As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 13, 2009

Registration No. 333-154760

 

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

 

Amendment No. 1

to

Form S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

 

 

Basic Energy Services, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

 

 

Co-Registrants
(see next page)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Copy to:

 

David C. Buck
Andrews Kurth LLP
600 Travis, Suite 4200
Houston, Texas 77002
(713) 220-4200

 

 

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:  From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement, as determined in light of market conditions and other factors.

 

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.  o

 

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.  þ

 

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  o

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  o

 

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  o

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Co-Registrants

 

 

 

 

The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JANUARY 13, 2009

 

PROSPECTUS

$1,000,000,000

 

 

Basic Energy Services, Inc.

 

COMMON STOCK
PREFERRED STOCK
SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES
SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES
WARRANTS
UNITS
GUARANTEES

 

By this prospectus, we may from time to time offer and sell in one or more offerings up to an aggregate of $1,000,000,000 of the following securities:

 

(1) shares of common stock;

 

(2) shares of preferred stock, in one or more series, which may be convertible into or exchangeable for debt securities or common stock;

 

(3) senior debt securities, which may be convertible into or exchangeable for common stock or preferred stock;

 

(4) subordinated debt securities, which may be convertible into or exchangeable for common stock or preferred stock;

 

(5) warrants to purchase common stock, preferred stock, debt securities or units;

 

(6) units consisting of any combination of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities or warrants; and/or

 

(7) guarantees of debt securities issued by Basic Energy Services, Inc.

 

This prospectus provides a general description of the securities we may offer. Supplements to this prospectus will provide the specific terms of the securities that we actually offer, including the offering prices. You should carefully read this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any information under the headings “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation by Reference” before you invest in any of these securities. This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement that describes those securities.

 

We may sell these securities to or through underwriters, to other purchasers and/or through agents. Supplements to this prospectus will specify the names of any underwriters or agents.

 

Our common stock is listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “BAS.”

 

 

 

 

Investing in our securities involves risks. Please read “Risk Factors” beginning on page 2 of this prospectus.

 

 

 

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

The date of this prospectus is          , 2009.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings up to a total offering price of $1,000,000,000. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer to sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering and the securities offered by us in that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information provided in the prospectus supplement. This prospectus does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. The registration statement filed with the SEC includes exhibits that provide more details about the matters discussed in this prospectus. You should carefully read this prospectus, the related exhibits filed with the SEC and any prospectus supplement, together with the additional information described below under the headings “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation by Reference.”

 

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and in any accompanying prospectus supplement. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not making an offer of the securities covered by this prospectus in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and any other document incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date on the front cover of those documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

 

Under no circumstances should the delivery to you of this prospectus or any exchange or redemption made pursuant to this prospectus create any implication that the information contained in this prospectus is correct as of any time after the date of this prospectus.

This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement that describes those securities.

 

Unless otherwise indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, all references in this prospectus to “Basic,” “Basic Energy Services,” “we,” “us,” and “our” mean Basic Energy Services, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries. In this prospectus, we sometimes refer to the debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, warrants, units and guarantees collectively as the “securities.”

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information into this document. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below, other than any portions of the respective filings that were furnished (pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of current reports on Form 8-K or other applicable SEC rules) rather than filed:

 

 

 

 

 

All documents that we file pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus and until our offerings hereunder are completed, or after the date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part and prior to effectiveness of the registration statement, will be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus and will be a part of this prospectus from the date of the filing of the document. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or in any other subsequently filed document that also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus modifies or supersedes that statement. Any statement that is modified or superseded will not constitute a part of this prospectus, except as modified or superseded.

 

We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner to whom a prospectus is delivered, a copy of these filings, other than an exhibit to these filings unless we have specifically incorporated that exhibit by reference into the filing, upon written or oral request and at no cost. Requests should be made by writing or telephoning us at the following address:

 

Basic Energy Services, Inc.
500 W. Illinois, Suite 100
Midland, Texas 79701
(432) 620-5500
Attn: Investor Relations

 

We have filed a registration statement with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, which we refer to as the Securities Act, that registers the issuance and sale of the securities offered by this prospectus. The registration statement, including the attached exhibits, contains additional relevant information about us. The rules and regulations of the SEC allow us to omit some information included in the registration statement from this prospectus.

 

We file annual, quarterly, and other reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which we refer to as the Exchange Act. You may read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. Our SEC filings are also available to the public through the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. General information about us, including our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, as well as any amendments and exhibits to those reports, are available free of charge through our website at http://www.basicenergyservices.com as soon as reasonably practicable after we file them with, or furnish them to, the SEC. Information on our website is not incorporated into this prospectus or our other securities filings and is not a part of this prospectus.

 

This prospectus contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act regarding our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Words such as expects, anticipates, intends, plans, believes, seeks, estimates and similar expressions or variations of such words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. However, these are not the exclusive means of identifying forward-looking statements. Although forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus reflect our good faith judgment, such statements can only be based on facts and factors currently known to us. Consequently, forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual outcomes may differ materially from the results and outcomes discussed in the forward-looking statements. Further information about the risks and uncertainties that may impact us are described in “Risk Factors” beginning on page 2. You should read that section carefully. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this prospectus. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements in order to reflect any event or circumstance occurring after the date of this prospectus or currently unknown facts or conditions or the occurrence of unanticipated events.

 

Important factors that may affect our expectations, estimates or projections include:

 

 

The SEC has adopted rules to regulate the use of “non-GAAP financial measures” such as EBITDA, that are derived on the basis of methodologies other than in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure that complies with the Securities Act regulations when it is defined as net income (the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure) before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. We define EBITDA in this prospectus accordingly.

 

EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool and should not be considered an alternative to net income, operating income, cash flow from operating activities or any other measure of financial performance or liquidity presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. EBITDA excludes some, but not all, items that affect net income and operating income, and these measures may vary among other companies.

 

Limitations to using EBITDA as an analytical tool include:

 

 

This prospectus (and documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus) include market share, industry data and forecasts that we obtained from internal company surveys (including estimates based on our knowledge and experience in the industry in which we operate), market research, consultant surveys, publicly available information, industry publications and surveys. These sources include World Oil magazine, Baker Hughes Incorporated, the Association of Energy Service Companies, and the Energy Information Administration of the U.S. Department of Energy. Industry surveys, publications, consultant surveys and forecasts generally state that the information contained therein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. Although we believe such information is accurate and reliable as of the date of this prospectus, we have not independently verified any of the data from third party sources cited or used for our management’s industry estimates, nor have we ascertained the underlying economic assumptions relied upon therein. For example, the number of onshore well servicing rigs in the U.S. could be lower than our estimate to the extent our two larger competitors have continued to report as stacked rigs equipment that is not actually complete or subject to refurbishment. Statements as to our position relative to our competitors or as to market share refer to the most recent available data. As a result, you should be aware that the industry and market data included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and estimates and beliefs based on that data, may not be reliable. We cannot, and the underwriters cannot, guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any such information.

 

We provide a wide range of well site services to oil and gas drilling and producing companies, including well servicing, fluid services, contract drilling, completion and remedial services and well site construction services. These services are fundamental to establishing and maintaining the flow of oil and gas throughout the productive life of a well. Our broad range of services enables us to meet multiple needs of our customers at the well site. Our operations are managed regionally and are concentrated in the major United States onshore oil and gas producing regions in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana and the Rocky Mountain states. We provide our services to a diverse group of oil and gas companies.

 

The following is a description of our current business segments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our primary executive offices are located at 500 W. Illinois, Suite 100, Midland, Texas 79701 and our telephone number is (432) 620-5500. Our Internet website is www.basicenergyservices.com. The information contained on our website or that can be accessed through our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and you should not consider the information contained on our website to be part of this prospectus.

 

The securities to be offered by this prospectus may involve a high degree of risk. When considering an investment in any of the securities, you should consider carefully all of the risk factors described below and any similar information contained in any annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly report on Form 10-Q or other document filed by us with the SEC after the date of this prospectus. If applicable, we will include in any prospectus supplement a description of those significant factors that could make the offering described in the prospectus supplement speculative or risky.

 

Risks Relating to Our Business

 

A decline in or substantial volatility of oil and gas prices could adversely affect the demand for our services.

 

The demand for our services is primarily determined by current and anticipated oil and gas prices and the related general production spending and level of drilling activity in the areas in which we have operations. Volatility or weakness in oil and gas prices (or the perception that oil and gas prices will decrease) affects the spending patterns of our customers and may result in the drilling of fewer new wells or lower production spending on existing wells. This, in turn, could result in lower demand for our services and may cause lower rates and lower utilization of our well service equipment. A decline in oil and gas prices or a reduction in drilling activities could materially and adversely affect the demand for our services and our results of operations.

 

Prices for oil and gas historically have been extremely volatile and are expected to continue to be volatile. Although oil prices exceeded $140 per barrel and natural gas prices exceeded $13 per mcf in 2008, prices fell to below $40 per barrel and $6 per mcf by the end of the year. The Cushing WTI Spot Oil Price averaged $66.05, $72.34 and $99.65 per barrel in 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively, and the average wellhead price for natural gas, as recorded by the Energy Information Agency, was $6.42, $6.38 and $8.50 per mcf for 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively. The speed and severity of the decline in oil and gas prices during the fourth quarter of 2008 could materially affect the demand for our services and the rates that we are able to charge.

 

Our business depends on domestic spending by the oil and gas industry, and this spending and our business may be adversely affected by industry and financial market conditions that are beyond our control.

 

We depend on our customers’ willingness to make operating and capital expenditures to explore, develop and produce oil and gas in the United States. Customers’ expectations for lower market prices for oil and gas, as well as the availability of capital for operating and capital expenditures, may curtail spending thereby reducing demand for our services and equipment.

 

Industry conditions are influenced by numerous factors over which we have no control, such as the supply of and demand for oil and gas, domestic and worldwide economic conditions, political instability in oil and gas producing countries and merger and divestiture activity among oil and gas producers. The volatility of the oil and gas industry and the consequent impact on exploration and production activity could adversely impact the level of drilling and workover activity by some of our customers. This reduction may cause a decline in the demand for our services or adversely affect the price of our services. In addition, reduced discovery rates of new oil and gas reserves in our market areas also may have a negative long-term impact on our business, even in an environment of stronger oil and gas prices, to the extent existing production is not replaced and the number of producing wells for us to service declines.

 

Recent adverse changes in capital markets have also caused a number of oil and gas producers to announce reductions in capital budgets for future periods. Limitations on the availability of capital, or higher costs of capital, for financing expenditures may cause these and other oil and gas producers to make additional reductions to capital budgets in the future even if commodity prices remain at historically high levels.

We may not be able to grow successfully through future acquisitions or successfully manage future growth, and we may not be able to effectively integrate the businesses we do acquire.

 

Our business strategy includes growth through the acquisitions of other businesses. We may not be able to continue to identify attractive acquisition opportunities or successfully acquire identified targets. In addition, we may not be successful in integrating our current or future acquisitions into our existing operations, which may result in unforeseen operational difficulties or diminished financial performance or require a disproportionate amount of our management’s attention. Even if we are successful in integrating our current or future acquisitions into our existing operations, we may not derive the benefits, such as operational or administrative synergies, that we expected from such acquisitions, which may result in the commitment of our capital resources without the expected returns on such capital. Furthermore, competition for acquisition opportunities may escalate, increasing our cost of making further acquisitions or causing us to refrain from making additional acquisitions. We also must meet certain financial covenants in order to borrow money under our existing credit agreement to fund future acquisitions.

 

We may require additional capital in the future. We cannot assure you that we will be able to generate sufficient cash internally or obtain alternative sources of capital on favorable terms, if at all. If we are unable to fund capital expenditures our business may be adversely affected.

 

We anticipate that we will continue to make substantial capital investments to purchase additional equipment to expand our services, refurbish our well servicing rigs and replace existing equipment. For the year ended December 31, 2006, we invested approximately $104.6 million in cash for capital expenditures, excluding acquisitions. For the year ended December 31, 2007, we invested approximately $98.5 million in cash for capital expenditures, excluding acquisitions. Historically, we have financed these investments through internally generated funds, debt and equity offerings, our capital lease program and our secured credit facilities. These significant capital investments require cash that we could otherwise apply to other business needs. However, if we do not incur these expenditures while our competitors make substantial fleet investments, our market share may decline and our business may be adversely affected. In addition, if we are unable to generate sufficient cash internally or obtain alternative sources of capital to fund our proposed capital expenditures, acquisitions, take advantage of business opportunities or respond to competitive pressures, it could materially adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition and growth. Higher costs of capital may also adversely affect our ability to obtain sources or capital on favorable terms. In Addition, if we raise additional funds by issuing equity securities, dilution to existing stockholders may result.

 

Competition within the well services industry may adversely affect our ability to market our services.

 

The well services industry is highly competitive and fragmented and includes numerous small companies capable of competing effectively in our markets on a local basis as well as several large companies that possess substantially greater financial and other resources than we do. Our larger competitors’ greater resources could allow those competitors to compete more effectively than we can. The amount of equipment available may exceed demand, which could result in active price competition. Many contracts are awarded on a bid basis, which may further increase competition based primarily on price. In addition, recent market conditions have stimulated the reactivation of well servicing rigs and construction of new equipment, which could result in excess equipment and lower utilization rates in future periods.

 

We depend on several significant customers, and a loss of one or more significant customers could adversely affect our results of operations.

 

Our customers consist primarily of major and independent oil and gas companies. During 2006 and 2007, our top five customers accounted for 15% and 16% of our revenues, respectively, and 18% of our revenues for the first nine months of 2008. The loss of any one of our largest customers or a sustained decrease in demand by any of such customers could result in a substantial loss of revenues and could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

Our industry has experienced a high rate of employee turnover. Any difficulty we experience replacing or adding personnel could adversely affect our business.

 

We may not be able to find enough skilled labor to meet our needs, which could limit our growth. Our business activity historically decreases or increases with the price of oil and gas. We may have problems finding enough skilled and unskilled laborers in the future if the demand for our services increases. We have raised wage rates to attract workers from other fields and to retain or expand our current work force during the past year. If we are not able to increase our service rates sufficiently to compensate for wage rate increases, our operating results may be adversely affected.

 

Other factors may also inhibit our ability to find enough workers to meet our employment needs. Our services require skilled workers who can perform physically demanding work. As a result of our industry volatility and the demanding nature of the work, workers may choose to pursue employment in fields that offer a more desirable work environment at wage rates that are competitive with ours. We believe that our success is dependent upon our ability to continue to employ and retain skilled technical personnel. Our inability to employ or retain skilled technical personnel generally could have a material adverse effect on our operations.

 

We are dependent on particular suppliers for our newbuild rig program and are vulnerable to delayed deliveries and future price increases.

 

We currently purchase our well servicing rigs from a single supplier as part of a 134-rig commitment for rigs to be delivered through the end of January 2009, of which 132 have been delivered as of December 31, 2008. There are also a limited number of suppliers that manufacture this type of equipment. Although pricing is generally fixed for this newbuild contract and program, future price increases could affect our ability to continue to increase the number of newbuild rigs in our fleet at economic levels. In addition, the failure of our current supplier to timely deliver the remaining newbuild rigs could adversely affect our budgeted or projected financial and operational data.

 

Our success depends on key members of our management, the loss of any of whom could disrupt our business operations.

 

We depend to a large extent on the services of some of our executive officers. The loss of the services of Kenneth V. Huseman, our President and Chief Executive Officer, or other key personnel could disrupt our operations. Although we have entered into employment agreements with Mr. Huseman and our other executive officers that contain, among other provisions, non-compete agreements, we may not be able to enforce the non-compete provisions in the employment agreements.

 

Our operations are subject to inherent risks, some of which are beyond our control. These risks may be self-insured, or may not be fully covered under our insurance policies.

 

Our operations are subject to hazards inherent in the oil and gas industry, such as, but not limited to, accidents, blowouts, explosions, craterings, fires and oil spills. These conditions can cause:

 

 

The occurrence of a significant event or adverse claim in excess of the insurance coverage that we maintain or that is not covered by insurance could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, claims for loss of oil and gas production and damage to formations can occur in the well services industry. Litigation arising from a catastrophic occurrence at a location where our equipment and services are being used may result in us being named as a defendant in lawsuits asserting large claims.

We maintain insurance coverage that we believe to be customary in the industry against these hazards. However, we do not have insurance against all foreseeable risks, either because insurance is not available or because of the high premium costs. As such, not all of our property is insured. We are also self-insured up to retention limits with regard to workers’ compensation and medical and dental coverage. We maintain accruals in our consolidated balance sheets related to self-insurance retentions by using third-party data and historical claims history. The occurrence of an event not fully insured against, or the failure of an insurer to meet its insurance obligations, could result in substantial losses. In addition, we may not be able to maintain adequate insurance in the future at rates we consider reasonable. Insurance may not be available to cover any or all of these risks, or, even if available, it may be inadequate, or insurance premiums or other costs could rise significantly in the future so as to make such insurance prohibitive. It is likely that, in our insurance renewals, our premiums and deductibles will be higher, and certain insurance coverage either will be unavailable or considerably more expensive than it has been in the recent past. In addition, our insurance is subject to coverage limits and some policies exclude coverage for damages resulting from environmental contamination.

 

We are subject to federal, state and local regulation regarding issues of health, safety and protection of the environment. Under these regulations, we may become liable for penalties, damages or costs of remediation. Any changes in laws and government regulations could increase our costs of doing business.

 

Our operations are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to protection of natural resources and the environment, health and safety, waste management, and transportation of waste and other materials. Our fluid services segment includes disposal operations into injection wells that pose some risks of environmental liability, including leakage from the wells to surface or subsurface soils, surface water or groundwater. Liability under these laws and regulations could result in cancellation of well operations, fines and penalties, expenditures for remediation, and liability for property damage and personal injuries. Sanctions for noncompliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations also may include assessment of administrative, civil and criminal penalties, revocation of permits and issuance of corrective action orders.

 

Laws protecting the environment generally have become more stringent over time and are expected to continue to do so, which could lead to material increases in costs for future environmental compliance and remediation. The modification or interpretation of existing laws or regulations, or the adoption of new laws or regulations, could curtail exploratory or developmental drilling for oil and gas and could limit well servicing opportunities. Some environmental laws and regulations may impose strict liability, which means that in some situations we could be exposed to liability as a result of our conduct that was lawful at the time it occurred or conduct of, or conditions caused by, prior operators or other third parties. Clean-up costs and other damages arising as a result of environmental laws, and costs associated with changes in environmental laws and regulations could be substantial and could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition. Please read “Business — Environmental Regulation” included in our 2007 Form 10-K for more information on the environmental laws and government regulations that are applicable to us.

 

Our indebtedness could restrict our operations and make us more vulnerable to adverse economic conditions.

 

We now have, and will continue to have, a significant amount of indebtedness. As of September 30, 2008, our total debt was $472.4 million, including the aggregate principal amount due under our Senior Notes and capital lease obligations in the aggregate amount of $67.4 million. For the year ended December 31, 2007, we made cash interest payments totaling $25.6 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, we made cash interest payments totaling $14.9 million.

 

Our current and future indebtedness could have important consequences to you. For example, it could:

 

 

 

If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow or are otherwise unable to obtain the funds required to make principal and interest payments on our indebtedness, or if we otherwise fail to comply with the various covenants in our senior credit facility or other instruments governing any future indebtedness, we could be in default under the terms of our senior credit facility or such instruments. In the event of a default, the holders of our indebtedness could elect to declare all the funds borrowed under those instruments to be due and payable together with accrued and unpaid interest, the lenders under our credit facilities could elect to terminate their commitments thereunder and we or one or more of our subsidiaries could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation. Any of the foregoing consequences could restrict our ability to grow our business and cause the value of our common stock to decline.

 

Our revolving credit facility and the indenture governing our Senior Notes impose restrictions on us that may affect our ability to successfully operate our business.

 

Our revolving credit facility and the indenture governing our Senior Notes limit our ability to take various actions, such as:

 

 

In addition, our revolving credit facility requires us to maintain certain financial ratios and to satisfy certain financial conditions, several of which become more restrictive over time and may require us to reduce our debt or take some other action in order to comply with them. The failure to comply with any of these financial conditions, such as financial ratios or covenants would cause a default under our revolving credit facility. A default, if not waived, could result in acceleration of the outstanding indebtedness under our revolving credit facility, in which case the debt would become immediately due and payable. In addition, a default or acceleration of indebtedness under our revolving credit facility could result in a default or acceleration of our Senior Notes or other indebtedness with cross-default or cross-acceleration provisions. If this occurs, we may not be able to pay our debt or borrow sufficient funds to refinance it. Even if new financing is available, it may not be available on terms that are acceptable to us. These restrictions could also limit our ability to obtain future financings, make needed capital expenditures, withstand a downturn in our business or the economy in general, or otherwise conduct necessary corporate activities. We also may be prevented from taking advantage of business opportunities that arise because of the limitations imposed on us by the restrictive covenants under our revolving credit facility. In February 2007, we amended and restated our 2005 Credit Facility by entering into a Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. Please read “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Liquidity and Capital Resources — Credit Facilities” included in our 2007 Form 10-K, our First Quarter 2008 Form 10-Q, our Second Quarter 2008 Form 10-Q and our Third Quarter 2008 Form 10-Q for a discussion of our Credit Facilities.

One of our directors may have a conflict of interest because he is also currently an affiliate, director or officer of a private equity firm that makes investments in the energy sector. The resolution of this conflict of interest may not be in our or our stockholders’ best interests.

 

Steven A. Webster, the Chairman of our Board of Directors, is the Co-Managing Partner of Avista Capital Holdings, L.P., a private equity firm that makes investments in the energy sector. This relationship may create a conflict of interest because of his responsibilities to Avista and its owners. His duties as a partner in, or director or officer of, Avista or its affiliates may conflict with his duties as a director of our company regarding corporate opportunities and other matters. The resolution of this conflict may not always be in our or our stockholders’ best interest.

 

Risks Relating to Our Relationship with DLJ Merchant Banking

 

Affiliates of DLJ Merchant Banking will have a substantial influence on the outcome of stockholder voting and may exercise this voting power in a manner that may not be in the best interest of our other stockholders.

 

As of December 31, 2008, DLJ Merchant Banking Partners III, L.P. and affiliated funds (“DLJ Merchant Banking”), which are managed by affiliates of Credit Suisse, a Swiss Bank, and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, beneficially owned approximately 44.2% of our outstanding common stock. Accordingly, DLJ Merchant Banking is in a position to have a substantial influence on the outcome of matters requiring a stockholder vote, including the election of directors, adoption of amendments to our certificate of incorporation or bylaws or approval of transactions involving a change of control. The interests of DLJ Merchant Banking may differ from those of our other stockholders, and DLJ Merchant Banking may vote its common stock in a manner that may adversely affect our other stockholders.

 

Risks Relating to Ownership of Our Common Stock

 

Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, as well as Delaware law, contain provisions that could discourage acquisition bids or merger proposals, which may adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

 

Our certificate of incorporation authorizes our board of directors to issue preferred stock without stockholder approval. If our board of directors elects to issue preferred stock, it could be more difficult for a third party to acquire us. In addition, some provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire control of us, even if the change of control would be beneficial to our stockholders, including:

 

 

Delaware law prohibits us from engaging in any business combination with any “interested stockholder,” meaning generally that a stockholder who beneficially owns more than 15% of our stock cannot acquire us for a period of three years from the date this person became an interested stockholder, unless various conditions are met, such as approval of the transaction by our board of directors.

Because we have no plans to pay dividends on our common stock, investors must look solely to stock appreciation for a return on their investment in us.

 

We do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. We currently intend to retain all future earnings to fund the development and growth of our business. Any payment of future dividends will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on, among other things, our earnings, financial condition, capital requirements, level of indebtedness, statutory and contractual restrictions applying to the payment of dividends and other considerations that the board of directors deems relevant. The terms of our existing senior credit facility restrict the payment of dividends without the prior written consent of the lenders. Investors must rely on sales of their common stock after price appreciation, which may never occur, as the only way to realize a return on their investment. Investors seeking cash dividends should not purchase our common stock.

 

Unless otherwise specified in an accompanying prospectus supplement, we expect to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered by this prospectus to fund:

 

 

The actual application of proceeds from the sale of any particular tranche of securities issued hereunder will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to such tranche of securities. We may invest funds not required immediately for these purposes in marketable securities and short-term investments. The precise amount and timing of the application of these proceeds will depend upon our funding requirements and the availability and cost of other funds.

 

The following table sets forth our ratios of earnings to fixed charges on a consolidated basis for the periods shown. You should read these ratios of earnings to fixed charges in connection with our consolidated financial statements, including the notes to those statements, incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

 

 

 

 

Our authorized capital stock consists of:

 

 

The following summary of the rights, preferences and privileges of our capital stock and certificate of incorporation and bylaws does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the provisions of applicable law and to our certificate of incorporation and bylaws.

 

Common Stock

 

Holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted upon by the stockholders. Because holders of common stock do not have cumulative voting rights, the holders of a majority of the shares of common stock can elect all of the members of the board of directors standing for election. The holders of common stock are entitled to receive dividends as may be declared by the board of directors. Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, and subject to any prior rights of outstanding preferred stock, the holders of our common stock will be entitled to share pro rata in the distribution of all of our assets available for distribution to our stockholders after satisfaction of all of our liabilities and the payment of the liquidation preference of any preferred stock that may be outstanding. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock. All outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and non-assessable. The holders of our common stock have no preemptive or other subscription rights to purchase our common stock.

 

Preferred Stock

 

Subject to the provisions of the certificate of incorporation and limitations prescribed by law, the board of directors has the authority to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series and to fix the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of the preferred stock, including dividend rights, dividend rates, conversion rates, voting rights, terms of redemption, redemption prices, liquidation preferences and the number of shares constituting any series or the designation of the series, which may be superior to those of the common stock, without further vote or action by the stockholders. We have no present plans to issue any shares of preferred stock.

 

One of the effects of undesignated preferred stock may be to enable the board of directors to render more difficult or to discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a tender offer, proxy contest, merger or otherwise, and, as a result, protect the continuity of our management. The issuance of shares of the preferred stock under the board of directors’ authority described above may adversely affect the rights of the holders of common stock. For example, preferred stock issued by us may rank prior to the common stock as to dividend rights, liquidation preference or both, may have full or limited voting rights and may be convertible into shares of common stock. Accordingly, the issuance of shares of preferred stock may discourage bids for the common stock or may otherwise adversely affect the market price of the common stock.

 

Delaware Anti-Takeover Law and Charter and Bylaw Provisions

 

We are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner.

 

Section 203 defines a “business combination” as a merger, asset sale or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholders. Section 203 defines an “interested stockholder” as a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns, or, in some cases, within three years prior, did own, 15% or

more of the corporation’s voting stock. Under Section 203, a business combination between us and an interested stockholder is prohibited unless:

 

 

This provision has an anti-takeover effect with respect to transactions not approved in advance by our board of directors, including discouraging takeover attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the shares of our common stock. With approval of our stockholders, we could amend our certificate of incorporation in the future to elect not to be governed by the anti-takeover law. This election would be effective 12 months after the adoption of the amendment and would not apply to any business combination between us and any person who became an interested stockholder on or before the adoption of the amendment.

 

Provisions of Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

 

Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that any action required or permitted to be taken by our stockholders must be taken at a duly called meeting of stockholders and not by written consent. Under Delaware law, the power to adopt, amend or repeal bylaws is conferred upon the stockholders. A corporation may, however, in its certificate of incorporation also confer upon the board of directors the power to adopt, amend or repeal its bylaws. Our charter and bylaws grant our board the power to adopt, amend and repeal our bylaws on the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office. Our stockholders may adopt, amend or repeal our bylaws but only at any regular or special meeting of stockholders by the holders of not less than 662/3% of the voting power of all outstanding voting stock. Also, our bylaws preclude the ability of our stockholders to call special meetings of stockholders. Advance notice is required for stockholders to nominate directors or to submit proposals for consideration at meetings of stockholders. In addition, the ability of our stockholders to remove directors without cause is precluded.

 

Our board of directors is divided into three classes, and directors serve staggered three-year terms. Any vacancies on the board of directors shall be filled by vote of the board of directors until the next meeting of stockholders when the election of directors is in the regular course of business, and until a successor has been duly elected and qualified.

 

The foregoing provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control of our company.

 

Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors

 

Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that indemnification shall be to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, or DGCL, for all current or former directors or officers of Basic Energy Services. As permitted by the DGCL, the certificate of incorporation provides that directors of Basic Energy Services shall have no personal liability to Basic Energy Services or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except (1) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to Basic Energy Services or its stockholders, (2) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which

involve intentional misconduct or knowing violation of law, (3) under Section 174 of the DGCL or (4) for any transaction from which a director derived an improper personal benefit. If the Delaware General Corporation Law is amended to authorize the further elimination or limitation of directors’ liability, then the liability of our directors will automatically be limited to the fullest extent provided by law.

 

We have also entered into indemnification agreements with all of our directors and some of our executive officers (including each of our named executive officers). These indemnification agreements are intended to permit indemnification to the fullest extent now or hereafter permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. It is possible that the applicable law could change the degree to which indemnification is expressly permitted. The indemnification agreements cover expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement incurred as a result of the fact that such person, in his or her capacity as a director or officer, is made or threatened to be made a party to any suit or proceeding. The indemnification agreements generally cover claims relating to the fact that the indemnified party is or was an officer, director, employee or agent of us or any of our affiliates, or is or was serving at our request in such a position for another entity. The indemnification agreements also obligate us to promptly advance all reasonable expenses incurred in connection with any claim. The indemnitee is, in turn, obligated to reimburse us for all amounts so advanced if it is later determined that the indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification. The indemnification provided under the indemnification agreements is not exclusive of any other indemnity rights; however, double payment to the indemnitee is prohibited.

 

We have also agreed to obtain and maintain director and officer liability insurance for the benefit of each of the above indemnitees. These policies include coverage for losses for wrongful acts and omissions and to ensure our performance under the indemnification agreements. Each of the indemnitees are named as an insured under such policies and provided with the same rights and benefits as are accorded to the most favorably insured of our directors and officers.

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, or the Act, may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is therefore unenforceable.

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

The transfer agent and registrar for the common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company.

 

Any debt securities that we offer under a prospectus supplement will be direct, unsecured general obligations. The debt securities will be either senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities. The debt securities will be issued under one or more separate indentures between us and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee. Senior debt securities will be issued under a senior indenture and subordinated debt securities will be issued under a subordinated indenture. Together, the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture are called “indentures.” The indentures will be supplemented by supplemental indentures, the material provisions of which will be described in a prospectus supplement.

 

As used in this description, the words “Basic,” “Basic Energy Services,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Basic Energy Services, Inc., and not to any of its subsidiaries or affiliates.

 

We have summarized some of the material provisions of the indentures below. This summary does not restate those agreements in their entirety. A form of senior indenture and a form of subordinated indenture have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. We urge you to read each of the indentures because each one, and not this description, defines the rights of holders of debt securities.

 

Capitalized terms defined in the indentures have the same meanings when used in this prospectus.

 

General

 

The debt securities issued under the indentures will be our direct, unsecured general obligations. The senior debt securities will rank equally with all of our other senior and unsubordinated debt. The subordinated debt securities will have a junior position to all of our senior debt.

 

The following description sets forth the general terms and provisions that could apply to debt securities that we may offer to sell. A prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities being offered will include specific terms relating to the offering. These terms will include some or all of the following, among others:

 

 

Neither of the indentures will limit the amount of debt securities that may be issued. Each indenture will allow debt securities to be issued up to the principal amount that may be authorized by us and may be in any currency or currency unit designated by us.

 

Debt securities of a series may be issued in registered or global form.

 

Subsidiary Guarantees

 

If the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a series of our senior debt securities provides that those senior debt securities will have the benefit of a guarantee by any or all of our operating subsidiaries, payment of the principal, premium, if any, and interest on those senior debt securities will be unconditionally guaranteed on an unsecured, unsubordinated basis by such subsidiary or subsidiaries. The guarantee of senior debt securities will rank equally in right of payment with all of the unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of such subsidiary or subsidiaries.

 

If the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a series of our subordinated debt securities provides that those subordinated debt securities will have the benefit of a guarantee by any or all of our operating subsidiaries, payment of the principal, premium, if any, and interest on those subordinated debt securities will be unconditionally guaranteed on an unsecured, subordinated basis by such subsidiary or subsidiaries. The guarantee of the subordinated debt securities will be subordinated in right of payment to all of such subsidiary’s or subsidiaries’ existing and future senior indebtedness (as defined in the related prospectus supplement), including any guarantee of the senior debt securities, to the same extent and in the same manner as the subordinated debt securities are subordinated to our senior indebtedness (as defined in the related prospectus supplement). See “— Subordination” below.

 

The obligations of our operating subsidiaries under any such guarantee will be limited as necessary to prevent the guarantee from constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under applicable law.

 

Covenants

 

Under the indentures, we:

 

 

Mergers and Sale of Assets

 

Each of the indentures will provide that we may not consolidate with or merge into any other Person or sell, convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our properties and assets (on a consolidated basis) to another Person, unless:

 

 

 

Upon the assumption of our obligations under each indenture by a successor, we will be discharged from all obligations under such indenture.

 

As used in the indenture and in this description, the word “Person” means any individual, corporation, company, limited liability company, partnership, limited partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, other entity, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

Events of Default

 

“Event of default,” when used in the indentures with respect to debt securities of any series, will mean any of the following:

 

(1) default in the payment of any interest upon any debt security of that series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days;

 

(2) default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any debt security of that series at its maturity;

 

(3) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant set forth in Article Ten of the applicable indenture (other than a covenant a default in the performance of which or the breach of which is elsewhere specifically dealt with as an event of default or which has expressly been included in such indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series of debt securities other than that series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 90 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to Basic by the trustee or to Basic and the trustee by the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then-outstanding debt securities of that series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” thereunder;

 

(4) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant in the applicable indenture (other than a covenant set forth in Article Ten of such indenture or any other covenant a default in the performance of which or the breach of which is elsewhere specifically dealt with as an event of default or which has expressly been included in such indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series of debt securities other than that series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 180 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to Basic by the trustee or to Basic and the trustee by the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then-outstanding debt securities of that series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” thereunder;

 

(5) Basic, pursuant to or within the meaning of any bankruptcy law, (i) commences a voluntary case, (ii) consents to the entry of any order for relief against it in an involuntary case, (iii) consents to the appointment of a custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property, or (iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors;

 

(6) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any bankruptcy law that (i) is for relief against Basic in an involuntary case, (ii) appoints a custodian of Basic or for all or substantially all of its property, or (iii) orders the liquidation of Basic, and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days;

 

(7) default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment when due; or

(8) any other event of default provided with respect to debt securities of that series in accordance with provisions of the indenture related to the issuance of such debt securities.

 

An event of default for a particular series of debt securities does not necessarily constitute an event of default for any other series of debt securities issued under an indenture. The trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of any default (except in the payment of principal, interest or any premium) if it considers the withholding of notice to be in the interests of the holders.

 

If an event of default for any series of debt securities occurs and continues, the trustee or the holders of 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of the series may declare the entire principal of all of the debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. If this happens, subject to certain conditions, the holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series can void the declaration.

 

Other than its duties in case of a default, a trustee is not obligated to exercise any of its rights or powers under any indenture at the request, order or direction of any holders, unless the holders offer the trustee reasonable indemnity. If they provide this reasonable indemnification, the holders of a majority in principal amount outstanding of any series of debt securities may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding or any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any power conferred upon the trustee, for any series of debt securities.

 

Amendments and Waivers

 

Subject to certain exceptions, the indentures, the debt securities issued thereunder or the subsidiary guarantees may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then-outstanding debt securities of each series affected by such amendment or supplemental indenture, with each such series voting as a separate class (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, debt securities) and, subject to certain exceptions, any past default or compliance with any provisions may be waived with respect to each series of debt securities with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the then-outstanding debt securities of such series voting as a separate class (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, debt securities).

 

Without the consent of each holder of the outstanding debt securities affected, an amendment, supplement or waiver may not, among other things:

 

(1) change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any debt security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or reduce the amount of the principal of an original issue discount security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to the applicable indenture, or change the coin or currency in which, any debt security or any premium or the interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the stated maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date therefor);

 

(2) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the then-outstanding debt securities of any series, the consent of the holders of which is required for any such amendment or supplemental indenture, or the consent of the holders of which is required for any waiver of compliance with certain provisions of the applicable indenture or certain defaults thereunder and their consequences provided for in the applicable indenture;

 

(3) modify any of the provisions set forth in (i) the provisions of the applicable indenture related to the holder’s unconditional right to receive principal, premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities or (ii) the provisions of the applicable indenture related to the waiver of past defaults under such indenture;

 

(4) waive a redemption payment with respect to any debt security; provided, however, that any purchase or repurchase of debt securities shall not be deemed a redemption of the debt securities;

(5) release any guarantor from any of its obligations under its guarantee or the applicable indenture, except in accordance with the terms of such indenture (as amended or supplemented); or

 

(6) make any change in the foregoing amendment and waiver provisions, except to increase any percentage provided for therein or to provide that certain other provisions of the applicable indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the holder of each then-outstanding debt security affected thereby.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of any holder of debt securities, Basic, the guarantors and the trustee may amend each of the indentures or the debt securities issued thereunder to:

 

(1) cure any ambiguity or defect or to correct or supplement any provision therein that may be inconsistent with any other provision therein;

 

(2) evidence the succession of another Person to Basic and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of Basic therein and, to the extent applicable, of the debt securities;

 

(3) provide for uncertificated debt securities in addition to or in place of certificated debt securities; provided that the uncertificated debt securities are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), or in the manner such that the uncertificated debt securities are described in Section 163(f)(2)(B) of the Code;

 

(4) add a guarantee and cause any Person to become a guarantor, and/or to evidence the succession of another Person to a guarantor and the assumption by any such successor of the guarantee of such guarantor therein and, to the extent applicable, endorsed upon any debt securities of any series;

 

(5) secure the debt securities of any series;

 

(6) add to the covenants of Basic such further covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions as Basic shall consider to be appropriate for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of debt securities (and if such covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions are to be for the benefit of less than all series of debt securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power therein conferred upon Basic and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a default in any such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions an event of default permitting the enforcement of all or any of the several remedies provided in the applicable indenture as set forth therein; provided, that in respect of any such additional covenant, restriction, condition or provision, such amendment or supplemental indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such an event of default or may limit the remedies available to the trustee upon such an event of default or may limit the right of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of such series to waive such an event of default;

 

(7) make any change to any provision of the applicable indenture that does not adversely affect the rights or interests of any holder of debt securities issued thereunder;

 

(8) provide for the issuance of additional debt securities in accordance with the provisions set forth in the applicable indenture on the date of such indenture;

 

(9) add any additional defaults or events of default in respect of all or any series of debt securities;

 

(10) add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of the applicable indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of debt securities in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons;

 

(11) change or eliminate any of the provisions of the applicable indenture; provided that any such change or elimination shall become effective only when there is no debt security outstanding of any series created prior to the execution of such amendment or supplemental indenture that is entitled to the benefit of such provision;

(12) establish the form or terms of debt securities of any series as permitted thereunder, including to reopen any series of any debt securities as permitted thereunder;

 

(13) evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment thereunder by a successor trustee with respect to the debt securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of the applicable indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts thereunder by more than one trustee, pursuant to the requirements of such indenture;

 

(14) conform the text of the applicable indenture (and/or any supplemental indenture) or any debt securities issued thereunder to any provision of a description of such debt securities appearing in a prospectus or prospectus supplement or an offering memorandum or offering circular to the extent that such provision was intended to be a verbatim recreation of a provision of such indenture (and/or any supplemental indenture) or any debt securities issued thereunder; or

 

(15) modify, eliminate or add to the provisions of the applicable indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to effect the qualification of such indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”), or under any similar federal statute subsequently enacted, and to add to such indenture such other provisions as may be expressly required under the Trust Indenture Act.

 

The consent of the holders is not necessary under either indenture to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment. It is sufficient if such consent approves the substance of the proposed amendment. After an amendment with the consent of the holders under an indenture becomes effective, Basic is required to mail to the holders of debt securities thereunder a notice briefly describing such amendment. However, the failure to give such notice to all such holders, or any defect therein, will not impair or affect the validity of the amendment.

 

Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

 

Each indenture provides that Basic may, at its option and at any time, elect to have all of its obligations discharged with respect to the debt securities outstanding thereunder and all obligations of any guarantors of such debt securities discharged with respect to their guarantees (“Legal Defeasance”), except for:

 

(1) the rights of holders of outstanding debt securities to receive payments in respect of the principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on, such debt securities when such payments are due from the trust referred to below;

 

(2) Basic’s obligations with respect to the debt securities concerning temporary debt securities, registration of debt securities, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities, the maintenance of an office or agency for payment and money for security payments held in trust;

 

(3) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the trustee, and Basic’s and each guarantor’s obligations in connection therewith; and

 

(4) the Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance (as defined below) provisions of the applicable indenture.

 

In addition, Basic may, at its option and at any time, elect to have the obligations of Basic released with respect to certain provisions of each indenture, including certain provisions described in any prospectus supplement (such release and termination being referred to as “Covenant Defeasance”), and thereafter any failure to comply with such obligations or provisions will not constitute a default or event of default. In addition, in the event Covenant Defeasance occurs in accordance with the applicable indenture, any defeasible event of default will no longer constitute an event of default.

 

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance:

 

(1) Basic must irrevocably deposit with the trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the holders of the debt securities, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable government securities, or a combination of cash in U.S. dollars and non-callable U.S. government securities, in amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm or firm of independent public accountants, to

pay the principal of, and interest and premium, if any, on, the outstanding debt securities on the stated date for payment thereof or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and Basic must specify whether the debt securities are being defeased to such stated date for payment or to a particular redemption date;

 

(2) in the case of Legal Defeasance, Basic must deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to the trustee confirming that (a) Basic has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (b) since the issue date of the debt securities, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion of counsel will confirm that, the holders of the outstanding debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same time as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

 

(3) in the case of Covenant Defeasance, Basic must deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to the trustee confirming that the holders of the outstanding debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

 

(4) no default or event of default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a default or event of default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit);

 

(5) the deposit must not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other instrument to which Basic or any guarantor is a party or by which Basic or any guarantor is bound;

 

(6) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance must not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other than the applicable indenture) to which Basic or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which Basic or any of its subsidiaries is bound;

 

(7) Basic must deliver to the trustee an officer’s certificate stating that the deposit was not made by Basic with the intent of preferring the holders of debt securities over the other creditors of Basic with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding creditors of Basic or others;

 

(8) Basic must deliver to the trustee an officer’s certificate stating that all conditions precedent set forth in clauses (1) through (6) of this paragraph have been complied with; and

 

(9) Basic must deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel (which opinion of counsel may be subject to customary assumptions, qualifications, and exclusions) stating that all conditions precedent set forth in clauses (2), (3) and (6) of this paragraph have been complied with.

 

Satisfaction and Discharge

 

Each of the indentures will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect (except as to surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of debt securities and certain rights of the trustee, as expressly provided for in such indenture) as to all outstanding debt securities issued thereunder and the guarantees issued thereunder when:

 

(1) either (a) all of the debt securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under such indenture (except lost, stolen or destroyed debt securities that have been replaced or paid and debt securities for the payment of which money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by Basic and thereafter repaid to Basic or discharged from such trust) have been delivered to the trustee for cancellation or (b) all debt securities not theretofore delivered to the trustee for cancellation have become due and payable, will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year, or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the trustee in the name, and at the expense, of Basic, and Basic has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the trustee funds, in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire

indebtedness on the debt securities not theretofore delivered to the trustee for cancellation, for principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities to the date of deposit (in the case of debt securities that have become due and payable) or to the stated maturity or redemption date, as the case may be, together with instructions from Basic irrevocably directing the trustee to apply such funds to the payment thereof at maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

 

(2) Basic has paid all other sums then due and payable under such indenture by Basic; and

 

(3) Basic has delivered to the trustee an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel, which, taken together, state that all conditions precedent under such indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge of such indenture have been complied with.

 

No Personal Liability of Directors, Managers, Officers, Employees, Partners, Members and Stockholders

 

No director, manager, officer, employee, incorporator, partner, member or stockholder of Basic or any guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of Basic or the guarantors under the debt securities, the indentures, the guarantees or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each holder of debt securities, upon Basic’s issuance of the debt securities and execution of the indentures, waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the debt securities. Such waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws and it is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy.

 

Denominations

 

Unless stated otherwise in the prospectus supplement for each issuance of debt securities, the debt securities will be issued in denominations of $1,000 each or integral multiples of $1,000.

 

Paying Agent and Registrar

 

The trustee will initially act as paying agent and registrar for the debt securities. Basic may change the paying agent or registrar without prior notice to the holders of the debt securities, and Basic may act as paying agent or registrar.

 

Transfer and Exchange

 

A holder may transfer or exchange debt securities in accordance with the applicable indenture. The registrar and the trustee may require a holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents, and Basic may require a holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the applicable indenture. Basic is not required to transfer or exchange any debt security selected for redemption. In addition, Basic is not required to transfer or exchange any debt security for a period of 15 days before a selection of debt securities to be redeemed.

 

Subordination

 

The payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on subordinated debt securities and any other payment obligations of Basic in respect of subordinated debt securities (including any obligation to repurchase subordinated debt securities) is subordinated in certain circumstances in right of payment, as set forth in the subordinated indenture, to the prior payment in full in cash of all senior debt.

 

Basic also may not make any payment, whether by redemption, purchase, retirement, defeasance or otherwise, upon or in respect of subordinated debt securities, except from a trust described under “— Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance,” if

 

 

Cash payments on subordinated debt securities will be resumed (a) in the case of a payment default, upon the date on which such default is cured or waived, and (b) in case of a nonpayment default, the earliest of the date on which such nonpayment default is cured or waived, the termination of the payment blockage period by written notice to the trustee for the subordinated debt securities from the trustee or other representative for the holders of such designated senior debt, the payment in full of such designated senior debt or 179 days after the date on which the applicable payment blockage notice is received. No new payment blockage period may be commenced unless and until 360 days have elapsed since the date of commencement of the payment blockage period resulting from the immediately prior payment blockage notice. No nonpayment default in respect of designated senior debt that existed or was continuing on the date of delivery of any payment blockage notice to the trustee for the subordinated debt securities will be, or be made, the basis for a subsequent payment blockage notice unless such default shall have been cured or waived for a period of no less than 90 consecutive days.

 

Upon any payment or distribution of assets or securities of Basic (other than with the money, securities or proceeds held under any defeasance trust established in accordance with the subordinated indenture) in connection with any dissolution or winding up or total or partial liquidation or reorganization of Basic, whether voluntary or involuntary, or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceedings or other marshalling of assets for the benefit of creditors, all amounts due or to become due upon all senior debt shall first be paid in full, in cash or cash equivalents, before the holders of the subordinated debt securities or the trustee on their behalf shall be entitled to receive any payment by or on behalf of Basic on account of the subordinated debt securities, or any payment to acquire any of the subordinated debt securities for cash, property or securities, or any distribution with respect to the subordinated debt securities of any cash, property or securities. Before any payment may be made by, or on behalf of, Basic on any subordinated debt security (other than with the money, securities or proceeds held under any defeasance trust established in accordance with the subordinated indenture) in connection with any such dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization, any payment or distribution of assets or securities of Basic, to which the holders of subordinated debt securities or the trustee on their behalf would be entitled, shall be made by Basic or by any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other similar Person making such payment or distribution, or by the holders or the trustee if received by them or it, directly to the holders of senior debt or their representatives or to any trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any such senior debt may have been issued, as their respective interests appear, to the extent necessary to pay all such senior debt in full, in cash or cash equivalents, after giving effect to any concurrent payment, distribution or provision therefor to or for the holders of such senior debt.

 

As a result of these subordination provisions, in the event of the liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, receivership or similar proceeding or an assignment for the benefit of the creditors of Basic or a marshalling of assets or liabilities of Basic, holders of subordinated debt securities may receive ratably less than other creditors.

 

Payment and Transfer

 

Principal, interest and any premium on fully registered debt securities will be paid at designated places. Payment will be made by check mailed to the persons in whose names the debt securities are registered on days specified in the indentures or any prospectus supplement. Debt securities payments in other forms will be paid at a place designated by us and specified in a prospectus supplement.

 

Fully registered debt securities may be transferred or exchanged at the office of the trustee or at any other office or agency maintained by us for such purposes, without the payment of any service charge except for any tax or governmental charge.

Global Securities

 

The debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global certificates that we will deposit with a depositary identified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the individual debt securities that it represents, a global security may not be transferred except as a whole:

 

 

We will describe the specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to a series of debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement. We anticipate that the following provisions will generally apply to depositary arrangements.

 

When we issue a global security in registered form, the depositary for the global security or its nominee will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective principal amounts of the individual debt securities represented by that global security to the accounts of persons that have accounts with the depositary (“participants”). Those accounts will be designated by the dealers, underwriters or agents with respect to the underlying debt securities or by us if those debt securities are offered and sold directly by us. Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be limited to participants or persons that may hold interests through participants. For interests of participants, ownership of beneficial interests in the global security will be shown on records maintained by the applicable depositary or its nominee. For interests of persons other than participants, that ownership information will be shown on the records of participants. Transfer of that ownership will be effected only through those records. The laws of some states require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of securities in definitive form. These limits and laws may impair our ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global security.

 

As long as the depositary for a global security, or its nominee, is the registered owner of that global security, the depositary or nominee will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented by the global security for all purposes under the applicable indenture. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in a global security:

 

 

Payments of the principal of, any premium on and any interest on individual debt securities represented by a global security registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee will be made to the depositary or its nominee as the registered owner of the global security representing such debt securities. Neither we, the trustee for the debt securities, any paying agent nor the registrar for the debt securities will be responsible for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made by the depositary or any participants on account of beneficial interests in the global security.

 

We expect that the depositary or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of principal, any premium or interest relating to a global security representing any series of debt securities, immediately will credit participants’ accounts with the payments. Those payments will be credited in amounts proportional to the respective beneficial interests of the participants in the principal amount of the global security as shown on the records of the depositary or its nominee. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in the global security held through those participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices. This is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers registered in “street name.” Those payments will be the sole responsibility of those participants.

If the depositary for a series of debt securities is at any time unwilling, unable or ineligible to continue as depositary and we do not appoint a successor depositary within 90 days, we will issue individual debt securities of that series in exchange for the global security or securities representing that series. In addition, we may at any time in our sole discretion determine not to have any debt securities of a series represented by one or more global securities. In that event, we will issue individual debt securities of that series in exchange for the global security or securities. Furthermore, if we specify, an owner of a beneficial interest in a global security may, on terms acceptable to us, the trustee and the applicable depositary, receive individual debt securities of that series in exchange for those beneficial interests. The foregoing is subject to any limitations described in the applicable prospectus supplement. In any such instance, the owner of the beneficial interest will be entitled to physical delivery of individual debt securities equal in principal amount to the beneficial interest and to have the debt securities registered in its name. Those individual debt securities will be issued in any authorized denominations.

 

Governing Law

 

Each indenture and the debt securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

Information Concerning the Trustee

 

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. will be the trustee under the indentures. A successor trustee may be appointed in accordance with the terms of the indentures.

 

The indentures and the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act incorporated by reference therein will contain certain limitations on the rights of the trustee, should it become a creditor of us, to obtain payment of claims in certain cases, or to realize on certain property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The trustee will be permitted to engage in other transactions; however, if it acquires any conflicting interest (within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act), it must eliminate such conflicting interest or resign.

 

A single banking or financial institution may act as trustee with respect to both the subordinated indenture and the senior indenture. If this occurs, and should a default occur with respect to either the subordinated debt securities or the senior debt securities, such banking or financial institution would be required to resign as trustee under one of the indentures within 90 days of such default, pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act, unless such default were cured, duly waived or otherwise eliminated.

 

Our subsidiaries may issue guarantees of debt securities that we offer in any prospectus supplement. Each guarantee will be issued under a supplement to an indenture. The prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of guarantees will describe the terms of those guarantees, including the following:

 

 

We may issue warrants to purchase common stock, preferred stock, debt securities or units. Warrants may be issued independently or together with any other securities and may be attached to, or separate from, such securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent. The terms of any warrants to be issued and a description of the material provisions of the applicable warrant agreement will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

The applicable prospectus supplement will specify the following terms of any warrants in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered:

 

 

As specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may issue units consisting of one or more debt securities, shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock or warrants or any combination of such securities.

 

The applicable prospectus supplement will specify the following terms of any units in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered:

 

 

We may sell the securities through agents, underwriters or dealers, or directly to one or more purchasers without using underwriters or agents.

 

We may designate agents to solicit offers to purchase our securities. We will name any agent involved in offering or selling our securities, and any commissions that we will pay to the agent, in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless we indicate otherwise in our prospectus supplement, our agents will act on a best efforts basis for the period of their appointment.

 

If underwriters are used in the sale, the securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account. The underwriters may resell the securities in one or more transactions (including block transactions), at negotiated prices, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. We will include the names of the managing underwriter(s), as well as any other underwriters, and the terms of the transaction, including the compensation the underwriters and dealers will receive, in our prospectus supplement. If we use an underwriter, we will execute an underwriting agreement with the underwriter(s) at the time that we reach an agreement for the sale of our securities. The obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions contained in the underwriting agreement. The underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the securities of the series offered if any of the securities are purchased. Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time. The underwriters will use a prospectus supplement to sell our securities.

 

If we use a dealer, we, as principal, will sell our securities to the dealer. The dealer will then sell our securities to the public at varying prices that the dealer will determine at the time it sells our securities. We will include the name of the dealer and the terms of our transactions with the dealer in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

We may directly solicit offers to purchase our securities, and we may directly sell our securities to institutional or other investors. In this case, no underwriters or agents would be involved. We will describe the terms of our direct sales in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the securities may be underwriters as defined in the Securities Act and any discounts or commissions received by them from us and any profit on their resale of the securities may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. In connection with the sale of the securities offered by this prospectus, underwriters may receive compensation from us or from the purchasers of the securities, for whom they may act as agents, in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions, which will not exceed 7% of the proceeds from the sale of the securities. Any underwriters, dealers or agents will be identified and their compensation described in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may have agreements with the underwriters, dealers and agents to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute with respect to payments which the underwriters, dealers or agents may be required to make. Underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us or our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of their business.

 

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, all securities offered under this prospectus will be a new issue of securities with no established trading market, other than the common stock, which is currently listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange. We may elect to list any other class or series of securities on a national securities exchange or a foreign securities exchange but are not obligated to do so. Any common stock sold by this prospectus will be listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange subject to official notice of issuance. We cannot give you any assurance as to the liquidity of the trading markets for any of the securities.

 

Any underwriter to whom securities are sold by us for public offering and sale may engage in over-allotment transactions, stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act. Over-allotment transactions involve sales by the underwriters of the securities in excess of the offering size, which creates a syndicate short position. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified

maximum. Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the securities in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the securities originally sold by the syndicate member are purchased in a stabilizing or syndicate covering transaction to cover syndicate short positions. These activities may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would otherwise be. The underwriters will not be obligated to engage in any of the aforementioned transactions and may discontinue such transactions at any time without notice.

 

The validity of the securities offered in this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Andrews Kurth LLP, Houston, Texas. Any underwriter will be advised about other issues relating to any offering by its own legal counsel. If such counsel to underwriters passes on legal matters in connection with an offering of securities made by this prospectus, and a related prospectus supplement, that counsel will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement related to that offering.

 

The consolidated financial statements and schedule of Basic as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2007, and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007 have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing. The audit report covering the December 31, 2007 consolidated financial statements refers to a change in accounting for share-based payments effective January 1, 2006. The audit report on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, contains an explanatory paragraph that states that Basic acquired JetStar Consolidated Holdings, Inc., Sledge Drilling Holding Corp., and Wildhorse Services, Inc. (collectively the 2007 Excluded Acquisitions) during 2007, and management excluded from its assessment of the effectiveness of Basic’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, the 2007 Excluded Acquisitions’ internal control over financial reporting associated with total assets of $236.1 million and total revenues of $85.8 million included in the consolidated financial statements of Basic and subsidiaries as of and for the year ended December 31, 2007. The audit of internal control over financial reporting of Basic also excluded an evaluation of the internal control over financial reporting of the 2007 Excluded Acquisitions.

PART II

 

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

 

The following table sets forth the costs and expenses, other than selling or underwriting discounts and commissions, to be incurred by us in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered hereby. With the exception of the SEC registration fee, all fees and expenses set forth below are estimates.

 

 

 

 

 

Delaware Corporations

 

Basic Energy Services, Inc., Basic Marine Services, Inc., First Energy Services Company and JetStar Holdings, Inc. are incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware. Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”) provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. Section 145 further provides that a corporation similarly may indemnify any such person serving in any such capacity who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery or such other court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all of the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Delaware Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper. Basic Energy Services’ certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that indemnification shall be to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL for all current or former directors or officers of Basic Energy Services. As permitted by the DGCL, the certificate of incorporation

provides that directors of Basic Energy Services shall have no personal liability to Basic Energy Services or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except (1) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to Basic Energy Services or its stockholders, (2) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or knowing violation of II-1 law, (3) under Section 174 of the DGCL or (4) for any transaction from which a director derived an improper personal benefit.

 

We have also entered into indemnification agreements with all of our directors and some of our executive officers (including each of our named executive officers). These indemnification agreements are intended to permit indemnification to the fullest extent now or hereafter permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. It is possible that the applicable law could change the degree to which indemnification is expressly permitted.

 

The indemnification agreements cover expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement incurred as a result of the fact that such person, in his or her capacity as a director or officer, is made or threatened to be made a party to any suit or proceeding. The indemnification agreements generally cover claims relating to the fact that the indemnified party is or was an officer, director, employee or agent of us or any of our affiliates, or is or was serving at our request in such a position for another entity. The indemnification agreements also obligate us to promptly advance all reasonable expenses incurred in connection with any claim. The indemnitee is, in turn, obligated to reimburse us for all amounts so advanced if it is later determined that the indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification. The indemnification provided under the indemnification agreements is not exclusive of any other indemnity rights; however, double payment to the indemnitee is prohibited.

 

We are not obligated to indemnify the indemnitee with respect to claims brought by the indemnitee against:

 

 

We have also agreed to obtain and maintain director and officer liability insurance for the benefit of each of the above indemnitees. These policies will include coverage for losses for wrongful acts and omissions and to ensure our performance under the indemnification agreements. Each of the indemnitees will be named as an insured under such policies and provided with the same rights and benefits as are accorded to the most favorably insured of our directors and officers.

 

Delaware Limited Liability Company Guarantors

 

Basic Energy Services GP, LLC, Basic Energy Services LP, LLC and JS Acquisition LLC are organized under the laws of the State of Delaware. Under the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, a limited liability company may, and shall have the power to, indemnify and hold harmless any member or manager or other person from and against any and all claims and demands whatsoever.

 

Each of the Agreements of Limited Liability Company of these subsidiaries provides that a member shall not be liable to such subsidiary for any act or omission based upon errors of judgment or other fault in connection with the business or affairs of such subsidiary if such member’s conduct does not constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct. Furthermore, a member shall be indemnified and held harmless by such subsidiary to the fullest extent permitted by law, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and settlements arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which the member is involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of the management of the affairs of such subsidiary, provided that no member shall be entitled to indemnification for

such losses, claims, damages and settlements arising as a result of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such member.

 

Texas Guarantors

 

Basic ESA, Inc., LeBus Oil Field Service Co., Globe Well Service, Inc., JetStar Energy Services, Inc., Sledge Drilling Corp. and Xterra Fishing and Rental Tools Co. are incorporated under the laws of the State of Texas. Article 2.02-1 of the Texas Business Corporation Act provides that any director or officer of a Texas corporation may be indemnified against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by the person in connection with or in defending any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, arbitrative or investigative, in which he was, is, or is threatened to be made a named defendant by reason of his position as a director or officer of the corporation, provided that (i) he conducted himself in good faith, (ii) he reasonably believed that, in the case of conduct in his official capacity as a director or officer of the corporation, such conduct was in the corporation’s best interests; and, in all other cases, that such conduct was at least not opposed to the corporation’s best interests, and (iii) in the case of a criminal proceeding, he had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. If a director or officer is wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in connection with such a proceeding, such indemnification is mandatory. In connection with any action, suit or proceeding in which a director or officer is (x) found liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received by him, whether or not the benefit resulted from an action taken in his official capacity, or (y) found liable to the corporation, the indemnification is limited to reasonable expenses actually incurred by him in connection with the proceeding and will not be made in respect of any proceeding in which he is found liable for willful or intentional misconduct in the performance of his duty to the corporation.

 

The Articles of Incorporation of each of these subsidiaries generally provides that it will indemnify its directors and its former directors and may indemnify its officers and its former officers against any losses, damages, claims or liabilities to which they may become subject or which they may incur as a result of being or having been an officer or director, and shall advance to them or reimburse them for expenses incurred in connection therewith, to the maximum extent permitted by law. Directors and officers may be indemnified against judgments, penalties (including excise and similar taxes), fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by the person in connection with a proceeding; but if the person is found liable to such subsidiary or is found liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received by the person, the indemnification (i) is limited to reasonable expenses actually incurred by the person in connection with the proceeding and (ii) shall not be made in respect of any proceeding in which the person shall have been found liable for willful or intentional misconduct in the performance of his duty to such subsidiary.

 

Oklahoma Guarantors

 

Oilwell Fracturing Services, Inc., Hennessey Rental Tools, Inc. and Wildhorse Services, Inc. are incorporated under the laws of the State of Oklahoma. Section 1031 of the Oklahoma General Corporation Act authorizes a court to award, or a corporation’s board of directors to grant, indemnity under certain circumstances to directors, officers employees or agents in connection with actions, suits or proceedings, by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent, against expenses and liabilities incurred in such actions, suits or proceedings so long as they acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonable believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the company, and with respect to any criminal action if they had no reasonable cause to believe their conduct was unlawful. With respect to suits by or in the right of such corporation, however, indemnification is generally limited to attorneys’ fees and other expenses and is not available if such person is adjudged to be liable to such corporation unless the court determines that indemnification is appropriate.

 

Texas Limited Liability Company Guarantors

 

SCH Disposal, L.L.C. is organized under the laws of the State of Texas. Section 2.20 of the Texas Limited Liability Company Act provides that, subject to such standards and restrictions, if any, as are set forth in its articles of organization or in its regulations, a limited liability company shall have the power to

indemnify members and managers, officers and other persons and purchase and maintain liability insurance for such persons.

 

New Mexico Guarantor

 

Chaparral Service, Inc. is organized under the laws of the State of New Mexico. Section 53-11-4.1 of the New Mexico Business Corporation Act empowers a corporation to indemnify any officer or director against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements, and reasonable expenses actually incurred by the person in connection with any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, if the person acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and with respect to a criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful. The indemnification authorized by Section 53-11-4.1 is not exclusive of any other rights to which an officer or director may be entitled under the articles of incorporation, the bylaws, an agreement, a resolution of shareholders or directors or otherwise.

 

Kansas Guarantor

 

Acid Services, LLC is organized under the laws of the State of Kansas. Section 17-6305 of the Kansas General Corporation Law provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is, or is threatened to be made a party, to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, other than an action by or in the right of the corporation, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, including attorney fees, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation; and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful.

 

Section 17-6305 further provides that a corporation similarly may indemnify any such person serving in any such capacity who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if such person acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the court shall deem proper.

 

Section 17-6305 also provides that to the extent that a present or former director, officer, employee or agent of a corporation has been successful in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to above, such person shall be indemnified against expenses actually and reasonably incurred in connection therewith, including attorney fees and that the indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to Section 17-6305 shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled.

 

Reference is also made to the form of underwriting agreements to be incorporated by reference in this registration statement for a description of the indemnification arrangements we agree to in connection with offerings of the securities registered hereby.

 

 

The exhibits listed in the accompanying Exhibit Index are filed (except where otherwise indicated) as part of this registration statement.

 

A. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

 

(a) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

 

(b) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

 

(c) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in this registration statement;

 

provided, however, that paragraphs A(l)(a) and A(l)(b) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

 

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

 

(a) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement: and

 

(b) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

 

(a) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

 

(b) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

 

(c) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

 

(d) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

 

B. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

C. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the provisions described under Item 15 above, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

D. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

(1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus or any prospectus supplement filed as part of this registration statement in reliance on Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus or prospectus supplement filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)( 1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.

 

(2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus or prospectus supplement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

E. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of subsection 310 of the Trust Indenture Act (“Act”) in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the SEC under section 305(b)(2) of such Act.

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Midland, State of Texas, on January 13, 2009.

 

BASIC ENERGY SERVICES, INC.

 

Kenneth V. Huseman

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

 

Alan Krenek

Attorney-in-Fact

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, each of the co-registrants set forth below (the “Co-Registrants”) has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Midland, State of Texas, on January 13, 2009.

 

Each of the Co-Registrants named on Schedule A-1 hereto

 

Kenneth V. Huseman

President

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each of the undersigned officers and directors of the Co-Registrants hereby constitutes and appoints Kenneth V. Huseman and Alan Krenek his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution, for him and on his behalf and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign, execute and file this registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any or all amendments (including, without limitation, post-effective amendments), with all exhibits and any and all documents required to be filed with respect thereto, with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any regulatory authority, granting unto such attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises in order to effectuate the same, as fully to all intents and purposes as he himself might or could do, if personally present, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Schedule A-1

 

CO-REGISTRANTS

 

Basic Energy Services GP, LLC

Basic Energy Services, L.P.

Basic ESA, Inc.

Basic Marine Services, Inc.

First Energy Services Company

LeBus Oil Field Service Co.

Oilwell Fracturing Services, Inc.

Globe Well Service, Inc.

SCH Disposal, L.L.C.

JS Acquisition LLC

Acid Services, LLC

JetStar Energy Services, Inc.

JetStar Holdings, Inc.

Sledge Drilling Corp.

Chaparral Service, Inc.

Hennessey Rental Tools, Inc.

Wildhorse Services, Inc.

Xterra Fishing and Rental Tools Co.

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Farmington, State of New Mexico, on January 13, 2009.

 

BASIC ENERGY SERVICES LP, LLC

 

Jerry Tufly

President

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

EXHIBIT INDEX