Business Combination

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Business Combinations [Abstract]

BUSINESS COMBINATION

NOTE 3 — BUSINESS COMBINATION

The Company entered into that certain Amended and Restated Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, dated as of August 28, 2023 (as amended, the “MIPA”), by and among HNRA, HNRA Upstream, LLC, a newly formed Delaware limited liability company which is managed by, and is a subsidiary of, HNRA (“OpCo”), and HNRA Partner, Inc., a newly formed Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of OpCo (“SPAC Subsidiary”, and together with the Company and OpCo, “Buyer” and each a “Buyer”), CIC Pogo LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“CIC”), DenCo Resources, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (“DenCo”), Pogo Resources Management, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (“Pogo Management”), 4400 Holdings, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (“4400” and, together with CIC, DenCo and Pogo Management, collectively, “Seller” and each a “Seller”), and, solely with respect to Section 6.20 of the MIPA, the Sponsor.

On November 15, 2023 (the “Closing Date”), as contemplated by the MIPA:

● HNRA filed a Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Second A&R Charter”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, pursuant to which the number of authorized shares of HNRA’s capital stock, par value $0.0001 per share, was increased to 121,000,000 shares, consisting of (i) 100,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”), (ii) 20,000,000 shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class B Common Stock”), and (iii) 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share;

● The current shares of common stock of HNRA were reclassified as Class A Common Stock, the Class B Common Stock have no economic rights but entitles its holder to one vote on all matters to be voted on by stockholders generally, holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and shares of Class B Common Stock will vote together as a single class on all matters presented to our stockholders for their vote or approval, except as otherwise required by applicable law or by the Second A&R Charter;

● (A) HNRA contributed to OpCo (i) all of its assets (excluding its interests in OpCo and the aggregate amount of cash required to satisfy any exercise by HNRA stockholders of their Redemption Rights (as defined below)) and (ii) 2,000,000 newly issued shares of Class B Common Stock (such shares, the “Seller Class B Shares”) and (B) in exchange therefor, OpCo issued to HNRA a number of Class A common units of OpCo (the “OpCo Class A Units”) equal to the number of total shares of Class A Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately after the closing (the “Closing”) of the transactions (the “Transactions”) contemplated by the HNRA (following the exercise by HNRA stockholders of their Redemption Rights) (such transactions, the “SPAC Contribution”);

● Immediately following the SPAC Contribution, OpCo contributed $900,000 to SPAC Subsidiary in exchange for 100% of the outstanding common stock of SPAC Subsidiary (the “SPAC Subsidiary Contribution”); and

● Immediately following the SPAC Subsidiary Contribution, Seller sold, contributed, assigned, and conveyed to (A) OpCo, and OpCo acquired and accepted from Seller, ninety-nine percent (99.0%) of the outstanding membership interests of Pogo Resources, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (“Pogo” or the “Target”), and (B) SPAC Subsidiary, and SPAC Subsidiary purchased and accepted from Seller, one percent (1.0%) of the outstanding membership interest of Target (together with the ninety-nine (99.0%) interest, the “Target Interests”), in each case, in exchange for (x) $900,000 of the Cash Consideration (as defined below) in the case of SPAC Subsidiary and (y) the remainder of the Aggregate Consideration (as defined below) in the case of OpCo (such transactions, together with the SPAC Contribution and SPAC Subsidiary Contribution, the “Acquisition”).

The “Aggregate Consideration” for the Pogo Business was (a), cash in the amount of $31,074,127 in immediately available funds (the “Cash Consideration”), (b) 2,000,000 Class B common units of OpCo (“OpCo Class B Units”) (the “Common Unit Consideration”), which will be equal to and exchangeable into 2,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the OpCo Exchange Right (as defined below), as reflected in the amended and restated limited liability company agreement of OpCo that became effective at Closing (the “A&R OpCo LLC Agreement”), (c) and the 2,000,000 Seller Class B Shares, (d) $15,000,000 payable through a promissory note to Seller (the “Seller Promissory Note”), (e) 1,500,000 preferred units of OpCo (the “OpCo Preferred Units” and together with the Opco Class A Units and the OpCo Class B Units, the “OpCo Units”) of OpCo (the “Preferred Unit Consideration”, and, together with the Common Unit Consideration, the “Unit Consideration”), and (f) an agreement to, on or before November 21, 2023, Buyer shall settle and pay to Seller $1,925,873 from sales proceeds received from oil and gas production attributable to Pogo, including pursuant to its third party contract with affiliates of Chevron. At Closing, 500,000 Seller Class B Shares (the “Escrowed Share Consideration”) were placed in escrow for the benefit of Buyer pursuant to an escrow agreement and the indemnity provisions in the MIPA. The Aggregate Consideration is subject to adjustment in accordance with the MIPA.

OpCo A&R LLC Agreement

In connection with the Closing, HNRA and Pogo Royalty, LLC, a Texas limited liability company, an affiliate of Seller and Seller’s designated recipient of the Aggregate Consideration (“Pogo Royalty”), entered into an amended and restated limited liability company agreement of OpCo (the “OpCo A&R LLC Agreement”). Pursuant to the A&R OpCo LLC Agreement, each OpCo unitholder (excluding HNRA) will, subject to certain timing procedures and other conditions set forth therein, have the right(the “OpCo Exchange Right”) to exchange all or a portion of its OpCo Class B Units for, at OpCo’s election,(i) shares of Class A Common Stock at an exchange ratio of one share of Class A Common Stock for each OpCo Class B Unit exchanged, subject to conversion rate adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends and reclassifications and other similar transactions, or (ii) an equivalent amount of cash. Additionally, the holders of OpCo Class B Units will be required to exchange all of their OpCo Class B Units (a “Mandatory Exchange”) upon the occurrence of the following: (i) upon the direction of HNRA with the consent of at least fifty percent (50%) of the holders of OpCo Class B Units; or (ii) upon the one-year anniversary of the Mandatory Conversion Trigger Date. In connection with any exchange of OpCo Class B Units pursuant to the OpCo Exchange Right or acquisition of OpCo Class B Units pursuant to a Mandatory Exchange, a corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock held by the relevant OpCo unitholder will be cancelled.

Immediately upon the Closing, Pogo Royalty exercised the OpCo Exchange Right as it relates to 200,000 OpCo Class B units (and 200,000 shares of Class B Common Stock).

The OpCo Preferred Units will be automatically converted into OpCo Class B Units on the two-year anniversary of the issuance date of such OpCo Preferred Units (the “Mandatory Conversion Trigger Date”) at a rate determined by dividing (i) $20.00 per unit (the “Stated Conversion Value”), by (ii) the Market Price of the Class A Common Stock, (the “Conversion Price”). The “Market Price” means the simple average of the daily VWAP of the Class A Common Stock during the five (5) trading days prior to the date of conversion. On the Mandatory Conversion Trigger Date, the Company will issue a number of shares of Class B Common Stock to Seller equivalent to the number of OpCo Class B Units issued to Seller. If not exchanged sooner, such newly issued OpCo Class B Units shall automatically exchange into Class A Common Stock on the one-year anniversary of the Mandatory Conversion Trigger Date at a ratio of one OpCo Class B Unit for one share of Class Common Stock. An equivalent number of shares of Class B Common Stock must be surrendered with the OpCo Class B Units to the Company in exchange for the Class A Common Stock. As noted above, the OpCo Class B Units must be exchanged upon the one-year anniversary of the Mandatory Conversion Trigger Date.

Option Agreement

In connection with the Closing, HNRA Royalties, LLC, a newly formed Delaware limited liability company and wholly-owned subsidiary of HNRA (“HNRA Royalties”) and Pogo Royalty entered into an Option Agreement (the “Option Agreement”). Pogo Royalty owns certain overriding royalty interests in certain oil and gas assets owned by Pogo Resources, LLC (the “ORR Interest”). Pursuant to the Option Agreement, Pogo Royalty granted irrevocable and exclusive option to HNRA Royalties to purchase the ORR Interest for the Option Price (as defined below) at any time prior to November 15, 2024. The option is not exercisable while the Seller Promissory Note is outstanding.

The purchase price for the ORR Interest upon exercise of the option is: (i) (1) $30,000,000 the (“Base Option Price”), plus (2) an additional amount equal to interest on the Base Option Price of twelve percent (12%), compounded monthly, from the Closing Date through the date of acquisition of the ORR Interest, minus (ii) any amounts received by Pogo Royalty in respect of the ORR Interest from the month of production in which the effective date of the Option Agreement occurs through the date of the exercise of the option (such aggregate purchase price, the “Option Price”).

The Option Agreement and the option will immediately terminate upon the earlier of (a) Pogo Royalty’s transfer or assignment of all of the ORR Interest in accordance with the Option Agreement and (b) November 15, 2024. As consideration for the Option Agreement, the Company issued 10,000 shares of Class A common stock to Pogo Royalty with a fair value of $67,700. Pogo Royalty obtained the ORR Interest effective July 1, 2023, when the Predecessor transferred to Pogo Royalty an assigned and undivided royalty interest equal in amount to ten percent (10%) of the Predecessors’ interest all oil, gas and minerals in, under and produced from each lease. The Predecessor recognized a loss on sale of assets of $816,011 in connection with this transaction.

Backstop Agreement

In connection with the Closing, HNRA entered a Backstop Agreement (the “Backstop Agreement”) with Pogo Royalty and certain of HNRA’s founders listed therein (the “Founders”) whereby the Pogo Royalty will have the right (“Put Right”) to cause the Founders to purchase Seller’s OpCo Preferred Units at a purchase price per unit equal to $10.00 per unit plus the product of (i) the number of days elapsed since the effective date of the Backstop Agreement and (ii) $10.00 divided by 730. Seller’s right to exercise the Put Right will survive for six (6) months following the date the Trust Shares (as defined below) are not restricted from transfer under the Letter Agreement (as defined in the MIPA) (the “Lockup Expiration Date”).

As security that the Founders will be able to purchase the OpCo Preferred Units upon exercise of the Put Right, the Founders agreed to place at least 1,300,000 shares of Class A Common Stock into escrow (the “Trust Shares”), which the Founders can sell or borrow against to meet their obligations upon exercise of the Put Right, with the prior consent of Seller. HNRA is not obligated to purchase the OpCo Preferred Units from Pogo Royalty under the Backstop Agreement. Until the Backstop Agreement is terminated, Pogo Royalty and its affiliates are not permitted to engage in any transaction which is designed to sell short the Class A Common Stock or any other publicly traded securities of HNRA.

Founder Pledge Agreement 

In connection with the Closing, HNRA entered a Founder Pledge Agreement (the “Founder Pledge Agreement”) with the Founders whereby, in consideration of placing the Trust Shares into escrow and entering into the Backstop Agreement, HNRA agreed: (a) by January 15, 2024, to issue to the Founders an aggregate number of newly issued shares of Class A Common Stock equal to 10% of the number of Trust Shares; (b) by January 15, 2024, to issue to the Founders number of warrants to purchase an aggregate number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to 10% of the number of Trust Shares, which such warrants shall be exercisable for five years from issuance at an exercise price of $11.50 per shares; (c) if the Backstop Agreement is not terminated prior to the Lockup Expiration Date, to issue an aggregate number of newly issued shares of Class A Common Stock equal to (i) (A) the number of Trust Shares, divided by (B) the simple average of the daily VWAP of the Class A Common Stock during the five (5) Trading Days prior to the date of the termination of the Backstop Agreement, subject to a minimum of $6.50 per share, multiplied by (C) a price between $10.00-$13.00 per share (as further described in the Founder Pledge Agreement), minus (ii) the number of Trust Shares; and (d) following the purchase of OpCo Preferred Units by a Founder pursuant to the Put Right, to issue a number of newly issued shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the number of Trust Shares sold by such Founder. Until the Founder Pledge Agreement is terminated, the Founders are not permitted to engage in any transaction which is designed to sell short the Class A Common Stock or any other publicly traded securities of HNRA.

The above description of the Founder Pledge Agreement is a summary only and is qualified in its entirety by the text of the Founder Pledge Agreement. In consideration for entering into the Backstop agreement, the Company issued the Founders an aggregate of 134,500 shares of Class A Common Stock, with a fair value of $910,565 based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock of $6.77 on November 15, 2023.

The Acquisition was accounted for as a business combination under ASC 805. The purchase price of the Pogo Business has been allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated relative fair values as follows:

Purchase Price:
Cash	$	31,074,127
Side Letter payable		1,925,873
Promissory note to Sellers of Pogo Business		15,000,000
10,000 HNRA Class A Common shares for Option Agreement		67,700
200,000 HNRA Class A Common shares		1,354,000
1,800,000 OpCo Class B Units		12,186,000
1,500,000 OpCo Preferred Units		21,220,594
Total purchase consideration	$	82,828,294
Purchase Price Allocation
Cash	$	246,323
Accounts receivable		3,986,559
Prepaid expenses		368,371
Oil & gas reserves		93,809,392
Derivative assets		51,907
Accounts payable		(2,290,475	)
Accrued liabilities and other		(1,244,633	)
Revenue and royalties payable		(775,154	)
Revenue and royalties payable, related parties		(1,199,420	)
Short-term derivative liabilities		(27,569	)
Deferred tax liabilities		(8,528,772	)
Asset retirement obligations, net		(893,235	)
Other liabilities		(675,000	)
Net assets acquired	$	82,828,294

The fair value of the Class A common shares is based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock at November 15, 2023, which was $6.77. The fair value of the OpCo Class B Units is based on the equivalent of 1,800,000 shares of Class A common stock and the same closing price. The fair value of the OpCo Preferred Units was estimated based on the present value of the maximum Stated Conversion Value of 1,500,000 units over the two-year period using a weighted average cost of capital.

As of December 31, 2023, the Company owes $645,873 of the Side Letter payable, included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet.

Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Information

The following table sets forth the pro-forma consolidated results of operations of the combined Successor Predecessor companies for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 as if the Acquisition occurred on January 1, 2022. The pro forma results of operations are presented for informational purposes only and are not indicative of the results of operations that would have been achieved if the acquisitions had taken place on the dates noted above, or of results that may occur in the future.

	Year ended December 31,
	2023		2022
Revenue	$	27,214,143	$	31,409,762
Operating income		4,962,026		8,809,272
Net income		1,486,496		3,522,642
Net income per common share	$	0.28	$	0.67
Weighted Average common shares outstanding		5,235,131		5,220,788