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Related Party Transactions
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2024
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]  
Related Party Transactions

Note 21. Related Party Transactions

 

In 2023 we subleased office space to Spectra Global Cuisine, LLC (Spectra), which shares officers with WealthSpace, LLC (the Fund Manager of VWFI). For the year ended December 31, 2024, we realized $115,000 in office sublease lease revenue from Spectra. As of December 31, 2024, the Company is carrying accounts receivable of $137,000 related to this sublease.

 

On May 25, 2023, we entered into a Consulting Agreement with Matthew Nicosia, a shareholder, affiliate via beneficial ownership, and our former Chief Executive Officer. Under the terms of the agreement, Mr. Nicosia is assisting our current Chief Executive Officer regarding transitioning certain projects Mr. Nicosia was working on to our new Chief Executive Officer, primarily those operations related to our business in Kuwait and our attempt to sell some operations that we have impaired. The agreement is for an initial term of three months, and we have paid Mr. Nicosia a total of $25,000 in cash and accrued $30,000, to be paid in common stock. We also advanced Mr. Nicosia $21,000 for a business expenses related to a trip to Kuwait for the Company and have requested evidence of his business expenses. We have received evidence of business expenses of approximately $16,254 to date and are awaiting documents and evidence for the remaining expense amount.

 

In May 2023, we entered into a Consulting Agreement with Trent Staggs, who is a current shareholder of the Company and one of our former directors. The agreement was for a term of four months and has been terminated as of September 30, 2023. For the year ended December 31, 2024, we paid Mr. Staggs a total of $48,000 in cash under the terms of the agreement.

 

On June 15, 2022, we entered into a Membership Interest Purchase Agreement (the “MIPA”), with Jorgan Development, LLC, (“Jorgan”) and JBAH Holdings, LLC, (“JBAH” and, together with Jorgan, the “Sellers”), as the equity holders of Silver Fuels Delhi, LLC (“SFD”) and White Claw Colorado City, LLC (“WCCC”) whereby, at closing, which occurred on August 1, 2022, we acquired all of the issued and outstanding membership interests where the consideration included secured three-year promissory notes issued by us in favor of the Sellers (the “Notes”). At the time of the closing of these transactions Jorgan, JBAH, and our newly hired CEO, James Ballengee were not considered related parties. As James Ballengee is now our Chief Executive Officer and is the beneficiary of Jorgan and JBAH, and the Sellers are significant shareholders, certain transactions, as noted below, related to Jorgan, JBAH, and James Ballengee are now considered related party transactions. The consideration for the membership interests included the Notes in the amount of $286,643 to JBAH and $28,377,641 to Jorgan, which accrue interest of prime plus 3% on the outstanding balance of the notes. Under the MIPA, we have committed to make a payment to Jorgan and JBAH on or before February 1, 2024 in the amounts of $16,306,754 to Jorgan and $164,715 to JBAH, whether in cash or unrestricted common stock. In the event of a breach of the terms of the Notes, the sole and exclusive remedy of the holder of the notes will be to unwind the MIPA transaction. The principal amount of the Notes, together with any and all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, will be paid to on a monthly basis in an amount equal to the Monthly Free Cash Flow continuing thereafter on the twentieth (20th) calendar day of each calendar month thereafter. Monthly Free Cash Flow means cash proceeds received by SFD and WCCC from its operations minus any capital expenditures (including, but not limited to, maintenance capital expenditures and expenditures for personal protective equipment, additions to the land/current facilities and pipeline connections) and any payments on the lease obligations of SFD and WCCC. In October 2022, we entered into an agreement amending the Notes, whereby, after the approval of our shareholders was given in November 2023, we issued 7,042,254 restricted shares of our common stock as a payment of $10,000,000 toward the principal of the Notes on a pro rata basis (the “Note Payment”), reflecting a conversion price of $1.42 per share. Once a registration statement registering the shares for the Note Payment is declared effective by the SEC, the Note Payment will count against the threshold payment amount, as defined in the notes and the MIPA. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, we have accrued interest of approximately none and made cash payments of $2,573,883 and $3,587,986.

 

In the business combination of acquiring WCCC we also acquired WCCC’s Oil Storage Agreement with White Claw Crude, LLC (“WC Crude”), who shares a beneficiary, James Ballengee, with Jorgan and JBAH. Under this agreement, WC Crude has the right, subject to the payment of service and maintenance fees, to store volumes of crude oil and other liquid hydrocarbons at a certain crude oil terminal operated by WCCC. WC Crude is required to pay $150,000 per month even if the storage space is not used. The agreement expires on December 31, 2031. Since acquiring this contract on August 1, 2022 we have received tank storage revenue of approximately $1,800,000 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

 

In the business combination of acquiring SFD, we acquired an amended Crude Petroleum Supply Agreement with WC Crude (the “Supply Agreement”), under which WC Crude supplies volumes of Crude Petroleum to SFD, which provides for the delivery to SFD a minimum of 1,000 sourced barrels per day, and includes a guarantee that when SFD resells these barrels, if SFD does not make at least a $5.00 per barrel margin on the oil purchased from WC Crude, then WC Crude will pay to SFD the difference between the sales price and $5.00 per barrel. In the event that SFD makes more than $5.00 per barrel, SFD will pay WC Crude a profit-sharing payment in the amount equal to 10% of the excess price over $5.00 per barrel, which amount will be multiplied by the number of barrels associated with the sale. The Supply Agreement expires on December 31, 2031. For the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, we made crude oil purchases from WC Crude of $43,632,933, and $36,740,922, and received deficiency payments of $1,855,077 and $172,311. In addition, SFD has a sales agreement to sell a natural gas liquid product and crude petroleum products to WC Crude. These sales agreements are cash net settled at market prices. We produced and sold crude and natural gas liquids to WC Crude in the amount of $10,790,417 and $11,268,005 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.

 

In the business combination of acquiring SFD and WCCC we also entered into a Shared Services Agreement with Endeavor Crude, LLC (“Endeavor”), who shares a beneficiary, James Ballengee, with Jorgan and JBAH. Under this agreement, we have the right, but not the obligation to use Endeavor for consulting services. For the years ended December 31, 2023, Endeavor rendered services in the amount of $295,881. This agreement was eliminated upon consolidation in 2024 after the acquisition of the Endeavor Entities.

 

We have an existing note payable issued to Triple T, which is owned by Dr. Khalid Bin Jabor Al Thani, the 51% majority-owner of Vivakor Middle East LLC The note is interest free, has no fixed maturity date and will be repaid from revenues generated by Vivakor Middle East LLC. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the balance owed was $404,120 and $375,124.

 

On October 1, 2024, Jorgan Development, LLC, a Louisiana limited liability company (“Jorgan”) and JBAH Holdings, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (“JBAH” and, together with Jorgan, the “Sellers”), as the equity holders of Endeavor Crude, LLC, a Texas limited liability company, Equipment Transport, LLC, a Pennsylvania limited liability company, Meridian Equipment Leasing, LLC, a Texas limited liability company, and Silver Fuels Processing, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (collectively, the “Endeavor Entities”) closed the transactions that were the subject of the previously-disclosed Membership Interest Purchase Agreement among them dated March 21, 2024, as amended (the “MIPA”) (the “Closing”). In accordance with the terms of the MIPA, at the Closing, the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding membership interests in each of the Endeavor Entities (the “Membership Interests”), making them wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company. The consolidated financial statements of the Endeavor Entities for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 are attached hereto as Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2.

 

The Endeavor Entities own and operate a combined fleet of more than 500 commercial tractors and trailers for the hauling of crude oil and produced water. On a daily basis, the trucking fleet hauls approximately 60,000 barrels of crude oil, tank bottoms, and petroleum wastes, and approximately 30,000 barrels of produced water. In addition, the Endeavor Entities own and operate a crude oil pipeline and exclusive connected blending and processing facility in Blaine County, Oklahoma.

 

The purchase price for the Membership Interests is $116.3 million (the “Purchase Price”), after post-closing adjustments, including a reduction for assumed debt and a possible increase for an earn-out adjustment, payable by the Company in a combination of Company common stock, $0.001 par value per share (“Common Stock”) and Company Series A Preferred Stock $0.001 par value per share (“Preferred Stock”). The number of shares of Common Stock for the Purchase Price is equal to an undivided nineteen and ninety-nine hundredths percent (19.99%) of all of the Company’s issued and outstanding Common Stock immediately prior to Closing, or a lesser percentage, if such issuance would result, when taking into consideration the percentage of Common Stock owned by Sellers prior to such issuance, in Sellers owning in excess of 49.99% of the Common Stock issued and outstanding on a post-Closing basis, with such shares of Common Stock valued at $1.00 per share. The remaining Purchase Price is due to the Sellers in Preferred Stock. The Preferred Stock will have the terms set forth in the Series A Preferred Stock Certificate of Designations, including, but not limited to, liquidation preference over the Common Stock, the payment of a cumulative six percent (6%) annual dividend per share payable quarterly in arrears in shares of Common Stock (so long as such issuances of Common Stock would not result in the Sellers beneficially owning greater than 49.99% of the issued and outstanding Common Stock), and the Company having the right to convert the Preferred Stock at any time using the stated value of $1,000 per share of Preferred Stock and the conversion price of one dollar ($1.00) per share of Common Stock. The Sellers are beneficially owned by James Ballengee, the Company’s chief executive officer and principal shareholder. The Company is currently still calculating the reduction in the Purchase Price, as a result of Endeavor Entities debt that the Company assumed at Closing.

 

On December 2, 2024, the Company issued 6,724,291 shares of Common Stock to the Sellers, or their assignees, with 4,999,500 shares issued to Jorgan and 50,500 shares issued to JBAH. The remaining shares were issued to two non-related parties as part of the consideration for the Purchase Price at the instruction of the Sellers. The Company issued 107,789 shares of Series A Preferred Stock to the Sellers, or their assignees, as part of the Purchase Price.

 

Upon the Closing of our acquisition of the Endeavor Entities, the parties of that certain Membership Interest Purchase Agreement dated June 15, 2022, and the Amendment of Transaction Documents Related to Threshold Payment dated March 31, 2024 (together, the “2022 MIPA”), agreed that Section 8.7 Unwinding of the 2022 MIPA expired and is no longer enforceable. As a result, the selling entities in the 2022 MIPA no longer have the right to unwind our acquisitions of White Claw Colorado City and Silver Fuels Delhi.

 

In connection with the Closing of the Endeavor Entities on October 1, 2024, a certain Repair and Maintenance Subscription Plan dated October 1, 2024 was entered into between Horizon Truck and Trailer, LLC, which is a related party as our Chief Executive Officer is the beneficiary, and Meridian Equipment Leasing, LLC (“MEL”) for the maintenance and repairs of all commercial trailers and tractors owned, leased, or controlled by MEL, which includes a $100,000 monthly retainer that is credited against open monthly charges and invoices.

 

Upon the Closing of our acquisition of the Endeavor Entities, we acquired Trucking Transportation Agreement & Addendum with White Claw Crude, LLC (“WC Crude”), who shares a beneficiary, James Ballengee, with Jorgan and JBAH. Under this agreement, WC Crude must, through its own operations or source for the Company, a minimum volume of 75,000 bbls per day for our trucking logistics services. The agreement expires on December 31, 2034. For the year ended December 31, 2024, we realized related party trucking revenue related to this agreements of $3,756,097.

 

Upon the Closing of our acquisition of the Endeavor Entities, we acquired a Station Throughput Agreement with Posse Wasson, LLC (Posse Monroe, LLC) (“Possee”), who shares a beneficiary, James Ballengee, with Jorgan and JBAH. Under this agreement, Possee must source for the Company, a minimum volume of 230,000 bbls per month through our storage facility at $0.275 per barrel, guaranteeing $759,000 of throughput revenue on an annual basis. The agreement expires on December 31, 2034. For the year ended December 31, 2024, we realized related party revenue related to this agreements of $189,750.

 

Upon the Closing of our acquisition of the Endeavor Entities, we acquired a Station Throughput Agreement with WC Crude, who shares a beneficiary, James Ballengee, with Jorgan and JBAH. Under this agreement, WC Crude must source for the Company, a minimum volume of 200,000 bbls per month through our storage Omega Gathering Pipeline at $1.00 per barrel, guaranteeing $2,400,000 of throughput revenue on an annual basis. The agreement expires on December 31, 2034. For the year ended December 31, 2024, we realized related party revenue related to this agreements of $427,844.

 

On October 17 2024, our newly acquired subsidiaries under the Endeavor Entities, received funding of $530,000 under our May 14, 2024 promissory note between Vivakor, Inc. and Ballengee Holdings, LLC, of which our Chief Executive Officer is the beneficial owner. The Company also made payments of $530,000 on this promissory note in October 2024. See Note 6 for further information regarding the promissory note between Ballengee Holdings, LLC and Vivakor, Inc.

 

On May 14, 2024, we issued a promissory note, to James Ballengee, in the principal amount of up to $1,500,000, for which loan advances will be made to the Company as requested. The Company will use the proceeds of the promissory note for general working capital purposes and to repay certain indebtedness. The intent of the promissory note is to be short term in nature and be repaid in 30 days. Any amounts that are not repaid in 30 days will bear interest thereafter at a rate of 11% per annum. Each advance matures after six months from the date the Company receives the funds. On May 23, 2024, we issued a promissory note to Ballengee Holdings, LLC, of which our Chief Executive Officer is the beneficial owner, which replaced and rescinded the above referenced note with James Ballengee effective back to May 14, 2024, under the same terms such that all obligations under the notes are the responsibility of Ballengee Holdings, LLC and the prior note with James Ballengee is no longer enforceable. As of December 31, 2024, the principal balance and accrued interest of this note was $1,164,150 and $43,880.

 

On June 13, 2024, we owed our Chief Financial Officer $1,167,750 in accrued salary and bonuses, plus interest (together, the “Accrued Compensation”), for serving as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, and executed a Settlement Agreement where the Accrued Compensation would be paid under the terms of a straight promissory note in the principal amount of the Accrued Compensation. Under the terms of the note, the amounts due will accrue interest at 8% per annum and will be paid by paying 5% of any money received by the Company from closed future financings or acquisition/merger/sale transactions until the note has been paid in full. In the event the note has not been paid in full by June 30, 2025, the note will mature and any amounts due thereunder will be due and payable in full on such date. As of December 31, 2024 the balance of principal and accrued interest was $1,020,872 and $48,121.

 

On July 5, 2024, the Company received a loan from Ballengee Holdings, LLC, in the principal amount of $500,000, and in connection therewith, we agreed to issue 21,552 ($50,000) restricted shares of the Company’s common stock, which is currently accrued in related party accounts payable in stock until the shares are issued. The loan bears interest at the rate of 10% per annum. The loan originally matured on December 31, 2024 and was amended on July 19, 2024 to mature on September 30, 2025. The note allows the holder to convert the outstanding principal and interest due under the note into shares of our common stock at price equal to 90% of the average closing price of our common stock for the previous five (5) trading days prior to the conversion date, with a floor conversion price of $1.00 per share. The lender may not convert amounts owed under the note if such conversion would cause him to own more than 4.99% of our common stock after giving effect to the issuance, which limitation may be raised to 9.99% upon from the lender. As of December 31, 2024 the balance of principal and accrued interest was $500,000 and $24,456.