Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As required by Rule 13a-15(b) under the Exchange Act, HighPeak Energy has evaluated, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including HighPeak Energy’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the fiscal year covered by this Annual Report. Based on such evaluation, HighPeak Energy’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that as of such date, its disclosure controls and procedures were effective. The Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by it in reports that it files under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes to the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the three months ended December 31, 2025 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Management ’ s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Management is responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act.
As required by Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act, management, with the participation of our principal executive and principal financial officers, assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025, using the criteria in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on this evaluation, management believes that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2025.
Weaver and Tidwell, L.L.P., the independent registered public accounting firm that audited our consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report, has also audited the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025 and has issued an attestation report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025. Please see their "Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm" included above.
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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
Trading Plans
None of our directors or executive officers adopted or terminated a Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement or adopted or terminated a non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement (as defined in Item 408(c) of Regulation S-K) during the quarter ended December 31, 2025.
Second Amendment to Term Loan Credit Agreement
On March 5, 2026, the Company entered into the Second Amendment to Term Loan Credit Agreement, effective December 30, 2025, whereby, among other things, (i) the Company will be required to maintain an asset coverage ratio of not less than 1.00 to 1.00 for the Fourth Quarter of 2025 and the First Quarter of 2026, representing a 0.25x decrease in the required ratio levels for such quarters, (ii) the Company will be required to maintain a total net leverage ratio of not greater than 2.50 to 1.00 for the Fourth Quarter of 2025 and the First Quarter of 2026, representing a 0.50x increase in the required ratio levels for such quarters, (iii) the Company’s hedging obligations will be increased requiring it to maintain hedging agreements with respect to 75% of its proved developed producing oil production for the period from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027 and 60% of its proved developed producing oil production for the period from April 1, 2027 to September 30, 2027, in each case as provided in the January 1, 2026 reserve report and (iv) the Company will be prohibited from making quarterly dividends on its common stock until September 30, 2026. For the Second Quarter of 2026 and quarterly periods ending thereafter, the required asset coverage ratio and total net leverage ratio levels will reset to the levels in effect for such quarters prior to these amendments.
The foregoing description of the Second Amendment to Term Loan Credit Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Second Amendment to Term Loan Credit Agreement, a copy of which is filed hereto as Exhibit 10.17 and incorporated by reference herein.
Third Amendment to Senior Credit Facility Agreement
On March 5, 2026, the Company entered into the Third Amendment to the Senior Credit Facility Agreement, effective December 30, 2025, whereby, among other things, (i) the Company will be required to maintain an asset coverage ratio of not less than 1.00 to 1.00 for the Fourth Quarter of 2025 and the First Quarter of 2026, representing a 0.25x decrease in the required ratio levels for such quarters, (ii) the Company will be required to maintain a total net leverage ratio of not greater than 2.50 to 1.00 for the Fourth Quarter of 2025 and the First Quarter of 2026, representing a 0.50x increase in the required ratio levels for such quarters, (iii) the Company’s hedging obligations will be increased requiring it to maintain hedging agreements with respect to 75% of its proved developed producing oil production for the period from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027 and 60% of its proved developed producing oil production for the period from April 1, 2027 to September 30, 2027, in each case as provided in the January 1, 2026 reserve report and (iv) the Company will be prohibited from making quarterly dividends on its common stock until September 30, 2026. For the Second Quarter of 2026 and quarterly periods ending thereafter, the required asset coverage ratio and total net leverage ratio levels will reset to the levels in effect for such quarters prior to these amendments.
The foregoing description of the Third Amendment to Senior Credit Facility Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Third Amendment to Senior Credit Facility Agreement, a copy of which is filed hereto as Exhibit 10.18 and incorporated by reference herein.
ITEM 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS
Not applicable.
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ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Item 10 will be incorporated by reference pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act. We expect to file a definitive proxy statement with the SEC within 120 days after the close of the year ended December 31, 2025.
We have adopted a Code of Conduct that applies to all of our directors, officers and employees, including our principal executive, principal financial and principal accounting officers, or persons performing similar functions. We have also adopted a Financial Code of Ethics that applies to our principal executive, principal financial and principal accounting officers and other senior financial officers. Our Code of Conduct and Financial Code of Ethics are posted on our website at https://ir.highpeakenergy.com on the “Governance Highlights” page under the “Corporate Governance” tab. We intend to disclose future amendments and waivers to certain provisions of the Code of Conduct and Financial Code of Ethics on our website within four business days following the date of the amendment or waiver.”
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information required in response to this item will be set forth in HighPeak Energy’s Definitive Proxy Statement, to be filed within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Annual Report and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The information required in response to this item will be set forth in HighPeak Energy’s Definitive Proxy Statement, to be filed within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Annual Report and is incorporated herein by reference.
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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The information required in response to this item will be set forth in HighPeak Energy’s Definitive Proxy Statement, to be filed within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Annual Report and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
Our independent registered public accounting firm is Weaver and Tidwell, L.L.P., Fort Worth, TX, PCAOB ID No. 410.
The information required in response to this item will be set forth in HighPeak Energy’s Definitive Proxy Statement, to be filed within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Annual Report and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a)
Listing of Financial Statements
Financial Statements
The following consolidated financial statements are included in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”:
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Unaudited Supplementary Data
(b)
Exhibits
The exhibits to this Annual Report required to be filed pursuant to Item 15(b) are listed below.
(c)
Financial Statement Schedules
Financial statement schedules have been omitted because they either are not required, not applicable, or the information required to be presented is included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related notes.
Exhibits
Exhibit
Number
Description
3.1
Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of HighPeak Energy, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’ s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-39464) filed with the SEC on June 2, 2023).
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3.2
Amended and Restated Bylaws of HighPeak Energy, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-39464) filed with the SEC on November 9, 2020).
4.1
Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of August 21, 2020, by and among HighPeak Energy, Inc., HighPeak Pure Acquisition, LLC, HighPeak Energy, LP, HighPeak Energy II, LP, HighPeak Energy III, LP and certain other security holders named therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-39464) filed with the SEC on August 27, 2020).
4.2
Stockholders’ Agreement, dated as of August 21, 2020, by and among HighPeak Energy, Inc., HighPeak Pure Acquisition, LLC, HighPeak Energy, LP, HighPeak Energy II, LP, HighPeak Energy III, LP, Jack Hightower and certain directors of Pure Acquisition Corp. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company ’ s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-39464) filed with the SEC on August 27, 2020).
4.3
Description of Securities Registered Under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 (File No. 001-39464) filed with the SEC on March 15, 2021).
10.1
HighPeak Energy, Inc. Second Amended and Restated Long Term Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’ s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-39464) filed with the SEC on March 6, 2023).
10.2
Form of Stock Option Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’ s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-39464) filed with the SEC on August 27, 2020).
10.3
Form of Indemnification Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’ s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-39464) filed with the SEC on November 9, 2020).
123
10.4+
Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated September 12, 2023, by and between HighPeak Energy, Inc., as borrower, Texas Capital Bank, as administrative agent, Chambers Energy Management, LP, as collateral agent, and the lenders from time-to-time party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’ s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-39464) filed with the SEC on September 15, 2023).
10.5+
Collateral Agency Agreement, dated September 12, 2023, by and between HighPeak Energy, Inc., Texas Capital Bank, as collateral agent, Chambers Energy Management, LP, as term representative, and Mercuria Energy Trading SA, as first out representative (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company ’ s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-39464) filed with the SEC on September 15, 2023).
10.6+
Revolving Credit Agreement, dated November 1, 2023, by and between HighPeak Energy, Inc., as borrower Fifth Third Bank, National Association, as administrative agent and collateral agent, and lenders party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company ’ s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-39464) filed with the SEC on November 6, 2023).
10.7
First Amendment to the Senior Credit Facility Agreement, dated as of March 29, 2024, by and between HighPeak Energy, Inc., Fifth Third Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, each Guarantor party thereto and the lenders party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’ s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-39464) filed with the SEC on April 2, 2024).
10.8
Second Amendment to Revolving Credit Agreement, dated August 1, 2025, by and among HighPeak Energy, Inc., as borrower, Fifth Third Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, the guarantors party thereto and the lenders party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’ s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-39464) filed with the SEC on August 4, 2025).
10.9
Master Assignment and First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated August 1, 2025, by and among HighPeak Energy, Inc., as borrower, the guarantors party thereto, Texas Capital Bank, as administrative agent, Chambers Energy Management, LP, as collateral agent, and the lenders party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’ s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-39464) filed with the SEC on August 4, 2025).
10.10
HighPeak Energy, Inc. Change in Control Plan and Summary Plan Description (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company ’ s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-39464) filed with the SEC on September 15, 2025).
10.11
Form of Dividend Equivalent Award Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Company’ s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-39464) filed with the SEC on August 9, 2021).
10.12
Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Company’ s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-249888) filed with the SEC on November 5, 2020).
10.13
Form of Amendment to Restricted Stock Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the Company’ s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-39464) filed with the SEC on March 10, 2025).
10.14
Form of Cash Award Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Company’ s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-39464) filed with the SEC on March 7, 2022).
10.15
Form of Subscription Agreement, by and among HighPeak Energy, Inc. and the purchaser party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’ s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-39464) filed with the SEC on August 24, 2022).
10.16†
Separation Agreement and General Release of Claims by and between the Company and Jack Hightower, effective September 15, 2025 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’ s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-39464) filed with the SEC on September 16, 2025).
10.17*
Second Amendment to Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated March 5, 2026, by and between HighPeak Energy, Inc., as borrower, Texas Capital Bank, as administrative agent, Chambers Energy Management, LP, as collateral agent, and the lenders from time-to-time party thereto.
10.18*
Third Amendment to the Senior Credit Facility Agreement, dated as of March 5, 2026, by and between HighPeak Energy, Inc., Fifth Third Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, each Guarantor party thereto and the lenders party thereto.
19.1
HighPeak Energy, Inc. Insider Trading Policy (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 19.1 to the Company ’ s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-39464) filed with the SEC on March 10, 2025).
21.1
List of Subsidiaries (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 21.1 to the Company’ s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-39464) filed with the SEC on March 6, 2024).
23.1*
Consent of Weaver and Tidwell, L.L.P., independent registered public accounting firm for HighPeak Energy, Inc.
23.2*
Consent of Cawley, Gillespie & Associates, Inc.
31.1*
Certification of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. Section 7241).
31.2*
Certification of the Company’s Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. Section 7241).
32.1**
Certification of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. Section 1350).
124
32.2**
Certification of the Company’s Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. Section 1350).
97.1
High Peak Energy, Inc. Incentive-Based Compensation Recoupment Policy effective December 1, 2023 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 97.1 to the Company’ s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-39464) filed with the SEC on March 6, 2024).
99.1*
Reserve Report of HighPeak Energy as of December 31, 2025.
99.2
Reserve Report of HighPeak Energy as of December 31, 2024 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’ s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-39464) filed with the SEC on March 10, 2025).
99.3
Reserve Report of HighPeak Energy as of December 31, 2023 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’ s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-39464) filed with the SEC on March 6, 2024).
101.INS**
Inline XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH**
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL**
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF**
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB**
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE**
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
104
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).
*
Filed herewith.
**
Furnished herewith.
†
Management contract or compensatory plan or agreement.
+
Schedules and similar attachments have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The Company agrees to furnish a supplemental copy of any omitted schedules or attachments to the SEC upon request.
#
Pursuant to Regulation S-K, Item 601(b)(2), the Exhibits and Schedules to the Purchase Agreement referenced in Exhibit 2.1, Exhibit 2.2, Exhibit 2.3, Exhibit 2.4 and Exhibit 4.9, respectively, above, have not been filed. The registrant agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted Exhibit or Schedule to the SEC upon request; provided, however, that the registrant may request confidential treatment of omitted items.
Further, certain portions of these exhibits have been omitted and include a prominent statement on the first page that certain identified information has been excluded from the exhibit because it is both (i) not material and (ii) is the type that the registrant treats as private or confidential as required by Item 601(b)(2)(ii) of Regulation S-K. Information that was omitted has been noted in the exhibit with a placeholder identified by the mark “[***]” to indicate where omissions have been made.
ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY
None.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
HIGHPEAK ENERGY, INC.
March 11, 2026
By:
/s/ Steven Tholen
Steven Tholen
Chief Financial Officer
March 11, 2026
By:
/s/ Keith Forbes
Keith Forbes
Vice President, Controller
126
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
/s/ MIKE HOLLIS
President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)
March 11, 2026
Mike Hollis
/s/ STEVEN THOLEN
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)
March 11, 2026
Steven Tholen
/s/ KEITH FORBES
Vice President, Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)
March 11, 2026
Keith Forbes
/s/ JAY M. CHERNOSKY
Director
March 11, 2026
Jay M. Chernosky
/s/ KEITH A. COVINGTON
Director
March 11, 2026
Keith A. Covington
/s/ JASON A. EDGEWORTH
Chairman of the Board
March 11, 2026
Jason A. Edgeworth
/s/ SHARON FULGHAM
Director
March 11, 2026
Sharon Fulgham
/s/ LARRY C. OLDHAM
Director
March 11, 2026
Larry C. Oldham
/s/ DANIEL SILVER
Executive Vice President and Director
March 11, 2026
Daniel Silver
127