SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):

July 8, 2009

 

BILL BARRETT CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

00 1-32367

 

80-0000545

(State or Other Jurisdiction

 

(Commission File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

of Incorporation)

 

 

 

Identification No.)

 

1099 18 th  Street, Suite 2300

Denver, Colorado 80202

(Address of principal executive offices including Zip Code)

 

(303) 293-9100

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

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

 

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

 

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 



 

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

 

Senior Notes / Indenture and Supplemental Indenture

 

On July 8, 2009, Bill Barrett Corporation (the “Company”) completed the public offering (the “Senior Notes Offering”) of $250 million aggregate principal amount of its 9.875% Senior Notes due 2016 (the “Senior Notes”).  The terms of the Senior Notes are governed by an Indenture (the “Base Indenture”) among the Company, as issuer, the Company’s subsidiaries, including Bill Barrett CBM Corporation, Bill Barrett CBM, LLC, and Circle B Land Company LLC (collectively, the “Subsidiary Guarantors”), as subsidiary guarantors, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture (the “Supplemental Indenture”) among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee.

 

The Senior Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company and rank equal in right of payment with all of the Company’s other existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness, including the Company’s 5% Convertible Senior Notes due 2028 (the “Convertible Notes”).  The obligations under the Senior Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Subsidiary Guarantors.  The subsidiary guarantees are senior unsecured obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors and rank equal in right of payment with the existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness of the Subsidiary Guarantors.  Interest on the Senior Notes will accrue at a rate of 9.875% per annum and is payable on January 15 and July 15 of each year, beginning January 15, 2010.  The Senior Notes mature on July 15, 2016.  The terms of the Senior Notes are further described in the prospectus supplement of the Company dated June 30, 2009, together with the related prospectus dated June 24, 2009, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 1, 2009.

 

The Base Indenture and the Supplemental Indenture, including the form of the Senior Notes, each dated July 8, 2009, are filed herewith as Exhibits 4.1 and 4.2 respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Convertible Senior Notes / Supplemental Indenture .

 

The Company previously entered into that certain Indenture, dated March 12, 2008, between the Company and the Trustee, as supplemented by that certain First Supplemental Indenture, dated March 12, 2008 (collectively, the “Convertible Indenture”), relating to the Convertible Notes.

 

As a result of the Senior Notes Offering and the guarantee by each of the Subsidiary Guarantors of the Senior Notes, the Subsidiary Guarantors were required under the terms of the Convertible Indenture to become subsidiary guarantors of the Company’s obligations with respect to the Convertible Notes.  On July 8, 2009, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors, and the Trustee entered into a Second Supplemental Indenture pursuant to which the Subsidiary Guarantors became subsidiary guarantors under the Convertible Indenture.  The guarantees by the Subsidiary Guarantors under the Convertible Indenture are unsecured, unsubordinated obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors.

 

The Second Supplemental Indenture, dated July 8, 2009, is filed herewith as Exhibit 4.3 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

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

 

The information set forth under Item 1.01 above hereby is incorporated by reference.

 

Item 7.01.  Regulation FD Disclosure.

 

The Company’s press release dated June 30, 2009 relating to the matters described above in Item 1.01 is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1.

 

The borrowing base on the Company’s credit facility has been decreased to $537.5 million after giving effect to an adjustment downward by 25% of the value of the newly issued Senior Notes, or $62.5 million, described in Item 1.01.

 

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In accordance with General Instruction B.2 of Form 8-K, the information in this Item 7.01 shall not be deemed “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing.

 

Item 8.01.  Other Events.

 

Certain legal opinions related to the Senior Notes Offering are filed herewith as Exhibit 5.1.

 

Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)                                  Exhibits

 

Exhibit Number

 

Description

 

 

 

4.1

 

Indenture, dated July 8, 2009, among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee.

 

 

 

4.2

 

First Supplemental Indenture for the Company’s 9.875% Senior Notes due 2016, dated July 8, 2009, among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee.

 

 

 

4.3

 

Second Supplemental Indenture for the Company’s 5% Convertible Senior Notes due 2028, dated July 8, 2009, among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee.

 

 

 

5.1

 

Opinion Letter of Francis B. Barron, General Counsel of the Company.

 

 

 

23.1

 

Consent of Francis B. Barron, Executive Vice President—General Counsel; and Secretary of Bill Barrett Corporation and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP (included as part of Exhibit 5.1).

 

 

 

99.1

 

Press Release dated June 30, 2009.

 

3



 

SIGNATURES

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

BILL BARRETT CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Registrant)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 8, 2009

 

By:

/s/ Francis B. Barron

 

 

 

Francis B. Barron

 

 

 

Executive Vice President—General Counsel; and Secretary

 

4


Exhibit 4.1

 

BILL BARRETT CORPORATION

 

and

 

THE GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO

 

to

 

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS

 

Trustee

 

INDENTURE

 

Dated as of July 8, 2009

 

SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES

 



 

BILL BARRETT CORPORATION

 

Certain Sections of this Indenture relating to Sections 310
through 318, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939

 

Trust Indenture Act Section

 

Indenture Section

Section 310(a)(1)

 

609

(a)(2)

 

609

(a)(3)

 

Not Applicable

(a)(4)

 

Not Applicable

(b)

 

608

Section 311(a)

 

613

(b)

 

613

Section 312(a)

 

701

 

 

702

(b)

 

702

(c)

 

702

Section 313(a)

 

703

(b)

 

703

(c)

 

703

(d)

 

703

Section 314(a)

 

704

(a)(4)

 

101

(b)

 

Not Applicable

(c)(1)

 

102

(c)(2)

 

102

(c)(3)

 

Not Applicable

(d)

 

Not Applicable

(e)

 

102

Section 315(a)

 

601

(b)

 

602

(c)

 

601

(d)

 

601

(e)

 

514

Section 316(a)

 

101

(a)(1)(A)

 

502

 

 

512

(a)(1)(B)

 

513

(a)(2)

 

Not Applicable

(b)

 

508

(c)

 

104

Section 317(a)(1)

 

503

(a)(2)

 

504

(b)

 

1003

Section 318(a)

 

107

 

Note:      This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.

 

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Table of Contents

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

1

 

 

 

Section 101.

Definitions

1

Section 102.

Compliance Certificates and Opinions

9

Section 103.

Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee

9

Section 104.

Acts of Holders; Record Dates

10

Section 105.

Notices, Etc., to Trustee, Company and Guarantors

12

Section 106.

Notice to Holders; Waiver

12

Section 107.

Conflict with Trust Indenture Act

13

Section 108.

Effect of Headings and Table of Contents

13

Section 109.

Successors and Assigns

13

Section 110.

Separability Clause

13

Section 111.

Benefits of Indenture

13

Section 112.

Governing Law

13

Section 113.

Legal Holidays

13

Section 114.

No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements

14

Section 115.

No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders

14

Section 116.

Language of Notices, Etc

14

Section 117.

Force Majeure

14

Section 118.

Waiver of Jury Trial

14

 

 

ARTICLE II SECURITY FORMS

14

 

 

 

Section 201.

Forms Generally

14

Section 202.

Form of Face of Security

15

Section 203.

Form of Reverse of Security

17

Section 204.

Form of Legend for Global Securities

20

Section 205.

Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication

20

 

 

ARTICLE III THE SECURITIES

21

 

 

 

Section 301.

Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series

21

Section 302.

Denominations

25

Section 303.

Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating

25

Section 304.

Temporary Securities

27

Section 305.

Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange

27

Section 306.

Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Wrongfully Taken Securities

29

Section 307.

Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved

30

Section 308.

Persons Deemed Owners

32

Section 309.

Cancellation

32

Section 310.

Computation of Interest

32

 

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Section 311.

CUSIP Numbers

32

 

 

ARTICLE IV SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

32

 

 

 

Section 401.

Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture

32

Section 402.

Application of Trust Money

34

 

 

 

ARTICLE V REMEDIES

 

34

 

 

 

Section 501.

Events of Default

34

Section 502.

Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment

35

Section 503.

Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee

36

Section 504.

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

37

Section 505.

Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities

37

Section 506.

Application of Money Collected

38

Section 507.

Limitation on Suits

38

Section 508.

Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest and to Convert

39

Section 509.

Restoration of Rights and Remedies

39

Section 510.

Rights and Remedies Cumulative

39

Section 511.

Delay or Omission Not Waiver

39

Section 512.

Control by Holders

39

Section 513.

Waiver of Past Defaults

40

Section 514.

Undertaking for Costs

40

Section 515.

Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws

40

 

 

ARTICLE VI THE TRUSTEE

41

 

 

 

Section 601.

Certain Duties and Responsibilities

41

Section 602.

Notice of Defaults

42

Section 603.

Certain Rights of Trustee

42

Section 604.

Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities

43

Section 605.

May Hold Securities

44

Section 606.

Money Held in Trust

44

Section 607.

Compensation and Reimbursement

44

Section 608.

Conflicting Interests

45

Section 609.

Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility

45

Section 610.

Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor

45

Section 611.

Acceptance of Appointment by Successor

46

Section 612.

Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business

47

Section 613.

Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company

48

Section 614.

Appointment of Authenticating Agent

48

 

 

ARTICLE VII HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

49

 

 

 

Section 701.

Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders

49

Section 702.

Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders

50

Section 703.

Reports by Trustee

50

 

ii



 

Section 704.

Reports by Company

50

 

 

ARTICLE VIII CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

51

 

 

 

Section 801.

Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms

51

Section 802.

Successor Substituted

51

 

 

ARTICLE IX SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

52

 

 

 

Section 901.

Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders

52

Section 902.

Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders

53

Section 903.

Execution of Supplemental Indentures

55

Section 904.

Effect of Supplemental Indentures

55

Section 905.

Conformity with Trust Indenture Act

55

Section 906.

Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures

55

 

 

ARTICLE X COVENANTS

55

 

 

 

Section 1001.

Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest

55

Section 1002.

Maintenance of Office or Agency

56

Section 1003.

Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust

56

Section 1004.

Corporate Existence

57

Section 1005.

Statement by Officers as to Default

57

Section 1006.

Waiver of Certain Covenants

58

 

 

ARTICLE XI REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

58

 

 

 

Section 1101.

Applicability of Article

58

Section 1102.

Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee

58

Section 1103.

Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed

59

Section 1104.

Notice of Redemption

59

Section 1105.

Deposit of Redemption Price

60

Section 1106.

Securities Payable on Redemption Date

61

Section 1107.

Securities Redeemed in Part

61

Section 1108.

No Limit on Repurchases

61

 

 

ARTICLE XII SINKING FUNDS

61

 

 

 

Section 1201.

Applicability of Article

61

Section 1202.

Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities

62

Section 1203.

Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund

62

 

 

ARTICLE XIII DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

62

 

 

 

Section 1301.

Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance

62

Section 1302.

Defeasance and Discharge

62

Section 1303.

Covenant Defeasance

63

 

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Section 1304.

Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance

63

Section 1305.

Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions

65

Section 1306.

Reinstatement

66

 

 

ARTICLE XIV GUARANTEES

66

 

 

 

Section 1401.

Guarantees

66

 

iv



 

INDENTURE , dated as of July 8, 2009, among BILL BARRETT CORPORATION, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the “ Company ”), having its principal office at 1099 18th Street, Suite 2300, Denver, Colorado 80202, the Guarantors (as defined hereinafter), each having its principal office at 1099 18th Street, Suite 2300, Denver, Colorado 80202, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee (herein called the “ Trustee ”).

 

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

 

The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (herein called the “ Securities ”) to be issued in one or more series as in this Indenture provided.

 

Each of the Initial Guarantors has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the guarantee by such Initial Guarantor of such series of Securities as to which such guarantee has been made applicable as provided herein.

 

All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company and of the Initial Guarantors in accordance with its terms have been done.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

 

For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of series thereof, as follows:

 

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS
OF GENERAL APPLICATION

 

Section 101.          Definitions . For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

 

(1)           the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular;

 

(2)           all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein;

 

(3)           all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with GAAP;

 

(4)           unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an “ Article ” or a “ Section ” refers to an Article or a Section, as the case may be, of this Indenture;

 



 

(5)           the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision;

 

(6)           when used with respect to any Security, the words “convert”, “converted” and “conversion” are intended to refer to the right of the Holder or the Company to convert or exchange such Security into or for securities or other property in accordance with such terms, if any, as may hereafter be specified for such Security as contemplated by Section 301 , and these words are not intended to refer to any right of the Holder or the Company to exchange such Security for other Securities of the same series and like tenor pursuant to Section  304 , 305 , 306 , 906 or 1107 or another similar provision of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires; and references herein to the terms of any Security that may be converted mean such terms as may be specified for such Security as contemplated in Section 301 ; and

 

(7)           unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to “duly provided for” and other words of similar import with respect to any amount or property required to be paid or delivered, as applicable, shall include, without limitation, having made such amount or property available for payment or delivery.

 

Act ”, when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 104 .

 

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

 

Applicable Procedures ” of a Depositary means, with respect to any matter at any time, the policies and procedures of such Depositary, if any, that are applicable to such matter at such time.

 

Authenticating Agent ” means, when used with respect to Securities of any series, any Person authorized by the Trustee to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate the Securities of such series.

 

Board of Directors ” means either the board of directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee of that board.

 

Board Resolution ” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee. Where any provision of this Indenture refers to action to be taken pursuant to a Board Resolution (including the establishment of any series of the Securities and the forms and terms thereof), such action may be taken by any officer or employee of the Company authorized to take such action by the Board of Directors as evidenced by a Board Resolution.

 

2



 

Business Day ”, when used with respect to any Place of Payment, means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in that Place of Payment are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close; provided that, when used with respect to any Security, “ Business Day ” may have such other meaning, if any, as may be specified for such Security as contemplated by Section 301 .

 

Commission ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or, if at any time after the execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.

 

Company ” means the Person named as the “ Company ” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “ Company ” shall mean such successor Person.

 

Company Request ” or “ Company Order ” means a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by any two of the following: a Chairman of the Board, a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Vice President, a Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, or any other officer or officers of the Company designated in writing by or pursuant to authority of the Board of Directors and delivered to the Trustee from time to time.

 

Corporate Trust Office ” means the designated office of the Trustee in New York, New York at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered and which, at the date hereof, is located at 60 Wall Street, MSNYC60-2710, New York, NY 10005, Attention: Trust and Securities Services, or at such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company, or the principal corporate trust office of any successor Trustee.

 

corporation ” means a corporation, association, company (including a limited liability company), joint-stock company, business trust or other similar entity.

 

Covenant Defeasance ” has the meaning specified in Section 1303 .

 

Defaulted Interest ” has the meaning specified in Section 307 .

 

Defeasance ” has the meaning specified in Section 1302 .

 

Depositary ” means, with respect to Securities of any series issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, a clearing agency that is designated to act as depositary for such Securities as contemplated by Section 301 .

 

DTC ” has the meaning specified in Section 104 .

 

Event of Default ” has the meaning specified in Section 501 .

 

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

 

3



 

Expiration Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 104 .

 

GAAP ” means, at any time, (i) generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States or (ii) if at such time the Company is required to prepare its financial statements for reports filed with the Commission under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act pursuant to standards other than those specified in clause (i) (which may include International Financial Reporting Standards), such other standards, in each case which are in effect at such time.

 

Global Security ” means a Security that evidences all or part of the Securities of any series and bears the legend set forth in Section 204 (or such legend as may be specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities).

 

Guarantee ” means a guarantee of any Securities by a Guarantor as contemplated by Article XIV ; provided that the term “Guarantee,” when used with respect to any Security or with respect to the Securities of any series, means a guarantee of such Security or of the Securities of such series, respectively, by a Guarantor of such Security or of the Securities of such series, respectively, as contemplated by Article XIV .

 

Guarantor ” means each of the Initial Guarantors and any other Person who shall have become a Guarantor under this Indenture pursuant to Section 901 hereof, in each case unless and until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, at which time references to such Guarantor shall mean such successor Person; provided that the term “Guarantor,” when used, with respect to the Securities of any series, means the Persons who shall from time to time be the guarantors of Securities of such series as contemplated by Article XIV .

 

Guarantor’s Board of Directors ” means, with respect to any Guarantor, either the board of directors of such Guarantor or any duly authorized committee of that board.

 

Guarantor’s Board Resolution ” means, with respect to any Guarantor, a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of such Guarantor to have been duly adopted by such Guarantor’s Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee. Where any provision of this Indenture refers to action to be taken pursuant to a Guarantor’s Board Resolution, such action may be taken by any officer or employee of such Guarantor authorized to take such action by such Guarantor’s Board of Directors as evidenced by a Guarantor’s Board Resolution.

 

Guarantor’s Officers’ Certificate ” means, with respect to any Guarantor, a certificate signed by any two of the following: a Chairman of the Board, a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Vice President, a Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, a Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of such Guarantor, or any other officer or officers of such Guarantor designated in a writing by or pursuant to authority of such Guarantor’s Board of Directors and delivered to the Trustee from time to time.

 

4



 

Guarantor Request ” or “ Guarantor Order ” means, with respect to any Guarantor, a written request or order signed in the name of such Guarantor by any two of the following: a Chairman of the Board, a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Vice President, a Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of such Guarantor, or any other officer or officers of such Guarantor designated in writing by or pursuant to authority of such Guarantor’s Board of Directors and delivered to the Trustee from time to time.  In the event that Guarantor’s Requests relating to the same matter shall be delivered by two or more Guarantors on the same date, such requests may be combined into a single document, provided that the requests made by each Guarantor therein shall be several and not joint requests of each such Guarantor.

 

Holder ” means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Security Register.

 

Indenture ” means this instrument as originally executed and as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, including, for all purposes of this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, respectively. The term “ Indenture ” shall also include the terms of any particular series or specific Securities within a series and of any Guarantees thereof established as contemplated by Section 301 .

 

Initial Guarantor ” or “ Initial Guarantors ” means Bill Barrett CBM Corporation, a Delaware corporation, Bill Barrett CBM, LLC, a Texas limited liability company, and Circle B Land Company LLC, a Colorado limited liability company.

 

interest ”, when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity.

 

Interest Payment Date ”, when used with respect to any Security, means the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.

 

Maturity ”, when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of such Security or an installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.

 

Notice of Default ” means a written notice of the kind specified in Section 501(4) .

 

Officers’ Certificate ” means a certificate signed by any two of the following: a Chairman of the Board, a Chief Executive Officer, a Chief Operating Officer, a Chief Financial Officer, a President, a Vice President, a Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, a Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, or any other officer or officers of the Company designated in a writing by or pursuant to authority of the Board of Directors and delivered to the Trustee from time to time.

 

Opinion of Counsel ” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel for the Company or a Guarantor.

 

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Original Issue Discount Security ” means any Security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502 .

 

Outstanding ”, when used with respect to Securities, means, as of the date of determination, all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:

 

(1)           Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

 

(2)           Securities for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities; provided that, if such Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made;

 

(3)           Securities as to which Defeasance has been effected pursuant to Section 1302 ;

 

(4)           Securities which have been paid pursuant to Section 306 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a protected purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company; and

 

(5)           Securities as to which any property deliverable upon conversion thereof has been delivered (or such delivery has been duly provided for), or as to which any other particular conditions have been satisfied, in each case as may be provided for such Securities as contemplated in Section 301 ;

 

provided , however , that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given, made or taken any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action hereunder as of any date, (A) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof which would be due and payable as of such date upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof to such date pursuant to Section 502 , (B) if, as of such date, the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of a Security is not determinable, the principal amount of such Security which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount as specified or determined as contemplated by Section 301 , (C) the principal amount of a Security denominated in one or more foreign currencies, composite currencies or currency units which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined as of such date in the manner provided as contemplated by Section 301 , of the principal amount of such Security (or, in the case of a Security described in Clause (A) or (B) above, of the amount determined as provided in such Clause), and (D) Securities owned by the Company, any Guarantor of the Securities or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the

 

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Company or any such Guarantor or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, only Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any Guarantor of such Securities or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or a Guarantor of the Securities or such other obligor.

 

Paying Agent ” means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities on behalf of the Company.

 

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

 

Place of Payment ”, when used with respect to the Securities of any series and subject to Section 1002 , means the place or places where the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series are payable as specified as contemplated by Section 301 .

 

Predecessor Security ” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 306 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or wrongfully taken Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or wrongfully taken Security.

 

Prospectus ” means the base prospectus dated June 24, 2009 of the Company or any like base prospectus relating to Securities to be offered hereunder of the Company prepared from time to time hereafter and filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act.

 

Redemption Date ”, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.

 

Redemption Price ”, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.

 

Regular Record Date ” for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Securities of any series means the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 301 .

 

Responsible Officer ”, when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer of the Trustee within the corporate trust department, including any Managing Director, Director, Vice President, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, assistant cashier, trust officer, assistant trust officer or assistant controller assigned to the Corporate Trust Office, or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer of the Trustee to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and

 

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familiarity with the particular subject, and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

 

Securities ” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

 

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

 

Security Register ” and “ Security Registrar ” have the respective meanings specified in Section 305 .

 

Special Record Date ” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 307 .

 

Stated Maturity ”, when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable.

 

Subsidiary ” means any Person a majority of the combined voting power of the total outstanding ownership interests in which is, at the time of determination, beneficially owned or held, directly or indirectly, by the Company or one or more other Subsidiaries. For this purpose, “ voting power ” means power to vote in an ordinary election of directors (or, in the case of a Person that is not a corporation, ordinarily to appoint or approve the appointment of Persons holding similar positions), whether at all times or only as long as no senior class of ownership interests has such voting power by reason of any contingency.

 

Trustee ” means the Person named as the “ Trustee ” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “ Trustee ” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “ Trustee ” as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.

 

Trust Indenture Act ” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at the date as of which this instrument was executed; provided , however , that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, “ Trust Indenture Act ” means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.

 

Uniform Commercial Code ” means the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in the State of Delaware or the State of New York, as applicable, in each case as amended from time to time.

 

U.S. Government Obligation ” has the meaning specified in Section 1304 .

 

Vice President ”, when used with respect to the Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee, means any vice president, whether or not designated by a number or a word or words added before or after the title “ vice president .”

 

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Section 102.          Compliance Certificates and Opinions .  Upon any application or request by the Company or a Guarantor to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, shall furnish to the Trustee such certificates and opinions as may be required under the Trust Indenture Act; provided , however , that no such opinion shall be required in connection with the issuance of Securities that are part of any series as to which such an opinion has been furnished. Each such certificate or opinion shall be given in the form of an Officers’ Certificate, if to be given by an officer of the Company, or a Guarantor’s Officers’ Certificate, if to be given by an officer of any Guarantor, or an Opinion of Counsel, if to be given by counsel, and shall comply with the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and any other requirements set forth in this Indenture.

 

Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include:

 

(1)           a statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating thereto;

 

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

 

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

 

(4)           a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

 

Section 103.          Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee .  In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

 

Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company or a Guarantor may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which his certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such certificate or opinion of, or representation by, counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, unless such counsel knows that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.

 

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Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.

 

Section 104.          Acts of Holders; Record Dates . Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given, made or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent or agents duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company and any Guarantor. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “ Act ” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 601 ) conclusive in favor of the Trustee, the Company and any Guarantor, if made in the manner provided in this Section.

 

Without limiting the generality of this Section, unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, (i) a Holder, including a Depositary or its nominee that is a Holder of a Global Security, may give, make or take, by an agent or agents duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted in or pursuant to this Indenture to be given, made or taken by Holders, and a Depositary or its nominee that is a Holder of a Global Security may duly appoint in writing as its agent or agents members of, or participants in, such Depositary holding interests in such Global Security in the records of such Depositary; and (ii) with respect to any Global Security the Depositary for which is The Depository Trust Company (“ DTC ”), any consent or other action given, made or taken by an “ agent member ” of DTC by electronic means in accordance with the Automated Tender Offer Procedures system or other Applicable Procedures of, and pursuant to authorization by, DTC shall be deemed to constitute the “ Act ” of the Holder of such Global Security, and such Act shall be deemed to have been delivered to the Company, any Guarantor and the Trustee upon the delivery by DTC of an agent’s message ” or other notice of such consent or other action having been so given, made or taken in accordance with the Applicable Procedures of DTC.

 

The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

 

The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security Register.

 

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu

 

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thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee or the Company or any Guarantor in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Security.

 

The Company and any Guarantor may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to give, make or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given, made or taken by Holders of Securities of such series, provided that neither the Company nor such Guarantor may set a record date for, and the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply with respect to, the giving, making or taking of any notice, declaration, request or direction referred to in the next paragraph. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to give, make or take the relevant action, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided , however , that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless given, made or taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Company or any Guarantor from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be canceled and of no effect), and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action given, made or taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is given, made or taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, at its own expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Trustee in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Sections 105 and 106 .

 

The Trustee may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to join in the giving, making or taking of (i) any Notice of Default, (ii) any declaration of acceleration referred to in Section 502 , (iii) any request to institute proceedings referred to in Section 507(2)  or (iv) any direction referred to in Section 512 , in each case with respect to Securities of such series. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to give, make or take such notice, declaration, request or direction, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided , however , that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless given, made or taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Trustee from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be canceled and of no effect), and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action given, made or taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is given, made or taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Trustee, at the Company’s expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Company and any

 

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Guarantor in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Sections 105 and 106 .

 

With respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section, the party hereto which sets such record date may designate any day as the “ Expiration Date ” and from time to time may change the Expiration Date to any earlier or later day; provided that no such change shall be effective unless notice of the proposed new Expiration Date is given to the other party hereto in writing, and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 106 , on or prior to the existing Expiration Date. If an Expiration Date is not designated with respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section, the party hereto which set such record date shall be deemed to have initially designated the 180th day after such record date as the Expiration Date with respect thereto, subject to its right to change the Expiration Date to an earlier day as provided in this paragraph. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Expiration Date shall be later than the 180th day after the applicable record date.

 

Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to give, make or take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Security may do so, in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing, with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Security.

 

Section 105.           Notices, Etc., to Trustee, Company and Guarantors .  Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with, (1) the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company or any Guarantor shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing (which may be by facsimile transmission) to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, Attention: Trust and Securities Services or (2) the Company or a Guarantor by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, addressed to it at the address of its principal office specified in the first paragraph of this instrument or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company.

 

Section 106.           Notice to Holders; Waiver .  Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder affected by such event, at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders. Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

 

In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail, then such notification as shall be

 

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made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.

 

Where this Indenture provides for notice of any event to a Holder of a Global Security, such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary for such Security (or its designee), pursuant to its Applicable Procedures, not later than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice.

 

Section 107.           Conflict with Trust Indenture Act .  If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the Trust Indenture Act which is required under such Act to be a part of and govern this Indenture, the latter provision shall control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act which may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be.

 

Section 108.           Effect of Headings and Table of Contents .  The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

Section 109.           Successors and Assigns .  All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company and any Guarantor shall bind their respective successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

 

Section 110.           Separability Clause .  In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

Section 111.           Benefits of Indenture .  Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder and the Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture, except as may otherwise be provided pursuant to Section 301 with respect to any Securities of a particular series or under this Indenture with respect to such Securities.

 

Section 112.           Governing Law .  This Indenture, the Guarantees and the Securities and the rights and obligations of the parties hereto and thereto, including the interpretation, construction, validity and enforceability thereof, shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the law of the State of New York.

 

Section 113.           Legal Holidays .  In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Maturity of any Security, or any date on which a Holder has the right to convert his Security, shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Securities (other than a provision of any Security which specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section)) payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any), or conversion of such Security need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date, or at the Maturity, or on such date for conversion, as the case may be.

 

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Section 114.           No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements .  This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or other agreement of the Company or any Guarantor or any Subsidiaries of any thereof or of any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or other agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

 

Section 115.           No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders .  No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any Guarantor, respectively, under the Securities or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Securities by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Securities. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.

 

Section 116.           Language of Notices, Etc .  Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, other action or Act provided or permitted under this Indenture shall be in the English language, except that any published notice may be in an official language of the country of publication.

 

Section 117.           Force Majeure .  Subject to Section 601 , in no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts that are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

 

Section 118.           Waiver of Jury Trial .  EACH OF THE COMPANY, EACH GUARANTOR AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS INDENTURE.

 

ARTICLE II
SECURITY FORMS

 

Section 201.           Forms Generally .  The Securities of each series shall be in substantially the form set forth in this Article, or in such other form as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, and, if the Securities of such series are to be guaranteed by the  Guarantees of any Guarantor as provided in Section 301 and the terms of such Securities provide for the endorsement thereon or attachment thereto of Guarantees by such Guarantor, such Guarantees to be endorsed on or attached to such Securities shall be in substantially such form as shall be established by or pursuant to a Guarantor’s Board Resolution of such Guarantor or in one or more indentures supplemented hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or

 

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permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of any securities exchange or Depositary therefor or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Securities or Guarantees, respectively, as evidenced by their execution thereof. If the form of Securities of any series is established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 303 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities. If the form of any Guarantees by any Guarantor to be endorsed on Securities of any series is established by action taken pursuant to a Guarantor’s Board Resolution of such Guarantor, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of such Guarantor and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Guarantor Order contemplated by Section 303 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities with such Guarantee endorsed thereon.  For purposes hereof, a Guarantee that is endorsed on, or otherwise attached to, a Security shall be deemed “endorsed” on such Security.

 

The definitive Securities and any Guarantees endorsed thereon shall be printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers of the Company executing such Securities or, if such  Guarantees by any Guarantor are executed by such Guarantor, by the officers of such Guarantor executing such Guarantees, respectively, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities or, if such  Guarantees by any Guarantor are executed by such Guarantor, by the officers of such Guarantor executing such Guarantees, respectively.

 

Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, there shall be no requirement that any Security have endorsed thereon or attached thereto a Guarantee or a notation of a Guarantee, but such a Guarantee or notation of a Guarantee may be endorsed thereon or attached thereto as contemplated by this Section 201 .

 

Section 202.           Form of Face of Security .

 

[ Insert any legend required by the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder. ]

 

BILL BARRETT CORPORATION

 

                                            

 

 

No.                    $                                  

 

CUSIP No.                              

 

BILL BARRETT CORPORATION , a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the “ Company ”, which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to                                     , or registered assigns, the principal sum of                                  Dollars on                              [if the Security is to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert — , and to pay interest thereon from                      or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually on                      and                      in

 

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each year, commencing                       , and at the Maturity thereof, at the rate of                     % per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment [if applicable, insert —, provided that any premium, and any such installment of interest, which is overdue shall bear interest at the rate of                      % per annum (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), from the date such overdue amount is due until such amount is paid or duly provided for, and such interest on any overdue amount shall be payable on demand]. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the                   or                   (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest so payable, but not punctually paid or duly provided for, will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which this Security may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture ] .

 

[ If the Security is not to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert — The principal of this Security shall not bear interest except in the case of a default in payment of principal upon acceleration, upon redemption or at Stated Maturity and in such case the overdue principal and any overdue premium shall bear interest at the rate of               % per annum (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), from the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made available for payment. Interest on any overdue principal or premium shall be payable on demand. ]

 

Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and [ if applicable, insert — any such ] interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in New York, New York, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts, against surrender of this Security in the case of any payment due at the Maturity of the principal thereof or any payment of interest becomes payable on a day other than an Interest Payment Date; provided , however , that if this Security is not a Global Security, (i) payment of interest on an Interest Payment Date will be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register; and all other payments will be made by check against surrender of this Security; (ii) all payments by check will be made in next-day funds ( i.e. , funds that become available on the day after the check is cashed); and (iii) notwithstanding clauses (i) and (ii) above, with respect to any payment of any amount due on this Security, if this Security is in a denomination of at least $1,000,000 and the Holder hereof at the time of surrender hereof or, in the case of any payment of interest on any Interest Payment Date, the Holder thereof on the related Regular Record Date delivers a written request to the Paying Agent to make such payment by wire transfer at least five Business Days before the date such payment becomes due, together with appropriate wire transfer instructions specifying an account at a bank in New York, New York, the Company shall make such payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds to such account at such bank in New York City, any such wire

 

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instructions, once properly given by a Holder as to this Security, remaining in effect as to such Holder and this Security unless and until new instructions are given in the manner described above and provided further , that notwithstanding anything in the foregoing to the contrary, if this Security is a Global Security, payment shall be made pursuant to the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary as permitted in said Indenture.

 

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

 

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

 

BILL BARRETT CORPORATION

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

Section 203.           Form of Reverse of Security .  This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of senior securities of the Company (herein called the “ Securities ”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of [                      ] (herein called the “ Indenture ”, which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such instrument), among the Company, the Guarantors and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas , as Trustee (herein called the “ Trustee , ” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof [if applicable, insert — limited in aggregate principal amount to $                    ].

 

This Security is the general, unsecured, senior obligation of the Company [if applicable, insert—and is guaranteed pursuant to a guarantee (the “ Guarantee ”) by [ insert name of each Guarantor ] and any other Person who shall become such in accordance with the Indenture (the “ Guarantors ”). The Guarantee by each Guarantor is the general, unsecured, senior obligation of such Guarantor, subject to the release and discharge thereof as provided in the Indenture].

 

[ If applicable, insert — The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than 30 days’ nor more than 60 days’ notice, at any time [if applicable, insert — on or after                     , 20    ], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the following Redemption Prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount): If redeemed [ if

 

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applicable, insert — on or before                     ,           %, and if redeemed] during the 12-month period beginning                      of the years indicated,

 

Year

 

Redemption Price

 

Year

 

Redemption Price

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to % of the principal amount, together in the case of any such redemption with accrued interest to the Redemption Date, but interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture. ]

 

[ If the Security is subject to redemption of any kind, insert — In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof. ]

 

[ If applicable, insert — The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of the entire indebtedness of this Security or certain restrictive covenants and Events of Default with respect to this Security, in each case upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture. ]

 

[ If the Security is not an Original Issue Discount Security, insert — If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. ]

 

[ If the Security is an Original Issue Discount Security, insert — If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, an amount of principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. Such amount shall be equal to — insert formula for determining the amount. Upon payment (i) of the amount of principal so declared due and payable and (ii) of interest on any overdue principal, premium and interest (in each case to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), all of the Company’s obligations in respect of the payment of the principal of and premium and interest, if any, on the Securities of this series shall terminate. ]

 

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company [if applicable, insert—and the Guarantors] and the rights of the Holders of the Securities to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company [if applicable, insert—and the Guarantors] and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Securities) of all Securities at the time Outstanding to be affected (considered together as one class for this purpose and such Securities to be affected potentially being Securities of the same or different series and, with respect to any series, potentially comprising fewer than all the Securities of such

 

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series), except as may otherwise be provided pursuant to the Indenture for all or any specific Securities of any series. The Indenture also contains provisions (i) permitting the Holders of a majority in principal amount (including waivers obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Securities) of the Securities at the time Outstanding to be affected under the Indenture (considered together as one class for this purpose and such affected Securities potentially being Securities of the same or different series and, with respect to any particular series, potentially comprising fewer than all the Securities of such series), on behalf of the Holders of all Securities so affected, to waive compliance by the Company [if applicable, insert—and the Guarantors] with certain provisions of the Indenture and (ii) permitting the Holders of a majority in principal amount (including waivers obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Securities) of the Securities at the time Outstanding of any series to be affected under the Indenture (with each such series considered separately for this purpose), on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive certain past defaults under the Indenture with respect to such series and their consequences, in the case of Clause (i) or (ii), except as may otherwise be provided pursuant to the Indenture for all or any specific Securities of any series. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

 

As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Securities of this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60 days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.

 

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed [if applicable, insert—or alter or impair the obligation of each Guarantor, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay pursuant to its Guarantee].

 

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one

 

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or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

 

The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

 

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

 

Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, [if applicable, insert—any Guarantor,] the Trustee and any agent of the Company [if applicable, insert—any Guarantor] or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, [if applicable, insert—any Guarantor,] the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

[If this Security is a Global Security, insert — This Security is a Global Security and is subject to the provisions of the Indenture relating to Global Securities, including the limitations therein on transfers and exchanges of Global Securities.]

 

This Security and the Indenture shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York.

 

All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 

Section 204.           Form of Legend for Global Securities .  Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for the Securities evidenced thereby, every Global Security authenticated and delivered hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

 

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A SECURITY REGISTERED, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE REGISTERED, IN THE NAME OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.

 

Section 205.           Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication .  The Trustee’s certificates of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

 

This is one of the Securities of the series designated herein and referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

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Dated:

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS , AS TRUSTEE

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Authorized Signatory

 

ARTICLE III
THE SECURITIES

 

Section 301.          Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series .  The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.

 

The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and, subject to Section 303 , set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series,

 

(1)           the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from Securities of any other series);

 

(2)           any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Section 304 , 305 , 306 , 906 or 1107 and except for any Securities which, pursuant to Section 303 , are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder);

 

(3)           the Person to whom any interest on a Security of the series shall be payable, if other than the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest;

 

(4)           the date or dates on which the principal of any Securities of the series is payable;

 

(5)           the rate or rates at which any Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which any such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which any such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date for any such interest payable on any Interest Payment Date;

 

(6)           the place or places where the principal of and any premium and interest on any Securities of the series shall be payable and the manner in which any payment may be made;

 

21



 

(7)           the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which any Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company and, if other than by a Board Resolution, the manner in which any election by the Company to redeem the Securities shall be evidenced;

 

(8)           the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase any Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of the Holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which any Securities of the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

 

(9)           if other than denominations of $1,000 and any multiple thereof, the denominations in which any Securities of the series shall be issuable;

 

(10)         if the amount of principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index or pursuant to a formula, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

 

(11)         if other than the currency of the United States of America, the currency, currencies, composite currency, composite currencies or currency units in which the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series shall be payable and the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in the currency of the United States of America for any purpose, including for the purposes of making payment in the currency of the United States of America and applying the definition of “ Outstanding ” in Section 101 ;

 

(12)         if the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series is to be payable, at the election of the Company or the Holder thereof, in one or more currencies, composite currencies or currency units other than that or those in which such Securities are stated to be payable, the currency, currencies, composite currency, composite currencies or currency units in which the principal of or any premium or interest on such Securities as to which such election is made shall be payable, the periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made and the amount so payable (or the manner in which such amount shall be determined);

 

(13)         if other than the entire principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of any Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502 ;

 

(14)         if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of any Securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to the Stated Maturity, the amount which shall be deemed to be the principal amount of such Securities as of any such date for any purpose thereunder or hereunder, including the principal amount thereof which shall be due and payable upon any Maturity other than the Stated Maturity or which shall be deemed to be Outstanding as of any date prior to the Stated

 

22



 

 

Maturity (or, in any such case, the manner in which such amount deemed to be the principal amount shall be determined);

 

(15)         if applicable, that the Securities of the series, in whole or any specified part, shall not be defeasible pursuant to Section 1302 or Section 1303 or both such Sections, and, if such Securities may be defeased, in whole or in part, pursuant to either or both such Sections, any provisions to permit a pledge of obligations other than U.S. Government Obligations (or the establishment of other arrangements) to satisfy the requirements of Section 1304(1)  for defeasance of such Securities and, if other than by a Board Resolution, the manner in which any election by the Company to defease such Securities shall be evidenced;

 

(16)         if applicable, that any Securities of the series shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in such case, the respective Depositaries for such Global Securities, the form of any legend or legends which shall be borne by any such Global Security in addition to or in lieu of that set forth in Section 204 , any addition to, elimination of or other change in the circumstances set forth in Clause (2) of the penultimate paragraph of Section 305 in which any such Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and any transfer of such Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name or names of Persons other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof and any other provisions governing exchanges or transfers of any such Global Security;

 

(17)         any addition to, elimination of or other change in the Events of Default which applies to any Securities of the series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 502 ;

 

(18)         any addition to, elimination of or other change in the covenants set forth in Article X which applies to Securities of the series;

 

(19)         any provisions necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance, payment or conversion of any Securities of the series that may be converted into securities or other property other than Securities of the same series and of like tenor, whether in addition to, or in lieu of, any payment of principal or other amount and whether at the option of the Company or otherwise;

 

(20)         if applicable, that Persons other than those specified in Section 111 shall have such benefits, rights, remedies and claims with respect to any Securities of the series or under this Indenture with respect to such Securities, as and to the extent provided for such Securities;

 

(21)         any change in the actions permitted or required under this Indenture to be taken by or on behalf of the Holders of the Securities of the series, including any such change that permits or requires any or all such actions to be taken by or on behalf of the Holders of any specific Securities of the series rather than or in addition to the Holders of all Securities of the series;

 

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(22)         if the Securities of the series are to be guaranteed by any Guarantors, the names of the Guarantors of the Securities of the series (which may, but need not, include any or all of the Initial Guarantors) and the terms of the Guarantees of the Securities of the series, if such terms differ from those set forth in Section 1401 , and any deletions from, or modifications or additions to, the provisions of Article XIV or any other provisions of this Indenture in connection with the Guarantees of the Securities of the series;

 

(23)         any provisions for subordination of any Securities of the series to other indebtedness of the Company (including Securities of other series); and

 

(24)         any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, except as permitted by Section 901(5) ).

 

If the Securities of the series are to be guaranteed by any Guarantor pursuant to Article XIV , there shall be established in or pursuant to a Guarantor’s Board Resolution of such Guarantor and, subject to Section 303 , set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in a Guarantor’s Officers’ Certificate of such Guarantor, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of the series, the terms of the Guarantees by such Guarantor with respect to the Securities of the series, if such terms differ from those set forth in Section 1401 .

 

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to the Board Resolution referred to above and (subject to Section 303 ) set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in the Officers’ Certificate referred to above or in any such indenture supplemental hereto.  All Securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time and, unless otherwise provided pursuant to this Section 301 for any series, after issuance of Securities of such series, such series may be reopened for issuances of additional Securities of that series.

 

The terms of any Security of a series may differ from the terms of other Securities of the same series, if and to the extent provided pursuant to this Section 301 . The matters referenced in any or all of Clauses (1) through (24) above may be established and set forth or determined as aforesaid with respect to all or any specific Securities of a series (in each case to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act).

 

If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers’ Certificate setting forth the terms of the series.

 

If any of the terms of the Guarantees by any Guarantor of the Securities of the series are established by action taken pursuant to a Guarantor’s Board Resolution of such Guarantor, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of such Guarantor and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Guarantor’s Officers’ Certificate of such Guarantor setting forth the terms of such Guarantees.

 

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Section 302.           Denominations .  The Securities of each series shall be issuable only in registered form without coupons and only in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 301 . In the absence of any such specified denomination with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of such series shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.

 

Section 303.           Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating .  The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, President or a Vice President of the Company (or any other officer of the Company designated in writing by or pursuant to authority of the Board of Directors and delivered to the Trustee from time to time). The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile.  If the terms of the Securities of any series provide that any Guarantee by any Guarantor is to be endorsed on or otherwise attached to, or made part of, Securities of any series, and if the terms of such Securities provide for the execution of such Guarantee by such Guarantor (it being understood and agreed that the terms of Securities of any series may, but need not, provide for the execution of any Guarantee by any Guarantor), such Guarantee shall be executed on behalf of such Guarantor by the Chairman of the Board, President or a Vice President of such Guarantor (or any other officer of such Guarantor designated in writing by or pursuant to authority of the Guarantor’s Board of Directors and delivered to the Trustee from time to time).  The signature of any of these officers on any Guarantee may be manual or facsimile.

 

Securities and any Guarantees by any Guarantor endorsed thereon bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, shall bind the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities.

 

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company, together with, if the terms of such Securities provide for the endorsement thereon of any Guarantees by any Guarantor, such Guarantees endorsed hereon and, if such terms so provide, executed by such Guarantor, to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order and, if any Guarantee by a Guarantor is to be endorsed on such Securities, a Guarantor Order of such Guarantor, for the authentication and delivery of such Securities with any such Guarantees endorsed thereon, and the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities with any such Guarantees endorsed thereon. If the form or terms of the Securities of the series have been established by or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions or the form or terms of any Guarantees thereof by any Guarantor have been established by or pursuant to one or more Guarantor’s Board Resolutions of such Guarantor as permitted by Sections 201 and 301 , in authenticating such Securities with any such Guarantees endorsed thereon, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities and such Guarantees, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 601 ) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating,

 

(1)           if the form of such Securities or any Guarantee by any Guarantor endorsed thereon has been established by or pursuant to Board Resolution or Guarantor’s Board

 

25



 

 

Resolution of such Guarantor, as permitted by Section 201 , that such form has been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

 

(2)           if the terms of such Securities or any Guarantee thereof by a Guarantor have been established by or pursuant to Board Resolution or Guarantor’s Board Resolution of such Guarantor as permitted by Section 301 , that such terms have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and

 

(3)           that when such Securities with any Guarantees endorsed thereon have been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, such Securities and such Guarantee will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company or such Guarantor, respectively, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles and subject to any limitation with respect to payments in currency other than U.S. dollars.

 

If such form or terms have been so established, the Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities with any Guarantees endorsed thereon if the issue of such Securities with any Guarantees endorsed thereon pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 301 and of the preceding paragraph, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officers’ Certificate or Guarantor’s Officers’ Certificate otherwise required pursuant to Section 301 or the Company Order, any Guarantor Order and Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to such preceding paragraph at or prior to the authentication of each Security of such series if such documents are delivered at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such series to be issued.

 

Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

 

No Security, nor any Guarantee endorsed thereon, shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by manual signature, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security with any Guarantees endorsed thereon has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 309 , for all purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

 

Wherever herein it shall provide for the Company to execute, and the Trustee to authenticate and deliver, Securities of any series, if the terms of such Securities provide for the

 

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endorsement thereon of the Guarantees by any Guarantor, the Company shall cause such Securities so executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee to have such Guarantees endorsed thereon, and, if such terms require such Guarantees to be executed by such Guarantor, such Guarantees to be executed by such Guarantor.

 

Section 304.           Temporary Securities .  Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and upon Company Order and, if any Guarantees by a Guarantor are so to be endorsed on such Securities, a Guarantor Order of such Guarantor, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities or Guarantees, respectively, may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities or Guarantees, respectively.

 

If temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Securities of that series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities of such series, the temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor one or more definitive Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series and tenor.

 

Section 305.           Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange .  The Company shall cause to be kept at each office or agency of the Company designated as a Place of Payment pursuant to the first paragraph of Section 1002 a register (the register maintained in each such office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment being herein sometimes collectively referred to as the “ Security Register ”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Securities and of transfers of Securities. The Trustee is hereby appointed “Security Registrar” for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities as herein provided.

 

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of a series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.

 

At the option of the Holder, Securities of any series may be exchanged for other Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the

 

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Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities, which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

 

All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

 

Every Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed, by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.

 

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 304 , 906 or 1107 not involving any transfer.

 

If the Securities of any series (or of any series and specified tenor) are to be redeemed in whole or in part, the Company shall not be required (A) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Securities of that series (or of that series and specified tenor, as the case may be) during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of selection of any such Securities for redemption under Section 1103 and ending at the close of business on the day of such selection (or during such period as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for such Securities), or (B) to register the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.

 

The provisions of Clauses (1), (2), (3) and (4) below shall apply only to Global Securities:

 

(1)           Each Global Security authenticated under this Indenture shall be registered in the name of the Depositary designated for such Global Security or a nominee thereof and delivered to such Depositary or a nominee thereof or custodian therefor, and each such Global Security shall constitute a single Security for all purposes of this Indenture.

 

(2)           Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, and subject to such applicable provisions, if any, as may be specified as contemplated by Section 301 , no Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and no transfer of a Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name of any Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof unless (A) such Depositary has notified the Company that it (i) is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or (ii) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, or (B) the Company has executed and delivered to the Trustee a Company Order stating that such Global Security shall be exchanged in whole for Securities that are not Global Securities (in which case such exchange shall promptly be effected by the Trustee). If the Company receives a notice of the kind specified in

 

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Clause (A) above or has delivered a Company Order of the kind specified in Clause (B) above, it may, in its sole discretion, designate a successor Depositary for such Global Security within 90 days after receiving such notice or delivery of such order, as the case may be. If the Company designates a successor Depositary as aforesaid, such Global Security shall promptly be exchanged in whole for one or more other Global Securities registered in the name of the successor Depositary, whereupon such designated successor shall be the Depositary for such successor Global Security or Global Securities and the provisions of Clauses (1), (2), (3) and (4) of this provision shall continue to apply thereto.

 

(3)           Subject to Clause (2) above and to such applicable provisions, if any, as may be specified as contemplated by Section 301 , any exchange of a Global Security for other Securities may be made in whole or in part, and all Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security or any portion thereof shall be registered in such names as the Depositary for such Global Security shall direct.

 

(4)           Every Security authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Security or any portion thereof, whether pursuant to this Section, Section 304 , 306 , 906 or 1107 or otherwise, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Security, unless such Security is registered in the name of a Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof.

 

Every Person who takes or holds any beneficial interest in a Global Security agrees that:

 

(1)           the Company and the Trustee may deal with the Depositary as sole owner of the Global Security and as the authorized representative of such Person;

 

(2)           such Person’s rights in the Global Security shall be exercised only through the Depositary and shall be limited to those established by law and agreement between such Person and the Depositary and/or direct and indirect participants of the Depositary;

 

(3)           the Depositary and its participants make book-entry transfers of beneficial ownership among, and receive and transmit distributions of principal and interest on the Global Securities to, such Persons in accordance with the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary; and

 

(4)           none of the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

 

Section 306.           Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Wrongfully Taken Securities .  If (a) any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee or (b) both (i) there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (A) a claim by a Holder as to the destruction, loss or wrongful taking of any Security of such Holder and a request thereby for a new replacement Security of the same series, and (B) such indemnity bond as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless and (ii) such other reasonable requirements as may be imposed

 

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by the Company as permitted by Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code have been satisfied, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a “ protected purchaser ” within the meaning of Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code, the Company shall execute and upon its request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or wrongfully taken Security, a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously Outstanding.

 

In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or wrongfully taken Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.

 

Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.

 

Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or wrongfully taken Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or wrongfully taken Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that series duly issued hereunder.

 

The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or wrongfully taken Securities.

 

Section 307.           Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved .  Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to any Securities of a series, interest on any Security which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest (or, if no business is conducted by the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office on such date, at 5:00 P.M. New York City time on such date).

 

Any interest on any Security of any series which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “ Defaulted Interest ”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in Clause (1) or (2) below:

 

(1)           The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest payable on any Securities of a series to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each of such Securities and the date of the

 

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proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this Clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be given to each Holder of such Securities in the manner set forth in Section 106 , not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been so mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following Clause (2).

 

(2)           The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on any Securities of a series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this Clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

 

Except as may otherwise be provided in this Section 307 or as contemplated in Section 301 with respect to any Securities of a series, the Person to whom interest shall be payable on any Security that first becomes payable on a day that is not an Interest Payment Date shall be the Holder of such Security on the day such interest is paid.

 

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.

 

In the case of any Security which is converted after any Regular Record Date and on or prior to the next succeeding Interest Payment Date (other than any Security whose Maturity is prior to such Interest Payment Date), interest whose Stated Maturity is on such Interest Payment Date shall be payable on such Interest Payment Date notwithstanding such conversion, and such interest (whether or not punctually paid or duly provided for) shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on such Regular Record Date. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the immediately preceding sentence, in the case of any Security which is converted, interest whose Stated Maturity is after the date of conversion of such Security shall not be payable.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, the terms of any Security that may be converted may provide that the provisions of this paragraph do not apply, or apply with such additions, changes or omissions as may be provided thereby, to such Security.

 

Section 308.           Persons Deemed Owners .  Prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer, the Company, any Guarantor and the Trustee and any agent of the Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and any premium and (subject to Section 307 ) any interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and neither the Company, any Guarantor, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

Section 309.           Cancellation .  All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or conversion or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and shall be promptly canceled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may deliver to the Trustee (or to any other Person for delivery to the Trustee) for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated hereunder which the Company has not issued and sold, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities canceled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All canceled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of as directed by a Company Order; provided , however , that the Trustee shall not be required to destroy such canceled Securities.

 

Section 310.           Computation of Interest .  Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

Section 311.           CUSIP Numbers .  The Company in issuing the Securities may use CUSIP numbers (if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities. Any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such CUSIP numbers.

 

ARTICLE IV
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

Section 401.           Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture .  This Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect with respect to the Securities of any series and any Guarantees of such Securities (except as to any surviving rights of conversion, registration of transfer or exchange of any such Security expressly provided for herein or in the terms of such Security), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to such Securities, when

 

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(1)           either

 

(A)                             all such Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Securities which have been destroyed, lost or wrongfully taken and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 306 and (ii) Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 1003 ) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

(B)                               all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation

 

(i)            have become due and payable, or
 
(ii)           will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or
 
(iii)          are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company,
 

and the Company, in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for such purpose money in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal and any premium and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;

 

(2)           the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company with respect to such Securities; and

 

(3)           the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to such Securities have been complied with.

 

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to Securities of any series, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 607 , the obligations of the Trustee to any Authenticating Agent under Section 614 , and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of Clause (1) of this Section with respect to such Securities, the obligations of the Company of such series under Section 1002 and the obligations of the Trustee under Section 402 , Section 606 and the last paragraph of Section 1003 with respect to such Securities shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.

 

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Section 402.           Application of Trust Money .  Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003 , all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 with respect to Securities of any series shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal and any premium and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee. All moneys deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 (and held by it or any Paying Agent) for the payment of Securities subsequently converted shall be returned to the Company upon Company Request, to the extent originally deposited by the Company. The Company may direct by a Company Order the investment of any money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 , without distinction between principal and income, in (1) United States Treasury Securities with a maturity of one year or less or (2) a money market fund that invests solely in short term United States Treasury Securities and from time to time the Company may direct the reinvestment of all or a portion of such money in other securities or funds meeting the criteria specified in Clause (1) or (2) of this sentence.

 

ARTICLE V
REMEDIES

 

Section 501.           Events of Default .

 

Except as may otherwise be provided pursuant to Section 301 for all or any specific Securities of any series, “ Event of Default , ” wherever used herein with respect to the Securities of that series, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

 

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

 

(2)           default in the payment of the principal of or any premium on any Security of that series at its Maturity; or

 

(3)           default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due by the terms of a Security of that series and continuance of such default for a period of 60 days; or

 

(4)           default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with or which has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of series of Securities other than that series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 90 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of

 

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the Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “ Notice of Default ” hereunder; or

 

(5)           the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of (A) a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or (B) a decree or order adjudging the Company a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company under any applicable Federal or State law, or appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order for relief or any such other decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or

 

(6)           the commencement by the Company of a voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable Federal or State law, or the consent by it to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or the taking of corporate action by the Company in furtherance of any such action; or

 

(7)           if Article XIV has been made applicable with respect to such Securities, the Guarantee of the Securities of such series by any Guarantor shall for any reason cease to be, or shall for any reason be asserted in writing by such Guarantor or the Company not to be, in full force and effect and enforceable in accordance with its terms, except to the extent contemplated or permitted by this Indenture or by the terms of the Securities of such series established pursuant to Section 301 ; or

 

(8)           any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that series in accordance with Section 301 .

 

Section 502.           Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment .  Except as may otherwise be provided pursuant to Section 301 for all or any specific Securities of any series, if an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 501(5) or 501(6) ) with respect to Securities of that series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series may declare the principal amount of all the Securities of that series (or, in the case of any Security of that series which specifies an amount to be due and payable thereon

 

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upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof, such amount as may be specified by the terms thereof) to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company and any Guarantor of the Securities of that series (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) shall become immediately due and payable. Except as may otherwise be provided pursuant to Section 301 for all or any specific Securities of any series, if an Event of Default specified in Section 501(5) or Section 501(6) with respect to Securities of that series at the time Outstanding occurs, the principal amount of all the Securities of that series (or, in the case of any Security of that series which specifies an amount to be due and payable thereon upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof, such amount as may be specified by the terms thereof) shall automatically, and without any declaration or other action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder, become immediately due and payable.

 

Except as may otherwise be provided pursuant to Section 301 for all or any specific Securities of any series, at any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to Securities of that series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article provided, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series, by written notice to the Company, any Guarantor of the Securities of that series and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if

 

(1)                                 the Company or any such Guarantor has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay

 

(A)                             all overdue interest on all Securities of that series,

 

(B)                               the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Securities of that series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and any interest thereon at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities,

 

(C)                               to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and

 

(D)                              all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel; and

 

(2)           all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of that series which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 513 .

 

No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

Section 503.           Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee .  The Company covenants that if

 

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(1)           default is made in the payment of any interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 60 days, or

 

(2)           default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security at the Maturity thereof,

 

the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and any premium and interest and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal and premium and on any overdue interest, at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

 

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

 

Section 504.           Trustee May File Proofs of Claim .  In case of any judicial proceeding relative to the Company, any Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Securities, their property or their creditors, the Trustee shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise, to take any and all actions authorized under the Trust Indenture Act in order to have claims of the Holders and the Trustee allowed in any such proceeding. The Trustee shall be authorized to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 607 .

 

No provision of this Indenture shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding; provided , however , that the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders, vote for the election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and be a member of a creditors’ or other similar committee.

 

Section 505.           Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities .  All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in

 

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its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

 

Section 506.           Application of Money Collected . Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal or any premium or interest, upon presentation of the Securities and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

 

FIRST :  To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 607 ;

 

SECOND :  To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal and any premium and interest, respectively; and

 

THIRD :  To the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Company, any Guarantor or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

 

Section 507.                               Limitation on Suits .  No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless

 

(1)                                 such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that series;

 

(2)                                 the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or

 

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preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all of such Holders.

 

Section 508.                               Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest and to Convert .  Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and any premium and (subject to Section 307 ) interest on such Security on the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date), and, if the terms of such Security so provide, to convert such Security in accordance with its terms, and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment and, if applicable, any such right to convert, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

 

Section 509.                               Restoration of Rights and Remedies .  If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

 

Section 510.                               Rights and Remedies Cumulative .  Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or wrongfully taken Securities in the last paragraph of Section 306 , no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

 

Section 511.                               Delay or Omission Not Waiver .  No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.

 

Section 512.                               Control by Holders .  The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Securities of such series, provided that

 

(1)           such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture;

 

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(2)                                 the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction; and

 

(3)                                 subject to the provisions of Section 601 , the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall determine that the proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability.

 

Section 513.                               Waiver of Past Defaults .  Except as may otherwise be provided pursuant to Section 301 for all or any specific Securities of any series, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount (including waivers obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Securities) of the Outstanding Securities of any series to be affected under this Indenture may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series waive any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except a default

 

(1)           in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of such series, or

 

(2)           in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article IX cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected.

 

Upon any such waiver with respect to any series, such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, with respect to such series for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon. A waiver of any past default and its consequences given by or on behalf of any Holder of Securities in connection with a purchase of, or tender or exchange offer for, such Holder’s Securities will not be rendered invalid by such purchase, tender or exchange.

 

Section 514.           Undertaking for Costs .  In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, a court may require any party litigant in such suit to file an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and may assess costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any such party litigant, in the manner and to the extent provided in the Trust Indenture Act; provided that neither this Section nor the Trust Indenture Act shall be deemed to authorize any court to require such an undertaking or to make such an assessment in any suit instituted by the Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee or, if applicable, in any suit for the enforcement of the right to convert any Security in accordance with its terms.

 

Section 515.           Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws .  The Company and each Guarantor covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any usury, stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company and each Guarantor (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein

 

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granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

 

ARTICLE VI
THE TRUSTEE

 

Section 601.                               Certain Duties and Responsibilities .  (a)  Except during the continuance of an Event of Default,

 

(1)           the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture and as are provided by the Trust Indenture Act, and, except for implied covenants or obligations under the Trust Indenture Act, no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

 

(2)           in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.

 

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

 

(c)  No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that

 

(1)           this Subsection shall not be construed to limit the effect of the first paragraph of this Section;

 

(2)           the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;

 

(3)           the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, determined as provided in Section 512 , relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series; and

 

(4)           no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its

 

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duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

 

(d)  Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.

 

Section 602.                               Notice of Defaults .  If a default occurs hereunder with respect to Securities of any series, the Trustee shall give the Holders of Securities of such series notice of such default as and to the extent provided by the Trust Indenture Act; provided , however , that in the case of any default of the character specified in Section 501(4) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 60 days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section, the term “ default ” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series.

 

Section 603.                               Certain Rights of Trustee .  Subject to the provisions of Section 601 :

 

(1)           the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

 

(2)           any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order and any request or direction of a Guarantor mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Guarantor Request or Guarantor Order of such Guarantor, and any resolution of the Board of Directors shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution and any resolution of a Guarantor’s Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Guarantor’s Board Resolution;

 

(3)           whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) shall be entitled to receive and may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, conclusively rely upon an Officers’ Certificate or if such matter relates to a Guarantor, a Guarantor’s Officers’ Certificate of such Guarantor;

 

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

 

(5)           the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security

 

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or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;

 

(6)           the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors, personally or by agent or attorney at the sole cost of the Company and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation;

 

(7)           the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder and shall not be responsible for the supervision of officers and employees of such agents or attorneys;

 

(8)           the Trustee may request that the Company deliver an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officers’ Certificate may be signed by any person authorized to sign an Officers’ Certificate, including any person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded;

 

(9)           the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in good faith and reasonably believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;

 

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

 

(11)         the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including its rights to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder.

 

Section 604.           Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities .  The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee does not assume any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.

 

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Section 605.                               May Hold Securities .  The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar or any other agent of the Company or any Guarantor, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 608 and 613 , may otherwise deal with the Company or any Guarantor with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.

 

Section 606.                               Money Held in Trust .  Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed in writing with the Company or any Guarantor.

 

Section 607.                               Compensation and Reimbursement .

 

The Company agrees

 

(1)           to pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation as the Company and Trustee shall agree in writing for all services rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

 

(2)           except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct; and

 

(3)           to indemnify each of the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee and its officers, directors, agents and employees for, and to hold it harmless against, any and all losses, liabilities, damages, claims or expenses including taxes (other than taxes based upon, measured by or determined by the earnings or income of the Trustee) incurred without negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Company, a Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder.

 

As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Section the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on Securities.

 

Without limiting any rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 501(5) or Section 501(6) , the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law.

 

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The provisions of this Section shall survive the termination of this Indenture.

 

Section 608.           Conflicting Interests .  If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture. To the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have a conflicting interest by virtue of being a trustee under this Indenture with respect to Securities of more than one series.

 

Section 609.           Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility .  There shall at all times be one (and only one) Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of each series, which may be Trustee hereunder for Securities of one or more other series. Each Trustee shall be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such, has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 and has its Corporate Trust Office in the continental United States of America. If any such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section and to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

 

Section 610.           Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor .  No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 611 .

 

The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 611 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 60 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition, at the expense of the Company, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 611 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of a notice of removal pursuant to this paragraph, the Trustee being removed may petition, at the expense of the Company, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

If at any time:

 

(1)           the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 608 after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or

 

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(2)           the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 609 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Holder, or

 

(3)           the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,

 

then, in any such case, (A) the Company by a Board Resolution may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (B) subject to Section 514 , any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

 

If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series) and shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 611 . If an instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of removal, the Trustee being removed may petition, at the expense of the Company, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 611 , become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 611 , any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series to all Holders of Securities of such series in the manner provided in Section 106 . Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

 

Section 611.           Acceptance of Appointment by Successor .  In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, every such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company, any Guarantor and to the

 

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retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Company or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder.

 

In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, any Guarantor, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates.

 

Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company and any Guarantor shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in the first or second preceding paragraph, as the case may be.

 

No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article.

 

Section 612.           Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business .  Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate

 

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trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.

 

Section 613.           Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company .  If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against the Company (or any such other obligor).

 

Section 614.           Appointment of Authenticating Agent .  The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with respect to any series of Securities which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate the Securities of such Series issued upon original issue and upon exchange, registration of transfer, partial conversion or partial redemption or pursuant to Section 306 , and Securities of such series so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder.  Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities of such series by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent so appointed with respect to such series and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent so appointed with respect to such series. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority.  If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published.  If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

 

Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent, provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee, the Company, the Authenticating Agent or such successor corporation.

 

An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Company.  The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an

 

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Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company.  Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent with respect to any series of Securities which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall give notice of such appointment to all Holders of Securities of such series in the manner provided in Section 106 .  Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent.  No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.

 

The Trustee agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section, and the Trustee shall be entitled to be reimbursed by the Company for such payments, subject to the provisions of Section 607 .

 

If an appointment is made pursuant to this Section with respect to Securities of any series, the Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in addition to the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternate certificate of authentication in the following form:

 

This is one of the Securities of the series designated herein and referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

 

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS , AS TRUSTEE

 

 

 

By:

 

 

  As Authenticating Agent

 

 

 

By:

 

 

  Authorized Signatory

 

ARTICLE VII
HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

 

Section 701.                               Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders .  The Company and any Guarantor will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee

 

(1)           semi-annually, not later than May 15 and November 15 in each year, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities of each series as of the immediately preceding May 1 or November 1 as the case may be, and

 

(2)           at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Company or such Guarantor, respectively, of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished;

 

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excluding from any such list names and addresses received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar.

 

Section 702.           Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders .  The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 701 and the names and addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 701 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

 

The rights of Holders to communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and the corresponding rights and privileges of the Trustee, shall be as provided by the Trust Indenture Act.

 

Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company, any Guarantor and the Trustee that neither of the Company nor the Guarantors (if applicable) nor the Trustee nor any agent of any of them shall be held accountable by reason of any disclosure of information as to names and addresses of Holders made pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act.

 

Section 703.           Reports by Trustee .  The Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto.

 

Reports so required to be transmitted at stated intervals of not more than 12 months shall be transmitted no later than April 1 and shall be dated as of January 31 in each calendar year, commencing in 2010.

 

A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange upon which any Securities are listed, with the Commission and with the Company and any Guarantor. The Company and any Guarantor will notify the Trustee when any Securities are listed on any stock exchange and of any delisting thereof.

 

Section 704.           Reports by Company .  The Company and any Guarantor shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, and transmit to Holders, such information, documents and other reports, and such summaries thereof, as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act, if any, at the times and in the manner provided pursuant to such Act; provided that any such information, documents or reports required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act need not be filed with the Trustee until the 15th day after the same are actually filed with the Commission. Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the compliance by the Company or any Guarantor with any of their covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates or Guarantor’s Officers’ Certificates, as the case may be).

 

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ARTICLE VIII
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

 

Section 801.                               Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms .  The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other Person or sell, convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all its properties and assets to any Person, and the Company shall not permit any Person to consolidate with or merge into the Company, unless:

 

(1)           in case the Company shall consolidate with or merge into another Person or sell, convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all its properties and assets to any Person, the Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person which acquires by sale, conveyance or transfer, or which leases, all or substantially all the properties and assets of the Company shall be a corporation, partnership or trust, shall be organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on all the Securities and the performance or observance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed and, for each Security that by its terms provides for conversion, shall have provided for the right to convert such Security in accordance with its terms;

 

(2)           immediately after giving effect to such transaction and treating any indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Company or any Subsidiary as a result of such transaction as having been incurred by the Company or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have happened and be continuing; and

 

(3)           the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or lease and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture comply with this Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

 

Section 802.           Successor Substituted .  Upon any consolidation of the Company with, or merger of the Company into, any other Person or any sale, conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all the properties and assets of the Company in accordance with Section 801 , the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such sale, conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Person shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.

 

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ARTICLE IX
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

Section 901.                               Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders .  Except as may otherwise be provided pursuant to Section 301 for all or any specific Securities of any series, without the consent of any Holders, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, each of the Guarantors, when authorized by a Guarantor’s Board Resolution of such Guarantor, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:

 

(1)           to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company or a Guarantor and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company or such Guarantor herein and in the Securities or the Guarantees of such Guarantor, as the case may be; or

 

(2)           to add to the covenants of the Company or any Guarantor for the benefit of the Holders of all or any Securities of any series (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all Securities of such series, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such Securities within such series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company or any Guarantor with regard to all or any Securities of any series (and if any such surrender is to be made with regard to less than all Securities of such series, stating that such surrender is expressly being made solely with regard to such Securities within such series); or

 

(3)           to add any additional Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders of all or any Securities of any series (and if such additional Events of Default are to be for the benefit of less than all Securities of such series, stating that such additional Events of Default are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such Securities within such series); or

 

(4)           to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons, or to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in uncertificated form; or

 

(5)           to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture in respect of all or any Securities of any series or any Guarantees thereof (and if such addition, change or elimination is to apply with respect to less than all Securities of such series or Guarantees thereof, stating that it is expressly being made to apply solely with respect to such Securities within such series or Guarantees thereof), provided that any such addition, change or elimination (A) shall neither (i) apply to any Security of any series or Guarantee thereof created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provision nor (ii) modify the rights of the Holder of any such Security with respect to such provision or (B) shall become effective only when there is no such Security Outstanding; or

 

(6)           to secure the Securities or any Guarantees; or

 

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(7)           to establish the form or terms of all or any Securities of any series and any Guarantees thereof as permitted by Sections 201 and 301 ; or

 

(8)           to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 611 ; or

 

(9)           to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture with respect to any Securities that by their terms may be converted into securities or other property other than Securities of the same series and of like tenor, in order to permit or facilitate the issuance, payment or conversion of such Securities; or

 

(10)         to add any Person as an additional Guarantor under this Indenture, to add additional Guarantees or additional Guarantors in respect of any Outstanding Securities under this Indenture, or to evidence the release and discharge of any Guarantor from its obligations under its Guarantees of any Securities and its obligations under this Indenture in respect of any Securities in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; or

 

(11)         to conform the text of this Indenture or any Securities or any Guarantee endorsed thereon to any provision of the “Description of Debt Securities and Guarantees” section of the Prospectus or the comparable section in any prospectus or prospectus supplement of the Company prepared from time to time after the date of this Indenture with respect to the offer and sale of Securities of any series, to the extent that such provision was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of this Indenture, the Securities or such Guarantee; or

 

(12)         to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture, provided that such action pursuant to this Clause (12) shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect.

 

The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company and the Guarantors in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained and to accept the conveyance, transfer, assignment, mortgage or pledge of any property thereunder, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

Section 902.           Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders .  Except as may otherwise be provided pursuant to Section 301 for all or any specific Securities of any series or Guarantees thereof, with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Securities) of the Outstanding Securities of all series affected by such supplemental indenture (considered together as one class for this purpose and such affected Securities potentially being

 

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Securities of the same or different series and, with respect to any series, potentially comprising fewer than all the Securities of such series), by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, each of the Guarantors when authorized by a Guarantor’s Board Resolution of such Guarantor, and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture or any Guarantees of such Securities; provided , however , that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Securities),

 

(1)           change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security or any other Security which would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502 , or permit the Company to redeem any Security if, absent such supplemental indenture, the Company would not be permitted to do so, or change any Place of Payment where, or the coin or currency in which, any Security or any premium or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date), or

 

(2)           if any Security provides that the Holder may require the Company to repurchase or convert such Security, impair such Holder’s right to require repurchase or conversion of such Security on the terms provided therein, or

 

(3)           reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any one or more series (considered separately or together as one class, as applicable, and whether comprising the same or different series or less than all the Securities of a series), the consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences) provided for in this Indenture, or

 

(4)           if any Security is guaranteed by the Guarantee of any Grantor, release such Guarantor from any of its obligations under such Guarantee except in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; or

 

(5)           modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 513 or Section 1006 , except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby; provided , however , that this clause shall not be deemed to require the consent of any Holder with respect to changes in the references to “ the Trustee ” and concomitant changes in this Section and Section 1006 , or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 611 and 901(8) .

 

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A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular Securities or series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of such Securities or series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of any other Securities or of any other series, as applicable.

 

It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof. A consent to any indenture supplemental hereto by or on behalf of any Holder of Securities given in connection with a purchase of, or tender or exchange offer for, such Holder’s Securities will not be rendered invalid by such purchase, tender or exchange.

 

Section 903.           Execution of Supplemental Indentures .  In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 601 ) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel and Officers’ Certificate and Guarantor’s Officers’ Certificate, as the case may be, stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

Section 904.           Effect of Supplemental Indentures .  Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.

 

Section 905.           Conformity with Trust Indenture Act .  Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

Section 906.           Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures .  Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series.

 

ARTICLE X
COVENANTS

 

Section 1001.         Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest .  The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of each series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal

 

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of and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of the Securities and this Indenture.

 

Section 1002.         Maintenance of Office or Agency .  The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities an office or agency where Securities of that series may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities of that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, where Securities may be surrendered for conversion and where notices and demands to or upon the Company or any Guarantor in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company and each Guarantor hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

 

The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided , however , that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in each Place of Payment for Securities of any series for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

 

With respect to any Global Security, and except as otherwise may be specified for such Global Security as contemplated by Section 301 , the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee shall be the Place of Payment where such Global Security may be presented or surrendered for payment or for registration of transfer or exchange, or where successor Securities may be delivered in exchange therefor, provided , however , that any such payment, presentation, surrender or delivery effected pursuant to the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary for such Global Security shall be deemed to have been effected at the Place of Payment for such Global Security in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

 

Section 1003.         Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust .  If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent with respect to any series of Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on any of the Securities of that series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal and any premium and interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

 

Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it will, on or prior to 11:00 A.M., New York City time, on each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit (or, if the Company has deposited any trust funds with a trustee pursuant to Section 1304(1) , cause such trustee to deposit) with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such amount, such sum to be held

 

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as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

 

The Company will cause each Paying Agent for any series of Securities other than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section, that such Paying Agent will (1) comply with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act applicable to it as a Paying Agent and (2) during the continuance of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities of that series) in the making of any payment in respect of the Securities of that series, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by such Paying Agent for payment in respect of the Securities of that series.

 

The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money.

 

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request (or if deposited by a Guarantor, paid to such Guarantor on Guarantor Request), or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided , however , that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may, at the expense of the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, cause to be published once, in a newspaper published in the English language, customarily published on each Business Day and of general circulation in The City of New York, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company or the applicable Guarantor, as the case may be.

 

Section 1004.         Corporate Existence .  Subject to Article VIII , the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence.

 

Section 1005.         Statement by Officers as to Default .  (a) The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date hereof, an Officers’ Certificate, stating whether or not to the best knowledge of the signers thereof the Company is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to any period of grace or requirement

 

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of notice provided hereunder) and, if the Company shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which they may have knowledge;

 

(b)  So long as any Securities of a series to which Article XIV has been made applicable are Outstanding, each Guarantor of such Securities will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date hereof, a Guarantor’s Officers’ Certificate of such Guarantor, stating whether or not to the best knowledge of the signers thereof such Guarantor is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder) and, if such Guarantor shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which they may have knowledge.

 

Section 1006.         Waiver of Certain Covenants .  Except as otherwise provided pursuant to Section 301 for all or any Securities of any series, the Company may, with respect to all or any Securities of any series, omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in Section 1004 or in any covenant provided pursuant to Section 301(18) , 901(2) , 901(6)  or 901(7)  for the benefit of the Holders of such series or in Article VIII if, before the time for such compliance, the Holders of a majority in principal amount (including waivers obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Securities) of all Outstanding Securities affected by such waiver (considered together as one class for this purpose and such affected Securities potentially being Securities of the same or different series and, with respect to any particular series, potentially comprising fewer than all the Securities of such series) shall, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such term, provision or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect. A waiver of compliance given by or on behalf of any Holder of Securities in connection with a purchase of, or tender or exchange offer for, such Holder’s Securities will not be rendered invalid by such purchase, tender or exchange.

 

ARTICLE XI
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

 

Section 1101.         Applicability of Article .  Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities) in accordance with this Article.

 

Section 1102.         Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee .  The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of less than all the Securities of any series (including any such redemption affecting only a single Security), the Company shall, at least 5 Business Days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date, of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed and, if applicable, of the tenor of the Securities to be redeemed. In the

 

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case of any redemption of Securities (1) prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, or (2) pursuant to an election of the Company that is subject to a condition specified in the terms of the Securities of the series to be redeemed, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers’ Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction or condition.

 

Section 1103.         Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed .  If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed (unless all the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed or unless such redemption affects only a single Security), the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 40 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide for the selection for redemption of a portion of the principal amount of any Security of such series, provided that the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of any Security shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination) for such Security. If less than all the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed (unless such redemption affects only a single Security), the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 40 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series and specified tenor not previously called for redemption in accordance with the preceding sentence.

 

If any Security selected for partial redemption is converted in part before termination of the conversion right with respect to the portion of the Security so selected, the converted portion of such Security shall be deemed (so far as it may be) to be the portion selected for redemption. Securities which have been converted during a selection of Securities to be redeemed shall be treated by the Trustee as Outstanding for the purpose of such selection.

 

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company and each Security Registrar in writing of the Securities selected for redemption as aforesaid and, in case of any Securities selected for partial redemption as aforesaid, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.

 

The provisions of the two preceding paragraphs shall not apply with respect to any redemption affecting only a single Security, whether such Security is to be redeemed in whole or in part. In the case of any such redemption in part, the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of the Security shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination) for such Security.

 

For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Securities which has been or is to be redeemed.

 

Section 1104.         Notice of Redemption .  Notice of redemption shall be given in the manner provided in Section 106 not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date (or within such period as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for the relevant Securities), to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, at his address appearing in the Security Register.

 

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All notices of redemption shall identify the Securities to be redeemed (including CUSIP numbers, if any) and shall state:

 

(1)           the Redemption Date,

 

(2)           the Redemption Price,

 

(3)           if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series consisting of more than a single Security are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption of any such Securities, the principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed and, if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series consisting of a single Security are to be redeemed, the principal amount of the particular Security to be redeemed,

 

(4)           that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each such Security to be redeemed and, if applicable, that interest thereon will cease to accrue on and after said date,

 

(5)           the place or places where each such Security is to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price,

 

(6)           for any Securities that by their terms may be converted, the terms of conversion, the date on which the right to convert the Security to be redeemed will terminate and the place or places where such Securities may be surrendered for conversion, and

 

(7)           that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case.

 

Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company.

 

Section 1105.         Deposit of Redemption Price .  Prior to 11:00 A.M., New York City time, on any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1003 ) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date, other than any Securities called for redemption on that date which have been converted prior to the date of such deposit.

 

If any Security called for redemption is converted, any money deposited with the Trustee or with any Paying Agent or so segregated and held in trust for the redemption of such Security shall (subject to any right of the Holder of such Security or any Predecessor Security to receive interest as provided in the last paragraph of Section 307 or in the terms of such Security) be paid to the Company upon Company Request or, if then held by the Company, shall be discharged from such trust.

 

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Section 1106.         Securities Payable on Redemption Date .  Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest to the Redemption Date; provided , however , that, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 , installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 307 .

 

If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal and any premium shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in the Security.

 

Section 1107.         Securities Redeemed in Part .  Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series and of like tenor, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered.

 

Section 1108.         No Limit on Repurchases .  Nothing in this Indenture or the Securities shall prohibit or limit the right of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company to repurchase Securities from time to time at any price in open market purchases or private transactions at negotiated prices, by tender offer or otherwise, in each case without any notice to or consent by Holders.  Any Securities purchased by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company may, to the extent permitted by law and at the discretion of the Company, be held, resold or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.  Any such Securities delivered to the Trustee for cancellation may not be resold and shall be disposed of as directed by Company Order.

 

ARTICLE XII
SINKING FUNDS

 

Section 1201.         Applicability of Article .  The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of any series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities.

 

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of any Securities is herein referred to as a “ mandatory sinking fund payment , ” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of such Securities is herein referred to as an “ optional sinking fund payment . ” If provided for by the terms of any Securities, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section  

 

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1202 . Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities as provided for by the terms of such Securities.

 

Section 1202.         Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities .  The Company (1) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series (other than any previously called for redemption) and (2) may apply as a credit Securities of a series which have been converted in accordance with their terms or which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to any Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities as and to the extent provided for by the terms of such Securities; provided that the Securities to be so credited have not been previously so credited. The Securities to be so credited shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price, as specified in the Securities so to be redeemed (or at such other prices as may be specified for such Securities as contemplated in Section 301 ), for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.

 

Section 1203.         Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund .  Not less than 45 days (or such shorter period as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) prior to each sinking fund payment date for any Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for such Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities pursuant to Section 1202 and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than 30 days prior to each such sinking fund payment date, the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 1103 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 1104 . Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 1106 and 1107 .

 

ARTICLE XIII
DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

Section 1301.         Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance .  Unless otherwise designated pursuant to Section 301(15) , the Securities of any series of Securities shall be subject to defeasance or covenant defeasance pursuant to such Section 1302 or 1303 , in accordance with any applicable requirements provided pursuant to Section 301 and upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article. The Company may elect, at its option, at any time, to have Section 1302 or Section 1303 applied to any Securities or any series of Securities so subject to defeasance or covenant defeasance. Any such election shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities.

 

Section 1302.         Defeasance and Discharge .  Upon the Company’s exercise of its option (if any) to have this Section applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be,

 

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the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to such Securities as provided in this Section on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 1304 are satisfied (hereinafter called “ Defeasance ”). For this purpose, such Defeasance means that the Company and the Guarantors of the Securities shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by such Securities and to have satisfied all their other respective obligations under such Securities and this Indenture insofar as such Securities or such Guarantees are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), subject to the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (1) the rights of Holders of such Securities to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 1304(1)  and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of and any premium and interest on such Securities when payments are due, (2) the obligations of the Company and the Guarantors of the Securities of such series with respect to such Securities under Sections 304 , 305 , 306 , 1002 and 1003 , (3) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (4) this Article. Subject to compliance with this Article, the Company may exercise its option (if any) to have this Section applied to any Securities notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option (if any) to have Section 1303 applied to such Securities.  Upon the effectiveness of defeasance with respect to any series of Securities, each Guarantor of the Securities of such series shall (except as provided in clause (2) of the next preceding sentence) be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged from all of its obligations under its Guarantee of the Securities of such series and all of its other obligations under this Indenture in respect of the Securities of such series, without any action by the Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee and without the consent of the Holders of any Securities.

 

Section 1303.         Covenant Defeasance .  Upon the Company’s exercise of its option (if any) to have this Section applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, (1) the Company shall be released from its obligations under Section 1004 and any covenants provided pursuant to Section 301(18) , 901(2) , 901(6)  or 901(7)  for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, and (2) the occurrence of any event specified in Sections 501(4)  (with respect to Section 1004 and any such covenants provided pursuant to Section 301(18) , 901(2) , 901(6)  or 901(7) ) and 501(8)  shall be deemed not to be or result in an Event of Default, in each case with respect to such Securities as provided in this Section on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 1304 are satisfied (hereinafter called “ Covenant Defeasance ”). For this purpose, such Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to such Securities, the Company and any Guarantor may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such specified Section (to the extent so specified in the case of Section 501(4) ), whether directly or indirectly by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or by reason of any reference in any such Section to any other provision herein or in any other document, but the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities and any Guarantees thereof shall be unaffected thereby.

 

Section 1304.         Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance .  The following shall be the conditions to the application of Section 1302 or Section 1303 to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be:

 

(1)           The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee which satisfies the requirements contemplated by

 

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Section 609 and agrees to comply with the provisions of this Article applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefits of the Holders of such Securities, (A) money in an amount, or (B) U.S. Government Obligations which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or (C) such other obligations or arrangements as may be specified as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to such Securities, or (D) a combination thereof, in each case sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or any such other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, the principal of and any premium and interest on such Securities on the respective Stated Maturities, in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and such Securities. As used herein, “ U.S. Government Obligation ” means (x) any security which is (i) a direct obligation of the United States of America for the payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged or (ii) an obligation of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in either case (i) or (ii), is not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and (y) any depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any U.S. Government Obligation which is specified in Clause (x) above and held by such bank for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt, or with respect to any specific payment of principal of or interest on any U.S. Government Obligation which is so specified and held, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of principal or interest evidenced by such depositary receipt.

 

(2)           In the event of an election to have Section 1302 apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the date of this instrument, there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case (A) or (B) to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of such Securities will not recognize gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, Defeasance and discharge to be effected with respect to such Securities and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would be the case if such deposit, Defeasance and discharge were not to occur.

 

(3)           In the event of an election to have Section 1303 apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of such Securities will not recognize gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and Covenant Defeasance to be effected with respect to such Securities and will be subject to

 

64



 

Federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would be the case if such deposit and Covenant Defeasance were not to occur.

 

(4)           The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that neither such Securities nor any other Securities of the same series, if then listed on any securities exchange, will be delisted as a result of such deposit.

 

(5)           No event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to such Securities or any other Securities (other than such an event or Event of Default solely with respect to such Securities resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit) shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such deposit.

 

(6)           Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.

 

(7)           The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of such Securities over the other creditors of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding creditors of the Company.

 

(8)           The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent with respect to such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.

 

Section 1305.         Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions .  Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003 , all money and U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee or other qualifying trustee (solely for purposes of this Section and Section 1306 , the Trustee and any such other trustee are referred to collectively as the “ Trustee ”) pursuant to Section 1304 in respect of any Securities shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any such Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent or any Guarantor of the Securities of the applicable series or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company or any such Guarantor acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities, of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal and any premium and interest, but money and U.S. Government Obligations so held in trust need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 1304 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of Outstanding Securities.

 

Anything in this Article to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 1304 with respect to any Securities which, in the

 

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opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect the Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, with respect to such Securities.

 

Section 1306.         Reinstatement .  If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money in accordance with this Article with respect to any Securities by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the respective obligations under this Indenture and such Securities and, if applicable, Guarantees of such Securities from which the Company and the applicable Guarantors have been discharged or released pursuant to Section 1302 or 1303 shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article with respect to such Securities, until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all money held in trust pursuant to Section 1305 with respect to such Securities in accordance with this Article; provided , however , that if the Company or any Guarantor makes any payment of principal of or any premium or interest on any such Security following such reinstatement of its obligations, the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, shall be subrogated to the rights (if any) of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money so held in trust.

 

ARTICLE XIV
GUARANTEES

 

Section 1401.         Guarantees .  Securities of any series that are to be guaranteed by the Guarantees of any Guarantors shall be guaranteed by such Guarantors as shall be established pursuant to Section 301 with respect to the Securities of such series.  The Persons who shall initially be the Guarantors of the Securities of any such series may, but need not, include any or all of the Initial Guarantors and may include any and all such other Persons as the Company may determine; provided that, prior to the authentication and delivery upon original issuance of Securities that are to be guaranteed by a Person that is not an Initial Guarantor, the Company, the Trustee and such Person shall enter into a supplemental indenture pursuant to Section 901 hereof whereby such Person shall become a Guarantor under this Indenture.

 

Securities of any series that are to be guaranteed by the Guarantees of any Guarantors shall be guaranteed in accordance with the terms of such Guarantees as established pursuant to Section 301 with respect to such Securities and such Guarantees thereof and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities and such Guarantees thereof) in accordance with this Article.

 

Each Guarantor of any Security hereby fully and unconditionally guarantees to each Holder of such Security, and to the Trustee on behalf of such Holder, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on such Security when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the Stated Maturity, by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, in accordance with the terms of such Security and of this Indenture. In case of the failure of the Company punctually to make any such payment, such Guarantor hereby agrees to cause such payment to be made punctually when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of

 

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acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, and as if such payment were made by the Company.

 

The Guarantor of any Security hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional irrespective of, and shall be unaffected by, any invalidity, irregularity or unenforceability of such Security or this Indenture, any failure to enforce the provisions of such Security or this Indenture, or any waiver, modification or indulgence granted to the Company with respect thereto, by the Holder of such Security or the Trustee or any other circumstance which may otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety or guarantor; provided , however , that, notwithstanding the foregoing, no such waiver, modification or indulgence shall, without the consent of any Guarantor, increase the principal amount of such Security, or increase the interest rate thereon, change any redemption provisions thereof (including any change to increase any premium payable upon redemption thereof) or change the Stated Maturity of any payment thereon, or increase the principal amount of any Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration or the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502 of this Indenture.

 

The Guarantor of any Security hereby waives the benefits of diligence, presentment, demand for payment, any requirement that the Trustee or any of the Holders exhaust any right or take any action against the Company or any other Person, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest or notice with respect to any Security or the indebtedness evidenced thereby and all demands whatsoever, and covenants that its obligations hereunder will not be discharged in respect of such Security except by complete performance of the obligations of such Guarantor contained in such Security and in this Indenture. Any Guarantee of any Guarantor hereunder shall constitute a guaranty of payment and not of collection. The Guarantor of any Security hereby agrees that, in the event of a default in payment of principal, or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on such Security, whether at its Stated Maturity, by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, legal proceedings may be instituted by the Trustee on behalf of, or by, the Holder of such Security, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Indenture, directly against such Guarantor to enforce the obligation of such Guarantor hereunder without first proceeding against the Company.

 

The obligations of the Guarantor of any Security hereunder with respect to such Security shall be continuing and irrevocable until the date upon which the entire principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on such Security has been, or has been deemed pursuant to the provisions of Article Four of this Indenture to have been, paid in full or otherwise discharged.

 

The Guarantor of any Security shall be subrogated to all rights of the Holders of such Security against the Company in respect of any amounts paid by the Guarantor on account of such Security pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture; provided , however , that such Guarantor shall not be entitled to enforce or to receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on all Securities issued hereunder that are due and payable shall have been paid in full.

 

The Guarantee by any Guarantor of any Security shall remain in full force and effect and continue notwithstanding any petition filed by or against the Company for liquidation or

 

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reorganization, the Company becoming insolvent or making an assignment for the benefit of creditors or a receiver or trustee being appointed for all or any significant part of the Company’s assets, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, continue to be effective or reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment of such Security, is, pursuant to applicable law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any Holder of such Security, whether as a “voidable preference,” “fraudulent transfer,” or otherwise, all as though such payment or performance had not been made. In the event that any payment, or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned on a Security, such Security shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be reinstated and deemed paid only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.

 

No Guarantor shall consolidate with or merge into any other Person or sell, convey or transfer all or substantially all its properties and assets to any Person, and no Guarantor shall permit any Person to consolidate with or merge into such Guarantor, in each case in a transaction in which the successor Person formed by such consolidation or merger or to which such sale, conveyance or transfer is made is an Affiliate of the Company, and no Guarantor shall lease all or substantially all its properties and assets to any Person (whether or not such an Affiliate), unless, in any such case:

 

(1)           in case such Guarantor shall consolidate with or merge into another Person or sell, convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all its properties and assets to any Person, the Person formed by such consolidation or into which such Guarantor is merged or the Person which acquires by sale, conveyance or transfer, or which leases, all or substantially all the properties and assets of such Guarantor shall be a corporation, partnership or trust, shall be organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, the performance or observance of every covenant of this Indenture and any Guarantees on the part of such Guarantor to be performed or observed;

 

(2)           immediately after giving effect to such transaction no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have happened and be continuing; and

 

(3)           such Guarantor has delivered to the Trustee a Guarantor’s Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or lease and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture comply with this Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

 

Upon any consolidation of any Guarantor with, or merger of such Guarantor into, any other Person or any sale, conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all the properties and assets of such Guarantor in accordance with this paragraph, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which such Guarantor is merged or to which such sale, conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, such Guarantor under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had

 

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been named as such Guarantor herein, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Person shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and any Guarantees of such Guarantor.

 

Upon (i) a consolidation or merger of any Guarantor with or into, or a sale, conveyance or transfer of all or substantially all the properties and assets of any Guarantor to, any other Person or any consolidation or merger of any Person with or into any Guarantor, in each case in a transaction in which the successor Person formed by such consolidation or merger or to which such sale, conveyance or transfer is made is not an Affiliate of the Company or (ii) any sale, conveyance or transfer (including by way of merger) by the Company or any Subsidiary thereof of all or substantially all the Capital Stock of any Guarantor to any Person that is not an Affiliate of the Company, such Guarantor shall be deemed to be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged from all its obligations under its Guarantees and under this Article XIV with respect to Securities of all series without any further action required on the part of the Trustee or any Holder. The Trustee shall deliver an appropriate instrument evidencing such release and discharge upon receipt of a Company Request accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate certifying as to the compliance with this paragraph of Section 1401 . The Company may, at its option, at any time and from time to time, cause any Guarantor to be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged from all its obligations under its Guarantees with respect to Securities of any series guaranteed by Guarantees of such Guarantor and under this Article XIV upon (i) any conditions for such release provided with respect to Securities of such series in accordance with Section 301 having been satisfied and (ii) delivery by the Company to the Trustee of a Company Order relating to such release and discharge. The Trustee shall deliver an appropriate instrument evidencing such release and discharge upon receipt of a Company Request accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate certifying as to the compliance with this paragraph of Section 1401 .

 

Anything in this Indenture, the Securities or any Guarantee to the contrary notwithstanding, the obligations of any Guarantor under its Guarantees and this Indenture shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Guarantees and this Indenture not constituting a fraudulent advance or fraudulent transfer under any Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal, state or other law affecting the rights of creditors generally.

 

No Guarantee by any Guarantor of any Security, whether or not such Guarantee is or is to be endorsed thereon, shall be valid and obligatory for any purpose with respect to such Security until the certificate of authentication on such Security shall have been signed by or on behalf of the Trustee.

 

This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

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

 

 

BILL BARRETT CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert W. Howard

 

 

Name:

Robert W. Howard

 

 

Title:

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

 

 

 

 

BILL BARRETT CBM CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert W. Howard

 

 

Name:

Robert W. Howard

 

 

Title:

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

 

 

 

 

BILL BARRETT CBM, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert W. Howard

 

 

Name:

Robert W. Howard

 

 

Title:

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

 

 

 

 

CIRCLE B LAND COMPANY LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert W. Howard

 

 

Name:

Robert W. Howard

 

 

Title:

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

[Signature Page to Indenture]

 



 

 

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS

 

 

 

 

 

By:

Deutsche Bank National Trust Company

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kenneth R. Ring

 

 

Name:

Kenneth R. Ring

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David Contino

 

 

Name:

David Contino

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Indenture]

 


Exhibit 4.2

 

EXECUTION COPY

 

 

BILL BARRETT CORPORATION ,

 

as Issuer,

 

THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS NAMED ON SCHEDULE 1 HERETO

 

9.875% Senior Notes due 2016

 


 

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

 

Dated as of July 8, 2009

 


 

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS,

 

as Trustee

 

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

ARTICLE 1

 

ISSUE AND DESCRIPTION OF NOTES

 

 

 

Section 1.01

Designation and Amount; Ranking Payments; Denomination

2

Section 1.02

Form of Notes

3

Section 1.03

Additional Notes

3

Section 1.04

Execution and Authentication

4

Section 1.05

Non-Business Day Payments

4

 

 

 

ARTICLE 2

 

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

 

Section 2.01

Definitions

5

Section 2.02

Other Definitions

43

 

 

 

ARTICLE 3

 

REDEMPTION AND PURCHASES

 

Section 3.01

Optional Redemption; Notices to Trustee

44

Section 3.02

Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed

45

Section 3.03

Notice of Redemption

45

Section 3.04

Effect of Notice of Redemption

46

Section 3.05

Deposit of Redemption Price

46

Section 3.06

Notes Redeemed in Part

46

Section 3.07

No Limit on Other Purchases

46

 

 

 

ARTICLE 4

 

COVENANTS

 

Section 4.01

Payments

47

Section 4.02

Maintenance of Office or Agency

48

Section 4.03

Reports to Holders

48

Section 4.04

Existence

49

Section 4.05

Covenant Suspension

49

Section 4.06

Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock

50

Section 4.07

Limitation on Restricted Payments

51

Section 4.08

Limitation on Asset Sales

56

 

i



 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

Section 4.09

Limitation on Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries

60

Section 4.10

Limitation on Liens

63

Section 4.11

Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates

63

Section 4.12

Limitation on Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries

65

Section 4.13

Change of Control

67

Section 4.14

Additional Subsidiary Guarantors

68

Section 4.15

Waiver of Covenants

69

Section 4.16

Statement by Officers as to Default

69

 

 

 

ARTICLE 5

 

SUCCESSOR CORPORATION

 

Section 5.01

When Company May Merge or Transfer Assets

70

Section 5.02

When Subsidiary Guarantor May Merge or Consolidate

71

 

 

 

ARTICLE 6

 

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

 

Section 6.01

Events of Default

72

Section 6.02

Acceleration

74

Section 6.03

Other Remedies

75

Section 6.04

Waiver of Past Defaults

75

Section 6.05

Control by Majority

76

Section 6.06

Limitation on Suits

76

Section 6.07

Rights of Holders to Receive Payment

76

Section 6.08

Collection Suit by Trustee

77

Section 6.09

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

77

Section 6.10

Priorities

77

Section 6.11

Undertaking for Costs

77

Section 6.12

Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws

78

 

 

 

ARTICLE 7

 

DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

 

ARTICLE 8

 

AMENDMENTS

 

Section 8.01

Without Consent of Holders

79

Section 8.02

With Consent of Holders

81

Section 8.03

Compliance with Trust Indenture Act

83

Section 8.04

Notation on or Exchange of Notes

83

 

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Page

 

 

 

Section 8.05

Trustee to Sign Supplemental Indentures

83

Section 8.06

Effect of Supplemental Indentures

83

 

 

 

ARTICLE 9

 

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

Section 9.01

Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

84

Section 9.02

Conditions to Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance

85

Section 9.03

Application of Trust Money

86

Section 9.04

Repayment to the Company

87

Section 9.05

Reinstatement

87

 

 

 

ARTICLE 10

 

PAYMENT OF INTEREST

 

Section 10.01

Payment of Interest

87

Section 10.02

Defaulted Interest

88

Section 10.03

Interest Rights Preserved

88

 

 

 

ARTICLE 11

 

SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES

 

Section 11.01

The Guarantee

89

Section 11.02

Obligations Unconditional

89

Section 11.03

Reinstatement

90

Section 11.04

Subrogation; Subordination

91

Section 11.05

Remedies

91

Section 11.06

Instrument for the Payment of Money

91

Section 11.07

Continuing Guarantee

91

Section 11.08

General Limitation on Guarantee Obligations

91

Section 11.09

Right of Contribution

92

Section 11.10

Release

92

 

 

 

ARTICLE 12

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 12.01

Communication by Holders with Other Holders

93

Section 12.02

Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent

93

Section 12.03

Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion

93

Section 12.04

Separability Clause

93

Section 12.05

Governing Law

94

Section 12.06

No Liability for Certain Persons

94

Section 12.07

Patriot Act

94

 

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Page

 

 

 

Section 12.08

Successors

94

Section 12.09

Table of Contents; Headings

94

Section 12.10

Multiple Originals

94

Section 12.11

Scope of Supplemental Indenture

94

Section 12.12

Ratification and Incorporation of Base Indenture

95

Section 12.13

No Security Interest Created

95

Section 12.14

Trust Indenture Act

95

Section 12.15

Covenants Not Applicable

95

 

 

 

Schedule 1

Subsidiary Guarantors

1-1

Exhibit A

Form of Note

A-1

Exhibit B

Form of Supplemental Indenture

B-1

 

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FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

 

THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE , dated as of July 8, 2009 (this “ Supplemental Indenture ”), is entered into among Bill Barrett Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), the subsidiary guarantors named on Schedule 1 hereto and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, a New York State banking corporation, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”).  Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined have the meanings set forth in the Base Indenture (as defined below).

 

RECITALS

 

The Company and the Trustee entered into that certain Indenture, dated as of July 8, 2009 (the “ Base Indenture ”), pursuant to which the Company may from time to time issue its senior indebtedness in the form of one or more series of unsecured debentures, notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness (collectively, the “ Securities ”).

 

WHEREAS , Section 901 of the Base Indenture provides that the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, when authorized by a resolution of their respective Boards of Directors, and the Trustee may, without the consent of the Holders of the Securities, enter into a supplemental indenture to (i) in accordance with clause (7) thereof, establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 201, 202 or 203 of the Base Indenture or (ii) in accordance with clause (5) thereof, add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of the Base Indenture in respect of all or any Securities of any series, provided that any such addition, change or elimination (A) shall neither (i) apply to any Security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provision nor (ii) modify the rights of the Holder of any such Security with respect to such provision or (B) shall become effective only when there is no such Security Outstanding; and

 

WHEREAS , the Company has duly authorized the issue of 9.875% Senior Notes due 2016 (as they may be issued from time to time under this Supplemental Indenture, including any Additional Notes issued pursuant to Section 301 of the Base Indenture and Section 1.03 of this Supplemental Indenture , the “ Notes ”), initially in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $250,000,000, and in connection therewith, there being no Notes Outstanding at the time of execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors have duly determined to make, execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture to set forth the terms and provisions of the Notes as required by the Base Indenture and to add to, change and eliminate certain provisions of the Base Indenture in respect of the Notes; and

 

WHEREAS , the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors have determined that this Supplemental Indenture is authorized or permitted by Section 901 of the Base Indenture and the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel, the Company has delivered an Officers’ Certificate and the Subsidiary Guarantors have delivered a Guarantor’s Officers’ Certificate to the effect that all conditions precedent provided for in the Base Indenture to the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture have been complied with; and

 



 

WHEREAS , the Form of Note, the Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication to be borne by each Note, the Form of Option of Holder to Elect Purchase and the Form of Assignment and Transfer to be borne by the Notes are to be substantially in the forms hereinafter provided for; and

 

WHEREAS , all things necessary to make the Notes, when executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or a duly authorized authenticating agent, as in the Base Indenture provided, and to make the Guarantees of each of the Subsidiary Guarantors as set forth herein, when the Notes have been so executed, authenticated and delivered, the valid and legally binding obligations of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, respectively, have been done; and

 

WHEREAS , all things necessary to make this Supplemental Indenture a valid and legally binding agreement according to its terms, and a valid and legally binding amendment of, and supplement to, the Base Indenture, have been done.

 

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual agreements and covenants set forth herein, the parties hereto agree, subject to the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, as follows for the benefit of the Trustee and the Holders:

 

ARTICLE 1

ISSUE AND DESCRIPTION OF NOTES

 

Section 1.01           Designation and Amount; Ranking Payments; Denomination .  The Notes shall be designated as the “9.875% Senior Notes due 2016.”  The Notes are hereby established as a series of Securities under the Base Indenture.  The aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be authenticated and delivered under this Supplemental Indenture is not limited.  The aggregate principal amount of Notes initially authorized for authentication and delivery pursuant to this Supplemental Indenture (the “ Initial Notes ”) is limited to $250,000,000 (except for Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration or transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of other Notes pursuant to Section 3.06(b), Section 3.11, Section 4.03, Section 4.08 and Section 8.05 hereof and Section 304, 305, and 306 of the Base Indenture).  The Company may, and shall be entitled to, from time to time, without notice to or the consent of the Holders of the Notes, in accordance with Section 1.03 below increase the principal amount of Notes and issue such increased principal amount (or any portion thereof) of Notes as “ Additional Notes ” under this Supplemental Indenture.

 

Payments of the principal of and interest on the Notes shall be made in Dollars, and the Notes shall be denominated in Dollars and in amounts of at least $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 thereafter.  The Place of Payment where the principal of and any other payments due on the Notes are payable shall initially be at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in New York, New York in accordance with Section 4.02 of this Supplemental Indenture.

 

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Initially, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas will act as Paying Agent and Registrar.  The Company may appoint and change any Paying Agent or Registrar or co-registrar without notice.  The Company or any of its domestically organized Wholly Owned Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar or co-registrar.

 

The Company shall pay interest (a) on any Notes in certificated form by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as it appears in the Security Registrar (or upon written application by such Person to the Paying Agent not later than five Business Days before the relevant Interest Payment Date, by wire transfer in immediately available funds to such Person’s account at a bank in New York City, if such Person is entitled to interest on an aggregate principal amount in excess of $1,000,000, which application shall remain in effect until the Holder notifies the Paying Agent to the contrary) or (b) on any Global Note by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account of the Depositary or its nominee.

 

The Notes shall be guaranteed by each of the Initial Guarantors and, in accordance with Section 4.14 hereof, any additional Subsidiary Guarantors in accordance with Section 4.14 and Article 11 of this Supplemental Indenture.

 

No Guarantee nor any notation thereof shall be, or shall be required to be, endorsed on, or attached to, or otherwise physically made part of any Note.

 

Section 1.02            Form of Notes .  The Notes shall be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto, which is incorporated in and made a part of this Supplemental Indenture.

 

Any of the Notes may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such notations, legends or endorsements as the officers executing the same may approve (execution thereof to be conclusive evidence of such approval) and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Supplemental Indenture or the Base Indenture or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Notes may be listed or designated for issuance, or to conform to usage or to indicate any special limitations or restrictions to which any particular Notes are subject.

 

The terms and provisions contained in the form of Note attached as Exhibit A hereto shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Supplemental Indenture and, to the extent applicable, the Company and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby.

 

Section 1.03           Additional Notes .

 

(a)           With respect to any Additional Notes, there shall be (a) established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution and (b) (i) set forth or determined in the manner provided in an Officers’ Certificate or (ii) established in one or more indentures supplemental to the Indenture, prior to the issuance of such Additional Notes:

 

3



 

(i)            the aggregate principal amount of such Additional Notes to be authenticated and delivered pursuant to the Indenture;

 

(ii)           the issue price and the issue date of such Additional Notes, including the date from which interest shall accrue and the first interest payment date therefor; and

 

(iii)          if applicable, that such Additional Notes shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in such case, the respective depositaries for such Global Securities, the form of any legend or legends which shall be borne by such Global Securities in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in Exhibit A hereto and any circumstances in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in Exhibit A in which any such Global Securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for Additional Notes registered, or any transfer of such Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name or names of Persons other than the depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof.

 

(b)            If any of the terms of any Additional Notes are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy thereof shall be delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers’ Certificate or the indenture supplemental to the Indenture setting forth the terms of the Additional Notes.

 

(c)            The Initial Notes and any Additional Notes shall be considered collectively as a single class for all purposes of the Indenture.  Holders of the Initial Notes and any Additional Notes will vote and consent together on all matters to which such Holders are entitled to vote or consent as one class, and none of the Holders of the Initial Notes or any Additional Notes shall have the right to vote or consent as a separate class on any matter to which such Holders are entitled to vote or consent.

 

Section 1.04            Execution and Authentication .

 

(a)            The Initial Notes may forthwith be executed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee for authentication and delivery by the Trustee for original issue in accordance with the provisions of Section 303 of the Base Indenture.

 

(b)            At any time and from time to time after the issuance of the Initial Notes, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver any Additional Notes for original issue in accordance with the provisions of Section 303 of the Base Indenture in an aggregate principal amount determined at the time of issuance and specified in a Company Order.  Such Company Order shall specify the principal amount of the Additional Notes to be authenticated and the date on which the original issue of such Additional Notes is to be authenticated.

 

Section 1.05            Non-Business Day Payments .  If any Interest Payment Date, the Stated Maturity, any Redemption Date, any Net Proceeds Offer Payment Date or any Change of Control Payment Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, then the required payment or delivery will be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the date that the payment or delivery was due, and no additional interest will

 

4



 

accrue on that required payment or delivery for the period from and after the Interest Payment Date, Stated Maturity, Redemption Date, Net Proceeds Offer Payment Date or Change of Control Payment Date, as the case may be, to that next succeeding Business Day.

 

ARTICLE 2

 

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

 

All capitalized terms contained in this Supplemental Indenture shall, except as specifically provided for herein and except as the context may otherwise require, have the meanings given to such terms in the Base Indenture.  Unless the context otherwise requires, all references in this Supplemental Indenture to Articles, Sections or Exhibits refer to Articles, or Sections of or Exhibits to this Supplemental Indenture.  In the event of any inconsistency between the Base Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture, this Supplemental Indenture shall govern.  The rules of interpretation set forth in the Base Indenture shall be applied hereto as if set forth in full herein.  Unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Section 2.01            Definitions .

 

Acquired Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness or Preferred Stock of a Person or any of its Subsidiaries (1) existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or at the time it merges or consolidates with the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or (2) which becomes Indebtedness or Preferred Stock of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with the acquisition of assets from such Person, in each case not incurred in connection with, or in anticipation or contemplation of, such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary or such acquisition, merger or consolidation.

 

Acquired Subordinated Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor that (i) is subordinated or junior in right of payment to the Notes or such Subsidiary Guarantor’s Subsidiary Guarantee, as the case may be, (ii) constitutes Acquired Indebtedness and (iii) was not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, another Person merging with or into, or becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets ” or “ ACNTA ” of a Person means (without duplication), as of the date of determination:

 

(1)            the sum of:

 

(a)           discounted future net revenues from proved oil and gas reserves of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, calculated in accordance with Commission guidelines (before any state or federal or other income tax), as estimated by a nationally recognized firm of independent petroleum engineers or the Company in a reserve report prepared by the Company’s petroleum engineers as of a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest annual consolidated

 

5



 

financial statements, as increased by, as of the date of determination, the estimated discounted future net revenues from:

 

(i)            estimated proved oil and gas reserves acquired by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries since the date of such year-end reserve report; and

 

(ii)           estimated oil and gas reserves attributable to extensions, discoveries and other additions and upward revisions of estimates of proved oil and gas reserves since the date of such year-end reserve report due to exploration, development or exploitation, production and other activities, which reserves were not reflected in such reserve report which would, in accordance with standard industry practice, result in such determinations,

 

in each of cases (i) and (ii) calculated in accordance with Commission guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in such year-end reserve report), and decreased by, as of the date of determination, the estimated discounted future net revenues from:

 

(iii)          estimated proved oil and gas reserves produced or disposed of since the date of such year-end reserve report; and

 

(iv)          estimated oil and gas reserves attributable to downward revisions of estimates of proved oil and gas reserves since the date of such year-end reserve report due to changes in geological conditions, exploration, development or exploitation, production or other activities conducted since the date of such reserve report or other factors which would, in accordance with standard industry practice, cause such revisions,

 

in each of cases (iii) and (iv) calculated in accordance with Commission guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in such year-end reserve report) and, in the case of each of clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv), as estimated by the Company’s petroleum engineers or any independent petroleum engineers engaged by the Company for that purpose; plus

 

(b)            the capitalized costs that are attributable to oil and gas properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries to which no proved oil and gas reserves are attributable, based on the Company’s books and records as of a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s most recent annual or quarterly financial statements; plus

 

(c)            the Net Working Capital on a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s most recent consolidated annual or quarterly financial statements; plus

 

6



 

(d)           with respect to each other tangible asset of the Company or its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries specifically including, but not to the exclusion of any other qualifying tangible assets, the Company’s or its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries’ gas gathering and processing facilities, land, equipment, leasehold improvements, investments carried on the equity method, restricted cash and the carrying value of marketable securities, the greater of (i) the net book value of such other tangible asset on a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s most recent consolidated annual or quarterly financial statements and (ii) the appraised value, as estimated by independent appraisers, of such other tangible assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries ( provided that the Company may rely on subclause (i) of this clause (d) if no appraisal is available or has been obtained), as of a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest audited financial statements; minus

 

(2)            minority interests and, to the extent not otherwise taken into account in determining Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, any net natural gas balancing liabilities of the Company and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries reflected in the Company’s latest audited financial statements.

 

In addition to, but without duplication of, the foregoing, for purposes of this definition, “Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” shall be calculated after giving effect, on a pro forma basis, to (A) any Investment not prohibited by this Supplemental Indenture, to and including the date of the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets (the “ Assets Transaction Date ”), in any other Person that, as a result of such Investment, becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, (B) the acquisition, to and including the Assets Transaction Date (by merger, consolidation or purchase of stock or assets), of any business or assets, including, without limitation, Permitted Industry Investments, and (C) any sales or other dispositions of assets permitted by this Supplemental Indenture (other than sales of Hydrocarbons or other mineral products in the ordinary course of business) occurring on or prior to the Assets Transaction Date.  If the Company changes its method of accounting from the successful efforts method to the full costs method or a similar method of accounting, “ACNTA” will continue to be calculated as if the Company were still using the successful efforts method of accounting.

 

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person who directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person.  The term “ control ” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “ controlling ” and “ controlled ” have meanings correlative of the foregoing.

 

Affiliate Transaction ” has the meaning set forth under Section 4.11.

 

Asset Acquisition ” means (1) an Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in any other Person pursuant to which such Person shall become a Restricted Subsidiary, or shall be merged with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, or (2) the acquisition

 

7



 

by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the assets of any Person (other than a Restricted Subsidiary) which constitute all or substantially all of the assets of such Person or comprise any division or line of business of such Person.

 

Asset Sale ” means any direct or indirect sale, issuance, conveyance, transfer, exchange, lease (other than operating leases entered into in the ordinary course of business), assignment or other transfer for value by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (including any Sale and Leaseback Transaction) to any Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of:

 

(1)            any Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary; or

 

(2)            any other property or assets (including any interests therein) (other than cash or Cash Equivalents) of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, including any disposition by means of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction; provided , however , that Asset Sales shall not include:

 

(a)           the sale, lease, conveyance, disposition or other transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in a transaction which is (i) made in compliance with the provisions of Article 5 or (ii) subject to the provisions of Section 4.13;

 

(b)           any Investment in an Unrestricted Subsidiary which is made in compliance with the provisions of Section 4.07;

 

(c)           disposals, abandonments or replacements of damaged, unserviceable, worn-out or other obsolete equipment or other assets or assets that are no longer useful in the conduct of the Crude Oil and Natural Gas Business of the Company and its Restrict Subsidiaries;

 

(d)           the sale, lease, conveyance, disposition or other transfer (each, a “ Transfer ”) by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of assets or property, or the issuance or sale of Capital Stock by a Restricted Subsidiary, to the Company or one or more Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(e)           any disposition or other Transfer of Hydrocarbons or other mineral products in the ordinary course of business or the Transfer of equipment, inventory, products, services, accounts receivable or other assets in the ordinary course of business;

 

(f)            any Transfer of an interest in an oil, gas or mineral property, pursuant to a farm-out, farm-in, joint operating, overriding royalty interest, area of mutual interest or unitization agreement, or other similar or customary arrangement or agreement that the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary determines in good faith to be necessary or appropriate for the economic development of such Property other than Production Payments and Reserve Sales;

 

8



 

(g)           surrender or waiver of contract rights, oil and gas leases or property related thereto, abandonment of any oil or gas property or interests therein or the settlement, release or surrender of contract, tort or other claims of any kind;

 

(h)           any disposition of defaulted receivables that have been written-off as uncollectible that arose in the ordinary course of business for collection;

 

(i)            any Asset Swap;

 

(j)            the Transfer by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of assets or property in any single transaction or series of related transactions that involve assets or properties having a Fair Market Value (valued at the Fair Market Value of such assets or property at the time of such Transfer) not to exceed $20.0 million;

 

(k)           a Restricted Payment that does not violate Section 4.07 or a Permitted Investment (including, without limitation, unwinding any Commodity Agreements, Interest Rate Agreements or Currency Agreements);

 

(l)            any Production Payments and Reserve Sales, provided that any such Production Payments and Reserve Sales, other than incentive compensation programs on terms that are reasonably customary in the Crude Oil and Natural Gas Business for geologists, geophysicists and other providers of technical services to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, shall have been created, incurred, issued, assumed or Guaranteed in connection with the acquisition or financing of, and within 60 days after the acquisition of, the property that is subject thereto;

 

(m)          the disposition (whether or not in the ordinary course of the Crude Oil and Natural Gas Business) of oil or gas properties or direct or indirect interests in real property; provided that at the time of such sale or transfer such properties do not have associated with them any proved reserves;

 

(n)           the farm-out, lease or sublease of developed or undeveloped crude oil or natural gas properties owned or held by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in exchange for crude oil and natural gas properties owned or held by another Person;

 

(o)           the creation or perfection of a Lien (but not, except to the extent contemplated in clause (p) below, the sale or other disposition of the properties or assets subject to such Lien);

 

(p)           the creation or perfection of a Permitted Lien and the exercise by any Person in whose favor a Permitted Lien is granted of any of its rights in respect of that Permitted Lien;

 

9



 

(q)           the licensing or sublicensing of intellectual property, including, without limitation, licenses for seismic data, in the ordinary course of business and which do not materially interfere with the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries; and

 

(r)            the disposition of oil and natural gas properties in connection with tax credit transactions complying with Section 29 of the Internal Revenue Code or any successor or analogous provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

Asset Swap ” means any trade or exchange by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of oil and gas properties or other properties or assets for oil and gas properties or other properties or assets owned or held by another Person; provided that the Fair Market Value of the properties or assets traded or exchanged by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary (together with any cash) is reasonably equivalent to the Fair Market Value of the properties or assets (together with any cash) to be received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, and provided , further , that any Net Cash Proceeds received must be applied in accordance with Section 4.08.

 

Bankruptcy Law ” means title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

 

Board of Directors ” means, as to any Person, the board of directors (or similar governing body) of such Person or any duly authorized committee thereof including, in the case of a limited partnership, the board of directors of the managing general partner thereof.

 

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

 

Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which commercial banking institutions in the City of New York are required or authorized by law or other governmental action to be closed.

 

Capital Stock ” means:

 

(1)            with respect to any Person that is a corporation, any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated and whether or not voting) of corporate stock, including each class of Common Stock and Preferred Stock of such Person and including any warrants, options or rights to acquire any of the foregoing and instruments convertible into any of the foregoing;

 

(2)            with respect to any Person that is not a corporation, any and all partnership, membership or other equity interests of such Person; and

 

10



 

(3)            any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person,

 

but excluding from all of the foregoing clauses (1), (2) and (3) any debt securities convertible into Capital Stock, whether or not such debt securities include any right of participation with Capital Stock.

 

Capitalized Lease Obligation ” means, as to any Person, an obligation that is required to be classified and accounted for as a capital lease for financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP (other than any obligation that is required to be classified and accounted for as an operating lease for financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP as in effect on the Issue Date), and the amount of Indebtedness represented by such obligation shall be the capitalized amount of such obligation determined in accordance with GAAP; and the stated maturity thereof shall be the date of the last payment of rent or any other amount due under such lease prior to the first date upon which such lease may be terminated by the lessee without payment of a penalty.  For purposes of Section 4.10, a Capitalized Lease Obligation will be deemed to be secured by a Lien on the property being leased.

 

Cash Equivalents ” means:

 

(1)            marketable direct obligations issued by, or unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States Government or issued by any agency thereof and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof;

 

(2)            marketable direct obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision of any such state or any public instrumentality thereof maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof and, at the time of acquisition, having one of the three highest ratings obtainable from either S&P or Moody’s;

 

(3)            commercial paper maturing no more than one year from the date of creation thereof and, at the time of acquisition, having one of the two highest ratings obtainable from Moody’s or S&P;

 

(4)            certificates of deposit or bankers’ acceptances maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof or demand deposit accounts and Eurodollar time deposits and overnight bank deposits issued by any bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia or any United States branch of a foreign bank having at the date of acquisition thereof combined capital and surplus of not less than $100 million;

 

(5)            repurchase obligations with a term of not more than seven days for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (1) or (2) above entered into with any bank meeting the qualifications specified in clause (4) above;

 

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(6)            deposits in money market funds investing in instruments of the type specified in clauses (1) through (5) above; and

 

(7)            money market mutual or similar funds having assets in excess of $100 million.

 

Certificated Securities ” means securities that are in definitive, fully registered certificated form.

 

Change of Control ” means the occurrence of one or more of the following events:  (a) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to any Person or Group other than the Permitted Holders (each, a “ Transferee ”) as such terms are used in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act (whether or not otherwise in compliance with the provisions of this Supplemental Indenture), but excluding any such sale, lease, exchange or other transfer as part of a transaction in compliance with Article 5 if the owners of the Capital Stock of the Company immediately prior to such transaction own at least a majority of the Capital Stock of such Transferee immediately after such transaction by economic or voting interest; (b) the approval by the Company of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company (whether or not otherwise in compliance with the provisions of the Indenture); (c) any Person or Group, other than Permitted Holders, shall become the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act, except that a Person or Group shall be deemed to be a beneficial owner of all securities such Person or Group shall have the right to acquire or vote within one year), directly or indirectly, of Capital Stock representing more than 50% of the aggregate total ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Capital Stock of the Company; or (d) the replacement of a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company over a two-year period from the directors who constituted the Board of Directors of the Company at the beginning of such period with directors who shall not have been approved by a vote of at least a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company then still in office who either were members of such Board of Directors at the Issue Date or whose election as a member of such Board of Directors was previously so approved.

 

Change of Control Offer ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.13.

 

Change of Control Payment Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.13.

 

Commission ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Commodity Agreements ” means, with respect to any Person, any futures contract, forward contract, commodity swap agreement, commodity option agreement, hedging agreements and other agreements or arrangements or any combination thereof entered into by such Person in respect of Hydrocarbons purchased, used, produced, processed or sold by such Person or its Subsidiaries that are customary in the Crude Oil and Natural Gas Business and that are designed to manage the risks of Hydrocarbon price fluctuations.

 

Common Stock ” of any Person means any and all shares, interests or other participations in, and other equivalents (however designated and whether voting or non-voting) of such

 

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Person’s common stock, whether outstanding on the Issue Date or issued after the Issue Date, and includes, without limitation, all series and classes of such common stock.

 

Company ” means the party named as such in this Supplemental Indenture until a successor replaces it pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and, thereafter, means the successor.

 

Company Properties ” means all Properties, and equity, partnership or other ownership interests therein, that are related or incidental to, or used or useful in connection with, the conduct or operation of any business activities of the Company or the Subsidiaries, which business activities are not prohibited by the terms of this Supplemental Indenture.

 

Comparable Treasury Issue ” means, with respect to Notes to be redeemed, the U.S. Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity most nearly equal to the period from the redemption date to July 15, 2013, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities; provided if such period is less than one year, then the U.S. Treasury security having a maturity of one year shall be used.

 

Comparable Treasury Price ” means, with respect to any redemption date, (1) the average of four Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest of such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (2) if the Trustee obtains fewer than four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations.

 

Consolidated EBITDAX ” means, for any period, the sum (without duplication) of:

 

(1)            Consolidated Net Income; and

 

(2)            to the extent Consolidated Net Income has been reduced thereby:

 

(a)            all income taxes of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries paid or accrued in accordance with GAAP for such period;

 

(b)            Consolidated Interest Expense;

 

(c)            the amount of any Preferred Stock dividends paid by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries; and

 

(d)            Consolidated Non-cash Charges or consolidated exploration expense,

 

less any non-cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income for such period, all as determined on a consolidated basis for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP.

 

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Consolidated EBITDAX Coverage Ratio ” means, with respect to the Company, the ratio of (i) Consolidated EBITDAX of the Company during the four full fiscal quarters for which financial information in respect thereof is available (the “ Four Quarter Period ”) ending on or prior to the date of the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated EBITDAX Coverage Ratio (the “ Transaction Date ”) to (ii) Consolidated Fixed Charges of the Company for the Four Quarter Period.  In addition to and without limitation of the foregoing, for purposes of this definition, “Consolidated EBITDAX” and “Consolidated Fixed Charges” shall be calculated after giving effect (without duplication) on a pro forma basis for the period of such calculation to:

 

(1)            the incurrence or repayment of any Indebtedness or issuance of Preferred Stock of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (and the application of the proceeds thereof) giving rise to the need to make such calculation and any incurrence or repayment of other Indebtedness or issuance of other Preferred Stock (and the application of the proceeds thereof), other than the incurrence or repayment of indebtedness in the ordinary course of business for working capital purposes pursuant to working capital facilities, occurring during the Four Quarter Period or at any time subsequent to the last day of the Four Quarter Period and on or prior to the Transaction Date, as if such incurrence or repayment, as the case may be (and the application of the proceeds thereof), occurred on the first day of the Four Quarter Period; and

 

(2)            any Asset Sales (and the application of the proceeds thereof) or Asset Acquisitions by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (or by any Person acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary) (including, without limitation, any Asset Acquisition giving rise to the need to make such calculation as a result of the Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries (including any Person who becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of the Asset Acquisition) incurring Acquired Indebtedness, and also including, without limitation, any Consolidated EBITDAX attributable to the assets which are the subject of the Asset Acquisition or Asset Sale (and the application of the proceeds thereof) during the Four Quarter Period) occurring during the Four Quarter Period or at any time subsequent to the last day of the Four Quarter Period and on or prior to the Transaction Date, as if such Asset Sale (and the application of the proceeds thereof) or Asset Acquisition (including the incurrence, assumption or liability for any such Acquired Indebtedness) occurred on the first day of the Four Quarter Period.

 

For purposes of this definition, (a) any Person that is a Restricted Subsidiary on the Transaction Date will be deemed to have been a Restricted Subsidiary at all times during the Four Quarter Period; and (b) any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary on the Transaction Date will be deemed not to have been a Restricted Subsidiary at any time during the Four Quarter Period.  If the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries directly or indirectly guarantees Indebtedness of a third Person, the preceding paragraph shall give effect to the incurrence of such guaranteed Indebtedness as if the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, had directly incurred or otherwise assumed such guaranteed Indebtedness.

 

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For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to an acquisition or disposition of assets or any other event in connection with any calculation, the pro forma calculations shall be determined in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting Officer of the Company (including pro forma expense and cost reductions and any pro forma expense and cost reductions that have occurred or are reasonably expected to occur, in the reasonable judgment of the chief financial officer of the Company (regardless of whether those cost savings or operating improvements could then be reflected in pro forma financial statements in accordance with Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act or any regulation or policy of the Commission related thereto)).

 

Furthermore, in calculating “Consolidated Fixed Charges” for purposes of determining the denominator (but not the numerator) of this “Consolidated EBITDAX Coverage Ratio”:

 

(1)            interest on outstanding Indebtedness determined on a fluctuating basis as of the Transaction Date and which will continue to be so determined thereafter shall be deemed to have accrued at a fixed rate per annum equal to the rate of interest on such Indebtedness in effect on the Transaction Date;

 

(2)            if interest on any Indebtedness actually incurred on the Transaction Date may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rates, then the interest rate in effect on the Transaction Date will be deemed to have been in effect during the Four Quarter Period; and

 

(3)            notwithstanding clauses (1) and (2) above, interest on Indebtedness determined on a fluctuating basis, to the extent such interest is covered by agreements relating to Interest Rate Agreements, shall be deemed to accrue at the rate per annum resulting after giving effect to the operation of such agreements.

 

Consolidated Fixed Charges ” means, with respect to the Company for any period, the sum, without duplication, of:

 

(1)            Consolidated Interest Expense (including any premium or penalty paid in connection with redeeming or retiring Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries prior to the stated maturity thereof pursuant to the agreements governing such Indebtedness), plus

 

(2)            the amount of all dividend payments on any series of Preferred Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than dividends paid in Qualified Capital Stock and other than to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary) paid, accrued or scheduled to be paid or accrued during such period.

 

Consolidated Interest Expense ” means, with respect to the Company for any period, the sum of, without duplication:

 

(1)            the aggregate of the interest expense of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with

 

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GAAP, including without limitation, (a) any amortization of original issue discount and debt issuance cost, (b) the net costs, losses or gains under Interest Rate Agreements, (c) all capitalized interest, and (d) the interest portion of any deferred payment obligation, plus

 

(2)            the interest component of Capitalized Lease Obligations paid, accrued and/or scheduled to be paid or accrued by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period, as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, minus

 

(3)            to the extent included above, write-off of deferred financing costs and interest attributable to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments.

 

Consolidated Net Income ” means, with respect to the Company for any period, the aggregate net income (or loss) of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance with GAAP; provided , however , that there shall be excluded therefrom:

 

(1)            any net after-tax gains (or losses) from Asset Sales or abandonments or reserves relating thereto;

 

(2)            any net after-tax extraordinary or nonrecurring gains (or losses) and any net after-tax gain or loss realized upon the sale or other disposition of any Capital Stock of any Person;

 

(3)            the net income (but not loss) of any Restricted Subsidiary to the extent that the declaration of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of that income is restricted by charter, contract, operation of law or otherwise;

 

(4)            the net income of any Person in which the Company has an interest, other than a Restricted Subsidiary, except to the extent of cash dividends or distributions actually paid to the Company or to a Restricted Subsidiary by such Person (and provided that the Company’s equity in a net loss of any such Person for such period shall not be included in determining such Consolidated Net Income, except to the extent of the aggregate cash actually contributed to such Person by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary during such period);

 

(5)            (a) any net after-tax income or loss attributable to discontinued operations (including, without limitation, operations disposed of during such period whether or not such operations were classified as discontinued) and (b) any income or loss attributable to any Person acquired in any pooling-of-interests transaction for any period prior to the date of such acquisition;

 

(6)            in the case of a successor to the Company by consolidation or merger or as a transferee of the Company’s assets, any net income (or loss) of the successor corporation prior to such consolidation, merger or transfer of assets;

 

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(7)            any non-cash charges related to a ceiling test write-down under GAAP;

 

(8)            any unrealized non-cash gains or losses or charges in respect of Interest Rate Agreements, Currency Agreements or Commodity Agreements (including those resulting from the application of SFAS 133);

 

(9)            any non-cash compensation charge arising from any grant of stock, stock options or other equity-based awards, in accordance with GAAP;

 

(10)          any consolidated non-cash gains or losses arising from changes in GAAP standards or principles after the Issue Date or the cumulative effect thereof;

 

(11)          all net income or loss of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

 

(12)          any asset (including goodwill) impairment or writedown on or related to Crude Oil and Natural Gas Properties or other non-current assets under applicable GAAP or Commission guidelines; and

 

(13)          any non-cash or nonrecurring charges associated with any premium or penalty paid, write-off of deferred financing costs or other financial recapitalization charges in connection with redeeming or retiring any Indebtedness prior to maturity.

 

Consolidated Net Worth ” means, with respect to any specified Person as of any date, the sum of:

 

(1)            the consolidated equity of the common stockholders of such Person and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of such date; plus

 

(2)            the respective amounts reported on such Person’s balance sheet as of such date with respect to any series of Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) that by its terms is not entitled to the payment of dividends unless such dividends may be declared and paid only out of net earnings in respect of the year of such declaration and payment, but only to the extent of any cash received by such Person upon issuance of such Preferred Stock.

 

Consolidated Non-cash Charges ” means, with respect to the Company, for any period, the aggregate depreciation, depletion, amortization, impairment and other non-cash charges or expenses of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries reducing Consolidated Net Income of the Company for such period, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (excluding any such charge which requires an accrual of or a reserve for cash charges for any future period).

 

consolidation ” means, with respect to any Person, the consolidation of the accounts of the Restricted Subsidiaries of such Person with those of such Person, all in accordance with GAAP; provided , however , that “consolidation” will not include consolidation of the accounts of any Unrestricted Subsidiary of such Person with the accounts of such Person.  The term “consolidated” has a correlative meaning to the foregoing.

 

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Covenant Defeasance ” has the meaning set forth under Article 9.

 

Credit Facilities ” means, with respect to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, one or more debt facilities (including the Senior Credit Facility) or debt issuances or letters of credit or any successor or replacement agreement, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time.

 

Crude Oil and Natural Gas Business ” means:

 

(1)            the acquisition, exploration, exploitation, development, operation, production, hedging, swapping and disposition of interests in oil, natural gas and other Hydrocarbon properties and assets;

 

(2)            the gathering, marketing, treating, processing, storage, refining, hedging, swapping, selling and transporting of any production from such interests, properties or assets (or interests, properties or assets of others) and products produced in association therewith; and

 

(3)            activities arising from, relating to or necessary, appropriate, ancillary, complementary or incidental to the foregoing.

 

Crude Oil and Natural Gas Properties ” means all Properties, including equity or other ownership interests therein, owned by any Person which contain or have been assigned “proved oil and gas reserves,” as defined in Rule 4-10 of Regulation S-X of the Securities Act.

 

Crude Oil and Natural Gas Related Assets ” means any Investment or capital expenditure (but not including additions to working capital or repayments of any revolving credit or working capital borrowings) by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company which is related to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as it is conducted on the date of the Asset Sale giving rise to the Net Cash Proceeds to be reinvested.

 

Currency Agreement ” means, with respect to any Person, any foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement, currency futures contract, currency option contract or other similar agreement or arrangement to which such Person is a party or beneficiary.

 

Default ” means an event or condition the occurrence of which is, or with the lapse of time or the giving of notice or both would be, an Event of Default.

 

Disqualified Stock ” means that portion of any Capital Stock which, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than redeemable only for Capital Stock of such Person that is not itself Disqualified Stock) or is convertible or exchangeable at the option of the holder for Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is mandatorily redeemable at the sole option of the holder thereof (other than redeemable only for Capital Stock of such Person that is not itself Disqualified Stock) or is convertible or exchangeable at the option of the holder for

 

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Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock, in whole or in part, in either case, on or prior to the final stated maturity of the Notes; provided , however , that any Capital Stock that would not constitute Disqualified Stock but for provisions thereof giving holders thereof the right to require such Person to purchase or redeem such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of an “asset sale” or “change of control” occurring prior to the final stated maturity of the Notes shall not constitute Disqualified Stock if:

 

(1)            the “asset sale” or “change of control” provisions applicable to such Capital Stock are not more favorable to the holders of such Capital Stock than the terms applicable to the Notes and described under Sections 4.08 and 4.13; and

 

(2)            any such requirement only becomes operative after compliance with such terms applicable to the Notes, including the purchase of any Notes tendered pursuant thereto (or concurrently therewith, provided that all of the Notes validly tendered for purchase and not withdrawn pursuant to the requirements described under Section 4.08 or 4.13 are so purchased).

 

The amount of any Disqualified Stock that does not have a fixed redemption, repayment or repurchase price will be calculated in accordance with the terms of such Disqualified Stock as if such Disqualified Stock were redeemed, repaid or repurchased on any date on which the amount of such Disqualified Stock is to be determined pursuant to this Supplemental Indenture; provided , however , that if such Disqualified Stock could not be required to be redeemed, repaid or repurchased at the time of such determination, the redemption, repayment or repurchase price will be the book value of such Disqualified Stock as reflected in the most recent financial statements of such Person.

 

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

 

Equity Investor ” means each of (i) Warburg Pincus Private Equity VIII, L.P., and (ii) Warburg Pincus Private Equity X, L.P.

 

Equity Offering ” means an offering of Qualified Capital Stock of the Company, including any Public Equity Offerings and any non-public, unregistered offering or private placement of such Qualified Capital Stock, or any contribution to capital of the Company in respect of Qualified Capital Stock of the Company.

 

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor statute or statutes thereto.

 

Fall-Away Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.05.

 

Fair Market Value ” means, with respect to any asset or property, the price which would be paid in an arm’s-length, free market transaction, for cash, between an informed and willing seller and an informed and willing buyer, neither of whom is under undue pressure or compulsion to complete the transaction, determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of

 

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the Company (unless otherwise provided in this Supplemental Indenture), which determination will be conclusive for all purposes under this Supplemental Indenture.

 

Foreign Subsidiary ” means a Restricted Subsidiary not organized or existing under the laws of the United States of America or any state or territory thereof and any direct or indirect subsidiary of such Restricted Subsidiary, and in each such case, as of its most recently available balance sheet date, at least 50% of the tangible assets of which were not located in the United States of America or any state or territory thereof.

 

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as in effect from time to time, including those set forth in:

 

(1)            the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants;

 

(2)            statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board;

 

(3)            such other statements by such other entity as approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession; and

 

(4)            the rules and regulations of the Commission governing the inclusion of financial statements (including pro forma financial statements) in periodic reports required to be filed pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act, including opinions and pronouncements in staff accounting bulletins and similar written statements from the accounting staff of the Commission.

 

Global Note ” means a permanent global note that is in the Form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A , and that is deposited with the Depositary or its custodian and registered in the name of the Depositary.

 

guarantee ” means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any Person and any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person:

 

(1)            to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness of such Person (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreements to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise); or

 

(2)            entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Indebtedness of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part);

 

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provided , however , that the term “guarantee” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.  The term “ guarantee ” used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

 

Holder ” means any Person that is the registered holder of a Note.

 

Hydrocarbons ” means oil, natural gas, casing head gas, drip gasoline, natural gasoline, condensate, distillate, liquid hydrocarbons, gaseous hydrocarbons and all constituents, elements or compounds thereof and all products, by-products and all other substances (whether or not hydrocarbon in nature) produced in connection therewith or refined, separated, settled or derived therefrom or the processing thereof, and all other minerals and substances related to the foregoing, including, but not limited to, liquified petroleum gas, natural gas, kerosene, sulphur, lignite, coal, uranium, thorium, iron, geothermal steam, water, carbon dioxide, helium, and any and all other minerals, ores, or substances of value, and the products and proceeds therefrom, including, without limitation, all gas resulting from the in-situ combustion of coal or lignite.

 

incur ” has the meaning set forth under Section 4.06. Notwithstanding the foregoing, solely for purposes of determining compliance with Section 4.06, the following will not be deemed to be incurrences of Indebtedness or issuances of Preferred Stock:

 

(1)            amortization of debt discount or the accretion of principal with respect to a non-interest bearing or other discount security;

 

(2)            the payment of regularly scheduled interest in the form of additional Indebtedness of the same instrument or the payment of regularly scheduled dividends on Capital Stock in the form of additional Capital Stock of the same class and with the same terms;

 

(3)            the obligation to pay a premium in respect of Indebtedness or Preferred Stock arising in connection with the issuance of a notice of redemption or making of a mandatory offer to purchase such Indebtedness or Preferred Stock; and

 

(4)            unrealized losses or charges in respect of hedging obligations (including those resulting from the application of SFAS 133).

 

Indebtedness ” means with respect to any Person, without duplication:

 

(1)            the principal in respect of (A) indebtedness of such Person for money borrowed and (B) indebtedness evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or other similar instruments for the payment of which such Person is responsible or liable, including, in each case, any premium on such indebtedness to the extent such premium has become due and payable;

 

(2)            all Capitalized Lease Obligations of such Person;

 

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(3)            all obligations of such Person representing the deferred purchase price of property, all conditional sale obligations of such Person and all obligations under any title retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable), to the extent such obligations would appear as a liability upon the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP;

 

(4)            all obligations for the reimbursement of any obligor on any outstanding letter of credit, banker’s acceptance or similar credit transaction (other than obligations with respect to letters of credit securing obligations (other than obligations described in clauses (1) through (3) above) entered into in the ordinary course of business of such Person to the extent such letters of credit are not drawn upon or, if and to the extent drawn upon, such drawing is reimbursed no later than the tenth Business Day following payment on the letter of credit);

 

(5)            guarantees and other contingent obligations in respect of Indebtedness referred to in this definition;

 

(6)            all obligations of any other Person of the type referred to in clauses (1) through (5) above which are secured by any Lien on any property or asset of such Person, the amount of such obligation being deemed to be the lesser of the Fair Market Value of such property or asset and the amount of the obligation so secured;

 

(7)            all net payment obligations under Commodity Agreements, Currency Agreements and Interest Rate Agreements;

 

(8)            all Disqualified Stock issued by such Person with the “amount” or “principal amount” of Indebtedness represented by such Disqualified Stock being equal to the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference and its maximum fixed redemption price or repurchase price; and

 

(9)            any guarantee by such Person of production or payment with respect to (A) a Production Payment or (B) Production Payments and Reserve Sales;

 

provided , however , that any indebtedness which has been defeased in accordance with GAAP or defeased pursuant to the deposit of cash or Cash Equivalents (in an amount sufficient to satisfy all such indebtedness obligations at maturity or redemption, as applicable, and all payments of interest and premium, if any) in a trust or account created or pledged for the sole benefit of the holders of such indebtedness, and subject to no other Liens, and the other applicable terms of the instrument governing such indebtedness, shall not constitute “Indebtedness.”

 

For purposes hereof, the “maximum fixed repurchase price” of any Disqualified Stock which does not have a fixed repurchase price shall be calculated in accordance with the terms of such Disqualified Stock as if such Disqualified Stock were purchased on any date on which Indebtedness shall be required to be determined pursuant to this Supplemental Indenture, and if such price is based upon, or measured by, the Fair Market Value of such Disqualified Stock, such Fair Market Value shall be determined reasonably and in good faith by the Board of Directors

 

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of the Company.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) accrued expenses and trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business shall not constitute “Indebtedness” and (ii) except as expressly provided in clause (9) above, Production Payments and Reserve Sales shall not constitute “Indebtedness”.

 

Any obligation of a Person in respect of a farm-in agreement or similar arrangement whereby such Person agrees to pay all or a share of the drilling, completion or other expenses of an exploratory or development well (which agreement may be subject to a maximum payment obligations, after which expenses are shared in accordance with the working or participation interest therein or in accordance with the agreement of the parties) or perform the drilling, completion or other operation on such well in exchange for an ownership interest in an oil or gas property shall not constitute Indebtedness.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in connection with the acquisition or disposition of any business, assets or Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary or the Company, “Indebtedness” will exclude any obligations arising from agreements of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries providing for indemnification, guarantees (other than guarantees of Indebtedness), adjustment of purchase price, holdbacks, contingent payment obligations based on a final financial statement or performance of acquired or disposed of assets or similar obligations, in each case, incurred or assumed in connection with such acquisition or disposition.

 

The “amount” or “principal amount” of Indebtedness at any time of determination as used herein shall, except as set forth below, be determined in accordance with GAAP:

 

(1)            the “amount” or “principal amount” of any Indebtedness issued at a price that is less than the principal amount at maturity thereof shall be the accreted value thereof;

 

(2)            the “amount” or “principal amount” of any Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be the amount determined in accordance with the definition thereof;

 

(3)            the “amount” or “principal amount” of any Preferred Stock shall be the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference and its maximum fixed redemption price or repurchase price;

 

(4)            the “amount” or “principal amount” of any Interest Rate Agreements included in the definition of Permitted Indebtedness shall be zero;

 

(5)            the “amount” or “principal amount” of all other unconditional obligations shall be the amount of the liability thereof determined in accordance with GAAP; and

 

(6)            the “amount” or “principal amount” of all other contingent obligations shall be the maximum liability at such date of such Person.

 

Indenture ” means the Base Indenture, as supplemented and modified by this Supplemental Indenture, as either may be amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance

 

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with the terms hereof, including the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part hereof.

 

Independent Advisor ” means a reputable accounting, appraisal or nationally recognized investment banking, engineering or consulting firm (a) which does not, and whose directors, officers and employees or Affiliates do not, have a direct or indirect material financial interest in the Company and (b) which, in the judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, is otherwise disinterested, independent and qualified to perform the task for which it is to be engaged.

 

Independent Investment Banker ” means any one of Banc of America Securities LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. or J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and their respective successors, at the Company’s option, or, if such firms or the successors, if any, to such firms, as the case may be, are unwilling or unable to select the Comparable Treasury Issue, an independent investment banking institution of national standing appointed by the Company.

 

Interest Rate Agreements ” means, with respect to any Person, (i) any agreements of such Person with any other Person, whereby, directly or indirectly, such Person is entitled to receive from time to time periodic payments calculated by applying either a floating or a fixed rate of interest on a stated notional amount in exchange for periodic payments made by such other Person calculated by applying a fixed or a floating rate of interest on the same notional amount and (ii) any interest rate protection agreements, interest rate future agreements, interest rate option agreements, agreements providing for interest rate swaps, caps, floors or collars and similar agreements or arrangements to which such Person is a party or beneficiary.

 

Investment ” means, with respect to any Person, any direct or indirect:

 

(1)            loan, advance or other extension of credit (including, without limitation, a guarantee) or capital contribution (by means of any transfer of cash or other property valued at the Fair Market Value thereof as of the date of transfer) to others or any payment for property or services for the account or use of others;

 

(2)            purchase or acquisition by such Person of any Capital Stock, bonds, notes, debentures or other securities (excluding any interest in a crude oil or natural gas leasehold to the extent constituting a security under applicable law) or evidences of Indebtedness issued by any Person (whether by merger, consolidation, amalgamation or otherwise and whether or not purchased directly from the issuer of such securities or evidences of Indebtedness);

 

(3)            guarantee or assumption of the Indebtedness of any other Person (other than the guarantee or assumption of Indebtedness of such Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person which guarantee or assumption is made in compliance with the provisions of Section 4.06); and

 

(4)            other items that would be classified as investments on a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Investment” shall exclude extensions of trade credit by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on commercially reasonable terms in accordance with normal trade practices of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be.  The amount of any Investment shall be its Fair Market Value at the time the investment is made and shall not be adjusted for increases or decreases in value, or write-ups, write-downs or write-offs with respect to such Investment.  If the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary sells or otherwise disposes of any Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary such that, after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, it ceases to be a Subsidiary of the Company, the Company shall be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale or disposition equal to the Fair Market Value of the Capital Stock of such Restricted Subsidiary not sold or disposed of.

 

Investment Grade Rating ” means a Moody’s rating of Baa3 or higher and an S&P rating of BBB- or higher or, if either such Rating Agency ceases to rate the Notes for reasons outside of the Company’s control, the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any other Rating Agency.

 

Issue Date ” means the date of original issuance of the Notes (excluding, for such purpose any Additional Notes).

 

Legal Defeasance ” has the meaning set forth under Article 9.

 

Lien ” means any lien, mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, security interest, charge or encumbrance of any kind (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof and any agreement to give any security interest).

 

Make-Whole Price ” with respect to any Notes to be redeemed, means an amount equal to the greater of:

 

(1)          100% of the principal amount of such Notes; and

 

(2)           the sum of the present values of (a) the redemption price of such Notes at July 15, 2013 (as set forth in Section 4 of the form of reverse of Note) and (b) the remaining scheduled payments of interest from the redemption date to July 15, 2013 (not including any portion of such payments of interest accrued as of the redemption date) discounted back to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of 12 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 50 basis points;

 

plus , in the case of both (1) and (2), accrued and unpaid interest on such Notes to the Redemption Date.

 

Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

 

Net Cash Proceeds ” means, with respect to any Asset Sale, the aggregate proceeds in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents including payments in respect of deferred payment obligations when received in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from such Asset Sale net of (a) reasonable out-of-pocket

 

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expenses and fees relating to such Asset Sale (including, without limitation, legal, accounting, reservoir engineering and investment banking fees and sales commissions and title expenses), (b) taxes (including secondary tax expenses) paid or payable or taxes required to be accrued as a liability under GAAP after taking into account any reduction in consolidated tax liability due to available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements, (c) repayment of Indebtedness or Preferred Stock that is required to be repaid in connection with such Asset Sale or that is secured by any assets subject to such Asset Sale, in accordance with the terms of any Lien upon such assets, (d) appropriate amounts to be provided by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, as a reserve, in accordance with GAAP, against any post closing adjustments or liabilities associated with such Asset Sale and retained by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, after such Asset Sale, including, without limitation, pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities, liabilities related to environmental matters and liabilities under any indemnification obligations associated with such Asset Sale, and (e) all distributions and other payments required to be made to minority interest holders in Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such Asset Sale.

 

Net Proceeds Offer ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.08.

 

Net Proceeds Offer Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.08.

 

Net Proceeds Offer Payment Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.08.

 

Net Proceeds Offer Trigger Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.08.

 

Net Working Capital ” means all current assets (other than current assets from Commodity Agreements) of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries, minus all current liabilities of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries, except current liabilities included in Indebtedness and any current liabilities from Commodity Agreements, in each case as set forth in financial statements of the Company prepared in accordance with GAAP (excluding any adjustments made pursuant to FAS 133), provided that current assets and current liabilities shall exclude Consolidated Non-Cash Charges.

 

Notes ” has the meaning set forth in the third recital of this Supplemental Indenture and shall include the Initial Notes and any Additional Notes authenticated and delivered in accordance with Section 1.03.

 

Pari Passu Indebtedness ” means any Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor that ranks pari passu in right of payment with the Notes or such Subsidiary Guarantees, as applicable.

 

Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness or Preferred Stock of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent such Indebtedness or Preferred Stock was Indebtedness of:

 

(1)            a Subsidiary prior to the date on which such Subsidiary became a Restricted Subsidiary; or

 

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(2)            a person that was merged or consolidated into the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary,

 

provided that on the date such Subsidiary became a Restricted Subsidiary or the date such Person was merged or consolidated into the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, after giving pro forma effect thereto,

 

(a)            the Company would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Consolidated EBITDAX Coverage Ratio test described in Section 4.06(a).

 

(b)            the Consolidated EBITDAX Coverage Ratio for the Company would be equal to or greater than the Consolidated EBITDAX Coverage Ratio for the Company immediately prior to such transaction, or

 

(c)            the Consolidated Net Worth of the Company would be equal to or greater than the Consolidated Net Worth of the Company immediately prior to such transaction.

 

Permitted Holders ” means the Equity Investors and Related Parties.  Any person or group whose acquisition of beneficial ownership constitutes a Change of Control in respect of which a Change of Control Offer is (or pursuant to Section 4.13(d) is not required to be) made in accordance with the requirements of this Supplemental Indenture will thereafter, together with its Affiliates, constitute an additional Permitted Holder.

 

Permitted Indebtedness ” means, without duplication, each of the following:

 

(1)            (A) the Notes issued on the Issue Date or (B) any Subsidiary Guarantees of any Notes referred to in clause (A);

 

(2)            Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary incurred pursuant to the Credit Facilities; provided , however , that immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of Indebtedness under the Credit Facilities, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness incurred under this clause (2) and then outstanding does not exceed the greater of (i) $600 million and (ii) an amount equal to the sum of (A) $200.0 million plus (B) 30% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets determined as of the date of the incurrence of such Indebtedness;

 

(3)            Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary to, or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary held by, the Company or to a Restricted Subsidiary for so long as such Indebtedness or Preferred Stock is held by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, in each case subject to no Lien held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary; provided , however , that if as of any date any Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary owns or holds any such Indebtedness or Preferred Stock or holds a Lien in respect of such Indebtedness, such date shall be deemed the incurrence of the Indebtedness or issuance of the Preferred Stock so held by a Person

 

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other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary not constituting Permitted Indebtedness under this clause (3) by the issuer of such Indebtedness or Preferred Stock;

 

(4)            Indebtedness (including the $172.5 million aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 5% Convertible Senior Notes due 2028) or Preferred Stock outstanding on the Issue Date (other than Indebtedness described in clause (1), (2) or (3));

 

(5)            the guarantee by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of any Indebtedness that is (x) referred to in clause (4) or (y) permitted by this Supplemental Indenture to be incurred by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(6)            Interest Rate Agreements of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary covering Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided , however , that such Interest Rate Agreements are entered into to manage the exposure of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries to fluctuations in interest rates with respect to Indebtedness incurred in accordance with this Supplemental Indenture to the extent the notional principal amount of such Interest Rate Agreements does not exceed the principal amount of the Indebtedness to which such Interest Rate Agreements relate;

 

(7)            Indebtedness of the Company to a Restricted Subsidiary for so long as such Indebtedness is held by a Restricted Subsidiary, in each case subject to no Lien; provided , however , that (i) any Indebtedness of the Company to any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor is unsecured and (ii) if as of any date any Person other than a Restricted Subsidiary owns or holds any such Indebtedness or holds a Lien in respect of such Indebtedness, such date shall be deemed the incurrence of the Indebtedness so held by a Person other than the Company not constituting Permitted Indebtedness under this clause (7) by the Company;

 

(8)            Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument inadvertently (except in the case of daylight overdrafts) drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business; provided , however , that such Indebtedness is extinguished within five Business Days of incurrence;

 

(9)            Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries represented by (a) payment obligations in connection with self-insurance, or bid, performance, appeal or surety bonds or similar bonds or for completion or performance guarantees or obligations or for similar requirements in the ordinary course of business and any guarantees or letters of credit functioning as or supporting any of the foregoing bonds or (b) obligations represented by letters of credit for the account of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, in order to provide security for workers’ compensation claims;

 

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(10)          Refinancing Indebtedness issued to Refinance Indebtedness incurred in accordance with Section 4.06 (other than pursuant to clauses (2), (3), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (11), (12), (13), (14), (17) or (19) of this definition);

 

(11)          Capitalized Lease Obligations and Purchase Money Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurred after the Issue Date at any one time outstanding not to exceed the greater of (a) 2.0% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets determined at the date of incurrence after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence and the application of proceeds thereof; and (b) $30.0 million;

 

(12)          obligations arising in connection with Commodity Agreements of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(13)          Indebtedness under Currency Agreements; provided , however , that in the case of Currency Agreements which relate to Indebtedness, such Currency Agreements do not increase the Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding other than as a result of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates or by reason of fees, indemnities and compensation payable thereunder;

 

(14)          Indebtedness relating to Hydrocarbon balancing positions arising in the ordinary course of business;

 

(15)          Indebtedness of any of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent the net proceeds thereof are promptly (a) used to redeem all of the Notes or (b) deposited to effect Covenant Defeasance or Legal Defeasance or satisfy and discharge this Supplemental Indenture as described below under Article 7 or 9;

 

(16)          Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness;

 

(17)          Indebtedness of Company or any Restricted Subsidiary arising from Guarantees of Indebtedness of joint ventures at any time outstanding not to exceed the greater of (a) $15.0 million and (b) 1.0% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets determined as of the date of incurrence of such Indebtedness after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence and the application of proceeds thereof;

 

(18)          Indebtedness consisting of the financing of insurance premiums in customary amounts consistent with the operations and business of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries; and

 

(19)          additional Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed the greater of (a) 2.5% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets determined at the date of incurrence of such Indebtedness after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence and the application of proceeds thereof; and (b) $35.0 million.

 

In the event that an item of Indebtedness or Preferred Stock or proposed Indebtedness or Preferred Stock (including without limitation Acquired Indebtedness) meets the criteria of

 

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more than one of the categories of Permitted Indebtedness described in clause (1) through (19) above, or is entitled to be incurred under Section 4.06 even if not Permitted Indebtedness, the Company will be permitted to classify or later reclassify (in whole or in part in its sole discretion) such item of Indebtedness or Preferred Stock in any manner (including by dividing and classifying such item of Indebtedness or Preferred Stock in more than one type of Indebtedness or Preferred Stock permitted under such covenant) that complies with that covenant.  The dollar equivalent principal amount of any Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency and incurred pursuant to any dollar-denominated restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness shall be calculated based on the relevant currency.

 

Permitted Industry Investments ” means any Investment made in the ordinary course of the business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or that is of a nature that is or shall have become of a kind or character that is customarily made in the Crude Oil and Natural Gas Business, including, without limitation, investments or expenditures for exploiting, exploring for, acquiring, developing, producing, processing, refining, gathering, marketing or transporting Hydrocarbons through agreements, transactions, properties, interests or arrangements which permit one to share or transfer risks or costs, comply with regulatory requirements regarding local ownership or otherwise or satisfy other objectives customarily achieved through the conduct of the Crude Oil and Natural Gas Business jointly with third parties, including, without limitation:

 

(1)            capital expenditures, including, without limitation, acquisitions of Company Properties and interests therein;

 

(2)            entry into, and Investments in the form of or pursuant to, operating agreements, joint ventures, working interests, royalty interests, mineral leases, unitization agreements, processing agreements, farm-in agreements, farm-out agreements, pooling arrangements, contracts for the sale, transportation, storage or exchange of hydrocarbons and minerals production sharing agreements, production sales and marketing agreements, development agreements, area of mutual interest agreements, unitization agreements, pooling arrangements, joint bidding agreements, service contracts, joint venture agreements, partnership agreements (whether general or limited), limited liability company agreements, subscription agreements, stock purchase agreements, stockholder agreements, oil or gas leases, overriding royalty agreements, net profits agreements, production payment agreements, royalty trust agreements, incentive compensation programs on terms that are reasonably customary in the Crude Oil and Natural Gas Business for geologists, geophysicists and other providers of technical services to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, operating agreements, division orders, participation agreements, master limited partnership agreements, contracts for the sale, purchase, exchange, transportation, gathering, processing, marketing or storage of Hydrocarbons, communitizations, declarations, orders and agreements, gas balancing or deferred production agreements, injection, repressuring and recycling agreements, salt water or other disposal agreements, seismic or geophysical permits or agreements, development agreements or other similar or customary agreements, transactions, properties, interests or arrangements, and Investments and expenditures (including, without limitation, capital expenditures) in connection therewith or pursuant

 

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thereto, Asset Swaps, and exchanges of Company Properties for other Company Properties that, together with any Cash and Cash Equivalents in connection therewith, are of at least equivalent value as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company;

 

(3)            ownership interests in oil, gas or other Hydrocarbon or mineral properties and interests therein, liquid natural gas facilities, drilling operations, processing facilities, refineries, gathering systems, pipelines, storage facilities, related systems or facilities, ancillary real property interests and interests therein; and

 

(4)            Investments of operating funds on behalf of co-owners of Crude Oil and Natural Gas Properties of the Company or the Subsidiaries pursuant to joint operating agreements.

 

Permitted Investments ” means:

 

(1)            Investments by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in any Person that is or will become immediately after such Investment a Restricted Subsidiary or that will merge or consolidate into the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(2)            Investments in the Company by any Restricted Subsidiary; provided , however , that any Indebtedness evidencing any such Investment held by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor is unsecured;

 

(3)            Investments in cash and Cash Equivalents;

 

(4)            Investments made by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of consideration received in connection with an Asset Sale made in compliance with Section 4.08;

 

(5)            Permitted Industry Investments, including prepayments, advances and deposits paid with respect thereto;

 

(6)            Investments to the extent that Qualified Capital Stock of the Company is the consideration paid or provided by the Company;

 

(7)            receivables owing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary if created or acquired in the ordinary course of business and payable or dischargeable in accordance with customary trade terms; provided , however , that such trade terms may include such concessionary trade terms as the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary deems reasonable under the circumstances;

 

(8)            payroll, travel and similar advances to cover matters that are expected at the time of such advances ultimately to be treated as expenses for accounting purposes and that are made in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(9)            loans or advances to officers, directors or employees made in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary and otherwise in compliance with Section 4.11;

 

(10)          stock, obligations or securities received in settlement of debts created in the ordinary course of business and owing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or in satisfaction of judgments or in settlement of litigation, arbitration or other disputes with Persons who are not Affiliates;

 

(11)          any Person where such Investment was acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) in exchange for any other Investment or accounts receivable held by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with or as a result of a bankruptcy, workout, reorganization or recapitalization of the issuer of such other Investment or accounts receivable or (b) as a result of a foreclosure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default;

 

(12)          any Person to the extent such Investments consist of prepaid expenses, negotiable instruments held for collection and lease, utility and workers’ compensation, performance and other similar deposits made in the ordinary course of business by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(13)          any Person to the extent such Investments consist of Commodity Agreements, Interest Rate Agreements or Currency Agreements otherwise permitted under Section 4.06;

 

(14)          Investments that are in existence on the Issue Date, and any extension, modification or renewal of any such Investments, but only to the extent not involving additional advances, contributions or other Investments of cash or other assets or other increases of such Investments (other than as a result of the accrual or accretion of interest or original issue discount or the issuance of pay-in-kind securities, in each case, pursuant to the terms of such Investments as in effect on the Issue Date);

 

(15)          guarantees of performance or other obligations (other than Indebtedness) arising in the ordinary course in the Crude Oil and Natural Gas Business, including obligations under oil and natural gas exploration, development, joint operating, and related agreements and licenses or concessions related to the Crude Oil and Natural Gas Business;

 

(16)          Investments of a Restricted Subsidiary acquired after the Issue Date or of any entity merged into or consolidated with the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with Article 5 to the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition, merger or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger or consolidation;

 

(17)          repurchases of or other Investments in the Notes;

 

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(18)          Investments in any units of any oil and gas royalty trust;

 

(19)          Guarantees of Indebtedness permitted under Section 4.06;

 

(20)          guarantees by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of operating leases (other than Capital Lease Obligations) or of other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(21)          advances and prepayments for asset purchases in the ordinary course of business in the Crude Oil and Natural Gas Business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; and

 

(22)          additional Investments made after the Issue Date having, when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (22) that are outstanding at the time of such additional Investment, an aggregate Fair Market Value (measured on the date each such Investment was made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value) not to exceed the greater of (a) $15.0 million and (b) 1.0% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets determined at the time of such additional Investment.

 

Permitted Liens ” means each of the following types of Liens:

 

(1)            Liens existing as of the Issue Date (and any extensions, replacements or renewals thereof covering property or assets secured by such Liens on the Issue Date);

 

(2)            Liens securing Indebtedness outstanding under the Credit Facilities;

 

(3)            Liens securing the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees and other obligations arising under this Supplemental Indenture;

 

(4)            Liens of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor on assets of any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(5)            Liens securing Refinancing Indebtedness which is incurred to Refinance any Indebtedness which has been secured by a Lien permitted under this Supplemental Indenture and which has been incurred in accordance with the provisions of this Supplemental Indenture; provided , however , that such Liens do not extend to or cover any property or assets of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries not securing the Indebtedness so Refinanced;

 

(6)            Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or claims either not delinquent or contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and as to which the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, shall have set aside on its books such reserves as may be required pursuant to GAAP;

 

(7)            statutory and contractual Liens of landlords to secure rent arising in the ordinary course of business and Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, suppliers,

 

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materialmen, repairmen and other Liens imposed by law incurred in the ordinary course of business for sums not yet delinquent or being contested in good faith or other Liens arising solely by virtue of any statutory or common law provision relating to banker’s Liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies as to deposit accounts or other funds maintained with a creditor depository institution; provided , however , that (A) such deposit account is not a dedicated cash collateral account and is not subject to restrictions against access by the Company in excess of those set forth by regulations promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board and (B) such deposit account is not intended by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to provide collateral to the depository institution;

 

(8)            Liens incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of business (i) in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, social security or old age pension laws or other similar law, rule or regulation, including any Lien securing letters of credit issued in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice in connection therewith, (ii) to secure the performance of tenders, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, bids, leases, government contracts, performance and return-of-money bonds and other similar obligations (including letters of credit in connection therewith but exclusive of obligations for the payment of borrowed money), (iii) to secure public or statutory obligations of such Person including letters of credit and bank guarantees required or requested by the United States, any State thereof or any foreign government or any subdivision, department, agency, organization or instrumentality of any of the foregoing in connection with any contract or statute (including lessee or operator obligations under statutes, governmental regulations, contracts or instruments related to the ownership, exploration and production of oil, natural gas, other hydrocarbons and minerals on State, Federal or foreign lands or waters) or (iv) deposits of cash or United States government bonds to secure surety, stay, appeal, indemnity performance or other similar bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as security for contested taxes or import duties or for the payment of rent, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(9)            judgment and attachment Liens not giving rise to an Event of Default;

 

(10)          easements, rights-of-way, licenses, zoning restrictions, restrictive covenants, minor imperfections in title and other similar charges or encumbrances in respect of real property not interfering in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(11)          any interest or title of a lessor under any Capitalized Lease Obligation; provided that such Liens do not extend to any property or assets which is not leased property subject to such Capitalized Lease Obligation;

 

(12)          Liens securing Purchase Money Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided , however , that (i) the Purchase Money Indebtedness shall not be secured by any property or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary other than the property and assets so acquired or constructed (except for proceeds,

 

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improvements, rents and similar items relating to the property or assets so acquired or constructed) and (ii) the Lien securing such Indebtedness shall be created within 120 days of such acquisition or construction;

 

(13)          Liens securing reimbursement obligations with respect to commercial letters of credit which encumber documents and other property relating to such letters of credit and products and proceeds thereof and Liens in favor of issuers of surety bonds or letters of credit issued pursuant to the request of and for the account of such Person in the ordinary course of its business; provided , however , that such letters of credit or surety bonds do not constitute Indebtedness;

 

(14)          Liens encumbering deposits made to secure obligations arising from statutory, regulatory, contractual, or warranty requirements of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including rights of offset and set-off;

 

(15)          Liens securing Interest Rate Agreements which Int erest Rate Agreements relate to Indebtedness that is otherwise permitted under this Supplemental Indenture and Liens securing Commodity Agreements or Currency Agreements;

 

(16)          Liens securing Acquired Indebtedness incurred in accordance with Section 4.06; provided , however , that (i) such Liens secured such Acquired Indebtedness at the time of and prior to the incurrence of such Acquired Indebtedness by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary and were not granted in connection with, or in anticipation of, the incurrence of such Acquired Indebtedness by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) such Liens do not extend to or cover any property or assets of the Company or of any of its Restricted Subsidiaries other than the property or assets that secured the Acquired Indebtedness prior to the time such Indebtedness became Acquired Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary (except for proceeds, improvements, rents and similar items relating to the property or assets so secured) and are no more favorable to the lienholders than those securing the Acquired Indebtedness prior to the incurrence of such Acquired Indebtedness by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(17)          Liens on, or related to, properties and assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries to secure all or a part of the costs incurred in the ordinary course of business of exploration, drilling, development, production, processing, gas gathering, transportation, marketing, refining or storage, abandonment or operation thereof;

 

(18)          Liens securing Indebtedness incurred to finance, or Capitalized Lease Obligations with respect to, the construction, purchase or lease of, or repairs, improvements or additions to, property, plant or equipment of such Person; provided , however , that the Lien may not extend to any other property owned by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries at the time the Lien is incurred (other than assets and property affixed or appurtenant thereto), and the Indebtedness (other than any interest thereon) secured by the Lien may not be incurred more than 180 days after the later of

 

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the acquisition, completion of construction, repair, improvement, addition or commencement of full operation of the property subject to the Lien;

 

(19)          Liens on pipeline or pipeline facilities, Hydrocarbons or properties and assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries which arise out of operation of law;

 

(20)          royalties, overriding royalties, revenue interests, net revenue interests, net profit interests, reversionary interests, production payments, production sales contracts, preferential rights of purchase, operating agreements, working interests and other similar interests, participation agreements, properties, arrangements and agreements, all as ordinarily exist with respect to Properties and assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries or otherwise as are customary in the oil and gas business;

 

(21)          with respect to any Properties and assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, Liens arising under, or in connection with, or related to, farm-out agreements, farm-in agreements, joint operating agreements, area of mutual interest agreements, partnership agreements, oil, gas, other hydrocarbons and minerals leases, licenses or sublicenses, assignments, purchase and sale agreements, division orders, contracts for the sale, purchase, transportation, processing or exchange of crude oil, natural gas or other Hydrocarbons, unitization and pooling declarations, joint interest billing arrangements and agreements, development agreements, any other agreements, transactions, properties, interests or arrangements referred to in clause (2) of the definition of “Permitted Industry Investments,” and/or other similar or customary arrangements, agreements or interests that the Company or any Subsidiary determines in good faith to be necessary or appropriate for the economic development of such Property or asset or which are customary in the Crude Oil and Natural Gas Business;

 

(22)          any (a) interest or title of a lessor or sublessor under any lease, liens reserved in oil, gas or other hydrocarbons, minerals, leases for bonus, royalty or rental payments and for compliance with the terms of such leases, (b) restriction or encumbrance that the interest or title of such lessor or sublessor may be subject to (including, without limitation, ground leases or other prior leases of the demised premises, mortgages, mechanics’ liens, tax liens, and easements), or (c) subordination of the interest of the lessee or sublessee under such lease to any restrictions or encumbrance referred to in the preceding clause (b);

 

(23)          survey exceptions, encumbrances, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights-of-way, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar purposes, or zoning or other restrictions as to the use of real property, minor defects in title or Liens incidental to the conduct of the business of such Person or to the ownership of its properties which were not incurred or created to secure the payment of borrowed money which do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of said properties or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of such Person;

 

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(24)         Liens on property at the time such Person or any of its Subsidiaries acquires the property, including any acquisition by means of a merger or consolidation with or into such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person; provided , however , that the Liens may not extend to any other property owned by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than assets and property affixed or appurtenant thereto);

 

(25)         Liens in favor of collecting or payor banks having a right of setoff, revocation, refund or chargeback with respect to money or instruments of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary on deposit with or in possession of such bank;

 

(26)         Liens arising under this Supplemental Indenture in favor of the Trustee for its own benefit and similar Liens in favor of other trustees, agents and representatives arising under instruments governing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under this Supplemental Indenture, provided , however , that such Liens are solely for the benefit of the trustees, agents or representatives in their capacities as such and not for the benefit of the holders of such Indebtedness;

 

(27)         Liens arising from the deposit of funds or securities in trust for the purpose of decreasing or defeasing Indebtedness so long as such deposit of funds or securities and such decreasing or defeasing of Indebtedness are permitted under the covenant described under Section 4.07;

 

(28)         Liens to secure Production Payments or Production Payments and Reserve Sales; provided , however , that the Liens may not extend to any assets other than those that are the subject of such Production Payments or Production Payments and Reserve Sales, as applicable;

 

(29)         Liens to secure any Refinancing (or successive Refinancings) as a whole, or in part, of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien referred to in clause, (1), (11), (12), (16), (17), (18), (24) or (30) of this definition; provided , however , that:

 

(a)           such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property and assets that secured or, under the written agreements pursuant to which the original Lien arose, could secure the original Lien (plus improvements and accessions to, such property or proceeds or distributions thereof); and

 

(b)           the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (x) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of the Indebtedness described under clause (1), (11), (12), (16), (17), (18), (24) or (30) of this definition at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien and (y) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement;

 

(30)         Liens on property of an Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time that it is designated as a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to the definition of “Unrestricted

 

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Subsidiary”; provided that such Liens were not incurred in connection with, or contemplation of, such designation;

 

(31)         to the extent not included in any other clause of this definition, leases and subleases of real property which do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

 

(32)         Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code financial statement filings regarding operating leases entered into by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

 

(33)         to the extent not included in any other clause of this definition, Liens on and pledges of the Equity Interests of any Unrestricted Subsidiary or any joint venture owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to the extent securing Indebtedness that is non-recourse to the Company or to any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(34)         Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business with respect to outstanding obligations in the aggregate not exceeding the greater of (x) $50.0 million or (y) 5% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets determined at the date of incurrence after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence and the application of the proceeds thereof; and

 

(35)         solely during any Fall-Away Period, any Liens on any properties or assets not constituting a Restricted Property.

 

In each case set forth above, notwithstanding any stated limitation on the assets that may be subject to such Lien, a Permitted Lien on a specified asset or group or type of assets may include Liens on all improvements, additions and accessions thereto and all products and proceeds thereof (including dividends, distributions and increases in respect thereof).

 

Person ” means an individual, partnership, corporation, unincorporated organization, limited liability company, trust, estate, or joint venture, or a governmental agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

Preferred Stock ” of any Person means any Capital Stock of any class or classes (however designated) of such Person that has preferential rights to any other Capital Stock of any class of such Person with respect to dividends or redemptions or as to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of such Person.

 

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

 

Production Payments and Reserve Sales ” means the grant or transfer to any Person of a Dollar-Denominated Production Payment, Volumetric Production Payment, royalty, overriding royalty, revenue interest, net revenue interest, reversionary interest, net profits interest, master limited or other partnership interest or other interest in oil and natural gas properties, reserves or the right to receive all or a portion of the production or the proceeds from

 

38



 

the sale of production attributable to such properties, including, without limitation, any such grants or transfers pursuant to incentive compensation programs on terms that are reasonably customary in the Crude Oil and Natural Gas Business for geologists, geophysicists or other providers of technical services to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary.

 

Property ” means, with respect to any Person, any interests of such Person in any kind of property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, or tangible or intangible, including, without limitation, Capital Stock, partnership interests and other equity or ownership interests in any other Person.

 

Public Equity Offering ” means an underwritten public Equity Offering by the Company.

 

Purchase Money Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness the net proceeds of which are used to finance the cost (including the cost of construction) of property or assets acquired in the normal course of business by the Person incurring such Indebtedness.

 

Qualified Capital Stock ” means any Capital Stock that is not Disqualified Stock.

 

Rating Agency means each of S&P and Moody’s, or if S&P or Moody’s or both shall not make a rating on the Notes publicly available, a nationally recognized statistical rating agency or agencies, as the case may be, selected by the Company which shall be substituted for S&P or Moody’s, or both, as the case may be.

 

Redemption Date ” means the date specified in a notice of redemption on which the Notes may be redeemed in accordance with the terms of the Notes and this Supplemental Indenture.

 

Reference Date ” has the meaning set forth under Section 4.07.

 

Reference Treasury Dealer ” means Banc of America Securities LLC and three additional primary U.S. government securities dealers in New York City (each a “ Primary Treasury Dealer ”) selected by the Company, and its, in each case, successors ( provided , however , that if any such firm or any such successor, as the case may be, shall cease to be a primary U.S. government securities dealer in New York City, the Company shall substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer).

 

Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations ” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Company, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Company by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third business day preceding such redemption date.

 

Refinance ” means, in respect of any security or Indebtedness or Preferred Stock, to refinance, extend, renew, refund, repay, prepay, redeem, effect a change by amendment or modification, defease or retire, or to issue a security or Indebtedness or Preferred Stock in

 

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exchange or replacement for (or the net proceeds of which are used to Refinance), such security or Indebtedness or Preferred Stock in whole or in part.  “ Refinanced ” and “ Refinancing ” shall have correlative meanings.

 

Refinancing Indebtedness ” means any Indebtedness or Preferred Stock issued in or resulting from a Refinancing by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of Indebtedness or Preferred Stock, in each case that:

 

(1)           does not have an aggregate principal amount that is greater than the aggregate principal amount of the Indebtedness or Preferred Stock being Refinanced as of the date of such proposed Refinancing (plus the amount of any premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument governing such Indebtedness or Preferred Stock, as applicable, being Refinanced and plus the amount of reasonable fees and expenses incurred by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such Refinancing); or

 

(2)           does not have (x) a Weighted Average Life to Maturity that is less than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness or Preferred Stock, as applicable, being Refinanced or (y) a final maturity date or redemption date, as applicable, earlier than the final maturity date or redemption date, as applicable, of the Indebtedness or Preferred Stock, as applicable, being Refinanced; provided , however , that (a) if such Indebtedness being Refinanced is Indebtedness of the Company or one or more Subsidiary Guarantors, then such Refinancing Indebtedness shall be Indebtedness solely of the Company and/or such Subsidiary Guarantors which were obligors or guarantors of such Indebtedness being Refinanced; (b) if such Indebtedness being Refinanced is subordinate or junior in right of payment to the Notes or a Subsidiary Guarantee, then such Refinancing Indebtedness shall be subordinate or junior in right of payment to the Notes or such Subsidiary Guarantee, as the case may be, at least to the same extent and in the same manner as the Indebtedness being Refinanced or shall be Preferred Stock of the obligor on the Indebtedness being refinanced; (c) if any Preferred Stock being Refinanced was Disqualified Stock of the Company, the Refinancing Indebtedness shall be Disqualified Stock of the Company and (d) if any Preferred Stock being refinanced was Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary, the Refinancing Indebtedness shall be Preferred Stock of such Restricted Subsidiary.

 

Related Party ” means:

 

(1)           any controlling stockholder, partner, member, 51% (or more) owned Subsidiary or immediate family member (in the case of an individual) of any Equity Investor; or

 

(2)           any trust, corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other Person (other than any individual), the beneficiaries, stockholders, partners, members, owners or Persons beneficially holding (directly or through one or more Subsidiaries)

 

40



 

a 51% or more controlling interest of which consist of any one or more Equity Investors or such other Persons referred to in the immediately preceding clause (1) or this clause (2).

 

Replacement Assets ” has the meaning set forth under Section 4.08.

 

Restricted Payment ” has the meaning set forth under Section 4.07.

 

Restricted Property ” means, with respect to any Fall-Away Period, any Crude Oil and Natural Gas Property having a Fair Market Value in excess of $10.0 million and any facilities directly related to the production of Hydrocarbons from a Restricted Property and includes Capital Stock of a corporation or other Person which owns such property or facilities, but does not include (i) any property or facilities used in connection with or necessarily incidental to the purchase, sale, storage, transportation or distribution of Hydrocarbons, (ii) any property which, in the opinion of the Company’s Board of Directors, is not materially important to the total business conducted by the Company or its Subsidiaries as an entirety or (iii) any portion of a particular property which, in the opinion of the Company’s Board of Directors, is not materially important to the use or operation of such property.

 

Restricted Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of the Company that has not been designated by the Board of Directors of the Company (or deemed designated) as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to and in compliance with Section 4.12.  Any such designation may be revoked by a Board Resolution of the Company delivered to the Trustee, subject to the provisions of such covenant.

 

Reversion Date ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.05.

 

S&P ” means Standard and Poor’s Ratings Group.

 

Sale and Leaseback Transaction ” means any direct or indirect arrangement with any Person or to which any such Person is a party, providing for the leasing to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of any Property, whether owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary at the Issue Date or later acquired which has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary to such Person or to any other Person from whom funds have been or are to be advanced by such Person on the security of such Property.

 

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

 

Senior Credit Facility ” means the debt facility provided for under the Second Amended And Restated Credit Agreement dated as of March 17, 2006 among Bill Barrett Corporation, as borrower, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as syndication agent, Bank of America, N.A., Harris Nesbitt Financing, Inc., and U.S. Bank National Association, as co-documentation agents and the lenders party thereto, or any successor or replacement agreements and whether by the same or any other agent, lender or group of lenders, together with the related documents thereto (including, without limitation, any guarantee agreements and security documents), in each case as such agreements may be amended (including any amendment and restatement thereof),

 

41



 

supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, including any agreements extending the maturity of, Refinancing, replacing, increasing or otherwise restructuring all or any portion of the Indebtedness under such agreements.

 

Significant Subsidiary ” means a Restricted Subsidiary of a Person that is also a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Rule 1.02(w) of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act.

 

Stated Maturity ” when used with respect to any Note, means July 15, 2016.

 

Subsidiary ,” with respect to any Person, means any (i) corporation, association or other business entity of which the outstanding Capital Stock having at least a majority of the votes entitled to be cast in the election of directors, managers or trustees of such entity under ordinary circumstances shall at the time be owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person or any other Person of which at least a majority of the voting interests under ordinary circumstances is at the time, directly or indirectly, owned by such Person or (ii) any partnership (a) the sole general partner or the managing general partner of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person or (b) the only general partners of which are that Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person (or any combination thereof).

 

Subsidiary Guarantee ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term under Article 11.

 

Subsidiary Guarantor ” means each of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries on the Issue Date (such Restricted Subsidiaries being the “Initial Guarantors” as defined in the Base Indenture), and each other Person that is required to become a Guarantor by the terms of this Supplemental Indenture after the Issue Date; provided , however , that any Person constituting a Subsidiary Guarantor as described above shall cease to constitute a Subsidiary Guarantor when its Subsidiary Guarantee is released in accordance with the terms of this Supplemental Indenture.

 

Surviving Entity ” has the meaning set forth under Article 5.

 

Suspended Covenants ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.05.

 

Treasury Rate means, with respect to any redemption date, (1) the yield, under the heading which represents the average for the immediately preceding week, appearing in the most recently published statistical release designated “H.15(159)” or any successor publication that is published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and that establishes yields on actively traded U.S. 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 the stated maturity, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue shall be determined, and the Treasury Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated from such yields on a straight-line basis, rounding to the nearest month) or (2) if such release (or any successor release) is not published during the week preceding the

 

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calculation date or does not contain such yields, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, calculated using a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date.  The Treasury Rate shall be calculated on the third business day preceding the redemption date.

 

Uniform Commercial Code ” means the New York Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time.

 

Unrestricted Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of the Company designated (or deemed designated) as such pursuant to and in compliance with Section 4.12.  Any such designation may be revoked by a Board Resolution of the Company delivered to the Trustee, subject to the provisions of such covenant.

 

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

 

Voting Stock ” means any class or classes of Capital Stock or other interests then outstanding and normally entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of the Board of Directors, managers or trustees.

 

Weighted Average Life to Maturity ” means, when applied to any Indebtedness or Preferred Stock at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing (1) the then outstanding aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness or Preferred Stock into (2) the sum of the total of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payment of principal or (with respect to Preferred Stock) redemption or similar payment, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) which will elapse between such date and the making of such payment.

 

Wholly Owned Subsidiary ” means, at any time, a Subsidiary all the Voting Stock of which (except directors’ qualifying shares and investments by foreign nationals mandated by applicable law) is at such time owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company and its other Wholly Owned Subsidiaries.

 

Section 2.02            Other Definitions .

 

Term Section

 

Defined in:

“Defaulted Interest”

 

Section 10.03

“Event of Default”

 

Section 6.01

“Guaranteed Obligations”

 

Section 11.01

“Interest Payment Date”

 

Section 10.01

“Regular Record Date”

 

Section 10.01

“Subsidiary Guarantee”

 

Section 11.01

 

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ARTICLE 3

 

REDEMPTION AND PURCHASES

 

Article XI of the Base Indenture shall not apply to the Notes except as, and to the extent, described in this Article 3.

 

Section 3.01            Optional Redemption; Notices to Trustee .  Except as described below, the Company will not be entitled to redeem the Notes at its option prior to July 15, 2013.  The Notes will be redeemable, at the Company’s option, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, on and after July 15, 2013, upon not less than 30, nor more than 60, days’ notice, at the following redemption prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount thereof) if redeemed during the 12-month period commencing on July 15 of the years set forth below, plus, in each case, unpaid accrued interest, if any, thereon to the Redemption Date:

 

Year

 

Percentage

 

2013

 

104.938

%

2014

 

102.469

%

2015 and thereafter

 

100.000

%

 

At any time, or from time to time, on or prior to July 15, 2012, the Company may, at its option, use all or a portion of the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings to redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes issued under this Supplemental Indenture (including any Additional Notes) at a redemption price equal to 109.875% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus unpaid accrued interest, if any, thereon to the Redemption Date; provided that:

 

(1)           at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under the Indenture (including any Additional Notes) remains Outstanding immediately after giving effect to any such redemption; and

 

(2)           the Company makes such redemption not more than 180 days after the consummation of any such Equity Offering.

 

Notice of any redemption upon an Equity Offering may be given prior to the completion of the related Equity Offering, and any such redemption or notice may at the Company’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, without limitation, completion of the related Equity Offering.

 

The Notes will also be redeemable, in whole or in part, at the Company’s option at any time or from time to time, prior to July 15, 2013, at the applicable Make-Whole Price.  The notice of redemption with respect to the foregoing redemption need not set forth the Make-Whole Price but only the manner of calculation thereof.  The Company shall notify the Trustee of the Make-Whole Price with respect to any redemption promptly after the calculation, and the Trustee shall not be responsible for such calculation.

 

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In case the Company shall desire to exercise any such right of redemption, the Company shall fix a Redemption Date and give notice thereof to the Trustee.  If the Redemption Date is on a date that is after a Regular Record Date and on or prior to the Interest Payment Date to which it relates, the Company will pay any accrued and unpaid interest to a Holder on such Regular Record Date.

 

The Company shall give each notice to the Trustee provided for in this Section 3.01 at least 60 days before the Redemption Date unless the Trustee consents to a shorter period.

 

On and after the applicable Redemption Date, interest will cease to accrue on Notes or portions thereof called for redemption as long as the Company has previously deposited with the Paying Agent for the Notes (or, if the Company or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary is the Paying Agent, such entity has segregated and holds in trust) funds in satisfaction of the applicable redemption price pursuant to this Supplemental Indenture .

 

Section 3.02            Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed .   If fewer than all Notes Outstanding are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be redeemed by lot, on a pro rata basis or by another method that the Trustee considers fair and appropriate, including any method required by DTC or any successor Depositary.  The Trustee shall make the selection from Notes Outstanding not previously called for redemption.  The Trustee may select for redemption portions of the principal amount of Notes that have denominations larger than $1,000.  Notes and portions of Notes the Trustee selects shall be in principal amounts such that the unredeemed portion of any Note shall have a principal amount of $2,000 or multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.  Provisions of this Supplemental Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption.  The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of the Notes or portions of Notes to be redeemed.

 

Section 3.03            Notice of Redemption .  At least 30, but not more than 60, calendar days before the Redemption Date, the Company or, at the Company’s request, the Trustee shall mail a notice of redemption by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed.

 

The notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed and shall state:

 

(a)           the Redemption Date;

 

(b)           the redemption price;

 

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

 

(d)           that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;

 

(e)           if fewer than all of the Outstanding Notes are to be redeemed, the certificate numbers, if any, and principal amounts of the particular Notes to be redeemed;

 

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(f)            that, unless the Company defaults in making payment of such redemption price, interest, if any, on Notes called for redemption will cease to accrue on and after the Redemption Date; and

 

(g)           the CUSIP number of the Notes .

 

At the Company’s request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at the Company’s expense, provided that the Company makes such request at least three Business Days prior to the date by which such notice of redemption must be given to Holders in accordance with this Section 3.03, provided further that, in all cases, the text of such notice of redemption shall be prepared by the Company.

 

The notice if given in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not any Holder receives such notice.  In any case, failure to give such notice or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Note selected for redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Note.

 

Section 3.04            Effect of Notice of Redemption .   Once notice of redemption is given, Notes called for redemption become due and payable on the Redemption Date and at the redemption price stated in the notice of redemption.  If less than all the Notes are to be redeemed, the notice of redemption shall specify the CUSIP numbers of the Note to be redeemed.  Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Notes shall be paid at the redemption price stated in the notice of redemption.

 

Section 3.05            Deposit of Redemption Price .   Prior to 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent (or if the Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary is the Paying Agent, shall segregate and hold in trust) money sufficient to pay the redemption price of all Notes to be redeemed on that date other than Notes or portions of Notes called for redemption which have been delivered by the Company to the Trustee for cancellation.  If such money is then held by the Company in trust and is not required for such purpose, it shall be discharged from such trust.

 

Section 3.06            Notes Redeemed in Part .

 

(a)           In the event of any redemption in part, the Company will not be required to register the transfer of or exchange any Note so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.

 

(b)           Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder a new Note in an authorized denomination equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered, or in the case of a Global Note, the Company shall instruct the Registrar to decrease such Global Note by the principal amount of the redeemed portion of the Note surrendered.

 

Section 3.07            No Limit on Other Purchases .  Nothing in this Supplemental Indenture or the Base Indenture or the Notes shall prohibit or limit the right of the Company or any

 

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Affiliate of the Company from time to time to repurchase the Notes at any price in open market purchases or negotiated transactions or by tender offer or otherwise without any notice to or consent by Holders.  Any Notes purchased by the Company may, to the extent permitted by law, be held or resold or may, at the Company’s option, be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.  Any Notes delivered to the Trustee for cancellation may not be reissued or resold and will be promptly cancelled.

 

ARTICLE 4

 

COVENANTS

 

Section 1001, Section 1002 and Section 1004 of the Base Indenture shall not apply to, and the covenants therein shall be deemed included in this Supplemental Indenture solely for the benefit of a different series of Securities than, the Notes.

 

Section 4.01            Payments The Company shall promptly make all payments in respect of the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes or pursuant to this Supplemental Indenture.  Any funds to be given to the Trustee or Paying Agent shall be deposited with the Trustee or Paying Agent by 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) by the Company on the required date.  If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent with respect to the Notes, the Company will, on or before each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on any of the Notes, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal and any premium and interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.  Subject to the applicable provisions of Section 3.01, Section 3.07, Section 4.08, and Section 4.13, the Company shall make any required interest payments to the Person in whose name each Note is registered 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Regular Record Date for such interest payment.  Principal amount, accrued interest, if any, any redemption price, Make-Whole Price, Net Proceeds Offer Amount and any amounts due under Section 4.13 shall be considered paid on the applicable date due if on such date the Trustee or the Paying Agent holds, in accordance with this Supplemental Indenture, funds sufficient to pay all such amounts then due.

 

The Company will cause each Paying Agent for any Notes other than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section, that such Paying Agent will (1) comply with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act applicable to it as a Paying Agent and (2) during the continuance of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Notes) in the making of any payment in respect of the Notes, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by such Paying Agent for payment in respect of the Notes.

 

The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture with respect to the Notes or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company

 

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or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money.

 

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request (or if deposited by a Guarantor, paid to such Guarantor on Guarantor Request), or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided , however , that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may, at the expense of the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, cause to be published once, in a newspaper published in the English language, customarily published on each Business Day and of general circulation in The City of New York, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company or the applicable Guarantor, as the case may be.

 

Section 4.02            Maintenance of Office or Agency .   The Company will maintain in The New York City an office or agency of the Trustee, Registrar and Paying Agent where Notes may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, purchase or redemption and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Supplemental Indenture may be served.  The office of Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, Trust & Securities Services, 60 Wall Street, NYC MS 60-2710, New York, NY 10005, Attention:  Trust and Securities Services, Telecopier No.:  (732) 578-4635, shall initially be such office or agency for all of the aforesaid purposes.  The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and of any change in the location, of any such office or agency.  If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with any such address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

 

The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided , however , that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in New York City for such purposes.

 

Section 4.03            Reports to Holders .

 

(a)           W hether or not required by the rules and regulations of the Commission, so long as any Notes are Outstanding, the Company shall file with the Commission for public

 

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availability (unless the Commission will not accept such a filing, in which case the Company will, or will cause the Trustee to, furnish the Holders of Notes and securities analysts and prospective investors (upon request)):

 

(1)           all quarterly and annual financial information that would be required to be contained in a filing with the Commission on Forms 10-Q and 10-K if the Company were required to file such Forms, including a “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” that describes the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries (showing in reasonable detail, either on the face of the financial statements or in the footnotes thereto and in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition and results of operations of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the Company, if any) and, with respect to the annual information only, a report thereon by the Company’s certified independent accountants; and

 

(2)           all current reports that would be required to be filed with the Commission on Form 8-K if the Company were required to file such reports, in each case within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and regulations.

 

(b)           In the event that any direct or indirect parent company of the Company becomes a guarantor of the Notes, the Company may satisfy its obligations under this covenant by furnishing financial information relating to such parent; provided that (i) such financial statements are accompanied by consolidating financial information for such parent, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Subsidiaries of the Company that are not Subsidiary Guarantors in the manner prescribed by the Commission and (ii) such parent is not engaged in any business in any material respect other than incidental to its ownership, directly or indirectly, of the Capital Stock of the Company.

 

(c)           The Company also shall comply with the other provisions of Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

Section 4.04            Existence .  Except as permitted by Section 5.01 of this Supplement Indenture, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its and any Subsidiary Guarantor’s corporate existence.

 

Section 4.05            Covenant Suspension .

 

(a)           During any period of time that (x) the Notes have an Investment Grade Rating and (y) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under this Supplemental Indenture, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall not be subject to Sections 4.06, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.11 , 4.14, 5.01(2), 5.01(3) and 5.02(3) (collectively, the “ Suspended Covenants ”).

 

(b)           If the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries are not subject to the Suspended Covenants for any period of time as a result of the previous sentence (a “ Fall-Away Period ”) and, subsequently, the ratings assigned to the Notes are withdrawn or downgraded so the

 

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Notes no longer have an Investment Grade Rating or an Event of Default (other than with respect to a Suspended Covenant) occurs and is continuing, any such date a “ Reversion Date ,” then the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries will thereafter again be subject to the Suspended Covenants.  The ability of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries to make Restricted Payments after the Reversion Date will be calculated as if the covenant governing Restricted Payments had been in effect during the entire period of time from the Issue Date.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the continued existence after the end of the Fall-Away Period of facts and circumstances or obligations arising from transactions which occurred during a Fall-Away Period shall not constitute a breach of any Suspended Covenant set forth in this Supplemental Indenture or cause an Event of Default thereunder.

 

(c)           The Company shall give the Trustee notice of the event of any Fall-Away Period not later than five Business Days after such date.  In the absence of such notice, the Trustee shall assume the Suspended Covenants apply and are in full force and effect.  The Company shall give the Trustee notice of any occurrence of a Reversion Date not later than five Business Days after such Reversion Date.  After any such notice of the occurrence of a Reversion Date, the Trustee shall assume the Suspended Covenants apply and are in full force and effect.

 

Section 4.06            Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock .

 

(a)           Other than Permitted Indebtedness, the Company will not, and will not cause or permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee, acquire, become liable, contingently or otherwise, with respect to, or otherwise become responsible for payment of (collectively, “ incur ”) any Indebtedness (including, without limitation, Acquired Indebtedness) and the Company will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to issue any Preferred Stock; provided , however , that if no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of or as a consequence of the incurrence of any such Indebtedness or issuance of Preferred Stock, then the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries or any of them may incur Indebtedness and any Restricted Subsidiary may issue Preferred Stock, in each case, if on the date of the incurrence of such Indebtedness or issuance of Preferred Stock, after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence thereof and the receipt and application of the proceeds therefrom, the Company’s Consolidated EBITDAX Coverage Ratio would have been greater than 2.25 to 1.0.

 

(b)           For purposes of determining any particular amount of Indebtedness under this covenant, (i) guarantees of, or obligations in respect of letters of credit relating to, Indebtedness otherwise included in the determination of such amount shall not also be included and (ii) if obligations in respect of letters of credit are incurred pursuant to a Credit Facility and are being treated as incurred pursuant to clause (1) of the definition of “Permitted Indebtedness” and the letters of credit relate to other Indebtedness, then such other Indebtedness shall not be included.

 

(c)           Indebtedness or Preferred Stock of a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (whether by merger, consolidation, acquisition of Capital

 

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Stock or otherwise) or is merged with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or which is secured by a Lien on an asset acquired by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary (whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by the acquiring Person) shall be deemed incurred at the time the Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or at the time of the asset acquisition, as the case may be.

 

(d)           The Company will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary Guarantor to, incur any Indebtedness which by its terms (or by the terms of any agreement governing such Indebtedness) is subordinated in right of payment to any Indebtedness of the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be, other than the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees, unless such Indebtedness is also by its terms (or by the terms of any agreement governing such Indebtedness) made expressly subordinate in right of payment to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be, pursuant to subordination provisions that are at least as favorable to the holders of the Notes or such Subsidiary Guarantee as the subordination provisions of such Indebtedness (or agreement).

 

(e)           For purposes of this Supplemental Indenture, no Indebtedness will be deemed to be subordinate or junior in right of payment to other Indebtedness solely by virtue of not being the benefit of a Lien on assets, or guarantee of a Person, that benefits the other Indebtedness or having the benefit of such a Lien or guarantee ranking subordinate or junior to a Lien or guarantee benefiting the other Indebtedness.

 

Section 4.07            Limitation on Restricted Payments The Company will not, and will not cause or permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

 

(1)           declare or pay any dividend or make any distribution (other than dividends or distributions made to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and other than any dividends or distributions payable solely in Qualified Capital Stock of the Company) on or in respect of shares of the Capital Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to holders of such Capital Stock;

 

(2)           purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Capital Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (or make any other payment on account of, or set apart money for a sinking fund or other analogous fund for the purchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of, any Capital Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary) other than through the exchange therefor solely of Qualified Capital Stock of the Company and other than any acquisition or retirement for value from, or payment to, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(3)           make any principal payment on, purchase, defease, redeem, prepay, decrease or otherwise acquire or retire for value before twelve months prior to any scheduled final maturity, scheduled repayment or scheduled sinking fund payment, any Indebtedness of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor that is subordinate or junior in right of payment to the Notes or such Subsidiary Guarantor’s Subsidiary Guarantee, as the case may be (other than a purchase, repurchase or other acquisition of any such subordinated or junior Indebtedness that is so purchased, repurchased or otherwise

 

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acquired in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or payment at final maturity, in each case due within 120 days of the date of such purchase, repurchase or other acquisition); or

 

(4)           make any Investment (other than a Permitted Investment) in any Person;

 

(each of the foregoing actions set forth in clauses (1), (2), (3) and (4) being referred to as a “ Restricted Payment ,” provided , however , that no Permitted Investment shall be deemed to be a Restricted Payment), if at the time of such Restricted Payment or immediately after giving effect thereto:

 

(i)            a Default or an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

 

(ii)           the Company is not able to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness (other than Permitted Indebtedness) in compliance with Section 4.06(a); or

 

(iii)          the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments (including such proposed Restricted Payment) made after the Issue Date (the amount expended for such purposes, if other than in cash, being the Fair Market Value of such property as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company) shall exceed the sum (without duplication) of:

 

(a)           50% of the cumulative Consolidated Net Income (or if cumulative Consolidated Net Income shall be a loss, minus 100% of such loss) of the Company earned after July 1, 2009 and on or prior to the last date of the Company’s fiscal quarter immediately preceding such Restricted Payment (the “ Reference Date ”) (treating such period as a single accounting period); plus

 

(b)           100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds, or the Fair Market Value of Property (including any Property received in any Asset Acquisition or other acquisition other than cash, received by the Company from any Person (other than a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) from the issuance and sale of Qualified Capital Stock of the Company after the Issue Date (excluding any net cash proceeds from an Equity Offering used to redeem the Notes); plus

 

(c)           100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds, or the Fair Market Value of Property (including any Property received in any Asset Acquisition or other acquisition) other than cash, of any equity contribution received by the Company from a holder of the Company’s Capital Stock after the Issue Date (excluding any net cash proceeds from an Equity Offering to the extent used to redeem the Notes); plus

 

(d)           an amount equal to the net reduction in Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries resulting from dividends, interest payments, distributions, redemptions or repurchases, sales or other dispositions thereof, repayments of loans or advances, or other transfers of cash or Properties (including transfers

 

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as a result of merger or liquidation), in each case to the Company or to any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company from Unrestricted Subsidiaries (but without duplication of any such amount included in calculating cumulative Consolidated Net Income of the Company), or from redesignations of Unrestricted Subsidiaries as Restricted Subsidiaries (in each case valued as provided in Section 4.12), not to exceed, in the case of any such redesignation, the amount of Investments previously made by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in such Unrestricted Subsidiary and which was treated as a Restricted Payment under this Supplemental Indenture; plus

 

(e)           the amount by which Indebtedness of the Company is reduced on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries upon the conversion or exchange subsequent to the Issue Date of any Indebtedness of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries that is convertible or exchangeable for Qualified Capital Stock of the Company (less the amount of any cash, or the Fair Market Value of any other property, distributed by the Company to the holder of such Indebtedness upon such conversion or exchange); provided , however , that the foregoing amount shall not exceed the Net Cash Proceeds, or the Fair Market Value of Property (including any Property received in any Asset Acquisition or other acquisition) other than cash, received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from the sale of such Indebtedness (excluding Net Cash Proceeds from sales to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company); plus

 

(f)            an amount equal to the net reduction in Investments (other than Permitted Investments) resulting from dividends, distributions, redemptions or repurchases, proceeds of sales or other dispositions thereof, interest payments, repayments of loans or advances, or other transfers of cash or Properties (including transfers as a result of merger or liquidation), in each case to the Company or to any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company from any Person (other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary), not to exceed the amount in respect of such Investment which had been treated as a Restricted Payment (but without duplication of any such amount included in calculating cumulative Consolidated Net Income of the Company).

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph shall not prohibit:

 

(1)           the payment of any dividend or redemption payment or the making of any distribution within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof if the dividend, redemption or distribution payment, as the case may be, would have been permitted on the date of declaration;

 

(2)           the acquisition of any Capital Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, either (i) solely in exchange for shares of Qualified Capital Stock of the Company or (ii) through the application of net proceeds of a substantially concurrent

 

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sale for cash (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) of Qualified Capital Stock of the Company;

 

(3)           the purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor that is subordinate or junior in right of payment to the Notes or such Subsidiary Guarantor’s Subsidiary Guarantee, as the case may be, either (i) solely in exchange for Qualified Capital Stock of the Company, (ii) through the application of the net proceeds of a substantially concurrent sale for cash (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) of (a) Qualified Capital Stock of the Company or (b) Refinancing Indebtedness or (iii) solely in exchange for Indebtedness constituting Refinancing Indebtedness;

 

(4)           the purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Disqualified Stock of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor either (i) through the application of the net proceeds of a substantially concurrent sale for cash (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) of Refinancing Indebtedness or (ii) solely in exchange for Indebtedness constituting Refinancing Indebtedness;

 

(5)           if no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the redemption or repurchase of equity interests in the Company held by then present or former officers, directors or employees of the Company; provided , that the aggregate cash consideration paid for all such redemptions or repurchases in any calendar year shall not exceed $2.0 million plus (A) the cash proceeds received during such calendar year by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from the sale of the Company’s Qualified Capital Stock to any such officers, directors or employees ( provided that the amount of such cash proceeds utilized for any such redemption or repurchase will not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under clause (iii)(b) of the immediately preceding paragraph) plus (B) the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received during such calendar year by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (with unused amounts in any calendar year being carried forward to succeeding calendar years);

 

(6)           if no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, repurchases of Indebtedness that is subordinated or junior in right of payment to the Notes or a Subsidiary Guarantee at a purchase price not greater than (i) 101% of the principal amount of such subordinated or junior Indebtedness and accrued and unpaid interest thereon in the event of a Change of Control or (ii) 100% of the principal amount of such subordinated or junior Indebtedness and accrued and unpaid interest thereon in the event of an Asset Sale, in each case plus accrued interest, in connection with any change of control offer or asset sale offer required by the terms of such Indebtedness, but only if:

 

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(a)                                   in the case of a Change of Control, the Company has first complied with and fully satisfied its obligations under the provisions described under Section 4.13; or

 

(b)                                  in the case of an Asset Sale, the Company has complied with and fully satisfied its obligations in accordance with the covenant under Section 4.08;

 

(7)                                   the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition for value of Capital Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary representing fractional shares of such Capital Stock in connection with a merger or consolidation involving the Company or Restricted Subsidiary or any other transaction permitted by this Supplemental Indenture;

 

(8)                                   repurchases of Capital Stock deemed to occur upon the exercise or conversion of stock options, warrants or other convertible securities if such Capital Stock represents a portion of the exercise or conversion price thereof;

 

(9)                                   the declaration and payment of regularly scheduled or accrued dividends to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Company or any Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company issued on or after the Issue Date in accordance with the Consolidated EBITDAX Coverage Ratio test described in Section 4.06(a);

 

(10)                             the payment of any dividend or any similar distribution by a Restricted Subsidiary to the holders (other than the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary) of Qualified Capital Stock of such Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such dividend or similar distribution is paid to all holders of such Qualified Capital Stock on a pro rata basis based on their respective holdings of such Qualified Capital Stock;

 

(11)                             the defeasance, repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Capital Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary held by any current or former officers, directors or employees of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with the exercise or vesting of any equity compensation (including, without limitation, stock options, restricted stock and phantom stock) in order to satisfy any tax withholding obligation with respect to such exercise or vesting;

 

(12)                             any payments to dissenting stockholders not to exceed $5.0 million in the aggregate after the Issue Date (x) pursuant to applicable law or (y) in connection with the settlement or other satisfaction of claims made pursuant to or in connection with a consolidation, merger or transfer of assets in connection with a transaction that is not prohibited by this Supplemental Indenture;

 

(13)                             any redemption of share purchase rights at a redemption price not to exceed $0.01 per right;

 

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(14)                             the purchase or redemption of any Acquired Subordinated Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, by application of (i) cash provided from operations in the ordinary course of business or (ii) proceeds from borrowings under the revolving portion of the Senior Credit Facility (so long as within 30 days prior to such purchase or redemption, a corresponding amount of borrowings under the revolving portion of the Senior Credit Facility was repaid from cash provided from operations in the ordinary course of business); provided , in any such case, that the Company is able to incur an additional $1.00 of Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.06(a) after giving effect to such purchase or redemption; provided , further , that this clause (14) shall not permit the application of any proceeds from any other borrowings under any Credit Facility to effect any such purchase or redemption; or

 

(15)                             any other Restricted Payments, which when combined with any other outstanding Restricted Payments made pursuant to this clause (15), does not exceed the greater of (a) $30.0 million and (b) 2.0% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets determined at the time of such Restricted Payment.

 

In determining the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments after the Issue Date in accordance with clause (iii) of the immediately preceding paragraph, amounts expended pursuant to clauses (1), (2), (3)(i), (3)(ii)(a), (7), (12) and (13) of this Section 4.07 shall be included in such calculation, and amounts expended pursuant to clauses (3)(ii)(b), (3)(iii), (4), (5), (6), (8), (9), (10), (11), (14) and (15) of this Section 4.07 shall be excluded from such calculation.  In determining the aggregate net cash proceeds or Fair Market Value of Property other than cash received by the Company from the issuance and sale of Qualified Capital Stock in accordance with clause (b) of the immediately preceding paragraph, amounts of cash received by the Company pursuant to clauses (2)(ii) or (3)(ii)(a), or the Fair Market Value of Capital Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor acquired or retired for value pursuant to clauses (2)(i) or (3)(i), of this paragraph shall be included in such calculation.  For purposes of determining compliance with this covenant, in the event that a Restricted Payment meets the criteria of more than one of the exceptions described in (1) through (15) above or is entitled to be made pursuant to the first paragraph of this covenant, the Company shall, in its sole discretion, classify such Restricted Payment, or later classify, reclassify or re-divide all or a portion of such Restricted Payment, in any manner that complies with this covenant.

 

Section 4.08                                 Limitation on Asset Sales The Company will not, and will not cause or permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, consummate an Asset Sale unless:

 

(1)                                   the Company or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the Fair Market Value of the assets sold or otherwise disposed of (as determined in good faith by the Company’s Board of Directors);

 

(2)                                   either (a) at least 75% of the consideration received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, from such Asset Sale shall be in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents and is received at the time of such disposition or

 

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(b) the Fair Market Value (determined at the time of receipt) of all forms of consideration other than cash and Cash Equivalents received for all Asset Sales since the Issue Date does not exceed in the aggregate 15% of the Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company at the time such determination is made; and

 

(3)                                   the Company shall apply, or cause such Restricted Subsidiary to apply, the Net Cash Proceeds relating to such Asset Sale within 360 days of receipt thereof either:

 

(a)                                   to repay or prepay Indebtedness outstanding under the Senior Credit Facility (or, if the Senior Credit Facility is no longer in existence, any of the Credit Facilities);

 

(b)                                  to repay or prepay any Indebtedness of the Company that is secured by a Lien permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.10;

 

(c)                                   to make an investment (including, without limitation, capital expenditures) in (i) properties or assets that replace the properties or assets that were the subject of such Asset Sale or (ii) properties or assets that will be used in the Crude Oil and Natural Gas Business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries or in businesses reasonably related thereto (collectively, “ Replacement Assets ”);

 

(d)                                  to make a Permitted Industry Investment or to acquire or make an investment in Crude Oil and Natural Gas Related Assets;

 

(e)                                   to the extent not included in (c) or (d) above, any investment in (i) Capital Stock of a Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of the acquisition of such Capital Stock by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) Capital Stock constituting a minority interest in any Person that at such time is a Restricted Subsidiary, and (iii) Capital Stock of any Subsidiary of Company, provided that all the Capital Stock of such Subsidiary held by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall entitle the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary to not less than a pro rata share of all dividends or other distributions made by such Subsidiary upon any of such Capital Stock; or

 

(f)                                     to make a combination of prepayment and investment permitted by the foregoing clauses (3)(a) through (3)(f).

 

On the 361st day after an Asset Sale or such earlier date, if any, as the Board of Directors of the Company determines not to apply the Net Cash Proceeds relating to such Asset Sale as set forth in clauses (3)(a) through (3)(f) of the immediately preceding paragraph (each a “ Net Proceeds Offer Trigger Date ”), such aggregate amount of Net Cash Proceeds which have been received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary but which have not been applied on or before such Net Proceeds Offer Trigger Date as permitted in clauses (3)(a) through (3)(f) of the immediately preceding paragraph (each a “ Net Proceeds Offer Amount ”) shall be applied by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may

 

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be, to make an offer to purchase (a “ Net Proceeds Offer ”) on a date (the “ Net Proceeds Offer Payment Date ”) not less than 30, nor more than 45, days following the applicable Net Proceeds Offer Trigger Date, from all Holders and, to the extent required by the terms of any Pari Passu Indebtedness, the holders of such Pari Passu Indebtedness, on a pro rata basis, that principal amount of Notes (and Pari Passu Indebtedness) purchasable with the Net Proceeds Offer Amount at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes (and Pari Passu Indebtedness) to be purchased (or, in the event such other Pari Passu Indebtedness was issued with significant original issue discount, 100% of the accreted value thereof), plus unpaid accrued interest, if any, thereon to the date of purchase; provided , however , that if at any time consideration other than cash or Cash Equivalents was received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, in connection with any Asset Sale is converted into or sold or otherwise disposed of for cash or Cash Equivalents (other than interest received with respect to any such non-cash or non-Cash Equivalents consideration), then such conversion or disposition shall be deemed to constitute an Asset Sale hereunder and the Net Cash Proceeds thereof shall be applied in accordance with this covenant.

 

The Company may defer the Net Proceeds Offer until there is an aggregate unutilized Net Proceeds Offer Amount equal to or in excess of $40.0 million resulting from one or more Asset Sales (at which time, the entire unutilized Net Proceeds Offer Amount, and not just the amount in excess of $40.0 million shall be applied as required pursuant to this covenant).  Pending application of Net Cash Proceeds pursuant to this covenant, such Net Cash Proceeds may be temporarily invested in Cash Equivalents or applied to temporarily reduce revolving credit indebtedness.

 

If the Note Proceeds Offer Payment Date is after an interest Regular Record Date and on or before the related Interest Payment Date, any accrued and unpaid interest will be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such Regular Record Date, and no additional interest will be payable to holders who tender Notes pursuant to the Net Proceeds Offer.

 

Notwithstanding the first two paragraphs of this covenant, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries will be permitted to consummate an Asset Sale without complying with such paragraphs to the extent that:

 

(1)                                   the consideration for such Asset Sale constitutes Replacement Assets and/or Crude Oil and Natural Gas Related Assets and/or the assumption of obligations secured by Liens that burden some or all of the assets being sold and/or cash or Cash Equivalents; provided that, in the case of any such assumption, (a) the Person assuming such obligations shall have no recourse with respect to such obligations to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and (b) no assets of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than those assets being sold) are subject to such Liens; and

 

(2)                                   such Asset Sale is for Fair Market Value; provided that at least 75% of the total consideration received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any such Asset Sale shall be in the form of Replacement Assets and

 

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Crude Oil and Natural Gas Related Assets, the assumption of obligations secured by Liens described in (1) above, cash or Cash Equivalents, or any combination of the foregoing, and that any Net Cash Proceeds so received shall be subject to the provisions of clause (3) of the first paragraph and to the provisions of the second paragraph of this covenant.

 

For the purposes of clause (2) of both the first and immediately preceding paragraphs of this covenant and for the purposes of clause (1) of the immediately preceding paragraph, the following are deemed to be cash or Cash Equivalents:

 

(1)                                   the assumption of Indebtedness or other liabilities shown on the balance sheet of the Company (other than obligations in respect of Disqualified Stock of the Company) or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than obligations in respect of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Subsidiary Guarantor) and the release of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from all liability on such Indebtedness or liabilities in connection with such Asset Sale (or in lieu of such a release, the agreement of the acquiror or its parent company to indemnify and hold the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary harmless from and against any loss, liability or cost in respect of such assumed Indebtedness or liabilities accompanied by the posting of a letter of credit (issued by a commercial bank that has an Investment Grade Rating) in favor of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary for the full amount of the liability and for so long as the liability remains outstanding; provided , however , that such indemnifying party (or its long term debt securities) shall have an Investment Grade Rating (with no indication of a negative outlook or credit watch with negative implications, in any case, that contemplates such indemnifying party (or its long term debt securities) failing to have an Investment Grade Rating) at the time the indemnity is entered into); and

 

(2)                                   securities received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from the transferee that are converted by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash within 180 days of the Asset Sale, to the extent of cash received in that conversion.

 

The requirement of clause 3(c), 3(d) or 3(e) above shall be deemed to be satisfied if an agreement (including a lease, whether a capital lease or an operating lease) committing to make the acquisitions or investment referred to therein is entered into by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary within the time period specified in clause (3) and such Net Cash Proceeds are subsequently applied in accordance with such agreement within six months following such agreement.

 

Notice of each Net Proceeds Offer will be mailed to the record Holders as shown on the register of Holders within 30 days following the Net Proceeds Offer Trigger Date, with a copy to the Trustee, and shall comply with the procedures set forth in this Supplemental Indenture.  Upon receiving notice of the Net Proceeds Offer, Holders may elect to tender their Notes in whole or in part in exchange for cash with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect to Purchase” on the reverse of the Note completed to the Paying Agent for the Notes at the address specified in the notice of the Net Proceeds Offer.  To the extent Holders properly

 

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tender Notes and holders of Pari Passu Indebtedness properly tender such Indebtedness with an aggregate principal amount exceeding the Net Proceeds Offer Amount, Notes of tendering Holders and Pari Passu Indebtedness will be purchased on a pro rata basis (based on principal amounts of Notes and Pari Passu Indebtedness (or, in the case of Pari Passu Indebtedness issued with significant original issue discount based on the accreted value thereof) tendered).  A Net Proceeds Offer shall remain open for a period of 20 Business Days or such longer period as may be required by law.

 

The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of Notes pursuant to a Net Proceeds Offer.  To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the “ Asset Sale ” provisions of this Supplemental Indenture, the Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the “ Asset Sale ” provisions of this Supplemental Indenture by virtue thereof.

 

If all or any portion of any Net Proceeds Offer Amount remains after consummation of a Net Proceeds Offer, the Company may use such remaining portion of such Net Proceeds Offer Amount for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by this Supplemental Indenture.

 

Section 4.09                                 Limitation on Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries The Company will not, and will not cause or permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or permit to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to:

 

(1)                                   pay dividends or make any other distributions on or in respect of its Capital Stock;

 

(2)                                   make loans or advances, or to pay any Indebtedness or other obligation owed, to the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(3)                                   guarantee any Indebtedness or any other obligation of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; or

 

(4)                                   transfer any of its property or assets to the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary,

 

except for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

 

(1)                                   With respect to clauses (1)-(4) above:

 

(a)                                   applicable law;

 

(b)                                  any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to or by reason of an agreement in effect at the Issue Date;

 

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(c)                                   (i) this Supplemental Indenture or any other indentures governing Pari Passu Indebtedness; provided , however , that the provisions relating to such encumbrances or restriction contained in any such other indenture are no less favorable to the Holders in any material respect as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company in their reasonable and good faith judgment than the provisions relating to such encumbrances or restrictions contained in this Supplemental Indenture or (ii) instruments governing other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries permitted to be incurred pursuant to an agreement entered into subsequent to the Issue Date in accordance with Section 4.06; provided that the provisions relating to such encumbrance or restriction contained in such instruments are not materially less favorable to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, as determined by the Company in good faith, than the provisions contained in the Senior Credit Facility and in this Supplemental Indenture as in effect on the Issue Date;

 

(d)                                  the Senior Credit Facility;

 

(e)                                   customary encumbrances and restrictions contained in agreements of the types described in the definition of “Permitted Industry Investments”;

 

(f)                                     customary non-assignment provisions of any contract or any lease governing a leasehold interest of any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(g)                                  any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to or by reason of an instrument governing Acquired Indebtedness, which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to such Restricted Subsidiary, or the properties or assets of such Restricted Subsidiary, other than the Person or the properties or assets of the Person so acquired;

 

(h)                                  customary restrictions with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company pursuant to an agreement that has been entered into for the sale or disposition of Capital Stock or assets of such Restricted Subsidiary to be consummated in accordance with the terms of this Supplemental Indenture solely in respect of the assets or Capital Stock to be sold or disposed of;

 

(i)                                      any instrument governing a Permitted Lien, to the extent and only to the extent such instrument restricts the transfer or other disposition of assets subject to such Permitted Lien;

 

(j)                                      encumbrances and restrictions contained in contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business, not relating to any Indebtedness, and that do not, individually or in the aggregate, detract from the value of, or from the ability of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries to realize the value

 

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of, property or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in any manner material to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(k)                                   an agreement governing Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance the Indebtedness issued, assumed or incurred pursuant to an agreement referred to in clause (b), (c), (d) or (g) above or this clause (k), or contained in any amendment to an agreement referred to in clause (b), (c), (d) or (g) above or this clause (k); provided , however , that the provisions relating to such encumbrance or restriction contained in any such agreement governing Refinancing Indebtedness or amended agreement are, taken as a whole, no less favorable to the Holders in any material respect as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company in their reasonable and good faith judgment than the provisions relating to such encumbrance or restriction contained in the applicable agreement referred to in such clause (b), (c), (d) or (g) or this clause (k);

 

(l)                                      Commodity Agreements, Currency Agreements or Interest Rate Agreements permitted from time to time under this Supplemental Indenture;

 

(m)                                the issuance of Preferred Stock by a Restricted Subsidiary or the payment of dividends thereon in accordance with the terms thereof; provided that issuance of such Preferred Stock is permitted pursuant to Section 4.06 and the terms of such Preferred Stock do not expressly restrict the ability of a Restricted Subsidiary to pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock (other than requirements to pay dividends or liquidation preferences on such Preferred Stock prior to paying any dividends or making any other distributions on such other Capital Stock); and

 

(n)                                  restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business; and

 

(2)                                   with respect to clause (4) above only:

 

(a)                                   any encumbrance or restriction contained in security agreements, mortgages, purchase money agreements, Capital Lease Obligations or similar instruments securing Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary to the extent such encumbrance or restriction restricts the transfer of the property subject to such security agreements, mortgages, purchase money agreements or similar instruments;

 

(b)                                  restrictions on cash or other deposits imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(c)                                   provisions with respect to the disposition or distribution of assets or property in operating agreements, joint venture agreements, development agreements, area of mutual interest agreements, unitization agreements and other agreements that are customary in the Crude Oil and Natural Gas Business and entered into in the ordinary course of business; and

 

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(d)                                provisions lim i ting the disposition or distribution of assets or property in, or transfer of Capital Sto ck of, joint venture agreements, asset sale agreements, sale-leaseback agreements, stock sale agreements and other similar agreements entered into (i) in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice or (ii) with the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors, which limitations are applicable only to the assets, property or Capital Stock that are the subject of such agreements.

 

Section 4.10                                 Limitation on Liens The Company will not, and will not cause or permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or permit or suffer to exist any Liens of any kind, which Liens secure Indebtedness, against or upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (whether owned on the Issue Date or acquired after the Issue Date), other than Permitted Liens, unless:

 

(1)                                   in the case of Liens securing Indebtedness that is expressly subordinate or junior in right of payment to the Notes or any Subsidiary Guarantee, the Notes or such Subsidiary Guarantee, as the case may be, are secured by a Lien on such property, assets or proceeds that is senior in priority to such Liens at least to the same extent as the Notes are senior in priority to such Indebtedness for so long as such Indebtedness is so secured; and

 

(2)                                   in all other cases, the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees are equally and ratably secured with the Indebtedness so secured for so long as such Indebtedness is so secured.

 

Any Lien created for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes pursuant to the preceding sentence shall provide by its terms that such Lien shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon the release and discharge of the initial Lien .

 

Section 4.11                                 Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates The Company will not, and will not cause or permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, enter into, amend or conduct any transaction or series of related transactions (including, without limitation, the purchase, sale, lease or exchange of any property, the guaranteeing of any Indebtedness or the rendering of any service) with, or for the benefit of, any of their respective Affiliates (each an “ Affiliate Transaction ”), other than Affiliate Transactions that are on terms that, taken as a whole, are fair and reasonable to the Company or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary and are no less favorable to the Company or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary than those that might reasonably have been obtained in a comparable transaction at such time on an arm’s-length basis from a Person that is not an Affiliate of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary.

 

Any Affiliate Transaction (and each series of related Affiliate Transactions which are part of a common plan) that involves aggregate payments or other property with a Fair Market Value in excess of $10.0 million shall be approved by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors of the Company, such approval to be evidenced by a Board Resolution stating that such Board of Directors has determined that such transaction complies with

 

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the foregoing provisions.  If the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary enters into an Affiliate Transaction (or a series of related Affiliate Transactions which are part of a common plan) that involves an aggregate Fair Market Value of more than $25.0 million, the Company shall, prior to the consummation thereof, obtain a favorable opinion as to the fairness of such transaction or series of related transactions to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, from a financial point of view, from an Independent Advisor and file the same with the Trustee.

 

The restrictions set forth in the second paragraph of this covenant shall not apply to:

 

(1)                                   reasonable fees and compensation paid to, and indemnity provided on behalf of, officers, directors, employees or consultants of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary as determined in good faith by the disinterested members of the Board of Directors of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be;

 

(2)                                   transactions exclusively between or among the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or exclusively between or among such Restricted Subsidiaries; provided , however , that such transactions are not otherwise prohibited by this Supplemental Indenture;

 

(3)                                   any Investment or other Restricted Payments permitted by this Supplemental Indenture;

 

(4)                                   any issuance of securities or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment or severance arrangements, stock options and stock ownership, phantom stock or other incentive compensation plans approved by the Board of Directors of the Company;

 

(5)                                   (a) loans or advances to officers, directors or employees in the ordinary course of business in accordance with the past practices of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries, but in any event not to exceed $5.0 million in the aggregate outstanding at any one time; and (b) advances to or reimbursements of officers, directors or employees for moving, entertainment and travel expenses, drawing accounts and similar expenditures in the ordinary course of business;

 

(6)                                   the issuance or sale of any Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company to, or the receipt by the Company of any capital contribution from, the holders of its Capital Stock;

 

(7)                                   transactions and arrangements in effect, or effected in accordance with agreements or arrangements in effect, on the Issue Date, including any modifications, extensions or renewals thereof that do not adversely affect the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, considered as a single enterprise in any material respect as compared to the kinds of transactions, arrangements or agreements in effect on the Issue Date;

 

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(8)                                   transactions with a Person that is an Affiliate of the Company solely because the Company owns, directly or through a Subsidiary, an equity interest in, or controls, such Person;

 

(9)                                   transactions with any joint venture or similar entity, which joint venture or similar entity is an Affiliate of the Company solely because an Affiliate of the Company is a general partner in such joint venture or similar entity; provided that Affiliates (all such Affiliates taken together) of the Company (other than the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries) do not in the aggregate beneficially own or hold, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of any class of voting interests in such joint venture or similar entity;

 

(10)                             (a) guarantees by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of performance of obligations of Unrestricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, except for guarantees of Indebtedness in respect of borrowed money, and (b) pledges by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Capital Stock in Unrestricted Subsidiaries for the benefit of lenders or other creditors of Unrestricted Subsidiaries; and

 

(11)                             any transaction in which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, delivers to the Trustee a letter from an Independent Advisor stating that such transaction is fair to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or that such transaction meets the requirements of the first paragraph of this covenant.

 

Section 4.12                                 Limitation on Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries At the time the Notes are originally issued, all of the Subsidiaries of the Company (Circle B Land Company LLC, Bill Barrett CBM Corporation and Bill Barrett CBM, LLC) will be Restricted Subsidiaries. As the Company or any of its Subsidiaries forms or acquires Subsidiaries, each newly formed or acquired Subsidiary shall be designated by the Company’s Board of Directors as a Restricted Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary, provided that (1) any Subsidiary of any already existing Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be (and shall be deemed designated as) an Unrestricted Subsidiary (without necessity for any Board of Directors resolution), (2) subject to the foregoing clause (1), any designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than during any Fall-Away Period) shall be effective only if the Investment in that Subsidiary is made in compliance with Section 4.07, and (3) subject to the foregoing clause (1), any failure by the Company’s Board of Directors to affirmatively make such a designation of a Subsidiary shall be deemed a designation (in compliance with this Supplemental Indenture) of such Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary.  After a Subsidiary of the Company has been designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the Board of Directors of the Company may, if no Default or Event of Default would arise therefrom, redesignate such Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that:

 

(1)                                   any such redesignation shall be deemed to be an incurrence as of the date of such redesignation (other than during any Fall-Away Period) by the Company

 

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and its Restricted Subsidiaries of the Indebtedness (if any) of such redesignated Subsidiary for purposes of Section 4.06;

 

(2)                                   unless such redesignated Subsidiary shall not have any Indebtedness outstanding, other than Indebtedness which would be Permitted Indebtedness, no such designation shall be permitted (other than during any Fall-Away Period) if immediately after giving effect to such redesignation and the incurrence of any such additional Indebtedness the Company could not incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness (other than Permitted Indebtedness) pursuant to Section 4.06(a); and

 

(3)                                   other than during any Fall-Away Period, such Subsidiary assumes by execution of a supplemental indenture all of the obligations of a Subsidiary Guarantor under a Subsidiary Guarantee if the aggregate Indebtedness for which such Subsidiary is an obligor or guarantor is at least $10.0 million in aggregate principal amount.

 

After a Subsidiary of the Company has been designated as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Board of Directors of the Company also may, if no Default or Event of Default would arise therefrom, redesignate any Restricted Subsidiary to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary if such redesignation is at that time permitted under Section 4.07.  Upon such permitted redesignation, such former Restricted Subsidiary’s Subsidiary Guarantee will be released.

 

Any such designation or redesignation (other than any deemed designation referred to in clause (1) of the proviso to the first paragraph of this covenant) of an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Board of Directors shall be evidenced to the Trustee by the filing with the Trustee of a certified copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors giving effect to such designation or redesignation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation or redesignation complied with the foregoing conditions and setting forth in reasonable detail the underlying calculations.

 

For purposes of Section 4.07:

 

(1)                                   an “Investment” shall be deemed to have been made at the time any Restricted Subsidiary is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in an amount (proportionate to the Company’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) equal to the net worth of such Restricted Subsidiary at the time that such Restricted Subsidiary is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary (“ net worth ” to be calculated based upon the Fair Market Value of the assets of such Subsidiary as of any such date of designation as such Fair Market Value is determined in good faith by the Company’s Board of Directors); and

 

(2)                                   any property transferred to or from an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be valued at its Fair Market Value at the time of such transfer as such Fair Market Value is determined in good faith by the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors may not designate any Subsidiary of the Company to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than during any Fall-Away Period) if, after such designation or redesignation:

 

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(1)                                   the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary:

 

(a)                                   provides credit support for, or a guarantee of, any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary (including any undertaking, agreement or instrument evidencing such Indebtedness); or

 

(b)                                  is otherwise directly or indirectly liable for any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary; or

 

(2)                                   such Subsidiary owns any Capital Stock of, or owns or holds any Lien on any property of, any Restricted Subsidiary which (a) is not a Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated and (b) is not also then being designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

During any Fall-Away Period, a Subsidiary may be redesignated an Unrestricted Subsidiary only if such Restricted Subsidiary does not own, at that time, Restricted Property, unless such Restricted Subsidiary constitutes, at the time of redesignation, less than 15% of the Company’s Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.

 

Section 4.13                                 Change of Control .

 

(a)                                   U pon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each Holder will have the right to require that the Company purchase all or any portion of such Holder’s Notes pursuant to the offer described below (the “ Change of Control Offer ”), at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus unpaid accrued interest, if any, thereon to the date of purchase (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

 

(b)                                  Within 30 days following the date upon which the Change of Control occurred, the Company must send, by first class mail, postage prepaid, a notice to each Holder, with a copy to the Trustee, which notice shall govern the terms of the Change of Control Offer.  Such notice shall state, among other things, the following:

 

(1)                                   that a Change of Control has occurred and that such Holder has the right to require the Company to purchase such Holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof on the date of purchase, plus unpaid accrued interest, if any, to the date of purchase (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest on the relevant Interest Payment Date);

 

(2)                                   the purchase date (which shall be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed; such purchase date, the “ Change of Control Payment Date ”); and

 

(3)                                   the instructions, as determined by the Company, consistent with the covenant described hereunder, that a Holder must follow in order to have its Notes purchased.

 

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(c)                                   Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required to surrender the Note, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of the Note completed, to the Paying Agent for the Notes at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the third Business Day prior to the Change of Control Payment Date.  If the Change of Control Payment Date is on or after an interest Regular Record Date and on or before the related Interest Payment Date, any accrued and unpaid interest will be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date, and no additional interest will be payable to holders who tender pursuant to the Change of Control Offer.

 

(d)                                  The Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer following a Change of Control if (i) a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Supplemental Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer or (ii) notice of redemption of all Notes has been given pursuant to this Supplemental Indenture as described in Section 3.03 unless there is a default in payment of the applicable redemption price.

 

(e)                                   A Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change in Control, and conditioned upon the occurrence of such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in effect for the Change of Control at the time of making the Change of Control Offer.

 

(f)                                     Neither the Board of Directors of the Company nor the Trustee may waive the covenant relating to the obligation to make a Change of Control Offer.

 

(g)                                  A Change of Control Offer shall remain open for a period of 20 Business Days or such longer period as may be required by law.  The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of Notes pursuant to a Change of Control Offer.  To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the “Change of Control” provisions of this Supplemental Indenture, the Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the “Change of Control” provisions of this Supplemental Indenture by virtue thereof.

 

Section 4.14                                 Additional Subsidiary Guarantors .  If, after the Issue Date, any Restricted Subsidiary (including any newly formed, newly acquired or newly redesignated Restricted Subsidiary but excluding any Foreign Subsidiary) incurs or guarantees any Indebtedness, which when combined with any other such Indebtedness for which such Restricted Subsidiary is an obligor or guarantor, is at least $10.0 million in aggregate principal amount, the Company shall cause such Restricted Subsidiary to:

 

(1)                                   execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit B attached hereto and otherwise in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee pursuant to which such Restricted Subsidiary shall unconditionally

 

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guarantee all of the Company’s obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms set forth in the Indenture; and

 

(2)                                   deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel that such supplemental indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Restricted Subsidiary and constitutes a legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligation of such Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with its terms.

 

Thereafter, such Restricted Subsidiary shall be a Subsidiary Guarantor for all purposes of the Indenture, subject to such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Subsidiary Guarantor when its Subsidiary Guarantee is released in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

 

Section 4.15                                 Waiver of Covenants .  The Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor may omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in any of Sections 4.02 through 4.14 or Article 5 of this Supplemental Indenture or any other provision of the Indenture with respect to the Notes and Subsidiary Guarantees thereof (except a covenant that under Section 8.02 cannot be amended without the consent of each Holder) if, before the time for such compliance, the Holders of a majority in principal amount (including waivers obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes) of all Outstanding Notes shall, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such term, provision or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and any Subsidiary Guarantor and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.  A waiver of compliance given by or on behalf of any Holder of Notes in connection with a purchase of, or tender or exchange offer for, such Holder’s Notes will not be rendered invalid by such purchase, tender or exchange.

 

Section 4.16                                 Statement by Officers as to Default .

 

(a)                                   The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the Issue Date, an Officers’ Certificate, stating whether or not to the best knowledge of the signers thereof the Company is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of the Indenture with respect to the Notes (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder) and, if the Company shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which they may have knowledge;

 

(b)                                  Each Subsidiary Guarantor will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the Issue Date, a Guarantor’s Officers’ Certificate of such Guarantor, stating whether or not to the best knowledge of the signers thereof such Guarantor is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of the Indenture with respect to the Notes and Subsidiary Guarantees thereof (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder)

 

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and, if such Guarantor shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which they may have knowledge.

 

ARTICLE 5

SUCCESSOR CORPORATION

 

Article VIII of the Base Indenture shall not apply to the Notes except as, and to the extent, described in this Article 5.

 

Section 5.01                                 When Company May Merge or Transfer Assets .   The Company will not, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, consolidate or merge with or into any Person, or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of (or cause or permit any Restricted Subsidiary to sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of) all or substantially all of the Company’s assets (determined on a consolidated basis for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries), unless:

 

(1)                                   either:

 

(a)                                   (i) the Company shall be the surviving or continuing entity or (ii) the sale or other disposition is by one or more Restricted Subsidiaries to one or more other Restricted Subsidiaries; or

 

(b)                                  the Person (if other than the Company) formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person which acquires by sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition all or substantially all of the Company’s assets (as so determined) (the “ Surviving Entity ”):

 

(x)                                    shall be an entity organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia; and

 

(y)                                  shall expressly assume, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all of the Notes and the performance of every covenant of the Notes and this Supplemental Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;

 

(2)                                   immediately after giving effect to such transaction and the assumption contemplated by clause (1)(b)(y) above (including giving effect to any Indebtedness incurred or anticipated to be incurred or repaid in connection with or in respect of such transaction as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable Four Quarter Period) and the application of any net proceeds therefrom, the Company or such Surviving Entity, as the case may be, either (x) shall be able to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness (other than Permitted Indebtedness) pursuant to Section 4.06(a), or (y) would have a Consolidated EBITDAX Coverage Ratio that is equal to or greater

 

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than the Consolidated EBITDAX Coverage Ratio of the Company immediately prior to such transaction; provided , however , that this clause (2) will not be applicable to (A) a Restricted Subsidiary consolidating with, merging into or transferring all or part of its properties and assets to the Company or one or more other Restricted Subsidiaries or (B) the Company merging with an Affiliate of the Company solely for the purpose and with the sole effect of reincorporating the Company in another jurisdiction, converting to an entity taxable for federal income tax purposes as a corporation or a combination of the foregoing;

 

(3)                                   immediately after giving effect to such transaction and the assumption contemplated by clause (1)(b)(y) above (including, without limitation, giving effect to any Indebtedness incurred or anticipated to be incurred or repaid and any Lien granted in connection with or in respect of the transaction), no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred or be continuing; provided , however , that this clause (3) will not be applicable to a Restricted Subsidiary consolidating with, merging into or transferring all or part of its properties and assets to the Company or one or more other Restricted Subsidiaries; and

 

(4)                                   the Company or the Surviving Entity, as the case may be, shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture complies with the applicable provisions of this Supplemental Indenture and that all conditions precedent in this Supplemental Indenture relating to such transaction have been satisfied; provided , however , that such counsel may rely, as to matters of fact, on a certificate or certificates of officers of the Company.

 

For purposes of the foregoing, the transfer (by lease, assignment, sale or otherwise, in a single transaction or series of transactions) of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of one or more Restricted Subsidiaries, the Capital Stock of which constitutes all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company, shall be deemed to be the transfer of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company.

 

Upon any consolidation or merger or any transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in accordance with the foregoing, in which the Company is not the Surviving Entity, the Surviving Entity formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such conveyance, lease or transfer or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under the Indenture and the Notes with the same effect as if such Surviving Entity had been named as such, and thereafter (except in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets) the Company will be relieved of all obligations and covenants under the Indenture and the Notes.

 

Section 5.02                                 When Subsidiary Guarantor May Merge or Consolidate .   Each Subsidiary Guarantor (other than any Subsidiary Guarantor whose Subsidiary Guarantee is to be

 

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released in accordance with the terms of the Subsidiary Guarantee and this Supplemental Indenture in connection with any transaction complying with the provisions of this Supplemental Indenture described under Section 4.08) will not, and the Company will not cause or permit any such Subsidiary Guarantor to, consolidate with or merge with or into any Person other than the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary that is a Subsidiary Guarantor unless:

 

(1)                                   the entity formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Subsidiary Guarantor) or to which such sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made is an entity organized and existing under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

 

(2)                                   such entity (if other than the Subsidiary Guarantor) assumes by execution of a supplemental indenture all of the obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee; and

 

(3)                                   immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

 

Any merger or consolidation of a Subsidiary Guarantor with and into the Company (with the Company being the surviving entity) or another Restricted Subsidiary that is a Subsidiary Guarantor need only comply with Section 5.01(4).

 

The successor Person formed by any such consolidation or into which any Subsidiary Guarantor is merged is made pursuant to Section 5.02 shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, such Subsidiary Guarantor under the Base Indenture (as it relates to the Notes) and this Supplemental Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as such Subsidiary Guarantor; and thereafter such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be discharged from all obligations and covenants under the Base Indenture (as it relates to the Notes), this Supplemental Indenture and the Notes .

 

ARTICLE 6

 

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

 

Article V of the Base Indenture shall not apply to the Notes, except as, and to the extent, described in this Article 6.

 

Section 6.01                                 Events of Default Each of the following events shall constitute an “ Event of Default ” with respect to the Notes:

 

(1)                                   the failure to pay interest on any Notes when the same becomes due and payable and the failure continues for a period of 30 days;

 

(2)                                   the failure by the Company to (a) pay the principal on any Notes, when such principal becomes due and payable, at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise,

 

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or (b) consummate a purchase of Notes when required pursuant to Section 4.08 and Section 4.13;

 

(3)                                   the failure to comply with any other covenant contained in Article 4 or Section 5.01 of this Supplemental Indenture, which failure continues for a period of 30 days after the Company receives written notice specifying the default (and demanding that such default be remedied) from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% of the Outstanding principal amount of the Notes (except in the case of a failure to comply with any of the terms or provisions of (i) the first paragraph of Section 5.01 which will constitute an Event of Default with such notice requirement but without such passage of time requirement or (ii) Section 4.03, which will constitute an Event of Default only after a period of 90 days after such notice);

 

(4)                                   the failure of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor to comply with its other agreements contained in the Indenture for 60 days after the Company receives written notice from the Trustee or the Holders of 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes specifying the failure (and demanding that such failure be remedied);

 

(5)                                   a default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness of the Company or of any Restricted Subsidiary (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary), whether such Indebtedness exists on the Issue Date or is created thereafter, which default (i) is caused by a failure to pay principal of or premium, if any, or interest on such Indebtedness after any applicable grace period provided in such Indebtedness on the date of such default (a “ payment default ”) or (ii) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express maturity and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a payment default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates at least $50.0 million;

 

(6)                                   one or more judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of $50.0 million (unless covered by insurance by a reputable insurer as to which the insurer has not disclaimed coverage) shall have been rendered against the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and such judgment(s) remain undischarged, unpaid or unstayed for a period of 60 days after such judgment or judgments become final and non-appealable;

 

(7)                                   (x)  the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

 

(A)                           commences a voluntary case;

 

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

 

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(C)          consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for any substantial part of its property; or

 

(D)          makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors or takes any comparable action under any foreign laws relating to insolvency; or

 

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

 

(A)          is for relief against the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries in an involuntary case;

 

(B)          appoints a Custodian of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or for any substantial part of its property;

 

(C)          orders the winding up or liquidation of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X); or

 

(D)          grants any similar relief under any foreign laws and in each such case the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days; or

 

(8)            any of the Subsidiary Guarantees cease to be in full force and effect or any of the Subsidiary Guarantees are declared to be null and void or invalid and unenforceable or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors denies or disaffirms its liability under its Subsidiary Guarantees (other than by reason of release of a Subsidiary Guarantor in accordance with the terms of this Supplemental Indenture).

 

The foregoing will constitute Events of Default whatever the reason for any such Event of Default and whether it is voluntary or involuntary or is effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body.

 

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, as promptly as reasonably practicable and in any event within 5 Business Days after the Company becomes aware of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, written notice in the form of an Officers’ Certificate of such Default or Event of Default.

 

Any reference in this Article 6 or elsewhere in this Supplemental Indenture to “Event of Default” shall be deemed to refer to and include only the Events of Default with respect to the Notes specified in this Section 6.01, and the term “Default” as so used in this Supplemental Indenture shall have a correlative meaning.

 

Section 6.02            Acceleration If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(7), in either case with respect to the Company) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee by notice to the Company, or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then Outstanding by notice to the Company and the Trustee,

 

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may declare the principal amount of Notes Outstanding to be immediately due and payable.  Upon such a declaration, such accelerated amount shall be due and payable immediately.  If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(7), in either case with respect to the Company, occurs and is continuing, the principal amount of all the Notes shall, automatically and without any action by the Trustee or any Holder, become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holders.

 

The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time Outstanding by notice to the Trustee and the Company and without notice to any other Holder may rescind any declaration of acceleration:

 

(1)            if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree;

 

(2)            if all existing Events of Default have been cured or waived except nonpayment of principal or interest that has become due solely because of such acceleration;

 

(3)            to the extent the payment of such interest is lawful, interest on overdue installments of interest and overdue principal, which has become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration, has been paid;

 

(4)            if the Company has paid the Trustee its reasonable compensation and reimbursed the Trustee for its expenses, disbursements and advances; and

 

(5)            in the event of the cure or waiver of an Event of Default of the type described in Section 6.01(7), the Trustee shall have received an Officers’ Certificate that such Event of Default has been cured or waived; provided , however , that such counsel may rely, as to matters of fact, on a certificate or certificates of officers of the Company.

 

No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereto.

 

Section 6.03            Other Remedies .   If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes, the Base Indenture (as it relates to the Notes) or this Supplemental Indenture.

 

The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of the Notes in the proceeding.  A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default.  No remedy is exclusive of any other remedy.  All available remedies are cumulative.

 

Section 6.04            Waiver of Past Defaults .   Subject to Section 6.02 and Section 8.02 hereof, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time Outstanding by notice to the Trustee and without notice to any other Holder may waive any past

 

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Default and its consequences except (a) an Event of Default described in Section 6.01(2)(a) and Section 6.01(1) and (b) a Default in respect of a covenant that under Section 8.02 cannot be amended without the consent of each Holder.  When a Default is waived, it is deemed cured, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any consequent right.

 

Section 6.05            Control by Majority .   The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time Outstanding may direct in writing the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee.  However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law, the Base Indenture (as it relates to the Notes) or this Supplemental Indenture that the Trustee reasonably determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders or would in the opinion of its counsel potentially involve the Trustee in personal liability.  Prior to taking any action hereunder, the Trustee shall be entitled to indemnification satisfactory to the Trustee in its reasonable discretion against all losses and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.

 

Section 6.06            Limitation on Suits .  Subject to Section 6.07, a Holder may not pursue any remedy with respect to the Base Indenture (as it relates to the Notes), this Supplemental Indenture or the Notes or for the appointment of a receiver or a trustee, unless:

 

(a)            such Holder shall have previously given to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default;

 

(b)            the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time Outstanding make a written request and shall have offered reasonable indemnity to the Trustee to institute such proceeding as Trustee;

 

(c)            the Trustee has failed to institute such remedy within 60 days after such written notice, request and offer; and

 

(d)            the Trustee has not received from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request within 60 days after such written notice, request and offer.

 

A Holder may not use the Indenture to prejudice the rights of any other Holder or to obtain a preference or priority over any other Holder.

 

Section 6.07            Rights of Holders to Receive Payment .   Notwithstanding any other provision of this Supplemental Indenture, the right of any Holder to receive payment of the principal amount, redemption price, Make-Whole Price, Net Proceeds Offer Amount (with respect to an Asset Sale that has been consummated), any amounts due under Section 4.13 (with respect to a Change of Control that has occurred) or interest, if any, in respect of the Notes held by such Holder, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Holder’s Notes or any Redemption Date, Net Proceeds Offer Payment Date or Change of Control Payment Date, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

 

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Section 6.08            Collection Suit by Trustee .   If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(1) or Section 6.01(2)(a) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as Trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount then due and owing (together with interest on any unpaid interest) and the amounts provided for in Section 607 of the Base Indenture.

 

Section 6.09            Trustee May File Proofs of Claim .   The Trustee may file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company, a Subsidiary Guarantor, its creditors or its property and, unless prohibited by law or applicable regulations, may vote on behalf of the Holders in any election of a Trustee in bankruptcy or other Person performing similar functions, and any Custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and its counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 607 of the Base Indenture.

 

Section 6.10            Priorities .   If the Trustee collects any money or property pursuant to this Article 6, it shall pay out the money or property in the following order:

 

FIRST:  to the Trustee for amounts due under Section 607 of the Base Indenture;

 

SECOND:  to Holders for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for the principal amount, redemption price, Make-Whole Price, Net Proceeds Offer Amount (with respect to an Asset Sale that has been consummated), any amount due under Section 4.13 (with respect to a Change of Control that has occurred) or interest, if any, as the case may be, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to such amounts due and payable on the Notes ; and

 

THIRD:  the balance, if any, to the Company or, if applicable, the Subsidiary Guarantors.

 

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders pursuant to this Section 6.10.  At least 15 days before such record date, the Company shall mail to each Holder and the Trustee a notice that states the record date, the payment date and the amount to be paid.

 

Section 6.11            Undertaking for Costs .   In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under the Base Indenture or this Supplemental Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant.  This Section 6.11 does not apply to a suit

 

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by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.07 or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time Outstanding.

 

Section 6.12            Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws .   The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantor (to the extent they may lawfully do so) shall not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Supplemental Indenture; and the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantor (to the extent that they may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waive all benefit or advantage of any such law, and shall not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

 

ARTICLE 7

DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

 

Article IV of the Base Indenture shall not apply to the Notes except as, and to the extent, described in this Article 7.

 

The Indenture (including this Supplemental Indenture) will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect (except as to surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of the Notes, as expressly provided for in the Indenture) as to all Outstanding Notes and as to all Subsidiary Guarantees thereof, and the Trustee, upon a Company Request and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture (including this Supplemental Indenture) with respect to such Notes and Subsidiary Guarantees, when:

 

(1)            either:

 

(a)            all the Notes theretofore authenticated and delivered (except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes which have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

(b)            all Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable or will become due and payable within one year by reason of the mailing of a notice of redemption or otherwise and the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee funds (constituting cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Cash Equivalents within the meaning of clauses (1) or (2) of the definition thereof or a combination of cash in U.S. dollars and such non-callable Cash Equivalents) in an amount sufficient (without consideration or any reinvestment of interest) to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the

 

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Notes to the date of deposit together with irrevocable instructions from the Company directing the Trustee to apply such funds to the payment thereof at maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

 

(2)            the Company has paid all other sums payable under this Supplemental Indenture by the Company; and

 

(3)            the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that all conditions precedent under this Supplemental Indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Supplemental Indenture have been complied with; provided , however , that such counsel may rely, as to matters of fact, on a certificate or certificates of officers of the Company.

 

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture with respect to the Notes, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 607 of the Base Indenture, the obligations of the Trustee to any Authenticating Agent under Section 614 of the Base Indenture, and, if funds shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (b) of Clause (1) of this Section with respect to such Notes, the obligations of the Company under Section 4.02 and the obligations of the Trustee under the following paragraph, Section 606 of the Base Indenture and the last paragraph of Section 4.01 with respect to such Notes shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.

 

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 4.01, all funds deposited with the Trustee pursuant to this Article 7 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Notes and the Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal and any premium and interest for whose payment such funds have been deposited with the Trustee.  The Company may direct by a Company Order the investment of any funds deposited with the Trustee pursuant to this Article 7, without distinction between principal and income, in any Cash Equivalents and from time to time the Company may direct the reinvestment of all or a portion of such funds in other Cash Equivalents.

 

ARTICLE 8

 

AMENDMENTS

 

Article IX of the Base Indenture shall not apply to the Notes except as, and to the extent, described in this Article 8.

 

Section 8.01            Without Consent of Holders .   The Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee may enter into any supplemental indenture to amend or supplement the Indenture (including this Supplemental Indenture) or the Notes without notice to, or the consent of, any Holder to:

 

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(a)            evidence the assumption of the Company’s or a Guarantor’s obligations under the Indenture or the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees, as the case may be, by a successor Person under Article 5;

 

(b)            surrender any of the Company’s or any Guarantor’s rights or powers under this Supplemental Indenture;

 

(c)            add covenants or Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders of Notes;

 

(d)            add any Person as an additional Guarantor or additional Guarantees with respect to the Notes (including pursuant to Section 4.14) or evidence the release and discharge of any Guarantor from its obligations under its Guarantees of the Notes and its obligations under this Supplemental Indenture with respect to the Notes in accordance with the terms of this Supplemental Indenture or to secure the Notes or any Guarantees;

 

(e)            cure any omission or correct any inconsistency in the Indenture or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the Indenture, so long as such action will not materially adversely affect the interests of the Holders;

 

(f)             cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;

 

(g)            modify or amend the Indenture to permit the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;

 

(h)            establish the forms or terms of the Notes and the Guarantees thereof pursuant to Sections 201 and 301 of the Base Indenture and to change the procedures for transferring and exchanging Notes so long as such change does not adversely affect the Holders of any Notes Outstanding;

 

(i)             evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment under the Indenture by a successor Trustee with respect to the Notes or other series of Securities and to add to or change any of the provisions of the Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts under the Indenture by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 611 of the Base Indenture;

 

(j)             provide for the issuance of Additional Notes as permitted by Section 1.03 of this Supplemental Indenture and Section 301 of the Base Indenture , which will have terms substantially identical to the other Notes Outstanding except as specified in Section 1.03 of this Supplemental Indenture and Section 301 of the Base Indenture , and which will be treated, together with any other Notes Outstanding, as a single series of Securities;

 

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(k)            solely to conform the provisions of the Indenture or the Notes to the description hereof and thereof contained in the Prospectus Supplement relating to the Notes dated June 30, 2009;

 

(l)             make any other change to the Indenture or forms or terms of the Notes that would provide any additional right or benefit to Holders or that does not adversely affect the rights of the Holders of the Notes;

 

(m)           to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of the Indenture in respect of one or more series of Securities other than the Notes; or

 

(n)            to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series other than the Notes as permitted by Sections 201 and 301 of the Base Indenture.

 

The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained and to accept the conveyance, transfer, assignment, mortgage or pledge of any property thereunder, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Supplemental Indenture or otherwise.

 

Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 8.01 may be executed by the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee without the consent of the Holders of any of the Notes at the time Outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 8.02.

 

After an amendment under this Section 8.01 becomes effective, the Company shall mail to Holders a notice briefly describing such amendment.  The failure to give such notice to all such Holders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this Section.

 

Section 8.02            With Consent of Holders .  With the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time Outstanding (including the consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender or exchange offer for, Notes), by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee may enter into any supplemental indenture to amend or supplement the Indenture (including this Supplemental Indenture) or the Notes for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of the Notes or the Indenture (including this Supplemental Indenture) or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Notes under the Indenture (including this Supplemental Indenture) .  However, no amendment, supplement or waiver may be made without the consent of each Holder of Notes Outstanding affected thereby if such amendment, supplement or waiver would (with respect to Notes held by any non-consenting Holder) :

 

(a)            reduce the amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment;

 

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(b)            reduce the rate of or change or have the effect of changing the time for payment of interest, including defaulted interest, on any Notes;

 

(c)            reduce the principal of or change or have the effect of changing the fixed maturity of any Notes;

 

(d)            reduce the amount payable upon the redemption of any Note or change the time at which any Note may be redeemed as described in Section 3.01 on the dates specified thereunder; provided , however , that solely for the avoidance of doubt and without any other implication, redemption shall not be deemed to include any purchase or repurchase of Notes;

 

(e)            make any Notes payable in money other than that stated in the Notes;

 

(f)             make any change in provisions of the Indenture protecting the right of each Holder to receive payment of principal of and interest on such Note on or after the due date thereof or to bring suit to enforce such payment, or permitting Holders of a majority in principal amount of Notes to waive Defaults or Events of Default;

 

(g)            amend, change or modify in any material respect the obligation of the Company (A) to make and consummate a Change of Control Offer in the event a Change of Control has occurred or (B) to make and consummate a Net Proceeds Offer with respect to any Asset Sale that has been consummated or modify any of the provisions or definitions applicable to any such Change of Control or Asset Sale that has occurred or been consummated;

 

(h)            modify or change any provision of the Indenture or the related definitions affecting the ranking in right of payment of the Notes or any Subsidiary Guarantee as senior unsecured indebtedness of the Company or the relevant Subsidiary Guarantors, as the case may be, in a manner which adversely affects the Holders; and

 

(i)             release any Subsidiary Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee or the Indenture otherwise than in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

 

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section 8.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

 

Any Notes owned by the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Notes or any Affiliate of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor shall, except to the extent provided in the definition of “Outstanding” in Section 101 of the Base Indenture, be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding for voting purposes in connection with any notice, waiver, consent or direction requiring the vote or concurrence of Holders.

 

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A consent to any indenture supplemental hereto by or on behalf of any Holder of Notes given in connection with a purchase of, or tender or exchange offer for, such Holder’s Notes will not be rendered invalid by such purchase, tender or exchange.

 

After a supplemental indenture under this Section 8.02 becomes effective, the Company shall mail to each Holder a notice briefly describing the supplemental indenture.  Notwithstanding anything in this Section 8.02 to the contrary, the failure of the Company to give such notice to all the Holders, or any defect in the notice, will not impair or affect the validity of the supplemental indenture.

 

Upon the request of the Company, accompanied by a copy of a Board Resolution authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of the Act of Holders as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion but shall not be obligated to enter into such supplemental indenture.

 

For purposes of Article IX of the Base Indenture, a supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of the Indenture which has been expressly included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities other than the Notes or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under the Indenture of the Holders of Notes.

 

Section 8.03            Compliance with Trust Indenture Act .   Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

Section 8.04            Notation on or Exchange of Notes .   Notes authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture.  If the Company shall so determine, new Notes so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Board of Directors, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Notes .

 

Section 8.05            Trustee to Sign Supplemental Indentures .   The Trustee shall sign any supplemental indenture authorized pursuant to this Article 8 if the amendment contained therein does not affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee.  If it does, the Trustee may, but need not, sign such supplemental indenture.  In signing such supplemental indenture the Trustee shall be provided with, and (subject to the provisions of Section 601 of the Base Indenture) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that such amendment is authorized or permitted by this Supplemental Indenture.

 

Section 8.06            Effect of Supplemental Indentures .   Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, the Indenture (including this Supplemental Indenture)

 

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shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Notes theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.  Nothing in this Supplemental Indenture shall limit or affect the provisions of Article IX or Section 513 of the Base Indenture insofar as relating to any amendment or waiver in respect of any series of Securities other than the Notes.

 

ARTICLE 9

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

Article XIII of the Base Indenture shall not apply to the Notes, except as, and to the extent, described in this Article 9.

 

Section 9.01            Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance .  The Company may, at its option and at any time, elect to have its obligations and the corresponding obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors discharged with respect to the Outstanding Notes (“ Legal Defeasance ”).  Such Legal Defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by the Outstanding Notes, and satisfied all of its obligations with respect to the Notes, except for:

 

(1)            the rights of Holders to receive payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes when such payments are due;

 

(2)            the Company’s obligations with respect to the Notes concerning issuing temporary Notes, registration of Notes, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes and the maintenance of an office or agency for payments;

 

(3)            the rights, powers, trust, duties and immunities of the Trustee and the Company’s obligations in connection therewith; and

 

(4)            the Legal Defeasance provisions of this Supplemental Indenture.

 

In addition, the Company may, at its option and at any time, elect to terminate its obligations under Section 4.03, Sections 4.06 through 4.14 and Article 5 (other than the first paragraph of Section 5.01, except to the extent described below) and the operation of Section 6.01(2)(b), Sections 6.01(3) through (6) and Section 6.01(8) and the limitations described in clause (2) of the first paragraph of Section 5.01 and thereafter any omission to comply with such obligations shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes (“ Covenant Defeasance ”).  In the event of Legal Defeasance, payment of the Notes may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default with respect thereto.  In the event Covenant Defeasance occurs, the events described in clauses (3), (4), (5), (6) and (8) of Section 6.01 will no longer constitute an Event of Default with respect to the Notes.  If the Company exercises either its Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance option, each Subsidiary Guarantor will be released and relieved of any obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee.

 

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Section 9.02            Conditions to Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance .  In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance:

 

(1)            the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders cash in United States dollars, non-callable United States government obligations, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm or firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes on the stated date for payment thereof or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be;

 

(2)            in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that:

 

(a)            the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling; or

 

(b)            since the date of this Supplemental  Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion of counsel shall confirm that, the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

 

(3)            in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

 

(4)            no Default or Event of Default, of which the Trustee is deemed to have notice, shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit);

 

(5)            such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under the Indenture or any other Indebtedness incurred under clause (1) of the definition of “Permitted Indebtedness”;

 

(6)            the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders over any other creditors of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company or others;

 

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(7)            the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent relating to such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, as applicable, have been complied with; and

 

(8)            the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel (which opinion of counsel may be subject to customary assumptions, qualifications and exclusions), stating that all conditions precedent relating to such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, as applicable, have been complied with; provided , however , that such counsel may rely, as to matters of fact, on a certificate or certificates of officers of the Company.

 

As used herein, “ United States government obligation means (x) any security which is (i) a direct obligation of the United States of America for the payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged or (ii) an obligation of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in either case (i) or (ii), is not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and (y) any depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any United States government obligation which is specified in clause (x) above and held by such bank for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt, or with respect to any specific payment of principal of or interest on any United States government obligation which is so specified and held, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the United States government obligation or the specific payment of principal or interest evidenced by such depositary receipt.

 

Section 9.03            Application of Trust Money .

 

(a)            The Trustee or Paying Agent shall hold in trust all cash in United States dollars or non-callable United States government obligations deposited with it pursuant to this Article 9 in respect of the Outstanding Notes, and shall apply the deposited cash in United States dollars and non-callable United States government obligations in accordance with this Supplemental Indenture to the payment, either directly or through any such Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent or any Subsidiary Guarantor or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes, of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of the principal of and the interest on the Notes, but money and United States government obligations so held in trust need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.  The Trustee shall be under no obligation to invest said funds, except as it may agree with the Company.

 

(b)            The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash in United States dollars and non-callable United States government obligations deposited pursuant to Section 9.02, or the principal and

 

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

 

(c)            Anything in this Article 9 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall promptly deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request of the Company any funds or United States government obligations held by it as provided in Section 9.02 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

Section 9.04            Repayment to the Company .  Any cash in United States dollars or non-callable United States government obligations deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of or interest on the Notes and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal or interest has become due and payable shall be repaid to the Company on its request or (if then held by the Company) will be discharged from such trust; and the Holders will thereafter be permitted to look only to the Company (unless an applicable law designates another Person) for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust funds, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, will thereupon cease; provided , however , that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, shall at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national edition), or mail to each Holder entitled to such funds, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which will not be less than thirty (30) days from the date of such publication or mailing, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

 

Section 9.05            Reinstatement .  If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any funds in accordance with this Article 9 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, or if the funds deposited with the Trustee to effect Covenant Defeasance are insufficient to pay the principal of, and interest on, the Notes when due, the Company’s obligations under this Supplemental Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article 9 until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such funds in accordance with this Article 9; provided , however , that if the Company has made any payment of interest on, or principal of, any Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the funds held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

 

ARTICLE 10

PAYMENT OF INTEREST

 

Section 10.01          Payment of Interest .

 

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The Company shall pay interest on the Notes at a rate of 9.875% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on January 15 and July 15 of each year (each, an “ Interest Payment Date ”), commencing January 15, 2010.  Interest shall be paid on each Interest Payment Date to the Holder of such Note in whose name the Note is registered at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on January 1 or July 1 (whether or not a Business Day) (a “ Regular Record Date ”), as the case may be, next preceding the related Interest Payment Date.  Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.  In the event of the maturity, or purchase of a Note by the Company at the option of the Holder, interest shall cease to accrue on such Note.  Interest on the Notes shall accrue (except, in the case of Additional Notes, as otherwise specified in the Company Order delivered pursuant to Section 1.04(b) of this Supplemental Indenture in respect thereof) from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the date of issuance.

 

Holders of Notes at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on a Regular Record Date shall receive payment of interest payable on the corresponding Interest Payment Date.

 

Section 10.02          Defaulted Interest .   Any installment of interest that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for on any Interest Payment Date (“ Defaulted Interest ”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holders in whose names the Notes were registered on the Regular Record Date applicable to such installment of interest.  The Company shall make payment of any Defaulted Interest (including any interest on such Defaulted Interest) to the Holders in whose names the Notes are registered at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest (a “ Special Record Date ”), which shall be fixed in the following manner.  The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Holders entitled to such Defaulted Interest as provided in this Section 10.02.  Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be not more than 15 calendar days and not less than ten calendar days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than ten calendar days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment.  The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be sent, by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to each Holder at such Holder’s address as it appears in the registration books of the Registrar, not less than ten calendar days prior to such Special Record Date.  Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Holders in whose names the Notes are registered at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on such Special Record Date.

 

Section 10.03          Interest Rights Preserved Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Article 10, each Note delivered under this Supplemental Indenture upon registration of transfer

 

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of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Note shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Note.

 

ARTICLE 11

 

SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES

 

Article XIV of the Base Indenture shall not apply to the Notes, except as, and to the extent, described in this Article 11.

 

Section 11.01          The Guarantee .  Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby jointly and severally guarantees (the “ Subsidiary Guarantee ”), as a primary obligor and not as a surety, to the Trustee and each Holder and their respective successors and assigns, the prompt payment in full when due (whether at Stated Maturity, by required prepayment, declaration, demand, by acceleration or otherwise) of the principal of and interest (including any interest, fees, costs or charges that would accrue but for the provisions of Title 11 of the United States Code after any bankruptcy or insolvency petition under Title 11 of the United States Code) on the Notes, and all other obligations from time to time owing to the Trustee and the Holders by the Company under this Indenture and the Notes, in each case strictly in accordance with the terms hereof (such obligations being herein collectively called the “ Guaranteed Obligations ”).  Each Subsidiary Guarantor jointly and severally agrees that if the Company shall fail to pay in full when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) any of the Guaranteed Obligations, each Subsidiary Guarantor will promptly pay the same in cash, without any demand or notice whatsoever, and that in the case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, the same will be promptly paid in full when due (whether at extended maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) in accordance with the terms of such extension or renewal.

 

Section 11.02          Obligations Unconditional The obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors under Section 11.01 shall constitute a guaranty of payment and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, are absolute, irrevocable and unconditional, joint and several with each of the Subsidiary Guarantors, irrespective of the value, genuineness, validity, regularity or enforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations, or any substitution, release or exchange of any other guarantee of or security for any of the Guaranteed Obligations, and irrespective of any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety or guarantor (except for payment in full).  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is agreed that the occurrence of any one or more of the following shall not alter or impair the liability of a Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder, which shall remain absolute, irrevocable and unconditional under any and all circumstances as described above:

 

(i)              at any time or from time to time, without notice to any Subsidiary Guarantor, the time for any performance of or compliance with any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be extended, or such performance or compliance shall be waived;

 

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(ii)                 any of the acts mentioned in any of the provisions of this Subsidiary Guarantee or the Notes, if any, or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein or therein shall be done or omitted;

 

(iii)                the maturity of any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be accelerated, or any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be amended in any respect, or any right under this Supplemental Indenture or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein or therein shall be amended or waived in any respect or any other guarantee of any of the Guaranteed Obligations or any security therefor shall be released or exchanged in whole or in part or otherwise dealt with; or

 

(iv)           the release of any other Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to this Supplemental Indenture.

 

Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby expressly waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, protest and all notices whatsoever, and any requirement that the Trustee or any Holder exhaust any right, power or remedy or proceed against the Company or any other Subsidiary Guarantor under this Supplemental Indenture or the Notes or a Subsidiary Guarantee, if any, or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein or therein, or against any other Person under any other guarantee of, or security for, any of the Guaranteed Obligations.  Each Subsidiary Guarantor waives any and all notice of the creation, renewal, extension, waiver, termination or accrual or any of the Guaranteed Obligations and notice of or proof of reliance by the Trustee or any Holder upon this Subsidiary Guarantee or acceptance of this Subsidiary Guarantee, and the Guaranteed Obligations, and any of them, shall conclusively be deemed to have been created, contracted or incurred in reliance upon this Subsidiary Guarantee, and all dealings between the Company and the Trustee or any Holder shall likewise be conclusively presumed to have been had or consummated in reliance upon this Subsidiary Guarantee.  Each Subsidiary Guarantee shall be construed as a continuing, absolute, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of payment without regard to any right of offset with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations at any time or from time to time held by the Trustee or any Holder, and the obligations and liabilities of each Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder shall not be conditioned or contingent upon the pursuit by the Trustee or any Holder or any other Person at any time of any right or remedy against the Company, any other Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Person which may be or become liable in respect of all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations or against any collateral security or guarantee therefor or right of offset with respect thereto.  Each Subsidiary Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect and be binding in accordance with and to the extent of its terms upon the Subsidiary Guarantor and the successors and assigns thereof, and shall inure to the benefit of the Trustee and the Holders, and their respective successors and assigns.

 

Section 11.03          Reinstatement .  The obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder shall be automatically reinstated if and to the extent that for any reason any payment by or on behalf of the Company in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations is rescinded or must be otherwise restored by any holder of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, whether as a result of any proceedings in bankruptcy or reorganization or otherwise.

 

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Section 11.04          Subrogation; Subordination .   Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby agrees that until the indefeasible payment and satisfaction in full in cash of all Guaranteed Obligations, it shall waive any claim and shall not exercise any right or remedy, direct or indirect, arising by reason of any performance by it of its guarantee in Section 11.01, whether by subrogation or otherwise, against the Company or any other Subsidiary Guarantor or any security for any of the Guaranteed Obligations.

 

Section 11.05          Remedies .   Each Subsidiary Guarantor jointly and severally agrees that, as between the Subsidiary Guarantor and the Trustee or any Holder, the obligations of the Company under this Supplemental Indenture and the Notes may be declared to be forthwith due and payable as provided in this Supplemental Indenture (and shall be deemed to have become automatically due and payable in the circumstances provided in this Supplemental Indenture) for purposes of Section 11.01, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such declaration (or such obligations from becoming automatically due and payable) as against the Company and that, in the event of such declaration (or such obligations being deemed to have become automatically due and payable), such obligations (whether or not due and payable by the Company) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Subsidiary Guarantor for purposes of Section 11.01.

 

Section 11.06          Instrument for the Payment of Money .   Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby acknowledges that the guarantee in this Subsidiary Guarantee constitutes an instrument for the payment of money, and consents and agrees that the Trustee or (if permitted by this Supplemental Indenture) any Holder shall have the right to bring a motion-action under New York CPLR Section 3213.

 

Section 11.07          Continuing Guarantee .   The guarantee in each Subsidiary Guarantee is a continuing guarantee of payment, and shall apply to all Guaranteed Obligations whenever arising.

 

Section 11.08          General Limitation on Guarantee Obligations .   In any action or proceeding involving any state corporate, limited partnership or limited liability company law, or any applicable state, federal or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other law affecting the rights of creditors generally, if the obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantor under Section 11.01 would otherwise be held or determined to be void, voidable, invalid or unenforceable, or subordinated to the claims of any other creditors, on account of the amount of its liability under Section 11.01, then, notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, the amount of such liability shall, without any further action by the Subsidiary Guarantor, the Trustee or any Holder or any other person, be automatically limited and reduced to the maximum amount which, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Subsidiary Guarantor and after giving effect to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee or pursuant to its contribution obligations under Section 11.09, will result in the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under federal or state law.

 

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Section 11.09             Right of Contribution .  The Subsidiary Guarantor hereby agrees that to the extent that any Subsidiary Guarantor shall have paid more than its proportionate share of any payment made under a Subsidiary Guarantee (based on the respective net assets of all Subsidiary Guarantors at the time of such payment determined in accordance with GAAP), such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be entitled to seek and receive contribution from and against any other Subsidiary Guarantor which has not paid its proportionate share of such payment.  Each Subsidiary Guarantor’s right of contribution shall be subject to the terms and conditions of Section 11.04.  The provisions of this Section 11.09 shall in no respect limit the obligations and liabilities of any Subsidiary Guarantor to the Trustee or any Holder and the Subsidiary Guarantor shall remain liable to the Trustee or any Holder for the full amount guaranteed by the Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder.

 

Section 11.10             Release .  The Subsidiary Guarantee of a Subsidiary Guarantor will be released:

 

(1)           in the event of a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of such Subsidiary Guarantor, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, or a sale or other disposition of all of the Capital Stock of such Subsidiary Guarantor then held by the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries; or

 

(2)           if such Subsidiary Guarantor is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or otherwise ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary, in each case in accordance with the provisions of this Supplemental Indenture, upon effectiveness of such designation or when it first ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary, respectively; or

 

(3)           if such Subsidiary Guarantor shall not incur or guarantee or otherwise be obligated under Indebtedness aggregating in excess of $10.0 million in aggregate principal amount (other than if such Subsidiary Guarantor no longer guarantees or otherwise is obligated under Indebtedness aggregating in excess of $10.0 million in aggregate principal amount as a result of payment under any guarantee of any such Indebtedness by any Subsidiary Guarantor); provided that a Subsidiary Guarantor shall not be permitted to be released from its Subsidiary Guarantee pursuant to this clause (3) if it is an obligor with respect to Indebtedness that would not, under Section 4.06 be permitted to be incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor; or

 

(4)           upon Covenant Defeasance, Legal Defeasance or satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture with respect to the Notes as provided pursuant to Article 7 or Article 9, as applicable; or

 

(5)           upon the liquidation or dissolution of such Subsidiary Guarantor provided no Default or Event of Default has occurred or is continuing; or

 

(6)           at such time as, after giving effect to such release, the Indebtedness for which such Subsidiary Guarantor is an obligor or guarantor does not exceed $10.0 million in aggregate principal amount.

 

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The Company may, at its option, at any time and from time to time, cause any Subsidiary Guarantor to be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged from all its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee with respect to the Notes and under this Article 11 upon (i) compliance with any of the conditions in the preceding sentence of this Section 11.10 and (ii) delivery by the Company to the Trustee of a Company Order relating to such release and discharge.  The Trustee shall deliver an appropriate instrument evidencing such release and discharge upon receipt of a Company Request accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate certifying as to the compliance with this Section 11.10.

 

ARTICLE 12

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 12.01             Communication by Holders with Other Holders .   Holders may communicate pursuant to Trust Indenture Act Section 312(b) with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Supplemental Indenture or the Notes .  The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar, the Paying Agent and anyone else shall have the protection of Trust Indenture Act Section 312(c).

 

Section 12.02             Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent .   Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this Supplemental Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:

 

(a)           an Officers’ Certificate stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Supplemental Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and

 

(b)           if required by the Trustee, an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent (to the extent of legal conclusions) have been complied with.

 

Section 12.03             Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion .  Each Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel with respect to compliance with a covenant or condition provided for in this Supplemental Indenture shall include: (i) a statement that each Person making such Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel has read such covenant or condition; (ii) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel are based; (iii) a statement that, in the opinion of each such Person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable such Person to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (iv) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, such covenant or condition has been complied with.

 

Section 12.04             Separability Clause .   In case any provision in 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.

 

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Section 12.05             Governing Law .   THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE AND THE NOTES 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.

 

Section 12.06             No Liability for Certain Persons .  An incorporator or any past, present or future director, officer, employee, partner, member or stockholder of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, as such,  shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, respectively, under the Notes or the Indenture or any Subsidiary Guarantee or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation.  By accepting a Note, each Holder shall waive and release all such liability.  The waiver and release shall be part of the consideration for the issuance of the Notes.

 

Section 12.07             Patriot Act .  The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the USA Patriot Act, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each Person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account.  The parties to this Supplemental Indenture agree that they will provide Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas with such information as it may request in order for Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas to satisfy the requirements of the USA Patriot Act.

 

Section 12.08             Successors .   All agreements of the Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor in this Supplemental Indenture and the Notes shall bind its successor.  All agreements of the Trustee in this Supplemental Indenture shall bind its successor.

 

Section 12.09             Table of Contents; Headings .   The table of contents and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Supplemental Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not intended to be considered a part hereof and shall not modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

 

Section 12.10             Multiple 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 shall represent the same agreement.  One signed copy is sufficient to prove this Supplemental Indenture.

 

Section 12.11             Scope of Supplemental Indenture .  The changes, modifications and supplements to the Base Indenture affected by this Supplemental Indenture shall be applicable only with respect to, and shall only govern the terms of, and shall be deemed expressly included in this Supplemental Indenture solely for the benefit of, the Notes which may be issued from time to time, and shall not apply to any other Securities that may be issued under the Base Indenture unless a supplemental indenture with respect to such other Securities specifically incorporates such changes, modifications and supplements.

 

94



 

Section 12.12             Ratification and Incorporation of Base Indenture .  As supplemented hereby, the Base Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed, and the Base Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture shall be read, taken and construed as one and the same instrument.  This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every Holder of Notes shall be bound hereby.

 

Section 12.13             No Security Interest Created .  Nothing in this Supplemental Indenture or in the Notes, expressed or implied, shall be construed to constitute a security interest under the Uniform Commercial Code or similar legislation, as now or hereafter enacted and in effect, in any jurisdiction

 

Section 12.14             Trust Indenture Act .  This Supplemental Indenture is hereby made subject to, and shall be governed by, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act required to be part of and to govern indentures qualified under the Trust Indenture Act.  If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision hereof that is required to be included in an indenture qualified under the Trust Indenture Act, such required provisions shall control.

 

Section 12.15             Covenants Not Applicable .  In accordance with Section 301(18), Section 901(2) and Section 901(5) of the Base Indenture, (i) except as, and to the extent, described herein, the covenants and agreements on the part of the Company in Article IV, Article V, Article VIII, Article IX, Article X, Article XI, Article XIII and Article XIV of the Base Indenture are hereby eliminated from the Base Indenture in respect of, and shall not apply to, and shall be deemed covenants included in this Supplemental Indenture solely for the benefit of a different series of Securities than, the Notes; and (ii) no Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes shall arise, or be deemed to exist as the result of any failure on the part of the Company duly to observe or perform any of such covenants or agreements.

 

95



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of BILL BARRETT CORPORATION and each INITIAL SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR has caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first before written.

 

 

BILL BARRETT CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert W. Howard

 

 

Name:

Robert W. Howard

 

 

Title:

Chief Financial Officer and

 

 

 

Treasurer

 

 

 

 

 

BILL BARRETT CBM CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert W. Howard

 

 

Name:

Robert W. Howard

 

 

Title:

Chief Financial Officer and

 

 

 

Treasurer

 

 

 

 

 

BILL BARRETT CBM, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert W. Howard

 

 

Name:

Robert W. Howard

 

 

Title:

Chief Financial Officer and

 

 

 

Treasurer

 

 

 

 

 

CIRCLE B LAND COMPANY LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert W. Howard

 

 

Name:

Robert W. Howard

 

 

Title:

Chief Financial Officer and

 

 

 

Treasurer

 

96



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being duly authorized, has executed this Supplemental Indenture as of the date first above written.

 

 

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Trustee

 

 

 

By:

Deutsche Bank National Trust Company

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kenneth R. Ring

 

 

Name:

Kenneth R. Ring

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David Contino

 

 

Name:

David Contino

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 

97



 

SCHEDULE 1

 

Subsidiary Guarantors

 

Bill Barrett CBM Corporation

Bill Barrett CBM, LLC

Circle B Land Company LLC

 

 

1-1



 

EXHIBIT A — FORM OF NOTE

 

[FORM OF FACE OF NOTE]

 

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

 

A-1



 

BILL BARRETT CORPORATION

 

No.                           $

CUSIP No.

 

BILL BARRETT CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (herein called the “Company,” which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to [                    ], or registered assigns, the principal sum of [          ] Dollars ($[          ]) on July 15, 2016, and to pay interest thereon from July 8, 2009 or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually on January 15 and July 15 of each year, commencing January 15, 2010, at the rate of 9.875% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment.  The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Note is registered at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the January 1 or July 1 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date.  Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and will be paid to the Person in whose name this Note is registered at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Notes not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date.

 

Payment of the principal of and interest on this Note shall be made in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

 

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.  Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Supplemental Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 

[Remainder of Page Left Intentionally Blank]

 

A-2



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Bill Barrett Corporation has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

 

BILL BARRETT CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

Dated:

 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

This is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

 

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

A-3



 

[FORM OF REVERSE OF NOTE]

 

9.875% Senior Note due 2016

 

Bill Barrett Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of Delaware (such corporation, and its successors and assigns under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, being herein called the “ Company ”), issued this Note under an Indenture, dated as of July 8, 2009 (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time (including by the Supplemental Indenture referred to below) in accordance with the terms thereof, the “ Indenture ”), among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture thereto dated as of July 8, 2009 (the “ Supplemental Indenture ”), to which reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Holders and of the terms upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered.  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) (the “ Trust Indenture 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 Trust Indenture Act for a statement of those terms.  This Note is one of the Notes referred to in the Indenture initially issued in an aggregate principal amount of TWO HUNDRED FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS ($250,000,000).

 

1.                                        Method of Payment

 

The Company will pay interest on the Notes to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Regular Record Date with respect to the applicable Interest Payment Date even if Notes are canceled after the Regular Record Date and on or before the Interest Payment Date, except as otherwise provided in the Supplemental Indenture.  Holders must surrender Notes to a Paying Agent to collect principal payments.  The Company will pay principal and interest in money of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

 

The Place of Payment where the principal of and any other payments due on the Notes are payable shall initially be at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in New York, New York in accordance with Section 4.02 of the Supplemental Indenture.

 

The Company shall pay interest (a) on any Notes in certificated form by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as it appears in the Security Register on the relevant Regular Record Date (or upon written application by such Person to the Paying Agent at least five Business Days before the relevant Initial Payment Date, by wire transfer in immediately available funds to such Person’s account at a bank in New York City, if such Person is entitled to interest on an aggregate principal amount in excess of $1,000,000, which application shall remain in effect until the Holder notifies the Paying Agent to the contrary) or (b) on any Global Note by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account of the Depositary or its nominee.

 

R-1



 

2.                                        Paying Agent and Registrar

 

Initially, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (the “ Trustee ”) will act as Paying Agent and Registrar.  The Company may appoint and change any Paying Agent, Registrar or co-registrar without notice.  The Company or any of its domestically organized Wholly Owned Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar or co-registrar.

 

3.                                        Ranking

 

The Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company and rank equal in right of payment to all of the Company’s existing and future senior unsecured debt and senior to all of the Company’s future subordinated debt.

 

4.                                        Optional Redemption

 

Except as described below, the Company will not be entitled to redeem the Notes at its option prior to July 15, 2013.  The Notes will be redeemable, at the Company’s option, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, on and after July 15, 2013, upon not less than 30, nor more than 60, days’ notice, at the following redemption prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount thereof) if redeemed during the 12-month period commencing on July 15 of the years set forth below, plus, in each case, unpaid accrued interest, if any, thereon to the date of redemption:

 

Year

 

Percentage

 

2013

 

104.938

%

2014

 

102.469

%

2015 and thereafter

 

100.000

%

 

At any time, or from time to time, on or prior to July 15, 2012, the Company may, at its option, use all or a portion of the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings to redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes issued under the Indenture (including any Additional Notes) at a redemption price equal to 109.875% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus unpaid accrued interest, if any, thereon to the date of redemption; provided that:

 

(1)                                   at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under the Indenture (including any Additional Notes) remains Outstanding immediately after giving effect to any such redemption; and

 

(2)                                   the Company makes such redemption not more than 180 days after the consummation of any such Equity Offering.

 

The Notes will also be redeemable, in whole or in part, at the Company’s option at any time or from time to time, prior to July 15, 2013, at the applicable Make-Whole Price, in accordance with the provisions of the Supplemental Indenture.

 

R-2



 

If the Redemption Date is on a date that is after a Regular Record Date and on or prior to the corresponding Interest Payment Date, the Company shall pay the related interest to a Holder on such Regular Record Date.

 

5.                                        Purchase at the Option of Holders

 

Pursuant to Section 4.13 of the Supplemental Indenture upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each Holder will have the right to require that the Company purchase all or any portion of such Holder’s Notes pursuant to the offer described in Section 4.13 of the Supplemental Indenture at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus unpaid accrued interest, if any, thereon to the date of purchase (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

 

The Company is, subject to certain conditions and exceptions set forth in the Supplemental Indenture, obligated to make an offer to purchase Notes at 100% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to the date of repurchase (subject to the right of Holders of record on the Relevant Record Date to receive interest on the relevant Interest Payment Date), with Net Cash Proceeds of certain sales or other dispositions of assets in accordance with the Supplemental Indenture.

 

6.                                        Denominations, Transfer, Exchange

 

The Notes are issuable in registered form without coupons in denominations of at least $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 thereafter and any integral multiple thereof.  A Holder of this Note may transfer or exchange Notes in accordance with the Supplemental Indenture.  Upon any transfer or exchange, the Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder of this Note, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements or transfer documents and to pay any taxes required by law or permitted by this Supplemental Indenture.

 

7.                                        Persons Deemed Owners

 

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

 

8.                                        Unclaimed Money

 

Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, the Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal or interest that remains unclaimed for two years, and, thereafter, Holders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors.

 

9.                                        Amendment, Waiver

 

Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Supplemental Indenture, (i) the Supplemental Indenture or the Notes may be amended for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of the Notes or the Indenture (including the Supplemental Indenture) or of any supplemental indenture to the Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Notes without prior notice to any Holder but with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the

 

R-3



 

Notes Outstanding and (ii) any Default or Event of Default may be waived by Notice to the Trustee by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes Outstanding.  In certain circumstances set forth in the Supplemental Indenture, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture or the Notes without the consent of any Holder.

 

10.                                  Defaults and Remedies

 

If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(7) of the Supplemental Indenture with respect to the Company) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then Outstanding may declare the principal of and accrued but unpaid interest, if any on all the Notes Outstanding to be immediately due and payable, except as provided in the Supplemental Indenture.  If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(7) of the Supplemental Indenture occurs and is continuing with respect to the Company, the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all the Notes then Outstanding, will, automatically and without any action by the Trustee or any Holder, become and be immediately due and payable.  Under certain circumstances, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes Outstanding may rescind any such declaration with respect to the Notes and its consequences.  No reference herein to the Indenture or the Supplemental Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture or the Supplemental Indenture shall impair, as among the Company and the Holder of the Notes, the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Note at the place, at the respective times, at the rate and in the coin or currency herein and in the Indenture prescribed.

 

11.                                  Trustee Dealings with the Company

 

Subject to certain limitations imposed by the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee under this Supplemental Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.

 

12.                                  Indenture and Notes Solely Corporate Obligations

 

No recourse for the payment of the principal of or interest on any Notes or for any claim based upon any Notes or otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company in the Indenture or in any supplemental indenture or in any Notes or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, member, manager, employee, agent, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors or any of the Company’s subsidiaries or of any successor thereto, either directly or through the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors or any of the Company’s subsidiaries or any successor thereto, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of the Indenture and the issue of the Notes.

 

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13.                                  Authentication

 

This Note shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee manually signs the certificate of authentication on the face of this Note.

 

14.                                  Abbreviations

 

Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with rights of Minors Act).

 

15.                                  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.

 

16.                                  CUSIP Number

 

Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Note Identification Procedures, the Company has caused a CUSIP number to be printed on the Notes and has directed the Trustee to use CUSIP numbers in all notices issued to Holders of this Note as a convenience to such Holders.  No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any such notice and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

 

17.                                  Guarantees .

 

This Note will be entitled to the benefits of certain Subsidiary Guarantees made for the benefit of the Holders by the Subsidiary Guarantors pursuant to the Indenture.  Reference is hereby made to the Supplemental Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and obligations thereunder of the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee and the Holders.

 

The Company will furnish to any Holder of Notes upon written request and without charge to the Holder a copy of the Indenture.

 

R-5



 

OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

 

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company  pursuant to Section 4.08 or Section 4.13 of the Supplemental Indenture, check the appropriate box below:

 

Section 4.08 [      ]            Section 4.13 [       ]

 

If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.08 or Section 4.13 of the Supplemental Indenture, state the amount (in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000):  $

 

Dated:

 

 

Signed:

 

 

 

(Sign exactly as name

 

 

appears on the other

 

 

side of this Note)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signature Guarantee:

 

 

Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee
Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor
program reasonably acceptable to the Trustee)

 

R-6



 

FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND TRANSFER

 

For value received                                    hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto                            (Please insert social security or other Taxpayer Identification Number of assignee) the within Notes, and hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints                                    attorney to transfer said Notes on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.

 

Dated:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signature(s)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signature Guarantee

 

NOTICE:  The signature on this Assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the Notes in every particular without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.

 

R-7



 

EXHIBIT B- FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

 

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “ Supplemental Indenture ”), dated as of                         , 20    , among [SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR] (the “ New Guarantor ”), a Subsidiary of Bill Barrett Corporation (or its successor) (the “ Company ”), BILL BARRETT CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation, on behalf of itself and the Subsidiary Guarantors (the “ Existing Guarantors ”) under the Indenture referred to below, and DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Trustee under the Indenture referred to below (the “ Trustee ”).

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS the Company has heretofore executed and delivered to an Indenture dated as of July 8, 2009 (the “ Base Indenture ”), as amended, supplemented and modified by a First Supplemental Indenture dated as of July 8, 2009 (the “ First Supplemental Indenture ” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “ Indenture ”), by and among the Company, the Existing Guarantors and the Trustee, providing for the issuance of 9.875% Senior Notes due 2016 (the “ Notes ”);

 

WHEREAS Section 4.14 of the First Supplemental Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Company is required to cause the New Guarantor to execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the New Guarantor shall unconditionally guarantee all of the Company’s obligations under the Notes and the Indenture pursuant to a guarantee on the terms and conditions set forth herein and therein; and

 

WHEREAS pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee, the Company and the Existing Guarantors are authorized to execute and deliver this supplemental indenture;

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the New Guarantor, the Trustee and, on behalf of itself and the Existing Guarantors, the Company mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders as follows:

 

SECTION 1.  Definitions .  For all purposes of this Supplemental Indenture, except as otherwise herein expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires: (i) the terms and expressions used herein shall have the same meanings as corresponding terms and expressions used in the First Supplemental Indenture; and (ii) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereby” and other words of similar import used in this Supplemental Indenture refer to this Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular section hereof.

 

SECTION 2.  Agreement to Guarantee.   The New Guarantor hereby unconditionally and irrevocably agrees, jointly and severally with all other Subsidiary Guarantors, to guarantee the Company’s obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Article Eleven of the First Supplemental Indenture and to be bound by all other applicable provisions of the Indenture.

 

SECTION 3.  Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indenture Part of Indenture. Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Supplemental

 

B-1



 

Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every Holder heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby.

 

SECTION 4.  Governing Law. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE AND THE NOTES 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.

 

SECTION 5.  Trustee Makes No Representation. The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this supplemental indenture.

 

SECTION 6.  Counterparts. 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 agreement.

 

SECTION 7.  Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not effect the construction thereof.

 

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

 

 

[NEW SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR],

 

as the New Guarantor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BILL BARRETT CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[EXISTING GUARANTORS]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

B-2



 

 

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS,

 

as Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

B-3


Exhibit 4.3

 

 

 

BILL BARRETT CORPORATION ,

 

as Issuer

 

and

 

The Subsidiary Guarantors named herein

 

 

5.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2028

 


 

SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

 

Dated as of July 8, 2009

 


 

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS,

 

as Trustee

 

 

 



 

SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

 

THIS SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE , dated as of July 8, 2009 (this “ Supplemental Indenture ”), is entered into among Bill Barrett Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), Bill Barrett CBM Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “ Delaware Subsidiary ”), Bill Barrett CBM, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (the “ Texas Subsidiary ”), Circle B Land Company LLC, a Colorado limited liability company (the “ Colorado Subsidiary ” and, together with the Delaware Subsidiary and the Texas Subsidiary, the “ New Subsidiary Guarantors ”), and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, a New York State banking corporation, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”).  Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined have the meanings set forth in the Indenture (as defined below).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS , the Company and the Trustee entered into that certain Indenture, dated as of March 12, 2008 (the “ Base Indenture ”), pursuant to which the Company may from time to time issue its senior indebtedness in the form of debentures, notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness (collectively, the “ Debt Securities ”).

 

WHEREAS , the Company and the Trustee entered into that certain First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 12, 2008 (the “ First Supplemental Indenture ” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “ Indenture ”), pursuant to which the Company issued $172,500,000 in aggregate principal amount of 5% Convertible Senior Notes due 2028 (the “ Notes ”).

 

WHEREAS , Section 11.01 of the First Supplemental Indenture provides that the Company is required to cause any Subsidiary that incurs or guarantees any Indebtedness other than Indebtedness under a Secured Credit Facility, which when combined with any other such Indebtedness for which such Subsidiary is an obligor or guarantor, is at least $10.0 million in aggregate principal amount to become a Subsidiary Guarantor, and such Subsidiary Guarantor is required to execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture containing the terms set forth in Exhibit B attached thereto and otherwise in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee pursuant to which such Subsidiary shall unconditionally guarantee all of the Company’s obligations under the Notes and the First Supplemental Indenture on the terms set forth in Article 11 thereof.

 

WHEREAS , simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture, the Company is issuing $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 9.875% Senior Notes due 2016, which notes are being guaranteed by each of the New Subsidiary Guarantors;

 

WHEREAS , the Company has determined that this Supplemental Indenture is authorized or permitted by Section 8.01 of the First Supplemental Indenture and has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel and Officers’ Certificate to the effect that all conditions precedent provided for in the First Supplemental Indenture to the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture have been complied with.

 

WHEREAS , all things necessary to make this Supplemental Indenture a valid and legally binding agreement according to its terms, and a valid and legally binding amendment of, and supplement to, the Indenture, have been done.

 

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual agreements and covenants set forth herein, the parties hereto agree, subject to the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, as follows for the benefit of the Trustee and the Noteholders:

 



 

ARTICLE 1

 

GUARANTEES

 

Section 1.01       Guarantee .  Each New Subsidiary Guarantor agrees to be bound by the terms of the First Supplemental Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture as a Subsidiary Guarantor; provided , however , that each New Subsidiary Guarantor shall cease to constitute a Subsidiary Guarantor when its Subsidiary Guarantee is released in accordance with the terms of the First Supplemental Indenture.

 

Each New Subsidiary Guarantor hereby jointly and severally with each of the other Subsidiary Guarantors guarantees, as a primary obligor and not as a surety, to the Trustee and each Holder and their respective successors and assigns, the prompt payment in full when due (whether at Stated Maturity, by required prepayment, declaration, demand, by acceleration or otherwise) of the principal of and interest (including Additional Interest, if any, and any interest, fees, costs or charges that would accrue but for the provisions of Title 11 of the United States Code after any bankruptcy or insolvency petition under Title 11 of the United States Code) on the Notes, and all other obligations from time to time owing to the Trustee and the Holders by the Company under the Indenture and the Notes, in each case strictly in accordance with the terms thereof (such obligations being herein collectively called the “ Guaranteed Obligations ”).  Each New Subsidiary Guarantor jointly and severally with each of the other Subsidiary Guarantors agrees that if the Company shall fail to pay in full when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) any of the Guaranteed Obligations, such New Subsidiary Guarantor will promptly pay the same in cash, without any demand or notice whatsoever, and that in the case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, the same will be promptly paid in full when due (whether at extended maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) in accordance with the terms of such extension or renewal.

 

Section 1.02       Obligations Unconditional .  The obligations of each New Subsidiary Guarantor under Section 1.01 shall constitute a guaranty of payment and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, are absolute, irrevocable and unconditional, joint and several with each of the other Subsidiary Guarantors, irrespective of the value, genuineness, validity, regularity or enforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations, or any substitution, release or exchange of any other guarantee of or security for any of the Guaranteed Obligations, and irrespective of any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety or guarantor (except for payment in full).  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is agreed that the occurrence of any one or more of the following shall not alter or impair the liability of any New Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder, which shall remain absolute, irrevocable and unconditional under any and all circumstances as described above:

 

(i)     at any time or from time to time, without notice to any New Subsidiary Guarantor, the time for any performance of or compliance with any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be extended, or such performance or compliance shall be waived;

 

(ii)     any of the acts mentioned in any of the provisions of this Subsidiary Guarantee or the Notes, if any, or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein or therein shall be done or omitted;

 

(iii)     the maturity of any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be accelerated, or any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be amended in any respect, or any right under the Indenture or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein or therein shall be amended or waived in any

 



 

respect or any other guarantee of any of the Guaranteed Obligations or any security therefor shall be released or exchanged in whole or in part or otherwise dealt with; or

 

(iv)     the release of any other Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to the First Supplemental Indenture.

 

Each New Subsidiary Guarantor hereby expressly waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, protest and all notices whatsoever, and any requirement that the Trustee or any Holder exhaust any right, power or remedy or proceed against the Company or any other Subsidiary Guarantor under the Indenture or the Notes or a Subsidiary Guarantee, if any, or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein or therein, or against any other Person under any other guarantee of, or security for, any of the Guaranteed Obligations.  Each New Subsidiary Guarantor waives any and all notice of the creation, renewal, extension, waiver, termination or accrual or any of the Guaranteed Obligations and notice of or proof of reliance by the Trustee or any Holder upon this Subsidiary Guarantee or acceptance of this Subsidiary Guarantee, and the Guaranteed Obligations, and any of them, shall conclusively be deemed to have been created, contracted or incurred in reliance upon this Subsidiary Guarantee, and all dealings between the Company and the Trustee or any Holder shall likewise be conclusively presumed to have been had or consummated in reliance upon this Subsidiary Guarantee.  This Subsidiary Guarantee shall be construed as a continuing, absolute, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of payment without regard to any right of offset with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations at any time or from time to time held by the Trustee or any Holder, and the obligations and liabilities of each New Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder shall not be conditioned or contingent upon the pursuit by the Trustee or any Holder or any other Person at any time of any right or remedy against the Company, any other Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Person which may be or become liable in respect of all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations or against any collateral security or guarantee therefor or right of offset with respect thereto.  This Subsidiary Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect and be binding in accordance with and to the extent of its terms upon each New Subsidiary Guarantor and the successors and assigns thereof, and shall inure to the benefit of the Trustee and the Holders, and their respective successors and assigns.

 

Section 1.03       Reinstatement .  The obligations of each New Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder shall be automatically reinstated if and to the extent that for any reason any payment by or on behalf of the Company in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations is rescinded or must be otherwise restored by any holder of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, whether as a result of any proceedings in bankruptcy or reorganization or otherwise.

 

Section 1.04       Subrogation; Subordination .  Each New Subsidiary Guarantor hereby agrees that until the indefeasible payment and satisfaction in full in cash of all Guaranteed Obligations, it shall waive any claim and shall not exercise any right or remedy, direct or indirect, arising by reason of any performance by it of its guarantee in Section 1.01 , whether by subrogation or otherwise, against the Company or any other Subsidiary Guarantor or any security for any of the Guaranteed Obligations.

 

Section 1.05       Remedies .  Each New Subsidiary Guarantor jointly and severally with each of the other Subsidiary Guarantors agrees that, as between such New Subsidiary Guarantor and the Trustee or any Holder, the obligations of the Company under the Indenture and the Notes may be declared to be forthwith due and payable as provided in the First Supplemental Indenture (and shall be deemed to have become automatically due and payable in the circumstances provided in the First Supplemental Indenture) for purposes of Section 1.01 , notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such declaration (or such obligations from becoming automatically due and payable) as against the Company and that, in the event of such declaration (or such obligations being deemed to have become automatically due and payable), such obligations (whether or not due and payable by the Company) shall forthwith become due and payable by such New Subsidiary Guarantor for purposes of Section 1.01 .

 



 

Section 1.06       Instrument for the Payment of Money .  Each New Subsidiary Guarantor hereby acknowledges that the guarantee in this Subsidiary Guarantee constitutes an instrument for the payment of money, and consents and agrees that the Trustee or (if permitted by the First Supplemental Indenture) any Holder shall have the right to bring a motion-action under New York CPLR Section 3213.

 

Section 1.07       Continuing Guarantee .  The guarantee in this Subsidiary Guarantee is a continuing guarantee of payment, and shall apply to all Guaranteed Obligations whenever arising.

 

Section 1.08       General Limitation on Guarantee Obligations .  In any action or proceeding involving any state corporate, limited partnership or limited liability company law, or any applicable state, federal or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other law affecting the rights of creditors generally, if the obligations of any Subsidiary Guarantor under Section 1.01 would otherwise be held or determined to be void, voidable, invalid or unenforceable, or subordinated to the claims of any other creditors, on account of the amount of its liability under Section 1.01 , then, notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, the amount of such liability shall, without any further action by any Subsidiary Guarantor, the Trustee or any Holder or any other person, be automatically limited and reduced to the maximum amount which, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Subsidiary Guarantor and after giving effect to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee or pursuant to its contribution obligations under Section 1.09 , will result in the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under federal or state law.

 

Section 1.09       Right of Contribution .  Each New Subsidiary Guarantor hereby agrees that to the extent that any Subsidiary Guarantor shall have paid more than its proportionate share of any payment made under a Subsidiary Guarantee (based on the respective net assets of all Subsidiary Guarantors at the time of such payment determined in accordance with GAAP), such New Subsidiary Guarantor shall be entitled to seek and receive contribution from and against any other Subsidiary Guarantor which has not paid its proportionate share of such payment.  Each New Subsidiary Guarantor’s right of contribution shall be subject to the terms and conditions of Section 1.04 .  The provisions of this Section 1.09 shall in no respect limit the obligations and liabilities of any Subsidiary Guarantor to the Trustee or any Holder and each New Subsidiary Guarantor shall remain liable to the Trustee or any Holder for the full amount guaranteed by such New Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder.

 

Section 1.10       Releases; Merger .  Each New Subsidiary Guarantor shall be released from its obligations under Section 1.01 hereof as specified in Section 11.02 of the First Supplemental Indenture in respect of the Notes.  Each New Subsidiary Guarantor may consolidate with or merge into or sell its assets to any Person as specified in the second paragraph of Section 11.01 of the First Supplemental Indenture.

 

ARTICLE 2

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 2.01       Separability Clause .   In case any provision in this Supplemental Indenture 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 2.02       Governing Law .   THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE 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.

 

Section 2.03       Submission to Jurisdiction; No Liability for Certain Persons .

 

(a)           The parties hereby submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any United States Federal or New York State court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York solely for the purpose of any legal action or proceeding brought to enforce their obligations hereunder or with respect to any Note.

 

(b)           An incorporator or any past, present or future director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Notes or this Supplemental Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation.  By accepting a Note, each Holder shall waive and release all such liability.  The waiver and release shall be part of the consideration for the issue of the Notes.

 

Section 2.04       Successors .   All agreements of each New Subsidiary Guarantor in this Supplemental Indenture and the Notes shall bind its successor.  All agreements of the Trustee in this Supplemental Indenture shall bind its successor.

 

Section 2.05       Table of Contents; Headings .   The headings of the Articles and Sections of this Supplemental Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not intended to be considered a part hereof and shall not modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

 

Section 2.06       Multiple 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 shall represent the same agreement.  One signed copy is sufficient to prove this Supplemental Indenture.

 

Section 2.07       Scope of Supplemental Indenture .  The changes, modifications and supplements to the Indenture effected by this Supplemental Indenture shall be applicable only with respect to, and shall only govern the terms of, and shall be deemed expressly included in the Indenture solely for the benefit of, the Notes which may be issued from time to time, and shall not apply to any other Debt Securities that may be issued under the Base Indenture unless a supplemental indenture with respect to such other Debt Securities specifically incorporates such changes, modifications and supplements.

 

Section 2.08       Ratification and Incorporation of Indenture .  As supplemented hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed, and the Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture shall be read, taken and construed as one and the same instrument.  This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every Holder of Notes shall be bound hereby.  The Trustee makes no representation or warranty as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture.

 

Section 2.09       Acceptance by Trustee .  The Trustee accepts the form of this Supplemental Indenture as reasonably satisfactory and agrees to perform the Indenture as supplemented hereby.

 

Section 2.10       No Security Interest Created .  Nothing in this Supplemental Indenture, expressed or implied, shall be construed to constitute a security interest under the Uniform Commercial Code or similar legislation, as now or hereafter enacted and in effect, in any jurisdiction

 

Section 2.11       Trust Indenture Act .  This Supplemental Indenture is hereby made subject to, and shall be governed by, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act required to be part of and to govern indentures qualified under the Trust Indenture Act.  If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts

 



 

with another provision hereof that is required to be included in an indenture qualified under the Trust Indenture Act, such required provisions shall control.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has caused this Second Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

 

BILL BARRETT CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert W. Howard

 

 

Name:

Robert W. Howard

 

 

Title:

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BILL BARRETT CBM CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert W. Howard

 

 

Name:

Robert W. Howard

 

 

Title:

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BILL BARRETT CBM, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert W. Howard

 

 

Name:

Robert W. Howard

 

 

Title:

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CIRCLE B LAND COMPANY LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert W. Howard

 

 

Name:

Robert W. Howard

 

 

Title:

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

[Signature Page to Second Supplemental Indenture]

 



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being duly authorized, has executed this Second Supplemental Indenture as of the date first above written.

 

 

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kenneth R. Ring

 

 

Name:

Kenneth R. Ring

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David Contino

 

 

Name:

David Contino

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Second Supplemental Indenture]

 


Exhibit 5.1

 

[Company Letterhead]

 

 

July 8, 2009

 

Bill Barrett Corporation
1099 18th Street, Suite 2300
Denver, Colorado 80202

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

I am Executive Vice President—General Counsel and Secretary of Bill Barrett Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and have acted in my capacity as General Counsel in connection with the registration, pursuant to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-158778), as amended by Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 (as so amended, the “ Registration Statement ”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Act ”), of the offering and sale by the Company of $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 9.875% Senior Notes due 2016 (the “ Notes ”), including the guarantees (the “ Guarantees ” and together with the Notes, the “ Securities ”) of the Notes by the Company’s subsidiaries (the “ Subsidiary Guarantors ” and together with the Company, the “ Obligors ”) listed on Schedule I hereto (including the Subsidiary Guarantor listed on Schedule II hereto (the “ Texas Subsidiary ”)), to be issued under an indenture (the “ Base Indenture ”), dated as of July 8, 2009, among the Obligors and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”), as supplemented by the first supplemental indenture, dated July 8, 2009, among the Obligors and the Trustee (the “ First Supplemental Indenture ,” and together with the Base Indenture, the “ Indenture ”), and sold pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2009 (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”), among the Obligors, Banc of America Securities LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., as representatives of the several underwriters (the “ Underwriters ”) named in Schedule A to the Underwriting Agreement.  This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Act.

 

I have examined originals or certified copies of (i) the Registration Statement and exhibits filed therewith, (ii) the prospectus supplement dated June 30, 2009 filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 424(b) promulgated under the Securities Act, (iii) the Indenture, and (iv)  such corporate records or limited liability company records of the Obligors and other certificates and documents of officials of the Obligors, public officials and others as I have deemed appropriate for purposes of this letter. I have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to me as originals, the conformity to authentic original documents of all copies submitted to me as conformed, certified or reproduced copies, and that the Notes will conform to the specimen thereof I have reviewed. I have also assumed that the Indenture is a valid and binding obligation of the Trustee, enforceable against the Trustee in accordance with its terms. As to various questions of fact relevant to this letter, I have relied, without independent investigation, upon certificates of public officials and certificates of officers of the Obligors, all of which I assume to be true, correct and complete.

 



 

Based upon the foregoing and subject to the assumptions, exceptions, qualifications and limitations set forth herein, I am of the opinion that the Securities have been authorized by all necessary corporate or limited liability company action by the Obligors and, when the Notes have been duly authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, will be valid and binding obligations of the Obligors, enforceable against the Obligors in accordance with their terms.

 

The opinions and other matters in this letter are qualified in their entirety and subject to the following:

 

A.            I am licensed in the State of Colorado and I express no opinion as to the laws of any jurisdiction other than any published constitutions, treaties, laws, rules or regulations or judicial or administrative decisions (“ Laws ”) of (i) the federal Laws of the United States of America, (ii) the Delaware General Corporation Law, (iii) the Laws of the State of Colorado, (iv) with respect to the opinion as to the Securities, the Laws of the State of New York and (v) with respect to the opinion as to the Texas Subsidiary, the Laws of the State of Texas.  With respect to (a) the opinion as to the validity and binding effect and enforceability of the  Securities and (b) the opinion with respect to the authorization of the Securities by all necessary limited liability company action by the Texas Subsidiary, I have relied on the opinion of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P. attached hereto as Exhibit A , special New York and Texas counsel, as to the Laws of the States of New York and Texas. The description of the opinion provided by Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P. is qualified in its entirety by reference to the specific opinion, which is attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

B.              The matters expressed in this letter are subject to and qualified and limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer and conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally; (ii) general principles of equity, including without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); and (iii) securities Laws and public policy underlying such Laws with respect to rights to indemnification and contribution.

 

C.              This opinion letter is limited to the matters expressly stated herein and no opinion is to be inferred or implied beyond the opinion expressly set forth herein.  I undertake no, and hereby disclaim any, obligation to make any inquiry after the date hereof or to advise you of any changes in any matter set forth herein, whether based on a change in the law, a change in any fact relating to an Obligor or any other person or any other circumstance.

 

I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company with the Commission on or about the date hereof, to the incorporation

 

2



 

by reference of this opinion into the Registration Statement and to the use of my name in the Prospectus Supplement dated June 30, 2009 and the Prospectus dated June 24, 2009 forming a part of the Registration Statement under the caption “Legal Matters.”  In giving this consent, I do not thereby admit that I am within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

/s/ Francis B. Barron

 

 

 

Francis B. Barron

 

Executive Vice President—General Counsel; and Secretary

 

3



 

Schedule I

 

Subsidiary Guarantors

 

 

Bill Barrett CBM Corporation

 

Bill Barrett CBM, LLC

 

Circle B Land Company LLC

 



 

Schedule II

 

Subsidiary Guarantor

 

Special Counsel

 

 

 

Bill Barrett CBM, LLC

 

Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P.

 



 

Exhibit A

 

(see attached)

 



 

[Letterhead of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P.]

 

July 8, 2009

 

Bill Barrett Corporation
1099 18th Street, Suite 2300
Denver, Colorado 80202

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as special counsel to Bill Barrett Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and Bill Barrett CBM, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (the “ Specified Subsidiary ”), in connection with the registration, pursuant to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-158778), as amended by Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 (as so amended, the “ Registration Statement ”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Act ”), of the offering and sale by the Company of $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 9.875% Senior Notes due 2016 (the “ Notes ”), including the guarantees (the “ Guarantees ” and together with the Notes, the “ Securities ”) of the Notes by the Company’s subsidiaries (the “ Subsidiary Guarantors ” and together with the Company, the “ Obligors ”) listed on Schedule I hereto (including the Specified Subsidiary), to be issued under an indenture (the “ Base Indenture ”), dated as of July 8, 2009, among the Obligors and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”), as supplemented by the first supplemental indenture, dated July 8, 2009, among the Obligors and the Trustee (the “ First Supplemental Indenture ,” and together with the Base Indenture, the “ Indenture ”), and sold pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2009 (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”), among the Obligors, Banc of America Securities LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., as representatives of the several underwriters (the “ Underwriters ”) named in Schedule A to the Underwriting Agreement.  This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Act.

 

We have examined originals or certified copies of (i) the Registration Statement and exhibits filed therewith, (ii) the prospectus supplement dated June 30, 2009 filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 424(b) promulgated under the Securities Act, (iii) the Indenture, and (iv)  such corporate records or limited liability company records of the Obligors and other certificates and documents of officials of the Obligors, public officials and others as we have deemed appropriate for purposes of this letter. We have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to authentic original documents of all copies submitted to us as conformed, certified or reproduced copies and that the Notes will conform to the specimen thereof we have reviewed. We have also assumed that the Indenture is a valid and binding obligation of the Trustee, enforceable against the Trustee in accordance with its terms. As to various questions of fact relevant to this letter, we have relied, without independent investigation, upon certificates of public officials and certificates of officers of the Obligors, all of which we assume to be true, correct and complete.

 



 

Based upon the foregoing and subject to the assumptions, exceptions, qualifications and limitations set forth herein, we are of the opinion that the Guarantee by the Specified Subsidiary has been authorized by all necessary limited liability company action by the Specified Subsidiary and that, when the Notes have been duly executed by the Company, duly authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, the Securities will be valid and binding obligations of the Obligors, enforceable against the Obligors in accordance with their terms.

 

The opinions and other matters in this letter are qualified in their entirety and subject to the following:

 

A.            We express no opinion as to the laws of any jurisdiction other than any published constitutions, treaties, laws, rules or regulations or judicial or administrative decisions (“ Laws ”) of the States of New York and Texas.

 

B.              The matters expressed in this letter are subject to and qualified and limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer and conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally; (ii) general principles of equity, including without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); and (iii) securities Laws and public policy underlying such Laws with respect to rights to indemnification and contribution.

 

C.              This opinion letter is limited to the matters expressly stated herein and no opinion is to be inferred or implied beyond the opinion expressly set forth herein.  We undertake no, and hereby disclaim any, obligation to make any inquiry after the date hereof or to advise you of any changes in any matter set forth herein, whether based on a change in the law, a change in any fact relating to an Obligor or any other person or any other circumstance.

 

This opinion may be relied upon by Francis B. Barron in connection with the opinion he is delivering to the Company to be filed as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed with the Commission on or about the date hereof (the “ Form 8-K ”) and to be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Form 8-K, to the incorporation by reference of this opinion into the Registration Statement and to the use of our name in the Prospectus Supplement dated June 30, 2009 and the Prospectus dated June 24, 2009 forming a part of the Registration Statement under the caption “Legal Matters.”  In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

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Very truly yours,

 

 

 

/s/ Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P.

 

 

 

AKIN, GUMP, STRAUSS, HAUER & FELD, L.L.P.

 

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Schedule I

 

Subsidiary Guarantors

 

Bill Barrett CBM Corporation

 

Bill Barrett CBM, LLC

 

Circle B Land Company LLC

 


Exhibit 99.1

 

Press Release

 

For immediate release

 

Company contact: Jennifer Martin, Director of Investor Relations, 303-312-8155

 

BILL BARRETT CORPORATION ANNOUNCES

UPSIZING AND PRICING OF OFFERING OF $250 MILLION OF SENIOR NOTES

 

DENVER — June 30, 2009 — Bill Barrett Corporation (NYSE: BBG) today announced that it has priced its $250 million aggregate principal amount of 9.875% Senior Notes due 2016.  The notes were sold to the public at 95.172% of the face value to yield 10.875% to maturity. The offering size was increased from $200 million (as previously announced) to $250 million.  The notes will be unsecured, unsubordinated obligations of the Company.  Initially, all of the Company’s subsidiaries will guarantee the notes.

 

Interest on the notes is payable January 15 and July 15 of each year. The first interest payment will be made on January 15, 2010, and will consist of interest from July 8, 2009 to that date.  The notes will mature on July 15, 2016.  The offering is expected to close on July 8, 2009, subject to customary closing conditions.  The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to repay borrowings under its revolving credit facility.

 

Banc of America Securities LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. were the joint book-running managers for the offering. This offering is being made only by means of a prospectus and related prospectus supplement.  Electronic copies of the prospectus and the prospectus supplement may be obtained from Banc of America Securities LLC at 100 West 33rd Street, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10001, Attention: Prospectus Department, or at 1-800-294-1322, from Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. at 100 Plaza One, Second Floor, Jersey City, NJ 07311 or at 1-800-503-4611 and from J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. by calling 800-245-8812.  The prospectus and the prospectus supplement may also be obtained from the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any state.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws.  All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements.  These statements include the Company’s plan to complete a public offering of $250 million of senior notes.  Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including market conditions, operational developments with respect to the Company, and other factors described in the Company’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

About Bill Barrett Corporation

 

Bill Barrett Corporation, headquartered in Denver, Colorado, explores for and develops natural gas and oil in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States.