Exhibit 5.1
| 98 SAN JACINTO BLVD.
TEL +1 512.322.2500 FAX +1 512.322.2501 BakerBotts.com | AUSTIN BEIJING BRUSSELS DALLAS DUBAI HONG KONG HOUSTON | LONDON MOSCOW NEW YORK PALO ALTO RIYADH SAN FRANCISCO WASHINGTON |
May 24, 2016
Jones Energy, Inc.
807 Las Cimas Parkway
Suite 350
Austin, TX 78746
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel for Jones Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and certain of its subsidiaries with respect to the preparation of the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) filed on or about the date hereof with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) in connection with the registration by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) of the offer and sale by the Company from time to time, pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, of (i) debt securities, which may be either senior or subordinated and may be issued in one or more series, consisting of notes, debentures or other evidences of indebtedness (the “Debt Securities”) and which may be fully and unconditionally guaranteed (the “Guarantees”) by the Company’s subsidiaries listed as co-registrants in the Registration Statement (the “Subsidiary Guarantors”); (ii) shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company, in one or more series (the “Preferred Stock”), which may be issued in the form of depositary shares evidenced by depositary receipts (the “Depositary Shares”); (iii) shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”); (iv) warrants for the purchase of Common Stock (the “Warrants”); (v) purchase contracts (the “Purchase Contracts”) which may be issued under one or more purchase contract agreements (each, a “Purchase Contract Agreement”) to be entered into between the Company and the purchase contract agent to be named therein (the “Purchase Contract Agent”); and units of the Company (the “Units” and, together with the Debt Securities, the Guarantees, the Preferred Stock, the Depositary Shares, the Common Stock and the Purchase Contracts, the “Securities”) to be issued under one or more unit agreements to be entered into among the Company, a bank or trust company, as unit agent (the “Unit Agent”), and the holders from time to time of the Units (each such unit agreement, a “Unit Agreement”).
We have also participated in the preparation of a Prospectus relating to the Securities (the “Prospectus”), which is contained in the Registration Statement to which this opinion is an exhibit.
In connection with the opinions expressed herein, we have examined, among other things, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended to the date hereof, (ii) the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, (iii) the Registration
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Statement, (iv) the Prospectuses, (v) the form of Senior Indenture (the “Senior Indenture”) filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, (vi) the form of Subordinated Indenture (the “Subordinated Indenture,” and together with the Senior Indenture, the “Indentures”) filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and (vii) the records of corporate proceedings that have occurred prior to the date hereof with respect to the Registration Statement. We have also reviewed such questions of law as we have deemed necessary or appropriate. As to matters of fact relevant to the opinions expressed herein, and as to factual matters arising in connection with our examination of corporate documents, records and other documents and writings, we relied upon certificates and other communications of corporate officers of the Company, without further investigation as to the facts set forth therein.
In connection with rendering the opinions set forth below, we have assumed that (i) all information contained in all documents reviewed by us is true and correct; (ii) all signatures on all documents examined by us are genuine; (iii) all documents submitted to us as originals are authentic and all documents submitted to us as copies conform to the originals of those documents; (iv) the Registration Statement and any subsequent amendments (including additional post-effective amendments), will be effective and comply with all applicable laws; (v) all Securities will be issued and sold in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and in the manner specified in the Registration Statement and the applicable prospectus supplement to the Prospectus; (vi) the applicable Indenture and, if applicable, the related Guarantees will have been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended; (vii) one or more prospectus supplements to the Prospectus will have been prepared and filed with the Commission describing the Securities offered thereby; (viii) the Indentures, and any supplemental indenture relating to a particular series of Debt Securities, will be duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto in substantially the form reviewed by us; (ix) a definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement with respect to any Securities offered will have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; and (x) any securities issuable upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any Debt Securities, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Warrants, Purchase Contracts or Units being offered will have been duly authorized, created and, if appropriate, reserved for issuance upon such conversion, exchange or exercise.
Based on the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, qualifications, limitations, and exceptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:
1. When (i) the board of directors (the “Board”) of the Company (or a committee thereof), and if applicable, the sole member or manager of each of the Subsidiary Guarantors, have taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and terms of any such Debt Securities and, if applicable, the related Guarantees; (ii) the terms of such Debt Securities, and, if applicable, the related Guarantees, and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the applicable Indenture so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors and so as to comply with any requirements or restrictions imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors; and (iii) such Debt Securities (which may include related Guarantees) have been duly authenticated and delivered in accordance with the applicable Indenture and issued and sold as contemplated in the Registration Statement and upon payment of the consideration for such Debt
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Securities as provided for in the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement, such Debt Securities and, if applicable, the related Guarantees will be legally issued and will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, respectively, enforceable against the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, respectively, in accordance with their terms, except as such enforcement is subject to any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency (including, without limitation, all laws relating to fraudulent transfers), reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general equitable principles (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law);
2. With respect to shares of Common Stock, when both (A) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance of and the terms of the offering of the shares of Common Stock and related matters and (B) certificates representing the shares of Common Stock have been duly executed, countersigned, registered, and delivered (or non-certificated shares of Common Stock shall have been properly issued) either (i) in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting, or similar agreement approved by the Board or such officers upon payment of the consideration therefor (not less than the par value of the Common Stock) provided for therein or (ii) upon conversion or exercise of any other Security, in accordance with the terms of such Security or the instrument governing such Security providing for such conversion or exercise as approved by the Board, for the consideration approved by the Board (not less than the par value of the Common Stock), then the shares of Common Stock will be legally issued, fully paid, and nonassessable;
3. With respect to shares of any series of Preferred Stock, when (A) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and terms of the shares of the series, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters, including the adoption of a resolution establishing and designating the series and fixing and determining the preferences, limitations and relative rights thereof and the filing of a statement with respect to the series with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “Certificate of Designation”) and (B) certificates representing the shares of the series of Preferred Stock have been duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered (or non-certificated shares of Preferred Stock shall have been properly issued) either (i) in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board, then upon payment of the consideration therefor (not less than the par value of the Preferred Stock) provided for therein; or (ii) upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any other Security in accordance with the terms of the Security or the instrument governing the Security providing for the conversion, exchange or exercise as approved by the Board, for the consideration approved by the Board (not less than the par value of the Preferred Stock), the shares of the series of Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable;
4. With respect to the Depositary Shares, when (i) the Company has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and terms of the Depositary Shares, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters, including the adoption of a Certificate of Designation relating to the Preferred Stock underlying the Depositary Shares and the filing of the Certificate
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of Designation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware; (ii) the depositary agreement or agreements relating to the Depositary Shares and the related depositary receipts have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and the depositary appointed by the Company; (iii) the shares of Preferred Stock underlying the Depositary Shares have been deposited with the depositary under the applicable depositary agreement; and (iv) the depositary receipts representing the Depositary Shares have been duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered in accordance with the appropriate depositary agreement approved by the Company, upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for in the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement, the Depositary Shares will be legally issued;
5. With respect to the Warrants, when (A) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the creation of and the issuance and terms of the Warrants, the terms of the offering thereof, and related matters, (B) the agreements relating to the Warrants have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and the Warrant Agent appointed by the Company, and (C) the Warrants or certificates representing the Warrants have been duly executed, countersigned, registered, and delivered in accordance with the appropriate agreements relating to the Warrants and the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting, or similar agreement approved by the Board or such officers upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for therein, the Warrants will be legally issued and such Warrants will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as such enforcement is subject to any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency (including, without limitation, all laws relating to fraudulent transfers), reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general equitable principles (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law);
6. With respect to the Purchase Contracts, when (A) the Purchase Contract Agent has been duly appointed by the Company, the Purchase Contract Agreement to be entered into in connection with the issuance of any Purchase Contracts has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Purchase Contract Agent and the Company, (B) the specific terms of the Purchase Contracts have been duly authorized and established in accordance with the Purchase Contract Agreement, and (C) such Purchase Contracts have been duly authorized, executed, issued and delivered in accordance with the Purchase Contract Agreement and the applicable underwriting or other agreement against payment therefor, such Purchase Contracts will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, concepts of reasonableness and equitable principles of general applicability; and
7. With respect to the Units, when (A) the Unit Agreement to be entered into in connection with the issuance of any Units has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Unit Agent and the Company, (B) the specific terms of the Units have been duly authorized and established in accordance with the Unit Agreement, and (C) such Units have been duly authorized, executed, issued and delivered in accordance with the Unit Agreement and the
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applicable underwriting or other agreement against payment therefor, such Units will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, concepts of reasonableness and equitable principles of general applicability.
We express no opinions concerning (a) the validity or enforceability of any provisions contained in the Indentures that purport to waive or not give effect to rights to notices, defenses, subrogation or other rights or benefits that cannot be effectively waived under applicable law or (b) the enforceability of indemnification provisions to the extent they purport to relate to liabilities resulting from or based upon negligence or any violation of federal or state securities or blue sky laws.
The opinions set forth above are limited in all respects to matters of the laws of the State of Texas, the State of New York, the Delaware General Corporation Law and Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (including the applicable provisions of the Delaware Constitution and the reported judicial decisions interpreting these laws) and the federal laws of the United States of America, in each case as in effect on the date hereof, and we are expressing no opinion as to the effect of the laws of any other jurisdiction, domestic or foreign.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion of counsel as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to our Firm under the heading “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
| Very truly yours, |
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| /s/ Baker Botts L.L.P. |