CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION
as Issuer,
THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO
as Subsidiary Guarantors,
and
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
as Trustee
_________________
SIXTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
Dated December 20, 2016
to
Indenture dated as of April 24, 2014
_________________
$1,000,000,000
8.00% Senior Notes due 2025
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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ARTICLE 1 THE NOTES
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2
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SECTION 1.1
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Definitions
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2
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SECTION 1.2
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Form
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3
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SECTION 1.3
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Title, Issuance
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4
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SECTION 1.4
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Amount, Authentication
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4
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SECTION 1.5
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Registrar and Paying Agent
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5
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SECTION 1.6
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Guarantee of the Notes
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5
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SECTION 1.7
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Defeasance and Discharge
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5
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SECTION 1.8
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Redemption
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5
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SECTION 1.9
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Modifications to Base Indenture with Respect to the Notes
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6
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ARTICLE 2 MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
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8
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SECTION 2.1
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Counterpart Originals
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8
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SECTION 2.2
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Governing Law
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8
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SECTION 2.3
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Severability
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9
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SECTION 2.4
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Confirmation of Indenture
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9
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APPENDIX - Rule 144A / Regulation S Provisions Relating to 8.00% Senior Notes due 2025
EXHIBIT A - Form of 8.00% Senior Notes due 2025
THIS SIXTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE dated as of December 20, 2016 (this “
Supplemental Indenture
”), is among Chesapeake Energy Corporation, an Oklahoma corporation (the “
Company
”), the Subsidiary Guarantors party hereto and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, a New York banking corporation, as trustee (the “
Trustee
”). Each capitalized term used but not defined herein shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Base Indenture (as defined below).
RECITALS:
WHEREAS, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee are parties to an Indenture, dated as of April 24, 2014 (the “
Base Indenture
,” as supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture, the “
Indenture
”), providing for the issuance by the Company from time to time of its debentures, notes, bonds and other evidences of indebtedness, issued and to be issued in one or more series unlimited as to principal amount (the “
Securities
”), and the guarantee by each Subsidiary Guarantor of each such series of such Securities (the “
Guarantee
”);
WHEREAS, the Company has duly authorized and desires to cause to be issued pursuant to the Indenture a new series of Securities designated the 8.00% Senior Notes due 2025, all of such Notes to be guaranteed by the Subsidiary Guarantors as provided in Article Ten of the Base Indenture;
WHEREAS, the Company desires to cause the issuance of the Notes pursuant to Sections 2.01 and 2.03 of the Base Indenture, which sections permit the execution of supplemental indentures thereto to establish the form and terms of Securities of any series;
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Base Indenture, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors have requested that the Trustee join in the execution of this Supplemental Indenture to establish the form and terms of the Notes;
WHEREAS, all things necessary have been done to make the Notes, when executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered hereunder and under the Base Indenture by or on behalf of the Trustee and duly issued by the Company, and the Guarantee of the Subsidiary Guarantors, when the Notes are duly issued by the Company, the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, respectively, and to make this Supplemental Indenture a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors enforceable in accordance with its terms.
NOW THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the premises, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee hereby agree, for the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective holders from time to time of the Notes, that the following provisions shall supplement the Base Indenture:
ARTICLE 1
THE NOTES
Section 1.1 Definitions
(a) “
Additional Interest
” means the additional interest that shall accrue on the Notes in accordance with the terms of a Registration Rights Agreement if a Registration Default (as defined in the applicable Registration Rights Agreement) occurs.
(b) “
Definitive Note
” means a certificated Note registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Sections 2.09 and 2.12 of the Indenture and Section 2 of the Rule 144A / Regulation S Appendix hereto (the “
Appendix
”), in substantially the form of
Exhibit A
hereto (the “
Form of Note
”), except that such Note shall not bear the Global Security legend set forth in the Form of Note and shall not have the “Schedule of Increases or Decreases in Global Security” attached thereto.
(c) “
Disqualified Stock
” means any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security or other Equity Interests into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event or condition (1) matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests), pursuant to a sinking fund obligation, scheduled redemption or otherwise (except as a result of a change of control or asset sale), (2) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests and other than as a result of a change of control or asset sale), or (3) is or becomes convertible into or exchangeable for Indebtedness or any other Equity Interests that would otherwise constitute Disqualified Stock, in the case of each of clauses (1), (2) and (3), prior to the date that is 91 days after the maturity date of the Notes at the time of issuance of such Equity Interests; provided that if such Equity Interests are issued pursuant to any plan for the benefit of future, current or former employees, directors, officers, members of management or consultants of the Company or the Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, directors, officers, members of management or consultants, such Equity Interests shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because they may be required to be repurchased by the Company or the Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations, or as a result of such employee’s, director’s, officer’s, management member’s or consultant’s termination, death or disability; provided, further, that any Equity Interests held by any future, current or former employee, director, officer, member of management or consultant of the Company, any Subsidiary, or any other Person in which the Company or a Subsidiary has an Investment and is designated in good faith as an “affiliate” by the Board of Directors of the Company (or the compensation committee thereof), in each case pursuant to any stock subscription or shareholders’ agreement, management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Company or the Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or as a result of such employee’s, director’s, officer’s, management member’s or consultant’s termination, death or disability.
(d) “
Equity Interests
” means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock; provided that any instrument evidencing Indebtedness convertible or exchangeable into Capital Stock, whether or not such Indebtedness includes any right of participation with Capital Stock, shall not be deemed to be an Equity Interest unless and until such instrument is so converted or exchanged.
(e) “
Equity Offering
” means any public or private sale after the Issue Date of Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) other than:
(i)
public offerings with respect to the Company’s common stock registered on Form S-4 or Form S-8; and
(ii)
issuances to any Subsidiary.
(f) “
Exchange Notes
” means (1) the 8.00% Senior Notes due 2025 issued pursuant to this Supplemental Indenture in exchange for, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to, the Initial Notes or any Additional Notes, in each case, pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement, and (2) Additional Notes, if any, issued pursuant to this Supplemental Indenture pursuant to a registration statement filed with the SEC under the Securities Act.
(g) “
Notes
” means the Initial Notes and any Additional Notes.
(h) “
Qualified Equity Interests
” means any Equity Interests that are not Disqualified Stock.
(i) “
Registration Rights Agreement
” means (1) with respect to the Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date, the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of the Issue Date, among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the initial purchasers of the Initial Notes and (2) with respect to each issuance of Additional Notes issued in a transaction exempt from or not subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act, the registration rights agreement, if any, among the Issuer and the Persons purchasing such Additional Notes under the related purchase agreement, in each case, as amended from time to time.
Section 1.2 Form
.
The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of the Form of Note, with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations (including, for the avoidance of doubt, transfer restriction legends) as are required or permitted by the Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate, as may be required or appropriate to comply with any law or with any rules made pursuant thereto or with any rules of any securities exchange on which the Notes are listed, or to conform to general usage or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the Officers of the Company executing such Notes, as evidenced by their execution of the Notes. The terms and provisions contained in the Form of Note shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Supplemental Indenture and to
the extent applicable, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. Provisions relating to the Notes are set forth in the Appendix, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made part of this Supplemental Indenture. The Notes shall be transferable only in compliance with the Appendix.
Section 1.3 Title, Issuance.
(a) The Notes shall be entitled the “8.00% Senior Notes due 2025”. The Notes are “Securities” as defined in the Base Indenture and shall be issued initially in the form of one or more Global Securities in definitive, fully registered form and shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Notes with the Trustee, at the Corporate Trust Office, as custodian for The Depository Trust Company, which is hereby appointed Depositary for the Global Securities (the “
Depositary
”). The Notes shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary, 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 Depositary or its nominee as hereinafter provided. The Issue Date of the Notes is December 20, 2016.
(b) Except as provided in this Supplemental Indenture (including the Appendix) and in Section 2.13 of the Base Indenture, owners of beneficial interests in Global Securities shall not be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificated Notes. The Notes shall be issued in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.
(c) The transfer and exchange of Global Securities or beneficial interests therein shall be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with Section 2.13 of the Base Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture (including the Appendix) and the rules and procedures of the Depositary therefor.
(d) The Maturity Date of the Notes is January 15, 2025.
Section 1.4 Amount, Authentication
.
(a) The Trustee shall authenticate and deliver (i) on the date hereof (the “
Issue Date
”), $1,000,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of the series of Securities designated the 8.00% Senior Notes due 2025 established hereunder (the “
Initial Notes
”) and (ii) from time to time after the Issue Date, subject to Section 1.4(b) hereof, additional Securities of such series, including any Exchange Notes (“
Additional Notes
”), in such principal amounts as may be specified in a Company Order described in this
Section 1.4
, in each case upon a Company Order for the authentication and delivery thereof and satisfaction of the other provisions of Section 2.05 of the Base Indenture. Such order shall specify (i) the amount of the Notes to be authenticated, (ii) the date on which the Notes are to be authenticated, (iii) the name or names of the initial Holder or Holders, (iv) the CUSIP and/or ISIN number of any such Additional Notes and (v) whether any such Additional Notes shall be Transfer Restricted Notes.
(b) The Initial Notes issued on the date hereof and any Additional Notes shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under the Indenture, including directions, waivers, amendments, consents and redemptions;
provided
,
however
, that in the event that any Additional Notes are not fungible with the Initial Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such non-fungible Additional Notes shall be issued with a separate CUSIP number and ISIN so they are distinguishable from the Initial Notes.
Section 1.5 Registrar and Paying Agent
.
(a) The Company confirms the appointment of the Trustee as Registrar and Paying Agent with respect to the Notes pursuant to Section 2.06 of the Base Indenture.
(b) The Company may remove, appoint and change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to the Holders, but with written notice to the Trustee.
Section 1.6 Guarantee of the Notes
.
In accordance with Article Ten of the Base Indenture, the Notes will be fully, unconditionally and absolutely guaranteed on a senior basis, jointly and severally, by the Subsidiary Guarantors.
Section 1.7 Defeasance and Discharge
.
The Notes shall be subject to satisfaction and discharge and to both Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance as contemplated by Articles Eight and Twelve of the Base Indenture.
Section 1.8 Redemption
.
(a) The Company shall have no obligation to redeem, purchase or repay the Notes pursuant to any mandatory redemption, sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof.
(b) Except as set forth in this Section 1.8(b) and Section 1.8(d) hereof and in paragraphs 4 and 5 of the Form of Note, the Company shall not be entitled to redeem the Notes prior to January 15, 2020. At any time prior to January 15, 2020, the Company will be entitled at its option to redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed plus the Make-Whole Premium (as defined in the Form of Note) as of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date in accordance with paragraph 4 of the Form of Note.
(c) At any time on or after January 15, 2020, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at its option, at the redemption prices set forth in paragraph 5 of the Form of Note, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date in accordance with paragraph 5 of the Form of Note.
(d) At any time prior to January 15, 2020, the Company will be entitled at its option on any one or more occasions to redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal
amount of the Notes issued under the Indenture at a redemption price equal to 108.0% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), with an amount of cash not greater than the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings by the Company; provided that, with respect to each such redemption:
(i) at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes issued under the Indenture (excluding any Notes held by the Company and its Subsidiaries) remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption; and
(ii) such redemption occurs within 180 days of the date of the closing of such Equity Offering.
(e) The Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation whatsoever to calculate the Make-Whole Premium in connection with any redemption hereunder. Such responsibility shall be solely that of the Company.
Section 1.9 Modifications to Base Indenture with Respect to the Notes.
(a) All references to any amount of “interest” payable on or with respect to any of the Notes in the Indenture and the Form of Note shall be deemed to include any Additional Interest payable pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement, if applicable.
(b) Solely with respect to the Notes, Section 1.01 of the Base Indenture is amended as follows:
(i) The definition of “Credit Facilities” is amended by inserting the following at the end of the first parenthetical therein: “and term loan”.
(ii) The definition of “Existing Notes” is amended and restated as follows:
“
Existing Notes
” means the Company’s outstanding (a) 6.25% Euro-denominated Senior Notes due 2017, (b) 6.5% Senior Notes due 2017, (c) 7.25% Senior Notes due 2018, (d) Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2019, (e) 6.625% Senior Notes due 2020, (f) 6.875% Senior Notes due 2020, (g) 6.125% Senior Notes due 2021, (h) 5.375% Senior Notes due 2021, (i) 4.875% Senior Notes due 2022, (j) 8.00% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2022, (k) 5.75% Senior Notes due 2023, (l) 5.5% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026, (m) 2.75% Contingent Convertible Senior Notes due 2035, (n) 2.5% Contingent Convertible Senior Notes due 2037 and (o) 2.25% Contingent Convertible Senior Notes due 2038.
(iii) The definition of “Senior Indebtedness” is amended by inserting “Securities or” between “such” and “Indebtedness” after the second parenthetical therein.
(c) Solely with respect to the Notes, Section 3.05 of the Base Indenture shall be amended and restated as follows:
“(a) Once notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with Section 3.04, subject to the satisfaction of any conditions set forth therein, Notes called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date at the redemption price. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Notes shall be paid at the redemption price, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the redemption date; provided, however, that installments of interest that are due and payable on or prior to the redemption date shall be payable to the Holders of such Notes, registered as such, at the close of business on the relevant record date for the payment of such installment of interest. 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.
(b) Notice of any redemption, including, without limitation, upon an Equity Offering, may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of the related Equity Offering. In addition, if such redemption is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice shall state that, in the Company’s discretion, the redemption date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied, or such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the redemption date, or by the redemption date so delayed. In addition, the Company may provide in such notice that payment of the redemption price and performance of the Company’s obligations with respect to such redemption may be performed by another Person.”
(d) Solely with respect to the Notes, the Base Indenture shall be amended by adding the following as the last paragraph of Section 2.09 of the Base Indenture:
“In the event the Company is required to pay Additional Interest pursuant to any Registration Rights Agreement, the Company will provide written notice to the Trustee of the Company’s obligation to pay Additional Interest no later than 15 days prior to the next interest payment date, which notice shall set forth the amount of Additional Interest to be paid by the Company. The Trustee shall not at any time be under any duty or responsibility to the Company, any Holders or any other Person to determine whether such Additional Interest is payable or the amount thereof.”
(e) Solely with respect to the Notes, Section 4.02 of the Base Indenture shall be amended and restated as follows:
(i) The heading shall be amended and restated as follows: “SEC Reports and Rule 144A Information”.
(ii) The paragraph following the heading shall be renumbered as subsection (a) to Section 4.02.
(iii) The following shall be added as subsection (b) to Section 4.02:
“(b) At any time the Company is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company will, so long as any of the Notes will, at such time, constitute “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act, promptly provide to the Trustee and will, upon written request, provide to any holder, beneficial owner or prospective purchaser of such Notes the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act to facilitate the resale of such Notes pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act. The Company shall take such further action as any holder or beneficial owner of such Notes may reasonably request to the extent from time to time required to enable such holder or beneficial owner to sell such Notes in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time.”
(f) Solely with respect to the Notes, Section 5.01 of the Base Indenture shall be amended by deleting the following from clause (1) thereof: “, or Canada or any province thereof”.
(g) Solely with respect to the Notes, Section 6.01 of the Base Indenture shall be amended by deleting the second word of clause (3) and replacing it with “by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor with respect to”.
(h) Solely with respect to the Notes, Section 6.07 of the Base Indenture shall be amended and restated as follows:
“
Rights of Holders to Receive Payment.
(a) Subject to Section 6.07(b) and notwithstanding any provision of this Indenture other than Section 6.07(b), the Holder of any Notes will have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and interest on such Notes on the due date and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such right may not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.
(a)
Notwithstanding Section 6.07(a) and for the avoidance of doubt, no amendment to, or deletion or waiver of any of, the covenants set forth in this Indenture or any action taken by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor not prohibited by the Indenture (in each case other than with respect to actions set forth in Section 9.02 that require the consent of each Holder of any outstanding Note affected) shall be deemed to impair or affect any rights of any Holder to receive such payment.”
ARTICLE 2
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 2.1 Counterpart Originals
.
The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same instrument.
Section 2.2 Governing Law
.
THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE AND THE NOTES 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 NOTES AND THE GUARANTEES.
Section 2.3 Severability
.
In case any provision of this Supplemental Indenture or in the Notes 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.
Section 2.4 Confirmation of Indenture
.
(a) The Base Indenture, as supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects ratified and confirmed, and to the extent applicable, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. This Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed to be part of the Base Indenture in the manner and to the extent herein and therein provided.
(b) The Trustee accepts the amendments of the Indenture effected by this Supplemental Indenture, but on the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture, including the terms and provisions defining and limiting the liabilities and responsibilities of the Trustee. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or with respect to any of the recitals or statements contained herein, all of which recitals or statements are made solely by the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, or for or with respect to (i) the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or any of the terms or provisions hereof, (ii) the proper authorization hereof by the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors by action or otherwise, (iii) the due execution hereof by the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors or (iv) the consequences of any amendment herein provided for, and the Trustee makes no representation with respect to any such matters.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
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COMPANY:
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CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION
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By:
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/s/ Domenic J. Dell'Osso, Jr.
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Name:
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Domenic J. Dell'Osso, Jr.
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Title:
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Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
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Signature Page to Sixth Supplemental Indenture
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SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS:
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY LOUISIANA CORPORATION,
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY MARKETING, L.L.C.,
CHESAPEAKE E&P HOLDING CORPORATION,
CHESAPEAKE NG VENTURES CORPORATION,
CHESAPEAKE OPERATING, L.L.C.,
CHESAPEAKE PLAINS, LLC,
CHK ENERGY HOLDINGS, INC.,
SPARKS DRIVE SWD, INC.,
WINTER MOON ENERGY CORPORATION,
CHESAPEAKE AEZ EXPLORATION, L.L.C.,
CHESAPEAKE APPALACHIA, L.L.C.,
CHESAPEAKE-CLEMENTS ACQUISITION, L.L.C.,
CHESAPEAKE EXPLORATION, L.L.C.,
CHESAPEAKE LAND DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.L.C.,
CHESAPEAKE MIDSTREAM DEVELOPMENT, L.L.C.,
CHESAPEAKE ROYALTY, L.L.C.,
CHESAPEAKE VRT, L.L.C.,
CHK UTICA, L.L.C.,
COMPASS MANUFACTURING, L.L.C.,
EMLP, L.L.C.,
EMPRESS, L.L.C.,
GSF, L.L.C.,
MC LOUISIANA MINERALS, L.L.C.,
MC MINERAL COMPANY, L.L.C.,
MIDCON COMPRESSION, L.L.C.,
NOMAC SERVICES, L.L.C.,
NORTHERN MICHIGAN EXPLORATION COMPANY, L.L.C.,
CHESAPEAKE LOUISIANA, L.P.,
By: Chesapeake Operating, L.L.C., its General Partner
EMPRESS LOUISIANA PROPERTIES, L.P.
By: EMLP, L.L.C., its General Partner
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By:
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/s/ Domenic J. Dell'Osso, Jr.
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Name:
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Domenic J. Dell'Osso, Jr.
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Title:
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Authorized Signatory
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Signature Page to Sixth Supplemental Indenture
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TRUSTEE:
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Trustee
By: Deutsche Bank National Trust Company
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By:
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/s/ Chris Niesz
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Name: Chris Niesz
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Title: Assistant Vice President
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By:
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/s/ Kathryn Fischer
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Name: Kathryn Fischer
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Title: Assistant Vice President
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Signature Page to Sixth Supplemental Indenture
RULE 144A/REGULATION S APPENDIX
PROVISIONS RELATING TO NOTES
1.
Definitions
1.1
Definitions.
For the purposes of this Appendix the following terms shall have the meanings indicated below:
“
QIB
” means a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A.
“
Registered Exchange Offer
” means an offer by the Company, pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement, to certain Holders of Transfer Restricted Notes to issue and deliver to such Holders in exchange for such Notes a like aggregate principal amount of Exchange Notes registered under the Securities Act.
“
Resale Restriction Termination Date
” means, in the case of Restricted Notes sold in reliance on Rule 144A, the expiration of the applicable holding period with respect to such Notes set forth in Rule 144(d)(i) of the Securities Act and, in the case of Restricted Notes sold in reliance on Regulation S, 40 days after the later of the original issue date of such Notes and the date on which such Notes (or any predecessor of such Notes) were first offered to persons other than distributors (as defined in Rule 902 of Regulation S) in reliance on Regulation S.
“
Shelf Registration Statement
” means a registration statement filed by the Company in connection with the offer and resale of Transfer Restricted Notes by the Holders or beneficial owners thereof pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement.
“
Transfer Restricted Notes
” means Initial Notes or Additional Notes that bear or are required to bear the transfer restrictions legend set forth in
Section 2.3(d)(i)
hereof.
“
Unrestricted Notes
” means any Notes that are not Transfer Restricted Notes.
1.2
Other Definitions.
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Term
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Defined in Section:
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“Permanent Regulation S Global Note”
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2.1(b)
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“Regulation S”
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2.1(a)
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“Regulation S Global Note”
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2.1(b)
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“Restricted Global Note”
|
2.1(a)
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“Restricted Period”
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2.1(b)
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“Rule 144A”
|
2.1(a)
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“Rule 144A Global Note”
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2.1(a)
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“Temporary Regulation S Global Note”
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2.1(a)
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Each capital term used but not defined in this Appendix shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Indenture.
2.
The Notes
2.1
The Notes.
(a)
Form and Dating
. Initial Notes offered and sold to QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act (“
Rule 144A
”) (“
Rule 144A Global Notes
”) shall be issued initially in the form of one or more permanent Global Securities in definitive, fully registered form, and Notes offered and sold in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act (“
Regulation S
”), shall be issued initially in the form of one or more temporary Global Securities in fully registered form (“
Temporary Regulation S Global Notes
”), in each case, without interest coupons and with the Global Securities legend set forth in the Form of Note and the Restricted Notes legend set forth in
Section 2.3
(each security, unless and until becoming an Unrestricted Note, a “
Restricted Global Note
”), which shall be deposited on behalf of the holders of the Notes represented thereby with the Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary (or with such other custodian as the Depositary may direct), and registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. Additional Notes offered and sold to QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A shall be issued initially in the form of one or more permanent Rule 144A Global Notes, and Additional Notes offered and sold in reliance on Regulation S shall be issued initially in the form of one or more Temporary Regulation S Global Notes or Permanent Regulation S Global Notes, in each case, without interest coupons and with the Global Securities legend set forth in the Form of Note and the Restricted Notes legend set forth in
Section 2.3
, which shall be deposited on behalf of the holders of the Notes represented thereby with the Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary (or with such other custodian as the Depositary may direct), and registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. Exchange Notes shall be issued (i) in the form of one or more permanent Global Securities in definitive, fully registered form without interest coupons and with the Global Securities legend set forth in the Form of Note, and shall be deposited on behalf of the holders of the Notes represented thereby with the Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary (or with such other custodian as the Depositary may direct), and registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided or (ii) in definitive form as provided in
Section 2.4
.
(b)
Book-Entry Provisions
. This
Section 2.1(b)
shall apply only to a Global Security deposited with or on behalf of the Depositary.
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 Depositary for such Global Security or Global Securities or the nominee of such Depositary and (b) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depositary or pursuant to such Depositary’s instructions or held by the Trustee as
custodian for the Depositary. If such Global Securities are Restricted Global Notes, then separate Global Securities shall be issued to represent Rule 144A Global Notes and Regulation S Global Notes so long as required by law or the Depositary.
Except as set forth in this
Section 2.1
(b), beneficial interests in a Temporary Regulation S Global Note will not be exchangeable for interests in a Rule 144A Global Note, a permanent global note (the “
Permanent Regulation S Global Note
” and, together with the Temporary Regulation S Global Note, the “
Regulation S Global Note
”) or any other Note prior to the expiration of the period through and including the 40th day after the later of the commencement of the offering of the Initial Note or Additional Note represented by such Temporary Regulation S Global Note and the closing of such offering (such period, the “
Restricted Period
”) and then, after the expiration of the Restricted Period, may be exchanged for interests in a Rule 144A Global Note or the Permanent Regulation S Global Note only upon certification in form reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee that beneficial ownership interests in such Temporary Regulation S Global Note are owned either by non-U.S. persons or U.S. persons who purchased such interests in a transaction that did not require registration under the Securities Act.
Prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, beneficial interests in a Temporary Regulation S Global Note may be exchanged for beneficial interests in the Rule 144A Global Note only if (i) such exchange occurs in connection with a transfer of the Notes pursuant to Rule 144A, (ii) the transferor first delivers to the Trustee a written certificate to the effect that the beneficial interest in the Temporary Regulation S Global Note is being transferred to a Person who the transferor reasonably believes to be a QIB and is purchasing for its own account or the account of a QIB, in each case in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, and (iii) the transfer is in accordance with all applicable securities laws of the states of the United States and other jurisdictions. After the expiration of the Restricted Period, such certification requirements shall not apply to such transfers of beneficial interests in a Restricted Global Note representing Regulation S Global Notes.
Beneficial interests in a Rule 144A Global Note that is a Transfer Restricted Note may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery in the form of an interest in the Regulation S Global Note, whether before or after the expiration of the Restricted Period, only if the transferor first delivers to the Trustee a written certificate to the effect that such transfer is being made in accordance with Rule 903 or 904 of Regulation S or Rule 144 (if available).
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 Depositary or its nominee as provided herein and in the Indenture.
(c)
Definitive Notes
. Except as provided in Section 2.3 or 2.4, owners of beneficial interests in Restricted Global Notes shall not be entitled to receive Definitive Notes. Definitive Notes shall be exchangeable for beneficial interests in Global Securities only as provided in
Section 2.3
.
2.2
Authentication of Exchange Notes
. The Trustee shall authenticate and deliver at any time or from time to time, Exchange Notes for issue in a Registered Exchange Offer pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement for a like principal amount of Transfer Restricted Notes upon delivery of a Company Order.
2.3
Transfer and Exchange.
(a)
Transfer and Exchange of Global Securities
. The transfer and exchange of Global Securities or beneficial interests therein shall be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the Indenture (including applicable restrictions on transfer set forth herein, if any) and the procedures of the Depositary therefor. A transferor of a beneficial interest in a Global Security shall deliver to the Registrar a written order given in accordance with the Depositary’s procedures containing information regarding the participant account of the Depositary to be credited with a beneficial interest in the Global Security. The Registrar shall, in accordance with such instructions, instruct the Depositary 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.
(i)
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Appendix, a Global Security may not be transferred as a whole except by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary.
(ii)
In the event that a Restricted Global Note is exchanged for Definitive Notes pursuant to
Section 2.4
prior to the consummation of a Registered Exchange Offer or the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to such Notes, such Notes 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 Transfer Restricted Notes intended to ensure that such transfers comply with Rule 144A or Regulation S or another applicable exemption under the Securities Act, as the case may be) and such other procedures as may from time to time be adopted by the Company.
(b)
Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes
. When Definitive Notes are presented to the Registrar with a request (x) to register the transfer of such Definitive Notes or (y) to exchange such Definitive Notes for an equal principal amount of Definitive Notes of other authorized denominations, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange as requested if its requirements for such transaction are met;
provided
,
however
, that the Definitive Notes surrendered for transfer or exchange:
(i)
shall be duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form reasonably satisfactory to the Company and
the Registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or its attorney duly authorized in writing; and
(ii)
if such Definitive Notes are required to bear a Restricted Notes legend, they are being transferred or exchanged pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, pursuant to
Section 2.3(c)
or pursuant to clause (A), (B) or (C) below, and are accompanied by the following additional information and documents, as applicable:
(A)
if such Definitive Notes are being delivered to the Registrar by a Holder for registration in the name of such Holder, without transfer, a certification from such Holder to that effect; or
(B)
if such Definitive Notes are being transferred to the Company, a Subsidiary Guarantor or any Subsidiary thereof, a certification to that effect; or
(C)
if such Definitive Notes are being transferred (x) pursuant to an exemption from registration in accordance with Rule 144A, Regulation S or Rule 144 under the Securities Act; or (y) in reliance upon another exemption from the requirements of the Securities Act: (I) a certification to that effect and (II) if the Company so requests, an opinion of counsel or other evidence reasonably satisfactory to it as to the compliance with the restrictions set forth in the legend set forth in
Section 2.3(d)(i)
.
(c)
Restrictions on Transfer of a Definitive Note for a Beneficial Interest in a Global Note
. A Definitive Note may not be exchanged for a beneficial interest in a Rule 144A Global Note or a Permanent Regulation S Global Note except upon satisfaction of the requirements set forth below. Upon receipt by the Trustee of a Definitive Note, duly endorsed or accompanied by appropriate instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, together with:
(i)
certification that such Definitive Note is either (A) being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, or (B) being transferred after expiration of the Restricted Period by a Person who initially purchased such Note in reliance on Regulation S to a buyer who elects to hold its interest in such Note in the form of a beneficial interest in the Permanent Regulation S Global Note; and
(ii)
written instructions directing the Trustee to make, or directing the Custodian to make, an adjustment on its books and records with respect to such Rule 144A Global Note (in the case of a transfer pursuant to clause (c)(i)(A)) or Permanent Regulation S Global Note (in the case of a transfer pursuant to clause (c)(i)(B)) to reflect an increase in the aggregate principal amount of the Notes represented by the Rule 144A
Global Note or Permanent Regulation S Global Note, as applicable, such instructions to contain information regarding the Depositary account to be credited with such increase,
then the Trustee shall cancel such Definitive Note and cause, or direct the Custodian to cause, in accordance with the standing instructions and procedures existing between the Depositary and the Custodian, the aggregate principal amount of Notes represented by the Rule 144A Global Note or Permanent Regulation S Global Note, as applicable, to be increased by the aggregate principal amount of the Definitive Note to be exchanged and shall credit or cause to be credited to the account of the Person specified in such instructions a beneficial interest in the Rule 144A Global Note or Permanent Regulation S Global Note, as applicable, equal to the principal amount of the Definitive Note so canceled. If no Rule 144A Global Notes or Permanent Regulation S Global Notes, as applicable, are then outstanding but Notes are otherwise represented by Global Securities at such time, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate, upon receipt of a Company Order, a new Rule 144A Global Note or Permanent Regulation S Global Note, as applicable, in the appropriate principal amount.
(d)
Legend
.
(i)
Except as permitted by the following subclauses (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v), each Note certificate evidencing the Restricted Global Notes (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof) shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:
For each Rule 144A Global Note and each Regulation S Global Note:
THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “U.S. SECURITIES ACT”) OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”)) OR (B) IT IS NOT A “U.S. PERSON” AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION” AS DEFINED IN REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, (2) AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR FOR WHICH IT HAS ACQUIRED SECURITIES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) [IN THE CASE OF NOTES INITIALLY ISSUED TO QIBS: THAT IS ONE YEAR (OR SUCH SHORTER PERIOD AS IS PRESCRIBED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AS THEN IN EFFECT OR ANY SUCCESSOR RULE WITHOUT ANY VOLUME OR
MANNER OF SALE RESTRICTIONS OR COMPLIANCE BY THE ISSUER WITH ANY CURRENT PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS THEREUNDER) AFTER THE LATER OF THE ISSUE DATE AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE ISSUER OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES WERE THE OWNER OF SUCH SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR THERETO)] [IN THE CASE OF REGULATION S NOTES: 40 DAYS AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE DATE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY) WAS FIRST OFFERED TO PERSONS OTHER THAN DISTRIBUTORS (AS DEFINED IN RULE 902 OF REGULATION S) IN RELIANCE ON REGULATIONS S] ONLY (A) TO THE ISSUER, THE GUARANTORS OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, OR (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO PERSONS WHO ARE NOT U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES TO ANY REQUIREMENT OR LAW THAT THE DISPOSITION OF ITS PROPERTY OR THE PROPERTY OF SUCH INVESTOR ACCOUNT OR ACCOUNTS BE AT ALL TIMES WITHIN ITS OR THEIR CONTROL AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND ANY APPLICABLE LOCAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL GIVE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND; PROVIDED, THAT THE ISSUER AND THE TRUSTEE SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER (I) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (D) PRIOR TO THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE OR PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM AND (II) IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES, TO REQUIRE THAT A CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING ON THE REVERSE OF THIS SECURITY IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEROR TO THE TRUSTEE.
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AND WARRANTED THAT EITHER (1) NO PORTION OF THE ASSETS USED BY SUCH HOLDER TO ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS SECURITY CONSTITUTES THE ASSETS OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN THAT IS SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE U.S. EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), OF A PLAN, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER ARRANGEMENT THAT IS SUBJECT TO SECTION 4975 OF THE U.S. INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986,
AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”) OR PROVISIONS UNDER ANY OTHER FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, NON-U.S. OR OTHER LAWS OR REGULATIONS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO SUCH PROVISIONS OF ERISA OR THE CODE (“SIMILAR LAWS”), OR OF AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS ARE CONSIDERED TO INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY SUCH PLAN, ACCOUNT OR ARRANGEMENT, (2) THE ACQUISITION AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A NON-EXEMPT PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE OR A SIMILAR VIOLATION UNDER ANY APPLICABLE SIMILAR LAWS OR (3) NO ADVICE PROVIDED BY US OR ANY OF OUR AFFILIATES HAS FORMED A PRIMARY BASIS FOR MAKING ANY INVESTMENT OR OTHER DECISION FOR OR ON BEHALF OF SUCH PLAN OR PLAN IN CONNECTION WITH THE NOTES OR THE EXERCISE OF ANY RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO THE NOTES.
Each Temporary Regulation S Global Note shall also bear the following legend:
THE RIGHTS ATTACHING TO THIS TEMPORARY REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE, AND THE CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING (I) THE EXCHANGE OF BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN THIS TEMPORARY REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE FOR INTERESTS IN THE PERMANENT REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE OR RULE 144A GLOBAL NOTE AND (II) THE TRANSFER OF INTERESTS IN THIS TEMPORARY REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE, ARE AS SPECIFIED IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.
(ii)
The Company, acting in its discretion, may remove the Restricted Notes legend set forth in clause (d)(i) above from any Transfer Restricted Note at any time on or after the Resale Restriction Termination Date applicable to such Transfer Restricted Note. Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, the Company may effect such removal by issuing and delivering, in exchange for such Transfer Restricted Note, an Unrestricted Note without such legend, registered to the same Holder and in an equal principal amount, and upon receipt by the Trustee of a Company Order stating that the Resale Restriction Termination Date applicable to such Transfer Restricted Note has occurred and requesting the authentication and delivery of an Unrestricted Note in exchange therefor given at least three Business Days in advance of the proposed date of exchange specified therein (which shall be no earlier than such Resale Restriction Termination Date), the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver such Unrestricted Note to the Depositary or pursuant to such Depositary’s instructions or hold such Note as Custodian and shall request the Depositary to, or, if the Trustee is custodian of such Transfer Restricted Note, shall itself, surrender such Transfer Restricted Note in exchange for such Unrestricted Note without such legend and thereupon cancel such Transfer Restricted Note so surrendered, all as directed in such order. For purposes of determining whether the Resale Restriction Termination Date has occurred with respect to any Notes evidenced by a Transfer Restricted Note or delivering any order pursuant
to this
Section 2.3(d)(ii)
with respect to such Notes, (i) only those Notes which a Principal Officer of the Company actually knows (after reasonable inquiry) to be or to have been owned by an Affiliate of the Company shall be deemed to be or to have been, respectively, owned by an Affiliate of the Company; and (ii) “Principal Officer” means the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Company.
For purposes of this
Section 2.3(d)(ii)
, all provisions relating to the removal of the legend set forth in clause (d)(i) above shall relate, if the Resale Restriction Termination Date has occurred only with respect to a portion of the Notes evidenced by a Transfer Restricted Note, to such portion of the Notes so evidenced as to which the Resale Restriction Termination Date has occurred.
Each holder of any Notes evidenced by any Restricted Global Note, by its acceptance thereof, (A) authorizes and consents to, (B) appoints the Company as its agent for the sole purpose of delivering such electronic messages, executing and delivering such instruments and taking such other actions, on such holder’s behalf, as the Depositary or the Trustee may require to effect, and (C) upon the request of the Company, agrees to deliver such electronic messages, execute and deliver such instruments and take such other actions as the Depositary or the Trustee may require, or as shall otherwise be necessary to effect, the removal of the legend set forth in
Section 2.3(d)(i)
(including by means of the exchange of all or the portion of such Restricted Global Note evidencing such Note for a certificate evidencing such Note that does not bear such legend) at any time after the Resale Restriction Termination Date.
(iii)
Upon any sale or transfer of a Transfer Restricted Note pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, the Registrar shall permit the transferee thereof to exchange such Transfer Restricted Note for a Note that does not bear the legend set forth in clause (d)(i) above and rescind any restriction on the transfer of such Transfer Restricted Note, if the transferor thereof certifies in writing to the Registrar that, and if the Company or the Trustee so request, delivers an opinion of counsel to the effect 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 Note).
(iv)
After a transfer of any Transfer Restricted Notes pursuant to and during the period of the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to such Notes, all requirements pertaining to transfer restriction legends on such Notes will cease to apply, and an Exchange Note in global form, without restrictive transfer legends, will be available to the transferee of the Holder of such Notes upon exchange of such transferring Holder’s Definitive Notes or directions to transfer such Holder’s interest in the Global Security, as applicable.
(v)
Upon the consummation of a Registered Exchange Offer with respect to Transfer Restricted Notes, Exchange Notes in global form
will be available to Holders that exchange such Transfer Restricted Notes in such Registered Exchange Offer.
(e)
Restrictions on Transfer of Temporary Regulation S Global Notes
. During the Restricted Period, beneficial ownership interests in Temporary Regulation S Global Notes may only be sold, pledged or transferred in accordance with the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary and only (i) to the Company, (ii) in an offshore transaction in accordance with Regulation S (other than a transaction resulting in an exchange for an interest in a Permanent Regulation S Global Note) or (iii) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, in each case, in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any state of the United States.
(f)
Cancellation or Adjustment of Global Security
. At such time as all beneficial interests in a Global Security have either been exchanged for Definitive Notes, redeemed, purchased or canceled, such Global Security shall be returned to the Company for cancellation or retained and canceled by the Trustee. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Security is exchanged for Definitive Notes, redeemed, purchased or canceled, the principal amount of Notes 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 Custodian for such Global Security) with respect to such Global Security, by the Trustee or the Custodian, to reflect such reduction.
(g)
No Obligation of the Trustee
. The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under the Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among Depositary participants, 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 the Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.
2.4
Definitive Notes.
(a)
A Global Security deposited with the Depositary or with the Trustee as custodian for the Depositary pursuant to
Section 2.1
shall be transferred to the beneficial owners thereof in the form of Definitive Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Security, in exchange for such Global Security, only in the circumstances described in Section 2.13 of the Base Indenture and only if such transfer complies with
Section 2.3
hereof.
(b)
Any Global Security that is transferable to the beneficial owners thereof pursuant to this
Section 2.4
shall be surrendered by the Depositary or the Custodian located at its Corporate Trust Office 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 Global Security, an equal aggregate principal amount of Definitive Notes of authorized denominations. Any portion of a Global Security
transferred pursuant to this
Section 2.4
shall be executed, authenticated and delivered only in denominations equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, and registered in such names as the Depositary shall direct. Any Definitive Note delivered in exchange for an interest in a Global Security shall, except as otherwise provided by
Section 2.3
, bear the Restricted Notes legend.
(c)
In no event shall beneficial interests in the Temporary Regulation S Global Note be transferred or exchanged for Definitive Notes prior to (x) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (y) the receipt by the Registrar of any certificates required pursuant to Rule 903(b)(3)(ii)(B) of Regulation S under the Securities Act.
Exhibit A
FORM OF NOTE
[FACE OF NOTE]
[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.]
1
_____________________________
1
To be included in a Global Security
A-1
[Rule 144A / Regulation S Restricted Note Legend]
THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “U.S. SECURITIES ACT”) OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”)) OR (B) IT IS NOT A “U.S. PERSON” AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION” AS DEFINED IN REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, (2) AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR FOR WHICH IT HAS ACQUIRED SECURITIES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) [IN THE CASE OF NOTES INITIALLY ISSUED TO QIBS: THAT IS ONE YEAR (OR SUCH SHORTER PERIOD AS IS PRESCRIBED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AS THEN IN EFFECT OR ANY SUCCESSOR RULE WITHOUT ANY VOLUME OR MANNER OF SALE RESTRICTIONS OR COMPLIANCE BY THE ISSUER WITH ANY CURRENT PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS THEREUNDER) AFTER THE LATER OF THE ISSUE DATE AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE ISSUER OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES WERE THE OWNER OF SUCH SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR THERETO)] [IN THE CASE OF REGULATION S NOTES: 40 DAYS AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE DATE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY) WAS FIRST OFFERED TO PERSONS OTHER THAN DISTRIBUTORS (AS DEFINED IN RULE 902 OF REGULATION S) IN RELIANCE ON REGULATIONS S] ONLY (A) TO THE ISSUER, THE GUARANTORS OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, OR (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO PERSONS WHO ARE NOT U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES TO ANY REQUIREMENT OR LAW THAT THE DISPOSITION OF ITS PROPERTY OR THE PROPERTY OF SUCH INVESTOR ACCOUNT OR ACCOUNTS BE AT ALL
A-2
TIMES WITHIN ITS OR THEIR CONTROL AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND ANY APPLICABLE LOCAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL GIVE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND; PROVIDED, THAT THE ISSUER AND THE TRUSTEE SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER (I) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (D) PRIOR TO THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE OR PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM AND (II) IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES, TO REQUIRE THAT A CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING ON THE REVERSE OF THIS SECURITY IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEROR TO THE TRUSTEE.
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AND WARRANTED THAT EITHER (1) NO PORTION OF THE ASSETS USED BY SUCH HOLDER TO ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS SECURITY CONSTITUTES THE ASSETS OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN THAT IS SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE U.S. EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), OF A PLAN, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER ARRANGEMENT THAT IS SUBJECT TO SECTION 4975 OF THE U.S. INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”) OR PROVISIONS UNDER ANY OTHER FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, NON-U.S. OR OTHER LAWS OR REGULATIONS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO SUCH PROVISIONS OF ERISA OR THE CODE (“SIMILAR LAWS”), OR OF AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS ARE CONSIDERED TO INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY SUCH PLAN, ACCOUNT OR ARRANGEMENT, (2) THE ACQUISITION AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A NON-EXEMPT PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE OR A SIMILAR VIOLATION UNDER ANY APPLICABLE SIMILAR LAWS OR (3) NO ADVICE PROVIDED BY US OR ANY OF OUR AFFILIATES HAS FORMED A PRIMARY BASIS FOR MAKING ANY INVESTMENT OR OTHER DECISION FOR OR ON BEHALF OF SUCH PLAN OR PLAN IN CONNECTION WITH THE NOTES OR THE EXERCISE OF ANY RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO THE NOTES.
Each Temporary Regulation S Global Note shall also bear the following legend:
THE RIGHTS ATTACHING TO THIS TEMPORARY REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE, AND THE CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING (I) THE EXCHANGE OF BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN THIS TEMPORARY REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE FOR INTERESTS IN THE PERMANENT REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE OR RULE 144A GLOBAL NOTE AND (II) THE TRANSFER OF INTERESTS IN THIS TEMPORARY REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE, ARE AS SPECIFIED IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.
A-3
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Certificate No.
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CUSIP NO.
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$
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ISIN NO.
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8.00% Senior Notes due 2025
Chesapeake Energy Corporation, an Oklahoma corporation, promises to pay to ______________, or registered assigns, the principal sum of _________________________ Dollars [To be included in a Global Security: , or such greater or lesser amount as set forth on the Schedule of Increases or Decreases in Global Security attached hereto, ]on January 15, 2025.
Interest Payment Dates: January 15 and July 15
Record Dates: January 1 and July 1
Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the other side of this Note.
A-4
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be duly executed.
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CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION
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By
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Name:
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Title:
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By
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Name:
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Title:
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TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF
AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Securities of the Series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
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DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
As Trustee
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By:
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Date: ______________________________________
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Authorized Signatory
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A-5
[REVERSE SIDE OF NOTE]
8.00% Senior Note due 2025
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 Note at the rate per annum shown above[;
provided
,
however
, that if a Registration Default (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) occurs, additional interest (“Additional Interest”) shall accrue on this Note in accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement.]
2
The Company shall pay interest semiannually on January 15 and July 15 of each year, commencing July 15, 2017. Interest on the Notes shall accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from December 20, 2016. Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. [All references to any amount of “interest” payable on or with respect to the Notes in the Indenture or this Note shall be deemed to include any Additional Interest payable pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, if applicable].
The Company shall pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered holders of Notes at the close of business on the January 1 or July 1 next preceding the interest payment date even if Notes are canceled after the record date and on or before the interest payment date. Holders must surrender Notes to a Paying Agent to collect principal payments. The Company shall 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 Notes represented by a Global Security (including principal, premium and interest) shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by The Depository Trust Company. The Company shall make all payments in respect of a certificated Note (including principal, premium and interest) by mailing a check to the registered address of each Holder thereof;
provided
,
however
, that payments on a certificated Note shall 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).
If any interest payment date, Maturity Date or redemption date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the applicable payment to be made on such payment date will be made on the next Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the relevant
_________________________
2
All references to “Additional Interest” in the Note shall be deleted in an Exchange Note unless if, at the date of issuance of the Exchange Note, any Registration Default (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) has occurred with respect to the related Transfer Restricted Notes during the interest period in which such date of issuance occurs.
A-6
interest payment date, Maturity Date or redemption date. No interest will accrue on such payment for the period from and after the applicable interest payment date, Maturity Date or redemption date.
The Company issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of April 24, 2014, among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee (the “Base Indenture”), as supplemented by that Sixth Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 20, 2016, among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee (the “Supplemental Indenture”; the Base Indenture, as supplemented by the Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”). The terms of the Notes 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 Notes 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 Notes pursuant to Section 2.03 of the Indenture. The Notes issued on the Issue Date and any Additional Notes shall be treated as a single series for all purposes under the Indenture.
Except as set forth below and in paragraph 5, the Company shall not be entitled to redeem the Notes prior to January 15, 2020.
At any time prior to January 15, 2020, the Company shall be entitled at its option to redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed plus the Make-Whole Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date). Any redemption pursuant to this paragraph 4 shall be made, to the extent applicable, pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.02 through 3.07 of the Indenture, as supplemented by the Supplemental Indenture.
The Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation whatsoever to calculate the Make-Whole Premium in connection with any redemption hereunder. Such responsibility shall be solely that of the Company.
For the purposes of this paragraph 4, the following terms shall have the meaning indicated:
“Adjusted Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the yield, under the heading which represents the average for the immediately preceding week, appearing in the most recently published Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 or any successor publication which is published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or, if such release (or any successor release) is not published,
A-7
any publicly available source of similar market data) and which establishes yields on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity under the caption “Treasury Constant Maturities,” for the maturity corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue (if no maturity is within three months before or after January 15, 2020, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue shall be determined and the Adjusted Treasury Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated from such yields on a straight line basis, rounding to the nearest month), calculated on the third Business Day immediately preceding the redemption date, plus 50 basis points.
“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by the Company as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Notes from the redemption date to January 15, 2020 that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of a maturity most nearly equal to January 15, 2020.
“Make-Whole Premium” means with respect to a Note at any redemption date, the excess of (i) the present value at such redemption date of (A) the redemption price of such Note on January 15, 2020 (such redemption price being described in paragraph 5 below) exclusive of any accrued interest plus (B) all required remaining scheduled interest payments due on such Note through January 15, 2020 (but excluding accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date), computed using a discount rate equal to the Adjusted Treasury Rate, over (ii) the principal amount of such Note on such redemption date.
At any time on or after January 15, 2020, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at its option, at the following redemption prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount thereof), plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), if redeemed during the 12-month period (or, in the case of the period commencing January 15, 2023, such 12-month period and thereafter) commencing on January 15 of the years set forth below:
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Year
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Percentage
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2020
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106.00%
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2021
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104.00%
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2022
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102.00%
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2023 and thereafter
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100.00%
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At any time prior to January 15, 2020, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes issued under the Indenture at a redemption price equal to 108.00% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the
A-8
relevant interest payment date), with an amount of cash not greater than the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings by the Company;
provided
that, with respect to each such redemption, (i) at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes issued under the Indenture (excluding any Notes held by the Company and its Subsidiaries) remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption and (ii) such redemption occurs within 180 days of the date of the closing of such Equity Offering.
Any redemption pursuant to this paragraph 5 shall be made, to the extent applicable, pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.02 through 3.07 of the Indenture, as supplemented by the Supplemental Indenture.
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 (or otherwise give such notice in accordance with the Base Indenture) to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed at such Holder’s registered address. If less than all of the Notes are redeemed at any time, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be redeemed on a pro rata basis or by lot, in each case, in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary, or, if the Notes are listed on any securities exchange, by any other method that complies with the requirements of such exchange;
provided
,
however
, that no Notes with a principal amount of $2,000 or less shall be redeemed in part. Unless the Company defaults in payment of the applicable redemption price, interest on the Notes to be redeemed shall cease to accrue on the applicable redemption date, whether or not such Notes are presented for payment.
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 Notes, at 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the Net Proceeds Payment Date.
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 securing funded debt against certain property, all subject to certain limitations described in the Indenture.
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9.
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Ranking and Guarantees
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The Notes are general senior unsecured obligations of the Company. The Company’s obligation to pay principal, premium, if any, and interest with respect to the Notes 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.
A-9
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10.
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Denominations; Transfer; Exchange
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The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 principal amount and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. A Holder may transfer or exchange Notes 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 Notes selected for redemption (except, in the case of a Note to be redeemed in part, the portion of the Note not to be redeemed) or any Notes for a period of 15 Business Days before the mailing of a notice of an offer to repurchase or redeem Notes or 15 Business Days before an interest payment date.
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11.
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Persons Deemed Owners
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The registered Holder of this Note may be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.
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.
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13.
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Discharge and Defeasance
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Subject to certain conditions, the Company at any time shall be entitled to terminate some or all of its obligations under the Notes 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 Notes to redemption or maturity, as the case may be.
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14.
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Amendment, Supplement, Waiver
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The amendment, supplement and waiver provisions are set forth in the Indenture. Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture or the Notes may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes, 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 Notes. Without the consent of any Holder, the Company may amend or supplement the Indenture or the Notes 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.
A-10
When a successor obligor assumes all the obligations of its predecessor under the Notes and the Indenture, the predecessor obligor shall be released from those obligations.
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16.
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Defaults and Remedies
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The defaults, events of default and remedies provisions are set forth in the Indenture. An Event of Default generally is: default by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor for 30 days in payment of interest on the Notes; default by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor in payment of principal of, or premium, if any, on the Notes; default by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor in the deposit of any optional redemption or repurchase payment when due and payable; defaults by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor 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 60 days after notice to comply with any of its other agreements in the Indenture; 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 Notes may declare all the Notes 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 Notes shall become due and payable immediately without further action or notice. Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee may require indemnity satisfactory to it before it enforces the Indenture or the Notes. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes 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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17.
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Trustee Dealings with Company and Subsidiary Guarantors
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The Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes 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.
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18.
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No Recourse Against Others
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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 Notes 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 Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of this Note.
A-11
This Note shall not be valid until the Trustee or an authenticating agent signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Note.
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).
Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company shall cause CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes as a convenience to Holders of the Notes. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers as printed on the Notes and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed hereon.
22.
Governing Law
THIS NOTE 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 NOTES.
The Company shall furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge to the Holder a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to:
Chesapeake Energy Corporation
6100 North Western Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73118
Attention: Treasurer
A-12
NOTATION OF GUARANTEE
The Subsidiary Guarantors (which term includes any successor Persons under the Indenture), have fully, unconditionally and absolutely guaranteed on a senior basis, jointly and severally, to the extent set forth in the Indenture and subject to the provisions in the Indenture, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on the Notes and all other amounts due and payable under the Indenture and the Notes by the Company.
The obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor to the Holders of Notes and to the Trustee pursuant to its Guarantee and the Indenture are expressly set forth in Article Ten of the Base Indenture and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for the precise terms of the Guarantee.
(signature page follows)
A-13
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SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS:
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY LOUISIANA CORPORATION,
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY MARKETING, L.L.C.,
CHESAPEAKE E&P HOLDING CORPORATION,
CHESAPEAKE NG VENTURES CORPORATION,
CHESAPEAKE OPERATING, L.L.C.,
CHESAPEAKE PLAINS, LLC,
CHK ENERGY HOLDINGS, INC.,
SPARKS DRIVE SWD, INC.,
WINTER MOON ENERGY CORPORATION,
CHESAPEAKE AEZ EXPLORATION, L.L.C.,
CHESAPEAKE APPALACHIA, L.L.C.,
CHESAPEAKE-CLEMENTS ACQUISITION, L.L.C.,
CHESAPEAKE EXPLORATION, L.L.C.,
CHESAPEAKE LAND DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.L.C.,
CHESAPEAKE MIDSTREAM DEVELOPMENT, L.L.C.,
CHESAPEAKE ROYALTY, L.L.C.,
CHESAPEAKE VRT, L.L.C.,
CHK UTICA, L.L.C.,
COMPASS MANUFACTURING, L.L.C.,
EMLP, L.L.C.,
EMPRESS, L.L.C.,
GSF, L.L.C.,
MC LOUISIANA MINERALS, L.L.C.,
MC MINERAL COMPANY, L.L.C.,
MIDCON COMPRESSION, L.L.C.,
NOMAC SERVICES, L.L.C.,
NORTHERN MICHIGAN EXPLORATION COMPANY, L.L.C.,
CHESAPEAKE LOUISIANA, L.P.,
By: Chesapeake Operating, L.L.C., its General Partner
EMPRESS LOUISIANA PROPERTIES, L.P.
By: EMLP, L.L.C., its General Partner
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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A-14
______________________________________________________________
ASSIGNMENT FORM
I or we assign and transfer this Note to
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(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)
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(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. No.)
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and irrevocably appoint agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.
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Date:
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Your signature:
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Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note.
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Signature Guarantee:
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(Signature must be guaranteed)
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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.
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[Include the following only if the Restricted Notes legend is included hereon]
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In connection with any transfer of any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate occurring prior to the expiration of the applicable holding period with respect to the Notes set forth in Rule 144(d)(i) of the Securities Act (or, in the case of Regulation S Notes, prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period), the undersigned confirms that such Notes are being transferred in accordance with their terms:
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CHECK ONE BOX BELOW
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(1)
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o
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to the Company, a Subsidiary Guarantor or a Subsidiary thereof; or
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(2)
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o
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pursuant to a registration statement that has been declared effective under the Securities Act of 1933; or
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(3)
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o
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for so long as the Notes are eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, to a person who the undersigned reasonably believes is a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933) that is purchasing 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
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(4)
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o
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pursuant to offers and sales to non-U.S. persons that occur outside the United States within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933 in compliance with Rule 904 under the Securities Act of 1933; or
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A-15
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(5)
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o
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pursuant to another exemption from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 (other than Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933).
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Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee will refuse to register any of the Notes 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 Company and the Trustee shall be entitled to require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Notes, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as each of the Company and the Trustee 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.
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A-16
TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (3) ABOVE IS CHECKED.
The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note 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 and any Subsidiary Guarantors 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.
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Dated:
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Notice: To be executed by an executive officer
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A-17
SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY
The following exchanges of a part of this Global Security for an interest in another Global Security or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global Security or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Security, or other increases or decreases in this Global Security pursuant to the Indenture, have been made:
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Date of Exchange or Transaction
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Amount of decrease in Principal amount of this Global Security
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Amount of increase in Principal amount of this Global Security
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Principal amount of this Global Security following such decrease or increase
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Signature of authorized signatory of Trustee
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A-18
OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE
If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 of the Indenture, check the box:
If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 of the Indenture, state the amount in principal amount:
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$
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Dated:
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Your Signature:
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(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note.)
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Signature Guarantee:
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(Signature must be guaranteed)
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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.
A-19
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT dated December 20, 2016 (this “
Agreement
”) is entered into by and among Chesapeake Energy Corporation, an Oklahoma corporation (the “
Company
”), the guarantors
listed in Schedule 1 hereto (the “
Initial Guarantors
”), and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. (“
Deutsche Bank
”), acting as representative of the initial purchasers listed on Schedule A to the Purchase Agreement, as defined below (each, an “
Initial Purchaser
” and, collectively, the “
Initial Purchasers
”).
The Company, the Initial Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers are parties to the Purchase Agreement dated December 6, 2016 (the “
Purchase Agreement
”), which provides for the sale by the Company to the Initial Purchasers of $1,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 8.00% Senior Notes due 2025 (the “
Securities
”) which will be unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by each of the Guarantors (as defined below). As an inducement to the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company and the Initial Guarantors have agreed to provide to the Initial Purchasers and their direct and indirect transferees the registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the closing under the Purchase Agreement.
In consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1.
Definitions
. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
“
Additional Guarantor
” shall mean any subsidiary of the Company that executes a Guarantee under the Indenture after the date of this Agreement.
“
Additional Interest
” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(d) hereof.
“
Business Day
” shall mean any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to remain closed.
“
Company
” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall also include the Company’s successors.
“
Deutsche Bank
” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“
Exchange Act
” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.
“
Exchange Dates
” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(ii) hereof.
“
Exchange Offer
” shall mean the exchange offer by the Company and the Guarantors of Exchange Securities for Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.
“
Exchange Offer Registration
” shall mean a registration under the Securities Act effected pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.
“
Exchange Offer Registration Statement
” shall mean an exchange offer registration statement on Form S-4 (or, if applicable, on another appropriate form) and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein or deemed a part thereof, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein.
“
Exchange Securities
” shall mean senior unsecured notes issued by the Company and guaranteed by the Guarantors under the Indenture containing terms identical to the Securities (except that the Exchange Securities will not be subject to restrictions on transfer or to any increase in annual interest rate for failure to comply with this Agreement) and to be offered to Holders of Securities in exchange for Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
“
FINRA
” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.
“
Free Writing Prospectus
” means each free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) prepared by or on behalf of the Company or used or referred to by the Company in connection with the sale of the Securities or the Exchange Securities.
“
Guarantees
” shall mean the guarantees of the Securities and guarantees of the Exchange Securities by the Guarantors under the Indenture.
“
Guarantors
” shall mean the Initial Guarantors, any Additional Guarantors and any Guarantor's successor that Guarantees the Securities.
“
Holders
” shall mean the Initial Purchasers, for so long as they own any Registrable Securities, and each of their successors, assigns and direct and indirect transferees who become owners of Registrable Securities under the Indenture;
provided
that, for purposes of Section 4 and Section 5 hereof, the term “Holders” shall include Participating Broker-Dealers.
“
Indemnified Person
” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c) hereof.
“
Indemnifying Person
” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c) hereof.
“
Indenture
” shall mean the Indenture relating to the Securities dated as of April 24, 2014 among the Company, the Guarantors named therein and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, a New York banking corporation, as trustee, as supplemented by the sixth supplemental indenture dated the date hereof, among the Company, the Initial
Guarantors and the Trustee, and as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
“
Initial Purchasers
” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“
Inspector
” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a)(xiv) hereof.
“
Issuer Information
” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) hereof.
“
Majority Holders
” shall mean the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Registrable Securities;
provided
that whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities is required hereunder, any Registrable Securities owned directly or indirectly by the Company or any of its affiliates shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage or amount; and
provided
,
further
, that if the Company shall issue any additional Securities under the Indenture prior to consummation of the Exchange Offer or, if applicable, the effectiveness of any Shelf Registration Statement, such additional Securities and the Registrable Securities to which this Agreement relates shall be treated together as one class for purposes of determining whether the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities has been obtained.
“
Ordinary Course Filings
” shall mean any filing by the Company under the Exchange Act that does not relate to the terms of the Securities, the terms of the Exchange Offer or the plan of distribution set forth in any Shelf Registration Statement.
“
Notice and Questionnaire
” shall mean a notice of registration statement and selling security holder questionnaire distributed to a Holder by the Company upon receipt of a Shelf Request from such Holder.
“
Participating Broker-Dealer
” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.
“
Participating Holder
” shall mean any Holder of Registrable Securities that has returned a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company in accordance with Section 2(b) hereof.
“
Person
” shall mean an individual, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust or unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.
“
Prospectus
” shall mean the prospectus included in, or, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities Act, deemed a part of, a Registration Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any such prospectus as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, including a prospectus supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, and by all other amendments and supplements to such
prospectus, and in each case including any document incorporated by reference therein.
“
Purchase Agreement
” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“
Registrable Securities
” shall mean the Securities;
provided
that the Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities (i) when a Registration Statement with respect to such Securities has become effective under the Securities Act and such Securities have been exchanged or disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement, (ii) when such Securities cease to be outstanding or (iii) except in the case of Securities held by an Initial Purchaser that otherwise remain Registrable Securities and that are ineligible to be exchanged in the Exchange Offer, when the Exchange Offer is consummated.
“
Registration Default
” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following: (i) the Exchange Offer is not completed on or prior to the Target Registration Date, (ii) the Shelf Registration Statement, if required pursuant to Section 2(b)(i) or 2b(ii) hereof, has not become effective on or prior to the Target Registration Date, (iii) if the Company receives a Shelf Request pursuant to Section 2(b)(iii), the Shelf Registration Statement required to be filed thereby has not become effective by the later of (a) the Target Registration Date and (b) 90 days after delivery of such Shelf Request, or (iv) the Shelf Registration Statement, if required by this Agreement, has become effective and thereafter ceases to be effective or the Prospectus contained therein ceases to be usable (other than during a Suspension Period), at any time during the Shelf Effectiveness Period, and such failure to remain effective or usable exists for more than 30 days (whether or not consecutive) in any 12-month period without being succeeded by any additional Registration Statement or post-effective amendment that is filed and subsequently declared effective and that cures the failure of such Registration Statement to be effective or usable.
“
Registration Expenses
” shall mean any and all expenses incident to performance of or compliance by the Company and the Guarantors with this Agreement, including without limitation: (i) all SEC, stock exchange or FINRA registration and filing fees, (ii) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with compliance with state securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for any Underwriters or Holders in connection with blue sky qualification of any Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities), (iii) all expenses of printing and distributing any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, any underwriting agreements, securities sales agreements or other similar agreements and any other documents relating to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement, (iv) all rating agency fees, (v) all fees and disbursements relating to the qualification of the Indenture under applicable securities laws, (vi) the fees and disbursements of the Trustee and its counsel, (vii) the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and the Guarantors and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the reasonable, documented fees and disbursements of one counsel for the Participating Holders (which counsel shall be selected by the Participating Holders holding a majority of the aggregate principal amount of Registrable Securities held by such Participating Holders
and which counsel may also be counsel for the Initial Purchasers) in connection with such Shelf Registration Statement and (viii) the fees and disbursements of the independent registered public accountants of the Company and the Guarantors, including the expenses of any special audits or “comfort” letters required by or incident to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement, but excluding fees and expenses of counsel to the Underwriters (other than fees and expenses set forth in clause (ii) above) or the Holders and underwriting discounts and commissions, brokerage commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of Registrable Securities by a Holder.
“
Registration Statement
” shall mean any registration statement of the Company and the Guarantors that covers any of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and all amendments and supplements to any such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein or deemed a part thereof, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein.
“
SEC
” shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“
Securities
” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“
Securities Act
” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.
“
Shelf Effectiveness Period
” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b) hereof.
“
Shelf Registration
” shall mean a registration effected pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof.
“
Shelf Registration Statement
” shall mean a “shelf” registration statement of the Company and the Guarantors that covers all or a portion of the Registrable Securities (but no other securities (except for the Exchange Securities related thereto) unless approved by a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities held by the Participating Holders) on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under the Securities Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the SEC, and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein or deemed a part thereof, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein.
“
Shelf Request
” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b) hereof.
“
Staff
” shall mean the staff of the SEC.
“
Suspension Notice
” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(d) hereof.
“
Suspension Period
” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(d) hereof.
“
Target Registration Date
” shall mean June 13, 2018.
“
Trust Indenture Act
” shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended from time to time.
“
Trustee
” shall mean the trustee with respect to the Securities under the Indenture.
“
Underwriter
” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(e) hereof.
“
Underwritten Offering
” shall mean an offering in which Registrable Securities are sold to an Underwriter for reoffering to the public.
2.
Registration Under the Securities Act
. (a) To the extent not prohibited by any applicable law or applicable interpretations of the Staff, the Company and the Guarantors shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to (x) cause to be filed an Exchange Offer Registration Statement covering an offer to the Holders to exchange all the Registrable Securities for Exchange Securities and (y) have such Registration Statement become and remain effective until the earlier of (i) 180 days after the last Exchange Date for use by one or more participating Broker-Dealers and (ii) the date on which a Participating Broker-Dealer is no longer required to deliver a prospectus in connection with market-making or other trading activities. The Company and the Guarantors shall commence the Exchange Offer promptly after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC and use their commercially reasonable efforts to complete the Exchange Offer not later than 60 days after such effective date.
The Company and the Guarantors shall commence the Exchange Offer by mailing or making available the related Prospectus, appropriate letters of transmittal and other accompanying documents to each Holder stating, in addition to such other disclosures as are required by applicable law, substantially the following:
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(i)
|
that the Exchange Offer is being made pursuant to this Agreement and that all Registrable Securities validly tendered and not properly withdrawn will be accepted for exchange;
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(ii)
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the dates of acceptance for exchange (which shall be a period of at least 20 Business Days from the date such notice is mailed or made available) (the “
Exchange Dates
”);
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(iii)
|
that any Registrable Security not tendered will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest but will not retain any rights under this Agreement, except as otherwise specified herein;
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(iv)
|
that any Holder electing to have a Registrable Security exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be required to (A) surrender such Registrable Security, together with the appropriate letters of transmittal, to the institution and at the address and in the manner specified in the notice, or (B) effect such exchange
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otherwise in compliance with the applicable procedures of the depositary for such Registrable Security, in each case prior to the close of business on the last Exchange Date; and
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(v)
|
that any Holder will be entitled to withdraw its election, not later than the close of business on the last Exchange Date, by (A) sending to the institution and at the address specified in the notice, a facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of such Holder, the principal amount of Registrable Securities delivered for exchange and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its election to have such Securities exchanged or (B) effecting such withdrawal in compliance with the applicable procedures of the depositary for the Registrable Securities.
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As a condition to participating in the Exchange Offer, a Holder will be required to represent to the Company and the Guarantors that (1) any Exchange Securities to be received by it will be acquired in the ordinary course of its business, (2) at the time of the commencement of the Exchange Offer it has no arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of the Exchange Securities in violation of the provisions of the Securities Act, (3) it is not an “affiliate” (within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act) of the Company or any Guarantor and (4) if such Holder is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for Registrable Securities that were acquired as a result of market-making or other trading activities, then such Holder will deliver a Prospectus (or, to the extent permitted by law, make available a Prospectus to purchasers) in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. Each Holder hereby acknowledges and agrees that any broker-dealer and any such Holder using the Exchange Offer to participate in a distribution of the Exchange Securities to be acquired in the Exchange Offer (A) could not under SEC policy as in effect on the date of this Agreement rely on the position of the SEC enunciated in
Morgan Stanley and Co., Inc.
(available June 5, 1991) and
Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation
(available May 13, 1988), as interpreted in the SEC’s letter to Shearman & Stearling dated July 2, 1993, and similar no-action letters, and (B) must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with a secondary resale transaction and that such a secondary resale transaction should be covered by an effective registration statement containing the selling security holder information required by Item 507 or 508, as applicable, of Regulation S-K if the resales are of Exchange Securities obtained by such Holder in exchange for Registrable Securities acquired by such Holder directly from the Company.
As soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date, the Company and the Guarantors shall:
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(I)
|
accept for exchange Registrable Securities or portions thereof validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer; and
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(II)
|
deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for cancellation all Registrable Securities or portions thereof so accepted for exchange by the Company and issue, and cause the Trustee to promptly authenticate and deliver to each
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Holder, Exchange Securities equal in principal amount to the principal amount of the Registrable Securities tendered by such Holder.
The Company and the Guarantors shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to complete the Exchange Offer as provided above and shall comply with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and other applicable laws and regulations in connection with the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall not be subject to any conditions, other than that the Exchange Offer does not violate any applicable law or applicable interpretations of the Staff.
(b)
In the event that (i) the Company and the Guarantors determine that the Exchange Offer Registration provided for in Section 2(a) hereof is not available or the Exchange Offer may not be completed as soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date because it would violate any applicable law or applicable interpretations of the Staff, (ii) the Exchange Offer is not for any other reason completed by the Target Registration Date or (iii) the Company receives a written request (a “
Shelf Request
”) within 30 Days following the consummation of the Exchange Offer from any Holder representing that it (A) is prohibited by applicable law or SEC policy from participating in the Exchange Offer, (B) may not resell the Exchange Securities acquired by it in the Exchange Offer to the public without delivering a prospectus and that the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for such resales by such Holder, (C) is a broker-dealer and holds Registrable Securities acquired directly from the Company, or (D) is an affiliate of the Company and will not receive Exchange Securities in the Exchange Offer that may be freely transferred without restriction under the federal securities laws, the Company and the Guarantors shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be filed as soon as practicable after such determination or Shelf Request, as the case may be, a Shelf Registration Statement, providing for the sale of all the Registrable Securities by the Holders thereof and to have such Shelf Registration Statement become effective;
provided
that no Holder will be entitled to have any Registrable Securities included in any Shelf Registration Statement, or entitled to use the Prospectus forming a part of such Shelf Registration Statement, until such Holder shall have delivered a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire and provided such other information regarding such Holder to the Company as is contemplated by Section 3(b) hereof.
In the event that the Company and the Guarantors are required to file a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to clause (iii) of the preceding sentence, the Company and the Guarantors shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to file and have become effective both an Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof with respect to Registrable Securities and a Shelf Registration Statement (which may be a combined Registration Statement with the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) with respect to offers and sales of Registrable Securities held by the Initial Purchasers after completion of the Exchange Offer.
The Company and the Guarantors agree to use their commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective until (i) the later of (x) one year after the last date of original issuance of the Securities and (y) six
months following the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement or (ii) such time as all the Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement or otherwise cease to be Registrable Securities (the
“
Shelf Effectiveness Period
”
). Except during a Suspension Period, the Company and the Guarantors further agree to supplement or amend the Shelf Registration Statement, the related Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus if required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company for such Shelf Registration Statement or by the Securities Act or by any other rules and regulations thereunder or if reasonably requested by a Holder with respect to information relating to such Holder, and to use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause any such amendment to become effective, if required, and such Shelf Registration Statement, Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, to become usable as soon as thereafter practicable. The Company and the Guarantors agree to furnish to the Participating Holders copies of any such supplement or amendment promptly after its being used or filed with the SEC.
(c)
The Company and the Guarantors shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with any registration pursuant to Section 2(a) or Section 2(b) hereof. Each Holder shall pay all underwriting discounts and commissions, brokerage commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of such Holder’s Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement and the fees and disbursements of any counsel or other advisor or experts retained by such Holders (severally or jointly), other than the counsel specifically referred to in clause (vii) of the definition of “Registration Expenses.”
(d)
An Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof will not be deemed to have become effective unless it has been declared effective by the SEC. A Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof will not be deemed to have become effective unless it has been declared effective by the SEC or is automatically effective upon filing with the SEC as provided by Rule 462 under the Securities Act.
If a Registration Default occurs, the interest rate on the Registrable Securities will be increased (“
Additional Interest
”) by (i) 0.25% per annum for the first 180-day period beginning on the day immediately following such Registration Default and (ii) an additional 0.25% per annum with respect to each subsequent 90-day period, in each case until and including the date such Registration Default ends, up to a maximum increase of 1.00% per annum. A Registration Default ends when the Securities cease to be Registrable Securities or, if earlier, (1) in the case of a Registration Default under clause (i) of the definition thereof, when the Exchange Offer is completed, (2) in the case of a Registration Default under clause (ii) or clause (iii) of the definition thereof, when the Shelf Registration Statement becomes effective or (3) in the case of a Registration Default under clause (iv) of the definition thereof, when the Shelf Registration Statement again becomes effective or the Prospectus again becomes usable. If at any time more than one Registration Default has occurred and is continuing, then, until the next date that there is no Registration Default, the increase in interest rate provided for by this paragraph shall apply as if there occurred a single
Registration Default that begins on the date that the earliest such Registration Default occurred and ends on such next date that there is no Registration Default. Any Additional Interest paid in accordance with this Section 2(d) shall be liquidated damages and shall be the sole and exclusive remedy of the Holders for each and any Registration Default.
Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company and the Guarantors shall be permitted by notice to the Participating Holders (a “
Suspension Notice
”) to suspend the use of a Shelf Registration Statement or the related Prospectus (which, for this purpose, includes the Prospectus included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement following the completion of the Exchange Offer) without paying Additional Interest for a period not to exceed 30 consecutive calendar days or an aggregate of 60 calendar days in any twelve-month period (a “
Suspension Period
”), if, in the Company’s good faith determination, the continued effectiveness of such Shelf Registration Statement and the use of the related Prospectus would require the public disclosure of material non-public information of the Company. As promptly as practicable following its good faith determination that the event causing the Suspension Period set forth in the preceding sentence no longer exists, the Company and the Guarantors shall terminate the Suspension Period and notify each Participating Holder of such termination; provided however that during a Suspension Period, the Company and the Guarantors will pay any required Additional Interest in accordance with Section 2(d).
3.
Registration Procedures
. (a) In connection with their obligations pursuant to Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof, the Company and the Guarantors shall:
(i)
use their commercially reasonable efforts to prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement on the appropriate form under the Securities Act, which form (A) shall be selected by the Company and the Guarantors, (B) shall, in the case of a Shelf Registration, be available for the sale of the Registrable Securities by the Participating Holders thereof and (C) shall comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the applicable form and include all financial statements required by the SEC to be filed therewith; and use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective for the applicable period in accordance with Section 2 hereof;
(ii)
prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the applicable period in accordance with Section 2 hereof and cause each Prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement and, as so supplemented, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act; and keep each Prospectus current during the period described in Section 4(a)(3) of and Rule 174 under the Securities Act that is applicable to transactions by brokers or dealers with respect to the Registrable Securities or Exchange Securities;
(iii)
to the extent any Free Writing Prospectus is used, file with the SEC any Free Writing Prospectus that is required to be filed by the Company or the Guarantors with the SEC in accordance with the Securities Act and to retain any Free Writing Prospectus not required to be filed;
(iv)
in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Participating Holder, to counsel for the Initial Purchasers, to counsel for such Participating Holders and to each Underwriter of an Underwritten Offering of Registrable Securities, if any, without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus, preliminary prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, as such Participating Holder, counsel or Underwriter may reasonably request in order to facilitate the sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities thereunder; and, subject to Section 3(c) hereof, the Company and the Guarantors consent to the use of such Prospectus, preliminary prospectus or such Free Writing Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law by each of the Participating Holders and any such Underwriters in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by and in the manner described in such Prospectus, preliminary prospectus or such Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law;
(v)
use their commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the Registrable Securities under all applicable state securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any Participating Holder shall reasonably request in writing by the time the applicable Registration Statement becomes effective; cooperate with such Participating Holders in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA; and do any and all other acts and things that may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable each Participating Holder to complete the disposition in each such jurisdiction of the Registrable Securities owned by such Participating Holder;
provided
that neither the Company nor any Guarantor shall be required to (1) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (2) file any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (3) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not so subject;
(vi)
notify counsel for the Initial Purchasers and, in the case of a Shelf Registration, notify each Participating Holder and counsel for such Participating Holders promptly and, if requested by any such Participating Holder or counsel, confirm such advice in writing (1) when a Registration Statement has become effective, when any post-effective amendment thereto has been filed and becomes effective, when any Free Writing Prospectus has been filed or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus has been filed, other than with respect to Ordinary Course Filings incorporated by reference therein, (2) of any request by the SEC or any state securities authority for amendments and supplements to a Registration Statement, Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus or for additional information after the Registration Statement has become effective, other than with respect to Ordinary Course Filings incorporated by reference therein, (3) of the issuance by the SEC or any state securities authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a
Registration Statement, or of the suspension by any state securities commission of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for offering or sale in any such jurisdiction, or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, including the receipt by the Company of any notice of objection of the SEC to the use of a Shelf Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act, (4) unless the Company and the Guarantors have delivered a Suspension Notice, of the happening (but not the nature) of any event during the period a Registration Statement is effective that makes any statement made in such Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made in the case of the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus, not misleading and (5) unless the Company and the Guarantors have delivered a Suspension Notice, of any determination by the Company or any Guarantor that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus would be appropriate;
(vii)
use their commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or, in the case of a Shelf Registration, the resolution of any objection of the SEC pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act, including by filing an amendment to such Registration Statement on the proper form, at the earliest practicable moment and provide prompt notice to each Holder or Participating Holder of the withdrawal of any such order or such resolution;
(viii)
in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish or make available to each Participating Holder, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto (without any documents incorporated therein by reference or exhibits thereto, unless requested);
(ix)
in the case of a Shelf Registration, cooperate with the Participating Holders of Registrable Securities in certificated form, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends and enable such Registrable Securities to be issued in such denominations and registered in such names (consistent with the provisions of the Indenture) as such Participating Holders may reasonably request at least two Business Days prior to the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities in certificated form, if any;
(x)
upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(a)(vi)(4) hereof other than during a Suspension Period or for which the Company and the Guarantors have delivered a Suspension Notice, use their commercially reasonable efforts to prepare and file with the SEC a supplement or post-effective amendment to the applicable Exchange Offer Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered
(or, to the extent permitted by law, made available) to purchasers of the Registrable Securities, such Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and the Company and the Guarantors shall notify the Participating Holders (in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement) and the Initial Purchasers and any Participating Broker-Dealers known to the Company (in the case of an Exchange Offer Registration Statement) to suspend use of the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus as promptly as practicable after the occurrence of such an event, and such Participating Holders, such Participating Broker-Dealers and the Initial Purchasers, as applicable, hereby agree to suspend use of the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, until the Company and the Guarantors have amended or supplemented the Prospectus or the Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, to correct such misstatement or omission;
provided
that the obligations under this Section 3(a)(x) with respect to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement shall terminate at the end of the period set forth in Section 2(a)(y) of this Agreement;
(xi)
a reasonable time prior to the filing of any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus, any amendment to a Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to a Prospectus or a Free Writing Prospectus, other than any Ordinary Course Filing that is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement, a Prospectus or a Free Writing Prospectus after the initial filing of a Registration Statement, provide copies of such document to counsel for the Initial Purchasers for distribution to the Initial Purchasers (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, to counsel for the Participating Holders for distribution to the Participating Holders) and make such of the representatives of the Company and the Guarantors as shall be reasonably requested by the Initial Purchasers or their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Participating Holders or their counsel) available for discussion of such document; and the Company and the Guarantors shall not, at any time after initial filing of a Registration Statement, use or file any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus, any amendment of or supplement to a Registration Statement or a Prospectus or a Free Writing Prospectus, other than any Ordinary Course Filing that is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement, a Prospectus or a Free Writing Prospectus, of which the Initial Purchasers and their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Participating Holders and their counsel) shall not have previously been advised and furnished a copy or to which the Initial Purchasers or their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Participating Holders or their counsel) shall reasonably object;
(xii)
obtain a CUSIP number for all Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be, not later than the initial effective date of a Registration Statement;
(xiii)
cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act in connection with the registration of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be; cooperate with the Trustee and the Holders to effect such changes to
the Indenture as may be required for the Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the Trust Indenture Act; and execute, and use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents as may be required to effect such changes and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the SEC to enable the Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner;
(xiv)
in the case of a Shelf Registration, make available for inspection by a representative of the Participating Holders (an “
Inspector
”), any Underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement, and not more than one law firm or accounting firm designated by a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities held by the participating Holders and not more than one law firm or accounting firm designated by such Underwriters, at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, all pertinent financial and other records, documents and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, and cause the respective officers, directors and employees of the Company and the Guarantors to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Inspector, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with a Shelf Registration Statement, in each case as is customary for “due diligence” examinations in the context of underwritten offerings;
provided
that if any such information is identified by the Company or any Guarantor as being confidential or proprietary, each Person receiving such information shall take such actions as are reasonably necessary to protect the confidentiality of such information to the extent such action is otherwise not inconsistent with, an impairment of or in derogation of the rights and interests of any Inspector, Participating Holder or Underwriter;
(xv)
in the case of a Shelf Registration, if reasonably requested by any Participating Holder, promptly include in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information with respect to such Participating Holder as such Participating Holder reasonably requests to be included therein and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as promptly as practicable after the Company has received notification of the matters to be so included in such filing;
(xvi)
in the case of a Shelf Registration, with respect to an Underwritten Offering consented to by the Company (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld), enter into such customary agreements and take all such other commercially reasonable actions in connection therewith (including those requested by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement) in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities pursuant to such Underwritten Offering and in such connection, (1) to the extent possible, make such representations and warranties to the Participating Holders and Underwriters of such Registrable Securities with respect to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries and the Registration Statement, Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus and documents incorporated by reference or deemed incorporated by reference, if any, in each case, in the form, substance and scope as are made in Section 2 of the Purchase Agreement (as modified to contemplate an underwritten offering) and other representations and warranties customarily covered in underwritten offerings, (2) obtain opinions of counsel to the Company and the Guarantors in the form,
scope and substance as are delivered pursuant to Sections 5(c) and 5(d) of the Purchase Agreement (as modified to contemplate an underwritten offering) and other matters customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings, which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Participating Holders and such Underwriters and their respective counsel, addressed to each Underwriter of Registrable Securities, (3) obtain “comfort” letters from the independent registered public accountants of the Company and the Guarantors (and, if necessary, any other registered public accountant of any subsidiary of the Company or any Guarantor, or of any business acquired by the Company or any Guarantor for which financial statements and financial data are or are required to be included in the Registration Statement) addressed to each Participating Holder (to the extent permitted by applicable professional standards) and Underwriter of Registrable Securities, such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in “comfort” letters in connection with underwritten offerings, including but not limited to financial information contained in any preliminary prospectus, Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus and (4) deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities being sold or the Underwriters, and which are customarily delivered in underwritten offerings, to evidence the continued validity of the representations and warranties of the Company and the Guarantors made pursuant to clause (1) above and to evidence compliance with any customary conditions contained in an underwriting agreement; and
(xvii)
so long as any Registrable Securities remain outstanding, cause each Additional Guarantor upon the creation or acquisition by the Company of such Additional Guarantor, to execute a counterpart to this Agreement in the form attached hereto as Annex A and to deliver such counterpart, together with an opinion of counsel as to the enforceability thereof against such entity, to the Initial Purchasers no later than five Business Days following the execution thereof.
(b)
In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company may require each Holder of Registrable Securities to furnish to the Company a Notice and Questionnaire and such other information regarding such Holder and the proposed disposition by such Holder of such Registrable Securities as the Company and the Guarantors may from time to time reasonably request in writing.
(c)
Each Participating Holder agrees that, upon receipt of any Suspension Notice or any notice from the Company and the Guarantors of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(a)(vi)(3) or Section 3(a)(vi)(4) hereof, such Participating Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement until such Participating Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus contemplated by Section 3(a)(x) hereof or notice of the termination of the related Suspension Period and, if so directed by the Company and the Guarantors, such Participating Holder will deliver to the Company and the Guarantors all copies in its possession, other than permanent file copies then in such Participating Holder’s possession, of the Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus covering such Registrable Securities that is current at the time of receipt of such notice.
(d)
If the Company and the Guarantors shall give any notice to suspend the disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement (including a Suspension Notice), the Company and the Guarantors shall extend the period during which such Registration Statement shall be maintained effective pursuant to this Agreement by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when the Holders of such Registrable Securities shall have received copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus necessary to resume such dispositions or notice of the termination of the related Suspension Period. If so directed by the Company and the Guarantors, each Holder will deliver to the Company or destroy (at the Company’s expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder’s possession, of the Prospectus covering such Registrable Securities that was current at the time of receipt of such notice. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Holder will not be required to expunge electronic copies that reside on computer system backups or are retained to the extent otherwise required by any legal obligation, or each Holder’s bona fide internal document retention policies and procedures in place for legal, compliance or regulatory purposes.
(e)
The Participating Holders who desire to do so may sell such Registrable Securities in an Underwritten Offering only upon the prior consent of the Company, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld. In any such Underwritten Offering, the investment bank or investment banks and manager or managers (each an “
Underwriter
”) that will administer the offering will be selected by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities included in such offering; provided that each such Underwriter must be reasonably satisfactory to the Company.
4.
Participation of Broker-Dealers in Exchange Offer
. (a) The Staff has taken the position that any broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account in the Exchange Offer in exchange for Securities that were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making or other trading activities (a “
Participating Broker-Dealer
”) may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and must deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.
The Company and the Guarantors understand that it is the Staff’s position that if the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement includes a plan of distribution containing a statement to the above effect and the means by which Participating Broker-Dealers may resell the Exchange Securities, without naming the Participating Broker-Dealers or specifying the amount of Exchange Securities owned by them, such Prospectus may be delivered by Participating Broker-Dealers (or, to the extent permitted by law, made available to purchasers) to satisfy their prospectus delivery obligation under the Securities Act in connection with resales of Exchange Securities for their own accounts, so long as the Prospectus otherwise meets the requirements of the Securities Act.
(b)
In light of the above, and notwithstanding the other provisions of this Agreement, the Company and the Guarantors agree to amend or supplement the
Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement for a period of up to 180 days after the last Exchange Date (as such period may be extended pursuant to Section 3(d) hereof), in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of any Exchange Securities by Participating Broker-Dealers consistent with the positions of the Staff recited in Section 4(a) above. The Company and the Guarantors further agree that Participating Broker-Dealers shall be authorized to deliver such Prospectus (or, to the extent permitted by law, make available) during such period in connection with the resales contemplated by this Section 4.
(c)
The Initial Purchasers shall have no liability to the Company, any Guarantor or any Holder with respect to any request that they may make pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof.
5.
Indemnification and Contribution
. (a) The Company and each Guarantor, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Initial Purchaser and each Holder, their respective affiliates, directors and officers and each Person, if any, who controls any Initial Purchaser or any Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, reasonable legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such reasonable fees and expenses are incurred), joint or several, that arise out of, or are based upon, (1) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, or (2) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus or any “issuer information” (“
Issuer Information
”) filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to any Initial Purchaser, or information relating to any Holder furnished to the Company in writing through Deutsche Bank, or any selling Holder expressly for use therein. In connection with any Underwritten Offering permitted by Section 3, the Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, will also indemnify the Underwriters, if any, their respective affiliates and each Person who controls such Persons (within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act) to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Holders, if requested in connection with any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus or any Issuer Information.
(b)
Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Guarantors, the Initial Purchasers and the other selling Holders, the directors of the Company and the Guarantors, each officer of the Company and the Guarantors who signed the Registration Statement and each Person, if any,
who controls the Company, the Guarantors, any Initial Purchaser and any other selling Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to such Holder furnished to the Company in writing by such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement, any Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus.
(c)
If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any Person in respect of which indemnification may be sought pursuant to either paragraph (a) or (b) above, such Person (the “
Indemnified Person
”) shall promptly notify the Person against whom such indemnification may be sought (the “
Indemnifying Person
”) in writing;
provided
that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under paragraph (a) or (b) above except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and
provided
,
further
, that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise than under paragraph (a) or (b) above. If any such proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, the Indemnifying Person shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent in such proceeding the Indemnified Person and any others entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Section 5 that the Indemnifying Person may designate and shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel related to such proceeding, as incurred. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; (ii) the Indemnifying Person has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person; (iii) the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the Indemnifying Person; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood and agreed that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm (x) for any Initial Purchaser, its affiliates, directors and officers and any control Persons of such Initial Purchaser shall be designated in writing by Deutsche Bank, (y) for any Holder, its directors and officers and any control Persons of such Holder shall be designated in writing by the Majority Holders and (z) in all other cases shall be designated in writing by the Company. The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment
for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (A) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (B) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.
(d)
If the indemnification provided for in paragraphs (a) and (b) above is unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Guarantors from the offering of the Securities and the Exchange Securities, on the one hand, and by the Holders from receiving Securities or Exchange Securities registered under the Securities Act, on the other hand, or (ii) if the allocation provided by 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) but also the relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors on the one hand and the Holders on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors on the one hand and the Holders on the other 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 and the Guarantors or by the Holders and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
(e)
The Company, the Guarantors and the Holders agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5 were determined by
pro
rata
allocation (even if the Holders were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5, in no event shall a Holder be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities or Exchange Securities sold by such Holder exceeds the amount of any damages that such Holder has 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. The Holders’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 5 are several and not joint.
(f)
The remedies provided for in this Section 5 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies that may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity.
(g)
The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 5 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of the Initial Purchasers or any Holder or any Person controlling any Initial Purchaser or any Holder, or by or on behalf of the Company or the Guarantors or the officers or directors of or any Person controlling the Company or the Guarantors, (iii) acceptance of any of the Exchange Securities and (iv) any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement.
6.
General
.
(a)
No Inconsistent Agreements.
The Company and the Guarantors represent, warrant and agree that (i) 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 any other outstanding securities issued or guaranteed by the Company or any Guarantor under any other agreement and (ii) neither the Company nor any Guarantor has entered into, or on or after the date of this Agreement will enter into, any agreement that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.
(b)
Amendments and Waivers.
The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given unless the Company and the Guarantors have obtained the written consent of Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Registrable Securities affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent;
provided
that no amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent to any departure from the provisions of Section 5 hereof shall be effective as against any Holder of Registrable Securities unless consented to in writing by such Holder. Any amendments, modifications, supplements, waivers or consents pursuant to this Section 6(b) shall be by a writing executed by each of the parties hereto.
(c)
Notices.
All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered first-class mail, telecopier, or any courier guaranteeing overnight delivery (i) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder to the Company by means of a notice given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(c), which address initially is, with respect to the Initial Purchasers, the address set forth in the Purchase Agreement; (ii) if
to the Company and the Guarantors, initially at the Company’s address set forth in the Purchase Agreement and thereafter at such other address, notice of which is given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(c); and (iii) to such other persons at their respective addresses as provided in the Purchase Agreement and thereafter at such other address, notice of which is given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(c). All such 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 is acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next Business Day if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery. Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee, at the address specified in the Indenture.
(d)
Successors and Assigns.
This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors, assigns and transferees of each of the parties, including, without limitation and without the need for an express assignment, subsequent Holders;
provided
that nothing herein shall be deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Registrable Securities in violation of the terms of the Purchase Agreement or the Indenture. If any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Registrable Securities in any manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Registrable Securities shall be held subject to all the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding such Registrable Securities such Person shall be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement and such Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof. The Initial Purchasers (in their capacity as Initial Purchasers) shall have no liability or obligation to the Company or the Guarantors with respect to any failure by a Holder to comply with, or any breach by any Holder of, any of the obligations of such Holder under this Agreement.
(e)
Third Party Beneficiaries
. Each Holder shall be a third party beneficiary to the agreements made hereunder between the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand.
(f)
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.
(g)
Headings.
The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only, are not a part of this Agreement and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(h)
Governing Law.
This Agreement, and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Agreement, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
(i)
Entire Agreement; Severability.
This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all oral statements and prior writings with respect thereto. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction contained in this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable or against public policy, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions contained herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated. The Company, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the invalid, void or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, void or unenforceable provisions.
[Signature pages follow.]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
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ISSUER:
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CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION
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By:
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/s/ Domenic J. Dell’Osso, Jr.
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Name: Domenic J. Dell’Osso, Jr.
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Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
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INITIAL GUARANTORS:
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY LOUISIANA CORPORATION,
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY MARKETING, L.L.C.,
CHESAPEAKE E&P HOLDING CORPORATION,
CHESAPEAKE NG VENTURES CORPORATION,
CHESAPEAKE OPERATING, L.L.C.,
CHESAPEAKE PLAINS, LLC,
CHK ENERGY HOLDINGS, INC.,
SPARKS DRIVE SWD, INC.,
WINTER MOON ENERGY CORPORATION,
CHESAPEAKE AEZ EXPLORATION, L.L.C.,
CHESAPEAKE APPALACHIA, L.L.C.,
CHESAPEAKE-CLEMENTS ACQUISITION, L.L.C.,
CHESAPEAKE EXPLORATION, L.L.C.,
CHESAPEAKE LAND DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.L.C.,
CHESAPEAKE MIDSTREAM DEVELOPMENT, L.L.C.,
CHESAPEAKE ROYALTY, L.L.C.,
CHESAPEAKE VRT, L.L.C.,
CHK UTICA, L.L.C.,
COMPASS MANUFACTURING, L.L.C.,
EMLP, L.L.C.,
EMPRESS, L.L.C.,
GSF, L.L.C.,
MC LOUISIANA MINERALS, L.L.C.,
MC MINERAL COMPANY, L.L.C.,
MIDCON COMPRESSION, L.L.C.,
NOMAC SERVICES, L.L.C.,
NORTHERN MICHIGAN EXPLORATION COMPANY, L.L.C.,
CHESAPEAKE LOUISIANA, L.P.,
By: Chesapeake Operating, L.L.C., its General Partner
EMPRESS LOUISIANA PROPERTIES, L.P.
By: EMLP, L.L.C., its General Partner
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By:
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/s/ Domenic J. Dell’Osso, Jr.
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Name: Domenic J. Dell’Osso, Jr.
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Title: Authorized Signatory
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[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]
Confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written:
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DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.
For itself and on behalf of the several Initial Purchasers
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By:
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/s/ Robert D. Miller
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Name: Robert D. Miller
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Title: Managing Director
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By:
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/s/ Stephen Cunningham
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Name: Stephen Cunningham
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Title: Managing Director
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[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]
SCHEDULE 1
Initial Guarantors
Chesapeake Energy Louisiana Corporation
Chesapeake Energy Marketing, L.L.C.
Chesapeake E&P Holding Corporation
Chesapeake NG Ventures Corporation
Chesapeake Operating, L.L.C.
Chesapeake Plains, LLC
CHK Energy Holdings, Inc.
Sparks Drive SWD, Inc.
Winter Moon Energy Corporation
Chesapeake AEZ Exploration, L.L.C.
Chesapeake Appalachia, L.L.C.
Chesapeake-Clements Acquisition, L.L.C.
Chesapeake Exploration, L.L.C.
Chesapeake Land Development Company, L.L.C.
Chesapeake Midstream Development, L.L.C.
Chesapeake Royalty, L.L.C.
Chesapeake VRT, L.L.C.
CHK Utica, L.L.C.
Compass Manufacturing, L.L.C.
EMLP, L.L.C.
Empress, L.L.C.
GSF, L.L.C.
MC Louisiana Minerals, L.L.C.
MC Mineral Company, L.L.C.
Midcon Compression, L.L.C.
Nomac Services, L.L.C.
Northern Michigan Exploration Company, L.L.C.
Chesapeake Louisiana, L.P.
Empress Louisiana Properties, L.P.
ANNEX A
Counterpart to Registration Rights Agreement
The undersigned hereby absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably agrees as a Guarantor (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement, dated December 20, 2016 by and among Chesapeake Energy Corporation, an Oklahoma corporation, the guarantors party thereto and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., on behalf of itself and the other Initial Purchasers) to be bound by the terms and provisions of such Registration Rights Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this counterpart as of _______________, 201_.
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[GUARANTOR]
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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By:
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/s/
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Name:
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Title:
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