Exhibit 5.1
Thompson & Knight LLP
ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELORS
ONE ARTS PLAZA
1722 ROUTH STREET SUITE 1500
DALLAS, TEXAS 75201-2533
(214) 969-1700
FAX (214) 969-1751
www.tklaw.com
AUSTIN
DALLAS
FORT WORTH
HOUSTON
NEW YORK
ALGIERS
LONDON
MEXICO CITY
MONTERREY
PARIS
May 18, 2011
Approach Resources Inc.
One Ridgmar Centre
6500 West Freeway, Suite 800
Fort Worth, Texas 76116
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Re:
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Registration Statement on Form S-3 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special counsel to Approach Resources Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
Company), and the Companys subsidiaries that are co-registrants (the Subsidiary
Guarantors; the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors being the Relevant Parties)
with respect to the preparation of the automatic shelf 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 (as amended, the Securities Act) of the offer and sale
by the Company, pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, of the following securities, which
may be issued from time to time at prices and on terms to be determined at the time of offering:
(1) debt securities of the Company, which may be either senior or subordinated and
which 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 Subsidiary Guarantors;
(2) shares of preferred stock, par value $.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);
(3) shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company (the Common
Stock);
(4) warrants for the purchase of Common Stock (the Warrants);
(5) rights to purchase Debt Securities, Preferred Stock, Common Stock or other
securities registered on the Registration Statement (the Rights and, together with
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May 18, 2011
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the Debt Securities, the Guarantees, the Preferred Stock, the Depositary Shares, the
Common Stock and the Warrants, the Securities); and
(6) such indeterminate amount of the Securities as may be issued in exchange for or
upon conversion or exercise of, as the case may be, the Securities.
We have also participated in the preparation of the Prospectus (the Prospectus)
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,
original counterparts or copies of original counterparts of the following documents:
(i) originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the
organizational or governing documents of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, each as
amended to the date hereof;
(ii) the Registration Statement;
(iii) the Prospectus;
(iv) the form of Senior Indenture (the Senior Indenture) filed as an exhibit
to the Registration Statement;
(v) 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
(vi) the records of corporate proceedings that have occurred prior to the date hereof
with respect to the Registration Statement.
The Indentures, any warrant agreement relating to the Warrants (the Warrant Agreement),
any rights agreement relating to the Rights (the Rights Agreement), any depositary
agreement relating to the Depositary Shares, any agreement relating to the Units (the Unit
Agreement) and any purchase, underwriting or similar agreement entered into in connection with
an issuance of Securities (the Purchase Agreement) are referred to herein collectively as
the Transaction Documents. We have also examined originals or copies of such other
records of the Relevant Parties, certificates of public officials and of officers or other
representatives of the Relevant Parties and agreements and other documents as we have deemed
necessary, subject to the assumptions set forth below, as a basis for the opinions expressed below.
In connection with the opinions expressed below, we have assumed:
(i) The genuineness of all signatures.
(ii) The authenticity of the originals of the documents submitted to us.
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May 18, 2011
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(iii) The conformity to authentic originals of any documents submitted to us as copies.
(iv) As to matters of fact, the truthfulness of the representations and statements made
in certificates of public officials and officers or other representatives of the Relevant
Parties.
(v) That, at the time when any Security is issued:
(A) (1) if such Security is a Debt Security, the applicable Indenture;
(2) if such Security is a Warrant, the Warrant Agreement;
(3) if such Security is a Right, the Rights Agreement;
(4) if such Security is a Depositary Share, the Depositary Agreement;
(5) if such Security is a Unit, the Unit Agreement; and
(6) the Purchase Agreement,
shall have been duly executed and delivered by the parties thereto and constitute
valid, binding and enforceable obligations of each party thereto and such Security
shall have been issued pursuant to the applicable foregoing agreements.
(B) Each Relevant Party shall be an entity duly organized and validly existing
under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization.
(C) Each Relevant Party shall have full power to execute, deliver and perform
the applicable Transaction Documents to which it is a party and, in the case of the
Company, issue such Security, and shall have duly executed and delivered such
applicable Transaction Documents.
(D) The execution, delivery and performance by each Relevant Party of the
applicable Transaction Documents to which it is a party and, in the case of the
Company, the issuance of such Security, shall have been duly authorized by all
necessary action (corporate or otherwise) and shall not contravene its certificate
or articles of incorporation or certificate of formation, by-laws or other
organizational documents.
(E) The execution, delivery and performance by each Relevant Party of the
applicable Transaction Documents to which it is a party and, in the case of the
Company, the issuance of such Security, will not:
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(1) violate any law, rule or regulation applicable to it (including
without limitation, federal and state securities laws), or
(2) result in any conflict with or breach of any agreement or document
binding on it of which any addressee hereof has knowledge, has received
notice or has reason to know.
(F) No authorization, approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing
with, any governmental authority or regulatory body (or, to the extent the same is
required under any agreement or document binding on it of which an addressee hereof
has knowledge, has received notice or has reason to know) is required for the due
execution, delivery or performance by any Relevant Party of any applicable
Transaction Document to which it is a party or for the issuance of such Security by
the Company, or, if any such authorization, approval, action, notice or filing is
required, it shall have been duly obtained, taken, given or made and shall be in
full force and effect.
(G) The Registration Statement, and any amendments thereto (including all
necessary post-effective amendments), shall have become effective under the
Securities Act.
(H) A supplement to the Prospectus (a Prospectus Supplement) shall
have been prepared and filed with the Commission describing such Security.
(I) Such Security shall have been issued and sold in the manner stated in the
Registration Statement and the appropriate Prospectus Supplement.
(J) If such Security is Common Stock, Preferred Stock or Depositary Shares, the
necessary number of applicable shares shall have been duly authorized and available
for issuance pursuant to the Companys Certificate of Incorporation.
(K) Any Security issuable upon conversion, exchange or exercise of such
Security or, if such Security is a Depositary Share, the underlying Preferred Stock
deposited with a depositary with respect to such Depositary Share, shall have been
duly authorized, created and, if appropriate, reserved for issuance upon such
conversion, exchange or exercise.
(L) If such Security is a series of Preferred Stock, is convertible into or
exchangeable or exercisable for a series of Preferred Stock, or is a Depositary
Share relating to a series of Preferred Stock, the Board of Directors of the Company
(or a committee thereof acting pursuant to authority delegated to it by such Board)
shall have duly adopted a resolution establishing and designating such series and
fixing and determining the preferences, limitations and relative rights of such
series and a statement with respect to such series shall have been duly filed with
the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
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(M) The applicable Transaction Documents relating to such Security and, if such
Security is a Debt Security, Warrant, Unit or Right, such Security shall be governed
by the laws of the State of New York, a New York State court, or a United States
federal court sitting in the State of New York, would determine that Section 5-1401
of the New York General Obligations Law is applicable to the choice of New York law
to govern such Transaction Documents and the issuance of such Security would involve
at least the minimum amounts specified in such Section for it to be applicable.
(N) Such Security, if other than Common Stock or Preferred Stock, shall have
been duly executed and delivered by the Relevant Parties party thereto and, if
applicable, duly authenticated or countersigned pursuant to the applicable
Transaction Document.
(O) If such Security is other than Common Stock, the terms of such Security
shall have been duly established in conformity with the applicable Transaction
Document.
We have not independently established the validity of the foregoing assumptions.
Based upon the foregoing and subject to the qualifications and limitations herein set forth
herein, we are of the opinion that:
1. With respect to any Debt Security being registered under the Registration Statement, when:
(a) the applicable Indenture and, if applicable, the related Guarantees, have been duly
qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended; and
(b) the consideration for such Debt Security and, if applicable, the related Guarantees
provided for in the applicable Purchase Agreement shall have been paid,
such Debt Security and, if applicable, the related Guarantees shall have been legally issued and
shall constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company and, if applicable, the Subsidiary
Guarantors, respectively, enforceable against the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors,
respectively, in accordance with their terms.
2. With respect to any share of Common Stock being registered under the Registration
Statement, when:
(a) a certificate representing such share shall have been duly executed, countersigned,
registered and delivered (or, if such share is non-certificated, such share shall have been
properly issued) either (i) in accordance with the applicable Purchase Agreement or (ii)
upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any other Security in accordance with the terms of
such other Security or the agreement governing such other Security and providing for the
conversion, exchange or exercise thereof, and
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(b) the consideration therefor provided for in such Purchase Agreement or in connection
with such conversion, exchange or exercise, as applicable (in either case not less than the
par value of the Common Stock), shall have been paid,
such share shall have been validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
3. With respect to any share of any series of Preferred Stock being registered under the
Registration Statement, when:
(a) a certificate representing such share shall have been duly executed, countersigned,
registered and delivered (or, if such share is non-certificated, such share shall have been
properly issued) either (i) in accordance with the applicable Purchase Agreement or (ii)
upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any other Security in accordance with the terms of
such other Security or the agreement governing such other Security and providing for the
conversion, exchange or exercise thereof, and
(b) the consideration therefor provided for in such Purchase Agreement or in connection
with such conversion, exchange or exercise, as applicable (in either case not less than the
par value of such series of Preferred Stock), shall have been paid,
such share shall have been validly issued, fully paid, and non-assessable.
4. With respect to any Depositary Shares being registered under the Registration Statement,
when:
(a) the depositary shall have been duly appointed by the Company pursuant to the
Depositary Agreement;
(b) shares of Preferred Stock underlying such Depositary Shares have been deposited
with the depositary under the applicable depositary agreement; and
(c) the consideration provided for in the applicable Purchase Agreement shall have been
paid,
such Depositary Shares shall be validly issued.
5. With respect to any Warrant being registered under the Registration Statement, when:
(a) the terms of such Warrant and of its issuance and sale shall have been duly
established in conformity with the applicable Warrant Agreement, and
(b) the consideration provided for in the applicable Purchase Agreement shall have been
duly paid,
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such Warrant shall constitute the valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against
the Company in accordance with its terms.
6. With respect to any Right being registered under the Registration Statement, when:
(a) the terms of such Right and of its issuance and sale shall have been duly
established in conformity with the applicable Rights Agreement, and
(b) the consideration provided for in the applicable Purchase Agreement shall have been
duly paid,
such Right shall constitute the valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against
the Company in accordance with its terms.
The opinions set forth above are subject to the following qualifications and exceptions:
(a) Our opinions are limited to mean those laws, rules and regulations of the State of New
York, and the federal laws, rules and regulations of the United States of America and the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (in each case including all applicable provisions of the
constitution of each such jurisdiction and reported judicial decisions interpreting such laws), and
we do not express any opinion herein concerning any other laws.
(b) Our opinions are subject to (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer,
reorganization, receivership, moratorium or similar laws affecting the rights and remedies of
creditors generally and (ii) possible judicial action giving effect to governmental actions or
foreign laws affecting creditors rights.
(c) Our opinions are subject to general principles of equity exercisable in the discretion of
a court (including, without limitation, obligations and standards of good faith, fair dealing,
materiality and reasonableness and defenses relating to unconscionability or to impracticability or
impossibility of performance).
(d) We express no opinion with respect to the enforceability of:
(i) Indemnification provisions, or of waiver, release or exculpation provisions
contained in the Transaction Documents to the extent that enforcement thereof is contrary to
public policy regarding the indemnification against or release or exculpation of criminal
violations, intentional harm, violations of securities laws or acts of gross negligence or
willful misconduct or to the extent that such provisions relate to rights to punitive,
exemplary or similar damages.
(ii) Any waiver of defenses by a guarantor in any Guarantee.
This opinion letter is rendered to you in connection with the transactions contemplated by the
Registration Statement. This opinion letter has been prepared, and is to be understood, in
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accordance with customary practice of lawyers who regularly give and lawyers who regularly
advise recipients regarding opinions of this kind, is limited to the matters expressly stated
herein and is provided solely for purposes of complying with the requirements of the Securities
Act, and no opinions may be inferred or implied beyond the matters expressly stated herein. The
opinions expressed herein are rendered and speak only as of the date hereof and we specifically
disclaim any responsibility to update such opinions subsequent to the date hereof or to advise you
of subsequent developments affecting such opinions.
We consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as Exhibit 5.1 to the
Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference of our firm under the caption Legal
Matters in the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we
are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 and Section 11 of the
Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
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Respectfully submitted,
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/s/ Thompson & Knight LLP
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THOMPSON & KNIGHT LLP |
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WPW/JH/est
RHS