UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM 8-K


CURRENT REPORT

 

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

November 15, 2005 (November 8, 2005)


CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)

 

Oklahoma

 

1-13726

 

73-1395733

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

 

(Commission File No.)

 

(IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

 

6100 North Western Avenue, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

 

73118

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

(405) 848-8000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

[_]

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

[_]

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[_]

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act

(17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[_]

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act

(17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 

 

Section 1- Registrant’s Business and Operations

 

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

 

On November 8, 2005, Chesapeake Energy Corporation (the “Company”) entered into an indenture for its 6.875% Senior Notes due 2020 and an indenture for its 2.75% Contingent Convertible Senior Notes due 2035. The descriptions of the indentures and the notes issued thereunder contained in Item 2.03 below are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Section 2- Financial Information

 

Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant

 

6.875% Senior Notes due 2020

 

On November 8, 2005, we issued $500 million aggregate principal amount of 6.875% Senior Notes due 2020. The notes are governed by an indenture dated as of November 8, 2005 among the Company, as issuer, each of its subsidiaries, as guarantors, and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as trustee. Interest on the notes accrues at an annual rate of 6.875% and will be payable semi-annually on May 15 and November 15 of each year, commencing May 15, 2006. The notes will mature on November 15, 2020.

 

We may redeem some or all of the notes at any time, at the make-whole price described in the indenture.

 

The notes are our senior unsecured obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all of our existing and future senior debt and senior to any subordinated debt that we may incur. The notes are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by all our existing subsidiaries and will be guaranteed by each of our future domestic subsidiaries that guarantees any other indebtedness of us or a subsidiary guarantor in excess of $5 million. The notes will be effectively subordinated to our and our guarantor subsidiaries’ existing and future secured debt, including debt under our revolving bank credit facility, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt. The notes will also be effectively subordinated to the debt of any non-guarantor subsidiaries.

 

The following are events of default with respect to the notes:

 

 

(1)

default in the payment of principal of the notes at maturity, upon repurchase in connection with certain sale/leaseback transactions, upon acceleration or otherwise;

 

 

(2)

default for 30 days in payment of interest on the notes;

 

 

(3)

default in the deposit of any make-whole redemption payment;

 

(4)

default on any other indebtedness resulting in the acceleration of the maturity of, or a payment default on, any such indebtedness having a principal amount of $50.0 million or more if any such default is not cured or waived or any such acceleration is not rescinded within a period of 30 days from the continuation of such default beyond any applicable grace period or the occurrence of such acceleration;

 

 

(5)

default in the performance, or breach of, the covenant regarding limitations on mergers and consolidations or any other covenant or agreement in the indenture and failure to remedy such default within a period of 45 days after notice;

 

 

(6)

the entry of one or more judgments or orders against the Company, any subsidiary guarantor or any other subsidiary in excess of $50.0 million (net of insurance coverage) that has not been vacated, discharged, satisfied or stayed pending appeal within 60 days from the entry thereof;

 

 

-2-

 

 

 

 

(7)

the failure of a guarantee by a subsidiary guarantor to be in full force and effect, or the denial or disaffirmance by such entity thereof; or

 

 

(8)

certain events involving bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company.

 

Under a registration rights agreement which was executed as part of the offering of the notes, we have agreed to file a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after November 8, 2005 enabling the holders of the notes to exchange the notes for publicly registered notes with identical terms; use our best efforts to cause the registration statement to become effective within 240 days after November 8, 2005; consummate the exchange offer within 60 business days after the effective date of our registration statement; file a shelf registration statement for the resale of the notes if we cannot effect an exchange offer within the time periods listed above and in some other circumstances; and if a shelf registration statement is required, use our best efforts to cause the shelf registration statement to be declared effective and to keep the shelf registration statement effective until the earlier of two years from the date of the effectiveness of the shelf registration statement or the time when all of the notes covered by the shelf registration statement have been sold or when they may be sold pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, subject to certain exceptions. We will pay additional interest on the notes if we are not in compliance with our obligations under the registration rights agreement.

 

A copy of the indenture governing the notes is attached to this report as Exhibit 4.1.1. A copy of the registration rights agreement is attached to this report as Exhibit 4.1.3.

 

2.75% Contingent Convertible Senior Notes due 2035

 

On November 8, 2005, we issued $690 million aggregate principal amount of 2.75% Contingent Convertible Senior Notes due 2035. The notes are governed by an indenture dated as of November 8, 2005 among the Company, as issuer, each of its subsidiaries, as guarantors, and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as trustee. Interest on the notes accrues at an annual rate of 2.75% and will be payable semi-annually on May 15 and November 15 of each year, commencing May 15, 2006. In addition, we will pay contingent interest during any six-month interest period, beginning with the six-month period ending May 14, 2016, if the average trading price of the notes for the five trading-day period ending on the third day immediately preceding the first day of such six month period equals or exceeds 120% of the principal amount of the notes. The amount of contingent interest payable per note in respect of any six-month period will be equal to 0.50% per annum of the average trading price of the notes during the applicable five trading-day period. The notes will mature on November 15, 2035.

 

We may redeem some or all of the notes at any time on or after November 15, 2015 at a redemption price, payable in cash, of 100% of the principal amount of the notes. Holders may require us to repurchase all or a portion of their notes on November 15, 2015, 2020, 2025, and 2030 and upon a fundamental change, as defined in the indenture, at 100% of the principal amount of the notes, payable in cash.

 

The notes are our senior unsecured obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all of our existing and future senior debt and senior to any subordinated debt that we may incur. The notes are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by each of our existing subsidiaries and will be guaranteed by each of our future domestic subsidiaries that guarantees any other indebtedness of us or a subsidiary guarantor in excess of $5 million. The notes will be effectively subordinated to our and our guarantor subsidiaries’ existing and future secured debt, including debt under our revolving bank credit facility, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt. The notes will also be effectively subordinated to the debt of any non-guarantor subsidiaries.

 

The notes are convertible, at the holder’s option, prior to the maturity date into cash and, if applicable, shares of our common stock at an initial conversion rate of approximately 25.5951 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of notes, based on an initial conversion price (as defined in the

 

-3-

 

 

indenture) per share of $39.07, subject to adjustment. The notes are convertible, in accordance with the terms of the indenture, only in the following circumstances:

 

prior to November 15, 2033, during any calendar quarter if the closing price of the common stock for at least 20 trading days during the period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the last trading day of the immediately preceding calendar quarter is greater than 125% of the conversion price on such last trading day;

 

on or after November 15, 2033, at all times on or after any date on which the closing price of the common stock is more than 125% of the conversion price of the notes;

 

during the five consecutive business-day period following any five consecutive trading-day period in which the trading price for the notes for each such trading day was less than 95% of the product of the average of the closing price of the common stock during such five trading-day period and the then current conversion rate;

 

if the Company has called the notes for redemption and the redemption has not yet occurred; or

 

upon the occurrence of specified corporate transactions.

Subject to certain exceptions related to changes of control, the Company will deliver to holders in respect of each $1,000 principal amount of notes surrendered for conversion a settlement amount equal to the sum of the daily settlement amounts for each of the 20 consecutive trading days during the period beginning on the second trading day after a notice of conversion in respect of such note is delivered to the conversion agent (or, in the case of a notice of conversion received after the issuance of a notice of redemption, beginning on the 23 rd scheduled trading day prior to the applicable redemption date). The “daily settlement amount,” for each such day, will consist of:

 

cash equal to the lesser of $50 and the daily conversion value (which is equal to 1/20th of the product of (1) the then conversion rate and (2) the closing price of the common stock on such day); and

 

to the extent the daily conversion value exceeds $50, a number of shares of our common stock equal to (A) the difference between the daily conversion value and $50, divided by (B) the closing price of the common stock for such day.

If holders elect to convert their notes in connection with certain corporate transactions that occur on or prior to November 15, 2015 that constitute a “fundamental change,” other than a fundamental change relating to the composition of our board of directors, and 10% or more of the fair market value of the consideration for the common stock in the corporate transaction consists of (i) cash (not including cash payments for fractional shares and cash payments pursuant to dissenters’ appraisal rights), (ii) other property or (iii) securities that are not publicly traded (or scheduled to be so traded following such transaction), we will decrease the conversion price for the notes surrendered for conversion, which will increase the conversion rate by a number of shares of common stock, except in the event that a “public acquirer change of control” occurs and we elect to make the notes convertible into cash and shares of “acquirer common stock.”

The following are events of default with respect to the notes:

 

 

(1)

default in the payment of principal of the notes at maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise (including the failure to make cash payments due upon conversion or a payment to repurchase notes tendered pursuant to a fundamental change or to repurchase notes at the holder’s option on November 15, 2015, 2020, 2025 or 2030);

 

 

-4-

 

 

 

 

(2)

failure to deliver within the time period required by the indenture shares of our common stock, cash in lieu of fractional shares, or any other property other than cash upon conversion of the notes and continuance of such failure for five days;

 

 

(3)

default for 30 days in payment of any interest on the notes;

 

 

(4)

default on any other indebtedness resulting in the acceleration of the maturity of, or a payment default on, any such indebtedness having a principal amount of $50.0 million or more if any such default is not cured or waived or any such acceleration is not rescinded within a period of 30 days from the continuation of such default beyond any applicable grace period or the occurrence of such acceleration;

 

 

(5)

default in the performance, or breach of, the covenant regarding limitations on mergers and consolidations or any other covenant or agreement in the indenture and failure to remedy such default within a period of 45 days after notice;

 

 

(6)

the entry of one or more judgments or orders against the Company, any subsidiary guarantor or any other subsidiary in excess of $50.0 million (net of insurance coverage) that has not been vacated, discharged, satisfied or stayed pending appeal within 60 days from the entry thereof;

 

 

(7)

the failure of a guarantee by a subsidiary guarantor to be in full force and effect, or the denial or disaffirmance by such entity thereof; or

 

 

(8)

certain events involving bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company.

 

We have agreed to register resales of the notes and the common stock issued upon conversion pursuant to a registration rights agreement executed in connection with the offering of the notes. The description of the terms of the registration rights agreement in Item 3.02 below is incorporated herein by reference. A copy of the indenture governing the notes is attached to this report as Exhibit 4.1.2.

 

Section 3- Securities and Trading Markets

 

Item 3.02 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities

 

As reported under Item 2.03 above, on November 8, 2005, we issued and sold $690 million aggregate principal amount of 2.75% Contingent Convertible Senior Notes due 2035. The aggregate offering price was $690 million, and the aggregate discount to the initial purchasers was $16.4 million. The indenture for the notes sets forth the terms by which holders may convert their notes into shares of our common stock. The description of such conversion terms included in Item 2.03 above is incorporated herein by reference.

 

On November 8, 2005, we also issued and sold 5,750,000 shares of the Company’s 5% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock (Series 2005B), $.01 par value and $100 liquidation preference per share. The aggregate offering price was $575 million, and the aggregate discount to the initial purchasers was $15.8 million. Each share of preferred stock is convertible at any time, at the option of the holder thereof, into 2.5595 shares of our common stock in accordance with the terms of the certificate of designation relating to the preferred stock which was filed by the Company with the Oklahoma Secretary of State on November 7, 2005. The certificate of designation was included as an exhibit to our current report on Form 8-K filed on November 9, 2005. The conversion rate is based on an initial conversion price (as defined in the certificate of designation) of $39.07 per share, subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events. The preferred stock is subject to mandatory conversion, at the option of the Company, (1) on or after November 15, 2010 at the then conversion price if the closing price of the common stock is at least 130% of the conversion price for at least 20 trading days during a period of 30 consecutive trading days, and (2) on or after November 15, 2010, if there are less than 250,000 shares of preferred stock outstanding at the time, at the then conversion price, or, if lower, the then current market price of the common stock.

 

-5-

 

 

 

The notes and the preferred stock were sold by the Company to the initial purchasers in private placements in reliance on the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 afforded by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act for transactions by an issuer not involving any public offering. Each of the initial purchasers has represented that it is an accredited investor within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act. The initial purchasers each represented and agreed that they had offered and sold, and will offer and sell, the notes and the preferred stock they acquired only in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act.

 

Pursuant to a registration rights agreement dated November 8, 2005 between us and the initial purchasers of the convertible notes, we have agreed, for the benefit of the holders of the notes, to file a shelf registration statement with the SEC within 120 days after November 8, 2005 with respect to resales of the notes and our common stock that may be issued upon the conversion of the notes. We have also agreed to use our reasonable best efforts to cause the shelf registration statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act within 240 days after November 8, 2005 and to keep the shelf registration statement effective for up to two years after the date of issuance or such earlier date as of which the notes or our common stock that may be issued upon the conversion of the notes has been sold pursuant to the shelf registration statement. We will pay additional interest on the notes if we are not in compliance with our obligations under the registration rights agreement. A copy of the registration rights agreement for the convertible notes is attached to this report as Exhibit 4.1.4.

 

We have also entered onto a registration rights agreement dated November 8, 2005 with similar terms with the initial purchasers of the preferred stock. We have agreed, for the benefit of the holders of the preferred stock, to register under a shelf registration statement resales of the preferred stock and common stock issued upon the conversion thereof or in payment of dividends thereon. The dividends on the preferred stock will be increased if we are not in compliance with our obligations under the registration rights agreement. A copy of the registration rights agreement for the preferred stock is attached to this report as Exhibit 4.1.5.

 

 

Section 9 – Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

 

 

 

(c)

Exhibits

 

 

 

Exhibit No.

 

Document Description

 

 

 

 

4.1.1

 

Indenture dated as of November 8, 2005 among Chesapeake as issuer, the subsidiaries signatory thereto, as Subsidiary Guarantors, and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, with respect to 6.875% Senior Notes due 2020.

4.1.2

 

Indenture dated as of November 8, 2005 among Chesapeake as issuer, the subsidiaries signatory thereto, as Subsidiary Guarantors, and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, with respect to 2.75% Contingent Convertible Senior Notes due 2035.

4.1.3

 

Registration Rights Agreement dated November 8, 2005 with respect to the 6.875% Senior Notes due 2020

4.1.4

 

Registration Rights Agreement dated November 8, 2005 with respect to the 2.75% Contingent Convertible Senior Notes due 2035

4.1.5

 

Registration Rights Agreement dated November 8, 2005 with respect to the 5% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock (Series 2005B)

 

 

-6-

 

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

 

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION

 

By:


/s/ Aubrey K. McClendon

 

 

 

Aubrey K. McClendon

Chairman of the Board and

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

Date: November 15, 2005

 

 

-7-

 

 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.

 

Document Description

 

 

 

 

 

4.1.1

 

Indenture dated as of November 8, 2005 among Chesapeake as issuer, the subsidiaries signatory thereto, as Subsidiary Guarantors, and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, with respect to 6.875% Senior Notes due 2020.

 

4.1.2

 

Indenture dated as of November 8, 2005 among Chesapeake as issuer, the subsidiaries signatory thereto, as Subsidiary Guarantors, and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, with respect to 2.75% Contingent Convertible Senior Notes due 2035.

 

4.1.3

 

Registration Rights Agreement dated November 8, 2005 with respect to the 6.875% Senior Notes due 2020

 

4.1.4

 

Registration Rights Agreement dated November 8, 2005 with respect to the 2.75% Contingent Convertible Senior Notes due 2035

 

4.1.5

 

Registration Rights Agreement dated November 8, 2005 with respect to the 5% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock (Series 2005B)

 

 

 

 

 

-8-

 

 

 

EXHIBIT 4.1.1

 

EXECUTION COPY

 

 

 

 

 

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION

as Issuer,

THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS,

as Guarantors,

AND

THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,

as Trustee

____________________________

INDENTURE

DATED AS OF November 8, 2005

____________________________

6.875% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2020

____________________________

 

 

 

[[NYCORP:2551417v7:3642W:11/08/05--03:56 p]]

 

 

 

CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE

 

TIA SECTION

 

INDENTURE SECTION

310

(a)(1)

7.10

 

(a)(2)

7.10

 

(a)(3)

N.A.

 

(a)(4)

N.A.

 

(a)(5)

7.08

 

(b)

7.08; 7.10

 

(c)

N.A.

311

(a)

7.11

 

(b)

7.11

 

(c)

N.A.

312

(a)

2.05

 

(b)

11.03

 

(c)

11.03

313

(a)

7.06

 

(b)(1)

N.A.

 

(b)(2)

7.06

 

(c)

7.06; 11.02

 

(d)

7.06

314

(a)

4.02; 4.03; 11.02

 

(b)

N.A.

 

(c)(1)

11.04

 

(c)(2)

11.04

 

(c)(3)

N.A.

 

(d)

N.A.

 

(e)

11.05

 

(f)

N.A.

315

(a)

7.01(b)

 

(b)

7.05; 11.02

 

(c)

7.01(a)

 

(d)

7.01(c)

 

(e)

6.11

316

(a)(last sentence)

2.09

 

(a)(1)(A)

6.05

 

(a)(1)(B)

6.02; 6.04; 9.02

 

(a)(2)

N.A.

 

(b)

6.07

 

(c)

N.A.

317

(a)(1)

6.08

 

(a)(2)

6.09

 

(b)

2.04

318

(a)

11.01

318

(c)

11.01

 

 

 

-------------------------

N.A. means Not Applicable

NOTE: This Cross-Reference table shall not, for any purpose, be deemed part of this Indenture.

 

[[NYCORP:2551417v7:3642W:11/08/05--03:56 p]]

ii

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pages

 

 

 

ARTICLE ONE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1.01.

 

Definitions.

1

SECTION 1.02.

 

Other Definitions.

13

SECTION 1.03.

 

Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act

14

SECTION 1.04.

 

Rules of Construction.

14

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE TWO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE SECURITIES

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 2.01.

 

Form and Dating

15

SECTION 2.02.

 

Execution and Authentication

15

SECTION 2.03.

 

Registrar and Paying Agent

15

SECTION 2.04.

 

Paying Agent To Hold Money in Trust

16

SECTION 2.05.

 

Holder Lists

16

SECTION 2.06.

 

Transfer and Exchange

16

SECTION 2.07.

 

Replacement Securities

17

SECTION 2.08.

 

Outstanding Securities

17

SECTION 2.09.

 

Temporary Securities

17

SECTION 2.10.

 

Cancelation

17

SECTION 2.11.

 

Defaulted Interest

18

SECTION 2.12.

 

CUSIP Numbers

18

SECTION 2.13.

 

Issuance of Additional Securities

18

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE THREE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REDEMPTION

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 3.01.

 

Notice to Trustee

19

SECTION 3.02.

 

Selection of Securities to Be Redeemed

19

SECTION 3.03.

 

Notice of Redemption

19

SECTION 3.04.

 

Effect of Notice of Redemption

20

SECTION 3.05.

 

Deposit of Redemption Price

20

SECTION 3.06.

 

Securities Redeemed in Part

21

SECTION 3.07.

 

Optional Redemption at Make-Whole Price

21

 

 

 

 

Pages

 

 

 

ARTICLE FOUR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COVENANTS

 

 

 

 

[[NYCORP:2551417v7:3642W:11/08/05--03:56 p]]

iii

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 4.01.

 

Payment of Securities

21

 

 

 

 

SECTION 4.02.

 

SEC Reports

21

 

 

 

 

SECTION 4.03.

 

Compliance Certificates

22

SECTION 4.04.

 

Maintenance of Office or Agency

23

SECTION 4.05.

 

Corporate Existence

23

SECTION 4.06.

 

Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws

24

SECTION 4.07.

 

Payment of Taxes and Other Claims

24

SECTION 4.08.

 

Maintenance of Properties and Insurance

24

SECTION 4.09.

 

Limitation on Liens Securing Indebtedness

25

SECTION 4.10.

 

Limitation on Sale/Leaseback Transactions

25

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE FIVE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUCCESSOR CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 5.01.

 

When Company May Merge, etc.

27

SECTION 5.02.

 

Successor Corporation Substituted

27

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE SIX

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 6.01.

 

Events of Default

28

SECTION 6.02.

 

Acceleration

30

SECTION 6.03.

 

Other Remedies

30

SECTION 6.04.

 

Waiver of Past Defaults

31

SECTION 6.05

 

Control by Majority

31

SECTION 6.06.

 

Limitation on Remedies

31

SECTION 6.07.

 

Rights of Holders to Receive Payment

32

SECTION 6.08.

 

Collection Suit by Trustee

32

SECTION 6.09.

 

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

32

SECTION 6.10.

 

Priorities

32

SECTION 6.11.

 

Undertaking for Costs

32

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE SEVEN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TRUSTEE

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 7.01.

 

Duties of Trustee

33

SECTION 7.02.

 

Rights of Trustee

34

SECTION 7.03.

 

Individual Rights of Trustee

35

SECTION 7.04.

 

Trustee’s Disclaimer

35

SECTION 7.05.

 

Notice of Defaults

35

SECTION 7.06.

 

Reports by Trustee to Holders

35

SECTION 7.07.

 

Compensation and Indemnity

36

SECTION 7.08.

 

Replacement of Trustee

37

SECTION 7.09.

 

Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.

38

SECTION 7.10.

 

Eligibility; Disqualification

38

SECTION 7.11.

 

Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company

38

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE EIGHT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[[NYCORP:2551417v7:3642W:11/08/05--03:56 p]]

iv

 

 

 

 

 

 

DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 8.01.

 

Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance

38

SECTION 8.02.

 

Legal Defeasance and Discharge

38

SECTION 8.03.

 

Covenant Defeasance

39

SECTION 8.04.

 

Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance

39

SECTION 8.05.

 

Deposited Money and U.S. Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions

41

SECTION 8.06.

 

Repayment to Company

41

SECTION 8.07.

 

Reinstatement

42

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE NINE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 9.01.

 

Without Consent of Holders

42

SECTION 9.02.

 

With Consent of Holders

43

SECTION 9.03.

 

Compliance with Trust Indenture Act

44

SECTION 9.04.

 

Revocation and Effect of Consents

44

SECTION 9.05.

 

Notation on or Exchange of Senior Notes

45

SECTION 9.06.

 

Trustee Protected

45

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE TEN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GUARANTEES

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 10.01.

 

Unconditional Guarantee

45

SECTION 10.02.

 

Subsidiary Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms

46

SECTION 10.03.

 

Addition of Subsidiary Guarantors

47

SECTION 10.04.

 

Release of a Subsidiary Guarantor

47

SECTION 10.05.

 

Limitation of Subsidiary Guarantor’s Liability

48

SECTION 10.06.

 

Contribution

48

SECTION 10.07.

 

[Intentionally Omitted]

48

SECTION 10.08.

 

Severability

48

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE ELEVEN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 11.01.

 

Trust Indenture Act Controls

49

SECTION 11.02.

 

Notices

49

SECTION 11.03.

 

Communication by Holders with Other Holders

50

SECTION 11.04.

 

Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent

50

SECTION 11.05.

 

Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion

50

SECTION 11.06.

 

Rules by Trustee and Agents

50

SECTION 11.07.

 

Legal Holidays

50

SECTION 11.08.

 

Governing Law

51

SECTION 11.09.

 

No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements

51

SECTION 11.10.

 

No Recourse Against Others

51

SECTION 11.11.

 

Successors

51

SECTION 11.12.

 

Duplicate Originals

51

SECTION 11.13.

 

Severability

51

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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v

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

66

 

 

RULE 144A/REGULATION S APPENDIX

A-1

 

 

EXHIBIT 1 TO THE RULE 144A/REGULATION S APPENDIX –

FORM OF INITIAL SECUIRTY

B-1

 

 

EXHIBIT A-1 – FORM OF EXCHANGE SECURITY OR

PRIVATE EXCHANGE SECURITY

C-1

 

 

 

_________________________

NOTE: This Table of Contents shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of this Indenture.

 

 

 

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vi

 

 

 

INDENTURE, dated as of November 8, 2005, among CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION, an Oklahoma corporation (the “Company”), the SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS listed as signatories hereto and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., a national banking association, as Trustee.

Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other parties and for the equal and ratable benefit of the holders of the Company’s 6.875% Senior Notes due 2020:

ARTICLE ONE

 

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

SECTION 1.01. Definitions.

“Additional Securities” means 6.875% Senior Notes due 2020 issued from time to time after the Issue Date under the terms of this Indenture (other than pursuant to Section 2.06, 2.07, 2.09 or 3.06 of this Indenture and other than Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities issued pursuant to an exchange offer for other Securities outstanding under this Indenture).

“Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” or “ACNTA” means (without duplication), as of the date of determination, (a) the sum of (i) discounted future net revenue from proved oil and gas reserves of the Company and its Subsidiaries calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines before any state or federal income taxes, as estimated by petroleum engineers (which may include the Company’s internal engineers) in a reserve report prepared as of the end of the Company’s most recently completed fiscal year, as increased by, as of the date of determination, the discounted future net revenue of (A) estimated proved oil and gas reserves of the Company and its Subsidiaries attributable to any acquisition consummated since the date of such year-end reserve report, and (B) estimated proved oil and gas reserves of the Company and its Subsidiaries attributable to extensions, discoveries and other additions and upward revisions of estimates of proved oil and gas reserves due to exploration, development or exploitation, production or other activities conducted or otherwise occurring since the date of such year-end reserve report, which, in the case of sub-clauses (A) and (B), would, in accordance with standard industry practice, result in such increases as calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in such year-end reserve report), and decreased by, as of the date of determination, the discounted future net revenue of (C) estimated proved oil and gas reserves of the Company and its Subsidiaries produced or disposed of since the date of such year-end reserve report and (D) reductions in the estimated oil and gas reserves of the Company and its Subsidiaries since the date of such year-end reserve report attributable to downward revisions of estimates of proved oil and gas reserves due to exploration, development or exploitation, production or other activities conducted or otherwise occurring since the date of such year-end reserve report which, in the case of sub-clauses (C) and (D), would, in accordance with standard industry practice, result in such decreases as calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in such year-end reserve report); provided that, in the case of each of the determinations made pursuant to clauses (A) through (D), such increases and decreases shall be as estimated by the Company’s

 

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2

 

engineers, (ii) the capitalized costs that are attributable to oil and gas properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries to which no proved oil and gas reserves are attributable, based on the Company’s books and records as of a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest annual or quarterly financial statements, (iii) the Net Working Capital on a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest annual or quarterly financial statements and (iv) the greater of (I) the net book value on a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest annual or quarterly financial statements and (II) the appraised value, as estimated by independent appraisers, of other tangible assets (including Investments in unconsolidated Subsidiaries) of the Company and its Subsidiaries, as of a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest audited financial statements, minus (b) the sum of (i) minority interests, (ii) any gas balancing liabilities of the Company and its Subsidiaries reflected as a long-term liability in the Company’s latest annual or quarterly financial statements, (iii) the discounted future net revenue, calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in the Company’s year-end reserve report), attributable to reserves which are required to be delivered to third parties to fully satisfy the obligations of the Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to Volumetric Production Payments on the schedules specified with respect thereto, (iv) the discounted future net revenue, calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines, attributable to reserves subject to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments which, based on the estimates of production included in determining the discounted future net revenue specified in (a) (i) above (utilizing the same prices utilized in the Company’s year-end reserve report), would be necessary to fully satisfy the payment obligations of the Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments on the schedules specified with respect thereto and (v) the discounted future net revenue, calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the same prices utilized in the Company’s year-end reserve report), attributable to reserves subject to participation interests, overriding royalty interests or other interests of third parties, pursuant to participation, partnership, vendor financing or other agreements then in effect, or which otherwise are required to be delivered to third parties. If the Company changes its method of accounting from the full cost method to the successful efforts method or a similar method of accounting, Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets will continue to be calculated as if the Company were still using the full cost method of accounting.

“Adjusted Net Assets of a Subsidiary Guarantor” at any date shall mean the lesser of (i) the amount by which the fair value of the property of such Subsidiary Guarantor exceeds the total amount of liabilities, including, without limitation, contingent liabilities (after giving effect to all other fixed and contingent liabilities incurred or assumed on such date), but excluding liabilities under the Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor at such date and (ii) the amount by which the present fair saleable value of the assets of such Subsidiary Guarantor at such date exceeds the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Subsidiary Guarantor on its debts (after giving effect to all other fixed and contingent liabilities incurred or assumed on such date and after giving effect to any collection from any Subsidiary of such Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such Subsidiary under the Guarantee), excluding debt in respect of the Guarantee, as they become absolute and matured.

 

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3

 

 

“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of Voting Stock, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

“Agent” means any Registrar, Paying Agent or co-registrar.

“Attributable Indebtedness” means, with respect to any particular lease under which any Person is at the time liable and at any date as of which the amount thereof is to be determined, the present value of the total net amount of rent required to be paid by such Person under the lease during the primary term thereof, without giving effect to any renewals at the option of the lessee, discounted from the respective due dates thereof to such date at the rate of interest per annum implicit in the terms of the lease. As used in the preceding sentence, the “net amount of rent” under any lease for any such period shall mean the sum of rental and other payments required to be paid with respect to such period by the lessee thereunder excluding any amounts required to be paid by such lessee on account of maintenance and repairs, insurance, taxes, assessments, water rates or similar charges. In the case of any lease which is terminable by the lessee upon payment of a penalty, such net amount of rent shall also include the amount of such penalty, but no rent shall be considered as required to be paid under such lease subsequent to the first date upon which it may be so terminated.

“Average Life” means, as of the date of determination, with respect to any Indebtedness, the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the product of (x) the number of years from such date to the date of each successive scheduled principal payment of such Indebtedness multiplied by (y) the amount of such principal payment by (ii) the sum of all such principal payments.

“Board of Directors” means, with respect to any Person, the Board of Directors of such Person or any committee of the Board of Directors of such Person duly authorized to act on behalf of the Board of Directors of such Person.

“Board Resolution” means, with respect to any Person, a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of such Person to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors or the managing partner(s) of such Person and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.

“Business Day” means any day on which the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. is open for trading and which is not a Legal Holiday.

“Capital Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock or partnership or limited liability company interests and any and all warrants, options and rights with respect thereto (whether or not currently exercisable), including each class of common stock and preferred stock of such Person.

 

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4

 

 

“Capitalized Lease Obligations” of any Person means the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under a lease of property, real or personal, that is required to be capitalized for financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.

“Company” means the party named as such above, until a successor replaces such Person in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, and thereafter means such successor.

“Credit Facilities” means, one or more debt facilities (including, without limitation, the Company’s existing credit facility) or commercial paper facilities, in each case with banks, investment banks, insurance companies, mutual funds and/or other institutional lenders providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from (or sell receivables to) such lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit, in each case, as amended, extended, restated, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced (in each case with Credit Facilities), supplemented or otherwise modified (in whole or in part and without limitation as to amount, terms, conditions, covenants and other provisions) from time to time.

“Currency Hedge Obligations” means, at any time as to the Company and its Subsidiaries, the obligations of any such Person at such time that were incurred in the ordinary course of business pursuant to any foreign currency exchange agreement, option or futures contract or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect against or manage such Person’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ exposure to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.

“Default” means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time would be, an Event of Default.

“De Minimis Guaranteed Amount” means a principal amount of Indebtedness that does not exceed $5,000,000.

“Disqualified Stock” means any Capital Stock of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company which, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event or with the passage of time, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, on or prior to the Maturity Date or which is exchangeable or convertible into debt securities of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, except to the extent that such exchange or conversion rights cannot be exercised prior to the Maturity Date.

“Dollar-Denominated Production Payments” means production payment obligations recorded as liabilities in accordance with GAAP, together with all undertakings and obligations in connection therewith.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder.

 

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5

 

 

“Existing Notes” means the Company’s outstanding ((a) 8.375% Senior Notes due 2008, (b)  7.50% Senior Notes due 2013, (c) 7.00% Senior Notes due 2014, (d) 7.50% Senior Notes due 2014, (e) 7.75% Senior Notes due 2015, (f) 6.375% Senior Notes due 2015, (g) 6.625% Senior Notes due 2016, (h) 6.875% Senior Notes due 2016, (i) 6.50% Senior Notes due 2017 and (j) 6.25% Senior Notes due 2018.

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles as in effect in the United States of America as of the Issue Date.

“Guarantee” means, individually and collectively, the guarantees given by the Subsidiary Guarantors pursuant to Article Ten hereof.

“Holder” means a Person in whose name a Security is registered on the Registrar’s books.

“Indebtedness” means, without duplication, with respect to any Person, (a) all obligations of such Person (i) in respect of borrowed money (whether or not the recourse of the lender is to the whole of the assets of such Person or only to a portion thereof), (ii) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments, (iii) representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property or services (other than accounts payable or other obligations arising in the ordinary course of business), (iv) evidenced by bankers’ acceptances or similar instruments issued or accepted by banks, (v) for the payment of money relating to a Capitalized Lease Obligation, or (vi) evidenced by a letter of credit or a reimbursement obligation of such Person with respect to any letter of credit; (b) all net obligations of such Person under Interest Rate Hedging Agreements, Oil and Gas Hedging Contracts and Currency Hedge Obligations, except to the extent such net obligations are taken into account in the determination of future net revenues from proved oil and gas reserves for purposes of the calculation of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets; (c) all liabilities of others of the kind described in the preceding clauses (a) or (b) that such Person has guaranteed or that are otherwise its legal liability (including, with respect to any Production Payment, any warranties or guaranties of production or payment by such Person with respect to such Production Payment but excluding other contractual obligations of such Person with respect to such Production Payment); (d) Indebtedness (as otherwise defined in this definition) of another Person secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person, the amount of such obligations being deemed to be the lesser of (1) the full amount of such obligations so secured, and (2) the fair market value of such asset, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of such Person, which determination shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution, (e) with respect to such Person, the liquidation preference or any mandatory redemption payment obligations in respect of Disqualified Stock; (f) the aggregate preference in respect of amounts payable on the issued and outstanding shares of Preferred Stock of any of such Person’s Subsidiaries in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up (excluding any such preference attributable to such shares of Preferred Stock that are owned by such Person or any of its Subsidiaries; provided , that if such Person is the Company, such exclusion shall be for such preference attributable to such shares of Preferred Stock that are owned by the Company or any of its

 

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6

 

Subsidiaries); and (g) any and all deferrals, renewals, extensions, refinancings and refundings (whether direct or indirect) of, or amendments, modifications or supplements to, any liability of the kind described in any of the preceding clauses (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) or this clause (g), whether or not between or among the same parties. Subject to clause (c) of the preceding sentence, neither Dollar-Denominated Production Payments nor Volumetric Production Payments shall be deemed to be Indebtedness.

“Indenture” means this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.

“Initial Purchasers” means, collectively, Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., Banc of America Securities LLC, Credit Suisse First Boston LLC, Lehman Brothers Inc., Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC, BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Calyon Securities (USA) Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc., UBS Securities LLC, ABN AMRO Incorporated, BOSC, Inc., Comerica Securities, Inc., Fortis Securities LLC, Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc., Piper Jaffray & Co. and TD Securities (USA) LLC.

“Interest Rate Hedging Agreements” means, with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries, the obligations of such Persons under (i) interest rate swap agreements, interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements and (ii) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect any such Person or any of its Subsidiaries against fluctuations in interest rates.

“Investment” of any Person means (i) all investments by such Person in any other Person in the form of loans, advances or capital contributions, (ii) all guarantees of Indebtedness or other obligations of any other Person by such Person, (iii) all purchases (or other acquisitions for consideration) by such Person of assets, Indebtedness, Capital Stock or other securities of any other Person and (iv) all other items that would be classified as investments (including, without limitation, purchases of assets outside the ordinary course of business) or advances on a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP.

“Issue Date” means November 8, 2005.

“Lien” means, with respect to any Person, any mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, easement, restriction, covenant, right-of-way, charge or adverse claim affecting title or resulting in an encumbrance against real or personal property of such Person, or a security interest of any kind (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option, right of first refusal or other similar agreement to sell, in each case securing obligations of such Person and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statute or statutes) of any jurisdiction).

“Make-Whole Amount” with respect to a Security means an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (i) the present value of the remaining interest, premium and principal payments due on such Security (excluding any portion of such payments of interest accrued as of the redemption

 

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7

 

date) as if such Security were redeemed on the Maturity Date, computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate plus 50 basis points, over (ii) the outstanding principal amount of such Security. As used herein, “Treasury Rate” is defined as the yield to maturity (calculated on a semi-annual bond equivalent basis) at the time of the computation of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled by and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519), which has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to the date of the redemption notice or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data) most nearly equal to the then remaining maturity of the Securities assuming redemption of the Securities on the Maturity Date; provided , however , that if the Make-Whole Average Life of such Security is not equal to the constant maturity of the United States Treasury security for which a weekly average yield is given, the Treasury Rate shall be obtained by linear interpolation (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth of a year) from the weekly average yields of United States Treasury securities for which such yields are given, except that if the Make-Whole Average Life of such Securities is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year shall be used. As used herein, “Make-Whole Average Life” means the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) between the date of redemption and the Maturity Date.

“Make-Whole Price” means the sum of the outstanding principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed plus the Make-Whole Amount of such Securities.

“Maturity Date” means November 15, 2020.

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

“Net Available Proceeds” means, with respect to any Sale/Leaseback Transaction of any Person, cash proceeds received (including any cash proceeds received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or otherwise, but only as and when received, and excluding any other consideration until such time as such consideration is converted into cash) therefrom, in each case net of all legal, title and recording tax expenses, commissions and other fees and expenses incurred, and all federal, state or local taxes required to be accrued as a liability as a consequence of such Sale/Leaseback Transaction, and in each case net of all Indebtedness which is secured by such assets, in accordance with the terms of any Lien upon or with respect to such assets, or which must, by its terms or in order to obtain a necessary consent to such Sale/Leaseback Transaction or by applicable law, be repaid out of the proceeds from such Sale/Leaseback Transaction and which is actually so repaid.

“Net Working Capital” means (i) all current assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, minus (ii) all current liabilities of the Company and its Subsidiaries, except current liabilities included in Indebtedness.

 

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8

 

 

“Officer” means, with respect to any Person, the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer or the Treasurer of such Person.

“Officers’ Certificate” means, with respect to any Person, a certificate signed by two Officers or by an Officer and either the Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary or Assistant Treasurer of such Person. One of the Officers signing an Officers’ Certificate given pursuant to Section 4.03(a) shall be the principal executive, financial or accounting officer of the Person delivering such certificate.

“Oil and Gas Business” means the business of the exploration for, and exploitation, development, production, processing (but not refining), marketing, storage and transportation of, hydrocarbons, and other related energy and natural resource businesses (including oil and gas services businesses related to the foregoing).

“Oil and Gas Hedging Contracts” means any oil and gas purchase or hedging agreement, and other agreement or arrangement, in each case, that is designed to provide protection against price fluctuations of oil, gas or other commodities.

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company (or any Subsidiary Guarantor, if applicable).

“Permitted Company Refinancing Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of the Company, the net proceeds of which are used to renew, extend, refinance, refund or repurchase outstanding Indebtedness of the Company, provided that (i) if the Indebtedness (including the Securities) being renewed, extended, refinanced, refunded or repurchased is pari passu with or subordinated in right of payment to the Securities, then such Indebtedness is pari passu or subordinated in right of payment to, as the case may be, the Securities at least to the same extent as the Indebtedness being renewed, extended, refinanced, refunded or repurchased, (ii) such Indebtedness is scheduled to mature no earlier than the Indebtedness being renewed, extended, refinanced, refunded or repurchased, and (iii) such Indebtedness has an Average Life at the time such Indebtedness is incurred that is equal to or greater than the Average Life of the Indebtedness being renewed, extended, refinanced, refunded or repurchased; provided , further , that such Indebtedness (to the extent that such Indebtedness constitutes Permitted Company Refinancing Indebtedness) is in an aggregate principal amount (or, if such Indebtedness is issued at a price less than the principal amount thereof, the aggregate amount of gross proceeds therefrom is) not in excess of the aggregate principal amount then outstanding of the Indebtedness being renewed, extended, refinanced, refunded or repurchased (or if the Indebtedness being renewed, extended, refinanced, refunded or repurchased was issued at a price less than the principal amount thereof, then not in excess of the amount of liability in respect thereof determined in accordance with GAAP).

“Permitted Financial Investments” means the following kinds of instruments if, in the case of instruments referred to in clauses (i)-(iv) below, on the date of purchase or other acquisition of any such instrument by the Company or any Subsidiary, the remaining term to maturity is not more than one year; (i) readily marketable obligations issued or

 

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9

 

unconditionally guaranteed as to principal of and interest thereon by the United States of America or by any agency or authority controlled or supervised by and acting as an instrumentality of the United States of America; (ii) repurchase obligations for instruments of the type described in clause (i) for which delivery of the instrument is made against payment; (iii) obligations (including, but not limited to, demand or time deposits, bankers’ acceptances and certificates of deposit) issued by a depositary institution or trust company incorporated or doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia or a branch or subsidiary of any such depositary institution or trust company operating outside the United States, provided , that such depositary institution or trust company has, at the time of the Company’s or such Subsidiary’s investment therein or contractual commitment providing for such investment, capital surplus or undivided profits (as of the date of such institution’s most recently published financial statements) in excess of $500,000,000; (iv) commercial paper issued by any corporation, if such commercial paper has, at the time of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s investment therein or contractual commitment providing for such investment, credit ratings of A-1 (or higher) by S&P and P-1 (or higher) by Moody’s; and (v) money market mutual or similar funds having assets in excess of $500,000,000.

“Permitted Liens” means (i) Liens existing on the Issue Date; (ii) Liens securing Indebtedness under Credit Facilities; (iii) Liens now or hereafter securing any Interest Rate Hedging Agreements so long as the related Indebtedness (a) constitutes the Existing Notes or the Securities (or any Permitted Company Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof) or (b) is, or is permitted to be under this Indenture, secured by a Lien on the same property securing such interest rate hedging obligations; (iv) Liens securing Permitted Company Refinancing Indebtedness or Permitted Subsidiary Refinancing Indebtedness; provided , that such Liens extend to or cover only the property or assets currently securing the Indebtedness being refinanced and that the Indebtedness being refinanced was not incurred under the Credit Facilities; (v) Liens for taxes, assessments and governmental charges not yet delinquent or being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been established to the extent required by GAAP; (vi) mechanics’, worker’s, materialmen’s, operators’ or similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business; (vii) Liens in connection with worker’s compensation, unemployment insurance or other social security, old age pension or public liability obligations; (viii) Liens, deposits or pledges to secure the performance of bids, tenders, contracts (other than contracts for the payment of money), leases, public or statutory obligations, surety, stay, appeal, indemnity, performance or other similar bonds, or other similar obligations arising in the ordinary course of business; (ix) survey exceptions, encumbrances, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, rights of way, zoning or other restrictions as to the use of real properties, and minor defects in title which, in the case of any of the foregoing, were not incurred or created to secure the payment of borrowed money or the deferred purchase price of property or services, and in the aggregate do not materially adversely affect the value of such properties or materially impair use for the purposes of which such properties are held by the Company or any Subsidiaries; (x) Liens on, or related to, properties to secure all or part of the costs incurred in the ordinary course of business of exploration, drilling, development or operation thereof; (xi) Liens on pipeline or pipeline facilities which arise out of operation of law; (xii) judgment and attachment Liens not

 

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giving rise to an Event of Default or Liens created by or existing from any litigation or legal proceeding that are currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been made; (xiii) (a) Liens upon any property of any Person existing at the time of acquisition thereof by the Company or a Subsidiary, (b) Liens upon any property of a Person existing at the time such Person is merged or consolidated with the Company or any Subsidiary or existing at the time of the sale or transfer of any such property of such Person to the Company or any Subsidiary, or (c) Liens upon any property of a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided , that in each case such Lien has not been created in contemplation of such sale, merger, consolidation, transfer or acquisition, and provided , further , that in each such case no such Lien shall extend to or cover any property of the Company or any Subsidiary other than the property being acquired and improvements thereon; (xiv) Liens on deposits to secure public or statutory obligations or in lieu of surety or appeal bonds entered into in the ordinary course of business; (xv) Liens in favor of collecting or payor banks having a right of setoff, revocation, refund or chargeback with respect to money or instruments of the Company or any Subsidiary on deposit with or in possession of such bank; (xvi) purchase money security interests granted in connection with the acquisition of assets in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices, provided , that (A) such Liens attach only to the property so acquired with the purchase money indebtedness secured thereby and (B) such Liens secure only Indebtedness that is not in excess of 100% of the purchase price of such assets; (xvii) Liens reserved in oil and gas mineral leases for bonus or rental payments and for compliance with the terms of such leases; (xviii) Liens arising under partnership agreements, oil and gas leases, farm-out agreements, division orders, contracts for the sale, purchase, exchange, transportation or processing (but not refining) of oil, gas or other hydrocarbons, unitization and pooling declarations and agreements, development agreements, operating agreements, area of mutual interest agreements, and other similar agreements which are customary in the Oil and Gas Business; (xix) Liens securing obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under Currency Hedge Obligations or Oil and Gas Hedging Contracts; (xx) Liens to secure Dollar-Denominated Production Payments and Volumetric Production Payments; and (xxi) Liens securing other Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount which, together with all other Indebtedness outstanding on the date of such incurrence and secured by Liens pursuant to this clause (xxi), does not exceed 15% of Adjusted Consolidated Tangible Net Assets.

“Permitted Subsidiary Refinancing Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of any Subsidiary, the net proceeds of which are used to renew, extend, refinance, refund or repurchase outstanding Indebtedness of such Subsidiary, provided that (i) if the Indebtedness (including the Guarantees) being renewed, extended, refinanced, refunded or repurchased is pari passu with or subordinated in right of payment to the Guarantees, then such Indebtedness is pari passu with or subordinated in right of payment to, as the case may be, the Guarantees at least to the same extent as the Indebtedness being renewed, extended, refinanced, refunded or repurchased, (ii) such Indebtedness is scheduled to mature no earlier than the Indebtedness being renewed, extended, refinanced, refunded or repurchased, and (iii) such Indebtedness has an Average Life at the time such Indebtedness is incurred that is equal to or greater than the Average Life of the Indebtedness being renewed, extended, refinanced, refunded or repurchased; provided , further , that such Indebtedness (to the extent that

 

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such Indebtedness constitutes Permitted Subsidiary Refinancing Indebtedness) is in an aggregate principal amount (or, if such Indebtedness is issued at a price less than the principal amount thereof, the aggregate amount of gross proceeds therefrom is) not in excess of the aggregate principal amount then outstanding of the Indebtedness being renewed, extended, refinanced, refunded or repurchased (or if the Indebtedness being renewed, extended, refinanced, refunded or repurchased was issued at a price less than the principal amount thereof, then not in excess of the amount of liability in respect thereof determined in accordance with GAAP).

“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, estate, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

“Preferred Stock,” as applied to the Capital Stock of any corporation, means Capital Stock of any class or classes (however designated), which is preferred as to the payment of dividends, or upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of such corporation, over shares of Capital Stock of any other class of such corporation.

“Production Payments” means, collectively, Dollar-Denominated Production Payments and Volumetric Production Payments.

“Restricted Security” has the meaning provided in Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act.

“S&P” refers to Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

“Sale/Leaseback Transaction” means with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, any arrangement with any Person providing for the leasing by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any principal property, acquired or placed into service more than 180 days prior to such arrangement, whereby such property has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to such Person.

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

“Senior Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor (whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter incurred), unless such Indebtedness is contractually subordinate or junior in right of payment of principal, premium and interest to the Securities or the Guarantees, respectively.

“Subordinated Indebtedness of a Subsidiary Guarantor” means any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary Guarantor (whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter incurred) which is contractually subordinate or junior in right of payment of principal, premium and interest to the Guarantees.

 

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“Subordinated Indebtedness of the Company” means any Indebtedness of the Company (whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter incurred) which is contractually subordinate or junior in right of payment of principal, premium and interest to the Securities.

“Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Company. A “subsidiary” of any Person means (i) a corporation a majority of whose Voting Stock is at the time, directly or indirectly, owned by such Person, by one or more subsidiaries of such Person or by such Person and one or more subsidiaries of such Person, (ii) a partnership in which such Person or a subsidiary of such Person is, at the date of determination, a general or limited partner of such partnership, but only if such Person or its subsidiary is entitled to receive more than 50 percent of the assets of such partnership upon its dissolution, or (iii) any other Person (other than a corporation or partnership) in which such Person, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination thereof, has (x) at least a majority ownership interest or (y) the power to elect or direct the election of a majority of the directors or other governing body of such Person.

“Subsidiary Guarantor” means (i) each of the Subsidiaries on the Issue Date; and (ii) each of the other Subsidiaries that becomes a guarantor of the Securities in compliance with the provisions of Article Ten of this Indenture and (iii) each of the Subsidiaries executing a supplemental indenture in which such Subsidiary agrees to be bound by the terms of this Indenture.

“TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S. Code Sections 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of this Indenture, except as provided in Section 9.03.

“Trust Officer” means any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

“Trustee” means the party named as such above until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor.

“U.S. Government Securities” means securities that are (i) direct obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in either case under clauses (i) or (ii) are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof.

 

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“U.S. Legal Tender” means such coin or currency of the United States as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

“Volumetric Production Payments” means production payment obligations recorded as deferred revenue in accordance with GAAP, together with all undertakings and obligations in connection therewith.

“Voting Stock” means, with respect to any Person, securities of any class or classes of Capital Stock in such Person entitling the holders thereof (whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of stock has voting power by reason of contingency) to vote in the election of members of the Board of Directors or other governing body of such Person.

SECTION 1.02. Other Definitions.

Other terms used in this Indenture are defined in the Appendix or in the Section indicated below:

Term

Defined in Section

“Appendix”

2.01

“Bankruptcy Law”

6.01

“Covenant Defeasance”

8.03

“Custodian”

6.01

“Event of Default”

6.01

“Excess Proceeds”

4.10

“Funding Guarantor”

10.06

“incur”

4.09

“Legal Defeasance”

8.02

“Legal Holiday”

11.07

“Net Proceeds Offer”

4.10

“Net Proceeds Offer Triggering Event”

4.10

“Net Proceeds Payment Date”

4.10

“Offer Notice”

4.10

“Paying Agent”

2.03

“Payment Default”

6.01

“Registrar”

2.03

 

SECTION 1.03. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act. Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following TIA terms, if used in this Indenture, have the following meanings:

“Commission” means the SEC.

“indenture securities” means the Securities and the Guarantees.

“indenture security holder” means a Holder.

“indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture.

 

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“indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee.

“obligor” on the indenture securities means the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and any other obligor on the Securities or the Guarantees.

All other TIA terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule have the meanings assigned to them therein.

SECTION 1.04. Rules of Construction.

Unless the context otherwise requires:

 

(1)

a term has the meaning assigned to it;

(2)    an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;

 

(3)

“or” is not exclusive;

(4)    words in the singular include the plural, and words in the plural include the singular;

(5)    any gender used in this Indenture shall be deemed to include the neuter, masculine or feminine genders;

(6)    provisions apply to successive events and transactions; and

(7)    “herein,” “hereof” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other Subdivision.

ARTICLE TWO

 

THE SECURITIES

SECTION 2.01. Form and Dating. Provisions relating to the Initial Securities, the Private Exchange Securities and the Exchange Securities are set forth in the Rule 144A/Regulation S Appendix attached hereto (the “Appendix”) which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made part of this Indenture. The Initial Securities and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit 1 to the Appendix which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The Exchange Securities, the Private Exchange Securities and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The Securities may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule, agreements to which the Company is subject, if any, or usage ( provided that any such notation, legend or endorsement is in a form acceptable to the Company and to the Trustee). Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication. The terms of the Securities set forth in the Appendix and Exhibit A are part of the terms of this Indenture.

 

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SECTION 2.02. Execution and Authentication. Two Officers shall sign the Securities for the Company by manual or facsimile signature.

If an Officer whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Security, the Security shall be valid nevertheless.

A Security shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee manually signs the certificate of authentication on the Security. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this Indenture.

On the Issue Date, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver $500 million of Initial Securities and, at any time and from time to time thereafter, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver Securities for original issue in an aggregate principal amount specified in such order, in each case upon a written order of the Company signed by two Officers or by an Officer and either an Assistant Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary of the Company. Such order shall specify the amount of the Securities to be authenticated and the date on which the original issue of Securities is to be authenticated.

The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent reasonably acceptable to the Company to authenticate the Securities. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate Securities whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights with respect to the Company as any Registrar, Paying Agent or agent for service of notices and demands.

SECTION 2.03. Registrar and Paying Agent. The Company shall maintain an office or agency where Securities may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (the “Registrar”) and an office or agency where Securities may be presented for payment (the “Paying Agent”). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Securities and of their transfer and exchange. The Company may have one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent.

The Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Registrar, Paying Agent or co-registrar not a party to this Indenture, which shall incorporate the terms of the TIA. The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such agent. The Company shall notify the Trustee of the name and address of any such agent and shall furnish the Trustee with an executed counterpart of any such agency agreement. If the Company fails to maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such and shall be entitled to appropriate compensation therefor pursuant to Section 7.07. The Company or any wholly owned Subsidiary incorporated or organized within The United States of America may act as Paying Agent, Registrar, co-registrar or transfer agent.

The Company initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar and Paying Agent in connection with the Securities.

 

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SECTION 2.04. Paying Agent To Hold Money in Trust. Prior to 11:00 a.m., New York time, on each due date of the principal and interest on any Security, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such principal and interest when so becoming due. The Company shall require each Paying Agent (other than the Trustee) to agree in writing that the Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of or interest on the Securities and shall notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment. If the Company or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate the money held by it as Paying Agent and hold it as a separate trust fund. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed by the Paying Agent. Upon complying with this Section, the Paying Agent shall have no further liability for the money delivered to the Trustee.

SECTION 2.05. Holder Lists. The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Holders. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee, in writing at least five Business Days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of Holders.

SECTION 2.06. Transfer and Exchange. The Securities shall be issued in registered form and shall be transferable only upon the surrender of a Security for registration of transfer. When a Security is presented to the Registrar or a co-registrar with a request to register a transfer, the Registrar shall register the transfer as requested if the requirements of this Indenture and Section 8-401(a) of the Uniform Commercial Code are met. When Securities are presented to the Registrar or a co-registrar with a request to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Securities of other denominations, the Registrar shall make the exchange as requested if the same requirements are met.

SECTION 2.07. Replacement Securities. If a mutilated Security is surrendered to the Registrar or if the Holder of a Security claims that the Security has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Security if the requirements of Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code are met and the Holder satisfies any other reasonable requirements of the Trustee. Such Holder shall furnish an indemnity bond sufficient in the judgment of the Company and the Trustee to protect the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar and any co-registrar from any loss which any of them may suffer if a Security is replaced. The Company and the Trustee may charge the Holder for their expenses in replacing a Security.

Every replacement Security is an additional obligation of the Company.

SECTION 2.08. Outstanding Securities. Securities outstanding at any time are all Securities authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancelation and those described in this Section as not outstanding. A Security does not cease to be

 

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outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Security.

If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee and the Company receive proof satisfactory to them that the replaced Security is held by a bona fide purchaser.

If the Paying Agent segregates and holds in trust, in accordance with this Indenture, on a redemption date or the Maturity Date money sufficient to pay all principal and interest payable on that date with respect to the Securities (or portions thereof) to be redeemed or maturing, as the case may be, then on and after that date such Securities (or portions thereof) cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.

SECTION 2.09. Temporary Securities. Until definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Securities. Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of definitive Securities but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate definitive Securities and deliver them in exchange for temporary Securities.

SECTION 2.10. Cancelation. The Company at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancelation. The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Securities surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee and no one else shall cancel and dispose of (subject to the record retention requirements of the Exchange Act) all Securities surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment or cancelation in its customary manner and upon request shall deliver a certificate of such disposal to the Company unless the Company directs the Trustee to deliver canceled Securities to the Company. Any securities purchased by the Company may , to the extent permitted by law be reissued or resold or may, at its option be surrendered to the Trustee for cancelation. The Company may not issue new Securities to replace Securities it has redeemed, paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancelation.

SECTION 2.11. Defaulted Interest. If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Securities, the Company shall pay defaulted interest (plus interest on such defaulted interest to the extent lawful) in any lawful manner. The Company may pay the defaulted interest to the persons who are Holders on a subsequent special record date. The Company shall fix or cause to be fixed any such special record date and payment date to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee and shall promptly mail to each Holder a notice that states the special record date, the payment date and the amount of defaulted interest to be paid.

SECTION 2.12. CUSIP Numbers. The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided , however , that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption

 

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and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP numbers.

SECTION 2.13. Issuance of Additional Securities. The Company shall be entitled to issue Additional Securities under this Indenture which shall have identical terms as the Initial Securities issued on the Issue Date, other than with respect to the date of issuance and issue price. The Initial Securities issued on the Issue Date, any Additional Securities and all Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities issued in exchange therefor shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture.

With respect to any Additional Securities, the Company shall set forth in a resolution of the Board of Directors and an Officers’ Certificate, a copy of each which shall be delivered to the Trustee, the following information:

(1)    the aggregate principal amount of such Additional Securities to be authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture;

(2)    the issue price, the issue date and the CUSIP number of such Additional Securities; provided , however , that no Additional Securities may be issued at a price that would cause such Additional Securities to have “original issue discount” within the meaning of Section 1273 of the Code; and

(3)    whether such Additional Securities shall be Transfer Restricted Securities and issued in the form of Initial Securities as set forth in the Appendix to this Indenture or shall be issued in the form of Exchange Securities as set forth in Exhibit A.

Additional Securities may be issued with the same CUSIP number as the Securities issued on the Issue Date if, and only if, the Company shall have provided the Trustee with an opinion of nationally recognized counsel, reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, to the effect that such Additional Securities will be fungible with the Securities issued on the Issue Date for all United States federal income tax purposes.

ARTICLE THREE

 

REDEMPTION

SECTION 3.01. Notice to Trustee. If the Company elects to redeem Securities pursuant to the make-whole redemption provisions of Paragraph 5 of the Securities, it shall furnish to the Trustee and the Registrar, at least 45 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date (unless the Trustee consents to a shorter period in writing), an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the redemption date, the principal amount of Securities to be redeemed and the redemption price, including the detail of the calculation of the Make-Whole Price.

SECTION 3.02. Selection of Securities to Be Redeemed. If less than all of the Securities are to be redeemed at any time, the Trustee shall

 

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select the Securities to be redeemed pro rata, by lot or, if the Securities are listed on any securities exchange, by any other method that the Trustee considers fair and appropriate and that complies with the requirements of such exchange; provided , however , that no Securities with a principal amount of $1,000 or less will be redeemed in part. The Trustee shall make the selection from outstanding Securities not previously called for redemption not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption date. Securities and portions of them it selects shall be in amounts of $1,000 or whole multiples of $1,000. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Securities called for redemption also apply to portions of Securities called for redemption. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of the Securities or portions of Securities selected for redemption.

SECTION 3.03. Notice of Redemption. (a) At least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company shall mail a notice of redemption by first-class mail to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed at such Holder’s registered address.

The notice shall identify the Securities (including CUSIP numbers) to be redeemed and shall state:

(1) the redemption date;

(2) the redemption price;

(3) the aggregate principal amount of Securities being redeemed;

(4) the name and address of the Paying Agent;

(5) that Securities called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent at the address specified in such notice to collect the redemption price;

(6) that, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the redemption price or accrued interest, interest on Securities called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date and the only remaining right of the Holders is to receive payment of the redemption prices in respect of the Securities upon surrender to the Paying Agent of the Securities;

(7) if any Security is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Security to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date, upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion will be issued in the name of the Holder thereof upon cancelation of the Security or Securities being redeemed; and

(8) the CUSIP number of the Securities.

(b) At the Company’s written request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption required in Section 3.03(a) in the Company’s name and at the Company’s expense; provided , however , that the Company shall

 

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deliver to the Trustee, at least 45 days prior to the redemption date (unless the Trustee consents to a shorter notice period in writing), an Officers’ Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in Section 3.03(a).

SECTION 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption. Once notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with Section 3.03, Securities called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date at the redemption price. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Securities shall be paid at the redemption price, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the related interest payment date). Failure to give notice or any defect in the notice to any Holder shall not affect the validity of the notice to any other Holder.

SECTION 3.05. Deposit of Redemption Price. Prior to 11:00 a.m., New York time, on the redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent (or if the Company or a Subsidiary is the Paying Agent, shall segregate and hold in trust) funds available on the redemption date sufficient to pay the redemption price of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, the Securities to be redeemed on that date. The Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Company any money so deposited which is not required for that purpose upon the written request of the Company, except with respect to monies owed as obligations to the Trustee pursuant to Article Seven.

If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon redemption because of the failure of the Company to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest will continue to be payable on the unpaid principal and premium, if any, including from the redemption date until such principal and premium, if any, is paid, and, to the extent lawful, on any interest not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Securities and in Section 4.01 hereof.

SECTION 3.06. Securities Redeemed in Part. Upon surrender of a Security that is to be redeemed in part, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder, at the expense of the Company, a new Security equal in aggregate amount to the unredeemed portion of the Security surrendered.

SECTION 3.07. Optional Redemption at Make-Whole Price. At any time prior to the Maturity Date, the Company may, at its option, redeem all or any portion of the Securities at the Make-Whole Price plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Securities so redeemed to the date of redemption.

Any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.07 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 hereof.

ARTICLE FOUR

 

COVENANTS

SECTION 4.01. Payment of Securities. The Company shall pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, the Securities on the dates and in the manner provided in the Securities and this Indenture.

 

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Principal, premium and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if the Trustee or Paying Agent holds on that date money deposited by the Company designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium and interest then due. All references to interest in this Indenture shall for all purposes be deemed to include any additional interest payable as liquidated damages pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal, and premium, if any, at the rate borne by the Securities to the extent lawful; and it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same rate to the extent lawful.

SECTION 4.02. SEC Reports. (a) The Company, within 15 days after it files the same with the SEC, shall deliver to Holders, copies of the annual reports and the information, documents and other reports (or copies of any such portions of any of the foregoing as the SEC may by rules and regulations prescribe) that the Company is required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Notwithstanding that the Company may not be required to remain subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company shall file with the SEC and provide Holders with such annual reports and such information, documents and other reports specified in Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor shall also comply with the provisions of TIA Section 314(a).

(b) The Company may request the Trustee on behalf of the Company at the Company’s expense to mail the foregoing to Holders. In such case, the Company shall provide the Trustee with a sufficient number of copies of all reports and other documents and information that the Trustee may be required to deliver to Holders under this Section.

(c) Delivery of such reports documents and information to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates).

SECTION 4.03. Compliance Certificates. (a) The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, an Officers’ Certificate stating that a review of the activities of the Company and the Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that, to the best of such Officer’s knowledge, the Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions hereof (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which such Officer may have knowledge and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto) and that

 

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to the best of such Officer’s knowledge, after reasonable inquiry, no event has occurred and remains in existence by reason of which payments on account of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Securities are prohibited or, if such event has occurred, a description of the event and what action the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors are taking or propose to take with respect thereto. Such Officers’ Certificate shall comply with TIA Section 314(a)(4). The Company hereby represents that, as of the Issue Date, its fiscal year ends December 31, and hereby covenants that it shall notify the Trustee at least 30 days in advance of any change in its fiscal year.

(b) So long as not contrary to the then current recommendations of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the year-end financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 4.02 shall be accompanied by a written statement of the Company’s independent public accountants (which shall be a firm of established national reputation) that in making the examination necessary for certification of such financial statements nothing has come to their attention that would lead them to believe that the Company has violated any provisions of Section 4.07 of this Indenture (to the extent such provision relates to accounting matters) or, if any such violation has occurred, specifying the nature and period of existence thereof. Where such financial statements are not accompanied by such a written statement, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers’ Certificate stating that any such written statement would be contrary to the then current recommendations of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

(c) The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors will, so long as any of the Securities are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee forthwith upon any Officer becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default or default in the performance of any covenant, agreement or condition contained in this Indenture, an Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor proposes to take with respect thereto.

SECTION 4.04. Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Company will maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, an office or agency where Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange or for presentation for payment and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the address of the Trustee set forth in Section 11.02. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such surrenders, presentations, notices and demands may be made or served at the corporate trust office of the Trustee.

Subject to Section 2.03, the Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided , that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to

 

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maintain an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

SECTION 4.05. Corporate Existence. The Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence and the corporate, partnership or other existence of each Subsidiary and all rights (charter and statutory) and franchises of the Company and the Subsidiaries; provided , that the Company shall not be required to preserve the corporate existence of any Subsidiary, or any such right or franchise, if the Company shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and that the loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders.

SECTION 4.06. Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws. The Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor covenants (to the extent that each may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension, or usury law or other law, which would prohibit or forgive the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor from paying all or any portion of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Securities as contemplated herein, wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, or which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) each of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

SECTION 4.07. Payment of Taxes and Other Claims. The Company shall pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent, (a) all taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or imposed upon the Company or any Subsidiary or upon the income, profits or property of the Company or any Subsidiary and (b) all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies which, if unpaid, might by law become a Lien upon the property of the Company or any Subsidiary; provided , however , that the Company shall not be required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, charge or claim whose amount, applicability or validity is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings.

SECTION 4.08. Maintenance of Properties and Insurance. (a) The Company shall cause all properties used or held for use in the conduct of its business or the business of any Subsidiary to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair and working order (ordinary wear and tear excepted) and supplied with all necessary equipment and shall cause to be made all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements thereof, all as in the judgment of the Company may be necessary so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly and advantageously conducted at all times; provided , however , that nothing in this Section shall prevent the Company from discontinuing the operation or maintenance of any such property, or disposing of it, if such discontinuance or disposal is, in the judgment of the Company,

 

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desirable in the conduct of its business and not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders.

(b) The Company shall provide or cause to be provided, for itself and each of its Subsidiaries, insurance (including appropriate self-insurance) against loss or damage of the kinds that, in the reasonable, good faith opinion of the Company, are adequate and appropriate for the conduct of the business of the Company and such Subsidiaries in a prudent manner, with reputable insurers or with the government of the United States or an agency or instrumentality thereof, in such amounts, with such deductibles, and by such methods as shall be customary, in the reasonable, good faith opinion of the Company, for corporations similarly situated in the industry.

SECTION 4.09. Limitation on Liens Securing Indebtedness. The Company will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur or assume any Indebtedness secured by any Liens (other than Permitted Liens) upon any of the properties of the Company or any Subsidiary, unless the Securities or a Guarantee are equally and ratably secured; provided , that if such Indebtedness is expressly subordinated to the Securities or a Guarantee, the Lien securing such Indebtedness will be subordinated and junior to the Lien securing the Securities or such Guarantee.

SECTION 4.10. Limitation on Sale/Leaseback Transactions. (a) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into any Sale/Leaseback Transaction with any Person (other than the Company or any other Subsidiary) unless (i) the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, would be entitled to incur secured Indebtedness in a principal amount equal to the Attributable Indebtedness with respect to such Sale/Leaseback Transaction in accordance with Section 4.09 or (ii) the Company or such Subsidiary receives proceeds from such Sale/Leaseback Transaction at least equal to the fair market value thereof (as determined in good faith by the Company’s Board of Directors, whose determination in good faith, evidenced by a resolution of such Board shall be conclusive) and such proceeds are applied in accordance with paragraphs (b) to (g) hereof.

(b) The Company may apply Net Available Proceeds from such Sale/Leaseback Transaction, within 365 days after receipt of Net Available Proceeds from the Sale/Leaseback Transaction, to: (i) the repayment of Indebtedness of the Company or a Subsidiary under Credit Facilities or other Senior Indebtedness, including any mandatory redemption or repurchase or make-whole redemption of the Existing Notes or the Securities; (ii) make an Investment in assets used in the Oil and Gas Business; or (iii) develop by drilling the Company’s oil and gas reserves.

(c) If, upon completion of the 365-day period referred to above, any portion of the Net Available Proceeds shall not have been applied by the Company as described in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) of the immediately preceding paragraph and such remaining Net Available Proceeds, together with any remaining net cash proceeds from any prior Sale/Leaseback Transaction (such aggregate constituting “Excess Proceeds”), exceed $40,000,000, then the Company will be obligated to make an offer (the “Net Proceeds Offer”) to purchase the Securities and any other Senior Indebtedness in respect of which such an offer to purchase is required to be made concurrently with the Net Proceeds Offer having an

 

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aggregate principal amount equal to the Excess Proceeds (such purchase to be made on a pro rata basis if the amount available for such repurchase is less than the principal amount of the Securities and other Senior Indebtedness tendered in such Net Proceeds Offer) at a purchase price of 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Securities and other Senior Indebtedness so repurchased to the date of repurchase. Upon the completion of the Net Proceeds Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds will be reset to zero.

(d) Within 15 days after the Company becomes obligated to make a Net Proceeds Offer (a “Net Proceeds Offer Triggering Event”), the Company (with notice to the Trustee and the Paying Agent), or the Trustee at the Company’s request and expense, will mail or cause to be mailed to all Holders on the date of the Net Proceeds Offer Triggering Event a notice prepared by the Company (the “Offer Notice”) of the occurrence of such Net Proceeds Offer Triggering Event and of the Holders’ rights arising as a result thereof. The Offer Notice will contain all instructions and materials necessary to enable Holders to tender their Securities to the Company. The Offer Notice, which shall govern the terms of the Net Proceeds Offer, shall state: (1) that the Net Proceeds Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 4.10; (2) the purchase price and the Net Proceeds Payment Date; (3) that any Security not tendered will continue to accrue interest at the stated rate; (4) that any Security accepted for payment pursuant to the Net Proceeds Offer shall cease to accrue interest on the Net Proceeds Payment Date; (5) that Holders electing to have a Security purchased pursuant to any Net Proceeds Offer will be required to surrender the Security, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of the Security completed, to the Company, a depositary, if appointed by the Company, or a Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice prior to termination of the Net Proceeds Offer; (6) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the Company, depositary or Paying Agent, as the case may be, receives, not later than the expiration of the Net Proceeds Offer, or such longer period as may be required by law, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Security the Holder delivered for purchase and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its election to have the Security purchased; and (7) that Holders whose Securities are purchased only in part will be issued Securities equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Securities surrendered. The Net Proceeds Offer shall be deemed to have commenced upon the mailing of the Offer Notice and shall terminate 20 Business Days after its commencement, unless a longer offering period is required by law.

(e) Promptly after the termination of the Net Proceeds Offer (“the Net Proceeds Payment Date”), the Company shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, (i) accept for payment Securities or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Offer Notice, (ii) if the Company appoints a depositary or Paying Agent, deposit with such depositary or Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the purchase price of all Securities or portions thereof so tendered and (iii) deliver to the Trustee Securities so accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the Securities or portions thereof tendered to the Company. The depositary, the Company or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, shall promptly mail to the Holders of Securities so accepted payment in an amount equal to the purchase price (representing those funds received pursuant to clause (ii) of this Section 4.10(c)), and the Trustee shall promptly authenticate

 

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and mail to each such Holder a new Security equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Security surrendered; provided that each such new Security will be in a principal amount of $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof. The Company will publicly announce the results of the Net Proceeds Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Net Proceeds Payment Date. For purposes of this Section 4.10, the Trustee shall act as the Paying Agent.

(f) The Company will comply with Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the provisions of Regulation 14E and any other tender offer rules under the Exchange Act and any other federal and state securities laws, rules and regulations which may then be applicable to any Net Proceeds Offer.

(g) During the period between any Sale/Leaseback Transaction and the application of the Net Available Proceeds therefrom in accordance with this covenant, all Net Available Proceeds shall be maintained in a segregated account and shall be invested in Permitted Financial Investments.

ARTICLE FIVE

 

SUCCESSOR CORPORATION

SECTION 5.01. When Company May Merge, etc. The Company shall not consolidate with or merge with or into any Person or sell, convey, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to any Person, unless:

(1) the Company survives such merger or the Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or that acquires by sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, or which leases, all or substantially all of the assets of the Company is a corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, or Canada or any province thereof, and expressly assumes, by supplemental indenture, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, all the Securities and the performance of every other covenant and obligation of the Company under this Indenture provided , that unless the successor Person is a corporation, a corporate co-issuer of the Securities shall be added hereto by the execution and delivery of a supplemental indenture by such co-issuer; and

(2) immediately before and after giving effect to such transaction no Default or Event of Default exists.

In connection with any consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, lease, transfer or other disposition contemplated by this Section 5.01, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee prior to the consummation of the proposed transaction an Officers’ Certificate to the foregoing effect and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the proposed transaction and such supplemental indenture comply with this Indenture.

 

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SECTION 5.02. Successor Corporation Substituted. Upon any consolidation, merger, lease, conveyance or transfer in accordance with Section 5.01, the Trustee shall be notified by the Company and the successor Person, and the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such lease, conveyance or transfer is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor had been named as the Company herein and thereafter (except in the case of a lease) the predecessor corporation will be relieved of all further obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.

ARTICLE SIX

 

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

SECTION 6.01. Events of Default. An “Event of Default” occurs upon:

(1) default by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor in the payment of principal of, or premium, if any, on the Securities when due and payable at maturity, upon repurchase pursuant to Section 4.10, upon acceleration or otherwise;

(2) default by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor in the payment of any installment of interest on the Securities when due and payable and continuance of such default for 30 days;

(3) default by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor in the deposit of any make-whole redemption payment, when and as due and payable pursuant to Article Three;

(4) default on any other Indebtedness of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Subsidiary if either (A) such default results in the acceleration of the maturity of any such Indebtedness having a principal amount of $50,000,000 or more individually or, taken together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness the maturity of which has been so accelerated, in the aggregate, or (B) such default results from the failure to pay when due principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, any such Indebtedness, after giving effect to any applicable grace period (a “Payment Default”), having a principal amount of $50,000,000 or more individually or, taken together with the principal amount of any other Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default, in the aggregate; provided that if any such default is cured or waived or any such acceleration is rescinded, or such Indebtedness is repaid, within a period of 30 days from the continuation of such default beyond any applicable grace period or the occurrence of such acceleration, as the case may be, such Event of Default and any consequent acceleration of the Securities shall be rescinded, so long as any such rescission does not conflict with any judgment or decree or applicable provision of law;

 

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(5) default in the performance, or breach of, the covenant set forth in Article Five, or in the performance, or breach of, any other covenant or agreement of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor in this Indenture and failure to remedy such default within a period of 45 days after written notice thereof from the Trustee or Holders of 25% of the principal amount of the outstanding Securities;

(6) the entry by a court of one or more judgments or orders for the payment of money against the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Subsidiary in an aggregate amount in excess of $50,000,000 (net of applicable insurance coverage by a third party insurer which is acknowledged in writing by such insurer) that has not been vacated, discharged, satisfied or stayed pending appeal within 60 days from the entry thereof;

(7) a Guarantee by a Subsidiary Guarantor shall cease to be in full force and effect (other than a release of a Guarantee in accordance with Section 10.04) or any Subsidiary Guarantor shall deny or disaffirm its obligations with respect thereto;

(8) the Company or any Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

(A) commences a voluntary case or proceeding,

(B) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case or proceeding,

(C) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property,

(D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or

(E) admits in writing that it generally is unable to pay its debts as the same become due; or

(9) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

(A) is for relief (with respect to the petition commencing such case) against the Company or any Subsidiary in an involuntary case or proceeding,

(B) appoints a Custodian of the Company or any Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of its property, or

(C) orders the liquidation of the Company or any Subsidiary, and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days.

 

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The term “Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors. The term “Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

SECTION 6.02. Acceleration. If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in clauses (8) or (9)) under Section 6.01 occurs and is continuing, then and in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% of the principal amount of the outstanding Securities may declare the unpaid principal of and premium, if any, or the Net Proceeds Offer purchase price if the Event of Default includes failure to pay the Net Proceeds Offer purchase price, and accrued and unpaid interest on, all the Securities then outstanding to be due and payable, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee, if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest shall become immediately due and payable, notwithstanding anything contained in this Indenture or the Securities to the contrary. If an Event of Default specified in clauses 8 or 9 above occurs, all unpaid principal of, and premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on, the Securities then outstanding will become due and payable, without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.

The Holders of a majority of the principal amount of the outstanding Securities, by written notice to the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee, may rescind and annul a declaration of acceleration and its consequences if (1) the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor has paid or deposited with such Trustee a sum sufficient to pay (A) all overdue installments of interest on all the Securities, (B) the principal of, and premium, if any, on any Securities that have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and interest thereon at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in the Securities, (C) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest on the defaulted interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in the Securities, and (D) all money paid or advanced by the Trustee thereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel; (2) all Events of Default, other than the non-payment of the principal of any Securities that have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in this Indenture; and (3) the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction. No such rescission will affect any subsequent Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

SECTION 6.03. Other Remedies. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may, but is not obligated to, pursue, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, any available remedy by proceeding at law or in equity to collect the payment of principal or interest on the Securities or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Securities or this Indenture. If an Event of Default specified under clauses (8) or (9) of Section 6.01 occurs with respect to the Company at a time when the Company is the Paying Agent, the Trustee shall automatically assume the duties of Paying Agent.

The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Securities or does not produce any of them in the

 

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proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. No remedy is exclusive of any other remedy. All available remedies are cumulative.

SECTION 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults. Subject to Sections 6.07 and 9.02, the Holders of at least a majority of the principal amount of the outstanding Securities by notice to the Trustee may waive an existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences, except a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal or interest on the Securities, including any make-whole redemption payments or Net Proceeds Offer payments.

SECTION 6.05. Control by Majority. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on such Trustee, provided that (1) such direction is not in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture and (2) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by such Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction.

SECTION 6.06. Limitation on Remedies. No Holder of any of the Securities will have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or pursue any remedy under this Indenture, unless:

(1) such Holder has previously given notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default,

(2) the Holders of not less than 25% of the principal amount of the outstanding Securities have made written request to such Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee under this Indenture,

(3) such Holder or Holders have offered to such Trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request,

(4) such Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any proceeding, and

(5) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to such Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority of the principal amount of the outstanding Securities.

A Holder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder or to obtain a preference or priority over other Holders (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not such actions or forbearances are unduly prejudicial to such Holders).

 

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SECTION 6.07. Rights of Holders to Receive Payment. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the Holder of any Securities will have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and interest on such Securities on the stated maturity therefor and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such right may not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

SECTION 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee. If an Event of Default in payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest specified in Section 6.01(1), (2) or (3) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor for the whole amount of principal, premium, if any, and interest remaining unpaid with respect to the Securities, and interest on overdue principal and premium, if any, and, to the extent lawful, interest on overdue interest, and such further amounts as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation and expenses of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

SECTION 6.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. (a) The Trustee may file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors, their creditors or their property and may collect and receive any money or securities or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same.

(b) Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

SECTION 6.10. Priorities. If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article Six, it shall pay out the money in the following order:

First: to the Trustee for amounts due under Section 7.07;

Second: to Holders for amounts due and unpaid on the Securities for principal and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Securities for principal and interest, respectively; and

Third: to the Company.

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders pursuant to this Section 6.10.

SECTION 6.11. Undertaking for Costs. In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in

 

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the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section 6.11 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.07, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities.

ARTICLE SEVEN

 

TRUSTEE

SECTION 7.01. Duties of Trustee. (a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in such exercise as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

(1) The Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth (or incorporated by reference) in this Indenture and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee.

(2) In the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, in the case of certificates or opinions specifically required by any provision hereof to be furnished to it, the Trustee shall examine such certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).

(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

(1) This paragraph (c) does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section.

(2) The Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by an officer of the Trustee, unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts.

(3) The Trustee shall not be liable with respect to action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.05, and the Trustee shall be entitled from time to time to request such a direction.

 

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(d) Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section.

(e) The Trustee shall be under no obligation and may refuse to perform any duty or exercise any right, duty or power hereunder unless it receives indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense. No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds to believe that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

SECTION 7.02. Rights of Trustee. Subject to Section 7.01:

(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely on and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person. The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney, to the extent reasonably required by such inquiry or investigation at the expense of the Company and shall incur no liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation.

(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such certificate or opinion.

(c) The Trustee may act through agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care.

(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers.

(e) The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and reliance thereon.

(f) In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of

 

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whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

(g) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Trust Officer has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture.

(h) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.

(i) The Trustee may request that the Company deliver a certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture.

SECTION 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee. The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Subsidiaries or Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights. However, the Trustee must comply with Sections 7.10 and 7.11.

SECTION 7.04. Trustee’s Disclaimer. The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Securities, it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Securities or any prospectus, offering or solicitation documents, and it shall not be responsible for any statement in the Securities other than its certificate of authentication.

SECTION 7.05. Notice of Defaults. If a Default occurs and is continuing and if it is known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to each Holder pursuant to Section 11.02 a notice of the Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a Default in any payment on any Security, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as the board of directors, executive committee or a trust committee of officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of Holders.

SECTION 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders. Within 60 days after each April 1, beginning with the April 1 following the date of this Indenture, the Trustee shall mail to each Holder a brief report dated as of such April 1 that complies with TIA Section 313(a), but only if such report is required in any year under TIA Section 313(a). The Trustee also shall comply with TIA Sections 313(b) and 313(c). A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Holders shall be filed with the SEC and each stock exchange on which the Securities are listed. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing when the Securities become listed on any national securities exchange or of any delisting thereof.

SECTION 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity. The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors jointly and severally agree to pay the Trustee from

 

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time to time such compensation for its services as shall be agreed upon from time to time in writing among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust). The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors jointly and severally agree to reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, disbursements and advances incurred by it. Such expenses shall include when applicable the reasonable compensation and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.

The Trustee shall not be under any obligation to institute any suit, or take any remedial action under this Indenture, or to enter any appearance or in any way defend any suit in which it may be a defendant, or to take any steps in the execution of the trusts created hereby or thereby or in the enforcement of any rights and powers under this Indenture, until it shall be indemnified to its satisfaction against any and all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provisions of this Indenture, including compensation for services, costs, expenses, outlays, counsel fees and other disbursements, and against all liability (including fees and expenses incurred by the Trustee pursuant to the penultimate paragraph of Section 7.08) not due to its negligence or willful misconduct. The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors jointly and severally agree to indemnify the Trustee against any loss, liability, claim, damage or expenses incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the acceptance and administration of the trust and its duties hereunder as Trustee, Registrar and/or Paying Agent, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Company (including with respect to this Section 7.07) and of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder. The Trustee shall notify the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors of any claim of which a Trust Officer has received written notice for which it may seek indemnity; however, unless the position of the Company is prejudiced by such failure, the failure of the Trustee to promptly notify the Company shall not limit its right to indemnification. The Company shall defend each such claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may retain separate counsel and the Company shall reimburse the Trustee for the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent.

Neither the Company nor the Subsidiary Guarantors shall be obligated to reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss or liability incurred by the Trustee through the Trustee’s own negligence or willful misconduct. To secure the payment obligations of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors in this Section, the Trustee shall have a claim prior to that of the Holders of the Securities on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal of and interest on particular Securities. The Trustee’s right to receive payment of any amounts due under this Section 7.07 shall not be subordinate to any other liability or Indebtedness of the Company.

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after the occurrence of any Event of Default specified in Sections 6.01(8) or (9), the expenses and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

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The benefits of this section shall survive termination of this Indenture and resignation or removal of the Trustee.

SECTION 7.08. Replacement of Trustee. The Trustee may resign by so notifying the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee, in writing. The Company may remove the Trustee if:

(1) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;

(2) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent;

(3) a receiver or other public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

(4) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting as Trustee hereunder.

If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.

A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors. Immediately after that and upon payment of its charges hereunder, the retiring Trustee shall transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.07, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. A successor Trustee shall mail notice of its succession to each Holder.

If a successor Trustee does not take office within 30 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company or the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities may petition, at the expense of the Company, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

If the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10, any Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee. Any successor Trustee shall comply with TIA Section 310(a)(5).

SECTION 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger, etc. If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust assets to, another corporation or national association, the successor corporation or national association without any further act shall be the successor Trustee; provided that such corporation or national association shall be otherwise eligible and qualified under this Article and shall notify the Company of its successor hereunder.

 

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SECTION 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification. This Indenture shall always have a Trustee which satisfies the requirements of TIA Section 310(a)(1). The Trustee shall always have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall also comply with TIA Section 310(b).

SECTION 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company. The Trustee shall comply with TIA Section 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA Section 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA Section 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.

ARTICLE EIGHT

 

DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

SECTION 8.01. Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

The Company may, at the option of its Board of Directors evidenced by a resolution set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, at any time, with respect to the Securities, elect to exercise its rights pursuant to either Section 8.02 or 8.03 with respect to all outstanding Securities upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article Eight.

SECTION 8.02. Legal Defeasance and Discharge. Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 of the option applicable to this Section 8.02, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to all outstanding Securities on the date all conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, such Legal Defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Securities, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 8.05 and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in (a) and (b) below, and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (a) the rights of Holders of outstanding Securities to receive solely from the trust fund described in Section 8.04, and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Securities when such payments are due, (b) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities under Sections 2.03, 2.04, 2.06, 2.07, 2.09 and 4.04, (c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Company’s obligations in connection therewith (including, but not limited to, Section 7.07) and (d) this Article Eight. Subject to compliance with this Article Eight, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.03 with respect to the Securities.

SECTION 8.03. Covenant Defeasance. Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, the

 

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Company shall be released from its obligations under the covenants contained in the second sentence of Section 4.02, Sections 4.03, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09 and 4.10 and Article Five with respect to the outstanding Securities on and after the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Covenant Defeasance”), and the Securities shall thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Securities shall not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, such Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Securities, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.01(5), but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, Sections 6.01(4) through 6.01(9) shall not constitute Events of Default.

SECTION 8.04. Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance. The following shall be the conditions to application of either Section 8.02 or Section 8.03 to the outstanding Securities:

(a) The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or cause to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 7.10 who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Article Eight applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, (a) cash in U.S. Legal Tender in an amount, or (b) U.S. Government Securities which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment, cash in U.S. Legal Tender in an amount, or (c) a combination thereof, in such amounts, as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the outstanding Securities on the Maturity Date or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, of such principal or installment of principal, premium, if any, or interest and in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and of such Securities; provided that the Trustee shall have been irrevocably instructed to apply such money or the proceeds of such U.S. Government Securities to said payments with respect to the Securities.

(b) In the case of an election under Section 8.02, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that (i) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (ii) since the date hereof, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of the outstanding Securities will not recognize

 

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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 times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

(c) In the case of an election under Section 8.03, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of the outstanding 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;

(d) No Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or, insofar as Subsection 6.01(8) or 6.01(9) is concerned, at any time in the period ending on the 91st day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period);

(e) Such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound;

(f) In the case of any election under Section 8.02 or 8.03, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the deposit made by the Company pursuant to its election under Section 8.02 or 8.03 was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders over other creditors of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding creditors of the Company or others; and

(g) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to either the Legal Defeasance under Section 8.02 or the Covenant Defeasance under Section 8.03 (as the case may be) have been complied with as contemplated by this Section 8.04.

SECTION 8.05. Deposited Money and U.S. Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions. Subject to Section 8.06, all money and U.S. Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 8.05, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 8.04 in respect of the outstanding Securities shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor, if any, acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or U.S. Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.04 or the principal

 

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and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Securities.

Anything in this Article Eight to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the Company’s request any money or U.S. Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 8.04 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 8.04(a)), are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

SECTION 8.06. Repayment to Company. Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Security which is not subject to the last paragraph of Section 8.05 and has remained unclaimed for two years after such principal, and premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on its request (unless an abandoned property law designates another Person) or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Securities shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided , however , that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

SECTION 8.07. Reinstatement. If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any U.S. Legal Tender or U.S. Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining, or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Securities shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.02 or 8.03 until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03, as the case may be; provided , however , that, if the Company makes any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Security following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent. In the event the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Securities are revived and reinstated pursuant to this Section 8.07, then the obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor under its Guarantee and this Indenture that were released pursuant to Section 10.04 as a result of the Company’s exercise of its rights under this Article Eight shall be revived and reinstated as though such release had not occurred.

 

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ARTICLE NINE

 

AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS

SECTION 9.01. Without Consent of Holders.  

The Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Securities without notice to or consent of any Holder:

(1) to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency;

(2) to comply with Section 5.01 or 10.02;

(3) to reflect the addition or release of any Subsidiary Guarantor, as provided for by this Indenture;

(4) to comply with any requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA; or

(5) to make any change that would provide any additional benefit or rights to the Holders or that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder in any material respect.

Upon the request of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, accompanied by a Board Resolution of the Company and of each Subsidiary Guarantor authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 9.06, the Trustee shall join with the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors in the execution of any supplemental indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained. After an amendment or supplement under this Section becomes effective, the Company shall mail to the Holders of each Security affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment or supplement. Any failure of the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.

SECTION 9.02. With Consent of Holders. Except as provided below in this Section 9.02, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Securities with the written consent (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for Securities or a solicitation of consents in respect of Securities, provided that in each case such offer or solicitation is made to all Holders of then outstanding Securities on equal terms) of the Holders of at least a majority of the principal amount of the outstanding Securities.

Upon the request of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, accompanied by a Board Resolution of the Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of the Holders as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the Opinion of

 

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Counsel described in Section 9.06, the Trustee shall join with the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors in the execution of such supplemental indenture.

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

The Holders of a majority of the principal amount of the outstanding Securities may waive compliance in a particular instance by the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors with any provision of this Indenture or the Securities (including waivers obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for Securities or a solicitation of consents in respect of Securities, provided that in each case such offer or solicitation is made to all Holders of the then outstanding Securities on equal terms). However, without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section may not:

(1) reduce the percentage of principal amount of Securities whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver of any provision of this Indenture or the Securities;

(2) reduce the rate or change the time for payment of interest, including default interest, on the Securities;

(3) reduce the principal amount of any Security or change the Maturity Date of the Securities;

(4) reduce the redemption price, including premium, if any, payable upon the redemption of any Security or change the time at which any Security may be redeemed;

(5) reduce the repurchase price payable upon the repurchase of any Security in connection with a Net Proceeds Offer, or change the time at which any Security may or shall be repurchased thereunder;

(6) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Securities;

(7) make any Security payable in money other than that stated in the Security;

(8) impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of principal of, premium, if any, or principal on any Security pursuant to Sections 6.07 or 6.08, except as limited by Section 6.06; or

(9) make any change in Section 6.04 or Section 6.07 or in this sentence of this Section 9.02.

The right of any Holder to participate in any consent required or sought pursuant to any provision of this Indenture (and the obligation

 

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of the Company to obtain any such consent otherwise required from such Holder) may be subject to the requirement that such Holder shall have been the Holder of record of any Securities with respect to which such consent is required or sought as of a date identified by the Trustee in a notice furnished to Holders in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

SECTION 9.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act. Every amendment to or supplement of this Indenture or the Securities shall comply with the TIA as then in effect.

SECTION 9.04. Revocation and Effect of Consents. A consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver by a Holder of a Security shall bind the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Security. However, until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to its Security or portion of a Security. For such revocation to be effective, the Trustee must receive the notice of revocation before the date the amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective.

The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to consent to any amendment, supplement or waiver. If the Company elects to fix a record date for such purpose, the record date shall be fixed at (i) the later of 30 days prior to the first solicitation of such consent or the date of the most recent list of Holders furnished to the Trustee prior to such solicitation pursuant to Section 2.05, or (ii) such other date as the Company shall designate. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the provisions of the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to consent to such amendment or waiver or to revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No consent shall be valid or effective for more than 90 days after such record date unless consent from the Holders of the principal amount of Securities required hereunder for such amendment or waiver to be effective also shall have been given and not revoked within such 90-day period.

After an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every Holder unless it makes a change described in any of clauses (1) through (9) of Section 9.02. In that case the amendment, supplement or waiver shall bind each Holder of a Security who has consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security.

SECTION 9.05. Notation on or Exchange of Senior Notes. If an amendment, supplement or waiver changes the terms of a Security, the Trustee may require the Holder of the Security to deliver it to the Trustee. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation on the Security about the changed terms and return it to the Holder. Alternatively, if the Company or the Trustee so determines, the Company in exchange for the Security shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a new Security that reflects the changed terms.

 

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SECTION 9.06. Trustee Protected. The Trustee shall sign any amendment or supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article if the amendment or supplement or waiver does not adversely affect the rights of the Trustee. If it does adversely affect the rights of the Trustee, the Trustee may but need not sign it. In signing such amendment or supplement or waiver the Trustee shall be provided with, and (subject to Article Seven) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that such amendment or supplement or waiver is authorized or permitted by and complies with this Indenture and all conditions precedent to the execution of such amendment, supplement or waiver have been met. The Company may not sign an amendment or supplement until the Boards of Directors of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors approve it.

ARTICLE TEN

 

GUARANTEES

SECTION 10.01. Unconditional Guarantee. Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby, jointly and severally, fully and unconditionally guarantees, as principal obligor and not only as surety (such guarantee to be referred to herein as the “Guarantee”), to each Holder and to the Trustee the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities and all other amounts due and payable under this Indenture and the Securities by the Company whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption, repurchase or otherwise, including, without limitation, interest on the overdue principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities, to the extent lawful, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; subject, however, to the limitations set forth in Section 10.05.

Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Subsidiary Guarantors will be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Securities or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of the Securities with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Company, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor. Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that this Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Securities, this Indenture and in this Guarantee. If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor, or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, any amount paid by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor to the Trustee or such Holder, this Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect. Each Subsidiary Guarantor agrees it shall not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby. Each Subsidiary Guarantor further agrees

 

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45

 

that, as between each Subsidiary Guarantor, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article Six for the purposes of this Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article Six, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by each Subsidiary Guarantor for the purpose of this Guarantee.

SECTION 10.02. Subsidiary Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms. (a) Subject to paragraph (b) of this Section 10.02, no Subsidiary Guarantor may consolidate or merge with or into (whether or not such Subsidiary Guarantor is the surviving Person) another Person unless (i) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Subsidiary Guarantor) assumes all the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under this Indenture and the Securities pursuant to a supplemental indenture, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee and (ii) immediately after such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists. In connection with any consolidation or merger contemplated by this Section 10.02, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee prior to the consummation of the proposed transaction an Officers’ Certificate to the foregoing effect and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the proposed transaction and such supplemental indenture comply with this Indenture. This Section 10.02(a) will not prohibit a merger between Subsidiary Guarantors or a merger between the Company and a Subsidiary Guarantor.

(b) In the event of a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of any Subsidiary Guarantor or a sale or other disposition of all of the Capital Stock of such Subsidiary Guarantor, in any case by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, then such Subsidiary Guarantor (in the event of a sale or other disposition, by way of such a merger, consolidation or otherwise, of all of the Capital Stock of such Subsidiary Guarantor) or the Person acquiring the assets (in the event of a sale or other disposition, by way of a merger, consolidation or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the assets of such Subsidiary Guarantor) will be released and relieved of any obligations under its Guarantee.

SECTION 10.03. Addition of Subsidiary Guarantors. (a) The Company agrees to cause each domestic Subsidiary that shall become a Subsidiary after the Issue Date and that guarantees any other Indebtedness of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor in excess of a De Minimis Guaranteed Amount to execute and deliver a supplemental indenture pursuant to which such Subsidiary shall guarantee the payment of the Securities pursuant to the terms hereof within 180 days after the later of (i) the date that Subsidiary becomes a domestic Subsidiary and (ii) the date that Subsidiary guarantees such other Indebtedness; provided that no guarantee shall be required if the Subsidiary merges into the Company or an existing Subsidiary Guarantor and the surviving entity remains a Subsidiary Guarantor.

(b) Any Person that was not a Subsidiary Guarantor on the Issue Date may become a Subsidiary Guarantor by executing and delivering

 

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46

 

to the Trustee (i) a supplemental indenture in form and substance satisfactory to the Trustee, which subjects such Person to the provisions (including the representations and warranties) of this Indenture as a Subsidiary Guarantor and (ii) an Opinion of Counsel and Officers’ Certificate to the effect that such supplemental indenture has been duly authorized and executed by such Person and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Person (subject to such customary exceptions concerning creditors’ rights and equitable principles as may be acceptable to the Trustee in its discretion and provided that no opinion need be rendered concerning the enforceability of the Guarantee).

SECTION 10.04. Release of a Subsidiary Guarantor. Upon (i) the sale or disposition of a Subsidiary Guarantor (or all or substantially all of its assets) or (ii) the cessation by a Subsidiary Guarantor to guarantee any other Indebtedness of the Company or any other Subsidiary Guarantor other than a De Minimis Guaranteed Amount, in each case which is otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture, including but not limited to the provisions of Section 10.02, such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be deemed released from all of its Guarantee and related obligations in this Indenture without any further action by the Trustee, the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor. Subject to Section 8.07, upon the Company’s election, in compliance with the conditions set forth in Article Eight hereof, to exercise its rights pursuant to either Section 8.02 or 8.03 with respect to all outstanding Securities, each Subsidiary Guarantor shall be deemed released from all of its Guarantee and related obligations in this Indenture without any further action by the Trustee, the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor. The Trustee shall deliver an appropriate instrument evidencing such release upon receipt of a request by the Company accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and, in the case of the release of a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to clause (i) of the first sentence of this Section 10.04, an Opinion of Counsel certifying that such sale or other disposition was made by the Company in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture. Any Subsidiary Guarantor not so released remains liable for the full amount of principal of and interest on the Securities as provided in this Article Ten.

SECTION 10.05. Limitation of Subsidiary Guarantor’s Liability. Each Subsidiary Guarantor, and by its acceptance hereof each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the guarantee by such Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to its Guarantee not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of any federal, state or foreign law. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Holders and each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor under the Guarantee shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Subsidiary Guarantor and after giving effect to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Subsidiary Guarantor under its Guarantee or pursuant to Section 10.06, result in the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under the Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under federal, state or foreign law. This Section 10.05 is for the benefit of the creditors of each Subsidiary Guarantor, and, for purposes of applicable fraudulent transfer and fraudulent conveyance law, any Indebtedness of a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to Credit Facilities shall be deemed to have been incurred prior to the incurrence by such Subsidiary Guarantor of its liability under the Guarantee.

 

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SECTION 10.06. Contribution. In order to provide for just and equitable contribution among the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Subsidiary Guarantors agree, inter se, that in the event any payment or distribution is made by any Subsidiary Guarantor (a “Funding Guarantor”) under the Guarantee, such Funding Guarantor shall be entitled to a contribution from each other Subsidiary Guarantor in a pro rata amount based on the Adjusted Net Assets of each Subsidiary Guarantor (including the Funding Guarantor) for all payments, damages and expenses incurred by the Funding Guarantor in discharging the Company’s obligations with respect to the Securities or any other Subsidiary Guarantor’s obligations with respect to the Guarantee.

SECTION 10.07. [ Intentionally Omitted .]

SECTION 10.08. Severability. In case any provision of this Guarantee shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that portion of such provision that is not invalid, illegal or unenforceable shall remain in effect, and the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

ARTICLE ELEVEN

 

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 11.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls. Whether prior to or following the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA, if any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies, or conflicts with the duties imposed by operation of TIA Section 318(c) upon an indenture qualified under the TIA, the imposed duties shall control under this Indenture.

SECTION 11.02. Notices. Any notice or communication shall be sufficiently given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by certified or registered mail (return receipt requested), facsimile, telecopier or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, addressed as follows:

If to the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor:

Chesapeake Energy Corporation

6100 North Western Avenue

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73118

 

Attention: Treasurer

 

Fax:

(405) 879-9572

If to the Trustee:

The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.

2 N. LaSalle Street

Suite 1020

Chicago, IL 60602

Attention: Corporate Trust Administration

 

Fax:

(312) 827-8542

 

 

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48

 

 

The Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor or the Trustee by notice to the other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

All notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt acknowledged, if faxed or telecopied; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.

Any notice or communication mailed to a Holder shall be mailed by first-class mail to the address for such Holder appearing on the registration books of the Registrar and shall be sufficiently given to such Holder if so mailed within the time prescribed. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.

If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it. If the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor mails notice or communications to Holders, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

SECTION 11.03. Communication by Holders with Other Holders. Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA Section  312(b) with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities. The Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA Section 312(c).

SECTION 11.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent. Upon any request or application by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be, shall furnish to the Trustee:

(1) an Officers’ Certificate (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 11.05) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, the conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and

(2) an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, such conditions precedent have been complied with.

SECTION 11.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion. Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include:

(1) a statement that each person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

(2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

 

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(3) a statement that, in the opinion of each such person, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

(4) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of each such person, such covenant or condition has been complied with.

SECTION 11.06. Rules by Trustee and Agents. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for actions taken by, or meetings or consents of, Holders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules for its functions.

SECTION 11.07. Legal Holidays. A “Legal Holiday” is a Saturday, a Sunday, or a day on which banks and trust companies in the City of New York are not required by law or executive order to be open. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at the place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, without additional interest.

SECTION 11.08. Governing Law. THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES AND THE GUARANTEES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAW OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WOULD REQUIRE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION REGARDING THE VALIDITY OF THE SECURITIES.

SECTION 11.09. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements. This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Subsidiary. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

SECTION 11.10. No Recourse Against Others. All liability described in Paragraph 22 of the Securities of any director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors or the Trustee is waived and released.

SECTION 11.11. Successors. All agreements of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors in this Indenture, the Securities and the Guarantees shall bind their respective successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successor.

SECTION 11.12. Duplicate Originals. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same instrument.

SECTION 11.13. Severability. In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby, and a Holder shall have no claim therefor against any party hereto.

 

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SIGNATURES

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION

 

By: 


/s/ MARTHA A. BURGER

 

 

Name:      Martha A. Burger
Title:   Treasurer & Senior Vice President

Human Resources

 

 

 

 

 

SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS :

 

 

 

 

CHESAPEAKE EAGLE CANADA CORP.

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY LOUISIANA CORPORATION

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY MARKETING, INC.

CHESAPEAKE OPERATING, INC.

CHESAPEAKE PRH CORP.

CHESAPEAKE SOUTH TEXAS CORP.

NOMAC DRILLING CORPORATION

OXLEY PETROLEUM CO.

CARMEN ACQUISITION, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE ACQUISITION, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE ENO ACQUISITION, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE EP, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE LAND COMPANY, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE ORC, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE ROYALTY, L.L.C.

GOTHIC PRODUCTION, L.L.C.

JOHN C. OXLEY, L.L.C.

MAYFIELD PROCESSING L.L.C.

MC MINERAL COMPANY, L.L.C.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ MARTHA A. BURGER

 

 

Name:      Martha A. Burger

 

 

Title:    Treasurer and Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

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CHESAPEAKE EXPLORATION LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

CHESAPEAKE LOUISIANA, L.P.

CHESAPEAKE NFW, L.P.

CHESAPEAKE PERMIAN, L.P.

CHESAPEAKE SIGMA, L.P.

CHESAPEAKE-STAGHORN ACQUISITION L.P.

CHESAPEAKE ZAPATA, L.P.,

 

By         Chesapeake Operating, Inc., as general partner of each respective entity

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ MARTHA A. BURGER

 

Name:     Martha A. Burger

 

Title:               Treasurer and Senior Vice President—Human Resources

 

 

 

MIDCON COMPRESSION, L.P.,

 

 

By         Chesapeake Energy Marketing, Inc., as general partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ MARTHA A. BURGER

 

 

Name:     Martha A. Burger

 

 

Title:               Treasurer and Vice President

 

 

 

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THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee

 

By:

/s/ LINDA GARCIA

 

Name:   Linda Garcia

 

Title:Authorized Signatory

 

 

 

 

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A-1

 

 

RULE 144A/REGULATION S APPENDIX

PROVISIONS RELATING TO INITIAL SECURITIES,

PRIVATE EXCHANGE SECURITIES

AND EXCHANGE SECURITIES

1.

Definitions

 

1.1

Definitions

For the purposes of this Appendix the following terms shall have the meanings indicated below:

“Depository” means The Depository Trust Company, its nominees and their respective successors.

“Exchange Securities” means (1) the 6.875% Senior Notes due 2020 issued pursuant to the Indenture in connection with the Registered Exchange Offer pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement and (2) Additional Securities, if any, issued pursuant to a registration statement filed with the SEC under the Securities Act.

“Initial Purchasers” means (1) with respect to the Initial Securities issued on the Issue Date, Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., Banc of America Securities LLC, Credit Suisse First Boston LLC, Lehman Brothers Inc., Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC, BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Calyon Securities (USA) Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc., UBS Securities LLC, ABN AMRO Incorporated, BOSC, Inc., Comerica Securities, Inc., Fortis Securities LLC, Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc., Piper Jaffray & Co. and TD Securities (USA) LLC and (2) with respect to each issuance of Additional Securities, the Persons purchasing such Additional Securities under the related Purchase Agreement.

“Initial Securities” means (1) $500 million aggregate principal amount of 6.875% Senior Notes due 2020 issued on the Issue Date and (2) Additional Securities, if any, issued in one or more transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

“Private Exchange” means the offer by the Company, pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement, to the Initial Purchasers to issue and deliver to each Initial Purchaser, in exchange for the Initial Securities held by the Initial Purchaser as part of its initial distribution, a like aggregate principal amount of Private Exchange Securities.

“Private Exchange Securities” means any 6.875% Senior Notes due 2020 issued in connection with a Private Exchange.

“Purchase Agreement” means (1) with respect to the Initial Securities issued on the Issue Date, the Purchase Agreement dated November 2, 2005, among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers and (2) with respect to each issuance of Additional Securities, the purchase agreement or underwriting agreement among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Persons purchasing such Additional Securities.

 

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A-2

 

 

“QIB” means a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A.

“Registered Exchange Offer” means the offer by the Company, pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement, to certain Holders of Initial Securities, to issue and deliver to such Holders, in exchange for the Initial Securities, a like aggregate principal amount of Exchange Securities registered under the Securities Act.

“Registration Rights Agreement” means (1) with respect to the Initial Securities issued on the Issue Date, the Registration Rights Agreement dated November 8, 2005, among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers, and (2) with respect to each issuance of Additional Securities issued in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, the registration rights agreement, if any, among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Persons purchasing such Additional Securities under the related Purchase Agreement.

“Securities” means the Initial Securities, the Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange Securities, treated as a single class.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

“Securities Custodian” means the custodian with respect to a Global Security (as appointed by the Depository), or any successor Person thereto and shall initially be the Trustee.

“Shelf Registration Statement” means the registration statement issued by the Company in connection with the offer and sale of Initial Securities or Private Exchange Securities pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement.

“Transfer Restricted Securities” means Securities that bear or are required to bear the legend set forth in Section 2.3(b) hereto.

 

 

1.2

Other Definitions

 

Term

Defined in
Section :

“Agent Members”

2.1(b)

“Global Security”

2.1(a)

“Regulation S”

2.1(a)

“Restricted Global Security”

2.1(a)

“Rule 144A”

2.1(a)

 

2.

The Securities.

2.1    (a) Form and Dating. Initial Securities offered and sold to a QIB in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act (“Rule 144A”) or in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act (“Regulation S”), in each case as provided in a Purchase Agreement, and Private Exchange Securities, as provided in a Registration Rights Agreement, shall be issued initially in the form of one or more

 

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A-3

 

permanent global Securities in definitive, fully registered form without interest coupons with the global securities legend and restricted securities legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto (each, a “Restricted Global Security”), which shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Initial Securities represented thereby with the Trustee, at its principal corporate trust office, as Securities Custodian, and registered in the name of the Depository or a nominee of the Depository, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. The aggregate principal amount of the Global Securities may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and the Depository or its nominee as hereinafter provided. Exchange Securities shall be issued in global form (with the global securities legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto) or in certificated form at the option of the Holders thereof from time to time. Exchange Securities issued in global form and Restricted Global Securities are sometimes referred to in this Appendix as “Global Securities.”

(b) Book-Entry Provisions. This Section 2.1(b) shall apply only to a Global Security deposited with or on behalf of the Depository.

The Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with this Section 2.1(b), authenticate and deliver initially one or more Global Securities that (a) shall be registered in the name of the Depository for such Global Security or Global Securities or the nominee of such Depository and (b) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depository or pursuant to such Depository’s instructions or held by the Trustee as Securities Custodian.

Members of, or participants in, the Depository (“Agent Members”) shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Security held on their behalf by the Depository or by the Trustee as Securities Custodian or under such Global Security, and the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be entitled to treat the Depository as the absolute owner of such Global Security for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depository or impair, as between the Depository and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices of such Depository governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of a beneficial interest in any Global Security.

(c) Certificated Securities. Except as provided in this Section 2.1 or Section 2.3 or 2.4, owners of beneficial interests in Restricted Global Securities shall not be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificated Securities.

2.2     Authentication. The Trustee shall authenticate and deliver: (1) on the Issue Date, an aggregate principal amount of $500 million 6.875% Senior Notes due 2020, (2) from time to time after the Issue Date, any Additional Securities for an original issue in an aggregate principal amount specified in the written order of the Company pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Indenture and (3) Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities for issue only in a Registered Exchange Offer or a

 

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A-4

 

Private Exchange, respectively, pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement, for a like principal amount of Initial Securities, in each case upon a written order of the Company signed by two Officers or by an Officer and either the Secretary, an Assistant Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary of the Company. Such order shall specify the amount of the Securities to be authenticated and the date on which the original issue of Securities is to be authenticated.

 

2.3

Transfer and Exchange.

(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Securities. (i)  The transfer and exchange of Global Securities or beneficial interests therein shall be effected through the Depository, in accordance with this Indenture (including applicable restrictions on transfer set forth herein, if any) and the procedures of the Depository therefor. A transferor of a beneficial interest in a Global Security shall deliver to the Registrar a written order given in accordance with the Depository’s procedures containing information regarding the participant account of the Depository to be credited with a beneficial interest in the Global Security. The Registrar shall, in accordance with such instructions instruct the Depository to credit to the account of the Person specified in such instructions a beneficial interest in the Global Security and to debit the account of the Person making the transfer the beneficial interest in the Global Security being transferred.

(ii)  Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Appendix (other than the provisions set forth in Section 2.4), a Global Security may not be transferred as a whole except by the Depository to a nominee of the Depository or by a nominee of the Depository to the Depository or another nominee of the Depository or by the Depository or any such nominee to a successor Depository or a nominee of such successor Depository.

(iii) In the event that a Restricted Global Security is exchanged for Securities in certificated registered form pursuant to Section 2.4 of this Appendix, prior to the consummation of a Registered Exchange Offer or the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to such Securities, such Securities may be exchanged only in accordance with such procedures as are substantially consistent with the provisions of this Section 2.3 (including the certification requirements set forth on the reverse of the Initial Securities intended to ensure that such transfers comply with Rule 144A or Regulation S, as the case may be) and such other procedures as may from time to time be adopted by the Company.

(b) Legend.

(i) Except as permitted by the following paragraphs (ii), (iii) and (iv), until the expiration of the applicable holding period with respect to the Securities set forth in Rule 144(k) of the Securities Act, each Security certificate evidencing the Restricted Global Securities (and all Securities issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof) shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

THIS SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES

 

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A-5

 

ACT OF 1933 (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM. EACH PURCHASER OF THIS SECURITY IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER OF THIS SECURITY MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER.

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT (A) THIS NOTE MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, ONLY (I) TO THE COMPANY, (II) IN THE UNITED STATES TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (III) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (IV) PURSUANT TO EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE) OR (V) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH OF CASES (I) THROUGH (V) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES, AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS SECURITY FROM IT OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO IN (A) ABOVE.

(ii) Upon any sale or transfer of a Transfer Restricted Security (including any Transfer Restricted Security represented by a Restricted Global Security) pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, the Registrar shall permit the transferee thereof to exchange such Transfer Restricted Security for a certificated Security that does not bear the legend set forth above and rescind any restriction on the transfer of such Transfer Restricted Security, if the transferor thereof certifies in writing to the Registrar that such sale or transfer was made in reliance on Rule 144 (such certification to be in the form set forth on the reverse of the Security).

(iii) After a transfer of any Initial Securities or Private Exchange Securities pursuant to and during the period of the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to such Initial Securities or Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, all requirements pertaining to legends on such Initial Security or such Private Exchange Security will cease to apply, the requirements requiring any such Initial Security or such Private Exchange Security issued to certain Holders be issued in global form will cease to apply, and a certificated Initial Security or Private Exchange Security or an Initial Security or Private Exchange Security in global form, in each case without restrictive transfer legends, will be available to the transferee of the Holder of such Initial Securities or Private Exchange Securities upon exchange of such transferring Holder’s certificated Initial Security or Private Exchange Security or directions to transfer such Holder’s interest in the Global Security, as applicable.

 

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A-6

 

 

(iv) Upon the consummation of a Registered Exchange Offer with respect to the Initial Securities, all requirements pertaining to such Initial Securities that Initial Securities issued to certain Holders be issued in global form will still apply with respect to Holders of such Initial Securities that do not exchange their Initial Securities, and Exchange Securities in certificated or global form will be available to Holders that exchange such Initial Securities in such Registered Exchange Offer.

(v) Upon the consummation of a Private Exchange with respect to the Initial Securities, all requirements pertaining to such Initial Securities that Initial Securities issued to certain Holders be issued in global form will still apply with respect to Holders of such Initial Securities that do not exchange their Initial Securities, and Private Exchange Securities in global form with the global securities legend and the Restricted Securities Legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto will be available to Holders that exchange such Initial Securities in such Private Exchange.

(c) Cancellation or Adjustment of Global Security. At such time as all beneficial interests in a Global Security have either been exchanged for certificated Securities, redeemed, purchased or canceled, such Global Security shall be returned to the Depository for cancelation or retained and canceled by the Trustee. At any time prior to such cancelation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Security is exchanged for certificated Securities, redeemed, purchased or canceled, the principal amount of Securities represented by such Global Security shall be reduced and an adjustment shall be made on the books and records of the Trustee (if it is then the Securities Custodian for such Global Security) with respect to such Global Security, by the Trustee or the Securities Custodian, to reflect such reduction.

(d) Obligations with Respect to Transfers and Exchanges of Securities.

(i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate certificated Securities and Global Securities at the Registrar’s or co-registrar’s request.

(ii) No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax, assessments, or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes, assessments or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Section 3.06 of the Indenture).

(iii) The Registrar or co-registrar shall not be required to register the transfer of or exchange of any Security for a period beginning 15 Business Days before the mailing of a notice of an offer to repurchase or redeem Securities or 15 Business Days before an interest payment date.

(iv) Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Security, the Company, the Trustee, the Paying

 

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A-7

 

Agent, the Registrar or any co-registrar may deem and treat the person in whose name a Security is registered as the absolute owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security is overdue, and none of the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar or any co-registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

(v) All Securities issued upon any transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of this Indenture shall evidence the same debt and shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Securities surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.

(e) No Obligation of the Trustee.

(i) The Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a Global Security, Agent Member or other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depository or its nominee or of any Agent Member, with respect to any ownership interest in the Securities or with respect to the delivery to any Agent Member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depository) of any notice (including any notice of redemption) or the payment of any amount, under or with respect to such Securities. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders under the Securities shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the registered Holders (which shall be the Depository or its nominee in the case of a Global Security). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Security shall be exercised only through the Depository subject to the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository. The Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the Depository with respect to its Agent Members and any beneficial owners.

(ii) The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Security (including any transfers between or among Agent Members or beneficial owners in any Global Security) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

 

2.4

Certificated Securities.

(a) A Restricted Global Security deposited with the Depository or with the Trustee as Securities Custodian pursuant to Section 2.1 shall be transferred to the beneficial owners thereof in the form of certificated Securities in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Security, in exchange for such Global Security, only if such transfer complies with Section 2.3 and (i) the Depository notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depository for such Restricted Global Security or

 

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A-8

 

if at any time such Depository ceases to be a “clearing agency” registered under the Exchange Act and a successor depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days of such notice or (ii) an event of default has occurred and is continuing or (iii) the Company, in its sole discretion, notifies the Trustee in writing that it elects to cause the issuance of certificated Securities under this Indenture.

(b) Any Restricted Global Security that is transferable to the beneficial owners thereof pursuant to this Section shall be surrendered by the Depository to the Trustee located at its principal corporate trust office in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, to be so transferred, in whole or from time to time in part, without charge, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, upon such transfer of each portion of such Restricted Global Security, an equal aggregate principal amount of certificated Initial Securities of authorized denominations. Any portion of a Restricted Global Security transferred pursuant to this Section shall be executed, authenticated and delivered only in denominations of $1,000 principal amount and any integral multiple thereof and registered in such names as the Depository shall direct. Any certificated Initial Security or Private Exchange Security delivered in exchange for an interest in the Restricted Global Security shall, except as otherwise provided by Section 2.3(b), bear the restricted securities legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto.

(c) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.4(b), the registered Holder of a Global Security shall be entitled to grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Securities.

(d) In the event of the occurrence of any of the events specified in Section 2.4(a), the Company shall promptly make available to the Trustee a reasonable supply of certificated Securities in definitive, fully registered form without interest coupons.

 

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B-1

 

 

EXHIBIT 1

to

RULE 144A/REGULATION S APPENDIX

[FACE OF INITIAL SECURITY]

[Global Securities Legend]

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC) ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.

[Restricted Securities Legend]

THIS SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM. EACH PURCHASER OF THIS SECURITY IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER OF THIS SECURITY MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER.

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT (A) THIS SECURITY MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, ONLY (I) TO THE COMPANY, (II) IN THE UNITED STATES TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (III) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (IV) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE) OR (V) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH OF CASES (I) THROUGH (V) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES, AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS SECURITY FROM IT OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO IN (A) ABOVE.

 

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B-2

 

 

No.                                                                                                                                                             CUSIP NO.

$

ISIN NO.

6.875% Senior Note due 2020

Chesapeake Energy Corporation, an Oklahoma corporation, promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or registered assigns, the principal sum of _______________________________________________ Dollars on November 15, 2020

Interest Payment Dates: May 15 and November 15 (commencing May 15, 2006 )

Record Dates: May 1 and November 1

Additional provisions of this Security are set forth on the other side of this Security.

Dated: ________________

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION,

 

by

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

by

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF

AUTHENTICATION

THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,
AS TRUSTEE, CERTIFIES THAT
THIS IS ONE OF THE SECURITIES
REFERRED TO IN THE INDENTURE.

 

by

 

 

Authorized Signatory

 

_________________________

 Or such later date as is appropriate in the case of Additional Securities.

 

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B-3

 

 

[REVERSE SIDE OF INITIAL SECURITY]

6.875% Senior Note due 2020

1.

Interest

Chesapeake Energy Corporation, an Oklahoma corporation (such corporation, and its successors and assigns under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, being herein called the “Company”), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Security at the rate per annum shown above; provided , however , that if a Registration Default (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) occurs, additional interest will accrue on this Security at a rate of 0.25% per annum (increasing by an additional 0.25% per annum after each consecutive 90-day period that occurs after the date on which such Registration Default occurs up to a maximum additional interest rate of 1.00%) from and including the date on which any such Registration Default shall occur to but excluding the date on which all Registration Defaults have been cured. The Company will pay interest semiannually on May 15 and November 15 of each year, commencing May 15, 2006. Interest on the Securities will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from November 8, 2005. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

2.

Method of Payment

The Company will pay interest on the Securities (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered Holders of Securities at the close of business on the May 1 or November 1 next preceding the interest payment date even if Securities are canceled after the record date and on or before the interest payment date. Holders must surrender Securities to a Paying Agent to collect principal payments. The Company will pay principal and interest in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Payments in respect of the Securities represented by a Global Security (including principal, premium and interest) will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by The Depository Trust Company. The Company will make all payments in respect of a certificated Security (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) by mailing a check to the registered address of each Holder thereof; provided , however , that payments on a certificated Security will be made by wire transfer to a U.S. dollar account maintained by the payee with a bank in the United States if such Holder elects payment by wire transfer by giving written notice to the Trustee or the Paying Agent to such effect designating such account no later than 30 days immediately preceding the relevant due date for payment (or such other date as the Trustee may accept in its discretion).

3.

Paying Agent and Registrar

Initially, The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., a national banking association (the “Trustee”), will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may appoint and change any Paying

 

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B-4

 

Agent, Registrar or co-registrar without notice. The Company or any of its domestically incorporated Wholly Owned Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent, Registrar or co-registrar.

4.

Indenture

The Company issued the Securities under an Indenture dated as of November 8, 2005 (“Indenture”), among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee. The terms of the Securities include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of the Indenture (the “Act”). Terms defined in the Indenture and not defined herein have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture. The Securities are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and the Act for a statement of those terms.

The Company shall be entitled to issue Additional Securities pursuant to Section 2.13 of the Indenture. The Initial Securities issued on the Issue Date, any Additional Securities and all Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities issued in exchange therefor will be treated as a single class for all purposes under the Indenture.

5.

Make-Whole Price Redemption

At any time prior to the Maturity Date, the Company may, at its option, redeem all or any portion of the Securities at the “Make-Whole Price” (as defined in the Indenture) plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Securities so redeemed to the date of redemption. Any redemption pursuant to this paragraph 5 shall be made, to the extent applicable, pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 of the Indenture.

6.

Notice of Redemption

Notice of redemption will be mailed to the Holder’s registered address at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed. If less than all Securities are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select pro rata, by lot or, if the Securities are listed on any securities exchange, by any other method that the Trustee considers fair and appropriate and that complies with the requirements of such exchange, the Securities to be redeemed in multiples of $1,000; provided , however , that no Securities with a principal amount of $1,000 or less will be redeemed in part. Securities in denominations larger than $1,000 may be redeemed in part. On and after the redemption date, interest ceases to accrue on Securities or portions of them called for redemption (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the redemption price or accrued interest).

7.

Net Proceeds Offer

In the event of certain Sale/Leaseback Transactions, the Company may be required to make a Net Proceeds Offer to purchase all or any portion of each Holder’s Securities, at 100% of the principal

 

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B-5

 

amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the Net Proceeds Payment Date.

8.

Restrictive Covenants

The Indenture imposes certain limitations on, among other things, the ability of the Company to merge or consolidate with any other Person or sell and lease back certain of its properties or assets and the ability of the Company or the Subsidiaries to incur encumbrances against certain property, all subject to certain limitations described in the Indenture.

9.

Ranking and Guarantees

The Securities are general senior unsecured obligations of the Company. The Company’s obligation to pay principal, premium, if any, and interest with respect to the Securities is unconditionally guaranteed on a senior basis, jointly and severally, by the Subsidiary Guarantors pursuant to Article Ten of the Indenture. Certain limitations to the obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors are set forth in further detail in the Indenture.

10.

Denominations; Transfer; Exchange

The Securities are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 principal amount and whole multiples of $1,000. A Holder may transfer or exchange Securities in accordance with the Indenture. The Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements or transfer documents and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Registrar need not register the transfer of or exchange of any Securities selected for redemption (except, in the case of a Security to be redeemed in part, the portion of the Security not to be redeemed) or any Securities for a period of 15 Business Days before the mailing of a notice of an offer to repurchase or redeem Securities or 15 Business Days before an interest payment date.

11.

Persons Deemed Owners

The registered Holder of this Security may be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.

12.

Unclaimed Money

If money for the payment of principal or interest remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee or Paying Agent shall pay the money back to the Company at its request unless an abandoned property law designates another Person. After any such payment, Holders entitled to the money must look only to the Company and not to the Trustee for payment.

13.

Discharge and Defeasance

Subject to certain conditions, the Company at any time shall be entitled to terminate some or all of its obligations under the Securities and the Indenture if the Company deposits with the Trustee

 

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B-6

 

money or U.S. Government Securities for the payment of principal and interest on the Securities to redemption or maturity, as the case may be.

14.

Amendment, Supplement, Waiver

Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture or the Securities may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority of the outstanding principal amount of the Securities, and any past default or noncompliance with any provision may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities. Without the consent of any Holder, the Company may amend or supplement the Indenture or the Securities to, among other things, cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency or to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder in any material respect.

15.

Successor Corporation

When a successor corporation assumes all the obligations of its predecessor under the Securities and the Indenture, the predecessor corporation will be released from those obligations.

16.

Defaults and Remedies

An Event of Default generally is: default by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor for 30 days in payment of interest on the Securities; default by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor in payment of principal of, or premium, if any, on the Securities; default by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor in the deposit of any optional redemption or repurchase payment when due and payable; defaults resulting in acceleration prior to maturity of certain other Indebtedness or resulting from payment defaults under certain other Indebtedness; failure by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor for 45 days after notice to comply with any of its other agreements in the Indenture; certain final judgments against the Company or Subsidiaries; a failure of any Guarantee of a Subsidiary Guarantor to be in full force and effect or denial by any Subsidiary Guarantor of its obligations with respect thereto; and certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency. Subject to certain limitations in the Indenture, if an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities may declare all the Securities to be due and payable immediately, except that in the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, all outstanding Securities shall become due and payable immediately without further action or notice. Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Securities except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee may require indemnity satisfactory to it before it enforces the Indenture or the Securities. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Company must furnish an annual compliance certificate to the Trustee.

 

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B-7

 

 

17.

Trustee Dealings with Company and Subsidiary Guarantors

The Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors or their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.

18.

No Recourse Against Others

A director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or the Trustee shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or the Trustee under the Securities or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Security.

19.

Authentication

This Security shall not be valid until the Trustee or an authenticating agent signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Security.

20.

Abbreviations

Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (=tenants in common), TEN ENT (=tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (=joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (=Custodian), and U/G/M/A (=Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).

21.

CUSIP Numbers

Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company will cause CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Securities as a convenience to Holders of the Securities. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers as printed on the Securities and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed hereon.

22.

Holders’ Compliance with Registration Rights Agreement

Each Holder of this Security, by acceptance hereof, acknowledges and agrees to the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement, including the obligations of the Holders with respect to a registration and the indemnification of the Company to the extent provided therein.

23.

Governing Law

THIS SECURITY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK BUT WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED

 

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B-8

 

THEREBY, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WOULD REQUIRE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION REGARDING THE VALIDITY OF THE SECURITIES.

 

[[NYCORP:2551417v7:3642W:11/08/05--03:56 p]]

 

B-9

 

 

The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge to the Holder a copy of the Indenture and a copy of the Registration Rights Agreement. Requests may be made to:

Chesapeake Energy Corporation

6100 North Western Avenue

Oklahoma City, OK 73118

 

Attention: Treasurer

 

[[NYCORP:2551417v7:3642W:11/08/05--03:56 p]]

 

B-10

 

 

____________________________________________________________

ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Security, fill in the form below:

I or we assign and transfer this Security to

                                                                                                                                                   

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

                                                                                                                                                   

(Insert assignee’s Social Security or tax I.D. No.)

and irrevocably appoint                           agent to transfer this Security on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

_______________________________________________________________________

Dated:

 

Your Signature:

 

_______________________________________________________________________

Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Security.

In connection with any transfer of any of the Securities evidenced by this certificate occurring prior to the expiration of the period referred to in Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act after the later of the date of original issuance of such Securities and the last date, if any, on which such Securities were owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, the undersigned confirms that such Securities are being transferred in accordance with its terms:

CHECK ONE BOX BELOW

(1)

%

to the Company; or

(2)

%

pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933; or

(3)

%

inside the United States to a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933) that purchases for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer to whom notice is given that such transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, in each case pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933; or

(4)

%

outside the United States in an offshore transaction within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act in compliance with Rule 904 under the Securities Act of 1933; or

(5)

%

pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

 

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B-11

 

 

 

Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee will refuse to register any of the Securities evidenced by this certificate in the name of any person other than the registered holder thereof; provided , however , that if box (4) or (5) is checked, the Trustee shall be entitled to require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Securities, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company has reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, such as the exemption provided by Rule 144 under such Act.

 

 

Signature

 

Signature Guarantee:

 

Signature must be guaranteed

 

 

Signature

 

 

Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

____________________________________________________________

TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (3) ABOVE IS CHECKED.

The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Security for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the undersigned’s foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.

Dated:

 

 

 

 

NOTICE: To be executed by
an executive officer

 

 

[[NYCORP:2551417v7:3642W:11/08/05--03:56 p]]

 

B-12

 

 

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY

The following increases or decreases in this Global Security have been made:

Date of

Exchange

Amount of decrease in Principal amount of this Global Security

Amount of increase in Principal amount of this Global Security

Principal amount of this Global Security following such decrease or increase

Signature of authorized Signatory of Trustee or Securities Custodian

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[[NYCORP:2551417v7:3642W:11/08/05--03:56 p]]

 

B-13

 

 

OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Security purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 of the Indenture, check the box:

o

If you want to elect to have only part of this Security purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 of the Indenture, state the amount in principal amount: $__________________________

Dated:

 

Your Signature:

 

 

 

 

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Security.)

 

Signature Guarantee:

 

 

(Signature must be guaranteed)

 

Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

[[NYCORP:2551417v7:3642W:11/08/05--03:56 p]]

 

C-1

 

 

EXHIBIT A-1

 

 

[FACE OF EXCHANGE SECURITY

OR PRIVATE EXCHANGE SECURITY]

*/**/

 

_______________________

* /If the Security is to be issued in global form add the Global Securities Legend from Exhibit 1 to Appendix A and the attachment from such Exhibit 1 captioned “[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL SECURITIES] - SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY”.

** /If the Security is a Private Exchange Security issued in a Private Exchange to an Initial Purchaser holding an unsold portion of its initial allotment, add the Restricted Securities Legend from Exhibit 1 to Appendix A and replace the Assignment Form included in this Exhibit A with the Assignment Form included in such Exhibit 1.

 

[[NYCORP:2551417v7:3642W:11/08/05--03:56 p]]

 

C-2

 

 

No.                                                                                                                                                              CUSIP NO.

$

ISIN NO.

6.875% Senior Note due 2020

Chesapeake Energy Corporation, an Oklahoma corporation, promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or registered assigns, the principal sum of _____________________________________________________________ Dollars on November 15, 2020.

Interest Payment Dates: May 15 and November 15 (commencing May 15, 2006)

Record Dates: May 1 and November 1

Additional provisions of this Security are set forth on the other side of this Security.

Dated:

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION,

 

by

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

by

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF

AUTHENTICATION

THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,
AS TRUSTEE, CERTIFIES THAT
THIS IS ONE OF THE SECURITIES
REFERRED TO IN THE INDENTURE.

 

by

 

 

Authorized Signatory

 

 

[[NYCORP:2551417v7:3642W:11/08/05--03:56 p]]

 

C-3

 

 

[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF EXCHANGE SECURITY

OR PRIVATE EXCHANGE SECURITY]

6.875% Senior Note due 2020

1.

Interest

Chesapeake Energy Corporation, an Oklahoma corporation (such corporation, and its successors and assigns under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, being herein called the “Company”), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Security at the rate per annum shown above; provided , however , that if a Registration Default (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) occurs, additional interest will accrue on this Security at a rate of 0.25% per annum (increasing by an additional 0.25% per annum after each consecutive 90-day period that occurs after the date on which such Registration Default occurs up to a maximum additional interest rate of 1.00%) from and including the date on which any such Registration Default shall occur to but excluding the date on which all Registration Defaults have been cured. (( The Company will pay interest semiannually on May 15 and November 15 of each year, commencing May 15, 2006. Interest on the Securities will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from November 8, 2005. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

2.

Method of Payment

The Company will pay interest on the Securities (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered Holders of Securities at the close of business on the May 1 or November 1 next preceding the interest payment date even if Securities are canceled after the record date and on or before the interest payment date. Holders must surrender Securities to a Paying Agent to collect principal payments. The Company will pay principal and interest in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Payments in respect of the Securities represented by a Global Security (including principal, premium and interest) will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by The Depository Trust Company. The Company will make all payments in respect of a certificated Security (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) by mailing a check to the registered address of each Holder thereof; provided , however , that payments on a certificated Security will be made by wire transfer to a U.S. dollar account maintained by the payee with a bank in the United States if such Holder elects payment by wire transfer by giving written notice to the Trustee or the Paying Agent to such effect designating such account no later than

 

_________________________

((  Insert if at the date of issuance of the Exchange Security or Private Exchange Security (as the case may be) any Registration Default has occurred with respect to the related Initial Securities during the interest period in which such date of issuance occurs.

 

[[NYCORP:2551417v7:3642W:11/08/05--03:56 p]]

 

C-4

 

30 days immediately preceding the relevant due date for payment (or such other date as the Trustee may accept in its discretion).

3.

Paying Agent and Registrar

Initially, The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., a national banking association (the “Trustee”), will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may appoint and change any Paying Agent, Registrar or co-registrar without notice. The Company or any of its domestically incorporated Wholly Owned Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent, Registrar or co-registrar.

4.

Indenture

The Company issued the Securities under an Indenture dated as of November 8, 2005 (“Indenture”), among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee. The terms of the Securities include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of the Indenture (the “Act”). Terms defined in the Indenture and not defined herein have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture. The Securities are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and the Act for a statement of those terms.

The Company shall be entitled to issue Additional Securities pursuant to Section 2.13 of the Indenture. The Initial Securities issued on the Issue Date, any Additional Securities and all Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities issued in exchange therefor will be treated as a single class for all purposes under the Indenture.

5.

Make-Whole Price Redemption

At any time prior to the Maturity Date, the Company may, at its option, redeem all or any portion of the Securities at the “Make-Whole Price” (as defined in the Indenture) plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Securities so redeemed to the date of redemption. Any redemption pursuant to this paragraph 5 shall be made, to the extent applicable, pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 of the Indenture.

6.

Notice of Redemption

Notice of redemption will be mailed to the Holder’s registered address at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed. If less than all Securities are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select pro rata, by lot or, if the Securities are listed on any securities exchange, by any other method that the Trustee considers fair and appropriate and that complies with the requirements of such exchange, the Securities to be redeemed in multiples of $1,000; provided , however , that no Securities with a principal amount of $1,000 or less will be redeemed in part. Securities in denominations larger than $1,000 may be redeemed in part. On and after the redemption date, interest ceases to accrue on Securities or portions of them called for

 

[[NYCORP:2551417v7:3642W:11/08/05--03:56 p]]

 

C-5

 

redemption (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the redemption price or accrued interest).

7.

Net Proceeds Offer

In the event of certain Sale/Leaseback Transactions, the Company may be required to make a Net Proceeds Offer to purchase all or any portion of each Holder’s Securities, at 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the Net Proceeds Payment Date.

8.

Restrictive Covenants

The Indenture imposes certain limitations on, among other things, the ability of the Company to merge or consolidate with any other Person or sell and lease back certain of its properties or assets and the ability of the Company or the Subsidiaries to incur encumbrances against certain property, all subject to certain limitations described in the Indenture.

9.

Ranking and Guarantees

The Securities are general senior unsecured obligations of the Company. The Company’s obligation to pay principal, premium, if any, and interest with respect to the Securities is unconditionally guaranteed on a senior basis, jointly and severally, by the Subsidiary Guarantors pursuant to Article Ten of the Indenture. Certain limitations to the obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors are set forth in further detail in the Indenture.

10.

Denominations; Transfer; Exchange

The Securities are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 principal amount and whole multiples of $1,000. A Holder may transfer or exchange Securities in accordance with the Indenture. The Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements or transfer documents and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Registrar need not register the transfer of or exchange of any Securities selected for redemption (except, in the case of a Security to be redeemed in part, the portion of the Security not to be redeemed) or any Securities for a period of 15 Business Days before the mailing of a notice of an offer to repurchase or redeem Securities or 15 Business Days before an interest payment date.

11.

Persons Deemed Owners

The registered Holder of this Security may be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.

12.

Unclaimed Money

If money for the payment of principal or interest remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee or Paying Agent shall pay the money back to the Company at its request unless an abandoned property law designates another Person. After any such payment, Holders entitled

 

[[NYCORP:2551417v7:3642W:11/08/05--03:56 p]]

 

C-6

 

to the money must look only to the Company and not to the Trustee for payment.

13.

Discharge and Defeasance

Subject to certain conditions, the Company at any time shall be entitled to terminate some or all of its obligations under the Securities and the Indenture if the Company deposits with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Securities for the payment of principal and interest on the Securities to redemption or maturity, as the case may be.

14.

Amendment, Supplement, Waiver

Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture or the Securities may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority of the outstanding principal amount of the Securities, and any past default or noncompliance with any provision may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities. Without the consent of any Holder, the Company may amend or supplement the Indenture or the Securities to, among other things, cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency or to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder in any material respect.

15.

Successor Corporation

When a successor corporation assumes all the obligations of its predecessor under the Securities and the Indenture, the predecessor corporation will be released from those obligations.

16.

Defaults and Remedies

An Event of Default generally is: default by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor for 30 days in payment of interest on the Securities; default by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor in payment of principal of, or premium, if any, on the Securities; default by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor in the deposit of any optional redemption or repurchase payment when due and payable; defaults resulting in acceleration prior to maturity of certain other Indebtedness or resulting from payment defaults under certain other Indebtedness; failure by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor for 45 days after notice to comply with any of its other agreements in the Indenture; certain final judgments against the Company or Subsidiaries; a failure of any Guarantee of a Subsidiary Guarantor to be in full force and effect or denial by any Subsidiary Guarantor of its obligations with respect thereto; and certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency. Subject to certain limitations in the Indenture, if an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities may declare all the Securities to be due and payable immediately, except that in the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, all outstanding Securities shall become due and payable immediately without further action or notice. Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Securities except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee may require

 

[[NYCORP:2551417v7:3642W:11/08/05--03:56 p]]

 

C-7

 

indemnity satisfactory to it before it enforces the Indenture or the Securities. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Company must furnish an annual compliance certificate to the Trustee.

17.

Trustee Dealings with Company and Subsidiary Guarantors

The Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors or their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.

18.

No Recourse Against Others

A director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or the Trustee shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or the Trustee under the Securities or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Security.

19.

Authentication

This Security shall not be valid until the Trustee or an authenticating agent signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Security.

20.

Abbreviations

Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (=tenants in common), TEN ENT (=tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (=joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (=Custodian), and U/G/M/A (=Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).

21.

CUSIP Numbers

Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company will cause CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Securities as a convenience to Holders of the Securities. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers as printed on the Securities and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed hereon.

22.

Holders’ Compliance with Registration Rights Agreement

Each Holder of this Security, by acceptance hereof, acknowledges and agrees to the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement, including the obligations of the Holders with respect to a registration and the indemnification of the Company to the extent provided therein.

 

[[NYCORP:2551417v7:3642W:11/08/05--03:56 p]]

 

C-8

 

 

23.

Governing Law

THIS SECURITY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK BUT WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WOULD REQUIRE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION REGARDING THE VALIDITY OF THE SECURITIES.

 

[[NYCORP:2551417v7:3642W:11/08/05--03:56 p]]

 

C-9

 

 

The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge to the Holder a copy of the Indenture and a copy of the Registration Rights Agreement. Requests may be made to:

Chesapeake Energy Corporation

6100 North Western Avenue

Oklahoma City, OK 73118

 

Attention: Treasurer

 

[[NYCORP:2551417v7:3642W:11/08/05--03:56 p]]

 

C-10

 

 

____________________________________________________________

ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Security, fill in the form below:

I or we assign and transfer this Security to

                                                                                                                                                   

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

                                                                                                                                                   

(Insert assignee’s Social Security or tax I.D. No.)

and irrevocably appoint                           agent to transfer this Security on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

_______________________________________________________________________

Dated:

 

Your Signature:

 

 

_______________________________________________________________________

Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Security.

 

[[NYCORP:2551417v7:3642W:11/08/05--03:56 p]]

 

C-11

 

 

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY

The following increases or decreases in this Global Security have been made:

Date of

Exchange

Amount of decrease in Principal amount of this Global Security

Amount of increase in Principal amount of this Global Security

Principal amount of this Global Security following such decrease or increase

Signature of authorized Signatory of Trustee or Securities Custodian

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[[NYCORP:2551417v7:3642W:11/08/05--03:56 p]]

 

C-12

 

 

OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Security purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 of the Indenture, check the box:

o

If you want to elect to have only part of this Security purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 of the Indenture, state the amount in principal amount: $____________________

Dated:

 

Your Signature:

 

 

 

 

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Security.)

 

Signature Guarantee:

 

 

(Signature must be guaranteed)

 

Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

 

 

 

 

[[NYCORP:2551417v7:3642W:11/08/05--03:56 p]]

 

 

 

EXHIBIT 4.1.2

EXECUTION COPY

 

 

 

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION

as Issuer,

THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS,

as Guarantors,

AND

THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,

as Trustee

____________________________

INDENTURE

DATED AS OF NOVEMBER 8, 2005

____________________________

2.75% CONTINGENT CONVERTIBLE SENIOR NOTES DUE 2035

____________________________

 

 

 

 

[[NYCORP:2552346v6:4259b:11/07/05--10:59 p]]

 

 

 

CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE

 

TIA SECTION

 

INDENTURE SECTION

310

(a)(1)

8.10

 

(a)(2)

8.10

 

(a)(3)

N.A.

 

(a)(4)

N.A.

 

(a)(5)

8.08

 

(b)

8.10

 

(c)

N.A.

311

(a)

8.11

 

(b)

8.11

 

(c)

N.A.

312

(a)

2.05

 

(b)

12.03

 

(c)

12.03

313

(a)

8.06

 

(b)(1)

N.A.

 

(b)(2)

8.06

 

(c)

8.06; 12.02

 

(d)

8.06

314

(a)

5.02; 5.03; 12.02

 

(b)

N.A.

 

(c)(1)

12.04

 

(c)(2)

12.04

 

(c)(3)

N.A.

 

(d)

N.A.

 

(e)

12.05

 

(f)

N.A.

315

(a)

8.01(b)

 

(b)

8.05; 12.02

 

(c)

8.01(a)

 

(d)

8.01(c)

 

(e)

7.11

316

(a)(last sentence)

2.09

 

(a)(1)(A)

7.05

 

(a)(1)(B)

7.02; 7.04; 10.02

 

(a)(2)

N.A.

 

(b)

7.07

 

(c)

N.A.

317

(a)(1)

7.08

 

(a)(2)

7.09

 

(b)

2.04

 

 

 

[[NYCORP:2552346v6:4259b:11/07/05--10:59 p]]

i

 

 

 

 

318

(a)

12.01

318

(c)

12.01

 

 

N.A. means Not Applicable

NOTE: This Cross-Reference table shall not, for any purpose, be deemed part of this Indenture.

 

 

[[NYCORP:2552346v6:4259b:11/07/05--10:59 p]]

ii

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pages

 

 

 

ARTICLE ONE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1.01.

 

Definitions.

1

SECTION 1.02.

 

Other Definitions.

11

SECTION 1.03.

 

Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act

12

SECTION 1.04.

 

Rules of Construction.

13

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE TWO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE SECURITIES

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 2.01.

 

Form and Dating

13

SECTION 2.02.

 

Execution and Authentication

13

SECTION 2.03.

 

Registrar, Paying Agent and Conversion Agent

14

SECTION 2.04.

 

Paying Agent To Hold Money in Trust

14

SECTION 2.05.

 

Holder Lists

15

SECTION 2.06.

 

Transfer and Exchange

15

SECTION 2.07.

 

Replacement Securities

15

SECTION 2.08.

 

Outstanding Securities

15

SECTION 2.09.

 

Temporary Securities

16

SECTION 2.10.

 

Cancelation

16

SECTION 2.11.

 

Defaulted Interest

16

SECTION 2.12.

 

CUSIP Numbers

16

SECTION 2.13.

 

Issuance of Additional Securities

17

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE THREE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REDEMPTION AND REPURCHASES

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 3.01.

 

Notice to Trustee

17

SECTION 3.02.

 

Selection of Securities to Be Redeemed

17

SECTION 3.03.

 

Notice of Redemption

18

SECTION 3.04.

 

Effect of Notice of Redemption

19

SECTION 3.05.

 

Deposit of Redemption Price

19

SECTION 3.06.

 

Securities Redeemed in Part

19

SECTION 3.07.

 

Optional Redemption

19

SECTION 3.08.

 

Repurchase of Securities at Option of the Holder on Specified Dates

20

SECTION 3.09.

 

Repurchase of Securities at Option of the Holder Upon a Fundamental Change

22

SECTION 3.10.

 

Effect of Repurchase Notice or Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice

25

SECTION 3.11.

 

Deposit of Repurchase Price or Fundamental Change Repurchase Price

26

SECTION 3.12.

 

Securities Repurchased in Part

27

SECTION 3.13.

 

Covenant to Comply with Securities Laws upon Repurchase of Securities

27

SECTION 3.14.

 

Repayment to the Company

27

SECTION 3.15.

 

Sinking Fund

27

 

 

[[NYCORP:2552346v6:4259b:11/07/05--10:59 p]]

iii

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pages

 

 

 

ARTICLE FOUR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONTINGENT INTEREST

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 4.01.

 

Contingent Interest

27

 

 

 

 

SECTION 4.02.

 

Payment of Contingent Interest

28

 

 

 

 

SECTION 4.03.

 

Contingent Interest Notification

28

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE FIVE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COVENANTS

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 5.01.

 

Payment of Securities

28

SECTION 5.02.

 

SEC Reports

29

SECTION 5.03.

 

Compliance Certificates

29

SECTION 5.04.

 

Maintenance of Office or Agency

30

SECTION 5.05.

 

Corporate Existence

31

SECTION 5.06.

 

Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws

31

SECTION 5.07.

 

Payment of Taxes and Other Claims

31

SECTION 5.08.

 

Maintenance of Properties and Insurance

31

SECTION 5.09.

 

Tax Treatment of Securities

32

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE SIX

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUCCESSOR CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 6.01.

 

When Company May Merge, etc.

33

SECTION 6.02.

 

Successor Corporation Substituted

33

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE SEVEN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 7.01.

 

Events of Default

34

SECTION 7.02.

 

Acceleration

36

SECTION 7.03.

 

Other Remedies

36

SECTION 7.04.

 

Waiver of Past Defaults

37

SECTION 7.05.

 

Control by Majority

37

SECTION 7.06.

 

Limitation on Remedies

37

SECTION 7.07.

 

Rights of Holders to Receive Payment and to Convert

38

SECTION 7.08.

 

Collection Suit by Trustee

38

SECTION 7.09.

 

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

38

SECTION 7.10.

 

Priorities

38

SECTION 7.11.

 

Undertaking for Costs

38

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE EIGHT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TRUSTEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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iii

 

 

 

 

SECTION 8.01.

 

Duties of Trustee

39

SECTION 8.02.

 

Rights of Trustee

40

SECTION 8.03.

 

Individual Rights of Trustee

41

SECTION 8.04.

 

Trustee’s Disclaimer

41

SECTION 8.05.

 

Notice of Defaults

41

SECTION 8.06.

 

Reports by Trustee to Holders

41

SECTION 8.07.

 

Compensation and Indemnity

42

SECTION 8.08.

 

Replacement of Trustee

43

SECTION 8.09.

 

Successor Trustee by Merger, etc

44

SECTION 8.10.

 

Eligibility Disqualification

44

SECTION 8.11.

 

Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company

44

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE NINE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONVERSION OF THE SECURITIES

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 9.01.

 

Conversion Privilege.

44

SECTION 9.02.

 

Conversion Procedure

46

SECTION 9.03.

 

Taxes on Conversion

48

SECTION 9.04.

 

Company to Provide Stock

48

SECTION 9.05.

 

Adjustment of Conversion Price

49

SECTION 9.06.

 

No Adjustment

55

SECTION 9.07.

 

Equivalent Adjustments

56

SECTION 9.08.

 

Adjustment for Tax Purposes

56

SECTION 9.09.

 

Notice of Adjustment

56

SECTION 9.10.

 

Notice of Certain Transactions

56

SECTION 9.11.

 

Effect of Reclassification, Consolidation, Merger, Share Exchange or Sale on Conversion Privilege

57

SECTION 9.12.

 

Trustee’s Disclaimer

59

SECTION 9.13

 

Voluntary Reduction

59

SECTION 9.14.

 

Payment Upon Conversion

59

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE TEN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 10.01.

 

Without Consent of Holders

61

SECTION 10.02.

 

With Consent of Holders

61

SECTION 10.03.

 

Compliance with Trust Indenture Act

63

SECTION 10.04.

 

Revocation and Effect of Consents

63

SECTION 10.05.

 

Notation on or Exchange of Securities

64

SECTION 10.06.

 

Trustee Protected

64

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE ELEVEN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GUARANTEES

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 11.01.

 

Unconditional Guarantee

64

SECTION 11.02.

 

Subsidiary Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms

65

SECTION 11.03.

 

Addition of Subsidiary Guarantors

66

SECTION 11.04.

 

Release of a Subsidiary Guarantor

66

SECTION 11.05.

 

Limitation of Subsidiary Guarantor’s Liability

66

 

 

 

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iv

 

 

 

 

SECTION 11.06.

 

Contribution

67

SECTION 11.07.

 

[Intentionally Omitted.]

67

SECTION 11.08.

 

Severability

67

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE TWELVE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 12.01.

 

Trust Indenture Act Controls

67

SECTION 12.02.

 

Notices

67

SECTION 12.03.

 

Communication by Holders with Other Holders

68

SECTION 12.04.

 

Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent

68

SECTION 12.05.

 

Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion

69

SECTION 12.06.

 

Rules by Trustee and Agents

69

SECTION 12.07.

 

Legal Holidays

69

SECTION 12.08.

 

Governing Law

69

SECTION 12.09.

 

No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements

70

SECTION 12.10.

 

No Recourse Against Others

70

SECTION 12.11

 

Successors

70

SECTION 12.12.

 

Duplicate Originals

70

SECTION 12.13

 

Severability

70

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE THIRTEEN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 13.01

 

Discharge of Liability on Securities

70

SECTION 13.02

 

Repayment to the Company

70

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

 

 

RULE 144A APPEND

A-1

 

 

EXHIBIT 1 TO THE RULE 144A APPENDIX -
FORM OF SECURITY

B-1

 

 

SCHEDULE A – ADDITIONAL SHARES TABLE

 

 

 

SCHEDULE B – PROJECTED PAYMENT SCHEDULE

 

 

 

_________________________

NOTE: This Table of Contents shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of this Indenture.

 

 

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v

 

 

 

INDENTURE, dated as of November 8, 2005, among CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION, an Oklahoma corporation (the “Company”), the SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS listed as signatories hereto and THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, N.A., a national banking association, as Trustee.

Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other parties and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Company’s 2.75% Contingent Convertible Senior Notes due 2035:

ARTICLE ONE

 

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

SECTION 1.01. Definitions.

“Acquirer Common Stock” shall have the meaning set forth in the definition of “Public Acquirer Change in Control”.

“Acquisition Value” of the Common Stock means, for each Trading Day in the Valuation Period, the value of the consideration paid per share of Common Stock in connection with a Public Acquirer Change in Control, (i) for any cash, 100% of the face amount of such cash; (ii) for any Acquirer Common Stock, 100% of the Closing Sale Price of such Acquirer Common Stock on each such Trading Day; and (iii) for any other securities, assets or property, 102% of the fair market value of such security, asset or property on each such Trading Day, as determined by two independent nationally recognized investment banks selected by the Trustee for this purpose.

“Additional Securities” means 2.75% Contingent Convertible Senior Notes due 2035 issued from time to time after the Issue Date under the terms of this Indenture (other than pursuant to Sections 2.06, 2.07, 2.09, 3.06, 3.12 or 9.02(d) of this Indenture).

“Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” or “ACNTA” means (without duplication), as of the date of determination, (a) the sum of (i) discounted future net revenue from proved oil and gas reserves of the Company and its Subsidiaries calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines before any state or federal income taxes, as estimated by petroleum engineers (which may include the Company’s internal engineers) in a reserve report prepared as of the end of the Company’s most recently completed fiscal year, as increased by, as of the date of determination, the discounted future net revenue of (A) estimated proved oil and gas reserves of the Company and its Subsidiaries attributable to any acquisition consummated since the date of such year-end reserve report, and (B) estimated proved oil and gas reserves of the Company and its Subsidiaries attributable to extensions, discoveries and other additions and upward revisions of estimates of proved oil and gas reserves due to exploration, development or exploitation, production or other activities conducted or otherwise occurring since the date of such

 

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2

 

year-end reserve report, which, in the case of sub-clauses (A) and (B), would, in accordance with standard industry practice, result in such increases as calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in such year-end reserve report), and decreased by, as of the date of determination, the discounted future net revenue of (C) estimated proved oil and gas reserves of the Company and its Subsidiaries produced or disposed of since the date of such year-end reserve report and (D) reductions in the estimated oil and gas reserves of the Company and its Subsidiaries since the date of such year-end reserve report attributable to downward revisions of estimates of proved oil and gas reserves due to exploration, development or exploitation, production or other activities conducted or otherwise occurring since the date of such year-end reserve report which, in the case of sub-clauses (C) and (D), would, in accordance with standard industry practice, result in such decreases as calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in such year-end reserve report); provided that, in the case of each of the determinations made pursuant to clauses (A) through (D), such increases and decreases shall be as estimated by the Company’s engineers, (ii) the capitalized costs that are attributable to oil and gas properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries to which no proved oil and gas reserves are attributable, based on the Company’s books and records as of a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest annual or quarterly financial statements, (iii) the Net Working Capital on a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest annual or quarterly financial statements and (iv) the greater of (I) the net book value on a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest annual or quarterly financial statements and (II) the appraised value, as estimated by independent appraisers, of other tangible assets (including Investments in unconsolidated Subsidiaries) of the Company and its Subsidiaries, as of a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest audited financial statements, minus (b) the sum of (i) minority interests, (ii) any gas balancing liabilities of the Company and its Subsidiaries reflected as a long-term liability in the Company’s latest annual or quarterly financial statements, (iii) the discounted future net revenue, calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in the Company’s year-end reserve report), attributable to reserves which are required to be delivered to third parties to fully satisfy the obligations of the Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to Volumetric Production Payments on the schedules specified with respect thereto, (iv) the discounted future net revenue, calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines, attributable to reserves subject to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments which, based on the estimates of production included in determining the discounted future net revenue specified in (a) (i) above (utilizing the same prices utilized in the Company’s year-end reserve report), would be necessary to fully satisfy the payment obligations of the Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments on the schedules specified with respect thereto and (v) the discounted future net revenue, calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the same prices utilized in the Company’s year-end reserve report), attributable to reserves subject to participation interests, overriding royalty interests or other interests of third parties, pursuant to participation, partnership, vendor financing or other agreements then in effect, or which otherwise are required to be delivered to third parties. If the Company changes its method of accounting from the full cost method to the successful efforts method or a similar method

 

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3

 

of accounting, Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets will continue to be calculated as if the Company were still using the full cost method of accounting.

“Adjusted Net Assets of a Subsidiary Guarantor” at any date shall mean the lesser of (i) the amount by which the fair value of the property of such Subsidiary Guarantor exceeds the total amount of liabilities, including, without limitation, contingent liabilities (after giving effect to all other fixed and contingent liabilities incurred or assumed on such date), but excluding liabilities under the Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor at such date and (ii) the amount by which the present fair saleable value of the assets of such Subsidiary Guarantor at such date exceeds the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Subsidiary Guarantor on its debts (after giving effect to all other fixed and contingent liabilities incurred or assumed on such date and after giving effect to any collection from any Subsidiary of such Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such Subsidiary under the Guarantee), excluding debt in respect of the Guarantee, as they become absolute and matured.

“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of Voting Stock, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

“Agent” means any Registrar, Paying Agent, Conversion Agent or co-registrar.

“Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or transaction involving a Global Security or beneficial interests therein, the rules and procedures of the Depository for such Global Security, in each case to the extent applicable to such transaction and as in effect from time to time.

“Board of Directors” means, with respect to any Person, the Board of Directors of such Person or any committee of the Board of Directors of such Person duly authorized to act on behalf of the Board of Directors of such Person.

“Board Resolution” means, with respect to any Person, a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of such Person to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors or the managing partner(s) of such Person and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.

“Business Day” means any day on which the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. is open for trading and which is not a Legal Holiday.

“Capital Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock or partnership or limited liability company interests and any and all warrants, options and

 

[[NYCORP:2552346v6:4259b:11/07/05--10:59 p]]

 

4

 

rights with respect thereto (whether or not currently exercisable), including each class of common stock and preferred stock of such Person.

“Capitalized Lease Obligations” of any Person means the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under a lease of property, real or personal, that is required to be capitalized for financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.

“Closing Sale Price” on any date of common stock means the closing sale price per share (or if no closing sale price is reported, the average of the closing bid and ask prices or, if more than one in either case, the average of the average closing bid and the average closing ask prices) on such date as reported on the principal United States securities exchange on which the applicable common stock is traded or, if the common stock is not listed on a United States national or regional securities exchange, as reported by Nasdaq or by the National Quotation Bureau Incorporated. In the absence of such a quotation, the Closing Sale Price of the relevant common stock will be an amount determined in good faith by the Company’s Board of Directors to be the fair value of the relevant common stock.

“Common Stock” shall mean the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company, or any other class of stock resulting from successive changes or reclassifications of such common stock consisting solely of changes in par value, or from par value to no par value, or as a result of a subdivision, combination, merger, consolidation or similar transaction in which the Company is a constituent corporation.

“Company” means the party named as such above, until a successor replaces such Person in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, and thereafter means such successor.

“Conversion Price” means $39.07 per share of Common Stock as of the date of this Indenture, subject to the adjustments described in Section 9.05 hereof.

“Conversion Rate” means the number of shares of Common Stock equal to $1,000 divided by the Conversion Price, which shall be approximately 25.5951 as of the date of this Indenture, prior to any adjustment thereto.

“Credit Facilities” means, one or more debt facilities (including, without limitation, the Company’s existing credit facility) or commercial paper facilities, in each case with banks, investment banks, insurance companies, mutual funds and/or other institutional lenders providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from (or sell receivables to) such lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit, in each case, as amended, extended, restated, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced (in each case with Credit Facilities), supplemented or otherwise modified (in whole or in part and without limitation as to amount, terms, conditions, covenants and other provisions) from time to time.

 

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5

 

 

“Currency Hedge Obligations” means, at any time as to the Company and its Subsidiaries, the obligations of any such Person at such time that were incurred in the ordinary course of business pursuant to any foreign currency exchange agreement, option or futures contract or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect against or manage such Person’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ exposure to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.

“Default” means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time would be, an Event of Default.

“De Minimis Guaranteed Amount” means a principal amount of Indebtedness that does not exceed $5,000,000.

“Disqualified Stock” means any Capital Stock of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company which, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event or with the passage of time, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, on or prior to the Maturity Date or which is exchangeable or convertible into debt securities of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, except to the extent that such exchange or conversion rights cannot be exercised prior to the Maturity Date.

“Dollar-Denominated Production Payments” means production payment obligations recorded as liabilities in accordance with GAAP, together with all undertakings and obligations in connection therewith.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder.

“Fundamental Change” means any of the following events: (i) the sale, lease or transfer, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets (determined on a consolidated basis) to any Person or group (as such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), other than to Permitted Holders; (ii) the adoption of a plan the consummation of which would result in the liquidation or dissolution of the Company; (iii) the acquisition, directly or indirectly, by any Person or group (as such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) other than Permitted Holders of beneficial ownership (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of more than 50% of the aggregate voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company; provided , however , that the Permitted Holders beneficially own (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, in the aggregate a lesser percentage of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company than such other Person or group and do not have the right or ability by voting power, contract or otherwise to elect or designate for election a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company (for the purposes of this definition, such other Person or group shall be deemed to beneficially own any Voting Stock of a specified corporation held by a parent corporation, if such other Person or group is the beneficial owner (as defined above),

 

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6

 

directly or indirectly, of more than 35% of the voting power of the Voting Stock of such parent corporation and the Permitted Holders beneficially own (as defined in this proviso), directly or indirectly, in the aggregate a lesser percentage of the voting power of the Voting Stock of such parent corporation and do not have the right or ability by voting power, contract or otherwise to elect or designate for election a majority of the Board of Directors of such parent corporation); (iv) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period comprised the Board of Directors of the Company (together with any new directors whose election by such Board of Directors or whose nomination for election by the shareholders of the Company was approved by a vote of 66 2/3% of the directors of the Company then still in office who were either directors at the beginning of such period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved) cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company then in office; or (v) the Common Stock ceases to be listed on a national securities exchange or quoted on Nasdaq or another over-the-counter market in the United States; provided , however , that a Fundamental Change will not be deemed to have occurred in the case of a merger or consolidation, if (i) at least 90% of the consideration (excluding cash payments for fractional shares and cash payments pursuant to dissenters’ appraisal rights) in the merger or consolidation consists of common stock of a United States company traded on a national securities exchange or quoted on Nasdaq (or which will be so traded or quoted when issued or exchanged in connection with such transaction) and (ii) as a result of such merger or consolidation the Securities are convertible into cash and, if applicable, the consideration received by holders of Common Stock.

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles as in effect in the United States of America as of the Issue Date.

“Guarantee” means, individually and collectively, the guarantees given by the Subsidiary Guarantors pursuant to Article Eleven hereof.

“Holder” means a Person in whose name a Security is registered on the Registrar’s books.

“Indebtedness” means, without duplication, with respect to any Person, (a) all obligations of such Person (i) in respect of borrowed money (whether or not the recourse of the lender is to the whole of the assets of such Person or only to a portion thereof), (ii) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments, (iii) representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property or services (other than accounts payable or other obligations arising in the ordinary course of business), (iv) evidenced by bankers’ acceptances or similar instruments issued or accepted by banks, (v) for the payment of money relating to a Capitalized Lease Obligation, or (vi) evidenced by a letter of credit or a reimbursement obligation of such Person with respect to any letter of credit; (b) all net obligations of such Person under Interest Rate Hedging Agreements, Oil and Gas Hedging Contracts and Currency Hedge Obligations, except to the extent such net obligations are taken into account in the determination of future net revenues from proved oil and gas reserves for purposes of the calculation of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets; (c) all liabilities of others of

 

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7

 

the kind described in the preceding clauses (a) or (b) that such Person has guaranteed or that are otherwise its legal liability (including, with respect to any Production Payment, any warranties or guaranties of production or payment by such Person with respect to such Production Payment but excluding other contractual obligations of such Person with respect to such Production Payment); (d) Indebtedness (as otherwise defined in this definition) of another Person secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person, the amount of such obligations being deemed to be the lesser of (1) the full amount of such obligations so secured, and (2) the fair market value of such asset, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of such Person, which determination shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution, (e) with respect to such Person, the liquidation preference or any mandatory redemption payment obligations in respect of Disqualified Stock; (f) the aggregate preference in respect of amounts payable on the issued and outstanding shares of Preferred Stock of any of such Person’s Subsidiaries in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up (excluding any such preference attributable to such shares of Preferred Stock that are owned by such Person or any of its Subsidiaries; provided that if such Person is the Company, such exclusion shall be for such preference attributable to such shares of Preferred Stock that are owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries); and (g) any and all deferrals, renewals, extensions, refinancings and refundings (whether direct or indirect) of, or amendments, modifications or supplements to, any liability of the kind described in any of the preceding clauses (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) or this clause (g), whether or not between or among the same parties. Subject to clause (c) of the preceding sentence, neither Dollar-Denominated Production Payments nor Volumetric Production Payments shall be deemed to be Indebtedness.

“Indenture” means this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.

“Interest Rate Hedging Agreements” means, with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries, the obligations of such Persons under (i) interest rate swap agreements, interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements and (ii) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect any such Person or any of its Subsidiaries against fluctuations in interest rates.

“Investment” of any Person means (i) all investments by such Person in any other Person in the form of loans, advances or capital contributions, (ii) all guarantees of Indebtedness or other obligations of any other Person by such Person, (iii) all purchases (or other acquisitions for consideration) by such Person of assets, Indebtedness, Capital Stock or other securities of any other Person and (iv) all other items that would be classified as investments (including, without limitation, purchases of assets outside the ordinary course of business) or advances on a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP.

“Issue Date” means November 8, 2005.

“Lien” means, with respect to any Person, any mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, easement, restriction, covenant, right-of-way, charge or adverse claim

 

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8

 

affecting title or resulting in an encumbrance against real or personal property of such Person, or a security interest of any kind (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option, right of first refusal or other similar agreement to sell, in each case securing obligations of such Person and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statute or statutes) of any jurisdiction).

“Market Disruption Event” means the occurrence or existence during the one-half hour period ending on the scheduled close of trading on any Trading Day for the Common Stock of any material suspension or limitation imposed on trading (by reason of movements in price exceeding limits permitted by the stock exchange or otherwise) in the Common Stock or in any options, contracts or future contracts relating to the Common Stock.

“Market Value” means the average Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock for a five consecutive Trading-Day period ending immediately prior to the date of determination.

“Maturity Date” means November 15, 2035.

“Net Working Capital” means (i) all current assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, minus (ii) all current liabilities of the Company and its Subsidiaries, except current liabilities included in Indebtedness.

“NYSE” means the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.

“Officer” means, with respect to any Person, the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer or the Treasurer of such Person.

“Officers’ Certificate” means, with respect to any Person, a certificate signed by two Officers or by an Officer and either the Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary or Assistant Treasurer of such Person. One of the Officers signing an Officers’ Certificate given pursuant to Section 5.03(a) shall be the principal executive, financial or accounting officer of the Person delivering such certificate.

“Oil and Gas Hedging Contracts” means any oil and gas purchase or hedging agreement, and other agreement or arrangement, in each case, that is designed to provide protection against price fluctuations of oil, gas or other commodities.

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company (or any Subsidiary Guarantor, if applicable).

“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, estate, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

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9

 

 

“Permitted Holders” means Aubrey K. McClendon and Tom L. Ward and their respective Affiliates.

“Preferred Stock,” as applied to the Capital Stock of any corporation, means Capital Stock of any class or classes (however designated), which is preferred as to the payment of dividends, or upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of such corporation, over shares of Capital Stock of any other class of such corporation.

“Production Payments” means, collectively, Dollar-Denominated Production Payments and Volumetric Production Payments.

“Public Acquirer Change in Control” means any transaction described in clause (iii) of the definition of Fundamental Change where the acquirer, or any entity that is a direct or indirect “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of more than 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power of all shares of such acquirer’s Capital Stock that are entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, but in each case other than the Company, has a class of common stock traded on a United States national securities exchange or quoted on the Nasdaq National Market or which will be so traded or quoted when issued or exchanged in connection with such Fundamental Change. “Acquirer Common Stock” means, with respect to a Public Acquirer Change in Control, such acquirer’s or other entity’s class of common stock traded on a United States national securities exchange or quoted on the Nasdaq National Market or which will be so traded or quoted when issued or exchanged in connection with such change in control.

“Quarter” shall mean any three month period ending March 31, June 30, September 30 or December 31 in any year.

“Restricted Security” has the meaning provided in Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act.

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

“Senior Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor (whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter incurred), unless such Indebtedness is contractually subordinate or junior in right of payment of principal, premium and interest to the Securities or the Guarantees, respectively.

“Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Company. A “subsidiary” of any Person means (i) a corporation a majority of whose Voting Stock is at the time, directly or indirectly, owned by such Person, by one or more subsidiaries of such Person or by such Person and one or more subsidiaries of such Person, (ii) a partnership in which such Person or a subsidiary of such Person is, at the date of determination, a general or limited partner of such partnership, but only if such Person or its subsidiary is entitled to receive

 

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more than 50 percent of the assets of such partnership upon its dissolution, or (iii) any other Person (other than a corporation or partnership) in which such Person, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination thereof, has (x) at least a majority ownership interest or (y) the power to elect or direct the election of a majority of the directors or other governing body of such Person.

“Subsidiary Guarantor” means (i) each of the Subsidiaries on the Issue Date; and (ii) each of the other Subsidiaries that becomes a guarantor of the Securities in compliance with the provisions of Article Eleven of this Indenture and (iii) each of the Subsidiaries executing a supplemental indenture in which such Subsidiary agrees to be bound by the terms of this Indenture.

“TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S. Code Sections 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of this Indenture, except as provided in Section 10.03.

“Trading Day” means a day during which (i) trading in securities generally occurs on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the Common Stock is not listed on the New York Stock Exchange, on the principal other national or regional securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed or, if the Common Stock is not listed on a national or regional securities exchange, on Nasdaq or, if the Common Stock is not quoted on Nasdaq, on the principal other market on which the Common Stock is then traded and (ii) there is no Market Disruption Event.

“Trading Price” of the Securities on any date of determination means the average of the secondary market bid quotations per $1,000 principal amount of Securities obtained by the Trustee for $5,000,000 principal amount of the Securities at approximately 3:30 p.m., New York time, on such determination date from two independent nationally recognized securities dealers the Company selects, which may include one or more of the Initial Purchasers of the Securities, provided that if at least two such bids cannot reasonably be obtained by the Trustee, but one such bid can reasonably be obtained by the Trustee, such one bid will be used and provided further that if the Trustee cannot reasonably obtain at least one such bid or in the reasonable judgment of the Company the bid quotations are not indicative of the secondary market value of the Securities, then (a) for purposes of Article Four, the Trading Price of the Securities shall equal (i) the applicable Conversion Rate of the Securities multiplied by (ii) the Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock on such determination date and (b) for purposes of Section 9.01, the Trading Price of the Securities shall be deemed to be less than 95% of the applicable Conversion Rate of the Securities multiplied by the Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock on such determination date.

“Trust Officer” means any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the Persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of

 

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such person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

“Trustee” means the party named as such above until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor.

“Volumetric Production Payments” means production payment obligations recorded as deferred revenue in accordance with GAAP, together with all undertakings and obligations in connection therewith.

“Voting Stock” means, with respect to any Person, securities of any class or classes of Capital Stock in such Person entitling the holders thereof (whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of stock has voting power by reason of contingency) to vote in the election of members of the Board of Directors or other governing body of such Person.

SECTION 1.02. Other Definitions.

Other terms used in this Indenture are defined in the Appendix or in the Section indicated below:

 

Term

Defined in Section

“Additional Shares”

9.05

“Appendix”

2.01

“Bankruptcy Law”

7.01

“Cash Settlement Averaging Period”

9.14

“Certificated Common Stock”

9.04

“Company Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice”

3.09

“Company Repurchase Notice”

3.08

“Contingent Interest”

4.01

“Contingent Payment Regulations”

5.09

“Conversion Agent”

2.03

“Conversion Date”

9.02

“Conversion Shares”

9.05

“Custodian”

7.01

“Daily Conversion Value”

9.14

“Daily Settlement Amount”

9.14

“Distribution Threshold Amount”

9.05

“Effective Date”

9.05

“Event of Default”

7.01

“Ex-Dividend Date”

9.01

“Fundamental Change Repurchase Date”

3.09

“Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice”

3.09

“Fundamental Change Repurchase Price”

3.09

“Funding Guarantor”

11.06

 

 

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“Guarantee”

11.01

“Legal Holiday”

12.07

“Merger Event”

9.11

“Non-Stock Change in Control”

9.05

“Paying Agent”

2.03

“Payment Default”

7.01

“Reference Property”

9.11

“Registrar”

2.03

“Repurchase Date”

3.08

“Repurchase Notice”

3.08

“Repurchase Price”

3.08

“Settlement Amount”

9.14

“Share Price”

9.05

“Valuation Period”

9.05

 

SECTION 1.03. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act. Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following TIA terms, if used in this Indenture, have the following meanings:

“Commission” means the SEC.

“indenture securities” means the Securities and the Guarantees.

“indenture security holder” means a Holder.

“indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture.

“indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee.

“obligor” on the indenture securities means the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and any other obligor on the Securities or the Guarantees.

All other TIA terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule have the meanings assigned to them therein.

 

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SECTION 1.04. Rules of Construction.

Unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) a term has the meaning assigned to it;

(2) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;

(3) “or” is not exclusive;

(4) words in the singular include the plural, and words in the plural include the singular;

(5) any gender used in this Indenture shall be deemed to include the neuter, masculine or feminine genders;

(6) provisions apply to successive events and transactions; and

(7) “herein,” “hereof” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other Subdivision.

ARTICLE TWO

 

THE SECURITIES

SECTION 2.01. Form and Dating. Provisions relating to the Securities are set forth in the Rule 144A Appendix attached hereto (the “Appendix”) which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made part of this Indenture. The Securities and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit 1 to the Appendix, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The Securities may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule, agreements to which the Company is subject, if any, or usage ( provided that any such notation, legend or endorsement is in a form acceptable to the Company and to the Trustee). Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication. The terms of the Securities set forth in the Appendix and Exhibit 1 are part of the terms of this Indenture.

SECTION 2.02. Execution and Authentication. Two Officers shall sign the Securities for the Company by manual or facsimile signature.

If an Officer whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Security, the Security shall be valid nevertheless.

A Security shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee manually signs the certificate of authentication on the Security. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this Indenture.

 

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On the Issue Date, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver $690,000,000 of Securities and, at any time and from time to time thereafter, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver Securities for original issue in an aggregate principal amount specified in such order, in each case upon a written order of the Company signed by two Officers or by an Officer and either an Assistant Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary of the Company. Such order shall specify the amount of the Securities to be authenticated and the date on which the original issue of Securities is to be authenticated.

The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent reasonably acceptable to the Company to authenticate the Securities. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate Securities whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights with respect to the Company as any Registrar, Paying Agent or agent for service of notices and demands.

SECTION 2.03. Registrar, Paying Agent and Conversion Agent. The Company shall maintain an office or agency where Securities may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (the “Registrar”), an office or agency where Securities may be presented for redemption, repurchase or payment (the “Paying Agent”) and an office or agency where Securities may be presented for conversion (the “Conversion Agent”). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Securities and of their transfer and exchange. The Company may have one or more co-registrars, one or more additional paying agents and one or more additional conversion agents. The term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent. The term “Conversion Agent” includes any additional conversion agent.

The Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Registrar, Paying Agent, Conversion Agent or co-registrar not a party to this Indenture, which shall incorporate the terms of the TIA. The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such agent. The Company shall notify the Trustee of the name and address of any such agent and shall furnish the Trustee with an executed counterpart of any such agency agreement. If the Company fails to maintain a Registrar, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent, the Trustee shall act as such and shall be entitled to appropriate compensation therefor pursuant to Section 8.07. The Company or any wholly owned Subsidiary incorporated or organized within The United States of America may act as Paying Agent, Registrar, Conversion Agent, co-registrar or transfer agent.

The Company initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar, Paying Agent and Conversion Agent in connection with the Securities.

SECTION 2.04. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust. Prior to 11:00 a.m., New York time, on each due date of principal and interest on any Security, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent a sum of money sufficient to make such payments when so becoming due. The Company shall require each Paying Agent (other than the Trustee) to agree in writing that the Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment

 

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of principal or interest on the Securities and shall notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment. If the Company or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate the money held by it as Paying Agent and hold it as a separate trust fund. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed by the Paying Agent. Upon complying with this Section, the Paying Agent shall have no further liability for the money delivered to the Trustee.

SECTION 2.05. Holder Lists. The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Holders. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee, in writing at least five Business Days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of Holders.

SECTION 2.06. Transfer and Exchange. The Securities shall be issued in registered form and shall be transferable only upon the surrender of a Security for registration of transfer. When a Security is presented to the Registrar or a co-registrar with a request to register a transfer, the Registrar shall register the transfer as requested if the requirements of this Indenture and Section 8-401(a) of the Uniform Commercial Code are met. When Securities are presented to the Registrar or a co-registrar with a request to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Securities of other denominations, the Registrar shall make the exchange as requested if the same requirements are met.

SECTION 2.07. Replacement Securities. If a mutilated Security is surrendered to the Registrar or if the Holder of a Security claims that the Security has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Security if the requirements of Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code are met and the Holder satisfies any other reasonable requirements of the Trustee. Such Holder shall furnish an indemnity bond sufficient in the judgment of the Company and the Trustee to protect the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar and any co-registrar from any loss which any of them may suffer if a Security is replaced. The Company and the Trustee may charge the Holder for their expenses in replacing a Security.

Every replacement Security is an additional obligation of the Company.

SECTION 2.08. Outstanding Securities. Securities outstanding at any time are all Securities authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancelation and those described in this Section as not outstanding. A Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Security.

If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee and the Company receive proof satisfactory to them that the replaced Security is held by a bona fide purchaser.

 

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If the Paying Agent segregates and holds in trust, in accordance with this Indenture, on a redemption date or the Maturity Date money sufficient to pay all principal and interest payable on that date with respect to the Securities (or portions thereof) to be redeemed or maturing, as the case may be, then on and after that date such Securities (or portions thereof) cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.

SECTION 2.09. Temporary Securities. Until definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Securities. Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of definitive Securities but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate definitive Securities and deliver them in exchange for temporary Securities.

SECTION 2.10. Cancelation. The Company at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancelation. The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Securities surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee and no one else shall cancel and dispose of (subject to the record retention requirements of the Exchange Act) all Securities surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment or cancelation in its customary manner and upon request shall deliver a certificate of such disposal to the Company unless the Company directs the Trustee to deliver canceled Securities to the Company. Any Securities purchased by the Company may, to the extent permitted by law, be reissued or resold or may, at its option, be surrendered to the Trustee for cancelation. The Company may not issue new Securities to replace Securities it has delivered to the Trustee for cancelation.

SECTION 2.11. Defaulted Interest. If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Securities, the Company shall pay defaulted interest (plus interest on such defaulted interest to the extent lawful) in any lawful manner. The Company may pay the defaulted interest to the persons who are Holders on a subsequent special record date. The Company shall fix or cause to be fixed any such special record date and payment date to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee and shall promptly mail to each Holder a notice that states the special record date, the payment date and the amount of defaulted interest to be paid.

SECTION 2.12. CUSIP Numbers. The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided , however , that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP numbers.

SECTION 2.13. Issuance of Additional Securities. The Company shall be entitled to issue Additional Securities under this Indenture which shall have identical

 

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terms as the Securities issued on the Issue Date, other than with respect to the date of issuance and issue price. The Securities issued on the Issue Date and any Additional Securities shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture.

With respect to any Additional Securities, the Company shall set forth in a resolution of the Board of Directors and an Officers’ Certificate, a copy of each which shall be delivered to the Trustee, the following information:

(1) the aggregate principal amount of such Additional Securities to be authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture;

(2) the issue price, the issue date and the CUSIP number of such Additional Securities; provided , however , that no Additional Securities may be issued unless such Additional Securities are (a) fungible with the Securities initially issued hereunder for U.S. tax purposes or (b) issued under a different CUSIP number from that of the Securities initially issued hereunder; and

(3) whether such Additional Securities shall be Transfer Restricted Securities.

ARTICLE THREE

 

REDEMPTION AND REPURCHASES

SECTION 3.01. Notice to Trustee. If the Company elects to redeem Securities pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Paragraph 5 of the Securities, it shall furnish to the Trustee and the Registrar, at least 45 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date (unless the Trustee consents to a shorter period in writing), an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the redemption date, the principal amount of Securities to be redeemed and the redemption price.

SECTION 3.02. Selection of Securities to Be Redeemed. If less than all of the Securities are to be redeemed at any time, the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed pro rata, by lot or, if the Securities are listed on any securities exchange, by any other method that the Trustee considers fair and appropriate and that complies with the requirements of such exchange; provided , however , that no Securities with a principal amount of $1,000 or less will be redeemed in part. The Trustee shall make the selection from outstanding Securities not previously called for redemption not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption date. Securities and portions of them it selects shall be in amounts of $1,000 or whole multiples of $1,000. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Securities called for redemption also apply to portions of Securities called for redemption. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of the Securities or portions of Securities selected for redemption.

SECTION 3.03. Notice of Redemption. (a) At least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company shall mail a notice of redemption by

 

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first-class mail to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed at such Holder’s registered address.

The notice shall identify the Securities (including CUSIP numbers) to be redeemed and shall state:

(1) the redemption date;

(2) the redemption price and, to the extent known at the time of such notice, the amount of accrued but unpaid interest payable with respect to each $1,000 principal amount of the Securities on the redemption date;

(3) that Securities called for redemption may be converted at any time before the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding the redemption date;

(4) that Holders who want to convert Securities must satisfy the requirements set forth in the Securities and this Indenture;

(5) the current Conversion Price;

(6) the aggregate principal amount of Securities being redeemed;

(7) the name and address of the Paying Agent and Conversion Agent;

(8) that Securities called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent at the address specified in such notice to collect the redemption price, together with accrued but unpaid interest thereon;

(9) that, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the redemption price or accrued interest, interest on Securities called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date and the only remaining right of the Holders is to receive payment of the redemption prices in respect of the Securities upon surrender to the Paying Agent of the Securities;

(10) if any Security is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Security to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date, upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion will be issued in the name of the Holder thereof upon cancelation of the Security or Securities being redeemed; and

(11) the CUSIP number of the Securities.

 

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(b) At the Company’s written request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption required in Section 3.03(a) in the Company’s name and at the Company’s expense; provided , however , that the Company shall deliver to the Trustee, at least 45 days prior to the redemption date (unless the Trustee consents to a shorter notice period in writing), an Officers’ Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in Section 3.03(a).

SECTION 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption. Once notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with Section 3.03, Securities called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date at the redemption price, together with accrued but unpaid interest thereon, except for Securities which are converted in accordance with the terms of this Indenture. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Securities shall be paid at the redemption price, plus accrued and unpaid interest up to but not including the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the related interest payment date). Failure to give notice or any defect in the notice to any Holder shall not affect the validity of the notice to any other Holder.

SECTION 3.05. Deposit of Redemption Price. Prior to 11:00 a.m., New York time, on the redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent (or if the Company or a Subsidiary is the Paying Agent, shall segregate and hold in trust) funds available on the redemption date sufficient to pay the redemption price of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, the Securities to be redeemed on that date. The Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Company any money so deposited which is not required for that purpose upon the written request of the Company, except with respect to monies owed as obligations to the Trustee pursuant to Article Eight.

If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon redemption because of the failure of the Company to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest will continue to be payable on the unpaid principal and premium, if any, including from the redemption date until such principal and premium, if any, is paid, and, to the extent lawful, on any interest not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Securities and in Section 4.01 hereof.

SECTION 3.06. Securities Redeemed in Part. Upon surrender of a Security that is to be redeemed in part, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder, at the expense of the Company, a new Security equal in aggregate amount to the unredeemed portion of the Security surrendered.

SECTION 3.07. Optional Redemption. On or after November 15, 2015, the Company, at its option, may redeem the Securities in whole at any time or in part from time to time, in any integral multiple of $1,000, for cash at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed, together with accrued but unpaid interest thereon, up to but not including the redemption date; provided that if the redemption date is between the close of business on a record date and the opening of business on the related interest payment date, accrued but unpaid interest will be payable

 

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to the Holders in whose names the Securities are registered at the close of business on the relevant record date.

Any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.07 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 hereof.

SECTION 3.08. Repurchase of Securities at Option of the Holder on Specified Dates. (a) At the option of the Holder, the Company shall repurchase on November 15, 2015, 2020, 2025 and 2030 (each, a “Repurchase Date”) all or a portion of the Securities held by such Holder for cash at a price per Security equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Security (the “Repurchase Price”), together with accrued but unpaid interest thereon, up to but not including the Repurchase Date; provided that accrued but unpaid interest will be payable to the Holders in whose names the Securities are registered at the close of business on the relevant record date.

(b) Company Repurchase Notice. In connection with any repurchase of Securities pursuant to this Section 3.08, the Company shall give written notice of the Repurchase Date to the Holders and the Trustee (the “Company Repurchase Notice”). The Company Repurchase Notice shall be sent by first-class mail to the Trustee and to each Holder not less than 30 Business Days prior to any Repurchase Date. Each Company Repurchase Notice shall include a form of Repurchase Notice to be completed by a Holder and shall state:

(i) the Repurchase Price, the Conversion Price and, to the extent known at the time of such notice, the amount of accrued but unpaid interest that will be payable with respect to each $1,000 principal amount of the Securities on the Repurchase Date;

(ii) the name and address of the Paying Agent and the Conversion Agent;

(iii) that Securities as to which a Repurchase Notice has been given may be converted only if (x) the applicable Repurchase Notice has been withdrawn in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and (y) the Securities may otherwise be converted pursuant to Article Nine of this Indenture;

(iv) that Securities must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect payment of the Repurchase Price and accrued but unpaid interest;

(v) that the Repurchase Price for any Securities as to which a Repurchase Notice has been given and not withdrawn, together with accrued but unpaid interest payable with respect thereto, shall be paid promptly following the later of the Repurchase Date and the time of surrender of such Securities as described in clause 3.08(b)(iv) ;

(vi) the procedures the Holder must follow under this Section 3.08;

(vii) the conversion rights of the Securities;

 

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(viii) that, unless the Company defaults in making payment of such Repurchase Price, interest on Securities covered by any Repurchase Notice will cease to accrue on and after the Repurchase Date;

(ix) the CUSIP number of the Securities; and

(x) the procedures for withdrawing a Repurchase Notice (as specified in Section 3.10).

At the Company’s written request, which shall be made at least three Business Days prior to the date by which the Company Repurchase Notice is to be given to the Holders in accordance with this Section 3.08, and at the Company’s expense, the Trustee shall give the Company Repurchase Notice in the Company’s name; provided that, in all cases, the text of the Company Repurchase Notice shall be prepared by the Company.

(c) Securities shall be repurchased pursuant to this Section 3.08 at the option of the Holder thereof upon:

(i) delivery to the Paying Agent by the Holder of a written notice in the form set forth on the reverse of the Security (a “Repurchase Notice”) at any time from the opening of business on the date that is 30 Business Days prior to the Repurchase Date and on or before the close of business on the third Business Day prior to the Repurchase Date (subject to extension to comply with applicable law) stating:

(A) the relevant Repurchase Date;

(B) if certificated, the certificate numbers of the Securities which the Holder shall deliver to be repurchased;

(C) the portion of the principal amount of the Securities that the Holder shall deliver to be repurchased, which portion must be $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof;

(D) that such Security shall be repurchased as of the Repurchase Date pursuant to the terms and conditions specified in this Indenture; and

(ii) delivery or book-entry transfer of such Security to the Paying Agent simultaneously with or at any time after delivery of the Repurchase Notice (together with all necessary endorsements) at the offices of the Paying Agent, such delivery or transfer being a condition to receipt by the Holder of the Repurchase Price therefor, together with accrued but unpaid interest; provided that the Repurchase Price, together with accrued but unpaid interest thereon, shall be so paid pursuant to this Section 3.08 only if the Security so delivered to the Paying Agent shall conform in all respects to the description thereof in the related Repurchase Notice. All questions as to the validity, eligibility (including time of

 

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receipt) and acceptance of any Security for repurchase shall be determined by the Company, whose determination shall be final and binding absent manifest error.

If the Securities are not in certificated form, Holders must provide notice of their election in accordance with the Applicable Procedures of the Depository.

The Company shall repurchase from the Holder thereof, pursuant to this Section 3.08, a portion of a Security if the principal amount of such portion is $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to the repurchase of all of a Security also apply to the repurchase of a portion of a Security.

Any repurchase by the Company contemplated pursuant to the provisions of this Section 3.08 shall be consummated by the delivery to the Paying Agent of the Repurchase Price, together with accrued but unpaid interest thereon, to be received by the Holder promptly following the later of the Repurchase Date and the time of delivery or book-entry transfer of the Security to the Paying Agent in accordance with this Section 3.08.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any Holder delivering to the Paying Agent the Repurchase Notice contemplated by this Section 3.08 shall have the right to withdraw such Repurchase Notice at any time prior to the close of business on the Repurchase Date by delivery of a written notice of withdrawal to the Paying Agent at the principal office of the Paying Agent in accordance with Section 3.10.

The Paying Agent shall promptly notify the Company of the receipt by it of any Repurchase Notice or written notice of withdrawal thereof.

SECTION 3.09. Repurchase of Securities at Option of the Holder Upon a Fundamental Change. (a) If at any time that Securities remain outstanding there shall have occurred a Fundamental Change, Securities shall be repurchased by the Company, at the option of the Holder thereof, at a price in cash (the “Fundamental Change Repurchase Price”) equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of such Securities plus accrued but unpaid interest thereon, up to but not including the date (the “Fundamental Change Repurchase Date”) fixed by the Company that is not less than 30 days nor more than 45 days after the date the Company Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice (as defined below) is given, subject to satisfaction by or on behalf of the Holder of the requirements set forth in Section 3.09(c); provided that if the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date is between the close of business on a record date and the opening of business on the related interest payment date, accrued but unpaid interest will be payable to the Holders in whose names the Securities are registered at the close of business on the relevant record date.

(b) Company Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice. In connection with any repurchase of Securities pursuant to this Section 3.09, the Company shall give written notice of the occurrence of a Fundamental Change, the repurchase right arising as a result thereof and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date to the Holders and the Trustee (the “Company Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice”). The Company

 

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Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice shall be sent by first-class mail to the Trustee and to each Holder not more than 30 days after the occurrence of a Fundamental Change. Each Company Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice shall include a form of Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice to be completed by a Holder and shall state:

(i) the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date;

(ii) the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, the Conversion Price and, to the extent known at the time of such notice, the amount of accrued but unpaid interest that will be payable with respect to each $1,000 principal amount of the Securities on the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date;

(iii) the name and address of the Paying Agent and the Conversion Agent;

(iv) that the Company must receive the Holder’s Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice on or before the close of business on the third Business Day prior to the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date;

(v) that Securities as to which a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice has been given may be converted only if (x) the applicable Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice has been withdrawn in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and (y) the Securities may otherwise be converted pursuant to Article Nine of this Indenture;

(vi) that Securities must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect payment of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price and accrued but unpaid interest;

(vii) that the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price for any Securities as to which a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice has been given and not withdrawn, together with any accrued but unpaid interest payable with respect thereto, shall be paid promptly following the later of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date and the time of surrender of such Securities as described in clause 3.09(b)(vi);

(viii) the procedures the Holder must follow under this Section 3.09;

(ix) the conversion rights of the Securities;

(x) that, unless the Company defaults in making payment of such Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, interest on Securities covered by any Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice will cease to accrue on and after the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date;

(xi) the CUSIP number of the Securities; and

 

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(xii) the procedures for withdrawing a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice (as specified in Section 3.10).

At the Company’s written request, which shall be made at least three Business Days prior to the date by which the Company Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice is to be given to the Holders in accordance with this Section 3.09, and at the Company’s expense, the Trustee shall give the Company Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice in the Company’s name; provided that, in all cases, the text of the Company Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice shall be prepared by the Company.

(c) Securities shall be repurchased pursuant to this Section 3.09 at the option of the Holder upon:

(i) delivery to the Paying Agent by a Holder of a duly completed notice (a “Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice”) in the form set forth on the reverse of the Security at any time on or before the close of business on the third Business Day prior to the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date (subject to extension to comply with applicable law) stating:

(A) the relevant Fundamental Change Repurchase Date;

(B) if certificated, the certificate numbers of the Securities which the Holder shall deliver to be repurchased;

(C) the portion of the principal amount of the Securities that the Holder shall deliver to be repurchased, which portion must be $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof; and

(D) that such Security shall be repurchased as of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date pursuant to the terms and conditions specified in the Securities and in this Indenture; and

(ii) delivery or book-entry transfer of the Securities to the Paying Agent simultaneously with or at any time after delivery of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice (together with all necessary endorsements) at the office of the Paying Agent, such delivery or transfer being a condition to receipt by the Holder of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price therefor, together with accrued but unpaid interest; provided that such Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, together with accrued but unpaid interest, shall be so paid pursuant to this Section 3.09 only if the Securities so delivered or transferred to the Paying Agent shall conform in all respects to the description thereof in the related Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice. All questions as to the validity, eligibility (including time of receipt) and acceptance of any Security for repurchase shall be determined by the Company, whose determination shall be final and binding absent manifest error.

If the Securities are not in certificated form, Holders must provide notice of their election in accordance with the Applicable Procedures of the Depository.

 

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The Company shall repurchase from the Holder thereof, pursuant to this Section 3.09, a portion of a Security if the principal amount of such portion is $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to the repurchase of all of a Security also apply to the repurchase of a portion of a Security.

Any repurchase by the Company contemplated pursuant to the provisions of this Section 3.09 shall be consummated by the delivery to the Paying Agent of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, together with accrued but unpaid interest thereon, to be received by the Holder promptly following the later of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date and the time of delivery or book-entry transfer of the Security to the Paying Agent in accordance with this Section 3.09.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any Holder delivering to the Paying Agent the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice contemplated by Section 3.09(c) shall have the right to withdraw such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice at any time prior to the close of business on the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date by delivery of a written notice of withdrawal to the Paying Agent at the principal office of the Paying Agent in accordance with Section 3.10.

The Paying Agent shall promptly notify the Company of the receipt by it of any Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice or written withdrawal thereof.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company’s obligations pursuant to this Section 3.09 shall be satisfied if a third party makes an offer to repurchase outstanding Securities after a Fundamental Change in the manner and at the times and otherwise in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of this Section 3.09 and such third party purchases all Securities properly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the requirements of this Section 3.09.

SECTION 3.10. Effect of Repurchase Notice or Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice. Upon receipt by the Paying Agent of a Repurchase Notice or Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice, the Holder of the Security in respect of which such Repurchase Notice or Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice, as the case may be, was given shall (unless such Repurchase Notice or Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice is withdrawn as specified in the following two paragraphs) thereafter be entitled to receive solely the Repurchase Price or Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, together with accrued but unpaid interest thereon, up to but not including the Repurchase Date or Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, as the case may be, with respect to such Security. Such Repurchase Price or Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, together with accrued but unpaid interest thereon, up to but not including the Repurchase Date or Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, as the case may be, shall be paid to such Holder, subject to receipt of funds by the Paying Agent, promptly following the later of (x) the Repurchase Date or the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, as the case may be, with respect to such Security ( provided that the conditions in Section 3.08 or Section 3.09, as applicable, have been satisfied) and (y) the time of delivery or book-entry transfer of such Security to the Paying Agent by the Holder thereof in the manner required by Section 3.08(c) or Section 3.09(c), as applicable. Securities in respect of which a Repurchase Notice or

 

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Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice, as the case may be, has been given by the Holder thereof may not be converted pursuant to Article Nine hereof on or after the date of the delivery of such Repurchase Notice or Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice, as the case may be, unless such Repurchase Notice or Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice, as the case may be, has first been validly withdrawn as specified in the following two paragraphs.

A Repurchase Notice or Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice, as the case may be, may be withdrawn by means of a written notice of withdrawal delivered to the office of the Paying Agent in accordance with the Repurchase Notice or Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice, as the case may be, at any time prior to the close of business on the Business Day prior to the Repurchase Date or the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, as the case may be, specifying:

(i) if the Security with respect to which such notice of withdrawal is certificated, the certificate number of such Security, or if such Security is a Global Security, the notice must comply with the Applicable Procedures;

(ii) the principal amount of the Security with respect to which such notice of withdrawal is being submitted; and

(iii) the principal amount, if any, of such Security which remains subject to the original Repurchase Notice or Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice, as the case may be, and which has been or will be delivered for repurchase by the Company.

There shall be no repurchase of any Securities pursuant to Section 3.08 if an Event of Default (other than a default in the payment of the Repurchase Price) has occurred prior to, on or after, as the case may be, the giving by the Holders of such Securities the required Repurchase Notice and such Event of Default is continuing. The Paying Agent will promptly return to the respective Holders thereof any Securities (x) with respect to which a Repurchase Notice has been withdrawn in compliance with this Indenture, or (y) held by it during the continuance of an Event of Default (other than a default in the payment of the Repurchase Price) in which case, upon such return, the Repurchase Notice with respect thereto shall be deemed to have been withdrawn.

SECTION 3.11. Deposit of Repurchase Price or Fundamental Change Repurchase Price. Prior to 11:00 a.m., New York time, on the Business Day immediately following the Repurchase Date or the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, as the case may be, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent (or, if the Company or a Subsidiary is acting as the Paying Agent, shall segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 2.04 an amount of money (in immediately available funds if deposited on such Business Day) sufficient to pay the aggregate Repurchase Price or Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, as the case may be, together with accrued but unpaid interest thereon, up to but not including the Repurchase Date or Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, as the case may be, of all the Securities or portions thereof

 

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which are to be repurchased as of the Repurchase Date or Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, as the case may be.

SECTION 3.12. Securities Repurchased in Part. Any Security in definitive form that is to be repurchased only in part shall be surrendered at the office of the Paying Agent (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by the Holder thereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing) and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security, without service charge, one or more new Securities in definitive form, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder in aggregate principal amount equal to, and in exchange for, the portion of the principal amount of the Security in definitive form so surrendered which is not repurchased.

SECTION 3.13. Covenant to Comply with Securities Laws upon Repurchase of Securities. When complying with the provisions of Sections 3.08 or 3.09 hereof (so long as such offer or repurchase constitutes an “issuer tender offer” for purposes of Rule 13e-4 (which term, as used herein, includes any successor provision thereto) under the Exchange Act at the time of such offer or repurchase), the Company shall (i) comply in all material respects with Rule 13e-4 and Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act, (ii) file the related Schedule TO (or any successor schedule, form or report) under the Exchange Act and (iii) otherwise comply in all material respects with all federal and state securities laws so as to permit the rights and obligations under Sections 3.08 or 3.09 to be exercised in the time and in the manner specified in Sections 3.08 or 3.09.

SECTION 3.14. Repayment to the Company. To the extent that the aggregate amount of cash deposited by the Company pursuant to Section 3.11 exceeds the aggregate Repurchase Price or Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, as the case may be, of the Securities or portions thereof which the Company is obligated to repurchase as of the Repurchase Date or Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, as the case may be, together with accrued but unpaid interest thereon, then, unless otherwise agreed in writing with the Company, promptly after the Business Day following the Repurchase Date or Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, as the case may be, the Trustee shall return any such excess to the Company together with interest, if any, thereon (subject to the provisions of Section 8.01(f)).

SECTION 3.15. Sinking Fund. There shall be no sinking fund provided for the Securities.

ARTICLE FOUR

 

CONTINGENT INTEREST

SECTION 4.01. Contingent Interest. Beginning with the six-month interest period ending May 14, 2016, the Company will pay contingent interest (“Contingent Interest”) to the Holders of Securities for any six-month interest period

 

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from and including an interest payment date to but excluding the next interest payment date, if the average Trading Price of the Securities for each of the five Trading Days ending on the third day immediately preceding the first day of the applicable six-month interest period equals or exceeds 120% of the principal amount of the Securities. For any six-month interest period when Contingent Interest is payable, the Contingent Interest payable on each $1,000 principal amount of Securities shall equal 0.50% per annum of the average Trading Price for $1,000 principal amount of Securities during the five Trading-Day measuring period ending on the third day immediately preceding the first day of applicable six-month interest period used to determine whether Contingent Interest must be paid.

The Trustee’s sole responsibility pursuant to this Section 4.01 hereof shall be to obtain the Trading Price of the Securities for each of the five Trading Days immediately preceding the first day of each applicable six-month interest period and to provide such information to the Company. The Company shall determine whether Holders are entitled to receive Contingent Interest, and if so, provide notice pursuant to Section 4.03 and to the Trustee setting forth the amount of Contingent Interest per $1,000 principal amount of Securities. Notwithstanding any term contained in this Indenture or any other document to the contrary, the Trustee shall have no responsibilities, duties or obligations for or with respect to (i) determining whether the Company must pay Contingent Interest or (ii) determining the amount of Contingent Interest, if any, payable by the Company.

SECTION 4.02. Payment of Contingent Interest. Contingent Interest for any six-month interest period shall be paid on the applicable interest payment date to the Person in whose name any Security is registered on the corresponding record date. Contingent Interest due under this Article Four shall be treated for all purposes of this Indenture like any other interest accruing on the Securities.

SECTION 4.03. Contingent Interest Notification. By the first Business Day of a six-month interest period for which Contingent Interest will be paid, the Company will disseminate a press release through Dow Jones & Company, Inc. or Bloomberg Business News or a similarly broad public medium that is customary for such press releases stating that Contingent Interest will be paid on the Securities and identifying such six-month interest period as the six-month interest period for which such Contingent Interest will be paid.

ARTICLE FIVE

 

COVENANTS

SECTION 5.01. Payment of Securities. The Company shall pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities on the dates and in the manner provided in the Securities and this Indenture. All such amounts shall be considered paid on the date due if the Trustee or Paying Agent holds on that date money deposited by the Company designated for and sufficient to pay the amount then due with respect to the Securities. All references to interest in this Indenture shall for all purposes

 

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be deemed to include any contingent interest and any additional interest payable as liquidated damages pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal, and premium, if any, at the rate borne by the Securities to the extent lawful; and it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same rate to the extent lawful.

SECTION 5.02. SEC Reports. (a) The Company, within 15 days after it files the same with the SEC, shall deliver to the Trustee and Holders, copies of the annual reports and the information, documents and other reports (or copies of any such portions of any of the foregoing as the SEC may by rules and regulations prescribe) that the Company is required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Notwithstanding that the Company may not be required to remain subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company shall file with the SEC and provide the Trustee and Holders with such annual reports and such information, documents and other reports specified in Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor shall also comply with the provisions of TIA Section 314(a).

(b) The Company may request the Trustee on behalf of the Company at the Company’s expense to mail the foregoing to Holders. In such case, the Company shall provide the Trustee with a sufficient number of copies of all reports and other documents and information that the Trustee may be required to deliver to Holders under this Section.

(c) Delivery of such reports, documents and information to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).

SECTION 5.03. Compliance Certificates. (a) The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, an Officers’ Certificate, stating that a review of the activities of the Company and the Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that, to the best of such Officer’s knowledge, the Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions hereof (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which such Officer may have knowledge and what action the Company is

 

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taking or proposes to take with respect thereto) and that to the best of such Officer’s knowledge, after reasonable inquiry, no event has occurred and remains in existence by reason of which payments on account of any amount (or delivery of shares of Common Stock (or other property)) with respect to the Securities are prohibited or, if such event has occurred, a description of the event and what action the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors are taking or propose to take with respect thereto. Such Officers’ Certificate shall comply with TIA Section 314(a)(4). The Company hereby represents that, as of the Issue Date, its fiscal year ends December 31, and hereby covenants that it shall notify the Trustee at least 30 days in advance of any change in its fiscal year.

(b) So long as not contrary to the then current recommendations of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the year-end financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.02 shall be accompanied by a written statement of the Company’s independent public accountants (which shall be a firm of established national reputation) that in making the examination necessary for certification of such financial statements nothing has come to their attention that would lead them to believe that the Company has violated any provisions of Section 5.07 of this Indenture (to the extent such provision relates to accounting matters) or, if any such violation has occurred, specifying the nature and period of existence thereof. Where such financial statements are not accompanied by such a written statement, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers’ Certificate stating that any such written statement would be contrary to the then current recommendations of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

(c) The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors will, so long as any of the Securities are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee forthwith upon any Officer becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default or default in the performance of any covenant, agreement or condition contained in this Indenture, an Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor proposes to take with respect thereto.

SECTION 5.04. Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Company will maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, an office or agency where Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, presentation for payment, repurchase, redemption or conversion and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the address of the Trustee set forth in Section 12.02. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such surrenders, presentations, notices and demands may be made or served at the corporate trust office of the Trustee.

Subject to Section 2.03, the Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such

 

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designations; provided that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

SECTION 5.05. Corporate Existence. The Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence and the corporate, partnership or other existence of each Subsidiary and all rights (charter and statutory) and franchises of the Company and the Subsidiaries; provided that the Company shall not be required to preserve the corporate existence of any Subsidiary, or any such right or franchise, if the Company shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and that the loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders.

SECTION 5.06. Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws. The Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor covenants (to the extent that each may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension, or usury law or other law, which would prohibit or forgive the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor from paying all or any portion of any amount on the Securities as contemplated herein, wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, or which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) each of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

SECTION 5.07. Payment of Taxes and Other Claims. The Company shall pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent, (a) all taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or imposed upon the Company or any Subsidiary or upon the income, profits or property of the Company or any Subsidiary and (b) all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies which, if unpaid, might by law become a Lien upon the property of the Company or any Subsidiary; provided , however , that the Company shall not be required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, charge or claim whose amount, applicability or validity is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings.

SECTION 5.08. Maintenance of Properties and Insurance. (a) The Company shall cause all properties used or held for use in the conduct of its business or the business of any Subsidiary to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair and working order (ordinary wear and tear excepted) and supplied with all necessary equipment and shall cause to be made all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements thereof, all as in the judgment of the Company may be necessary so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly and advantageously conducted at all times; provided , however , that nothing in this Section

 

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shall prevent the Company from discontinuing the operation or maintenance of any such property, or disposing of it, if such discontinuance or disposal is, in the judgment of the Company, desirable in the conduct of its business and not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders.

(b) The Company shall provide or cause to be provided, for itself and each of its Subsidiaries, insurance (including appropriate self-insurance) against loss or damage of the kinds that, in the reasonable, good faith opinion of the Company, are adequate and appropriate for the conduct of the business of the Company and such Subsidiaries in a prudent manner, with reputable insurers or with the government of the United States or an agency or instrumentality thereof, in such amounts, with such deductibles, and by such methods as shall be customary, in the reasonable, good faith opinion of the Company, for corporations similarly situated in the industry.

SECTION 5.09. Tax Treatment of Securities. The Company and the Holders, by purchasing a beneficial ownership interest in the Securities, agree that (i) the Securities are contingent payment debt instruments as described in Section 1.1275-4 of the Treasury regulations promulgated by the Department of Treasury pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, amended (the “Contingent Payment Regulations”), (ii) each Holder shall be bound by the Company’s application of the Contingent Payment Regulations to the Securities, including the Company’s determination that the rate at which interest will be deemed to accrue on the Securities for U.S. federal income tax purposes, will be 6.86% compounded semiannually, which is the rate comparable to the rate at which the Company would borrow on a noncontingent, nonconvertible borrowing with no contingent payments, but with terms and conditions otherwise comparable to the Securities (the “comparable yield”), (iii) each Holder shall use the projected payment schedule with respect to the Securities provided by the Company to the Holder, as provided in the Contingent Payment Regulations, to determine its interest accruals and adjustments as provided in the Contingent Payment Regulations, (iv) for purposes of the Contingent Payment Regulations, to treat cash and the fair market value of any Common Stock (or other property) received upon any conversion of the Securities as a contingent payment, and (v) the Company and each Holder will not take any position on a tax return inconsistent with clauses (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) of this Section 5.09, unless required by applicable law.

The comparable yield and the schedule of projected payments are not determined for any purpose other than for the determination of interest accruals and adjustment thereof in respect of the Securities for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The comparable yield and the schedule of projected payments do not constitute a projection or representation regarding the future stock price or the amount payable on the Securities. A Holder may obtain the issue date, comparable yield and projected payment schedule (which schedule is attached as Schedule B) by submitting a written request for such information to Chesapeake Energy Corporation, Investor Relations, 6100 North Western Avenue, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73118.

On conversion of the Securities, that portion of accrued interest including accrued Contingent Interest with respect to the converted Securities shall not be canceled,

 

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extinguished or forfeited, but rather shall be deemed to be paid in full to the Holder thereof through delivery of cash and any shares of Common Stock (or other property) received in exchange for the Securities being converted pursuant to the provisions hereof, and cash and the fair market value of any shares of Common Stock (or other property) received shall be treated as issued, to the extent thereof, first in exchange for interest accrued and unpaid through the conversion date and accrued and unpaid Contingent Interest, and the balance, if any, shall be treated as issued in exchange for the principal amount of the Securities being converted pursuant to the provisions hereof.

ARTICLE SIX

 

SUCCESSOR CORPORATION

SECTION 6.01. When Company May Merge, etc. The Company shall not consolidate with or merge with or into any Person or sell, convey, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to any Person, unless:

(1) the Company survives such merger or the Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or that acquires by sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, or which leases, all or substantially all of the assets of the Company is a corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, or Canada or any province thereof, and expressly assumes, by supplemental indenture, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, all the Securities and the performance of every other covenant and obligation of the Company under this Indenture; provided that unless the successor Person is a corporation, a corporate co-issuer of the Securities shall be added hereto by the execution and delivery of a supplemental indenture by such co-issuer; and

(2) immediately before and after giving effect to such transaction no Default or Event of Default exists.

In connection with any consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, lease, transfer or other disposition contemplated by this Section 6.01, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee prior to the consummation of the proposed transaction an Officers’ Certificate to the foregoing effect and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the proposed transaction and such supplemental indenture comply with this Indenture.

SECTION 6.02. Successor Corporation Substituted. Upon any consolidation, merger, lease, conveyance or transfer in accordance with Section 6.01, the Trustee shall be notified by the Company and the successor Person, and the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such lease, conveyance or transfer is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor had been named as the Company herein and thereafter (except

 

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in the case of a lease) the predecessor corporation will be relieved of all further obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.

ARTICLE SEVEN

 

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

SECTION 7.01. Events of Default. An “Event of Default” occurs upon:

(1) default by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor in the payment of principal of, or premium, if any, on the Securities when due and payable at maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise (including the failure to make cash payments due upon conversion or a payment to repurchase Securities tendered pursuant to a Repurchase Notice or Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice);

(2) failure on the part of the Company to deliver within the time period required by this Indenture shares of Common Stock or any cash in lieu of fractional shares, as the case may be, or any other property other than cash, upon conversion of the Securities and continuance of such failure for five days;

(3) default by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor in the payment of any interest on the Securities when due and payable and continuance of such default for 30 days;

(4) default on any other Indebtedness of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Subsidiary if either (A) such default results in the acceleration of the maturity of any such Indebtedness having a principal amount of $50,000,000 or more individually or, taken together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness the maturity of which has been so accelerated, in the aggregate, or (B) such default results from the failure to pay when due principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, any such Indebtedness, after giving effect to any applicable grace period (a “Payment Default”), having a principal amount of $50,000,000 or more individually or, taken together with the principal amount of any other Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default, in the aggregate; provided that if any such default is cured or waived or any such acceleration is rescinded, or such Indebtedness is repaid, within a period of 30 days from the continuation of such default beyond any applicable grace period or the occurrence of such acceleration, as the case may be, such Event of Default and any consequent acceleration of the Securities shall be rescinded, so long as any such rescission does not conflict with any judgment or decree or applicable provision of law;

(5) default in the performance, or breach of, the covenant set forth in Article Six, or in the performance, or breach of, any other covenant or

 

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agreement of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor in this Indenture and failure to remedy such default within a period of 45 days after written notice thereof from the Trustee or Holders of 25% of the principal amount of the outstanding Securities;

(6) the entry by a court of one or more judgments or orders for the payment of money against the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Subsidiary in an aggregate amount in excess of $50,000,000 (net of applicable insurance coverage by a third party insurer which is acknowledged in writing by such insurer) that has not been vacated, discharged, satisfied or stayed pending appeal within 60 days from the entry thereof;

(7) a Guarantee by a Subsidiary Guarantor shall cease to be in full force and effect (other than a release of a Guarantee in accordance with Section 11.04) or any Subsidiary Guarantor shall deny or disaffirm its obligations with respect thereto;

(8) the Company or any Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

(A) commences a voluntary case or proceeding,

(B) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case or proceeding,

(C) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property,

(D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or

(E) admits in writing that it generally is unable to pay its debts as the same become due; or

(9) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

(A) is for relief (with respect to the petition commencing such case) against the Company or any Subsidiary in an involuntary case or proceeding,

(B) appoints a Custodian of the Company or any Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of its property, or

(C) orders the liquidation of the Company or any Subsidiary, and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days.

 

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The term “Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors. The term “Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

SECTION 7.02. Acceleration. If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in clauses (8) or (9)) under Section 7.01 occurs and is continuing, then and in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% of the principal amount of the outstanding Securities may declare the unpaid principal of and premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on, all the Securities then outstanding to be due and payable, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee, if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest shall become immediately due and payable, notwithstanding anything contained in this Indenture or the Securities to the contrary. If an Event of Default specified in clauses (8) or (9) of Section 7.01 occurs, all unpaid principal of, and premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on, the Securities then outstanding will become due and payable, without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.

The Holders of a majority of the principal amount of the outstanding Securities, by written notice to the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee, may rescind and annul a declaration of acceleration and its consequences if (1) the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor has paid or deposited with such Trustee a sum sufficient to pay (A) all overdue installments of interest on all the Securities, (B) the principal of, and premium, if any, on any Securities that have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and interest thereon at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in the Securities, (C) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest on the defaulted interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in the Securities, and (D) all money paid or advanced by the Trustee thereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel; (2) all Events of Default, other than the non-payment of the principal of any Securities that have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in this Indenture; and (3) the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction. No such rescission will affect any subsequent Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

SECTION 7.03. Other Remedies. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may, but is not obligated to, pursue, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, any available remedy by proceeding at law or in equity to collect the payment of principal or interest on the Securities or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Securities or this Indenture. If an Event of Default specified under clauses (8) or (9) of Section 7.01 occurs with respect to the Company at a time when the Company is the Paying Agent, the Trustee shall automatically assume the duties of Paying Agent.

The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Securities or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of

 

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Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. No remedy is exclusive of any other remedy. All available remedies are cumulative.

SECTION 7.04. Waiver of Past Defaults. Subject to Sections 7.07 and 10.02, the Holders of at least a majority of the principal amount of the outstanding Securities by notice to the Trustee may waive an existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences, except a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal or interest on the Securities, including a payment of any redemption price, Repurchase Price or Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, a Default or Event of Default in respect of a provision of this Indenture that cannot be amended without the consent of each Holder affected thereby, or a Default or Event of Default that constitutes a failure to convert any Security in accordance with the terms hereof.

SECTION 7.05. Control by Majority. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on such Trustee, provided that (1) such direction is not in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture and (2) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by such Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction.

SECTION 7.06. Limitation on Remedies. No Holder of any of the Securities will have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, to appoint a receiver or trustee or to pursue any remedy under this Indenture, unless:

(1) such Holder has previously given notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default,

(2) the Holders of not less than 25% of the principal amount of the outstanding Securities have made written request to such Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee under this Indenture,

(3) such Holder or Holders have offered to such Trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request,

(4) such Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any proceeding, and

(5) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to such Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority of the principal amount of the outstanding Securities.

A Holder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder or to obtain a preference or priority over other Holders (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not such actions or forbearances are unduly prejudicial to such Holders).

 

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SECTION 7.07. Rights of Holders to Receive Payment and to Convert. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the Holder of any Securities will have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and interest on such Securities on the respective due dates therefor (including, in the case of redemption or repurchase, on the redemption date, Repurchase Date or Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, as the case may be), to convert the Securities in accordance with Article Nine and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment or right to convert, and such right may not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

SECTION 7.08. Collection Suit by Trustee. If an Event of Default in payment of any amount or shares of Common Stock (or other property) specified in Section 7.01(1), 7.01(2) or 7.01(3) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor for the whole amount due with respect to the Securities, and interest on overdue principal and premium, if any, and, to the extent lawful, interest on overdue interest, and such further amounts as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation and expenses of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

SECTION 7.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. (a) The Trustee may file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors, their creditors or their property and may collect and receive any money or securities or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same.

(b) Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

SECTION 7.10. Priorities. If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article Seven, it shall pay out the money in the following order:

First: to the Trustee for amounts due under Section 8.07;

Second: to Holders for all amounts due and unpaid on the Securities, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Securities; and

Third: to the Company.

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders pursuant to this Section 7.10.

SECTION 7.11. Undertaking for Costs. In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action

 

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taken or omitted by it as Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section 7.11 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 7.07, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities.

ARTICLE EIGHT

 

TRUSTEE

SECTION 8.01. Duties of Trustee. (a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in such exercise as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

(1) The Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth (or incorporated by reference) in this Indenture and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee.

(2) In the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, in the case of certificates or opinions specifically required by any provision hereof to be furnished to it, the Trustee shall examine such certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).

(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

(1) This paragraph (c) does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section.

(2) The Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by an officer of the Trustee, unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts.

(3) The Trustee shall not be liable with respect to action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it

 

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pursuant to Section 7.05, and the Trustee shall be entitled from time to time to request such a direction.

(d) Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section.

(e) The Trustee shall be under no obligation and may refuse to perform any duty or exercise any right, duty or power hereunder unless it receives indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense. No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds to believe that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

SECTION 8.02. Rights of Trustee. Subject to Section 8.01:

(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely on and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person. The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney, to the extent reasonably required by such inquiry or investigation at the expense of the Company and shall incur no liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation.

(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such certificate or opinion.

(c) The Trustee may act through agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care.

(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers.

(e) The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and reliance thereon.

 

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(f) In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

(g) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Trust Officer has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is received by the Trustee at the corporate trust office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture.

(h) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.

(i) The Trustee may request that the Company deliver a certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture.

SECTION 8.03. Individual Rights of Trustee. The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Subsidiaries or Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights. However, the Trustee must comply with Sections 8.10 and 8.11.

SECTION 8.04. Trustee’s Disclaimer. The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Securities, it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Securities or any prospectus, offering or solicitation documents, and it shall not be responsible for any statement in the Securities other than its certificate of authentication.

SECTION 8.05. Notice of Defaults. If a Default occurs and is continuing and if it is known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to each Holder pursuant to Section 12.02 a notice of the Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a Default in any payment on any Security, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as the board of directors, executive committee or a trust committee of officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of Holders.

SECTION 8.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders. Within 60 days after each April 1, beginning with the April 1 following the date of this Indenture, the Trustee shall mail to each Holder a brief report dated as of such April 1 that complies with TIA Section 313(a), but only if such report is required in any year under TIA Section 313(a). The Trustee also shall comply with TIA Sections 313(b) and 313(c). A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Holders shall be filed with the SEC and each stock exchange on which the Securities are listed. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing

 

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when the Securities become listed on any national securities exchange or of any delisting thereof.

SECTION 8.07. Compensation and Indemnity. The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors jointly and severally agree to pay the Trustee from time to time such compensation for its services as shall be agreed upon from time to time in writing among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust). The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors jointly and severally agree to reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, disbursements and advances incurred by it. Such expenses shall include when applicable the reasonable compensation and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.

The Trustee shall not be under any obligation to institute any suit, or take any remedial action under this Indenture, or to enter any appearance or in any way defend any suit in which it may be a defendant, or to take any steps in the execution of the trusts created hereby or thereby or in the enforcement of any rights and powers under this Indenture, until it shall be indemnified to its satisfaction against any and all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provisions of this Indenture, including compensation for services, costs, expenses, outlays, counsel fees and other disbursements, and against all liability (including fees and expenses incurred by the Trustee pursuant to the penultimate paragraph of Section 8.08) not due to its negligence or willful misconduct. The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors jointly and severally agree to indemnify the Trustee against any loss, liability, claim, damage or expenses incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the acceptance and administration of the trust and its duties hereunder as Trustee, Registrar, Paying Agent and/or Conversion Agent, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Company (including with respect to this Section 8.07) and of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder. The Trustee shall notify the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors of any claim of which a Trust Officer has received written notice for which it may seek indemnity; however, unless the position of the Company is prejudiced by such failure, the failure of the Trustee to promptly notify the Company shall not limit its right to indemnification. The Company shall defend each such claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may retain separate counsel and the Company shall reimburse the Trustee for the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent.

Neither the Company nor the Subsidiary Guarantors shall be obligated to reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss or liability incurred by the Trustee through the Trustee’s own negligence or willful misconduct. To secure the payment obligations of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors in this Section, the Trustee shall have a claim prior to that of the Holders of the Securities on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal of or interest on any particular Securities, including any payment of the redemption price, Repurchase Price or Fundamental Change Repurchase Price. The Trustee’s right to receive payment

 

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of any amounts due under this Section 8.07 shall not be subordinate to any other liability or Indebtedness of the Company.

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after the occurrence of any Event of Default specified in Sections 7.01(8) or 7.01(9), the expenses and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

The benefits of this section shall survive termination of this Indenture and resignation or removal of the Trustee.

SECTION 8.08. Replacement of Trustee. The Trustee may resign by so notifying the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee, in writing. The Company may remove the Trustee if:

(1) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 8.10;

(2) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent;

(3) a receiver or other public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

(4) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting as Trustee hereunder.

If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.

A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors. Immediately after that and upon payment of its charges hereunder, the retiring Trustee shall transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the lien provided for in Section 8.07, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. A successor Trustee shall mail notice of its succession to each Holder.

If a successor Trustee does not take office within 30 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company or the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities may petition, at the expense of the Company, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

If the Trustee fails to comply with Section 8.10, any Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee. Any successor Trustee shall comply with TIA Section 310(a)(5).

 

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SECTION 8.09. Successor Trustee by Merger, etc. If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust assets to, another corporation or national association, the successor corporation or national association without any further act shall be the successor Trustee; provided that such corporation or national association shall be otherwise eligible and qualified under this Article and shall notify the Company of its successor hereunder.

SECTION 8.10. Eligibility Disqualification. This Indenture shall always have a Trustee which satisfies the requirements of TIA Section 310(a)(1). The Trustee shall always have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall also comply with TIA Section 310(b).

SECTION 8.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company. The Trustee shall comply with TIA Section 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA Section 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA Section 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.

ARTICLE NINE

 

CONVERSION OF THE SECURITIES

SECTION 9.01. Conversion Privilege. (a) Subject to the provisions of this Article Nine, a Holder of a Security may convert such Security into cash and, if applicable, Common Stock (or other property), on or prior to November 15, 2035, if any of the following conditions is satisfied:

(i) prior to November 15, 2033, during any Quarter commencing after the Issue Date, and only during such Quarter, if the Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock for at least 20 Trading Days during the period of 30 consecutive Trading Days ending on the last Trading Day of the Quarter immediately preceding such Quarter (appropriately adjusted to take into account the occurrence, during such 30 consecutive Trading-Day period, of any event requiring adjustment of the Conversion Price under this Indenture) is more than 125% of the Conversion Price on such 30th Trading Day;

(ii) on or after November 15, 2033, at all times on or after any date thereafter on which the Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock is more than 125% of the then current Conversion Price of the Securities;

(iii) during the five consecutive Business-Day period after any five consecutive Trading-Day period in which the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of Securities, as determined following a request by a Holder in accordance with the procedures described below in Section 9.01(d), for each Trading Day of such five Trading-Day period was less than 95% of the product of the average of the Closing Sale Prices of the Common Stock for such five Trading-Day period and the then current Conversion Rate;

 

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(iv) such Security has been called for redemption by the Company pursuant to Section 3.07 and the redemption has not yet occurred, so long as the Holder surrenders such Security for conversion (or if the Security is held in book-entry form, complete and deliver to the Depository appropriate instructions in accordance with the Applicable Procedures) prior to the close of business on the date that is one Business Day prior to the applicable Redemption Date (unless the Company shall default in paying the Redemption Price when due, in which case the conversion right shall terminate on the date such default is cured and such Security is redeemed), even if the Security is not otherwise convertible at such time;

(v) (A) a distribution to all or substantially all holders of Common Stock of rights, warrants or options entitling them (for a period commencing no earlier than the date of distribution and expiring not more than 60 days after the date of distribution) to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock at a price less than the average Closing Sale Prices of the Common Stock for the 10 Trading Days immediately preceding the date such distribution was first publicly announced; or

(B) a distribution to all or substantially all holders of Common Stock of cash or other assets, evidences of Company indebtedness, rights or warrants to purchase or subscribe for Capital Stock or other securities of the Company, where the fair market value of such distribution per share of Common Stock (as determined by the Board of Directors, whose determination shall be conclusive evidence of such fair market value) exceeds 10% of the Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date such distribution was first publicly announced;

provided that any Holder of a Security shall have no right to convert any Security pursuant to this Section 9.01(a)(v) if such Holder otherwise participates in the distribution described in this Section 9.01(a)(v) on an as-converted basis solely into Common Stock at the then applicable Conversion Price without conversion of such Holder’s Securities; or

(vi) if the Company is party to a consolidation, merger, share exchange, sale of all or substantially all of its assets or other similar transaction, in each case pursuant to which the Common Stock is subject to conversion into (or holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive) cash, securities or other property, from and after the effective date of such transaction until and including the date that is 30 days after the effective date of such transaction. The Company shall give notice to all Holders and the Trustee prior to the anticipated effective date of such transaction.

(b) In the case of the foregoing Sections 9.01(a)(v)(A) and 9.01(a)(v)(B), the Company shall cause a notice of such distribution to be filed with the Trustee and the Conversion Agent and to be mailed to each Holder of Securities no later than 20 days

 

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prior to the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution. Once the Company has given such notice, Holders may surrender their Securities for conversion at any time thereafter until the earlier of the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding the Ex-Dividend Date or the Company’s announcement that such distribution will not take place. The “Ex-Dividend Date” for any such issuance or distribution means the first date on which a sale of the Common Stock does not automatically transfer the right to receive the relevant distribution from the seller of the Common Stock to the buyer of the Common Stock.

(c) For each Quarter of the Company commencing prior to November 15, 2033, the Conversion Agent, on behalf of the Company, shall determine, on the first Business Day following the last Trading Day of the immediately preceding Quarter, whether the Securities are convertible pursuant to clause (i) of Section 9.01(a), and, if so, shall notify the Trustee and the Company in writing. From November 15, 2033, the Conversion Agent shall determine, on behalf of the Company, on each Trading Day to and including the first day on which the Securities are convertible pursuant to clause (ii) of Section 9.01(a), whether the Securities are convertible pursuant to such provision, and, if so, shall notify the Trustee and the Company in writing. If the conditions set forth in clauses (i) and (ii) of Section 9.01(a) have been met, the Company shall so notify the Holders.

(d) The Trustee shall have no obligation to determine the Trading Price of the Securities pursuant to clause (iii) of Section 9.01(a) unless the Company has requested such determination in writing; and the Company shall have no obligation to make such request unless a Holder of the Securities provides the Company with reasonable evidence that the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of Securities is reasonably likely to be less than 95% of the product of the Closing Sale Price and the Conversion Rate then in effect per $1,000 principal amount of Securities. If a Holder provides such evidence or if the Company otherwise elects to require such determination, the Company shall instruct the Trustee to determine the Trading Price of the Securities beginning on the next Trading Day and on each successive Trading Day until the Trading Price of the Securities is greater than or equal to 95% of the product of the Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock and the Conversion Rate. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of its determination on each such day. If the condition set forth in clause (iii) of Section 9.01(a) has been met, the Company shall so notify the Holders.

(e) A Holder of Securities is not entitled to any rights of a holder of Common Stock until such Holder has tendered its Securities for conversion and, if applicable, has received shares of Common Stock as provided herein.

SECTION 9.02. Conversion Procedure. (a) To convert a Security, a Holder must (i) if the Security is held in book-entry form, complete and deliver to the Depository appropriate instructions pursuant to the Applicable Procedures or (ii) if the Security is in definitive form, (A) complete and manually sign the irrevocable conversion notice on the back of the Security and deliver such notice to the Conversion Agent, (B) surrender the Security to the Conversion Agent and (C) furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents if required by the Registrar or the Conversion

 

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Agent, and pay any transfer or other tax, if required by Section 9.03. The “Conversion Date” shall be the Business Day on which the Holder satisfies all of the requirements set forth in the immediately preceding sentence, if all such requirements shall have been satisfied by 11:00 a.m., New York time, on such day, and in all other cases, the Conversion Date shall be the next succeeding Business Day.

(b) The Person in whose name the Security is registered shall be deemed to be a holder of Common Stock of record on the Conversion Date; provided that no surrender of a Security on any date when the stock transfer books of the Company shall be closed shall be effective to constitute the Person or Persons entitled to receive the shares of Common Stock upon such conversion as the record holder or holders of such shares of Common Stock on such date, but such surrender shall be effective to constitute the Person or Persons entitled to receive such shares of Common Stock as the record holder or holders thereof for all purposes at the close of business on the next succeeding day on which such stock transfer books are open; provided further that such conversion shall be at the Conversion Price in effect on the date that such Security shall have been surrendered for conversion, as if the stock transfer books of the Company had not been closed. Upon conversion of a Security, such Person shall no longer be a Holder of such Security.

(c) No payment or adjustment shall be made for accrued but unpaid interest on a converted Security or for dividends or distributions on shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion of a Security. The Company shall not adjust the Conversion Price to account for the accrued but unpaid interest. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Securities are converted after the close of business on a regular record date and prior to the opening of business on the next interest payment date, including the Maturity Date, Holders of such Securities at the close of business on such regular record date shall receive the accrued but unpaid interest payable on such Securities on the corresponding interest payment date notwithstanding the conversion. In such event, such Security, when surrendered for conversion, must be accompanied by delivery of a check payable to the Conversion Agent in an amount equal to the accrued but unpaid interest payable on such interest payment date on the portion so converted. If such payment does not accompany such Security, the Security shall not be converted; provided that no such check shall be required if such Security has been called for redemption on a redemption date within the period between the close of business on such record date and the opening of business on such interest payment date, or if such Security is surrendered for conversion on the interest payment date. If the Company defaults in the payment of interest payable on the interest payment date, the Conversion Agent shall promptly repay such funds to the Holder.

(d) A Holder may convert a portion of a Security equal to $1,000 or any integral multiple thereof. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to conversion of all of a Security also apply to conversion of a portion of a Security. Upon surrender of a Security that is converted in part, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an order from the Company, authenticate and deliver to the Holder, a new Security equal in principal amount to the unconverted portion of the Security surrendered.

 

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SECTION 9.03. Taxes on Conversion. If a Holder converts a Security, the Company shall pay any documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer tax that may be imposed by the United States or any political subdivision thereof or taxing authority thereof or therein due on the issue of shares of Common Stock upon such conversion; provided that the Holder shall pay any tax which is due because the Holder requests the shares of Common Stock to be issued in a name other than the Holder’s name. The Conversion Agent may refuse to deliver the certificates representing the Common Stock being issued in a name other than the Holder’s name until the Conversion Agent receives a sum sufficient to pay any tax which will be due because the shares are to be issued in a name other than the Holder’s name. Nothing herein shall preclude any tax withholding required by law or regulations.

SECTION 9.04. Company to Provide Stock. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available for issuance upon the conversion of the Securities such number of its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock as will from time to time be sufficient to permit the conversion of all outstanding Securities, and shall take all action required to increase the authorized number of shares of Common Stock if at any time there shall be insufficient unissued shares of Common Stock to permit such reservation or to permit the conversion of all outstanding Securities. Except as set forth below, the certificates representing the shares of Common Stock (or any other securities) issued upon conversion of Transfer Restricted Securities shall bear a legend substantially in the following form:

THIS SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM.

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT (A) THIS SECURITY MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, ONLY (I) IN THE UNITED STATES TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (II) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (III) PURSUANT TO EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE) OR (IV) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH OF CASES (I) THROUGH (IV) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES, AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS

 

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SECURITY FROM IT OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO IN (A) ABOVE.

All shares of Common Stock that may be issued on conversion of Transfer Restricted Securities will be issued in fully registered certificated form (“Certificated Common Stock’’). Certificates of Certificated Common Stock will be mailed or made available at the office of the Conversion Agent as soon as reasonably practicable after the relevant Conversion Date to the converting Holder.

After a transfer of any Certificated Common Stock during the period of the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement, or after the applicable holding period set forth in Rule 144(k) of the Securities Act, with respect to such Certificated Common Stock, all requirements pertaining to legends on Certificated Common Stock will cease to apply, the requirements requiring that any such Certificated Common Stock that may be issued to Holders upon conversion of Securities be issued in certificated form will cease to apply, and Common Stock, in global or fully registered certificated form, in either case without legends, will be available to the transferee.

The Company covenants that all shares of Common Stock delivered upon conversion of the Securities shall be newly issued shares or treasury shares, shall be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and shall be free from preemptive rights and free of any lien or adverse claim.

The Company will endeavor promptly to comply with all federal and state securities laws regulating the offer and delivery of shares of Common Stock upon conversion of Securities, if any, and will list or cause to have quoted such shares of Common Stock on each national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market or such other market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted.

SECTION 9.05. Adjustment of Conversion Price. (a) The Conversion Price shall be subject to adjustment as follows:

(i) In case the Company shall at any time or from time to time (A) pay a dividend (or other distribution) payable in shares of Common Stock on any class of Capital Stock (which, for purposes of this Section 9.05 shall include, without limitation, any dividends or distributions in the form of options, warrants or other rights to acquire Capital Stock) of the Company (other than any issuance of shares of Common Stock in connection with the conversion of Securities); (B) subdivide the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a larger number of shares; (C) combine the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares; (D) issue any shares of its Capital Stock in a reclassification of the Common Stock; or (E) pay a dividend or make a distribution to all holders of shares of Common Stock (other than a dividend or distribution subject to Section 9.05(a)(ii)) pursuant to a stockholder rights plan, “poison pill” or similar arrangement, then in each such case, the Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted (and any other appropriate actions shall be taken by the Company) so that the Holder of any Securities thereafter surrendered

 

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for conversion shall be entitled to receive cash and, if applicable, the number of shares of Common Stock that such Holder would have owned or would have been entitled to receive upon or by reason of any of the events described above, had such Securities been converted immediately prior to the occurrence of such event. For the purposes of calculating the Conversion Price adjustment pursuant to this Section 9.05(a)(i), Holders of a Security shall be treated as if they had the right to convert the Security solely into Common Stock at the then applicable Conversion Price. An adjustment made pursuant to this Section 9.05(a)(i) shall become effective retroactively (x) in the case of any such dividend or distribution, to the day immediately following the close of business on the record date for the determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive such dividend or distribution or (y) in the case of any such subdivision, combination or reclassification, to the close of business on the day upon which such corporate action becomes effective.

(ii) In case the Company shall at any time or from time to time issue to all holders of Common Stock rights, options or warrants entitling the holders thereof to subscribe for or purchase, for a period expiring not more than 60 days after the date of distribution, shares of Common Stock at a price per share less than the average of the Closing Sale Prices of Common Stock for the ten Trading Days immediately preceding the date such distribution was first publicly announced (treating the price per share of any security convertible or exchangeable or exercisable into Common Stock as equal to (A) the sum of the price paid to acquire such security convertible, exchangeable or exercisable into Common Stock plus any additional consideration payable (without regard to any anti-dilution adjustments) upon the conversion, exchange or exercise of such security into Common Stock divided by (B) the number of shares of Common Stock into which such convertible, exchangeable or exercisable security is initially convertible, exchangeable or exercisable), then, and in each such case, the Conversion Price then in effect shall be adjusted by dividing the Conversion Price in effect on the day immediately prior to the record date of such issuance by a fraction (y) the numerator of which shall be the sum of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on such record date plus the number of additional shares of Common Stock issued or to be issued upon or as a result of the issuance of such rights, options or warrants (or the maximum number into or for which such convertible or exchangeable securities initially may convert or exchange or for which such options, warrants or other rights initially may be exercised) and (z) the denominator of which shall be the sum of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on such record date plus the number of shares of Common Stock which the aggregate consideration for the total number of such additional shares of Common Stock so issued (or into or for which such convertible or exchangeable securities may convert or exchange or for which such options, warrants or other rights may be exercised plus the aggregate amount of any additional consideration initially payable upon the conversion, exchange or exercise of such security) would purchase at such average of the Closing Sale Prices of the Common Stock over such ten Trading Days, provided that no adjustment will be made if Holders of the Securities are entitled to participate in

 

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the distribution on substantially the same terms as holders of the Common Stock as if such Holders had converted their Securities solely into Common Stock immediately prior to such distribution at the then applicable Conversion Price. Such adjustments shall be made successively whenever any such rights, warrants or options are issued, and shall become effective immediately after such record date. If at the end of the period during which such rights, warrants or options are exercisable not all rights, warrants or options shall have been exercised, the adjusted Conversion Price shall be immediately readjusted to what it would have been upon application of the foregoing adjustment substituting the number of additional shares of Common Stock actually issued (or the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of convertible securities actually issued) for the total number of shares of Common Stock offered (or convertible securities offered).

(iii) If the Company shall at any time make a distribution, by dividend or otherwise, to all holders of shares of its Common Stock consisting exclusively of cash (excluding any cash portion of distributions referred to in clause (E) of paragraph (i) above and cash distributed upon a merger or consolidation to which Section 9.11 below applies) in an amount per share of Common Stock that, when combined with the per share amounts of all other all-cash distributions to all holders of shares of its Common Stock made within the 90-day period ending on the record date for the distribution giving rise to an adjustment pursuant to this Section 9.05(a)(iii), exceeds $0.065 per share of Common Stock (the “Distribution Threshold Amount”), then the Conversion Price will be adjusted by multiplying:

(1) the Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to the close of business on the record date fixed for the determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive such distribution by

(2) a fraction, the numerator of which will be the Market Value on the fourth trading day on the NYSE prior to such record date minus the amount of cash per share of Common Stock so distributed in excess of the Dividend Threshold Amount for which an adjustment has not otherwise been made pursuant to this Section 9.05(a)(iii) and the denominator of which will be the Market Value on the fourth trading day on the NYSE prior to such record date.

Subject to Section 9.06(b), such adjustment shall become effective immediately after the record date for the determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive the distribution giving rise to an adjustment pursuant to this Section 9.05(a)(iii). If an adjustment is required to be made under this Section 9.05 as a result of a cash dividend in any quarterly period that exceeds the Distribution Threshold Amount, the adjustment shall be based upon the amount by which the distribution exceeds the Distribution Threshold Amount. If an adjustment is otherwise required to be made under this Section 9.05, the adjustment shall be based upon the full amount of the distribution. The

 

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Distribution Threshold Amount is subject to adjustment under the same circumstances under which the Conversion Price is subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 9.05(a)(i) or Section 9.05(a)(ii). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event will the Conversion Price be less than $30.05, subject to adjustment under the same circumstances under which the Conversion Price is subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 9.05(a)(i), (ii), (iv) and (v).

(iv) If the Company shall at any time or from time to time on the record date of such distribution: (A) complete a tender or exchange offer by the Company or any of its subsidiaries for shares of Common Stock that involves an aggregate consideration that, together with (1) any cash and other consideration payable in a tender or exchange offer by the Company or any of its subsidiaries for shares of Common Stock expiring within the then-preceding 12 months in respect of which no adjustment pursuant to this Section 9.05 has been made and (2) the aggregate amount of any such all-cash distributions referred to in paragraph (iii) above to all holders of shares of Common Stock within the then-preceding 12 months in respect of which no adjustments have been made, exceeds 15% of the Company’s market capitalization (defined as the product of the Market Value for the period ending on the record date of such distribution times the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on such record date) on the expiration of such tender offer; or (B) make a distribution to all holders of its Common Stock consisting of evidences of indebtedness, shares of its Capital Stock other than Common Stock or assets (including securities, but excluding those dividends, rights, options, warrants and distributions referred to in paragraphs (i), (ii), (iii) above or this (iv)), then, and in each such case, the Conversion Price then in effect shall be adjusted by dividing the Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to the date of such distribution or completion of such tender or exchange offer, as the case may be, by a fraction (x) the numerator of which shall be the Market Value for the period ending on the record date referred to below, or, if such adjustment is made upon the completion of a tender or exchange offer, on the payment date for such offer, and (y) the denominator of which shall be such Market Value less the then fair market value (as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company) of the portion of the cash, evidences of indebtedness, securities or other assets so distributed or paid in such tender or exchange offer, applicable to one share of Common Stock (but such denominator shall not be less than one); provided , however , that no adjustment shall be made with respect to any distribution of rights to purchase securities of the Company if Holders of the Securities are entitled to participate in such distribution on substantially the same terms as holders of the Common Stock as if such Holders had converted their Securities solely into Common Stock immediately prior to such distribution at the then applicable Conversion Price. Such adjustment shall be made whenever any such distribution is made or tender or exchange offer is completed, as the case may be, and shall become effective retroactively to a date immediately following the close of business on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such distribution.

 

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(v) In the case the Company at any time or from time to time shall take any action affecting its Common Stock (it being understood that the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock, or any options, warrants or other rights to acquire shares of Common Stock) to any Person at a price per share less than the Conversion Price then in effect shall not be deemed such an action), other than an action described in any of Section 9.05(a)(i)  through Section 9.05(a)(iv), inclusive, or Section 9.11, then the Conversion Price shall be adjusted in such manner and at such time as the Board of Directors of the Company in good faith determines to be equitable in the circumstances (such determination to be evidenced in a resolution, a certified copy of which shall be mailed to the Holders of the Securities).

(b) (i) If a Holder elects to convert its Securities in connection with a specified corporate transaction pursuant to Section 9.01(a)(v)(B) that occurs on or prior to November 15, 2015, and that constitutes a Fundamental Change (other than relating to the composition of our Board of Directors as described in clause (iv) of the definition of Fundamental Change in Section 1.01), and 10% or more of the fair market value of the consideration for the Common Stock (as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be conclusive evidence of such fair market value) in the corporate transaction consists of (A) cash (not including cash payments for fractional shares and cash payments pursuant to dissenters’ appraisal rights), (B) other property or (C) securities that are not traded or scheduled to be traded immediately following such transaction on a U.S. national securities exchange or the Nasdaq National Market (a “Non-Stock Change in Control”), then the Conversion Price of the Securities being converted by such Holder at that time shall be decreased, which will increase the Conversion Rate by a number of shares (the “Additional Shares”) determined in the manner set forth below.

(ii) The increase in the Conversion Rate expressed as a number of Additional Shares per $1,000 principal amount of Securities shall be determined by the Company by reference to the table attached as Schedule A hereto, based on the date the corporate transaction constituting a Non-Stock Change in Control becomes effective (the “Effective Date”) and the share price paid per share of Common Stock in such corporate transaction (the “Share Price”); provided that (x) if holders of the Common Stock receive only cash in such corporate transaction, the Share Price shall be the cash amount paid per share and (y) in all other cases, the Share Price shall be the average of the Closing Sale Prices of the Common Stock on the five Trading Days prior to but not including the Effective Date of the Non-Stock Change in Control.

(iii) The exact Share Prices and Effective Dates may not be set forth in the table attached as Schedule A hereto, in which case:

(A) if the Share Price is between two Share Price amounts in the table attached as Schedule A hereto, or the Effective Date is between two

 

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dates in the table, the Company shall determine the number of Additional Shares by a straight-line interpolation between the numbers of Additional Shares set forth for the higher and lower Share Price amounts and/or the two dates, as applicable, based on a 365-day year;

(B) if the Share Price is in excess of $125.00 per share (subject to adjustment in the same manner as the Conversion Price as set forth in this Indenture), no increase in the Conversion Rate shall be made; and

(C) if the Share Price is less than $30.05 per share (subject to adjustment in the same manner as the Conversion Price as set forth in this Indenture), no increase in the Conversion Rate shall be made.

(iv) The Share Prices set forth in the first row of the table ( i.e. , column headers) in Schedule A hereto shall be adjusted as of any date on which the Conversion Price of the Securities is adjusted pursuant to this Indenture. The adjusted Share Prices shall equal the Share Prices applicable immediately prior to such adjustment, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the Conversion Price immediately prior to the adjustment giving rise to the Share Price adjustment and the denominator of which is the Conversion Price as so adjusted. The number of Additional Shares shall be adjusted in the same manner as the Conversion Price as set forth in this Indenture.

(v) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Conversion Rate exceed 33.2779 per $1,000 principal amount of Securities (subject to adjustment in the same manner as the Conversion Price as set forth in this Indenture)

(vi) For the avoidance of doubt, the adjustment provided for in this Section 9.05(b) shall be made only with respect to the Securities being converted in connection with such Fundamental Change and shall not be effective as to any Securities not so converted; provided , however , that after any adjustment of the Conversion Rate pursuant to this Section 9.05(b), the Conversion Rate shall be subject to further adjustments in the event that any of the events set forth in this Section 9.05 occur thereafter.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of a Non-Stock Change in Control constituting a Public Acquirer Change in Control, the Company may, in lieu of adjusting the Conversion Rate as set forth in Section 9.05(b), elect to adjust the Conversion Rate and the related conversion obligation such that, from and after the Effective Date of such Public Acquirer Change in Control, the right to convert a Security will be changed into a right to convert a Security into a number of shares of Acquirer Common Stock at the Conversion Rate specified below. The Company may make such election at any time prior to the twentieth day immediately preceding the proposed Effective Date of the Public Acquirer Change in Control, and if made, such election shall be irrevocable. In the event the Company makes such election, upon conversion the Company shall deliver cash and shares of Acquirer Common Stock, if any, in the same

 

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manner described in Section 9.14. The Conversion Rate on and following the Effective Date of such transaction shall be a number of shares of Acquirer Common Stock equal to the product of:

(i) the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the Effective Date of such Public Acquirer Change in Control, times

(ii) the average of the quotients obtained, for each Trading Day in the 10 consecutive Trading-Day period commencing on the Trading Day next succeeding the Effective Date of such Public Acquirer Change in Control (the ‘‘Valuation Period’’), of:

(A) the Acquisition Value of our Common Stock on each such Trading Day in the Valuation Period, divided by

(B) the Closing Sale Price of the Acquirer Common Stock on each such Trading Day in the Valuation Period.

SECTION 9.06. No Adjustment. (a) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no adjustment under Section 9.05 need be made to the Conversion Price unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least 1% of the Conversion Price then in effect. Any lesser adjustment shall be carried forward and shall be made at the time of and together with the next subsequent adjustment, if any, which, together with any adjustment or adjustments so carried forward, shall amount to an increase or decrease of at least 1% of such Conversion; provided , however , that with respect to adjustments to be made to the Conversion Price in connection with cash dividends paid by the Company, the Company shall make such adjustments, regardless of whether such aggregate adjustments amount to 1% or more of the Conversion Price, no later than November 15 of each calendar year.

(b) If the Company shall take a record of the holders of its Common Stock for the purpose of entitling them to receive a dividend or other distribution, and shall thereafter (and before the dividend or distribution has been paid or delivered to stockholders) legally abandon its plan to pay or deliver such dividend or distribution, then thereafter no adjustment in the Conversion Price then in effect shall be required by reason of the taking of such record.

(c) No adjustment need be made upon the issuance of Common Stock under any present or future employee benefits plan or program of the Company or in connection with an acquisition made by the Company.

(d) No adjustment need be made upon the issuance of Common Stock pursuant to (i) the exercise of any options, warrants or rights to purchase such Common Stock, (ii) the exchange of any exchangeable securities for such Common Stock or (iii) the conversion of any convertible securities into such Common Stock (except as expressly set forth herein).

 

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(e) No adjustment need be made to account for accrued but unpaid interest.

(f) No adjustment need be made for a change in the par value or a change to no par value of the Common Stock.

(g) To the extent that the Securities become convertible into cash, no adjustment need be made thereafter as to the cash. Interest will not accrue on the cash.

SECTION 9.07. Equivalent Adjustments. If, as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 9.05 above, the Holder of any Security thereafter surrendered for conversion shall become entitled to receive any shares of Capital Stock of the Company other than shares of Common Stock, thereafter the Conversion Price of such other shares so receivable upon conversion of any Securities shall be subject to adjustment from time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the provisions with respect to Common Stock contained in this Article Nine.

SECTION 9.08. Adjustment for Tax Purposes. The Company reserves the right to make such reductions in the Conversion Price in addition to those required in the foregoing provisions as it considers advisable in order that any event treated for federal income tax purposes as a dividend of stock or stock rights will not be taxable to the recipients. In the event the Company elects to make such a reduction in the Conversion Price, the Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act, and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder if and to the extent that such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the reduction of the Conversion Price.

SECTION 9.09. Notice of Adjustment. Upon any increase or decrease in the Conversion Price, then, and in each such case, the Company promptly shall deliver a notice of adjustment to each Holder of Securities and an Officers’ Certificate to the Trustee setting forth in reasonable detail the event requiring the adjustment and the method by which such adjustment was calculated and specifying the increased or decreased Conversion Price then in effect following such adjustment. The certificate shall be conclusive evidence of the correctness of such adjustment, absent manifest error, and the Trustee may conclusively assume that, unless and until such certificate is received by it, no such adjustment is required.

SECTION 9.10. Notice of Certain Transactions. In case:

(i) the Company shall declare a dividend (or any other distribution) on the Common Stock that would require an adjustment in the Conversion Price pursuant to Section 9.05; or

(ii) the Company shall authorize the granting, generally, to the holders of Common Stock of rights, warrants or options to subscribe for or purchase any share of any class or any other rights, warrants or options; or

 

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(iii) of any reclassification of the Common Stock of the Company (other than a subdivision or combination of its outstanding Common Stock, or a change in par value, or from par value to no par value, or from no par value to par value), or of any consolidation, merger, or share exchange to which the Company is a party and for which approval of any holders of Common Stock is required, or of the sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; or

(iv) of the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding-up of the Company;

the Company shall cause to be filed with the Trustee and the Conversion Agent and to be mailed to each Holder of Securities at its address appearing on the list provided for in Section 2.05, as promptly as possible but in any event at least ten days prior to the applicable date hereinafter specified, a notice stating (x) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution or rights, warrants or options, or, if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the holders of Common Stock of record to be entitled to such dividend, distribution or rights are to be determined, or (y) the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, share exchange, sale, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up is expected to become effective or occur, and the date as of which it is expected that holders of Common Stock of record shall be entitled to exchange their Common Stock for securities or other property deliverable upon such reclassification, consolidation, merger, share exchange, sale, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up. Failure to give such notice, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of such dividend, distribution, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, share exchange, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up.

SECTION 9.11. Effect of Reclassification, Consolidation, Merger, Share Exchange or Sale on Conversion Privilege. Upon (i) any reclassification or change of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (other than a change in par value, or from par value to no par value, or from no par value to par value, or as a result of a split, subdivision or combination), (ii) any consolidation, merger or combination of the Company with another Person as a result of which holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive cash, stock, securities or other property or assets with respect to or in exchange for such shares of Common Stock (other than a merger in which the Company is the continuing corporation and which does not result in any reclassification of, or change (other than a change in name, or par value, or from par value to no par value, or from no par value to par value or as a result of a subdivision or combination) in, the Common Stock), or (iii) any sale, lease, transfer or conveyance of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries substantially as an entirety to any other Person, or any statutory share exchange, as a result of which holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive cash, stock, securities or other property or assets (including any combination thereof) with respect to or in exchange for such Common Stock (any such event a “Merger Event”), then:

 

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(a) the Company or the successor or purchasing corporation, as the case may be, shall execute with the Trustee a supplemental indenture (which shall comply with the TIA as in force at the date of execution of such supplemental indenture if such supplemental indenture is then required to so comply) permitted under Section 10.01(6) providing for the conversion and settlement of the Securities as set forth in this Indenture. Such supplemental indenture shall provide for adjustments which shall be as nearly equivalent as may be practicable to the adjustments provided for in this Article Nine. If, in the case of any Merger Event, the Reference Property includes shares of stock or other securities and assets of a corporation other than the successor or purchasing corporation, as the case may be, in such reclassification, change, consolidation, merger, combination, sale or conveyance, then such supplemental indenture shall also be executed by such other corporation and shall contain such additional provisions to protect the interests of the Holder of the Securities as the Board of Directors of the Company shall reasonably consider necessary by reason of the foregoing, including to the extent required by the Board of Directors of the Company and practicable the provisions providing for the repurchase rights set forth in Article Three herein.

In the event the Company shall execute a supplemental indenture pursuant to this Section 9.11, the Company shall promptly file with the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate briefly stating the reasons therefor, the kind or amount of cash, shares of stock or other securities or property that will constitute the Reference Property after any such Merger Event, any adjustment to be made with respect thereto and shall promptly mail notice thereof to all Holders.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 9.02, and subject to the provisions Section 9.05(c) in the case of a Public Acquirer Change in Control, at the effective time of such Merger Event, (i) the right to convert each $1,000 principal amount of Securities will be changed to a right to convert such Security into cash (up to the aggregate principal amount thereof) and, if applicable, the kind and amount of shares of stock, securities or other property or assets (including any combination thereof) that a holder of a number of shares of Common Stock immediately prior to such transaction would have owned or been entitled to receive (the “Reference Property”) based on the Daily Conversion Values of the Reference Property and (ii) the related conversion obligation of the Company shall be settled at the times and otherwise as set forth under clause (c) below. In the event holders of shares of Common Stock have the opportunity to elect the form of consideration to be received in such Merger Event, the type and amount of consideration that Holders of Securities would have been entitled to receive shall be deemed to be the weighted average of the types and amounts of consideration received by holders of shares of Common Stock that affirmatively make an election. The Company shall not become a party to any such transaction unless its terms are consistent with the preceding. None of the foregoing provisions shall affect the right of a Holder of Securities to convert its Securities into cash and shares of Common Stock, as set forth in Section 9.01 prior to the effective date of such Merger Event.

(c) If the Securities shall be convertible into Reference Property as set forth above, the related conversion obligation of the Company, with respect to each $1,000 principal amount of Securities tendered for conversion after the effective time of

 

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any such Merger Event, shall be settled in cash and, if applicable, units of Reference Property; provided that for purposes of determining the conversion consideration, amounts shall be based on the per unit average value of the Reference Property during the applicable period, such per unit value shall be (i) for any shares of common stock that are included in the Reference Property, the value using the procedures set forth in the definition of “Closing Sale Price” (ii) for any other property (other than cash) included in the Reference Property, the value as determined in good faith by two independent nationally recognized investment banks as of the effective date of the Merger Event and (iii) for any cash, the face amount of such cash.

(d) The Company shall cause notice of the execution of such supplemental indenture to be mailed to each Holders of Securities, at its last address appearing on the list of names and addresses of Holders provided for in Section 2.05, within 20 days after execution thereof. Failure to deliver such notice shall not affect the legality or validity of such supplemental indenture.

(e) The above provisions of this Section shall similarly apply to successive Merger Events.

SECTION 9.12. Trustee’s Disclaimer. The Trustee and any Conversion Agent shall not at any time be under any duty or responsibility to any Holder of Securities to determine whether any facts exist which may require any adjustment of the Conversion Price or to determine the Conversion Price or with respect to the nature or intent of any such adjustments when made, or with respect to the method employed, as set forth herein or in any supplemental indenture. Neither the Trustee nor any Conversion Agent shall be accountable with respect to the validity or value (of the kind or amount) of any Common Stock or to monitor the price of the Common Stock, or of any other securities or property, which may at any time be issued or delivered upon the conversion of any Security; and it or they do not make any representation with respect thereto. Neither the Trustee nor any Conversion Agent shall be responsible for any failure of the Company to make any cash payment or to issue, transfer or deliver any shares of stock or share certificates or other securities or property upon the surrender of any Security for the purpose of conversion; and the Trustee and any Conversion Agent shall not be responsible or liable for any failure of the Company to comply with any of the covenants of the Company contained in this Article.

SECTION 9.13. Voluntary Reduction. The Company from time to time may reduce the Conversion Price by any amount for any period of time if such period is at least 20 Trading Days or such longer period as may be required by law and if the reduction is irrevocable during such period; if the Board of Directors of the Company determines, in good faith, that such decrease would be in the best interests of the Company; provided that in no event may the Conversion Price be less than the par value of a share of Common Stock. Any such determination by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be conclusive.

SECTION 9.14. Payment Upon Conversion. (a) In the event that the Company receives a Holder’s conversion notice, for each $1,000 aggregate principal

 

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amount of Securities surrendered for conversion, the Company shall be required to pay to such Holder the aggregate of the Daily Settlement Amount for each of the 20 consecutive Trading Days during the Cash Settlement Averaging Period (the “Settlement Amount”).

(b) The following terms shall have the following meanings:

(i) “Daily Settlement Amount” for each of the 20 consecutive Trading Days during a Cash Settlement Averaging Period shall consist of:

(A) cash equal to the lesser of $50 and the Daily Conversion Value of Common Stock; and

(B) to the extent the Daily Conversion Value of Common Stock exceeds $50, a number of shares equal to (A) the difference between the Daily Conversion Value of Common Stock and $50, divided by (B) the Closing Sale Price of Common Stock for such day.

(ii) “Daily Conversion Value” means, for each of the 20 consecutive Trading Days during a Cash Settlement Averaging Period, one-twentieth (1/20) of the product of (A) the Conversion Rate on such day and (B) the Closing Sale Price on such day.

(iii) “Cash Settlement Averaging Period” with respect to any Security being converted means the 20 consecutive Trading-Day period beginning on and including the second Trading Day after a notice of conversion in respect of such Security is delivered to the Conversion Agent, except that with respect to any notice of conversion received after the date of issuance of a notice of redemption pursuant to Section 3.03, the “Cash Settlement Averaging Period” means the 20 consecutive Trading Days beginning on and including the day which is the twenty-third scheduled Trading Day prior to the applicable redemption date.

(c) The Company will deliver the Settlement Amount on the third Business Day immediately following the last day of the Cash Settlement Averaging Period in respect of converted Securities.

(d) No fractional shares of Common Stock or securities representing fractional shares of Common Stock will be issued upon conversion. Any fractional interest in a share of Common Stock resulting from conversion will be paid in cash based on the average of the Closing Sale Prices on each day during the relevant Cash Settlement Averaging Period. For purposes of the foregoing, fractional shares arising from the calculation of the Daily Settlement Amount for any day in the Cash Settlement Averaging Period shall be aggregated with fractional shares for all other days in such period in determining the Settlement Amount, and any whole shares resulting therefrom shall be issued, and any remaining fractional shares shall be paid in cash.

(e) Except as provided in Section 9.02(c), delivery of the Settlement Amount and cash in lieu of fractional shares will be deemed to satisfy the Company’s obligation to pay the principal amount of a converted Security and accrued but unpaid

 

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interest thereon. Any accrued interest payable on a converted Security will be deemed paid in full rather than canceled, extinguished or forfeited. The Company will not adjust the Conversion Price to account for accrued and unpaid interest.

ARTICLE TEN

 

AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS

SECTION 10.01. Without Consent of Holders.  

The Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Securities without notice to or consent of any Holder:

(1) to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency;

(2) to comply with Section 6.01 or 11.02;

(3) to reflect the addition or release of any Subsidiary Guarantor, as provided for by this Indenture;

(4) to comply with any requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA; or

(5) to make any change that would provide any additional benefit or rights to the Holders or that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder in any material respect; or

(6) to make provisions with respect to the conversion right of the Holders pursuant to the requirements in this Indenture.

Upon the request of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, accompanied by a Board Resolution of the Company and of each Subsidiary Guarantor authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 10.06, the Trustee shall join with the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors in the execution of any supplemental indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained. After an amendment or supplement under this Section becomes effective, the Company shall mail to the Holders of each Security affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment or supplement. Any failure of the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.

SECTION 10.02. With Consent of Holders. Except as provided below in this Section 10.02, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Securities with the written consent (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for Securities or a solicitation of consents in respect of Securities, provided that in each case such offer or

 

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solicitation is made to all Holders of then outstanding Securities on equal terms) of the Holders of at least a majority of the principal amount of the outstanding Securities.

Upon the request of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, accompanied by a Board Resolution of the Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of the Holders as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the Opinion of Counsel described in Section 10.06, the Trustee shall join with the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors in the execution of such supplemental indenture.

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

The Holders of a majority of the principal amount of the outstanding Securities may waive compliance in a particular instance by the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors with any provision of this Indenture or the Securities (including waivers obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for Securities or a solicitation of consents in respect of Securities, provided that in each case such offer or solicitation is made to all Holders of the then outstanding Securities on equal terms). However, without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section may not:

(1) reduce the percentage of principal amount of Securities whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver of any provision of this Indenture or the Securities;

(2) reduce the rate or change the time for payment of interest, including default interest, on the Securities;

(3) reduce the principal amount of any Security or change the Maturity Date of the Securities;

(4) reduce the redemption price, including premium, if any, payable upon the redemption of any Security or change the time at which any Security may be redeemed;

(5) modify the provisions of this Indenture requiring the Company to make an offer to repurchase Securities upon a Fundamental Change pursuant to Section 3.09, or to repurchase the Securities at the option of the Holders pursuant to Section 3.08;

(6) adversely affect the conversion rights provided in Article Nine;

(7) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of any amount or shares of Common Stock (or other property) with respect to the Securities due in connection with any Security;

 

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(8) make any Security payable in money other than that stated in the Security;

(9) impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of the payment of any amount or shares of Common Stock (or other property) with respect to any Security pursuant to Sections 7.07 or 7.08, except as limited by Section 7.06; or

(10) make any change in Section 7.04 or Section 7.07 or in this sentence of this Section 10.02.

The right of any Holder to participate in any consent required or sought pursuant to any provision of this Indenture (and the obligation of the Company to obtain any such consent otherwise required from such Holder) may be subject to the requirement that such Holder shall have been the Holder of record of any Securities with respect to which such consent is required or sought as of a date identified by the Trustee in a notice furnished to Holders in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

SECTION 10.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act. Every amendment to or supplement of this Indenture or the Securities shall comply with the TIA as then in effect.

SECTION 10.04. Revocation and Effect of Consents. A consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver by a Holder of a Security shall bind the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Security. However, until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to its Security or portion of a Security. For such revocation to be effective, the Trustee must receive the notice of revocation before the date the amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective.

The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to consent to any amendment, supplement or waiver. If the Company elects to fix a record date for such purpose, the record date shall be fixed at (i) the later of 30 days prior to the first solicitation of such consent or the date of the most recent list of Holders furnished to the Trustee prior to such solicitation pursuant to Section 2.05, or (ii) such other date as the Company shall designate. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the provisions of the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to consent to such amendment or waiver or to revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No consent shall be valid or effective for more than 90 days after such record date unless consent from the Holders of the principal amount of Securities required hereunder for such amendment or waiver to be effective also shall have been given and not revoked within such 90-day period.

 

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After an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every Holder unless it makes a change described in any of clauses (1) through (10) of Section 10.02. In that case the amendment, supplement or waiver shall bind each Holder of a Security who has consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security.

SECTION 10.05. Notation on or Exchange of Securities. If an amendment, supplement or waiver changes the terms of a Security, the Trustee may require the Holder of the Security to deliver it to the Trustee. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation on the Security about the changed terms and return it to the Holder. Alternatively, if the Company or the Trustee so determines, the Company in exchange for the Security shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a new Security that reflects the changed terms.

SECTION 10.06. Trustee Protected. The Trustee shall sign any amendment or supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article if the amendment or supplement or waiver does not adversely affect the rights of the Trustee. If it does adversely affect the rights of the Trustee, the Trustee may but need not sign it. In signing such amendment or supplement or waiver the Trustee shall be provided with, and (subject to Article Eight) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel stating that such amendment or supplement or waiver is authorized or permitted by and complies with this Indenture and all conditions precedent to the execution of such amendment, supplement or waiver have been met. The Company may not sign an amendment or supplement until the Boards of Directors of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors approve it.

ARTICLE ELEVEN

 

GUARANTEES

SECTION 11.01. Unconditional Guarantee. Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby, jointly and severally, fully and unconditionally guarantees, as principal obligor and not only as surety (such guarantee to be referred to herein as the “Guarantee”), to each Holder and to the Trustee the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities and all other amounts due and payable under this Indenture and the Securities by the Company whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption, repurchase or otherwise, including, without limitation, interest on the overdue principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities, to the extent lawful, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; subject, however, to the limitations set forth in Section 11.05.

Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Subsidiary Guarantors will be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Securities or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of the Securities with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof,

 

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the recovery of any judgment against the Company, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor. Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that this Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Securities, this Indenture and in this Guarantee. If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor, or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, any amount paid by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor to the Trustee or such Holder, this Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect. Each Subsidiary Guarantor agrees it shall not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby. Each Subsidiary Guarantor further agrees that, as between each Subsidiary Guarantor, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article Seven for the purposes of this Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article Seven, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by each Subsidiary Guarantor for the purpose of this Guarantee.

SECTION 11.02. Subsidiary Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms. (a) Subject to paragraph (b) of this Section 11.02, no Subsidiary Guarantor may consolidate or merge with or into (whether or not such Subsidiary Guarantor is the surviving Person) another Person unless (i) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Subsidiary Guarantor) assumes all the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under this Indenture and the Securities pursuant to a supplemental indenture, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee and (ii) immediately after such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists. In connection with any consolidation or merger contemplated by this Section 11.02, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee prior to the consummation of the proposed transaction an Officers’ Certificate to the foregoing effect and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the proposed transaction and such supplemental indenture comply with this Indenture. This Section 11.02(a) will not prohibit a merger between Subsidiary Guarantors or a merger between the Company and a Subsidiary Guarantor.

(b) In the event of a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of any Subsidiary Guarantor or a sale or other disposition of all of the Capital Stock of such Subsidiary Guarantor, in any case by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, then such Subsidiary Guarantor (in the event of a sale or other disposition, by way of such a merger, consolidation or otherwise, of all of the Capital Stock of such Subsidiary Guarantor) or the Person acquiring the assets (in the event of a sale or other disposition, by way of a merger, consolidation or otherwise, of all or substantially all of

 

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the assets of such Subsidiary Guarantor) will be released and relieved of any obligations under its Guarantee.

SECTION 11.03. Addition of Subsidiary Guarantors. (a) The Company agrees to cause each domestic Subsidiary that shall become a Subsidiary after the Issue Date and that guarantees any other Indebtedness of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor in excess of a De Minimis Guaranteed Amount to execute and deliver a supplemental indenture pursuant to which such Subsidiary shall guarantee the payment of the Securities pursuant to the terms hereof within 180 days after the later of (i) the date that Subsidiary becomes a domestic Subsidiary and (ii) the date that Subsidiary guarantees such other Indebtedness; provided that no guarantee shall be required if the Subsidiary merges into the Company or an existing Subsidiary Guarantor and the surviving entity remains a Subsidiary Guarantor.

(b) Any Person that was not a Subsidiary Guarantor on the Issue Date may become a Subsidiary Guarantor by executing and delivering to the Trustee (i) a supplemental indenture in form and substance satisfactory to the Trustee, which subjects such Person to the provisions (including the representations and warranties) of this Indenture as a Subsidiary Guarantor and (ii) an Opinion of Counsel and Officers’ Certificate to the effect that such supplemental indenture has been duly authorized and executed by such Person and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Person (subject to such customary exceptions concerning creditors’ rights and equitable principles as may be acceptable to the Trustee in its discretion and provided that no opinion need be rendered concerning the enforceability of the Guarantee).

SECTION 11.04. Release of a Subsidiary Guarantor. Upon (i) the sale or disposition of a Subsidiary Guarantor (or all or substantially all of its assets), (ii) the cessation by a Subsidiary Guarantor to guarantee any other Indebtedness of the Company or any other Subsidiary Guarantor other than a De Minimis Guaranteed Amount or (iii) the discharge of this Indenture pursuant to Article Thirteen, in each case which is otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture, including but not limited to the provisions of Section 11.02, such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be deemed released from all of its Guarantee and related obligations in this Indenture without any further action by the Trustee, the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor. The Trustee shall deliver an appropriate instrument evidencing such release upon receipt of a request by the Company accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and, in the case of the release of a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to clause (i) of the first sentence of this Section 11.04, an Opinion of Counsel certifying that such sale or other disposition was made by the Company in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture. Any Subsidiary Guarantor not so released remains liable for the full amount of principal of and interest on the Securities as provided in this Article Eleven.

SECTION 11.05. Limitation of Subsidiary Guarantor’s Liability. Each Subsidiary Guarantor, and by its acceptance hereof each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the guarantee by such Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to its Guarantee not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of any federal, state or foreign law. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Holders and

 

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each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor under the Guarantee shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Subsidiary Guarantor and after giving effect to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Subsidiary Guarantor under its Guarantee or pursuant to Section 11.06, result in the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under the Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under federal, state or foreign law. This Section 11.05 is for the benefit of the creditors of each Subsidiary Guarantor, and, for purposes of applicable fraudulent transfer and fraudulent conveyance law, any Indebtedness of a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to Credit Facilities shall be deemed to have been incurred prior to the incurrence by such Subsidiary Guarantor of its liability under the Guarantee.

SECTION 11.06. Contribution. In order to provide for just and equitable contribution among the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Subsidiary Guarantors agree, inter se, that in the event any payment or distribution is made by any Subsidiary Guarantor (a “Funding Guarantor”) under the Guarantee, such Funding Guarantor shall be entitled to a contribution from each other Subsidiary Guarantor in a pro rata amount based on the Adjusted Net Assets of each Subsidiary Guarantor (including the Funding Guarantor) for all payments, damages and expenses incurred by the Funding Guarantor in discharging the Company’s obligations with respect to the Securities or any other Subsidiary Guarantor’s obligations with respect to the Guarantee.

SECTION 11.07. [ Intentionally Omitted .]

SECTION 11.08. Severability. In case any provision of this Guarantee shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that portion of such provision that is not invalid, illegal or unenforceable shall remain in effect, and the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

ARTICLE TWELVE

 

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 12.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls. Whether prior to or following the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA, if any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies, or conflicts with the duties imposed by operation of TIA Section 318(c) upon an indenture qualified under the TIA, the imposed duties shall control under this Indenture.

SECTION 12.02. Notices. Any notice or communication shall be sufficiently given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by certified or registered mail (return receipt requested), facsimile, telecopier or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, addressed as follows:

 

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If to the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor:

Chesapeake Energy Corporation

6100 North Western Avenue

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73118

 

Attention: Treasurer

Fax: (405) 879-9572

If to the Trustee:

The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.

2 N. LaSalle Street

Suite 1020

Chicago, IL 60602

Attention: Corporate Trust Administration

Fax: (312) 827-8542

The Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor or the Trustee by notice to the other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

All notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt acknowledged, if faxed or telecopied; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.

Any notice or communication mailed to a Holder shall be mailed by first-class mail to the address for such Holder appearing on the registration books of the Registrar and shall be sufficiently given to such Holder if so mailed within the time prescribed. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.

If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it. If the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor mails notice or communications to Holders, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

SECTION 12.03. Communication by Holders with Other Holders. Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA Section 312(b) with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities. The Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA Section 312(c).

SECTION 12.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent. Upon any request or application by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor to the

 

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Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be, shall furnish to the Trustee:

(1) an Officers’ Certificate (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 12.05) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, the conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and

(2) an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, such conditions precedent have been complied with.

SECTION 12.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion. Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include:

(1) a statement that each person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

(2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

(3) a statement that, in the opinion of each such person, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

(4) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of each such person, such covenant or condition has been complied with.

SECTION 12.06. Rules by Trustee and Agents. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for actions taken by, or meetings or consents of, Holders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules for its functions.

SECTION 12.07. Legal Holidays. A “Legal Holiday” is a Saturday, a Sunday, or a day on which banks and trust companies in the City of New York are not required by law or executive order to be open. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at the place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, without additional interest.

SECTION 12.08. Governing Law. THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES AND THE GUARANTEES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAW OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WOULD

 

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REQUIRE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION REGARDING THE VALIDITY OF THE SECURITIES.

SECTION 12.09. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements. This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Subsidiary. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

SECTION 12.10. No Recourse Against Others. All liability described in Paragraph 16 of the Securities of any director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors or the Trustee is waived and released.

SECTION 12.11. Successors. All agreements of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors in this Indenture, the Securities and the Guarantees shall bind their respective successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successor.

SECTION 12.12. Duplicate Originals. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same instrument.

SECTION 12.13. Severability. In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby, and a Holder shall have no claim therefor against any party hereto.

ARTICLE THIRTEEN

 

DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

SECTION 13.01. Discharge of Liability on Securities. When (a) the Company delivers to the Trustee all outstanding Securities (other than Securities replaced pursuant to Section 2.07) for cancellation or (b) all outstanding Securities have become due and payable and the Company deposits with the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Conversion Agent, as applicable, cash and shares of Common Stock or other property (as applicable under the terms of this Indenture) sufficient to pay all amounts due and owing on all outstanding Securities (other than Securities replaced pursuant to Section 2.07), and if in either case the Company pays all other sums payable hereunder by the Company, then this Indenture shall, subject to Section 8.07, cease to be of further effect. The Trustee shall join in the execution of a document prepared by the Company acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture on demand at the cost and expense of the Company and accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel.

SECTION 13.02. Repayment to the Company. The Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Conversion Agent shall return to the Company upon written request any money or shares of Common Stock or other property held by them for the payment of any amount with respect to the Securities that remain unclaimed for two years, subject to

 

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71

 

applicable unclaimed property law. After return to the Company, Holders entitled to the money or shares of Common Stock or other property must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another person, and the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Conversion Agent shall have no further liability to the Holders with respect to such money or shares of Common Stock or other property for that period commencing after the return thereof.

 

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SIGNATURES

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

 

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION

By: 


/s/ MARTHA A. BURGER

 

 

Name: Martha A. Burger
Title: Treasurer & Senior Vice President

Human Resources

 

 

 

 

 

SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS:

 

 

 

 

CHESAPEAKE EAGLE CANADA CORP.

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY LOUISIANA CORPORATION

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY MARKETING, INC.

CHESAPEAKE OPERATING, INC.

CHESAPEAKE PRH CORP.

CHESAPEAKE SOUTH TEXAS CORP.

NOMAC DRILLING CORPORATION

OXLEY PETROLEUM CO.

CARMEN ACQUISITION, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE ACQUISITION, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE ENO ACQUISITION, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE EP, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE LAND COMPANY, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE ORC, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE ROYALTY, L.L.C.

GOTHIC PRODUCTION, L.L.C.

JOHN C. OXLEY, L.L.C.

MAYFIELD PROCESSING L.L.C.

MC MINERAL COMPANY, L.L.C.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ MARTHA A. BURGER

 

 

Name: Martha A. Burger

 

 

Title: Treasurer and Vice President

 

 

[[NYCORP:2552346v6:4259b:11/07/05--10:59 p]]

 

 

 

 

CHESAPEAKE EXPLORATION
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

CHESAPEAKE LOUISIANA, L.P.

CHESAPEAKE NFW, L.P.

CHESAPEAKE PERMIAN, L.P.

CHESAPEAKE SIGMA, L.P.

CHESAPEAKE-STAGHORN
ACQUISITION L.P.

CHESAPEAKE ZAPATA, L.P.,

 

 

By        Chesapeake Operating, Inc., as general partner of each respective entity

 

 

By: 


/s/ MARTHA A. BURGER

 

 

Name: Martha A. Burger

 

 

Title: Treasurer and Senior Vice President -

Human Resources

 

 

MIDCON COMPRESSION, L.P.,

 

 

By        Chesapeake Energy Marketing, Inc., as general partner

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Martha A. Burger

 

 

Name:    Martha A. Burger

 

 

Title:   Treasurer and Vice President

 

 

[[NYCORP:2552346v6:4259b:11/07/05--10:59 p]]

 

 

 

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee

 

By:

/s/ LINDA GARCIA

 

Name:  Linda Garcia

 

Title:    Authorized Signatory

 

 

[[NYCORP:2552346v6:4259b:11/07/05--10:59 p]]

 

A-1

 

 

RULE 144A APPENDIX

PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE SECURITIES

1.

Definitions

 

 

1.1

Definitions

For the purposes of this Appendix the following terms shall have the meanings indicated below:

“Depository” means The Depository Trust Company, its nominees and their respective successors.

“Initial Purchasers” means (1) with respect to the Securities issued on the Issue Date, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Banc of America Securities LLC, Credit Suisse First Boston LLC, Lehman Brothers Inc., UBS Securities LLC, Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co., Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, RBC Capital Markets Corporation, Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC, ABN AMRO Incorporated, BOSC, Inc., Comerica Securities, Inc., Fortis Securities LLC, Harris Nesbitt Corp., TD Securities (USA) LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and (2) with respect to each issuance of Additional Securities, the Persons purchasing such Additional Securities under the related Purchase Agreement.

“Securities” means (1) $690,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 2.75% Contingent Convertible Senior Notes due 2035 issued on the Issue Date and (2) Additional Securities, if any, issued in one or more transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

“Purchase Agreement” means (1) with respect to the Securities issued on the Issue Date, the Purchase Agreement dated November 2, 2005, among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers and (2) with respect to each issuance of Additional Securities, the purchase agreement or underwriting agreement among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Persons purchasing such Additional Securities.

“QIB” means a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A.

“Registration Rights Agreement” means (1) with respect to the Securities issued on the Issue Date, the Registration Rights Agreement dated November 8, 2005, among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers, and (2) with respect to each issuance of Additional Securities issued in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, the registration rights agreement, if any, among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Persons purchasing such Additional Securities under the related Purchase Agreement.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

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A-2

 

 

“Securities Custodian” means the custodian with respect to a Global Security (as appointed by the Depository), or any successor Person thereto and shall initially be the Trustee.

“Shelf Registration Statement” means the registration statement issued by the Company in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities.

“Transfer Restricted Securities” means Securities that bear or are required to bear the legend set forth in Section 2.3(b) hereto.

 

1.2

Other Definitions.

 

Term

Defined in
Section :

“Agent Members”

2.1(b)

“Global Security”

2.1(a)

“Restricted Global Security”

2.1(a)

“Rule 144A”

2.1(a)

 

2.

The Securities.

2.1            (a) Form and Dating. Securities offered and sold to a QIB in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act (“Rule 144A”) as provided in a Purchase Agreement, or resold in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act, shall be issued initially in the form of one or more permanent global Securities (each, a “Global Security”) in definitive, fully registered form without interest coupons with the global securities legend and restricted securities legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto (each, a “Restricted Global Security”), which shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Securities represented thereby with the Trustee, at its principal corporate trust office, as Securities Custodian, and registered in the name of the Depository or a nominee of the Depository, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. The aggregate principal amount of the Global Securities may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and the Depository or its nominee as hereinafter provided.

(b)   Book-Entry Provisions. This Section 2.1(b) shall apply only to a Global Security deposited with or on behalf of the Depository.

The Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with this Section 2.1(b), authenticate and deliver initially one or more Global Securities that (a) shall be registered in the name of the Depository for such Global Security or Global Securities or the nominee of such Depository and (b) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depository or pursuant to such Depository’s instructions or held by the Trustee as Securities Custodian.

 

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A-3

 

 

Members of, or participants in, the Depository (“Agent Members”) shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Security held on their behalf by the Depository or by the Trustee as Securities Custodian or under such Global Security, and the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be entitled to treat the Depository as the absolute owner of such Global Security for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depository or impair, as between the Depository and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices of such Depository governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of a beneficial interest in any Global Security.

(c) Certificated Securities. Except as provided in Section 2.3 or 2.4, owners of beneficial interests in Restricted Global Securities shall not be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificated Securities.

2.2            Authentication. The Trustee shall authenticate and deliver: (1) on the Issue Date, an aggregate principal amount of $690,000,000 2.75% Contingent Convertible Senior Notes due 2035 and (2) from time to time after the Issue Date, any Additional Securities for an original issue in an aggregate principal amount specified in the written order of the Company pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Indenture, in each case upon a written order of the Company signed by two Officers or by an Officer and either the Secretary, an Assistant Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary of the Company. Such order shall specify the amount of the Securities to be authenticated and the date on which the original issue of Securities is to be authenticated.

 

2.3

Transfer and Exchange.

(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Securities.

(i)  The transfer and exchange of Global Securities or beneficial interests therein shall be effected through the Depository, in accordance with this Indenture (including applicable restrictions on transfer set forth herein, if any) and the procedures of the Depository therefor. A transferor of a beneficial interest in a Global Security shall deliver to the Registrar a written order given in accordance with the Depository’s procedures containing information regarding the participant account of the Depository to be credited with a beneficial interest in the Global Security. The Registrar shall, in accordance with such instructions instruct the Depository to credit to the account of the Person specified in such instructions a beneficial interest in the Global Security and to debit the account of the Person making the transfer the beneficial interest in the Global Security being transferred.

(ii)  Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Appendix (other than the provisions set forth in Section 2.4), a Global Security may not be transferred as a whole except by the Depository to a nominee of the Depository or by a nominee of the Depository to the Depository or another nominee of the Depository or by

 

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A-4

 

the Depository or any such nominee to a successor Depository or a nominee of such successor Depository.

(iii)  In the event that a Restricted Global Security is exchanged for Securities in certificated registered form pursuant to Section 2.4 of this Appendix, prior to the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to such Securities, such Securities may be exchanged only in accordance with such procedures as are substantially consistent with the provisions of this Section 2.3 (including the certification requirements set forth on the reverse of the Securities intended to ensure that such transfers comply with Rule 144A or Regulation S, as the case may be) and such other procedures as may from time to time be adopted by the Company.

(b)   Legend.

(i)  Except as permitted by the following paragraphs (ii) and (iii), each Security certificate evidencing the Restricted Global Securities (and all Securities issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof) shall, until the expiration of the applicable holding period with respect to the Securities set forth in Rule 144(k) of the Securities Act, bear a legend in substantially the following form:

THIS SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND THIS SECURITY AND ANY SECURITY THAT MAY BE ISSUED UPON CONVERSION HEREOF MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM. EACH PURCHASER OF THIS SECURITY IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER OF THIS SECURITY MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER.

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT (A) THIS SECURITY AND ANY SECURITY THAT MAY BE ISSUED UPON CONVERSION HEREOF MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, ONLY (I) IN THE UNITED STATES TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (II) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (III) PURSUANT TO EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES

 

[[NYCORP:2552346v6:4259b:11/07/05--10:59 p]]

 

A-5

 

ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE) OR (IV) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH OF CASES (I) THROUGH (IV) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES, AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS SECURITY FROM IT OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO IN (A) ABOVE. IN ANY CASE, THE HOLDER HEREOF WILL NOT, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ENGAGE IN ANY HEDGING TRANSACTION WITH REGARD TO THE SECURITIES EXCEPT AS PERMITTED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

(ii)  Upon any sale or transfer of a Transfer Restricted Security (including any Transfer Restricted Security represented by a Restricted Global Security) pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, the Registrar shall permit the transferee thereof to exchange such Transfer Restricted Security for a certificated Security that does not bear the legend set forth above and rescind any restriction on the transfer of such Transfer Restricted Security, if the transferor thereof certifies in writing to the Registrar that such sale or transfer was made in reliance on Rule 144 (such certification to be in the form set forth on the reverse of the Security).

(iii)  After a transfer of any Securities pursuant to and during the period of the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to such Securities, all requirements pertaining to legends on such Security will cease to apply, the requirements requiring any such Security issued to certain Holders be issued in global form will cease to apply, and a certificated Security or a Security in global form, in each case without restrictive transfer legends, will be available to the transferee of the Holder of such Securities upon exchange of such transferring Holder’s certificated Security or directions to transfer such Holder’s interest in the Global Security, as applicable.

(c) Cancellation or Adjustment of Global Security. At such time as all beneficial interests in a Global Security have either been exchanged for certificated Securities, redeemed, purchased, converted or canceled, such Global Security shall be returned to the Depository for cancelation or retained and canceled by the Trustee. At any time prior to such cancelation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Security is exchanged for certificated Securities, redeemed, purchased, converted or canceled, the principal amount of Securities represented by such Global Security shall be reduced and an adjustment shall be made on the books and records of the Trustee (if it is then the Securities Custodian for such Global Security) with respect to such Global Security, by the Trustee or the Securities Custodian, to reflect such reduction.

(d)   Obligations with Respect to Transfers and Exchanges of Securities.

 

[[NYCORP:2552346v6:4259b:11/07/05--10:59 p]]

 

A-6

 

 

(i)  To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate certificated Securities and Global Securities at the Registrar’s or co-registrar’s request.

(ii)  No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax, assessments, or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes, assessments or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Section 3.06 of the Indenture).

(iii)  The Registrar or co-registrar shall not be required to register the transfer of or exchange of any Security for a period beginning 15 Business Days before the mailing of a notice of an offer to repurchase or redeem Securities or 15 Business Days before an interest payment date.

(iv)  Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Security, the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar or any co-registrar may deem and treat the person in whose name a Security is registered as the absolute owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security is overdue, and none of the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar or any co-registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

(v)  All Securities issued upon any transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of this Indenture shall evidence the same debt and shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Securities surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.

(e)   No Obligation of the Trustee.

(i)  The Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a Global Security, Agent Member or other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depository or its nominee or of any Agent Member, with respect to any ownership interest in the Securities or with respect to the delivery to any Agent Member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depository) of any notice (including any notice of redemption) or the payment of any amount, under or with respect to such Securities. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders under the Securities shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the registered Holders (which shall be the Depository or its nominee in the case of a Global Security). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Security shall be exercised only through the Depository subject to the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository. The Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the Depository with respect to its Agent Members and any beneficial owners.

 

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A-7

 

 

(ii)  The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Security (including any transfers between or among Agent Members or beneficial owners in any Global Security) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

 

2.4

Certificated Securities.

(a)  A Restricted Global Security deposited with the Depository or with the Trustee as Securities Custodian pursuant to Section 2.1 shall be transferred to the beneficial owners thereof in the form of certificated Securities in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Security, in exchange for such Global Security, only if such transfer complies with Section 2.3 and (i) the Depository notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depository for such Restricted Global Security or if at any time such Depository ceases to be a “clearing agency” registered under the Exchange Act and a successor Depository is not appointed by the Company within 90 days of such notice or (ii) at any time the Company, in its sole discretion, notifies the Trustee in writing that it elects to cause the issuance of certificated Securities under this Indenture.

(b)  Any Restricted Global Security that is transferable to the beneficial owners thereof pursuant to this Section shall be surrendered by the Depository to the Trustee located at its principal corporate trust office in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, to be so transferred, in whole or from time to time in part, without charge, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, upon such transfer of each portion of such Restricted Global Security, an equal aggregate principal amount of certificated Securities of authorized denominations. Any portion of a Restricted Global Security transferred pursuant to this Section shall be executed, authenticated and delivered only in denominations of $1,000 principal amount and any integral multiple thereof and registered in such names as the Depository shall direct. Any certificated Security shall, except as otherwise provided by Section 2.3(b), bear the restricted securities legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto.

(c)  Subject to the provisions of Section 2.4(b), the registered Holder of a Global Security shall be entitled to grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Securities.

(d)  In the event of the occurrence of any of the events specified in Section 2.4(a), the Company shall promptly make available to the Trustee a reasonable supply of certificated Securities in definitive, fully registered form without interest coupons.

 

[[NYCORP:2552346v6:4259b:11/07/05--10:59 p]]

 

A-8

 

 

 

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B-1

 

 

EXHIBIT 1

to

RULE 144A APPENDIX

[FACE OF SECURITY]

[Global Securities Legend]

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC) ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.

FOR PURPOSES OF SECTIONS 1273 AND 1275 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED, THIS SECURITY IS A CONTINGENT PAYMENT DEBT INSTRUMENT AND WILL ACCRUE ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT AT THE ISSUER’S “COMPARABLE YIELD” FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES. PURSUANT TO SECTION 5.09 OF THE INDENTURE, THE COMPANY AGREES, AND BY ACCEPTANCE OF A BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP INTEREST IN THE SECURITY, EACH BENEFICIAL HOLDER OF THE SECURITIES WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE AGREED, FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES, (I) TO TREAT THE SECURITIES AS INDEBTEDNESS THAT IS SUBJECT TO SECTION 1.1275-4 OF THE UNITED STATES TREASURY REGULATIONS (THE “CONTINGENT PAYMENT REGULATIONS”), AND, FOR PURPOSES OF THE CONTINGENT PAYMENT REGULATIONS, TO TREAT THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF COMMON STOCK, IF ANY, RECEIVED BY A BENEFICIAL HOLDER UPON ANY CONVERSION OF THE SECURITIES AS A CONTINGENT PAYMENT AND (II) TO BE BOUND BY THE ISSUER’S DETERMINATION OF THE “COMPARABLE YIELD” AND “PROJECTED PAYMENT SCHEDULE,” WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE CONTINGENT PAYMENT REGULATIONS, WITH RESPECT TO THE SECURITIES. THE ISSUER’S DETERMINATION OF THE COMPARABLE YIELD IS 6.86% PER

 

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B-2

 

ANNUM, COMPOUNDED SEMIANNUALLY. THE PROJECTED PAYMENT SCHEDULE, DETERMINED BY THE ISSUER, IS ATTACHED TO THE INDENTURE AS SCHEDULE B. YOU MAY OBTAIN THE ISSUE DATE, COMPARABLE YIELD AND PROJECTED PAYMENT SCHEDULE FOR THIS SECURITY BY SUBMITTING A WRITTEN REQUEST FOR SUCH INFORMATION TO CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION, INVESTOR RELATIONS, 6100 NORTH WESTERN AVENUE, OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA 73118.

[Restricted Securities Legend]

THIS SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND THIS SECURITY AND ANY SECURITY THAT MAY BE ISSUED UPON CONVERSION HEREOF MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM. EACH PURCHASER OF THIS SECURITY IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER OF THIS SECURITY MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER.

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT (A) THIS SECURITY AND ANY SECURITY THAT MAY BE ISSUED UPON CONVERSION HEREOF MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, ONLY (I) IN THE UNITED STATES TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (II) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (III) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE) OR (IV) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH OF CASES (I) THROUGH (IV) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES, AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS SECURITY FROM IT OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO IN (A) ABOVE. IN ANY CASE, THE HOLDER HEREOF WILL NOT, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ENGAGE IN ANY HEDGING TRANSACTION WITH REGARD TO THE SECURITIES EXCEPT AS PERMITTED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

 

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B-3

 

 

No.                                                                                                                                                    CUSIP NO.

$

ISIN NO.

2.75% Contingent Convertible Senior Note due 2035

Chesapeake Energy Corporation, an Oklahoma corporation, promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or registered assigns, the principal sum of ____________________ Dollars on November 15, 2035.

Interest Payment Dates: May 15 and November 15 (commencing May 15, 2006 )

Record Dates: May 1 and November 1

Additional provisions of this Security are set forth on the other side of this Security.

Dated: ________________

 

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION,

 

By

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

By

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF

AUTHENTICATION

THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,
AS TRUSTEE, CERTIFIES THAT
THIS IS ONE OF THE SECURITIES
REFERRED TO IN THE INDENTURE.

 

by

 

 

Authorized Signatory

 

 

[[NYCORP:2552346v6:4259b:11/07/05--10:59 p]]

 

_________________________

  Or such later date as is appropriate in the case of Additional Securities.

 

B-4

 

[REVERSE SIDE OF SECURITY]

2.75% Contingent Convertible Senior Note due 2035

1.

Interest

Chesapeake Energy Corporation, an Oklahoma corporation (such corporation, and its successors and assigns under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, being herein called the “Company”), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Security at the rate per annum shown above; provided , however , that if a Registration Default (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) occurs, additional interest will accrue on this Security at a rate of 0.25% per annum for the first 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of a Registration Default, and 0.50% per annum thereafter, including the date on which any such Registration Default shall occur to but excluding the date on which all Registration Defaults have been cured. Upon a Registration Default, no additional interest or other additional amounts will be payable in respect of any shares of Common Stock that may be issued upon conversion hereof. Interest on the Securities will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from November 8, 2005. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. Contingent interest, if any, will accrue for any six-month interest period under the circumstances set forth below, commencing with the six-month interest period ending May 14, 2016, and shall be payable to Holders of this Security on the applicable interest payment date to the person is whose name this Security is registered on the corresponding record date. The Company will pay interest semiannually on May 15 and November 15 of each year, commencing May 15, 2006.

Subject to the terms and conditions of the Indenture, beginning with the six-month interest period ending May 14, 2016, the Company will pay Contingent Interest to the Holders of Securities for any six-month interest period from and including an interest payment date to but excluding the next interest payment date, if the average Trading Price of the Securities for each of the five Trading Days ending on the third day immediately preceding the first day of the applicable six-month interest period equals or exceeds 120% of the principal amount of the Securities, which shall be determined as set forth in the Indenture. For any six-month interest period when Contingent Interest is payable, the Contingent Interest payable on each $1,000 principal amount of Securities shall equal 0.50% per annum of the average Trading Price for $1,000 principal amount of Securities during the five Trading-Day measuring period ending on the third day immediately preceding the first day of the applicable six-month interest period used to determine whether Contingent Interest must be paid. By the first Business Day of a six-month interest period for which Contingent Interest will be paid, the Company will disseminate a press release through Dow Jones & Company, Inc. or Bloomberg Business News or a similarly broad public medium that is customary for such press releases stating that Contingent Interest will be paid on the Securities and identifying such six-month interest period as the six-month interest period for which such Contingent Interest will be

 

[[NYCORP:2552346v6:4259b:11/07/05--10:59 p]]

 

B-5

 

paid. All references in this Security to interest shall include any applicable additional interest and Contingent Interest unless otherwise stated.

2.

Method of Payment

The Company will pay interest on the Securities (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered Holders of Securities at the close of business on the May 1 or November 1 next preceding the interest payment date even if Securities are canceled after the record date and on or before the interest payment date. Holders must surrender Securities to a Paying Agent to collect principal payments. The Company will pay principal and interest in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Payments in respect of the Securities represented by a Global Security (including principal, premium and interest) will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by The Depository Trust Company. The Company will make all payments in respect of a certificated Security (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) by mailing a check to the registered address of each Holder thereof; provided , however , that payments on a certificated Security will be made by wire transfer to a U.S. dollar account maintained by the payee with a bank in the United States if such Holder elects payment by wire transfer by giving written notice to the Trustee or the Paying Agent to such effect designating such account no later than 30 days immediately preceding the relevant due date for payment (or such other date as the Trustee may accept in its discretion).

3.

Registrar, Paying Agent and Conversion Agent

Initially, The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., a national banking association (the “Trustee”), will act as Registrar, Paying Agent and Conversion Agent. The Company may appoint and change any Registrar, Paying Agent and Conversion Agent or co-registrar without notice. The Company or any of its domestically incorporated wholly owned Subsidiaries may act as Registrar, Paying Agent and Conversion Agent or co-registrar.

4.

Indenture

The Company issued the Securities under an Indenture dated as of November 8, 2005 (“Indenture”), among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee. The terms of the Securities include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of the Indenture (the “Act”). Terms defined in the Indenture and not defined herein have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture. The Securities are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and the Act for a statement of those terms.

The Company shall be entitled to issue Additional Securities pursuant to Section 2.13 of the Indenture. The Securities issued on the Issue Date and any Additional Securities will be treated as a single class for all purposes under the Indenture.

 

[[NYCORP:2552346v6:4259b:11/07/05--10:59 p]]

 

B-6

 

 

5.

Optional Redemption

No sinking fund is provided for the Securities. Beginning on November 15, 2015, and during the periods thereafter to maturity, the Securities are redeemable, in whole at any time, or in part from time to time, for cash at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Securities plus accrued and unpaid interest up to but not including the date of redemption; provided that if the redemption date is between the close of business on a record date and the opening of business on the related interest payment date, interest will be payable to the Holders in whose names the Securities are registered at the close of business on the relevant record date. Any redemption pursuant to this paragraph 5 shall be made, to the extent applicable, pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 of the Indenture.

6.

Notice of Redemption

Notice of redemption will be mailed to the Holder’s registered address at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed. If less than all Securities are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select pro rata, by lot or, if the Securities are listed on any securities exchange, by any other method that the Trustee considers fair and appropriate and that complies with the requirements of such exchange, the Securities to be redeemed in multiples of $1,000; provided , however , that no Securities with a principal amount of $1,000 or less will be redeemed in part. Securities in denominations larger than $1,000 may be redeemed in part. On and after the redemption date, interest ceases to accrue on Securities or portions of them called for redemption (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the redemption price or accrued interest).

7.

Repurchase at Option of the Holder on Specified Dates; Repurchase at Option of the Holder Upon a Fundamental Change

Subject to the terms and conditions of the Indenture, the Company shall become obligated to repurchase, at the option of the Holder, on November 15, 2015, 2020, 2025 and 2030, all or a portion of the Securities held by such Holder, in any integral multiple of $1,000, for cash at a price per Security equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Security, together with accrued but unpaid interest thereon, up to but not including the Repurchase Date upon delivery of a Repurchase Notice containing the information set forth in the Indenture, together with the Securities subject thereto, at any time from the opening of business on the date that is 30 Business Days prior to such Repurchase Date until the close of business on the Repurchase Date, and upon delivery of the Securities to the Paying Agent by the Holder as set forth in the Indenture; provided that accrued but unpaid interest will be payable to the Holders in whose names the Securities are registered at the close of business on the relevant record date.

At the option of the Holder and subject to the terms and conditions of the Indenture, the Company shall become obligated to repurchase the Securities held by such Holder after the occurrence of a Fundamental Change for cash at a price equal to 100% of

 

[[NYCORP:2552346v6:4259b:11/07/05--10:59 p]]

 

B-7

 

the principal amount thereof plus accrued but unpaid interest thereon, up to but not including the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date; provided that if the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date is between the close of business on a record date and the opening of business on the related interest payment date, accrued but unpaid interest will be payable to the Holders in whose names the Securities are registered at the close of business on the relevant record date. Holders have the right to withdraw any Repurchase Notice or Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice, as the case may be, by delivering to the Paying Agent a written notice of withdrawal in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture.

If cash sufficient to pay the Repurchase Price or Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, as the case may be, and accrued but unpaid interest on all Securities or portions thereof to be repurchased as of the Repurchase Date or the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, as the case may be, is held by the Paying Agent by 11:00 a.m., New York time, on the Business Day immediately following the Repurchase Date or the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, interest shall cease to accrue on such Securities (or portions thereof) as of such Repurchase Date or Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, and the Holder thereof shall have no other rights as such, other than the right to receive the Repurchase Price or Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, as the case may be, and interest upon surrender of such Security.

8.

Conversion

Subject to the occurrence of certain events as set forth in the Indenture and in compliance with the terms and conditions of the Indenture, prior to the Maturity Date, the Holder has the right, at its option, to convert each $1,000 principal amount, or any integral multiple thereof, of the Securities into cash and, if applicable, shares of Common Stock as described in the Indenture. The Conversion Price shall as of the date of the Indenture initially be $39.07 per share of Common Stock, and the Conversion Rate shall, as of the date of the Indenture, initially be approximately 25.5951 shares of Common Stock per $1,000 principal amount of Securities, subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in the Indenture. To convert a Security, the Holder must deliver this Security (if certificated) with the form entitled “Form of Conversion Notice” on the reverse hereof duly completed and manually signed, to the Company at the office or agency of the Conversion Agent, together with any funds required pursuant to the Indenture, and, unless any shares that may be issuable on conversion are to be issued in the same name as this Security, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company duly executed by, the Holder or by its duly authorized attorney. The Company will notify the Holder of any event triggering the right to convert the Securities as specified above in accordance with the Indenture. If the Securities are not in certificated form, Holders must provide notice of their election in accordance with the Applicable Procedures of the Depository. Upon conversion, the Company will deliver cash equal to the lesser of the aggregate principal amount of Securities being converted and the Settlement Amount, and shares of Common Stock in respect of the remainder, if any, of the Settlement Amount.

 

[[NYCORP:2552346v6:4259b:11/07/05--10:59 p]]

 

B-8

 

 

If the Company reclassifies its outstanding shares of Common Stock, is a party to a consolidation or merger, or sells or disposes to another Person all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, the right to convert a Security into cash and shares of Common Stock will be changed into a right to convert it into cash and the kind or amount of cash, securities or other property receivable upon such event, in each case in accordance with and subject to the terms and conditions of the Indenture.

In addition, following certain transactions described in the Indenture (subject to the requirements of Section 9.05(b) of the Indenture) that occur on or prior to November 15, 2015, that constitute a Fundamental Change, a Holder who elects to convert its Securities in connection with such transaction will be entitled to receive Additional Shares upon conversion. In certain circumstances involving a Public Acquirer Change in Control, the Company may elect, in lieu of issuing Additional Shares, to provide for the conversion of the Securities into shares of Acquirer Common Stock as set forth in Section 9.05(c) of the Indenture.

If a Securities are converted after the close of business on the record date and prior to the opening of business on the next interest payment date, the Securities must be accompanied by payment of an amount equal to the interest payable on such interest payment date on the principal amount of the Securities or portion thereof then converted; provided that no such payment shall be required if such Securities have been called for redemption on a redemption date within the period between close of business on such record date and the opening of business on such interest payment date, or if such Securities are surrendered for conversion on the interest payment date.

No fractional shares will be issued upon any conversion, but an adjustment and payment in cash will be made, as provided in the Indenture, in respect of any fraction of a share which would otherwise be issuable upon the surrender of any Security or Securities for conversion.

A Security in respect of which a Holder is exercising its right to require repurchase upon a Fundamental Change or repurchase on a Repurchase Date may be converted only if such Holder withdraws its election to exercise such right in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

9.

Restrictive Covenants

The Indenture imposes certain limitations on, among other things, the ability of the Company to merge or consolidate with any other Person, all subject to certain limitations described in the Indenture.

10.

Ranking and Guarantees

The Securities are general senior unsecured obligations of the Company. The Company’s obligation to pay principal, premium, if any, and interest with respect to the Securities is unconditionally guaranteed on a senior basis, jointly and severally, by the Subsidiary Guarantors pursuant to Article Eleven of the Indenture. Certain limitations

 

[[NYCORP:2552346v6:4259b:11/07/05--10:59 p]]

 

B-9

 

to the obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors are set forth in further detail in the Indenture.

11.

Denominations; Transfer; Exchange

The Securities are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 principal amount and whole multiples of $1,000. A Holder may transfer or exchange Securities in accordance with the Indenture. The Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements or transfer documents and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Registrar need not register the transfer of or exchange of any Securities selected for redemption (except, in the case of a Security to be redeemed in part, the portion of the Security not to be redeemed) or any Securities for a period of 15 Business Days before the mailing of a notice of an offer to repurchase or redeem Securities or 15 Business Days before an interest payment date.

10.

Persons Deemed Owners

The registered Holder of this Security may be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.

11.

Unclaimed Money

If money for the payment of principal or interest remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee or Paying Agent shall pay the money back to the Company at its request unless an abandoned property law designates another Person. After any such payment, Holders entitled to the money must look only to the Company and not to the Trustee for payment.

12.

Amendment, Supplement, Waiver

Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture or the Securities may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority of the outstanding principal amount of the Securities, and any past default or noncompliance with any provision may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities. Without the consent of any Holder, the Company may amend or supplement the Indenture or the Securities to, among other things, cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency or to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder in any material respect.

13.

Successor Corporation

When a successor corporation assumes all the obligations of its predecessor under the Securities and the Indenture, the predecessor corporation will be released from those obligations.

 

[[NYCORP:2552346v6:4259b:11/07/05--10:59 p]]

 

B-10

 

 

14.

Defaults and Remedies

An Event of Default generally is: default by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor for 30 days in payment of interest on the Securities; default by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor in payment of principal of, or premium, if any, on the Securities (including the failure to make cash payments due upon conversion or repurchase); failure by the Company for five days to deliver any Common Stock, cash in lieu of fractional shares or any other property other than cash upon the conversion of the Securities within the time period required by the Indenture; defaults resulting in acceleration prior to maturity of certain other Indebtedness or resulting from payment defaults under certain other Indebtedness; failure by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor for 45 days after notice to comply with any of its other agreements in the Indenture; certain final judgments against the Company or Subsidiaries; a failure of any Guarantee of a Subsidiary Guarantor to be in full force and effect or denial by any Subsidiary Guarantor of its obligations with respect thereto; and certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency. Subject to certain limitations in the Indenture, if an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities may declare all the Securities to be due and payable immediately, except that in the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, all outstanding Securities shall become due and payable immediately without further action or notice. Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Securities except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee may require indemnity satisfactory to it before it enforces the Indenture or the Securities. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Company must furnish an annual compliance certificate to the Trustee.

15.

Trustee Dealings with Company and Subsidiary Guarantors

The Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors or their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.

16.

No Recourse Against Others

A director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or the Trustee shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or the Trustee under the Securities or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Security.

17.

Authentication

This Security shall not be valid until the Trustee or an authenticating agent signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Security.

 

[[NYCORP:2552346v6:4259b:11/07/05--10:59 p]]

 

B-11

 

 

18.

Abbreviations

Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (=tenants in common), TEN ENT (=tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (=joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (=Custodian), and U/G/M/A (=Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).

19.

CUSIP Numbers

Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company will cause CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Securities as a convenience to Holders of the Securities. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers as printed on the Securities and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed hereon.

20.

Holders’ Compliance with Registration Rights Agreement

Each Holder of this Security, by acceptance hereof, acknowledges and agrees to the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement, including the obligations of the Holders with respect to a registration and the indemnification of the Company to the extent provided therein.

21.

Governing Law

THIS SECURITY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK BUT WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WOULD REQUIRE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION REGARDING THE VALIDITY OF THE SECURITIES.

 

[[NYCORP:2552346v6:4259b:11/07/05--10:59 p]]

 

B-12

 

 

The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge to the Holder a copy of the Indenture and a copy of the Registration Rights Agreement. Requests may be made to:

Chesapeake Energy Corporation

6100 North Western Avenue

Oklahoma City, OK 73118

 

Attention: Treasurer

 

[[NYCORP:2552346v6:4259b:11/07/05--10:59 p]]

 

B-13

 

 

ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Security, fill in the form below:

I or we assign and transfer this Security to

                                                                                                                                                     

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

                                                                                                                                                     

(Insert assignee’s Social Security or tax I.D. No.)

and irrevocably appoint                           agent to transfer this Security on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

_______________________________________________________________________

Dated:

 

Your Signature:

 

_______________________________________________________________________

Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Security.

In connection with any transfer of any of the Securities evidenced by this certificate occurring prior to the expiration of the period referred to in Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act after the later of the date of original issuance of such Securities and the last date, if any, on which such Securities were owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, the undersigned confirms that such Securities are being transferred in accordance with its terms:

CHECK ONE BOX BELOW

 

(1)

pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933; or

(2)

inside the United States to a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933) that purchases for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer to whom notice is given that such transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, in each case pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933; or

(3)

outside the United States in an offshore transaction within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act in compliance with Rule 904 under the Securities Act of 1933; or

(4)

pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

 

[[NYCORP:2552346v6:4259b:11/07/05--10:59 p]]

 

B-14

 

 

 

Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee will refuse to register any of the Securities evidenced by this certificate in the name of any person other than the registered holder thereof; provided , however , that if box (3) or (4) is checked, the Trustee shall be entitled to require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Securities, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company has reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, such as the exemption provided by Rule 144 under such Act.

 

Signature

 

 

Signature Guarantee:

Signature

 

 

Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

____________________________________________________________

TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (2) ABOVE IS CHECKED.

The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Security for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the undersigned’s foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.

Dated:

 

 

 

 

NOTICE: To be executed by
an executive officer

 

 

[[NYCORP:2552346v6:4259b:11/07/05--10:59 p]]

 

B-15

 

 

FORM OF CONVERSION NOTICE

 

To: Chesapeake Energy Corporation

The undersigned registered holder of this Security hereby irrevocably exercises the option to convert this Security, or the portion thereof (which is $1,000 principal amount or a multiple thereof) below designated, into cash and, if applicable, shares of common stock of Chesapeake Energy Corporation (or other property), as the case may be, in accordance with the terms of the Indenture referred to in this Security, and directs that any cash, any shares of common stock and/or any other property that may be issuable and deliverable upon such conversion and Securities representing any unconverted principal amount hereof, be issued and delivered to the registered holder hereof unless a different name has been indicated below. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Indenture. If funds, shares and/or any other property or any portion of this Security not converted are to be issued in the name of a person other than the undersigned, the undersigned will provide the appropriate information below and pay all transfer taxes payable with respect thereto. Any amount required to be paid by the undersigned on account of interest, if any, accompanies this Security.

Dated: _____________________

______________________________

______________________________

Signature(s)

(Sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) on the other side of this Security)

Signature(s) must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

______________________________

Signature Guarantee

 

[[NYCORP:2552346v6:4259b:11/07/05--10:59 p]]

 

B-16

 

 

Fill in for registration of shares of common stock, if any, to be issued, and Securities, if any, to be delivered, other than to and in the name of the registered holder:

 

(Name)

 

(Street Address)

 

(City, state and zip code)

 

 

Please print name and address

Principal amount to be converted (if less than all): $__________________________

Social Security or Other Taxpayer Identification Number:_____________________

 

[[NYCORP:2552346v6:4259b:11/07/05--10:59 p]]

 

B-17

 

 

FORM OF REPURCHASE NOTICE

To:

Chesapeake Energy Corporation

The undersigned registered holder of this Security requests and instructs Chesapeake Energy Corporation (the “Company”) to repurchase this Security, or the portion hereof (which is $1,000 principal amount or a multiple thereof) designated below, on the date specified below under “Date of Requested Repurchase”, in accordance with the terms and conditions specified in paragraph 7 of this Security and the Indenture referred to in this Security and directs that the check in payment for this Security or the portion thereof and any Securities representing the portion of principal amount hereof not to be so repurchased, be issued and delivered to the registered holder hereof unless a different name has been indicated below. If any portion of this Security not repurchased is to be issued in the name of a Person other than the undersigned, the undersigned shall pay all transfer taxes payable with respect thereto.

Dated:

 

Signature(s)

 

Fill in for registration of Securities not

repurchased if to be issued other than to and in

the name of the registered holder:

 

(Name)

 

(Street Address)

 

(City, state and zip code)

 

Please print name and address

 

Principal amount to be repurchased (if less than all): $___________________

Date of Requested Repurchase: November 15, 20___

 

(specify either November 15, 2015, 2020, 2025 or 2030)

Certificate number (if applicable): ____________________

 

 

[[NYCORP:2552346v6:4259b:11/07/05--10:59 p]]

 

B-18

 

 

FORM OF FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE REPURCHASE NOTICE

To: Chesapeake Energy Corporation

The undersigned registered holder of this Security hereby acknowledges receipt of a notice from Chesapeake Energy Corporation. (the “Company”) as to the occurrence of a Fundamental Change with respect to the Company and requests and instructs the Company to repurchase this Security, or the portion hereof (which is $1,000 principal amount or a multiple thereof) designated below, in accordance with the terms of the Indenture referred to in this Security and directs that the check in payment for this Security or the portion thereof and any Securities representing any unrepurchased principal amount hereof, be issued and delivered to the registered holder hereof unless a different name has been indicated below. If any portion of this Security not repurchased is to be issued in the name of a Person other than the undersigned, the undersigned shall pay all transfer taxes payable with respect thereto.

Dated:

 

Signature(s)

 

Fill in for registration of Securities not

repurchased if to be issued other than to and in

the name of the registered holder:

 

(Name)

 

(Street Address)

 

(City, state and zip code)

 

Please print name and address

 

Principal amount to be repurchased (if less than all): $________________________

 

Fundamental Change Repurchase Date:                                                                          

 

Certificate Number (if applicable):                                                                                  

 

 

[[NYCORP:2552346v6:4259b:11/07/05--10:59 p]]

 

B-19

 

 

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY

The following increases or decreases in this Global Security have been made:

 

Date of

Exchange

Amount of Decrease in Principal Amount of this Global Security

Amount of Increase in Principal Amount of this Global Security

Principal Amount of this Global Security Following such Decrease or Increase

Signature of Authorized Signatory of Trustee or Securities Custodian

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[[NYCORP:2552346v6:4259b:11/07/05--10:59 p]]

 

SCHEDULE A

 

 

 

ADDITIONAL SHARES TABLE

The following table sets forth the increase in the Conversion Rate, expressed as a number of Additional Shares to be received per $1,000 principal amount of Securities.

 

 

Share Price

Effective Date

$30.05

$31.00

$32.00

$33.00

$34.00

$35.00

$40.00

$45.00

$50.00

$60.00

$70.00

$80.00

$100.00

$125.00

November 8, 2005

7.68

7.40

6.95

6.54

6.15

5.80

4.36

3.33

2.58

1.57

0.96

0.58

0.18

0.00

November 15, 2006

7.68

7.46

7.00

6.57

6.18

5.81

4.34

3.30

2.54

1.54

0.93

0.56

0.16

0.00

November 15, 2007

7.68

7.51

7.03

6.59

6.19

5.81

4.31

3.25

2.49

1.49

0.89

0.53

0.15

0.00

November 15, 2008

7.68

7.56

7.06

6.60

6.19

5.80

4.25

3.18

2.41

1.41

0.83

0.48

0.13

0.00

November 15, 2009

7.68

7.55

7.04

6.56

6.14

5.74

4.16

3.07

2.30

1.32

0.76

0.43

0.11

0.00

November 15, 2010

7.68

7.57

7.03

6.54

6.09

5.67

4.04

2.94

2.17

1.21

0.69

0.38

0.09

0.00

November 15, 2011

7.68

7.48

6.91

6.39

5.93

5.50

3.82

2.71

1.95

1.04

0.56

0.29

0.04

0.00

November 15, 2012

7.68

7.35

6.75

6.20

5.71

5.26

3.52

2.41

1.67

0.83

0.42

0.20

0.01

0.00

November 15, 2013

7.68

7.14

6.49

5.89

5.37

4.89

3.08

1.97

1.28

0.56

0.24

0.10

0.00

0.00

November 15, 2014

7.60

6.83

6.08

5.39

4.81

4.28

2.34

1.29

0.72

0.23

0.08

0.03

0.00

0.00

November 15, 2015

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

 

 

[[NYCORP:2552346v6:4259b:11/07/05--10:59 p]]

 

SCHEDULE B

 

 

PROJECTED PAYMENT SCHEDULE

Period

Period
End date

Projected Payment Schedule

0

11/08/05

-$1,000.00

1

05/15/06

$14.28

2

11/15/06

$13.75

3

05/15/07

$13.75

4

11/15/07

$13.75

5

05/15/08

$13.75

6

11/15/08

$13.75

7

05/15/09

$13.75

8

11/15/09

$13.75

9

05/15/10

$13.75

10

11/15/10

$13.75

11

05/15/11

$13.75

12

11/15/11

$13.75

13

05/15/12

$13.75

14

11/15/12

$13.75

15

05/15/13

$13.75

16

11/15/13

$13.75

17

05/15/14

$13.75

18

11/15/14

$13.75

19

05/15/15

$13.75

20

11/15/15

$13.75

21

05/15/16

$17.21

22

11/15/16

$17.31

23

05/15/17

$17.41

24

11/15/17

$17.52

25

05/15/18

$17.64

26

11/15/18

$17.75

27

05/15/19

$17.87

28

11/15/19

$17.99

29

05/15/20

$18.12

30

11/15/20

$18.25

31

05/15/21

$18.38

32

11/15/21

$18.52

33

05/15/22

$18.66

34

11/15/22

$18.81

35

05/15/23

$18.96

36

11/15/23

$19.11

37

05/15/24

$19.27

38

11/15/24

$19.44

39

05/15/25

$19.61

40

11/15/25

$19.78

41

05/15/26

$19.96

42

11/15/26

$20.15

43

05/15/27

$20.34

44

11/15/27

$20.53

45

05/15/28

$20.73

46

11/15/28

$20.94

47

05/15/29

$21.16

48

11/15/29

$21.38

49

05/15/30

$21.60

50

11/15/30

$21.84

 

 

 

[[NYCORP:2552346v6:4259b:11/07/05--10:59 p]]

 

 

 

 

51

05/15/31

$22.08

52

11/15/31

$22.33

53

05/15/32

$22.58

54

11/15/32

$22.84

55

05/15/33

$23.11

56

11/15/33

$23.39

57

05/15/34

$23.68

58

11/15/34

$23.97

59

05/15/35

$24.28

60

11/15/35

$4,490.45

 

(1)

Estimated to equal the minimum of the par amount or the conversion value

 

 

 

[[NYCORP:2552346v6:4259b:11/07/05--10:59 p]]

 

 

 

EXHIBIT 4.1.3

EXECUTION COPY

 

$500,000,000

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION

6.875% Senior Notes due 2020

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

November 8, 2005

BEAR, STEARNS & CO. INC.

BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC

CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON LLC

LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.

WACHOVIA CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC

As representatives (the “ Representatives” ) of the several Purchasers

c/o Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.

383 Madison Avenue

New York, NY 10179

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:

Chesapeake Energy Corporation, an Oklahoma corporation (the “ Issuer ”), proposes to issue and sell to Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., Banc of America Securities LLC, Credit Suisse First Boston LLC, Lehman Brothers Inc., UBS Securities LLC, Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC, BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Calyon Securities (USA) Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc., ABN AMRO Incorporated, BOSC, Inc., Comerica Securities, Inc., Fortis Securities LLC, Greenwich Capital Markets Inc., Piper Jaffray & Co. and TD Securities (USA) LLC (the “ Initial Purchasers ”), upon the terms set forth in a purchase agreement dated November 2, 2005 (the “ Purchase Agreement ”), $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 6.875% Senior Notes due 2020 (the “ Initial Securities ”) to be initially guaranteed (the “ Guarantees ”) by Chesapeake Eagle Canada Corp., Chesapeake Energy Louisiana Corporation, Chesapeake Energy Marketing, Inc., Chesapeake Operating Inc., Chesapeake PRH Corp., Chesapeake South Texas Corp., Nomac Drilling Corporation, Oxley Petroleum Co., Carmen Acquisition, L.L.C., Chesapeake Acquisition, L.L.C., Chesapeake ENO Acquisition, L.L.C., Chesapeake EP, L.L.C., Chesapeake Land Company, L.L.C., Chesapeake ORC, L.L.C., Chesapeake Royalty, L.L.C., Gothic Production, L.L.C., John C. Oxley, L.L.C., MC Mineral Company, L.L.C., Mayfield Processing L.L.C., Chesapeake Exploration Limited Partnership, Chesapeake Louisiana, L.P., Chesapeake NFW, L.P., Chesapeake Permian, L.P., Chesapeake Sigma, L.P., Chesapeake-Staghorn Acquisition L.P., Chesapeake Zapata, L.P. and MidCon Compression, L.P., (the “ Guarantors ” and, collectively with the Issuer, the “ Company ”). The Initial Securities will be issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of November 8, 2005 (the “ Indenture ”), among the Issuer, the Guarantors named therein and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “ Trustee ”). As an inducement to the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company agrees with the Initial Purchasers, for the benefit of the Initial Purchasers and the holders of the Securities (as defined below) (collectively, the “ Holders ”), as follows:

 

1. Registered Exchange Offer . Unless not permitted by applicable law (after the Company has complied with the ultimate paragraph of this Section 1), the Company shall prepare and, not later than 120 days (such 120th day being a “ Filing Deadline ”) after the date on which the Initial Purchasers purchase the Initial Securities pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (the “ Closing Date ”), file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) a registration statement on an appropriate form under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), or amend an existing registration statement (each such registration statement, an “ Exchange Offer Registration Statement ”), with respect to a proposed offer (the “ Registered Exchange Offer ”) to the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities (as defined in Section 6 hereof), who are not prohibited by any law or policy of the Commission from participating in the Registered Exchange Offer, to issue and deliver to such Holders, in exchange for the Initial Securities, a like aggregate principal amount of debt securities of the Company issued under the Indenture, identical in all material respects to the Initial Securities and registered under the Securities Act

(the “ Exchange Securities ”). Each of the Issuer and the Guarantors shall use its best efforts to (i) cause such

 

 

[[NYCORP:2550513v3:3642W:11/11/05--03:05 p]]

 

 

 

Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities Act within 240 days after the Closing Date (such 240th day being an “ Effectiveness Deadline ”) and (ii) keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement effective for not less than 30 days (or longer, if required by applicable law) after the date notice of the Registered Exchange Offer is mailed to the Holders.

If the Company commences the Registered Exchange Offer, each of the Issuer and the Guarantors (i) shall use its best efforts to consummate the Registered Exchange Offer on the earliest practicable date after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement has become effective and (ii) will be required to consummate the Registered Exchange Offer no later than 60 days after the date on which the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective (such 60th day being the “ Consummation Deadline ”).

Following the declaration of the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Company shall promptly commence the Registered Exchange Offer, it being the objective of such Registered Exchange Offer to enable each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities electing to exchange the Initial Securities for Exchange Securities (assuming that such Holder is not an affiliate of the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, acquires the Exchange Securities in the ordinary course of such Holder’s business and has no arrangements with any person to participate in the distribution of the Exchange Securities and is not prohibited by any law or policy of the Commission from participating in the Registered Exchange Offer) to trade such Exchange Securities from and after their receipt without any limitations or restrictions under the Securities Act and without material restrictions under the securities laws of the several states of the United States.

The Company acknowledges that, pursuant to current interpretations by the Commission’s staff of Section 5 of the Securities Act, in the absence of an applicable exemption therefrom, (i) each Holder which is a broker-dealer electing to exchange Initial Securities, acquired for its own account as a result of market making activities or other trading activities, for Exchange Securities (an “ Exchanging Dealer ”), is required to deliver a prospectus containing the information set forth in (a) Annex A hereto on the cover, (b) Annex B hereto in the “Exchange Offer Procedures” section and the “Purpose of the Exchange Offer” section and (c) Annex C hereto in the “Plan of Distribution” section of such prospectus in connection with a sale of any such Exchange Securities received by such Exchanging Dealer pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and (ii) if an Initial Purchaser elects to sell Securities (as defined below) acquired in exchange for Initial Securities constituting any portion of an unsold allotment, such Initial Purchaser is required to deliver a prospectus containing the information required by Items 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, as applicable, in connection with such sale.

The Company shall use its best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement effective and to amend and supplement the prospectus contained therein, in order to permit such prospectus to be lawfully delivered by all persons subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act for such period of time as such persons must comply with such requirements in order to resell the Exchange Securities; provided , however , that (i) in the case where such prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto must be delivered by an Exchanging Dealer or an Initial Purchaser, such period shall be the lesser of 180 days and the date on which all Exchanging Dealers and the Initial Purchasers have sold all Exchange Securities held by them (unless such period is extended pursuant to Section 3(j) below) and (ii) the Company shall make such prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any resale of any Exchange Securities for a period of not less than 180 days after the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer.

If, upon consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, any Initial Purchaser holds Initial Securities acquired by it as part of its initial distribution, the Company, simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange Securities pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer, shall issue and deliver to such Initial Purchaser upon the written request of such Initial Purchaser, in exchange (the “ Private Exchange ”) for the Initial Securities held by such Initial Purchaser, a like principal amount of debt securities of the Company issued under the Indenture and identical in all material respects to the Initial Securities (the “ Private Exchange Securities ”). The Initial Securities, the Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange Securities are herein collectively called the “ Securities ”.

In connection with the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company shall:

(a) mail to each Holder a copy of the prospectus forming part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an appropriate letter of transmittal and related documents;

 

 

 

2

 

[[NYCORP:2550513v3:3642W:11/11/05--03:05 p]]

 

 

 

(b) keep the Registered Exchange Offer open for the minimum period required under applicable Federal and state securities laws, which shall not be less than 30 days nor more than 60 days after the date notice thereof is mailed to the Holders;

(c) utilize the services of a depositary for the Registered Exchange Offer with an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, which may be the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee;

(d) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Securities at any time prior to the close of business, New York time, on the last business day on which the Registered Exchange Offer shall remain open; and

(e) otherwise comply with all applicable laws.

As soon as practicable after the close of the Registered Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange, as the case may be, the Company shall:

(x) accept for exchange all the Securities validly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and the Private Exchange;

(y) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all the Initial Securities so accepted for exchange; and

(z) cause the Trustee to authenticate and deliver promptly to each Holder of the Initial Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, equal in principal amount to the Initial Securities of such Holder so accepted for exchange.

The Indenture provides that the Exchange Securities will not be subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the Indenture and that all the Securities will vote and consent together on all matters as one class and that none of the Securities will have the right to vote or consent as a class separate from one another on any matter.

Interest on each Exchange Security and Private Exchange Security issued pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and in the Private Exchange will accrue from the last interest payment date on which interest was paid on the Initial Securities surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest has been paid on the Initial Securities, from date of original issue of the Initial Securities.

Each Holder participating in the Registered Exchange Offer shall be required to represent to the Company that at the time of the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer (i) any Exchange Securities received by such Holder will be acquired in the ordinary course of business, (ii) such Holder will have no arrangements or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution of the Securities or the Exchange Securities within the meaning of the Securities Act, (iii) such Holder is not an “affiliate,” as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act, of the Company or if it is an affiliate, such Holder will comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act to the extent applicable, (iv) if such Holder is not a broker-dealer, that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, the distribution of the Exchange Securities and (v) if such Holder is a broker-dealer, that it will receive Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for Initial Securities that were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities and that it will be required to acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.

Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the Company will ensure that (i) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and any prospectus forming part thereof and any supplement thereto complies in all material respects with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, (ii) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment thereto does not, when it becomes effective, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and (iii) any prospectus forming part of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and any supplement to such prospectus, does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

 

3

[[NYCORP:2550513v3:3642W:11/11/05--03:05 p]]

 

 

 

If following the date hereof there has been announced a change in Commission policy with respect to exchange offers that in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Company raises a substantial question as to whether the Registered Exchange Offer is permitted by applicable federal law, the Company will seek a no-action letter or other favorable decision from the Commission allowing the Company to consummate the Registered Exchange Offer. The Company will pursue the issuance of such a decision to the Commission staff level. In connection with the foregoing, the Company will take all such other actions as may be requested by the Commission or otherwise required in connection with the issuance of such decision, including without limitation (i) participating in telephonic conferences with the Commission, (ii) delivering to the Commission staff an analysis prepared by counsel to the Company setting forth the legal bases, if any, upon which such counsel has concluded that the Registered Exchange Offer should be permitted and (iii) diligently pursuing a resolution (which need not be favorable) by the Commission staff.

2. Shelf Registration . If, (i) because of any change in law or in applicable interpretations thereof by the staff of the Commission, the Company is not permitted to effect a Registered Exchange Offer, as contemplated by Section 1 hereof, (ii) for any other reason the Registered Exchange Offer is not consummated within 270 days of the Closing Date, (iii) any Initial Purchaser so requests with respect to the Initial Securities (or the Private Exchange Securities) not eligible to be exchanged for Exchange Securities in the Registered Exchange Offer and held by it following consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer or (iv) any Holder (other than an Exchanging Dealer) is not eligible to participate in the Registered Exchange Offer or, in the case of any Holder (other than an Exchanging Dealer) that participates in the Registered Exchange Offer, such Holder does not receive freely tradeable Exchange Securities on the date of the exchange and any such Holder so requests, the Company shall take the following actions (the date on which any of the conditions described in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iv) occur, including in the case of clauses (iii) or (iv) the receipt of the required notice, being a “ Trigger Date ”):

(a) The Company shall promptly (but in no event more than 30 days after the Trigger Date (such 30th day being a “ Filing Deadline ”)) file with the Commission and thereafter use its best efforts to cause to be declared effective no later than the date (such date, an “ Effectiveness Deadline ”) that is (1) in the case of clause (i) above, 240 days after the Issue Date or (2) in the case of clauses (ii), (iii) or (iv) above, 60 days after the Filing Deadline, a registration statement (the “ Shelf Registration Statement ” and, together with the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, a “ Registration Statement ”) on an appropriate form under the Securities Act relating to the offer and sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities by the Holders thereof from time to time in accordance with the methods of distribution set forth in the Shelf Registration Statement and Rule 415 under the Securities Act (hereinafter, the “ Shelf Registration ”); provided , however , that no Holder (other than an Initial Purchaser) shall be entitled to have the Securities held by it covered by such Shelf Registration Statement unless such Holder agrees in writing to be bound by all the provisions of this Agreement applicable to such Holder.

(b) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective in order to permit the prospectus included therein to be lawfully delivered by the Holders of the relevant Securities, for a period of two years (or for such longer period if extended pursuant to Section 3(j) below) from the date of its effectiveness or such shorter period that will terminate when all the Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement (i) have been sold pursuant thereto or (ii) are no longer restricted securities (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, or any successor rule thereof) (such period, the “ Shelf Registration Period ”). The Company shall be deemed not to have used its reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement effective during the requisite period if it voluntarily takes any action that would result in Holders of Securities covered thereby not being able to offer and sell such Securities during that period, unless such action is required by applicable law.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall cause the Shelf Registration Statement and the related prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, as of the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement, amendment or supplement, (i) to comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission and (ii) not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

 

4

 

[[NYCORP:2550513v3:3642W:11/11/05--03:05 p]]

 

 

 

3. Registration Procedures . In connection with any Shelf Registration contemplated by Section 2 hereof and, to the extent applicable, any Registered Exchange Offer contemplated by Section 1 hereof, the following provisions shall apply:

(a) The Company shall (i), if requested by an Initial Purchaser, furnish to such Initial Purchaser, prior to the filing thereof with the Commission, a copy of the Registration Statement and each amendment thereof and each supplement, if any, to the prospectus included therein and, in the event that an Initial Purchaser (with respect to any portion of an unsold allotment from the original offering) is participating in the Registered Exchange Offer or the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall use its best efforts to reflect in each such document, when so filed with the Commission, such comments as such Initial Purchaser reasonably may propose; (ii) include the information set forth in Annex A hereto on the cover, in Annex B hereto in the “Exchange Offer Procedures” section and the “Purpose of the Exchange Offer” section and in Annex C hereto in the “Plan of Distribution” section of the prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and include the information set forth in Annex D hereto in the Letter of Transmittal delivered pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer; (iii) if requested by an Initial Purchaser, include the information required by Items 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, as applicable, in the prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement; (iv) include within the prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement a section entitled “Plan of Distribution,” reasonably acceptable to the Initial Purchasers, which shall contain a summary statement of the positions taken or policies made by the staff of the Commission with respect to the potential “underwriter” status of any broker-dealer that is the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”)) of Exchange Securities received by such broker-dealer in the Registered Exchange Offer (a “ Participating Broker-Dealer ”), whether such positions or policies have been publicly disseminated by the staff of the Commission or such positions or policies, in the reasonable judgment of the Initial Purchasers based upon advice of counsel (which may be in-house counsel), represent the prevailing views of the staff of the Commission; and (v) in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, include the names of the Holders who propose to sell Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement as selling securityholders.

(b) The Company shall give written notice to the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any Participating Broker-Dealer from whom the Company has received prior written notice that it will be a Participating Broker-Dealer in the Registered Exchange Offer (which notice pursuant to clauses (ii)-(v) hereof shall be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the prospectus until the requisite changes have been made):

(i) when the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto has been filed with the Commission and when the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has become effective;

(ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the prospectus included therein or for additional information;

(iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose;

(iv) of the receipt by the Company or its legal counsel of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and

(v) of the happening of any event that requires the Company to make changes in the Registration Statement or the prospectus in order that the Registration Statement or the prospectus does not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of the prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading.

(c) The Company shall make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal at the earliest possible time, of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement.

 

 

 

5

 

[[NYCORP:2550513v3:3642W:11/11/05--03:05 p]]

 

 

 

(d) The Company shall furnish to each Holder of Securities included within the coverage of the Shelf Registration, without charge, at least one copy of the Shelf Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, and, if the Holder so requests in writing, all exhibits thereto (including those, if any, incorporated by reference).

(e) The Company shall deliver to each Exchanging Dealer and each Initial Purchaser who so requests, and to any other Holder who so requests, without charge, at least one copy of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, and, if any Initial Purchaser or any such Holder requests, all exhibits thereto (including those incorporated by reference).

(f) The Company shall, during the Shelf Registration Period, deliver to each Holder of Securities included within the coverage of the Shelf Registration, without charge, as many copies of the prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) included in the Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as such person may reasonably request. The Company consents, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to the use of the prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders of the Securities in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities covered by the prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, included in the Shelf Registration Statement.

(g) The Company shall deliver to each Initial Purchaser, any Exchanging Dealer, any Participating Broker-Dealer and such other persons required to deliver a prospectus following the Registered Exchange Offer, without charge, as many copies of the final prospectus included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as such persons may reasonably request. The Company consents, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to the use of the prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by any Initial Purchaser, if necessary, any Participating Broker-Dealer and such other persons required to deliver a prospectus following the Registered Exchange Offer in connection with the offering and sale of the Exchange Securities covered by the prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, included in such Exchange Offer Registration Statement.

(h) Prior to any public offering of the Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement the Company shall register or qualify or cooperate with the Holders of the Securities included therein and their respective counsel in connection with the registration or qualification of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or “blue sky” laws of such states of the United States as any Holder of the Securities reasonably requests in writing and do any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the offer and sale in such jurisdictions of the Securities covered by such Registration Statement; provided , however , that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or (ii) take any action which would subject it to general service of process or to taxation in any jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.

(i) The Company shall cooperate with the Holders of the Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing the Securities to be sold pursuant to any Registration Statement free of any restrictive legends and in such denominations and registered in such names as the Holders may request a reasonable period of time prior to sales of the Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement.

(j) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by paragraphs (ii) through (v) of Section 3(b) above during the period for which the Company is required to maintain an effective Registration Statement, the Company shall promptly prepare and file a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the related prospectus and any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to Holders of the Securities or purchasers of Securities, the prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If the Company notifies the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any known Participating Broker-Dealer in accordance with paragraphs (ii) through (v) of Section 3(b) above to suspend the use of the prospectus until the requisite changes to the prospectus have been made, then the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any such Participating Broker-Dealers shall suspend use of such prospectus, and the period of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement provided for in Section 2(b) above and the Exchange Offer Registration Statement provided for in Section 1 above shall each be extended by the

 

 

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number of days from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any known Participating Broker-Dealer shall have received such amended or supplemented prospectus pursuant to this Section 3(j).

(k) Not later than the effective date of the applicable Registration Statement, the Company will provide a CUSIP number for the Initial Securities, the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, and provide the applicable trustee with certificates for the Initial Securities, the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company.

(l) The Company will comply with all rules and regulations of the Commission to the extent and so long as they are applicable to the Registered Exchange Offer or the Shelf Registration and will make generally available to its security holders (or otherwise provide in accordance with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act) an earnings statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act, no later than 45 days after the end of a 12-month period (or 90 days, if such period is a fiscal year) beginning with the first month of the Company’s first fiscal quarter commencing after the effective date of the Registration Statement, which statement shall cover such 12-month period.

(m) The Company shall cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, in a timely manner and containing such changes, if any, as shall be necessary for such qualification. In the event that such qualification would require the appointment of a new trustee under the Indenture, the Company shall appoint a new trustee thereunder pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Indenture.

(n) The Company may require each Holder of Securities to be sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement to furnish to the Company such information regarding the Holder and the distribution of the Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably require for inclusion in the Shelf Registration Statement, and the Company may exclude from such registration the Securities of any Holder that unreasonably fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time after receiving such request.

(o) The Company shall enter into such customary agreements (including, if requested, an underwriting agreement in customary form) and take all such other action, if any, as any Holder of the Securities shall reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Securities pursuant to any Shelf Registration.

(p) In the case of any Shelf Registration, the Company shall (i) make reasonably available for inspection by the Holders of the Securities, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by the Holders of the Securities or any such underwriter all relevant financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and (ii) cause the Company’s officers, directors, employees, accountants and auditors to supply all relevant information reasonably requested by the Holders of the Securities or any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, in each case, as shall be reasonably necessary to enable such persons, to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act; provided , however , that the foregoing inspection and information gathering shall be coordinated on behalf of the Initial Purchasers by Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., and on behalf of the other parties, by one counsel designated by and on behalf of such other parties as described in Section 4 hereof.

(q) In the case of any Shelf Registration, the Company, if requested by any Holder of Securities covered thereby, shall cause (i) its counsel to deliver an opinion and updates thereof relating to the Securities in customary form addressed to such Holders and the Managing Underwriters (as defined below), if any, thereof and dated, in the case of the initial opinion, the effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement (it being agreed that the matters to be covered by such opinion shall include, without limitation, the due incorporation and good standing of the Company and its subsidiaries; the qualification of the Company and its subsidiaries to transact business as foreign corporations; the due authorization, execution and delivery of the relevant agreement of the type referred to in Section 3(o) hereof; the due authorization, execution, authentication and issuance, and the validity and enforceability, of the applicable Securities; the absence of material legal or governmental proceedings involving the

 

 

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Company and its subsidiaries; the absence of governmental approvals required to be obtained in connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, the offering and sale of the applicable Securities, or any agreement of the type referred to in Section 3(o) hereof; the compliance as to form of such Shelf Registration Statement and any documents incorporated by reference therein and of the Indenture with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act, respectively; and, as of the date of the opinion and as of the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement or most recent post-effective amendment thereto, as the case may be, the absence from such Shelf Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein, as then amended or supplemented, and from any documents incorporated by reference therein of an untrue statement of a material fact or the omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (in the case of any such documents, in the light of the circumstances existing at the time that such documents were filed with the Commission under the Exchange Act)); (ii) its officers to execute and deliver all customary documents and certificates and updates thereof requested by any underwriters of the applicable Securities and (iii) its independent public accountants to provide to the selling Holders of the applicable Securities and any underwriter therefor a comfort letter in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in comfort letters in connection with primary underwritten offerings, subject to receipt of appropriate documentation as contemplated, and only if permitted, by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ Professional Standard AU Section 634 “Letters for Underwriters and Certain Other Requesting Parties.”

(r) In the case of the Registered Exchange Offer, if requested by any Initial Purchaser or any known Participating Broker-Dealer, the Company shall cause (i) its counsel to deliver to such Initial Purchaser or such Participating Broker-Dealer a signed opinion in the form set forth in Section 6(c) of each of the Purchase Agreement with such changes as are customary in connection with the preparation of a Registration Statement and (ii) its independent public accountants to deliver to such Initial Purchaser or such Participating Broker-Dealer a comfort letter, in customary form, meeting the requirements as to the substance thereof as set forth in Section 6(a) of the Purchase Agreement, with appropriate date changes.

(s) If a Registered Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange is to be consummated, upon delivery of the Initial Securities by Holders to the Company (or to such other person as directed by the Company) in exchange for the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall mark, or caused to be marked, on the Initial Securities so exchanged that such Initial Securities are being canceled in exchange for the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be; in no event shall the Initial Securities be marked as paid or otherwise satisfied.

(t) The Company will use its best efforts to (i) if the Initial Securities have been rated prior to the initial sale of such Initial Securities, confirm such ratings will apply to the Securities covered by a Registration Statement, or (ii) if the Initial Securities were not previously rated, cause the Securities covered by a Registration Statement to be rated with the appropriate rating agencies, if so requested by Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Securities covered by such Registration Statement, or by the Managing Underwriters, if any.

(u) In the event that any broker-dealer registered under the Exchange Act shall underwrite any Securities or participate as a member of an underwriting syndicate or selling group or “assist in the distribution” (within the meaning of the Conduct Rules (the “ Rules ”) of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (“ NASD ”)) thereof, whether as a Holder of such Securities or as an underwriter, a placement or sales agent or a broker or dealer in respect thereof, or otherwise, the Company will assist such broker-dealer in complying with the requirements of such Rules, including, without limitation, by (i) if such Rules, including Rule 2720, shall so require, engaging a “qualified independent underwriter” (as defined in Rule 2720) to participate in the preparation of the Registration Statement relating to such Securities, to exercise usual standards of due diligence in respect thereto and, if any portion of the offering contemplated by such Registration Statement is an underwritten offering or is made through a placement or sales agent, to recommend the yield of such Securities, (ii) indemnifying any such qualified independent underwriter to the extent of the indemnification of underwriters provided in Section 5 hereof and (iii) providing such information to such broker-dealer as may be required in order for such broker-dealer to comply with the requirements of the Rules.

(v) The Company shall use its best efforts to take all other steps necessary to effect the registration of the Securities covered by a Registration Statement contemplated hereby.

 

 

 

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4. Registration Expenses . (a) All expenses incident to the Company’s performance of and compliance with this Agreement will be borne by the Company, regardless of whether a Registration Statement is ever filed or becomes effective, including without limitation;

(i) all registration and filing fees and expenses;

(ii) all fees and expenses of compliance with federal securities and state “blue sky” or securities laws;

(iii) all expenses of printing (including printing certificates for the Securities to be issued in the Registered Exchange Offer and the Private Exchange and printing of prospectuses), messenger and delivery services and telephone;

(iv) all fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company;

(v) all application and filing fees in connection with listing the Exchange Securities on a national securities exchange or automated quotation system pursuant to the requirements hereof; and

(vi) all fees and disbursements of independent certified public accountants of the Company (including the expenses of any special audit and comfort letters required by or incident to such performance).

The Company will bear its internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expenses of any annual audit and the fees and expenses of any person, including special experts, retained by the Company.

(b) In connection with any Registration Statement required by this Agreement, the Company will reimburse the Initial Purchasers and the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities who are tendering Initial Securities in the Registered Exchange Offer and/or selling or reselling Securities pursuant to the “Plan of Distribution” contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement, as applicable, for the reasonable fees and disbursements of not more than one counsel, who shall be Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP unless another firm shall be chosen by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities for whose benefit such Registration Statement is being prepared.

5. Indemnification . (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder of the Securities, any Participating Broker-Dealer, and each person, if any, who controls such Holder or such Participating Broker-Dealer within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (each Holder, any Participating Broker-Dealer and such controlling persons are referred to collectively as the “ Indemnified Parties ”) from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, or any actions in respect thereof (including, but not limited to, any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions relating to purchases and sales of the Securities) to which each Indemnified Party may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration, or arise out of, or are based upon, the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and shall reimburse, as incurred, the Indemnified Parties for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof; provided , however , that (i) the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in a Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration in reliance upon and in conformity with written information pertaining to such Holder and furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion therein and (ii) with respect to any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration Statement, the indemnity agreement contained in this subsection (a) shall not inure to the benefit of any Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer from whom the person asserting any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities purchased the Securities concerned, to the extent that a prospectus relating to such Securities was required to be delivered by such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer under the Securities Act in connection with such purchase and any such loss, claim, damage or liability of such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer results from the fact that there was not sent

 

 

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or given to such person, at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of such Securities to such person, a copy of the final prospectus if the Company had previously furnished copies thereof to such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer; provided further , however , that this indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have to such Indemnified Party. The Company shall also indemnify underwriters, their officers and directors and each person who controls such underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Holders of the Securities if requested by such Holders.

(b) Each Holder of the Securities, severally and not jointly, will indemnify and hold harmless the Company, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities or any actions in respect thereof, to which the Company or any such controlling person may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but in each case only to the extent that the untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information pertaining to such Holder and furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion therein; and, subject to the limitation set forth immediately preceding this clause, shall reimburse, as incurred, the Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company or any such controlling person in connection with investigating or defending any loss, claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which such Holder may otherwise have to the Company or any of its controlling persons.

(c) Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Party under this Section 5 of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding (including a governmental investigation), such Indemnified Party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 5, notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve the indemnifying party from liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and the indemnifying party has been materially prejudiced by such failure and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any Indemnified Party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. In case any such action is brought against any Indemnified Party, and it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party (who shall not, except with the consent of the Indemnified Party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and after notice from the indemnifying party to such Indemnified Party of its election so to assume the defense thereof the indemnifying party will not be liable to such Indemnified Party under this Section 5 for any legal or other expenses, other than reasonable costs of investigation, subsequently incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with the defense thereof; provided , however , if such Indemnified Party shall have been advised by counsel that there are one or more defenses available to it that are in conflict with those available to the indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party shall not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the Indemnified Party), the reasonable fees and expenses of such Indemnified Party’s counsel shall be borne by the indemnifying party. In no event shall the indemnifying party be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one counsel (together with appropriate local counsel) at any time for any Indemnified Party in connection with any one action or separate but substantially similar or related actions arising in the same jurisdiction out of the same general allegations or circumstances. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened action in respect of which any Indemnified Party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Party unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter of such action, and does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Party.

(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 5 is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an Indemnified Party under subsections (a) or (b) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to in subsection (a) or (b) above (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the Indemnified Party on the

 

 

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other from the exchange of the Securities, pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer, or (ii) if the allocation provided by the foregoing clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the Indemnified Party on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the parties shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or such Holder or such other Indemnified Party, as the case may be, on the other, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The amount paid by an Indemnified Party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim which is the subject of this subsection (d). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 5(d), the Holders of the Securities shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds received by such Holders from the sale of the Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement exceeds the amount of damages which such Holders have otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this paragraph (d), each person, if any, who controls such Indemnified Party within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Indemnified Party and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.

(e) The agreements contained in this Section 5 shall survive the sale of the Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination or cancellation of this Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of any Indemnified Party.

6. Additional Interest Under Certain Circumstances . (a) Additional interest (the “ Additional Interest ”) with respect to the Securities shall be assessed as follows if any of the following events occur (each such event in clauses (i) through (iv) below being herein called a “ Registration Default ”):

(i) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not filed with the Commission on or prior to the applicable Filing Deadline;

(ii) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the applicable Effectiveness Deadline;

(iii) the Registered Exchange Offer has not been consummated on or prior to the Consummation Deadline; or

(iv) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement has been declared effective by the Commission but (A) such Registration Statement thereafter ceases to be effective or (B) such Registration Statement or the related prospectus ceases to be usable in connection with resales of Transfer Restricted Securities during the periods specified herein because either (1) any event occurs as a result of which the related prospectus forming part of such Registration Statement would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading or (2) it shall be necessary to amend such Registration Statement or supplement the related prospectus, to comply with the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or the respective rules thereunder.

Each of the foregoing will constitute a Registration Default whatever the reason for any such event and whether it is voluntary or involuntary or is beyond the control of the Company or pursuant to operation of law or as a result of any action or inaction by the Commission.

Additional Interest shall accrue on the Securities over and above the interest set forth in the title of the Securities from and including the date on which any such Registration Default shall occur to but excluding the date on which all such Registration Defaults have been cured, at a rate of 0.25% per annum (the “ Additional Interest Rate ”) for the first 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of such Registration Default. The

 

 

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Additional Interest Rate shall increase by an additional 0.25% per annum with respect to each subsequent 90-day period until all Registration Defaults have been cured, up to a maximum Additional Interest Rate of 1.0% per annum.

(b) A Registration Default referred to in Section 6(a)(iv) hereof shall be deemed not to have occurred and be continuing in relation to a Shelf Registration Statement or the related prospectus if (i) such Registration Default has occurred solely as a result of (x) the filing of a post-effective amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement to incorporate annual audited financial information with respect to the Company where such post-effective amendment is not yet effective and needs to be declared effective to permit Holders to use the related prospectus or (y) other material events with respect to the Company that would need to be described in such Shelf Registration Statement or the related prospectus and (ii) in the case of clause (y), the Company is proceeding promptly and in good faith to amend or supplement such Shelf Registration Statement and related prospectus to describe such events; provided , however , that in any case if such Registration Default occurs for a continuous period in excess of 30 days, Additional Interest shall be payable in accordance with the above paragraph from the day such Registration Default occurs until such Registration Default is cured.

(c) Any amounts of Additional Interest due pursuant to Section 6(a) will be payable in cash on the regular interest payment dates with respect to the Securities. The amount of Additional Interest will be determined by multiplying the applicable Additional Interest Rate by the principal amount of the Securities and further multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days such Additional Interest Rate was applicable during such period (determined on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months), and the denominator of which is 360.

(d) “ Transfer Restricted Securities ” means each Security until (i) the date on which such Security has been exchanged by a person other than a broker-dealer for a freely transferable Exchange Security in the Registered Exchange Offer, (ii) following the exchange by a broker-dealer in the Registered Exchange Offer of an Initial Security for an Exchange Note, the date on which such Exchange Note is sold to a purchaser who receives from such broker-dealer on or prior to the date of such sale a copy of the prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, (iii) the date on which such Security has been effectively registered under the Securities Act and disposed of in accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement or (iv) the date on which such Security is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or is saleable pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act.

7. Rules   144 and 144A . The Company shall use its best efforts to file the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act in a timely manner and, if at any time the Company is not required to file such reports, it will, upon the request of any Holder of Securities, make publicly available other information so long as necessary to permit sales of their securities pursuant to Rules 144 and 144A. The Company covenants that it will take such further action as any Holder of Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rules 144 and 144A (including the requirements of Rule 144A(d)(4)). The Company will provide a copy of this Agreement to prospective purchasers of Initial Securities identified to the Company by the Initial Purchasers upon request. Upon the request of any Holder of Initial Securities, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 7 shall be deemed to require the Company to register any of its securities pursuant to the Exchange Act.

8. Underwritten Registrations . If any of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by any Shelf Registration are to be sold in an underwritten offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers that will administer the offering (“ Managing Underwriters ”) will be selected by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such Transfer Restricted Securities to be included in such offering.

No person may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person’s Transfer Restricted Securities on the basis reasonably provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

 

 

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9. Miscellaneous .

(a) Remedies . The Company acknowledges and agrees that any failure by the Company to comply with its obligations under Sections 1 and 2 hereof may result in material irreparable injury to the Initial Purchasers or the Holders for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such failure, the Initial Purchasers or any Holder may obtain such relief as may be required to specifically enforce the Company’s obligations under Sections 1 and 2 hereof. The Company further agrees to waive the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.

(b) No Inconsistent Agreements . The Company will not on or after the date of this Agreement enter into any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. The rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the Company’s securities under any agreement in effect on the date hereof.

(c) Amendments and Waivers . The provisions of this Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, except by the Company and the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consents.

(d) Notices . All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand delivery, first-class mail, facsimile transmission, or air courier which guarantees overnight delivery:

(1) if to a Holder of the Securities, at the most current address given by such Holder to the Company.

(2) if to the Initial Purchasers:

Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.

383 Madison Avenue

New York, NY 10179

Fax No.: (214) 979-7938

Attention: Stephen M. Straty

 

with a copy for information purposes to:

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP

Worldwide Plaza

825 Eighth Avenue

New York, NY 10019-7475

Fax No.: (212) 474-3700

Attention: Stephen L. Burns, Esq.

 

(3)

if to the Company, at its address as follows:

Chesapeake Energy Corporation

6100 North Western Avenue

Oklahoma City, OK 73118

Fax No.: (405) 879-9580

Attention: Marcus C. Rowland

 

 

 

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with a copy to:

Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.

2300 First City Tower

1001 Fannin Street

Houston, TX 77002-6760

Fax No.: (713) 758-2346

Attention: James A. Prince, Esq.

All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; three business days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt is acknowledged by recipient’s facsimile machine operator, if sent by facsimile transmission; and on the day delivered, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.

(e) Third Party Beneficiaries. The Holders shall be third party beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Company, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent they may deem such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect their rights or the rights of Holders hereunder.

(f) Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns.

(g) Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

(h) Headings . The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

(i) Governing Law . THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS.

(j) Severability . If any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.

(k) Securities Held by the Company . Whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of principal amount of Securities is required hereunder, Securities held by the Company or its affiliates (other than subsequent Holders of Securities if such subsequent Holders are deemed to be affiliates solely by reason of their holdings of such Securities) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage.

 

 

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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to the Issuer a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement among the several Initial Purchasers, the Issuer and the Guarantors in accordance with its terms.

Very truly yours,

 

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION

 

 

By: /s/ MARTHA A. BURGER

 

Name:  Martha A. Burger

 

Title:    Treasurer and Senior Vice President—Human

Resources

 

SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS:

 

CHESAPEAKE EAGLE CANADA CORP.

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY LOUISIANA CORPORATION

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY MARKETING, INC.

CHESAPEAKE OPERATING, INC.

CHESAPEAKE PRH CORP.

CHESAPEAKE SOUTH TEXAS CORP.

NOMAC DRILLING CORPORATION

OXLEY PETROLEUM CO.

CARMEN ACQUISITION, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE ACQUISITION, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE ENO ACQUISITION, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE EP, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE LAND COMPANY, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE ORC, L.L.C.

Chesapeake Royalty, L.L.C.

GOTHIC PRODUCTION, L.L.C.

JOHN C. OXLEY, L.L.C.

MC MINERAL COMPANY, L.L.C.

MAYFIELD PROCESSING, L.L.C.

 

 

By: /s/ MARTHA A. BURGER

 

Name:  Martha A. Burger

 

Title:    Treasurer and Vice President

 

 

 

[[NYCORP:2550513v3:3642W:11/11/05--03:05 p]]

 

 

 

CHESAPEAKE EXPLORATION LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

CHESAPEAKE LOUISIANA, L.P.

CHESAPEAKE NFW, L.P.

CHESAPEAKE PERMIAN, L.P.

CHESAPEAKE SIGMA, L.P.

CHESAPEAKE-STAGHORN ACQUISITION L.P.

CHESAPEAKE ZAPATA, L.P.,

 

By Chesapeake Operating, Inc., as general partner of each respective entity

 

By: /s/ MARTHA A. BURGER

 

Name:  Martha A. Burger

 

Title:    Treasurer and Senior Vice President—Human

Resources

 

MIDCON COMPRESSION, L.P.,

By Chesapeake Energy Marketing, Inc. as general partner

 

By: /s/ MARTHA A. BURGER

 

Name:  Martha A. Burger

 

Title:     Treasurer and Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

[[NYCORP:2550513v3:3642W:11/11/05--03:05 p]]

 

 

ANNEX A

 

 

 

The foregoing Registration Rights Agreement

is hereby confirmed and accepted

as of the date first above written.

BEAR, STEARNS & CO. INC.

BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC

CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON LLC

LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.

WACHOVIA CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC

 

Acting on behalf of themselves and Representatives of the several Initial Purchasers

By: BEAR, STEARNS & CO. INC

By: /s/ STEPHEN STRATY

 

Name:

Stephen Straty

 

Title:

Senior Managing Director

 

 

 

 

[[NYCORP:2550513v3:3642W:11/11/05--03:05 p]]

 

 

ANNEX A

 

 

 

Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. The Letter of Transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act. This Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of Exchange Securities received in exchange for Initial Securities where such Initial Securities were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed that, for a period of 90 days after the Expiration Date (as defined herein), it will make this Prospectus available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. See “Plan of Distribution.”

 

 

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ANNEX B

 

 

 

Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for Initial Securities, where such Initial Securities were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. See “Plan of Distribution.”

 

 

[[NYCORP:2550513v3:3642W:11/11/05--03:05 p]]

 

 

ANNEX C

 

 

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. This Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of Exchange Securities received in exchange for Initial Securities where such Initial Securities were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed that, for a period of 90 days after the Expiration Date, it will make this prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. In addition, until ______________, 200 , all dealers effecting transactions in the Exchange Securities may be required to deliver a prospectus. ()

The Company will not receive any proceeds from any sale of Exchange Securities by broker-dealers. Exchange Securities received by broker-dealers for their own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions, through the writing of options on the Exchange Securities or a combination of such methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or negotiated prices. Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from any such broker-dealer or the purchasers of any such Exchange Securities. Any broker-dealer that resells Exchange Securities that were received by it for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer and any broker or dealer that participates in a distribution of such Exchange Securities may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and any profit on any such resale of Exchange Securities and any commission or concessions received by any such persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act. The Letter of Transmittal states that, by acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act.

For a period of 90 days after the Expiration Date the Company will promptly send additional copies of this Prospectus and any amendment or supplement to this Prospectus to any broker-dealer that requests such documents in the Letter of Transmittal. The Company has agreed to pay all expenses incident to the Exchange Offer (including the expenses of one counsel for the Holders of the Securities) other than commissions or concessions of any brokers or dealers and will indemnify the Holders of the Securities (including any broker-dealers) against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

_________________________

 In addition, the legend required by Item 502(e) of Regulation S-K will appear on the back cover page of the Exchange Offer prospectus.

 

 

[[NYCORP:2550513v3:3642W:11/11/05--03:05 p]]

 

 

ANNEX D

 

 

 

[ ]   CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH TO RECEIVE 10 ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO.

Name:

Address:

If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned represents that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of Exchange Securities. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for Initial Securities that were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, it acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act.

 

 

 

[[NYCORP:2550513v3:3642W:11/11/05--03:05 p]]

 

 

 

EXHIBIT 4.1.4

EXECUTION COPY

 

$600,000,000

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION

2.75 % Contingent Convertible Senior Notes

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

November 8, 2005

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.

BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC

CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON LLC

LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.

UBS SECURITIES LLC

c/o

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

60 Wall Street

New York, N.Y. 10005

Dear Sirs:

Chesapeake Energy Corporation, an Oklahoma corporation (the “ Company ”), proposes to issue and sell to Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Banc of America Securities LLC, Credit Suisse First Boston LLC, Lehman Brothers Inc., UBS Securities LLC, Bear Stearns & Co. Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co., Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, RBC Capital Markets Corporation, Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC, ABN AMRO Incorporated, BOSC, Inc., Comerica Securities, Inc., Fortis Securities LLC, Harris Nesbitt Corp., TD Securities (USA) LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC (collectively, the “ Initial Purchasers ”), upon the terms set forth in a purchase agreement dated November 2, 2005 (the “ Purchase Agreement ”), a total of $600,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 2.75% Contingent Convertible Senior Notes due 2035 and, at the option of the Initial Purchasers, up to an additional $90,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 2.75% Contingent Convertible Senior Notes due 2035 (together, the “ Convertible Notes ”). The Convertible Notes will be convertible into shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “ Common Stock ”) at the conversion price set forth in the Offering Memorandum dated November 2, 2005 (the “ Offering Memorandum ”), subject to adjustment in accordance with the terms of the Indenture (as defined below). The Convertible Notes, the Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Notes and any Common Stock issued as payment or part payment of interest on the Convertible Notes are collectively referred to as “ Securities ” and each referred to singularly as a “ Security .” The Convertible Notes are to be initially guaranteed (the “ Guarantees ”) by Chesapeake Eagle Canada Corp., Chesapeake Energy Louisiana Corporation, Chesapeake Energy Marketing, Inc., Chesapeake Operating Inc., Chesapeake PRH Corp., Chesapeake South Texas Corp., Nomac Drilling Corporation, Oxley Petroleum Co., Carmen Acquisition, L.L.C., Chesapeake Acquisition, L.L.C., Chesapeake ENO Acquisition, L.L.C., Chesapeake EP, L.L.C., Chesapeake Land Company, L.L.C., Chesapeake ORC, L.L.C., Chesapeake Royalty, L.L.C., Gothic Production, L.L.C., John C. Oxley, L.L.C., MC Mineral Company, L.L.C., Mayfield Processing L.L.C., Chesapeake Exploration Limited Partnership, Chesapeake Louisiana, L.P., Chesapeake NFW, L.P., Chesapeake Permian, L.P., Chesapeake Sigma, L.P., Chesapeake-Staghorn Acquisition L.P., Chesapeake Zapata, L.P. and MidCon Compression, L.P., (the “ Guarantors ” and, collectively with the Issuer, the “ Company ”). The Convertible Notes will be issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of November 8, 2005 (the “ Indenture ”), among the Issuer, the Guarantors named therein and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “ Trustee ”). As an inducement to the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company agrees with the Initial Purchasers, for the benefit of the Initial Purchasers and the holders of the Securities (collectively the “ Holders ”), as follows:

 

 

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2

 

 

1. Shelf Registration . So long as any Transfer Restricted Security (as defined in Section 5 hereof) exists, the Company shall take the following actions:

(a) The Company shall, within 120 days after the first date on which the Initial Purchasers purchase the Convertible Notes pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (the “ Closing Date ”), file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) and thereafter use its reasonable best efforts to cause to be declared effective no later than 240 days after the Closing Date a registration statement (the “ Shelf Registration Statement ”) on an appropriate form under the Securities Act relating to the offer and sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities by the Holders thereof from time to time in accordance with the methods of distribution set forth in the Shelf Registration Statement and Rule 415 under the Securities Act (hereinafter, the “ Shelf Registration ”); provided, however, that no Holder (other than an Initial Purchaser) shall be entitled to have the Securities held by it covered by such Shelf Registration Statement unless such Holder agrees in writing to be bound by all the provisions of this Agreement applicable to such Holder.

(b) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective, in order to permit the prospectus included therein to be lawfully delivered by the Holders of the relevant Securities, until such time as all the Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement (i) have been sold pursuant thereto or (ii) are eligible to be sold under Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act (or any successor rule thereof), assuming for this purpose that the Holders thereof are not affiliates of the Company (in any such case, such period being called the “ Shelf Registration Period .” The Company shall be deemed not to have used its reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement effective during the requisite period if it voluntarily takes any action that would result in Holders of Securities covered thereby not being able to offer and sell such Securities during that period, unless such action is required by applicable law.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall cause the Shelf Registration Statement and the related prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, as of the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement, amendment or supplement, (i) to comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission and (ii) not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, the Company shall have no such obligations or liabilities with respect to any written information pertaining to any Holder and furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion therein.

2. Registration Procedures . In connection with the Shelf Registration contemplated by Section 1 hereof, the following provisions shall apply so long as any Transfer Restricted Security exists:

(a) The Company shall (i), if requested by an Initial Purchaser, furnish, without charge, to such Initial Purchaser, prior to the filing thereof with the Commission, a copy of the Shelf Registration Statement and each amendment thereof and each supplement, if any, to the prospectus included therein and, in the event that an Initial Purchaser (with respect to any portion of an unsold allotment from the original offering) is participating in the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall use its best efforts to reflect in each such document, when so filed with the Commission, such comments as such Initial Purchaser reasonably may propose, (ii) include in each such document the names of the Holders who have delivered written notice to the Company at least three business days prior to the filing thereof that they propose to sell Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement as selling securityholders and (iii) file pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act a supplement to the prospectus contained in the Shelf Registration Statement or, if required, file a post-effective amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement, in each case, to cover new Holders of Securities upon at least seven business days prior written notice by such new Holders to such effect; provided, however, that (A) in no event shall the Company be required to file pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act a supplement to the prospectus contained in the Shelf Registration Statement to cover new Holders of Securities on any day other than the last business day of the first full calendar month following the calendar month in

 

[[NYCORP:2550211v4:3642W:11/11/05--03:07 p]]

 

3

 

which the Shelf Registration is declared effective and the last business day of each subsequent calendar month thereafter and (B), in the case where a post-effective amendment is required, in no event shall the Company be required to file a post-effective amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement to cover new Holders of Securities on any day other than the last business day of the third full calendar month following the calendar month in which the Shelf Registration is declared effective and the last business day of each subsequent third calendar month thereafter.

(b) The Company shall give written notice to the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities included within the coverage of the Shelf Registration Statement (which notice pursuant to clauses (ii)-(v) hereof shall be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the prospectus until the requisite changes have been made):

(i) when the Shelf Registration Statement or any amendment thereto has been filed with the Commission and when the Shelf Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has become effective;

(ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to the Shelf Registration Statement or the prospectus included therein or for additional information;

(iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose;

(iv) of the receipt by the Company or its legal counsel of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and

(v) of the happening of any event that requires the Company to make changes in the Shelf Registration Statement or the prospectus in order that the Shelf Registration Statement or the prospectus do not contain an untrue statement of a material fact nor omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of the prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading.

(c) The Company shall make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal at the earliest possible time, of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement.

(d) The Company shall furnish to each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities included within the coverage of the Shelf Registration, without charge, if the Holder so requests in writing, at least one copy of the Shelf Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules and all exhibits thereto (including those, if any, incorporated by reference).

(e) The Company shall, during the Shelf Registration Period, deliver to each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities included within the coverage of the Shelf Registration Statement, without charge, as many copies of the prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) included in the Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as such person may reasonably request. The Company consents, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to the use of the prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders in connection with the offering and sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, included in the Shelf Registration Statement.

(f) Prior to any public offering of the Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall register or qualify or cooperate with the Holders of the Transfer Restricted Securities included therein and their respective counsel in connection with the registration or qualification of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or “blue sky” laws of such states of the United States as any Holder reasonably requests in writing and do any and all other acts or

 

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4

 

things necessary or advisable to enable the offer and sale in such jurisdictions of the Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or (ii) take any action which would subject it to general service of process or to taxation in any jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.

(g) The Company shall cooperate with the Holders of the Transfer Restricted Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing the Securities to be sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement free of any restrictive legends and in such denominations and registered in such names as the Holders may request a reasonable period of time prior to sales of the Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, except in such cases where such Transfer Restricted Securities are required to be issued only in book-entry form pursuant to the terms of the Indenture.

(h) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by paragraphs (ii) through (v) of Section 2(b) above during the Shelf Registration Period, the Company shall promptly prepare and file a post-effective amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement or a supplement to the related prospectus and any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to Holders of the Securities or purchasers of Securities, the prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If the Company notifies the Initial Purchasers or the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities included within the coverage of the Shelf Registration Statement, in accordance with paragraphs (ii) through (v) of Section 2(b) above, to suspend the use of the prospectus until the requisite changes to the prospectus have been made, then the Initial Purchasers and the Holders shall suspend use of such prospectus.

(i) Not later than the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company will provide CUSIP numbers for the Convertible Notes registered for resale under the Shelf Registration Statement, and provide one or more certificates for such Convertible Notes, in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company.

(j) The Company will comply with all rules and regulations of the Commission to the extent and so long as they are applicable to the Shelf Registration and will make generally available to its security holders (or otherwise provide in accordance with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act) an earnings statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act, no later than 45 days after the end of a 12-month period (or 90 days, if such period is a fiscal year) beginning with the first month of the Company’s first fiscal quarter commencing after the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement, which statement shall cover such 12-month period.

(k) The Company may require each Holder of Securities to be sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement to furnish to the Company such information regarding the Holder and the distribution of the Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably require for inclusion in the Shelf Registration Statement, and the Company may exclude from such registration the Securities of any Holder that fails to furnish such information within the applicable time period specified in Section 2(a) above.

(l) The Company shall enter into such customary agreements (including, if requested, an underwriting agreement in customary form) and take all such other action, if any, as any Holder of the Securities shall reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Securities pursuant to any Shelf Registration.

(m) In the case of any Shelf Registration, the Company shall (i) make reasonably available for inspection by the Holders of the Securities, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by the Holders of the Securities or any such underwriter all relevant financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and (ii) cause the Company’s officers, directors,

 

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5

 

employees, accountants and auditors to supply all relevant information reasonably requested by the Holders of the Securities or any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, in each case, as shall be reasonably necessary to enable such persons, to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act; provided, however, that the foregoing inspection and information gathering shall be coordinated on behalf of the Initial Purchasers by Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and on behalf of the other parties, by one counsel designated by and on behalf of such other parties as described in Section 3 hereof.

(n) In the case of any Shelf Registration, the Company, if requested by any Holder of Securities covered thereby, shall cause (i) its counsel to deliver an opinion and updates thereof relating to the Securities in customary form addressed to such Holders and the managing underwriters, if any, thereof and dated, in the case of the initial opinion, the effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement (it being agreed that the matters to be covered by such opinion shall include, without limitation, the due incorporation and good standing of the Company and its subsidiaries; the qualification of the Company and its subsidiaries to transact business as foreign corporations; the due authorization, execution and delivery of the relevant agreement of the type referred to in Section 2(l) hereof; the due authorization, execution, authentication and issuance, and the validity and enforceability, of the applicable Securities; the absence of material legal or governmental proceedings involving the Company and its subsidiaries; the absence of governmental approvals required to be obtained in connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, the offering and sale of the applicable Securities, or any agreement of the type referred to in Section 2(l) hereof; the compliance as to form of such Shelf Registration Statement and any documents incorporated by reference therein and of the Indenture with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act, respectively; and, as of the date of the opinion and as of the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement or most recent post-effective amendment thereto, as the case may be, the absence from such Shelf Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein, as then amended or supplemented, and from any documents incorporated by reference therein of an untrue statement of a material fact or the omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (in the case of any such documents, in the light of the circumstances existing at the time that such documents were filed with the Commission under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”)); (ii) its officers to execute and deliver all customary documents and certificates and updates thereof requested by any underwriters of the applicable Securities and (iii) its independent public accountants to provide to the selling Holders of the applicable Securities and any underwriter therefor a comfort letter in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in comfort letters in connection with primary underwritten offerings, subject to receipt of appropriate documentation as contemplated, and only if permitted, by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ Professional Standard AU Section 634 “Letters for Underwriters and Certain Other Requesting Parties.”

(o) The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Common Stock included in such Shelf Registration Statement to be, upon resale thereunder, listed on each securities exchange, if any, on which any shares of Common Stock are then listed.

(p) The Company shall use its best efforts to take all other steps necessary to effect the registration of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement contemplated hereby.

(q) The Company shall cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, in a timely manner and containing such changes, if any, as shall be necessary for such qualification. In the event that such qualification would require the appointment of a new trustee under the Indenture, the Company shall appoint a new trustee thereunder pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Indenture.

(r) The Company will use its best efforts to (i) if the Convertible Notes have been rated prior to the initial sale of such Convertible Notes, confirm such ratings will apply to the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by a Registration Statement, or (ii) if the Convertible Notes were not

 

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6

 

previously rated, cause the Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement to be rated with the appropriate rating agencies, if so requested by Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Convertible Notes covered by such Shelf Registration Statement, or by the managing underwriters, if any.

3. Registration Expenses.

(a) All expenses incident to the Company’s performance of and compliance with this Agreement will be borne by the Company, regardless of whether the Shelf Registration Statement is ever filed or becomes effective, including without limitation:

(i) all registration and filing fees and expenses;

(ii) all fees and expenses of compliance with federal securities and state “blue sky” or securities laws;

(iii) all expenses of printing (including printing certificates and printing of prospectuses), messenger and delivery services and telephone;

(iv) all fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company;

(v) all application and filing fees in connection with listing on a national securities exchange or automated quotation system pursuant to the requirements hereof; and

(vi) all fees and disbursements of independent certified public accountants of the Company (including the expenses of any special audit and comfort letters required by or incident to such performance).

The Company will bear its internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expenses of any annual audit and the fees and expenses of any person, including special experts, retained by the Company.

(b) In connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company will reimburse the Initial Purchasers and the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities who are selling or reselling Securities pursuant to the “Plan of Distribution” contained in the Shelf Registration Statement for the reasonable fees and disbursements of not more than one counsel, who shall be chosen by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities for whose benefit such Registration Statement is being prepared.

4. Indemnification.

(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder of the Transfer Restricted Securities included within the coverage of the Shelf Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls such Holder within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (each Holder and such controlling persons are referred to collectively as the “ Indemnified Parties ”) from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, or any actions in respect thereof (including, but not limited to, any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions relating to purchases and sales of the Securities) to which each Indemnified Party may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Shelf Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus relating to the Shelf Registration, or arise out of, or are based upon, the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and shall reimburse, as incurred, the Indemnified Parties for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof; provided, however, that (i) the Company shall not be liable in any such case

 

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7

 

to the extent that such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Shelf Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration in reliance upon and in conformity with written information pertaining to such Holder and furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion therein and (ii) with respect to any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in any prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration Statement, the indemnity agreement contained in this subsection (a) shall not inure to the benefit of any Holder from whom the person asserting any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities purchased the Securities concerned, to the extent that a prospectus relating to such Securities was required to be delivered by such Holder under the Securities Act in connection with such purchase and any such loss, claim, damage or liability of such Holder results from the fact that there was not sent or given to such person, at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of such Securities to such person, a copy of the final prospectus if the Company had previously furnished copies thereof to such Holder; provided further, however, that this indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have to such Indemnified Party. The Company shall also indemnify underwriters, their officers and directors and each person who controls such underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Holders of the Securities if requested by such Holders.

(b) Each Holder of the Securities, severally and not jointly, will indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities or any actions in respect thereof, to which the Company or any such controlling person may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a Shelf Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but in each case only to the extent that the untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information pertaining to such Holder and furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion therein; and, subject to the limitation set forth immediately preceding this clause, shall reimburse, as incurred, the Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company or any such controlling person in connection with investigating or defending any loss, claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which such Holder may otherwise have to the Company or any of its controlling persons.

(c) Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Party under this Section 4 of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding (including a governmental investigation), such Indemnified Party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 4, notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve the indemnifying party from liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and the indemnifying party has been materially prejudiced by such failure and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any Indemnified Party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. In case any such action is brought against any Indemnified Party, and it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party (who shall not, except with the consent of the Indemnified Party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and after notice from the indemnifying party to such Indemnified Party of its election so to assume the defense thereof the indemnifying party will not be liable to such Indemnified Party under this Section 4 for any legal or other expenses, other than reasonable costs of investigation, subsequently incurred by such Indemnified

 

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8

 

Party in connection with the defense thereof; provided , however , if such Indemnified Party shall have been advised by counsel that there are one or more defenses available to it that are in conflict with those available to the indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party shall not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the Indemnified Party), the reasonable fees and expenses of such Indemnified Party’s counsel shall be borne by the indemnifying party. In no event shall the indemnifying party be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one counsel (together with appropriate local counsel) at any time for any Indemnified Party in connection with any one action or separate but substantially similar or related actions arising in the same jurisdiction out of the same general allegations or circumstances. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened action in respect of which any Indemnified Party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Party unless such settlement (i) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter of such action, and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Party.

(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 4 is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an Indemnified Party under subsections (a) or (b) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to in subsection (a) or (b) above in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the Indemnified Party on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the parties shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or such Holder or such other Indemnified Party, as the case may be, on the other, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The amount paid by an Indemnified Party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim which is the subject of this subsection (d). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4(d), the Holders shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds received by such Holders from the sale of the Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement exceeds the amount of damages which such Holders have otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this paragraph (d), each person, if any, who controls such Indemnified Party within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Indemnified Party and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.

(e) The agreements contained in this Section 4 shall survive the sale of the Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination or cancellation of this Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of any Indemnified Party.

5. Additional Interest Under Certain Circumstances.

(a) Additional interest (“ Additional Interest ”) with respect to the Convertible Notes shall accrue as follows if any of the following events occur (each such event in clauses (i) through (iii) below being herein called a “ Registration Default ”):

(i) the Shelf Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not filed with the Commission on or prior to 120 days after the Closing Date;

 

 

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9

 

 

(ii) the Shelf Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not declared effective by the Commission on or prior to 240 days after the Closing Date;

(iii) if after the Shelf Registration Statement required by this Agreement has been declared effective by the Commission but (A) such Registration Statement thereafter ceases to be effective or (B) the Shelf Registration Statement or the related prospectus ceases to be usable in connection with resales of Transfer Restricted Securities during the periods specified herein because either (1) any event occurs as a result of which the related prospectus forming part of such Shelf Registration Statement would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading, or (2) it shall be necessary to amend such Shelf Registration Statement or supplement the related prospectus, to comply with the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or the respective rules thereunder.

Each of the foregoing will constitute a Registration Default whatever the reason for any such event and whether it is voluntary or involuntary or is beyond the control of the Company or pursuant to operation of law or as a result of any action or inaction by the Commission.

Additional Interest shall accrue on the Convertible Notes from and including the date on which any such Registration Default shall occur to but excluding the date on which all such Registration Defaults have been cured, at a rate of 0.25% per annum (the “ Additional Interest Rate ”) for the first 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of such Registration Default. The Additional Interest Rate shall increase by an additional 0.25% per annum with respect to each subsequent 90-day period until all Registration Defaults have been cured, up to a maximum Additional Interest Rate of 0.5% per annum.

(b) A Registration Default referred to in Section 5(a)(iii) hereof shall be deemed not to have occurred and be continuing in relation to the Shelf Registration Statement or the related prospectus if (i) such Registration Default has occurred solely as a result of (x) the filing of a post-effective amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement to incorporate annual audited financial information with respect to the Company where such post-effective amendment is not yet effective and needs to be declared effective to permit Holders to use the related prospectus or (y) other material events, with respect to the Company that would need to be described in the Shelf Registration Statement or the related prospectus and (ii) in the case of clause (y), the Company is proceeding promptly and in good faith to amend or supplement such Shelf Registration Statement and related prospectus to describe such events; provided, however, that in any case if such Registration Default occurs for a continuous period in excess of 30 days, Additional Interest shall be payable in accordance with the above paragraph from the day such Registration Default occurs until such Registration Default is cured.

(c) Any amounts of Additional Interest due pursuant to Section 5(a) will be payable in cash on the regular interest payment dates with respect to the Convertible Notes. The amount of Additional Interest will be determined by multiplying the applicable Additional Interest Rate by the aggregate principal amount of the Convertible Notes and further multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days such Additional Interest Rate was applicable during such period (determined on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months), and the denominator of which is 360.

(d) “ Transfer Restricted Securities ” means each Security until (i) the date on which such Security has been effectively registered under the Securities Act and disposed of in accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement or (ii) the date on which such Security is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or is saleable pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act.

6. Rules 144 and 144A . The Company shall use its best efforts to file the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act in a timely manner and, if at any time during the Shelf Registration Period the Company is not required to file such reports, it will, upon the request of any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities, make publicly available other information so long as necessary to permit

 

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10

 

sales of their securities pursuant to Rules 144 and 144A. The Company covenants that it will take such further action as any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell Transfer Restricted Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rules 144 and 144A (including the requirements of Rule 144A(d)(4)). The Company will provide a copy of this Agreement to prospective purchasers of Initial Securities identified to the Company by the Initial Purchasers upon request. Upon the request of any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 6 shall be deemed to require the Company to register any of its securities pursuant to the Exchange Act.

7. Underwritten Registrations . If any of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by any Shelf Registration are to be sold in an underwritten offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers that will administer the offering (“ Managing Underwriters ”) will be selected by a Majority of Holders (as defined in Section 8 hereof) of such Transfer Restricted Securities to be included in such offering.

No person may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person’s Transfer Restricted Securities on the basis reasonably provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

8. Miscellaneous.

(a) Remedies . The Company acknowledges and agrees that any failure by the Company to comply with its obligations under Section 1 hereof may result in material irreparable injury to the Initial Purchasers or the Holders for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such failure, the Initial Purchasers or any Holder may obtain such relief as may be required to specifically enforce the Company’s obligations under Section 1 hereof. The Company further agrees to waive the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.

(b) No Inconsistent Agreements . The Company will not on or after the date of this Agreement enter into any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. The rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the Company’s securities under any agreement in effect on the date hereof.

(c) Amendments and Waivers . The provisions of this Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, except by the Company and the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities (provided that Holders of Common Stock issued upon conversion of Convertible Notes shall be deemed to be Holders of the aggregate principal amount of Convertible Notes from which such Common Stock was converted) affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consents. Without the consent of the Holder of each Convertible Note then outstanding, however, no modification may change the provisions relating to the payment of Additional Interest.

(d) “ Majority of Holders ” means Holders holding over 50% of the aggregate principal amount of Convertible Notes outstanding that are Transfer Restricted Securities; provided that, for the purpose of this definition, a holder of shares of Common Stock which constitute Transfer Restricted Securities and issued upon conversion of the Convertible Notes shall be deemed to hold an aggregate principal amount of Convertible Notes (in addition to the principal amount of Convertible Notes held by such holder) equal to the quotient of (x) the number of such shares of Common Stock held by such holder and (y) the conversion rate in effect at the time of such conversion as determined in accordance with the Indenture.

 

 

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11

 

 

(e) Notices . All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand delivery, first-class mail, facsimile transmission, or air courier which guarantees overnight delivery:

(1) if to the Holders, at the most current address shown for the Holders in the records of the Transfer Agent, with a copy in like manner as follows:

(2) if to the Initial Purchasers:

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

Equity Capital Markets

60 Wall Street, 4 th Floor

New York, NY 10005

Fax No.: (212) 797-4564

Attention: General Counsel

with a copy to:

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP

Worldwide Plaza

825 Eighth Avenue

New York, NY 10019-7475

Fax No.: (212) 474-3700

Attention: Stephen L. Burns, Esq.

(3) if to the Company, at its address as follows:

Chesapeake Energy Corporation

6100 North Western Avenue

Oklahoma City, OK 73118

Fax No.: (405) 848-8588

Attention: Marcus C. Rowland

with a copy to:

Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.

2300 First City Tower

1001 Fannin Street

Houston, TX 77002-6760

Fax No.: (713) 758-2346

Attention: James A. Prince, Esq.

All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; three business days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt is acknowledged by recipient’s facsimile machine operator, if sent by facsimile transmission; and on the day delivered, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.

(f) Third Party Beneficiaries . The Holders shall be third party beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Company, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent they may deem such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect their rights or the rights of Holders hereunder.

(g) Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties, including, without the need for an express assignment or any consent by the Company thereto, subsequent Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities. The Company hereby agrees to extend the benefits of this Agreement to any Holder of

 

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12

 

Transfer Restricted Securities and any such Holder may specifically enforce the provisions of this Agreement as if an original party hereto.

(h) Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

(i) Headings . The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

(j) Governing Law . THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS.

(k) Severability . If any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.

(l) Securities Held by the Company . Whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities is required hereunder, Securities held by the Company or its affiliates (other than subsequent Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities if such subsequent Holders are deemed to be affiliates solely by reason of their holdings of such Securities) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage.

 

[[NYCORP:2550211v4:3642W:11/11/05--03:07 p]]

 

 

 

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement among the several Initial Purchasers, the Company and the Guarantors in accordance with its terms.

Very truly yours,

 

Chesapeake Energy Corporation

 

 

By

 

/s/ MARTHA A. BURGER

 

Name:    Martha A. Burger

 

Title:      Treasurer and Senior Vice President – Human Resources

 

SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS:

 

CHESAPEAKE EAGLE CANADA CORP.

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY LOUISIANA CORPORATION

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY MARKETING, INC.

CHESAPEAKE OPERATING, INC.

CHESAPEAKE PRH CORP.

CHESAPEAKE SOUTH TEXAS CORP.

NOMAC DRILLING CORPORATION

OXLEY PETROLEUM CO.

CARMEN ACQUISITION, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE ACQUISITION, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE ENO ACQUISITION, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE EP, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE LAND COMPANY, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE ORC, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE ROYALTY, L.L.C.

GOTHIC PRODUCTION, L.L.C.

JOHN C. OXLEY, L.L.C.

MC MINERAL COMPANY, L.L.C.

MAYFIELD PROCESSING L.L.C.

 

 

By: /s/ MARTHA A. BURGER

 

Name: Martha A. Burger

 

Title:    Treasurer and Vice President

 

CHESAPEAKE EXPLORATION LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

CHESAPEAKE LOUISIANA, L.P.

CHESAPEAKE NFW, L.P.

CHESAPEAKE PERMIAN, L.P.

CHESAPEAKE SIGMA, L.P.

CHESAPEAKE-STAGHORN ACQUISITION L.P.

CHESAPEAKE ZAPATA, L.P.,

 

By Chesapeake Operating, Inc., as general partner of each respective entity

 

By: /s/ MARTHA A. BURGER

 

Name: Martha A. Burger

 

Title:    Treasurer and Senior Vice President—Human

Resources

 

 

 

[[NYCORP:2550211v4:3642W:11/11/05--03:07 p]]

 

 

 

 

MIDCON COMPRESSION L.P.,

By Chesapeake Energy Marketing, Inc. as general partner

 

By: /s/ MARTHA A. BURGER

 

Name: Martha A. Burger

 

Title:    Treasurer and Vice President

 

 

 

[[NYCORP:2550211v4:3642W:11/11/05--03:07 p]]

 

 

 

The foregoing Registration

Rights Agreement is hereby confirmed

and accepted as of the date first

above written.

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.

BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC

CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON LLC

LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.

UBS SECURITIES LLC

BEAR STEARNS & CO, INC.

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.

GOLDMAN SACHS & CO

MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED

RBC CAPITAL MARKETS CORPORATION

WACHOVIA CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC

ABN AMRO INCORPORATED

BOSC, INC.

COMERICA SECURITIES, INC.

FORTIS SECURITIES LLC

HARRIS NESBITT CORP.

TD SECURITIES (USA) LLC

WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC,

 

 

By: DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.

 

By: /s/ MICHAEL V. JOHNSON

 

Name:

Michael V. Johnson

 

Title:

Managing Director, Americas Head - EUC

 

By: /s/ PAUL MURDOCK

 

Name:

Paul Murdock

 

Title:

Director

 

 

 

[[NYCORP:2550211v4:3642W:11/11/05--03:07 p]]

 

 

 

EXHIBIT 4.1.5

EXECUTION COPY

 

5,000,000 Shares

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION

5% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock (Series 2005B)

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

November 8, 2005

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.

BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC

CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON LLC

LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.

UBS SECURITIES LLC

As representatives (the “Representatives”) of the several Purchasers

c/o

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

High Yield Capital Markets

60 Wall Street, 2nd Floor

New York, N.Y. 10005

Dear Sirs:

Chesapeake Energy Corporation, an Oklahoma corporation (the “ Company ”), proposes to issue and sell to Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Banc of America Securities LLC, Credit Suisse First Boston LLC, Lehman Brothers Inc., UBS Securities LLC, Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co., Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, RBC Capital Markets Corporation, Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC, Gilford Securities Incorporated, Harris Nesbitt Corp., Howard Weil Incorporated, Johnson Rice & Company L.L.C., Natexis Bleichroerder Inc., Pritchard Capital Partners, LLC, Simmons & Company International and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC (collectively, the “ Initial Purchasers ”), upon the terms set forth in a purchase agreement dated November 2, 2005 (the “ Purchase Agreement ”), 5,000,000 shares of its 5% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock (Series 2005B), par value $0.01 per share (liquidation preference $100 per share) and, at the option of the Initial Purchasers, up to an additional 750,000 shares of its 5% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock (Series 2005B), par value $0.01 per share (liquidation preference $100 per share) (together, the “ Convertible Preferred Stock ”). The Convertible Preferred Stock will be convertible into shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “ Common Stock ”) at the conversion price set forth in the Offering Memorandum dated November 2, 2005 (the “ Offering Memorandum ”), subject to adjustment in accordance with the Certificate of Designation of the Convertible Preferred Stock (the “ Certificate of Designation ”). The Convertible Preferred Stock, the Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Preferred Stock and any Common Stock issued as payment or part payment of dividends on the Convertible Preferred Stock are collectively referred to as “ Securities ” and each referred to singularly as a “ Security .” As an inducement to the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company agrees with the Initial Purchasers, for the benefit of the Initial Purchasers and the holders of the Securities (collectively the “ Holders ”), as follows:

 

1. Shelf Registration . So long as any Transfer Restricted Security (as defined in Section 5 hereof) exists, the Company shall take the following actions:

(a) The Company shall, within 120 days after the first date on which the Initial Purchasers purchase the Convertible Preferred Stock pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (the “ Closing Date ”), file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) and thereafter use its reasonable best efforts to cause to be declared effective no later than 240 days after the Closing Date a registration statement (the “ Shelf Registration Statement ”) on an appropriate form under the Securities Act relating to the offer and sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities by the Holders thereof from time to time in accordance with the methods of distribution set forth in the Shelf

 

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2

 

Registration Statement and Rule 415 under the Securities Act (hereinafter, the “ Shelf Registration ”); provided, however, that no Holder (other than an Initial Purchaser) shall be entitled to have the Securities held by it covered by such Shelf Registration Statement unless such Holder agrees in writing to be bound by all the provisions of this Agreement applicable to such Holder.

(b) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective, in order to permit the prospectus included therein to be lawfully delivered by the Holders of the relevant Securities, until such time as all the Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement (i) have been sold pursuant thereto or (ii) are eligible to be sold under Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act (or any successor rule thereof), assuming for this purpose that the Holders thereof are not affiliates of the Company (in any such case, such period being called the “ Shelf Registration Period .” The Company shall be deemed not to have used its reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement effective during the requisite period if it voluntarily takes any action that would result in Holders of Securities covered thereby not being able to offer and sell such Securities during that period, unless such action is required by applicable law.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall cause the Shelf Registration Statement and the related prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, as of the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement, amendment or supplement, (i) to comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission and (ii) not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, the Company shall have no such obligations or liabilities with respect to any written information pertaining to any Holder and furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion therein.

2. Registration Procedures . In connection with the Shelf Registration contemplated by Section 1 hereof, the following provisions shall apply so long as any Transfer Restricted Security exists:

(a) The Company shall (i), if requested by an Initial Purchaser, furnish, without charge, to such Initial Purchaser, prior to the filing thereof with the Commission, a copy of the Shelf Registration Statement and each amendment thereof and each supplement, if any, to the prospectus included therein and, in the event that an Initial Purchaser (with respect to any portion of an unsold allotment from the original offering) is participating in the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall use its best efforts to reflect in each such document, when so filed with the Commission, such comments as such Initial Purchaser reasonably may propose, (ii) include in each such document the names of the Holders who have delivered written notice to the Company at least three business days prior to the filing thereof that they propose to sell Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement as selling securityholders and (iii) file pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act a supplement to the prospectus contained in the Shelf Registration Statement or, if required, file a post-effective amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement, in each case, to cover new Holders of Securities upon at least seven business days prior written notice by such new Holders to such effect; provided, however, that (A) in no event shall the Company be required to file pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act a supplement to the prospectus contained in the Shelf Registration Statement to cover new Holders of Securities on any day other than the last business day of the first full calendar month following the calendar month in which the Shelf Registration is declared effective and the last business day of each subsequent calendar month thereafter and (B), in the case where a post-effective amendment is required, in no event shall the Company be required to file a post-effective amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement to cover new Holders of Securities on any day other than the last business day of the third full calendar month following the calendar month in which the Shelf Registration is declared effective and the last business day of each subsequent third calendar month thereafter.

(b) The Company shall give written notice to the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities included within the coverage of the Shelf

 

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3

 

Registration Statement (which notice pursuant to clauses (ii)-(v) hereof shall be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the prospectus until the requisite changes have been made):

(i) when the Shelf Registration Statement or any amendment thereto has been filed with the Commission and when the Shelf Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has become effective;

(ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to the Shelf Registration Statement or the prospectus included therein or for additional information;

(iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose;

(iv) of the receipt by the Company or its legal counsel of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and

(v) of the happening of any event that requires the Company to make changes in the Shelf Registration Statement or the prospectus in order that the Shelf Registration Statement or the prospectus do not contain an untrue statement of a material fact nor omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of the prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading.

(c) The Company shall make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal at the earliest possible time, of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement.

(d) The Company shall furnish to each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities included within the coverage of the Shelf Registration, without charge, if the Holder so requests in writing, at least one copy of the Shelf Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules and all exhibits thereto (including those, if any, incorporated by reference).

(e) The Company shall, during the Shelf Registration Period, deliver to each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities included within the coverage of the Shelf Registration Statement, without charge, as many copies of the prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) included in the Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as such person may reasonably request. The Company consents, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to the use of the prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders in connection with the offering and sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, included in the Shelf Registration Statement.

(f) Prior to any public offering of the Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall register or qualify or cooperate with the Holders of the Transfer Restricted Securities included therein and their respective counsel in connection with the registration or qualification of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or “blue sky” laws of such states of the United States as any Holder reasonably requests in writing and do any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the offer and sale in such jurisdictions of the Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or (ii) take any action which would subject it to general service of process or to taxation in any jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.

(g) The Company shall cooperate with the Holders of the Transfer Restricted Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing the Securities to be sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement free of any restrictive legends and in such

 

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denominations and registered in such names as the Holders may request a reasonable period of time prior to sales of the Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, except in such cases where such Transfer Restricted Securities are required to be issued only in book-entry form pursuant to the terms of the Certificate of Designation.

(h) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by paragraphs (ii) through (v) of Section 2(b) above during the Shelf Registration Period, the Company shall promptly prepare and file a post-effective amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement or a supplement to the related prospectus and any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to Holders of the Securities or purchasers of Securities, the prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If the Company notifies the Initial Purchasers or the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities included within the coverage of the Shelf Registration Statement, in accordance with paragraphs (ii) through (v) of Section 2(b) above, to suspend the use of the prospectus until the requisite changes to the prospectus have been made, then the Initial Purchasers and the Holders shall suspend use of such prospectus.

(i) Not later than the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company will provide CUSIP numbers for the Convertible Preferred Stock registered for resale under the Shelf Registration Statement, and provide one or more certificates for such Convertible Preferred Stock, in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company.

(j) The Company will comply with all rules and regulations of the Commission to the extent and so long as they are applicable to the Shelf Registration and will make generally available to its security holders (or otherwise provide in accordance with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act) an earnings statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act, no later than 45 days after the end of a 12-month period (or 90 days, if such period is a fiscal year) beginning with the first month of the Company’s first fiscal quarter commencing after the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement, which statement shall cover such 12-month period.

(k) The Company may require each Holder of Securities to be sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement to furnish to the Company such information regarding the Holder and the distribution of the Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably require for inclusion in the Shelf Registration Statement, and the Company may exclude from such registration the Securities of any Holder that fails to furnish such information within the applicable time period specified in Section 2(a) above.

(l) The Company shall enter into such customary agreements (including, if requested, an underwriting agreement in customary form) and take all such other action, if any, as any Holder of the Securities shall reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Securities pursuant to any Shelf Registration.

(m) In the case of any Shelf Registration, the Company shall (i) make reasonably available for inspection by the Holders of the Securities, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by the Holders of the Securities or any such underwriter all relevant financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and (ii) cause the Company’s officers, directors, employees, accountants and auditors to supply all relevant information reasonably requested by the Holders of the Securities or any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, in each case, as shall be reasonably necessary to enable such persons, to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act; provided, however, that the foregoing inspection and information gathering shall be coordinated on behalf of the Initial Purchasers by Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and on behalf of the other parties, by one counsel designated by and on behalf of such other parties as described in Section 3 hereof.

 

 

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(n) In the case of any Shelf Registration, the Company, if requested by any Holder of Securities covered thereby, shall cause (i) its counsel to deliver an opinion and updates thereof relating to the Securities in customary form addressed to such Holders and the managing underwriters, if any, thereof and dated, in the case of the initial opinion, the effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement (it being agreed that the matters to be covered by such opinion shall include, without limitation, the due incorporation and good standing of the Company and its subsidiaries; the qualification of the Company and its subsidiaries to transact business as foreign corporations; the due authorization, execution and delivery of the relevant agreement of the type referred to in Section 2(l) hereof; the due authorization, execution, authentication and issuance, and the validity and enforceability, of the applicable Securities; the absence of material legal or governmental proceedings involving the Company and its subsidiaries; the absence of governmental approvals required to be obtained in connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, the offering and sale of the applicable Securities, or any agreement of the type referred to in Section 2(l) hereof; the compliance as to form of such Shelf Registration Statement and any documents incorporated by reference therein with the requirements of the Securities Act; and, as of the date of the opinion and as of the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement or most recent post-effective amendment thereto, as the case may be, the absence from such Shelf Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein, as then amended or supplemented, and from any documents incorporated by reference therein of an untrue statement of a material fact or the omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (in the case of any such documents, in the light of the circumstances existing at the time that such documents were filed with the Commission under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”)); (ii) its officers to execute and deliver all customary documents and certificates and updates thereof requested by any underwriters of the applicable Securities and (iii) its independent public accountants to provide to the selling Holders of the applicable Securities and any underwriter therefor a comfort letter in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in comfort letters in connection with primary underwritten offerings, subject to receipt of appropriate documentation as contemplated, and only if permitted, by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ Professional Standard AU Section 634 “Letters for Underwriters and Certain Other Requesting Parties.”

(o) The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Common Stock included in such Shelf Registration Statement to be, upon resale thereunder, listed on each securities exchange, if any, on which any shares of Common Stock are then listed.

(p) The Company shall use its best efforts to take all other steps necessary to effect the registration of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement contemplated hereby.

3. Registration Expenses.

(a) All expenses incident to the Company’s performance of and compliance with this Agreement will be borne by the Company, regardless of whether the Shelf Registration Statement is ever filed or becomes effective, including without limitation:

(i) all registration and filing fees and expenses;

(ii) all fees and expenses of compliance with federal securities and state “blue sky” or securities laws;

(iii) all expenses of printing (including printing certificates and printing of prospectuses), messenger and delivery services and telephone;

(iv) all fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company;

(v) all application and filing fees in connection with listing on a national securities exchange or automated quotation system pursuant to the requirements hereof; and

 

 

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(vi) all fees and disbursements of independent certified public accountants of the Company (including the expenses of any special audit and comfort letters required by or incident to such performance).

The Company will bear its internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expenses of any annual audit and the fees and expenses of any person, including special experts, retained by the Company.

(b) In connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company will reimburse the Initial Purchasers and the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities who are selling or reselling Securities pursuant to the “Plan of Distribution” contained in the Shelf Registration Statement for the reasonable fees and disbursements of not more than one counsel, who shall be chosen by the Holders of a majority in number of shares of the Transfer Restricted Securities for whose benefit such Registration Statement is being prepared.

4. Indemnification.

(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder of the Transfer Restricted Securities included within the coverage of the Shelf Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls such Holder within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (each Holder and such controlling persons are referred to collectively as the “ Indemnified Parties ”) from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, or any actions in respect thereof (including, but not limited to, any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions relating to purchases and sales of the Securities) to which each Indemnified Party may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Shelf Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus relating to the Shelf Registration, or arise out of, or are based upon, the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and shall reimburse, as incurred, the Indemnified Parties for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof; provided, however, that (i) the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Shelf Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration in reliance upon and in conformity with written information pertaining to such Holder and furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion therein and (ii) with respect to any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in any prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration Statement, the indemnity agreement contained in this subsection (a) shall not inure to the benefit of any Holder from whom the person asserting any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities purchased the Securities concerned, to the extent that a prospectus relating to such Securities was required to be delivered by such Holder under the Securities Act in connection with such purchase and any such loss, claim, damage or liability of such Holder results from the fact that there was not sent or given to such person, at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of such Securities to such person, a copy of the final prospectus if the Company had previously furnished copies thereof to such Holder; provided further, however, that this indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have to such Indemnified Party. The Company shall also indemnify underwriters, their officers and directors and each person who controls such underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Holders of the Securities if requested by such Holders.

(b) Each Holder of the Securities, severally and not jointly, will indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities or any actions in respect thereof, to which the Company or any such controlling person may become subject

 

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under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a Shelf Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but in each case only to the extent that the untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information pertaining to such Holder and furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion therein; and, subject to the limitation set forth immediately preceding this clause, shall reimburse, as incurred, the Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company or any such controlling person in connection with investigating or defending any loss, claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which such Holder may otherwise have to the Company or any of its controlling persons.

(c) Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Party under this Section 4 of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding (including a governmental investigation), such Indemnified Party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 4, notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve the indemnifying party from liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and the indemnifying party has been materially prejudiced by such failure and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any Indemnified Party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. In case any such action is brought against any Indemnified Party, and it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party (who shall not, except with the consent of the Indemnified Party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and after notice from the indemnifying party to such Indemnified Party of its election so to assume the defense thereof the indemnifying party will not be liable to such Indemnified Party under this Section 4 for any legal or other expenses, other than reasonable costs of investigation, subsequently incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with the defense thereof; provided , however , if such Indemnified Party shall have been advised by counsel that there are one or more defenses available to it that are in conflict with those available to the indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party shall not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the Indemnified Party), the reasonable fees and expenses of such Indemnified Party’s counsel shall be borne by the indemnifying party. In no event shall the indemnifying party be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one counsel (together with appropriate local counsel) at any time for any Indemnified Party in connection with any one action or separate but substantially similar or related actions arising in the same jurisdiction out of the same general allegations or circumstances. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened action in respect of which any Indemnified Party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Party unless such settlement (i) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter of such action, and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Party.

(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 4 is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an Indemnified Party under subsections (a) or (b) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to in subsection (a) or (b) above in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the Indemnified Party on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the parties shall be determined by

 

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reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or such Holder or such other Indemnified Party, as the case may be, on the other, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The amount paid by an Indemnified Party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim which is the subject of this subsection (d). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4(d), the Holders shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds received by such Holders from the sale of the Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement exceeds the amount of damages which such Holders have otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this paragraph (d), each person, if any, who controls such Indemnified Party within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Indemnified Party and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.

(e) The agreements contained in this Section 4 shall survive the sale of the Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination or cancellation of this Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of any Indemnified Party.

5. Additional Dividends Under Certain Circumstances.

(a) Additional dividends (“ Additional Dividends ”) with respect to the Convertible Preferred Stock shall accrue as follows if any of the following events occur (each such event in clauses (i) through (iii) below being herein called a “ Registration Default ”):

(i) the Shelf Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not filed with the Commission on or prior to 120 days after the Closing Date;

(ii) the Shelf Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not declared effective by the Commission on or prior to 240 days after the Closing Date;

(iii) if after the Shelf Registration Statement required by this Agreement has been declared effective by the Commission but (A) such Registration Statement thereafter ceases to be effective or (B) the Shelf Registration Statement or the related prospectus ceases to be usable in connection with resales of Transfer Restricted Securities during the periods specified herein because either (1) any event occurs as a result of which the related prospectus forming part of such Shelf Registration Statement would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading, or (2) it shall be necessary to amend such Shelf Registration Statement or supplement the related prospectus, to comply with the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or the respective rules thereunder.

Each of the foregoing will constitute a Registration Default whatever the reason for any such event and whether it is voluntary or involuntary or is beyond the control of the Company or pursuant to operation of law or as a result of any action or inaction by the Commission.

Additional Dividends shall accrue on the shares of Convertible Preferred Stock from and including the date on which any such Registration Default shall occur to but excluding the date on which all such Registration Defaults have been cured, at a rate of 5.50% per annum (50 basis points above the rate shown on the cover

 

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page of the Offering Memorandum) in addition to the dividends otherwise accruing on the Convertible Preferred Stock.

(b) A Registration Default referred to in Section 5(a)(iii) hereof shall be deemed not to have occurred and be continuing in relation to the Shelf Registration Statement or the related prospectus if (i) such Registration Default has occurred solely as a result of (x) the filing of a post-effective amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement to incorporate annual audited financial information with respect to the Company where such post-effective amendment is not yet effective and needs to be declared effective to permit Holders to use the related prospectus or (y) other material events, with respect to the Company that would need to be described in the Shelf Registration Statement or the related prospectus and (ii) in the case of clause (y), the Company is proceeding promptly and in good faith to amend or supplement such Shelf Registration Statement and related prospectus to describe such events; provided, however, that in any case if such Registration Default occurs for a continuous period in excess of 30 days, Additional Dividends shall be payable in accordance with the above paragraph from the day such Registration Default occurs until such Registration Default is cured.

(c) Any amounts of Additional Dividends due pursuant to Section 5(a) will be payable in cash on the regular dividend payment dates with respect to the Convertible Preferred Stock on the same terms and conditions and subject to the same limitations as pertain at such time for the payment of regular dividends. The amount of Additional Dividends will be determined by multiplying the applicable Additional Dividends rate by the aggregate liquidation preference of the outstanding shares of Convertible Preferred Stock and further multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days such Additional Dividend rate was applicable during such period (determined on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months), and the denominator of which is 360.

(d) “ Transfer Restricted Securities ” means each Security until (i) the date on which such Security has been effectively registered under the Securities Act and disposed of in accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement or (ii) the date on which such Security is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or is saleable pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act.

6. Rules 144 and 144A . The Company shall use its best efforts to file the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act in a timely manner and, if at any time during the Shelf Registration Period the Company is not required to file such reports, it will, upon the request of any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities, make publicly available other information so long as necessary to permit sales of their securities pursuant to Rules 144 and 144A. The Company covenants that it will take such further action as any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell Transfer Restricted Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rules 144 and 144A (including the requirements of Rule 144A(d)(4)). The Company will provide a copy of this Agreement to prospective purchasers of Initial Securities identified to the Company by the Initial Purchasers upon request. Upon the request of any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 6 shall be deemed to require the Company to register any of its securities pursuant to the Exchange Act.

7. Underwritten Registrations . If any of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by any Shelf Registration are to be sold in an underwritten offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers that will administer the offering (“ Managing Underwriters ”) will be selected by the Holders of a majority in number of shares of such Transfer Restricted Securities to be included in such offering.

No person may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person’s Transfer Restricted Securities on the basis reasonably provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (ii) completes

 

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and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

8. Miscellaneous.

(a) Remedies . The Company acknowledges and agrees that any failure by the Company to comply with its obligations under Section 1 hereof may result in material irreparable injury to the Initial Purchasers or the Holders for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such failure, the Initial Purchasers or any Holder may obtain such relief as may be required to specifically enforce the Company’s obligations under Section 1 hereof. The Company further agrees to waive the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.

(b) No Inconsistent Agreements . The Company will not on or after the date of this Agreement enter into any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. The rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the Company’s securities under any agreement in effect on the date hereof.

(c) Amendments and Waivers . The provisions of this Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, except by the Company and the written consent of the Holders of a majority in number of shares of Transfer Restricted Securities (provided that Holders of Common stock issued upon conversion of Convertible Preferred Stock shall be deemed to be Holders of the aggregate number of shares of Convertible Preferred stock from which such Common Stock was converted) affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consents. Without the consent of the Holder of each share of Convertible Preferred Stock then outstanding, however, no modification may change the provisions relating to the payment of Additional Dividends.

(d) Notices . All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand delivery, first-class mail, facsimile transmission, or air courier which guarantees overnight delivery:

(1) if to the Holders, at the most current address shown for the Holders in the records of the Transfer Agent, with a copy in like manner as follows:

(2) if to the Initial Purchasers:

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

Equity Capital Markets

60 Wall Street, 4 th Floor

New York, NY 10005

Fax No.: (212) 797-4564

Attention: Counsel

with a copy to:

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP

Worldwide Plaza

825 Eighth Avenue

New York, NY 10019-7475

Fax No.: (212) 474-3700

Attention: Stephen L. Burns, Esq.

(3) if to the Company, at its address as follows:

Chesapeake Energy Corporation

 

 

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6100 North Western Avenue

Oklahoma City, OK 73118

Fax No.: (405) 848-8588

Attention: Marcus C. Rowland

with a copy to:

Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.

2300 First City Tower

1001 Fannin Street

Houston, TX 77002-6760

Fax No.: (713) 758-2346

Attention: James A. Prince, Esq.

All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; three business days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt is acknowledged by recipient’s facsimile machine operator, if sent by facsimile transmission; and on the day delivered, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.

(e) Third Party Beneficiaries . The Holders shall be third party beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Company, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent they may deem such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect their rights or the rights of Holders hereunder.

(f) Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties, including, without the need for an express assignment or any consent by the Company thereto, subsequent Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities. The Company hereby agrees to extend the benefits of this Agreement to any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities and any such Holder may specifically enforce the provisions of this Agreement as if an original party hereto.

(g) Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

(h) Headings . The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

(i) Governing Law . THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS.

(j) Severability . If any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.

(k) Securities Held by the Company . Whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified number of Transfer Restricted Securities is required hereunder, Securities held by the Company or its affiliates (other than subsequent Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities if such subsequent Holders are deemed to be affiliates solely by reason of their holdings of such Securities) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage.

 

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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement among the several Initial Purchasers and the Company in accordance with its terms.

Very truly yours,

 

Chesapeake Energy Corporation

 

 

by

 

/s/ MARTHA A. BURGER

 

Name:    Martha A. Burger

 

Title:      Treasurer and Senior Vice President – Human Resources

 

 

 

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The foregoing Registration

Rights Agreement is hereby confirmed

and accepted as of the date first

above written.

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.

BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC

CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON LLC

LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.

UBS SECURITIES LLC

BEAR, STEARNS & CO. INC.

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.

GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.

MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED

RBC CAPITAL MARKETS CORPORATION

WACHOVIA CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC

GILFORD SECURITIES INCORPORATED

HARRIS NESBITT CORP.

HOWARD WEIL INCORPORATED

JOHNSON RICE & COMPANY L.L.C.

NATEXIS BLEICHROEDER INC.

PRITCHARD CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC

SIMMONS & COMPANY INTERNATIONAL

WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC

 

 

By: DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.

 

By: /s/ MICHAEL V. JOHNSON

 

Name:

Michael V. Johnson

 

Title:

Managing Director, Americas Head - EUC

 

By: /s/ PAUL MURDOCK

 

Name:

Paul Murdock

 

Title:

Director

 

 

 

[[NYCORP:2550517v2:3642W:11/11/05--03:04 p]]