO will confer upon the undersigned, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged,
the undersigned hereby agrees with the Company as follows:

 

1. If the Company solicits
approval of its stockholders of a Business Combination, the undersigned will vote all shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by him,
her, or it, whether acquired before, in, or after the IPO, in favor of such Business Combination.

 

2. (a) In the event that the
Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within the time period set forth in the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate
of Incorporation, as the same may be amended from time to time (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), the undersigned
will, as promptly as possible, cause the Company to pay in cash to the holders of IPO Shares a per-share price equal to the aggregate
amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the Trust Account net of interest released to the Company as
permitted pursuant to the Trust Agreement, divided by the number of then outstanding IPO Shares.

 

(b) The undersigned hereby
waives any and all right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any distribution of the Trust Account (“Claim”)
with respect to the shares of Founders’ Common Stock owned by the undersigned and hereby waives any Claim the undersigned may have
in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any contracts or agreements with the Company and will not seek recourse against the Trust
Account for any reason whatsoever. The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that there will be no distribution from the Trust Account with
respect to any Rights, all rights of which will terminate on the Company’s liquidation.

 

(c) In the event of the liquidation
of the Trust Account, ROC Energy Holding, LLC (“Sponsor”) agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company
for any debts and obligations to target businesses or vendors or other entities that are owed money by the Company for services rendered
or contracted for or products sold to the Company, but only to the extent necessary to ensure that such debt or obligation does not reduce
the amount of funds in the Trust Account below $10.10 per share; provided that such indemnity shall not apply (i) if such vendor or prospective
target business executed an agreement waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind they may have in or to any monies held in
the Trust Account, or (ii) as to any claims under the Company’s obligation to indemnify the Underwriters against certain liabilities,
including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

 

     

     

    

 

3. The undersigned
acknowledges and agrees that prior to entering into a Business Combination with a target business that is affiliated with any
Insiders of the Company or their affiliates, such transaction must be approved by a majority of the Company’s disinterested
independent directors and the Company must obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm, or another independent
entity that commonly renders valuation opinions, that such Business Combination is fair to the Company’s unaffiliated
stockholders from a financial point of view.

 

4. Neither the undersigned
nor any affiliate of the undersigned will be entitled to receive and will not accept any compensation or other cash payment prior to,
or for services rendered in order to effectuate, the consummation of the Business Combination; provided that the Company shall be allowed
to make the payments set forth in the Registration Statement under the caption “Prospectus Summary – The Offering –
Limited payments to insiders.” At the closing of the Business Combination, the Company may also pay consulting, success or finder
fees to the undersigned or their respective affiliates in the event that such persons provide the Company with specific target company,
industry, financial or market expertise, as well as insights, relationships, services or resources in order to assess, negotiate and consummate
the Business Combination. The amount of any such fee, which shall not exceed an aggregate of $[_____] will be based upon the prevailing
market for similar services for comparable transactions at such time, and will be subject to the review of the Company's audit committee
pursuant to the audit committee's policies and procedures relating to transactions that may present conflicts of interest.

 

5. (a) The undersigned will
place into escrow all shares of Founders’ Common Stock owned by him/her/it pursuant to the terms of a Stock Escrow Agreement which
the Company will enter into with the undersigned and an escrow agent.

 

(b) The undersigned agrees
that the Private Units and underlying securities will not be transferable until 30 days after the completion of a Business Combination.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, transfers of such securities are permitted (a) to the Company’s officers or directors, any affiliate
or family member of any of the Company’s officers or directors, any affiliate of the Sponsor or to any members of the Sponsor or
any of their affiliates; (b) in the case of an individual, by gift to a member of such individual’s immediate family or to a trust,
the beneficiary of which is a member of such individual’s immediate family, an affiliate of such individual or to a charitable organization;
(c) in the case of an individual, by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon death of such individual; (d) in the case of an individual,
pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; (e) by private sales or transfers made in connection with any forward purchase agreement
or similar arrangement or in connection with the consummation of an initial Business Combination at prices no greater than the price at
which the securities were originally purchased; (f) in the event of the Company’s liquidation prior to the completion of an initial
Business Combination; (g) by virtue of the laws of the State of Delaware or the Sponsor’s limited liability company agreement upon
dissolution of the Sponsor; or (h) in the event of the Company’s liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange or other similar transaction
that results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities
or other property subsequent to the Company’s completion of an initial Business Combination; provided, however, that in the case
of clauses (a) through (e) or (g), these permitted transferees must enter into a written agreement with the Company agreeing to be bound
by the transfer restrictions herein and the other restrictions contained in this Agreement (including provisions relating to voting, the
Trust Account and liquidating distributions).

 

6. (a) In order to minimize
potential conflicts of interest that may arise from multiple corporate affiliations, the undersigned hereby agrees that until the earliest
of the Company’s initial Business Combination or liquidation, the undersigned shall present to the Company for its consideration,
prior to presentation to any other entity, any suitable target business, subject to any pre-existing fiduciary or contractual obligations
the undersigned might have.

 

(b) The undersigned hereby
agrees and acknowledges that (i) each of the Underwriters and the Company may be irreparably injured in the event of a breach of any of
the obligations contained in this letter, (ii) monetary damages may not be an adequate remedy for such breach and (iii) the non-breaching
party shall be entitled to injunctive relief, in addition to any other remedy that such party may have in law or in equity, in the event
of such breach.

 

     

     

    

 

7. Each of the
undersigned individuals agrees to be the director or officer of the Company as described in the Registration Agreement until the
earlier of the consummation by the Company of a Business Combination or the liquidation of the Company. Each of the undersigned
individuals’ biographical information previously furnished to the Company and the Representative is true and accurate in all
respects, does not omit any material information with respect to the undersigned’s background and contains all of the
information required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 401 of Regulation S-K, promulgated under the Securities Act. The
undersigned’s FINRA Questionnaire previously furnished to the Company and the Representative is true and accurate in all
respects. The undersigned represents and warrants that:

 

(a) he/she/it has never had
a petition under the federal bankruptcy laws or any state insolvency law been filed by or against (i) him/her/it or any partnership in
which he/she/it was a general partner at or within two years before the time of filing; or (ii) any corporation or business association
of which he/she/it was an executive officer at or within two years before the time of such filing;

 

(b) he/she/it has never had
a receiver, fiscal agent or similar officer been appointed by a court for his/her/its business or property, or any such partnership;

 

(c) he/she/it has never been convicted of fraud
in a civil or criminal proceeding;

 

(d) he/she/it/ has never been
convicted in a criminal proceeding or named the subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and minor offenses);

 

(e) he/she/it has never been
the subject of any order, judgment or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any court of competent jurisdiction,
permanently or temporarily enjoining or otherwise limiting him/her/it from (i) acting as a futures commission merchant, introducing broker,
commodity trading advisor, commodity pool operator, floor broker, leverage transaction merchant, any other person regulated by the Commodity
Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) or an associated person of any of the foregoing, or as an investment adviser,
underwriter, broker or dealer in securities, or as an affiliated person, director or employee of any investment company, bank, savings
and loan association or insurance company, or from engaging in or continuing any conduct or practice in connection with any such activity;
or (ii) engaging in any type of business practice; or (iii) engaging in any activity in connection with the purchase or sale of any security
or commodity or in connection with any violation of federal or state securities or federal commodities laws;

 

(f) he/she/it has never been
the subject of any order, judgment or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any federal or state authority barring,
suspending or otherwise limiting for more than 60 days his/her/its right to engage in any activity described in 9(e)(i) above, or to be
associated with persons engaged in any such activity;

 

(g) he/she/it has never been
found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by the SEC to have violated any federal or state securities law, where
the judgment in such civil action or finding by the SEC has not been subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated;

 

(h) he/she/it has never been
found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by the CFTC to have violated any federal commodities law, where the judgment
in such civil action or finding by the CFTC has not been subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated;

 

(i) he/she/it has never been
the subject of, or a party to, any Federal or State judicial or administrative order, judgment, decree or finding, not subsequently reversed,
suspended or vacated, relating to an alleged violation of (i) any Federal or State securities or commodities law or regulation, (ii) any
law or regulation respecting financial institutions or insurance companies including, but not limited to, a temporary or permanent injunction,
order of disgorgement or restitution, civil money penalty or temporary or permanent cease-and desist order, or removal or prohibition
order or (iii) any law or regulation prohibiting mail or wire fraud or fraud in connection with any business entity;

 

(j) he/she/it has never been
the subject of, or party to, any sanction or order, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, or any self-regulatory organization,
any registered entity, or any equivalent exchange, association, entity or organization that has disciplinary authority over its members
or persons associated with a member;

 

(k) he/she/it has never
been convicted of any felony or misdemeanor: (i) in connection with the purchase or sale of any security; (ii) involving the making
of any false filing with the SEC; or (iii) arising out of the conduct of the business of an underwriter, broker, dealer, municipal
securities dealer, investment advisor or paid solicitor of purchasers of securities;

 

     

     

    

 

(l) he/she/it was never subject
to a final order of a state securities commission (or an agency of officer of a state performing like functions); a state authority that
supervises or examines banks, savings associations, or credit unions; a state insurance commission (or an agency or officer of a state
performing like functions); an appropriate federal banking agency; the Commodity Futures Trading Commission; or the National Credit Union
Administration that is based on a violation of any law or regulation that prohibits fraudulent, manipulative, or deceptive conduct;

 

(m) he/she/it has never been
subject to any order, judgment or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction, that, at the time of such sale, restrained or enjoined
him/her/it from engaging or continuing to engage in any conduct or practice: (i) in connection with the purchase or sale of any security;
(ii) involving the making of any false filing with the SEC; or (iii) arising out of the conduct of the business of an underwriter, broker,
dealer, municipal securities dealer, investment adviser or paid solicitor of purchasers of securities;

 

(n) he/she/it has never been
subject to any order of the SEC that orders him/her/it to cease and desist from committing or causing a future violation of: (i) any scienter-based
anti-fraud provision of the federal securities laws, including, but not limited to, Section 17(a)(1) of the Securities Act, Section 10(b)
of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, and Section 206(1) of the Advisers Act or any other rule or regulation thereunder; or (ii)
Section 5 of the Securities Act;

 

(o) he/she/it has never been
named as an underwriter in any registration statement or Regulation A offering statement filed with the SEC that was the subject of a
refusal order, stop order, or order suspending the Regulation A exemption, or is, currently, the subject of an investigation or proceeding
to determine whether a stop order or suspension order should be issued;

 

(p) he/she/it has never been
subject to a United States Postal Service false representation order, or is currently subject to a temporary restraining order or preliminary
injunction with respect to conduct alleged by the United States Postal Service to constitute a scheme or device for obtaining money or
property through the mail by means of false representations;

 

(q) he/she/it is not subject
to a final order of a state securities commission (or an agency of officer of a state performing like functions); a state authority that
supervises or examines banks, savings associations, or credit unions; a state insurance commission (or an agency or officer of a state
performing like functions); an appropriate federal banking agency; the Commodity Futures Trading Commission; or the National Credit Union
Administration that bars the undersigned from: (i) association with an entity regulated by such commission, authority, agency or officer;
(ii) engaging in the business of securities, insurance or banking; or (iii) engaging in savings association or credit union activities;

 

(r) he/she/it is not subject
to an order of the SEC entered pursuant to section 15(b) or 15B(c) of the Exchange Act, or section 203(e) or 203(f) of the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”), that: (i) suspends or revokes the undersigned’s registration
as a broker, dealer, municipal securities dealer or investment adviser; (ii) places limitations on the activities, functions or operations
of, or imposes civil money penalties on, such person; or (iii) bars the undersigned from being associated with any entity or from participating
in the offering of any penny stock; and

 

(s) he/she/it has never been
suspended or expelled from membership in, or suspended or barred from association with a member of, a securities self-regulatory organization
(e.g., a registered national securities exchange or a registered national or affiliated securities association) for any act or omission
to act constituting conduct inconsistent with just and equitable principles of trade.

 

8. The undersigned has full
right and power, without violating any agreement by which he, she or it is bound, to enter into this letter agreement and to serve as
a director and/or officer of the Company.

 

9. The undersigned
hereby waives any right to exercise conversion rights with respect to any shares of the Company’s Common Stock owned or to be
owned by the undersigned, directly or indirectly (or to sell such shares to the Company in a tender offer), whether such shares be
part of the Founders’ Common Stock or shares purchased by the undersigned in the IPO or in the aftermarket, and agrees not to
seek conversion with respect to such shares in connection with any vote to approve a Business Combination (or sell such shares to
the Company in a tender offer in connection with such a Business Combination).

 

     

     

    

 

10. The undersigned hereby
agrees to not propose, or vote in favor of, an amendment to Article Sixth of the Certificate of Incorporation prior to the consummation
of a Business Combination unless the Company provides public stockholders with the opportunity to convert their shares of Common Stock
upon such approval in accordance with such Article Sixth thereof.

 

11. (a) In the event that
the Company does not consummate a Business Combination and must liquidate and its remaining net assets are insufficient to complete such
liquidation, Sponsor agrees to advance such funds necessary to complete such liquidation and agrees not to seek repayment for such expenses.

 

(b) In the event that the
Company is not able to consummate a Business Combination within 12 months and Sponsor requests that the Company extends the period of
time to consummate a business combination up to two times, each by an additional three-month period pursuant to the Company’s Certificate
of Incorporation (each an “Extension”), for each Extension the Sponsor will, upon five days advance notice prior
to the applicable deadline, deposit into the Trust Account $1,500,000, or $1,725,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option
is exercised in full ($0.10 per Unit in either case) pursuant to the terms of the Certificate of Incorporation and the Trust Agreement.
Any such payments will be made in the form of non-interest bearing loans. If the Company completes its initial Business Combination, the
Company will, at the option of the Sponsor, either (i) repay such loaned amounts out of the proceeds of the Trust Account released to
the Company or (ii) convert a portion or all of the total loan amount into units at a price of $10.00 per unit, which units will be identical
to the Private Units. If the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the applicable period of time, the loans will not
be repaid, and Sponsor agrees to waive its right to be repaid such loans. Sponsor is under no obligation to fund the Trust Account to
extend the time for the Company to complete its initial Business Combination.

 

12. This letter agreement
shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts
of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction. Each of the Company and the undersigned
hereby (i) agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against him arising out of or relating in any way to this letter agreement (a “Proceeding”)
shall be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York of the United States of America for the Southern District of New
York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive and (ii) waives any objection to such exclusive
jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum.

 

13. As used herein, (i) a
 “Business Combination” means a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization,
reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities; (ii) “Insiders”
means all officers, directors and sponsor of the Company immediately prior to the IPO; (iii) “Founders’ Common Stock”
means all of the shares of Common Stock of the Company acquired by an Insider prior to the IPO; (iv) “IPO Shares”
means the shares of Common Stock issued in the Company’s IPO; (v) “Private Units” means the Units that
are being sold privately by the Company to the Sponsor simultaneously with the consummation of the IPO; (vi) “Trust Agreement”
means the Investment Management Trust Agreement between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company being entered into
in connection with the IPO and governing the use of funds held in the Trust Account; (vii) “Trust Account” means
the trust account into which a portion of the net proceeds of the IPO will be deposited; and (viii) “Registration Statement”
means the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 (SEC File No. 333-[ ]) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

14. This Letter Agreement
constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior
understandings, agreements, or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, to the extent they relate in any way to
the subject matter hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby. This Letter Agreement may not be changed, amended, modified or waived
(other than to correct a typographical error), except by a written instrument executed by all parties hereto.

 

15. Each of the
undersigned acknowledges and understands that the Underwriters and the Company will rely upon the agreements, representations and
warranties set forth herein in proceeding with the IPO. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to render the Underwriters a
representative of, or a fiduciary with respect to, the Company, its stockholders or any creditor or vendor of the Company with
respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

     

     

    

 

	 	Sincerely,
	 	 	 
	 	ROC ENERGY HOLDINGS, LLC
	 	 	 
	 	By:	 
	 	 	Name: 
	 	 	Title:
	 	 	 
	 	By:	 
	 	 	Name: Daniel Jeffrey Kimes
	 	 	 
	 	By:	 
	 	 	Name: Rosemarie Cicales

 

	 	By:	 
	 	 	Name: Brian Minnehan

 

	 	By:	 
	 	 	Name: Alberto Pontonio

 

	 	By:	 
	 	 	Name: Lee Canaan

 

	 	By:	 
	 	 	Name: Win Graham

 

	 	By:	 
	 	 	Name: Joseph Colonnetta

 

	 	By:	 
	 	 	Name: Joseph Drysdale

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