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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 19, 2019

 

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)

 

Oklahoma   1-13726   73-1395733
(State or other jurisdiction of   (Commission File No.)   (IRS Employer Identification No.)
incorporation)        

 

6100 North Western Avenue Oklahoma City OK   73118
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

(405) 848-8000

 

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

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

 

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

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

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

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

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share CHK New York Stock Exchange

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company ¨

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

Second Lien Notes Exchange

 

As previously announced, on December 4, 2019, Chesapeake Energy Corporation (the “Company”) commenced private offers (the “Exchange Offers”) of newly issued 11.5% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2025 (the “Second Lien Notes”) in exchange for certain of its outstanding senior notes (the “Existing Notes”). On December 19, 2019 (the “Early Settlement Date”), the Company elected to accept and settle the Exchange Offers for all Existing Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn (subject to authorized minimum denominations of Existing Notes that were able to be accepted in the Exchange Offers pursuant to the procedures described in the Company’s confidential offering memorandum, dated December 4, 2019) prior to the early tender deadline of 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on December 17, 2019.

 

On the Early Settlement Date, the Company and its subsidiaries that were guarantors (the “Subsidiary Guarantors”) under the Company’s Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of September 12, 2018 (the “Credit Agreement”), among the Company, as borrower, MUFG Union Bank, N.A. (“MUFG”), as administrative agent, a swingline lender, a letter of credit issuer and a lender; Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as co-syndication agent, a swingline lender, a letter of credit issuer and a lender; JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as co-syndication agent, a swingline lender, a letter of credit issuer and a lender; and certain other lenders named therein, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time (the “Credit Facility”) entered into an indenture (the “Indenture”) with Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee and collateral trustee (the “Trustee”). On that date, the Company issued approximately $2.2 billion aggregate principal amount of the Second Lien Notes in exchange for approximately $3.2 billion aggregate principal amount of Existing Notes in the Exchange Offers.

 

The Second Lien Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or any state securities law and, unless so registered, may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. The Second Lien Notes were offered only to persons who were (i) “qualified institutional buyers” as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act or (ii) outside the United States and persons other than “U.S. persons” as defined in Rule 902 under the Securities Act in offshore transactions in compliance with Regulation S, who were “non-U.S. qualified offerees”. This Current Report does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any security and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

 

The Second Lien Notes are the senior obligations of the Company and are unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, on a senior basis, by the Subsidiary Guarantors. The Second Lien Notes will be secured by second-priority liens (without regard to any priorities or intercreditor arrangements between or among the holders of any priority indebtedness or obligations) on all of the Company’s and Subsidiary Guarantors’ assets (with oil and natural gas properties to be mortgaged during a period after the date of the Indenture as provided for in the Indenture) that secure the Credit Facility (such assets, the “Collateral”), and are effectively subordinated, pursuant to the terms of an intercreditor agreement, entered into on December 19, 2019 (the “Intercreditor Agreement”), between MUFG, as priority lien agent, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as second lien collateral trustee (the “Second Lien Collateral Trustee”), and acknowledged and agreed to by the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, to any indebtedness of the Company or the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor secured on a priority basis to the Second Lien Notes, including indebtedness under the Credit Facility, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness.

 

Interest and Maturity

 

The Second Lien Notes will mature on January 1, 2025, and will bear interest at a rate of 11.5% per year, payable semiannually in arrears on January 1 and July 1 of each year, beginning on July 1, 2020.

 

Optional Redemption

 

The Company has three optional redemption rights. First, prior to January 1, 2022, the Company may on one or more occasions use an amount of cash not greater than the net cash proceeds to the Company from one or more equity offerings (if any) to redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Second Lien Notes issued under the Indenture at a redemption price of 111.500% of the principal amount of the Second Lien Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), provided that:

 

    at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of Second Lien Notes issued under the Indenture remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption (excluding Second Lien Notes held by the Company and its subsidiaries); and

 

    the redemption occurs within 180 days of the date of the closing of such equity offering.

 

 

 

 

Second, prior to January 1, 2022, the Company may redeem all or part of the Second Lien Notes upon not less than 30 or more than 60 days’ notice to each holder of Second Lien Notes to be redeemed, at a redemption price equal to the sum of:

 

    100% of the principal amount thereof, plus

 

    the Make-Whole Premium (as defined in the Indenture) at the redemption date, plus

 

    accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date).

 

Third, on and after January 1, 2022, the Company has the option to redeem all or a part of the Second Lien Notes, upon not less than 30 or more than 60 days’ notice to each holder of Second Lien Notes to be redeemed, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Second Lien Notes redeemed to the applicable redemption date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), if redeemed during the twelve-month period (or, in the case of the period beginning January 1, 2024, such twelve-month period and thereafter) beginning on January 1 of the years indicated below:

 

Year   Percentage  
2022     105.750 %
2023     102.875 %
2024 and thereafter     100.000 %

 

Mandatory Principal Payments

 

If the Second Lien Notes would otherwise constitute “applicable high yield discount obligations” (“AHYDOs”) within the meaning of Section 163(i)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), at the end of all accrual periods ending after the fifth anniversary of the issuance of the Second Lien Notes (each, an “AHYDO Payment Date”), but not including the final accrual period, the Company will be required to make pro-rata cash payments to all holders of each Second Lien Note then outstanding in an amount equal to the “Mandatory Principal Payment Amount” (each such payment, a “Mandatory Principal Payment”). The “Mandatory Principal Payment Amount” means the portion of such Second Lien Note’s principal required to be paid as of each AHYDO Payment Date to prevent such Second Lien Note from being treated as an AHYDO within the meaning of Section 163(i)(1) of the Code. No partial payments, redemptions or repurchases of the Second Lien Notes prior to an AHYDO Payment Date pursuant to any other provision of the Indenture or the Second Lien Notes will alter the Company’s obligation to make such Mandatory Principal Payment with respect to the Second Lien Notes that remain outstanding on an AHYDO Payment Date. Solely for U.S. Federal income tax purposes, any Mandatory Principal Payment shall be treated as a payment of accrued original discount that constitutes interest for purposes of Section 163(i)(2) of the Code.

 

Certain Covenants

 

The Indenture contains covenants that, among other things, limit the ability of the Company and its restricted subsidiaries to: (i) make certain restricted payments; (ii) create liens securing certain indebtedness; (iii) enter into certain sale-leaseback transactions; (iv) sell Collateral and use proceeds from such sales; and (v) consolidate or merge with or into any person, or sell, convey, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to any person. The Indenture requires that in the case of a change of control each holder shall have the right to require the Company to purchase such holder’s Second Lien Notes at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the Second Lien Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest.

 

Events of Default

 

Upon a continuing event of default, the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% of the principal amount of the Second Lien Notes may declare the unpaid principal of and any premium and accrued but unpaid interest on all the Second Lien Notes immediately due and payable, except that a default resulting from a bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization with respect to the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, will automatically cause the unpaid principal of and any premium and accrued but unpaid interest on all the Second Lien Notes to become due and payable. Each of the following constitutes an “Event of Default” under the Indenture:

 

 

 

 

    default by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor in the payment of principal of or any premium on the Second Lien Notes when due and payable at maturity, upon redemption, upon required purchase, upon declaration or otherwise;

 

    default by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor in the payment of any installment of interest on the Second Lien Notes when due and payable and continuance of such default for 30 days;

 

    default on any other Indebtedness (as defined in the Indenture) of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor if either:

 

    such default results in the acceleration of the maturity of any such Indebtedness having a principal amount of $75 million or more individually or, taken together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness the maturity of which has been so accelerated, in the aggregate, or

 

    such default results from the failure to pay when due principal of any such Indebtedness, after giving effect to any applicable grace period (a “Payment Default”), having a principal amount of $75 million or more individually or, taken together with the principal amount of any other Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default, in the aggregate, subject to a cure provision;

 

    default in the performance, or breach of, certain covenants or agreements of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor in the Indenture and failure to remedy such default within a period of 60 days after written notice thereof from the Trustee or holders of 25% of the principal amount of the outstanding notes, subject to a cure provision;

 

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

 

    certain events involving bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor of the Company; and

 

    the occurrence of any of the following:

 

    any agreement establishing the second-priority liens securing the Second Lien Notes ceases for any reason to be enforceable; provided that it will not be an Event of Default if the sole result of such failure is that any such lien purported to be granted under any such agreement on Collateral, individually or in the aggregate, having a fair market value of not more than $50.0 million, ceases to be an enforceable and perfected second-priority lien, subject to a cure provision;

 

    any second-priority lien securing the Second Lien Notes purported to be granted under any agreement on the Collateral, individually or in the aggregate, having a fair market value in excess of $50.0 million, ceases to be an enforceable and perfected second-priority lien, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and other liens permitted under the Indenture, subject to a cure provision; or

 

    the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, or any person acting on behalf of any of them, denies or disaffirms its obligations under the agreements establishing the second-priority liens securing the Second Lien Notes.

 

The foregoing descriptions of the Indenture and the Second Lien Notes do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the Indenture, which is filed as Exhibit 4.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Intercreditor Agreement

 

On December 19, 2019, MUFG, as priority lien agent, and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, as second lien collateral trustee, entered into the Intercreditor Agreement, which was acknowledged and agreed to by the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, to govern the relationship of holders of the Second Lien Notes and holders of any other obligations secured on an equal and ratable basis with the Second Lien Notes that the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor may incur in the future (if any), the lenders under the Credit Facility and holders of other priority lien obligations and holders of any junior lien debt that the Company may incur in the future (if any), with respect to the Collateral and certain other matters.

 

The foregoing description of the Intercreditor Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Intercreditor Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

 

Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement

 

On December 19, 2019, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee, as representative of the holders of Second Lien Notes, and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee entered into a collateral trust agreement (the “Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement”) pursuant to which the Second Lien Collateral Trustee will receive, hold, administer, maintain, enforce and distribute the proceeds of all of its liens upon the Collateral for the benefit of the current and future holders of the Second Lien Notes and other obligations secured on an equal and ratable basis with the Second Lien Notes, if any.

 

The foregoing description of the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

First Supplemental Indenture

 

On December 23, 2019, the Company, the Trustee and the subsidiary guarantors party thereto, including Brazos Valley Longhorn, L.L.C. (“BVL”), Brazos Valley Longhorn Finance Corp. (“BVL Finance Corp.”) and the other BVL subsidiaries named therein (collectively, the “BVL Subsidiaries”), entered into a first supplemental indenture to the Indenture (the “First Supplemental Indenture”), pursuant to which BVL, BVL Finance Corp. and the BVL Subsidiaries guaranteed the Second Lien Notes under the Indenture, secured on a second-priority basis on all of their Collateral (with oil and natural gas properties to be mortgaged during a period after December 23, 2019 as provided for in the Indenture), to be subordinated as provided in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

The foregoing description of the First Supplemental Indenture does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the First Supplemental Indenture, which is filed as Exhibit 4.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Term Loan

 

On December 19, 2019, the Company entered into (i) an agreement providing for a term loan facility (as supplemented by the Class A Term Loan Supplement described below, the “Term Loan Agreement”) by and among the Company, as the borrower, GLAS USA LLC, as administrative agent (the “Term Agent”), and the several lenders from time to time parties thereto and (ii) a supplement to the Term Loan Agreement (the “Class A Term Loan Supplement,” and loans made pursuant to the Term Loan Agreement, “Class A Term Loans”) with the Term Agent and the lenders party thereto. The Company borrowed $1.5 billion aggregate principal amount of Class A Term Loans pursuant to the Term Loan Agreement on December 23, 2019, and the proceeds were used to finance tender offers for BVL’s 6.875% Senior Notes due 2025 (the “BVL Notes”) and to repay amounts outstanding under the existing BVL revolving credit facility (the “BVL Credit Facility”). Multiple classes of term loans (collectively, the “Term Loans”) may be incurred under the Term Loan Agreement, pursuant to supplements thereto, subject to the Company’s receipt of commitments from new lenders for such classes of Term Loans and the satisfaction of certain other conditions.

 

Obligations under the Term Loan Agreement (the “Term Loan Obligations”) were unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several basis by the Subsidiary Guarantors that guarantee the Company’s Credit Facility and secured by first-priority liens on all of the Company’s and the Subsidiary Guarantors’ assets (with oil and natural gas properties to be mortgaged during a period after the date of the Term Loan Agreement as provided for therein) that secure the Credit Facility (the “Collateral”), but pursuant to the First Lien Collateral Trust Agreement described below, will be second in collateral recovery behind the secured parties under the Credit Facility. The Collateral also secures the Second Lien Notes and other indebtedness of the Company, if any, secured on a junior basis to the Credit Facility and the Term Loan Obligations, pursuant to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, which the Term Agent will join as the representative of the secured parties under the Term Loan Agreement. To the extent of the Collateral, the Term Loan Obligations are effectively senior to the Second Lien Notes and such other indebtedness secured on a junior basis, if any, as well as the unsecured obligations of the Company.

 

The Class A Term Loans mature on June 23, 2024 and will bear interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 8.00% per annum, subject to a 1.00% LIBOR floor, or the alternate base rate (“ABR”) plus 7.00% per annum, subject to a 2.00% ABR floor, at the Company’s option. The Class A Term Loans were funded at 98% of par. Repayment of the Class A Term Loans is subject to a make-whole premium prior to the 18-month anniversary of closing of the Class A Term Loans, a premium to par equal to 5.00% from the 18-month anniversary until but excluding the 30-month anniversary and a premium to par equal to 2.50% from the 30-month anniversary until but excluding the 42-month anniversary. Beginning on the 42-month anniversary of closing of the Class A Term Loans, the Company may prepay the Class A Term Loans at par.

 

The Term Loans, including the Class A Term Loans, may be subject to mandatory prepayments and offers to prepay with net cash proceeds of certain issuances of debt, certain sales and other dispositions of Collateral. In the event of a change of control of the Company, the Company will be required to offer to prepay the Term Loans, including the Class A Term Loans, at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans prepaid, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Term Loans prepaid to the date of purchase.

 

 

 

 

The terms of the Term Loan Agreement include covenants limiting, among other things, the ability of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (as defined therein) to incur additional indebtedness, incur liens, consummate mergers and similar fundamental changes, make restricted payments, sell Collateral and use proceeds from such sales, make investments, repay certain subordinate, unsecured or junior lien indebtedness, and enter into transactions with affiliates.

 

Events of default under the Term Loan Agreement include, among other things, nonpayment of principal, interest or other amounts; violation of covenants; incorrectness of representations and warranties in any material respect; cross-payment default and cross acceleration with respect to other indebtedness, including other classes of Term Loans, with an outstanding principal balance of $125.0 million or more; bankruptcy; judgments involving liability of $125.0 million or more that are not paid; and ERISA events. Many events of default are subject to customary notice and cure periods.

 

The above description of the material terms and conditions of the Term Loan Agreement, the Class A Term Loan Supplement and the Class A Term Loans does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Term Loan Agreement and the Class A Term Loan Supplement, which are filed as Exhibits 4.3 and 4.4, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

First Lien Collateral Trust Agreement

 

On December 19, 2019, MUFG, as collateral trustee and revolver agent (the “First Lien Collateral Trustee”), entered into a collateral trust agreement, which was acknowledged and agreed to by the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors (the “First Lien Collateral Trust Agreement”) pursuant to which the First Lien Collateral Trustee will receive, hold, administer, maintain, enforce and distribute the proceeds of all of its liens upon the Collateral for the benefit of the lenders under the Credit Facility, the lenders under the Term Loan Agreement and holders of other term loan obligations secured on an equal and ratable basis with the Term Loans, if any.

 

The above description of the material terms and conditions of the First Lien Collateral Trust Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the First Lien Collateral Trust Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

BVL Joinder

 

On December 23, 2019, BVL, BVL Finance Corp. and the BVL Subsidiaries guaranteed the Class A Term Loans on a joint and several basis, secured on first-priority liens on all of their Collateral (with oil and natural gas properties to be mortgaged during a period after December 23, 2019 as provided in the Term Loan Agreement), but pursuant to the First Lien Collateral Trust Agreement will be second in collateral recovery behind the secured parties under the Credit Facility.

 

BVL Notes Supplemental Indenture

 

As previously announced, on December 4, 2019, the Company commenced a tender offer and consent solicitation, on behalf of BVL and BVL Finance Corp., to purchase for cash any and all of the outstanding BVL Notes and to solicit consents to certain amendments to the indenture governing the BVL Notes. On December 23, 2019, the Company purchased approximately $616.2 million aggregate principal amount of the BVL Notes for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $616.2 million (excluding accrued interest). Following the receipt of the requisite consents in the consent solicitation for the BVL Notes, BVL, BVL Finance Corp., the BVL Subsidiaries and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, entered into a fifth supplemental indenture on December 19, 2019 (the “Fifth Supplemental Indenture”), which gives effect to the amendments to the indenture governing the BVL Notes, which, among other things, eliminated substantially all of the restrictive covenants, certain events of default and certain other provisions applicable to the BVL Notes upon settlement of the purchase of the BVL Notes. The Company contributed the purchased BVL Notes to BVL, and BVL cancelled such BVL Notes.

 

The foregoing description of the Fifth Supplemental Indenture does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full and complete terms of the Fifth Supplemental Indenture, which is filed as Exhibit 4.5 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

 

Credit Facility

 

On December 23, 2019, BVL, BVL Finance Corp. and the BVL Subsidiaries became “Restricted Subsidiaries” as defined in the Credit Agreement and guaranteed the Credit Facility on a joint and several basis, secured on first-priority liens on all of their Collateral.

 

Item 1.02 Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement

 

In connection with the Class A Term Loans and the Company’s repayment of amounts outstanding under the BVL Credit Facility described in Item 1.01 above, the Company terminated the BVL Credit Facility, effective as of December 23, 2019. For a description of the BVL Credit Facility, see Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.

 

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 in Item 1.01 is incorporated herein by reference to this Item 2.03.

   

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.   Document Description
     
4.1   Indenture, dated as of December 19, 2019, among Chesapeake Energy Corporation, the guarantors named therein, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee and as collateral trustee, with respect to 11.5% Senior Notes due 2025.
4.2   First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 23, 2019, to Indenture dated as of December 19, 2019, among Chesapeake Energy Corporation, the guarantors named therein, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee and as collateral trustee, with respect to 11.5% Senior Notes due 2025.
4.3   Term Loan Agreement, dated as of December 19, 2019, among Chesapeake Energy Corporation, the lenders party thereto, and GLAS USA LLC, as term agent.
4.4   Class A Term Loan Supplement, dated as of December 19, 2019, among Chesapeake Energy Corporation, the lenders party thereto, and GLAS USA LLC, as term agent.
4.5   Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 19, 2019, to Indenture dated as of February 1, 2017, among Brazos Valley Longhorn, L.L.C., Brazos Valley Longhorn Finance Corp., the guarantors named therein, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee.
10.1   Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of December 19, 2019, by and among MUFG Union Bank, N.A., as priority lien agent, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as second lien collateral trustee, and acknowledged and agreed to by Chesapeake Energy Corporation and certain of its subsidiaries.
10.2   Collateral Trust Agreement, dated as of December 19, 2019, by and among Chesapeake Energy Corporation, the guarantors named therein, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas as the representative of the holders of the Second Lien Notes and as collateral trustee.
10.3   Collateral Trust Agreement, dated as of December 19, 2019, by and among MUFG Union Bank, N.A., as collateral trustee and revolver agent, and GLAS USA LLC, as term loan agent, and acknowledged and agreed by Chesapeake Energy Corporation and certain of its subsidiaries.
104   Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

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

 

 

  CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION
   
   
By: /s/ James R. Webb  
  James R. Webb
  Executive Vice President - General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

 

 

Date: December 26, 2019

 

 

 

Exhibit 4.1

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION,

 

as Issuer,

 

THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO,

 

as Subsidiary Guarantors,

 

AND

 

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS,

 

as Trustee and Collateral Trustee

 

 

 

INDENTURE

 

DATED AS OF DECEMBER 19, 2019

 

 

 

11.5% SENIOR SECURED SECOND LIEN NOTES DUE 2025

 

 

 

 

Reference is made to the Intercreditor Agreement (as defined herein). Each Holder (as defined herein), by its acceptance of a Security (as defined herein) (i) consents to the subordination of Liens (as defined herein) provided for in the Intercreditor Agreement, (ii) agrees that it will be bound by, and will take no actions contrary to, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement and (iii) authorizes and instructs the Collateral Trustee (as defined herein) on behalf of the Holders (and each other holder of Parity Lien Obligations (as defined herein)) to enter into the Intercreditor Agreement as Collateral Trustee on behalf of the Holders and each other holder of Parity Lien Obligations. The foregoing provisions are intended as an inducement to the lenders under the Priority Lien Documents (as defined herein) to extend credit to Chesapeake Energy Corporation, and such lenders are intended third party beneficiaries of such provisions and the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

      Page
       
ARTICLE One DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE   1
       
SECTION 1.01 Definitions   1
SECTION 1.02 Other Definitions   33
SECTION 1.03 [Reserved]   33
SECTION 1.04 Rules of Construction   33
       
ARTICLE Two THE SECURITIES   34
       
SECTION 2.01 Form and Dating   34
SECTION 2.02 Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication   35
SECTION 2.03 Amount Unlimited; Issuance of Additional Securities   35
SECTION 2.04 Execution of Securities   35
SECTION 2.05 Authentication and Delivery of Securities   36
SECTION 2.06 Registrar and Paying Agent   36
SECTION 2.07 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust   37
SECTION 2.08 Holder Lists   37
SECTION 2.09 Transfer and Exchange   37
SECTION 2.10 Replacement Securities   38
SECTION 2.11 Outstanding Securities   38
SECTION 2.12 Temporary Securities   39
SECTION 2.13 Securities Issuable in the Form of a Global Security   39
SECTION 2.14 Cancellation   41
SECTION 2.15 Defaulted Interest   41
SECTION 2.16 CUSIP Numbers and ISINs   42
       
ARTICLE Three REDEMPTION   42
       
SECTION 3.01 Optional Redemption   42
SECTION 3.02 Notice to Trustee   43
SECTION 3.03 Selection of Securities to Be Redeemed   43
SECTION 3.04 Notice of Redemption   43
SECTION 3.05 Effect of Notice of Redemption   45
SECTION 3.06 Deposit of Redemption Price   45
SECTION 3.07 Securities Redeemed in Part   45
SECTION 3.08 No Mandatory Redemption or Sinking Fund   45
       
ARTICLE Four COVENANTS   46
       
SECTION 4.01 Payment of Securities   46
SECTION 4.02 SEC Reports and Rule 144A Information   46
SECTION 4.03 Compliance Certificates   47
SECTION 4.04 Maintenance of Office or Agency   47

 

-ii-

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

SECTION 4.05 Continued Existence   48
SECTION 4.06 Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws   48
SECTION 4.07 Payment of Taxes and Other Claims   48
SECTION 4.08 Maintenance of Properties and Insurance   49
SECTION 4.09 Limitation on Restricted Payments   49
SECTION 4.10 Limitation on Liens Securing Funded Debt   53
SECTION 4.11 Limitation on Sale/Leaseback Transactions   53
SECTION 4.12 Limitation on Collateral Sales   55
SECTION 4.13 Change of Control   59
       
ARTICLE Five SUCCESSORS   61
       
SECTION 5.01 When Company May Merge, etc.   61
SECTION 5.02 Successor Substituted   62
       
ARTICLE Six DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES   62
       
SECTION 6.01 Events of Default   62
SECTION 6.02 Acceleration   64
SECTION 6.03 Other Remedies   65
SECTION 6.04 Waiver of Past Defaults   65
SECTION 6.05 Control by Majority   65
SECTION 6.06 Limitation on Remedies   65
SECTION 6.07 Rights of Holders to Receive Payment   66
SECTION 6.08 Collection Suit by Trustee   66
SECTION 6.09 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim   66
SECTION 6.10 Priorities   67
SECTION 6.11 Undertaking for Costs   67
       
ARTICLE Seven TRUSTEE   67
       
SECTION 7.01 Duties of Trustee   67
SECTION 7.02 Rights of Trustee   69
SECTION 7.03 Individual Rights of Trustee   70
SECTION 7.04 Trustee’s Disclaimer   70
SECTION 7.05 Notice of Defaults   70
SECTION 7.06 TIA and Listings   70
SECTION 7.07 Compensation and Indemnity   70
SECTION 7.08 Replacement of Trustee   71
SECTION 7.09 Successor Trustee by Merger, etc   72
SECTION 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification   72
SECTION 7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company   72
       
ARTICLE Eight DEFEASANCE   72
       
SECTION 8.01 [Reserved]   72
SECTION 8.02 Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance   73
SECTION 8.03 Legal Defeasance and Discharge   73
SECTION 8.04 Covenant Defeasance   73

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

SECTION 8.05 Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance   74
SECTION 8.06 Deposited Money and U.S. Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions   75
SECTION 8.07 Repayment to Company   76
SECTION 8.08 Reinstatement   76
       
ARTICLE Nine AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS   76
       
SECTION 9.01 Without Consent of Holders   76
SECTION 9.02 With Consent of Holders   78
SECTION 9.03 [Reserved]   79
SECTION 9.04 Revocation and Effect of Consents   79
SECTION 9.05 Notation on or Exchange of Securities   80
SECTION 9.06 Trustee Protected   80
       
ARTICLE Ten GUARANTEES   80
       
SECTION 10.01 [Reserved]   80
SECTION 10.02 Unconditional Guarantee   80
SECTION 10.03 Subsidiary Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms   81
SECTION 10.04 Addition of Subsidiary Guarantors   82
SECTION 10.05 Release of a Subsidiary Guarantor   82
SECTION 10.06 Limitation of Subsidiary Guarantor’s Liability   83
SECTION 10.07 Contribution   83
SECTION 10.08 Severability   83
       
ARTICLE Eleven COLLATERAL AND SECURITY   84
       
SECTION 11.01 Security Interest   84
SECTION 11.02 Post-Issue Date Collateral Requirements   84
SECTION 11.03 Further Assurances; Liens on Additional Property   85
SECTION 11.04 Intercreditor Agreement   87
SECTION 11.05 Collateral Trust Agreement   88
SECTION 11.06 Release of Liens in Respect of Securities   88
SECTION 11.07 Collateral Trustee   89
       
ARTICLE Twelve SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE   90
       
SECTION 12.01 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture   90
SECTION 12.02 Application of Trust Money   91
       
ARTICLE Thirteen MISCELLANEOUS   91
       
SECTION 13.01 [Reserved]   91
SECTION 13.02 Notices   91
SECTION 13.03 Communication by Holders with Other Holders   93

 

-iv-

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

SECTION 13.04 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent   93
SECTION 13.05 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion   93
SECTION 13.06 Rules by Trustee and Agents   93
SECTION 13.07 Legal Holidays   93
SECTION 13.08 Governing Law   94
SECTION 13.09 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements   94
SECTION 13.10 No Recourse Against Others   94
SECTION 13.11 Successors   94
SECTION 13.12 Duplicate Originals   94
SECTION 13.13 Severability   94
SECTION 13.14 Force Majeure   94
SECTION 13.15 Waiver of Jury Trial   95
SECTION 13.16 Patriot Act   95
SECTION 13.17 Execution in Counterparts   95

 

-v-

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

APPENDIX AND ANNEX

 

RULE 144A/REGULATION S APPENDIX App. - 1

 

EXHIBIT 1 Form of Security Exhibit 1 to App. - 1

 

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

 

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INDENTURE, dated as of December 19, 2019, among CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION, an Oklahoma corporation (the “Company”), the SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS party hereto and DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, a New York banking corporation, as Trustee (the “Trustee”) and Collateral Trustee (the “Collateral Trustee”).

 

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY AND THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS

 

WHEREAS, the Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor have duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of the Company’s 11.5% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2025 (herein called the “Securities”), and the guarantee by Subsidiary Guarantors of the Securities;

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors are members of the same consolidated group of companies, and the Subsidiary Guarantors will derive direct and indirect economic benefits from the issuance of the Securities;

 

WHEREAS, accordingly, each Subsidiary Guarantor has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for its guarantee of the Securities, to the extent provided in or pursuant to this Indenture; and

 

WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Indenture a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor, in accordance with its terms, have been done;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

 

For and in consideration of the premises, and of the purchase and acceptance of the Securities by the holders thereof, it is mutually agreed, for the benefit of the Holders from time to time of the Securities, as follows:

 

ARTICLE One

 

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

 

SECTION 1.01                      Definitions.

 

Act of Parity Lien Debtholders” means, as to any matter at any time, a direction in writing delivered to the Collateral Trustee by or with the written consent of the holders of Parity Lien Debt representing the Required Parity Lien Debtholders.

 

 

 

Additional Secured Debt Designation” means the written agreement of the Parity Lien Representative of holders of any Series of Parity Lien Debt, as set forth in the indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Parity Lien Debt, for the benefit of (i) all holders of existing and future Priority Lien Debt, the Priority Lien Agent, each existing and future holder of Priority Liens and (ii) if applicable, all holders of each existing and future Series of Parity Lien Debt, the Collateral Trustee, and each existing and future holder of Parity Liens, in each case:

 

(a) that all Parity Lien Obligations will be and are secured equally and ratably by all Parity Liens at any time granted by any Obligor to secure any Obligations in respect of such Series of Parity Lien Debt, whether or not upon property otherwise constituting collateral for such Series of Parity Lien Debt, and that all such Parity Liens will be enforceable by the Collateral Trustee, for the benefit of all holders of Parity Lien Obligations, equally and ratably;

 

(b) that such Parity Lien Representative and the holders of Obligations in respect of such Series of Parity Lien Debt are bound by the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, including the provisions relating to the ranking of Priority Liens and Parity Liens and the order of application of proceeds from the enforcement of Priority Liens and Parity Liens; and

 

(c) appointing the Collateral Trustee and consenting to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and the performance by the Collateral Trustee of, and directing the Collateral Trustee to perform, its obligations under the Collateral Trust Agreement or applicable security documents, as applicable, and the Intercreditor Agreement, together with all such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.

 

Additional Securities” means, subject to the Company’s compliance with Section 4.10, 11.5% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2025 issued from time to time after the Issue Date under the terms of this Indenture (other than Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities pursuant to Section 2.09, Section 2.10, Section 2.12, Section 2.13, Section 3.07, or Section 9.05 of this Indenture or Section 2.3 or Section 2.4 of the Appendix).

 

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Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” or “ACNTA” means (without duplication), as of the date of determination, (a) the sum of (i) discounted future net revenue from proved oil and gas reserves of the Company and its Subsidiaries calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines before any state or federal income taxes, as estimated by petroleum engineers (which may include the Company’s internal engineers) in a reserve report prepared as of the end of the Company’s most recently completed fiscal year or, at the Company’s option, a reserve report prepared as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal quarter, as increased by, as of the date of determination, the discounted future net revenue of (A) estimated proved oil and gas reserves of the Company and its Subsidiaries attributable to any acquisition consummated since the date of such year-end or quarterly reserve report, as applicable, and (B) estimated proved oil and gas reserves of the Company and its Subsidiaries attributable to extensions, discoveries and other additions and upward revisions of estimates of proved oil and gas reserves due to exploration, development or exploitation, production or other activities conducted or otherwise occurring since the date of such year-end or quarterly reserve report, as applicable, which, in the case of sub-clauses (A) and (B), would, in accordance with standard industry practice, result in such increases as calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in such year-end or quarterly reserve report, as applicable), and decreased by, as of the date of determination, the discounted future net revenue of (C) estimated proved oil and gas reserves of the Company and its Subsidiaries produced or disposed of since the date of such year-end or quarterly reserve report, as applicable, and (D) reductions in the estimated oil and gas reserves of the Company and its Subsidiaries since the date of such year-end or quarterly reserve report, as applicable, attributable to downward revisions of estimates of proved oil and gas reserves due to exploration, development or exploitation, production or other activities conducted or otherwise occurring since the date of such year-end or quarterly reserve report, as applicable, which, in the case of sub-clauses (C) and (D), would, in accordance with standard industry practice, result in such decreases as calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in such year-end or quarterly reserve report, as applicable); provided that, in the case of each of the determinations made pursuant to clauses (A) through (D), such increases and decreases may be estimated by the Company’s engineers, (ii) the capitalized costs that are attributable to oil and gas properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries to which no proved oil and gas reserves are attributable, based on the Company’s books and records as of a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest annual or quarterly financial statements, (iii) the Net Working Capital on a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest annual or quarterly financial statements and (iv) the greater of (A) the net book value on a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest annual or quarterly financial statements and (B) the appraised value, as estimated by independent appraisers, of other tangible assets (including Investments in unconsolidated Subsidiaries) of the Company and its Subsidiaries, as of a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest audited financial statements (provided, that the Company shall not be required to obtain any appraisal of assets), minus (b) the sum of (i) minority interests, (ii) any gas balancing liabilities of the Company and its Subsidiaries reflected as a long-term liability in the Company’s latest annual or quarterly financial statements, (iii) the discounted future net revenue, calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in the Company’s year-end or quarterly reserve report, as applicable), attributable to reserves which are required to be delivered to third parties to fully satisfy the obligations of the Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to Volumetric Production Payments on the schedules specified with respect thereto, (iv) the discounted future net revenue, calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines, attributable to reserves subject to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments which, based on the estimates of production included in determining the discounted future net revenue specified in (a) (i) above (utilizing the same prices utilized in the Company’s year-end or quarterly reserve report, as applicable), would be necessary to fully satisfy the payment obligations of the Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments on the schedules specified with respect thereto and (v) the discounted future net revenue, calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the same prices utilized in the Company’s year-end or quarterly reserve report, as applicable), attributable to reserves subject to participation interests, overriding royalty interests or other interests of third parties, pursuant to participation, partnership, vendor financing or other agreements then in effect, or which otherwise are required to be delivered to third parties. For the avoidance of doubt, “reserves” shall include any reserves applicable to natural gas liquids.

 

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

 

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Adjusted Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the yield, under the heading which represents the average for the immediately preceding week, appearing in the most recently published Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) or any successor publication which is published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or, if such release (or any successor release) is not published, any publicly available source of similar market data) and which establishes yields on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity under the caption “Treasury Constant Maturities,” for the maturity corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue (if no maturity is within three months before or after January 1, 2022, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue shall be determined and the Adjusted Treasury Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated from such yields on a straight line basis, rounding to the nearest month), calculated on the third Business Day immediately preceding the redemption date, plus 50 basis points.

 

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

 

Agent” means any Registrar or Paying Agent.

 

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

 

Average Life” means, as of the date of determination, with respect to any Indebtedness or Preferred Stock, the quotient obtained by dividing (1) the sum of the products of numbers of years from the date of determination to the dates of each successive scheduled principal payment of such Indebtedness or redemption or similar payment with respect to such Preferred Stock multiplied by the amount of such payment by (2) the sum of all such payments.

 

-4-

 

 

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

 

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.

 

Borrowing Base Properties” means the Oil and Gas Properties included in the most recently delivered Reserve Report delivered pursuant to the Priority Lien Credit Agreement, in each case together with any Oil and Gas Properties included in a Supplemental Reserve Report (as defined in the Priority Lien Credit Agreement as in effect on the Issue Date). For the avoidance of doubt, if on any date an Oil and Gas Property included in the most recent Reserve Report (or, if relevant, Supplemental Reserve Report) is no longer owned by any Obligor, then such Oil and Gas Property shall no longer constitute a Borrowing Base Property.

 

Business Day” means any day on which banks in The City of New York are open and which is not a Legal Holiday.

 

BVL Notes” means the 6.875% Senior Notes due 2025 issued by Brazos Valley Longhorn, L.L.C. (as successor-by-merger to WildHorse Resource Development Corporation) and Brazos Valley Longhorn Finance Corp.

 

Capital Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock, partnership or limited liability company interests or other equity securities (including, without limitation, beneficial interests in or other securities of a trust) and any and all warrants, options and rights with respect thereto (whether or not currently exercisable), including each class of common stock and Preferred Stock of such Person, but excluding any instrument evidencing Indebtedness convertible or exchangeable into equity of such Person, whether or not such Indebtedness includes any right of participation with the equity of such Person, unless and until such instrument is so converted or exchanged.

 

Cash Equivalents” means any of the following:

 

(a) U.S. dollars;

 

(b) U.S. Government Securities with maturities of two years or less from the date of acquisition;

 

(c) certificates of deposit, time deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of three years or less from the date of acquisition, demand deposits, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding three years and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any domestic or foreign commercial bank having capital and surplus of not less than $500,000,000 in the case of U.S. banks and $250,000,000 (or the U.S. dollar equivalent as of the date of determination) in the case of non-U.S. banks (any such bank in the foregoing, an “Approved Bank”);

 

-5-

 

 

(d) repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (b) and (c) above or clauses (f) and (g) below entered into with any Approved Bank or recognized securities dealer meeting the qualifications specified in clause (c) above;

 

(e) commercial paper and variable or fixed rate notes issued by an Approved Bank (or by the parent company thereof) or any variable or fixed rate note issued by, or guaranteed by, a corporation (other than structured investment vehicles and other than corporations used in structured financing transactions) rated at least P-2 (or the equivalent thereof) or A-2 (or the equivalent thereof) from either Moody’s or S&P (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency selected by the Company) and in each case maturing within 36 months after the date of acquisition thereof;

 

(f) marketable short-term money market and similar liquid funds having either (i) assets in excess of $500,000,000 or (ii) a rating of at least P-2 (or the equivalent thereof) or A-2 (or the equivalent thereof) from either Moody’s or S&P, respectively (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency selected by the Company);

 

(g) readily marketable direct obligations issued or fully guaranteed by any state, commonwealth or territory of the U.S. or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof; provided that each such readily marketable direct obligation shall be rated Investment Grade from either Moody’s or S&P (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency selected by the Company) with maturities of two years or less from the date of acquisition;

 

(h) Investments with average maturities of 18 months or less from the date of acquisition in money market funds rated AAA- (or the equivalent thereof) or better by S&P or Aaa3 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by Moody’s (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency selected by the Company);

 

(i) investment funds investing substantially all of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (a) through (h) above; and

 

(j) Indebtedness or Preferred Stock issued by Persons with a rating of “A” or higher from S&P and “A-2” from Moody’s with maturities of two years or less from the date of acquisition.

 

Cash Management Services” means (a) commercial credit cards, merchant card services, purchase or debit cards, including non-card e-payables services, (b) treasury management services (including controlled disbursement, overdraft, automated clearing house fund transfer services, return items and interstate depository network services) and (c) any other demand deposit or operating account relationships or other cash management services, including pursuant to any agreement in respect of the foregoing.

 

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Cash Management Services Obligations” means any and all obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor) in connection with Cash Management Services.

 

Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:

 

(a) any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that for purposes of this clause (a) such person shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all shares that such person has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company (for the purposes of this clause (a), such person shall be deemed to beneficially own any Voting Stock of a specified corporation held by a parent corporation, if such person is the beneficial owner (as defined in this clause (a)), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the voting power of the Voting Stock of such parent corporation);

 

(b) the shareholders of the Company shall have approved any plan of liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or

 

(c) the merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another Person or the merger of another Person with or into the Company, or the sale, lease, conveyance or transfer of all or substantially all the assets of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to another Person (other than to the Company or one or more of the Subsidiaries or a combination thereof or a person controlled by the Company or one or more of the Subsidiaries or a combination thereof), and, in the case of any such merger or consolidation, the securities of the Company that are outstanding immediately prior to such transaction and which represent 100% of the aggregate voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company are changed into or exchanged for cash, securities or property, unless pursuant to such transaction such securities are changed into or exchanged for, in addition to any other consideration, securities of the surviving corporation that represent immediately after such transaction, at least a majority of the aggregate voting power of the Voting Stock of the surviving corporation.

 

Collateral” means all assets and property, whether real, personal or mixed, wherever located and whether now owned or at any time acquired after the Issue Date by any Obligor as to which a Lien is granted under the Security Documents to secure the Parity Lien Obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, the Collateral does not include Excluded Property.

 

Collateral Sale” means the sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) of property or assets constituting Collateral (including by way of Production Payments and Reserve Sales, but not by way of Sale/Leaseback Transactions and including by way of any sale or disposition of a Subsidiary Guarantor) (other than an operating lease entered into in the ordinary course of the Oil and Gas Business) (each referred to in this definition as a “disposition”); provided, however, that the term “Collateral Sale” shall exclude:

 

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(a) any disposition of (i) cash and Cash Equivalents, (ii) obsolete, damaged, worn out or surplus property or assets or any disposition of inventory or goods (or other assets) held for sale, including Hydrocarbons and other mineral products, each in the ordinary course of business, (iii) assets (other than Oil and Gas Properties) no longer used or useful in the ordinary course, (iv) assets no longer economically practicable or commercially reasonable to maintain (as determined in good faith by the management of the Company), (v) dispositions to landlords of improvements made to leased real property pursuant to customary terms of leases entered into in the ordinary course of business, and (vi) assets for the purposes of charitable contributions, community outreach or similar gifts and political contributions made in accordance with applicable law to the extent such assets are not material to the ability of the Obligors, taken as a whole, to conduct their business in the ordinary course;

 

(b) the disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in a manner permitted pursuant to Section 5.01;

 

(c) any disposition of property or assets of any Obligor (including by way of any sale or disposition of a Subsidiary Guarantor) in any transaction or series of related transactions with an aggregate Fair Market Value of less than $150,000,000;

 

(d) any disposition of property or assets or issuance of securities by an Obligor to an Obligor (including a Person that becomes a Subsidiary Guarantor in accordance with the Note Documents);

 

(e) the lease, sub-lease, license or sublicense of any real or personal property in the ordinary course of business and the exercise of termination rights with respect to any lease, sub-lease, license or sublicense or other agreement;

 

(f) foreclosures, condemnation, expropriation, disposition or any similar action with respect to any property or other assets or the granting of Liens not prohibited by this Indenture;

 

(g) the sale or discount of inventory, accounts receivable or notes receivable in the ordinary course of business or the conversion of accounts receivable to notes receivable;

 

(h) the licensing or sub-licensing of intellectual property or other general intangibles in the ordinary course of business;

 

(i) the unwinding of any Hedging Obligations;

 

(j) sales, transfers and other dispositions of Investments in joint ventures to the extent required by, or made pursuant to, customary buy/sell arrangements between the joint venture parties set forth in joint venture arrangements and similar binding arrangements;

 

(k) the transfer of assets as part of the consideration for Investment in a joint venture so long as the transfer is done at Fair Market Value;

 

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(l) the lapse or abandonment of intellectual property rights in the ordinary course of business or which in the good faith determination of the Company are not material to the conduct of the business of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole;

 

(m) any surrender, expiration or waiver of contract rights or oil and gas leases or the settlement, release, recovery on or surrender of contract, tort or other claims of any kind;

 

(n) 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 Oil and Gas Business for geologists, geophysicists and other providers of technical services to the Company or a Subsidiary, shall have been created, incurred, issued, assumed or guaranteed in connection with the financing of, and within 180 days after the acquisition of, the property that is subject thereto;

 

(o) the abandonment, farm-out pursuant to a farm-out agreement, lease or sublease or other disposition of Oil and Gas Properties with no associated Proved Reserves owned or held by any Obligor, whether or not in the ordinary course of business;

 

(p) dispositions of receivables in connection with the compromise, settlement or collection thereof in the ordinary course of business or in bankruptcy or similar proceedings;

 

(q) in the ordinary course of business, any swap of assets, or lease, assignment or sublease of any real or personal property, in exchange for services related to capital expenditures (including with any outsourcing arrangements) of comparable or greater value or usefulness to the business of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, as determined in good faith by the Company;

 

(r) dispositions of machinery and equipment that are not Oil and Gas Properties for Fair Market Value;

 

(s) Permitted Asset Swaps, to the extent included in the definition of Collateral Sale;

 

(t) transfers of property subject to a (i) casualty event or in connection with any condemnation proceeding with respect to Collateral upon receipt of the net cash proceeds of such casualty event or condemnation proceeding or (ii) in connection with any casualty event or any condemnation proceeding, in each case with respect to property that does not constitute Collateral; and

 

(u) any financing transaction with respect to property built or acquired by any Obligor after the Issue Date, including Sale/Leaseback Transactions and asset securitizations permitted by this Indenture.

 

Collateral Trust Agreement” means the Collateral Trust Agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto, the Collateral Trustee, the Trustee and the other parties from time to time party thereto, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

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Collateral Trustee” means the party named as such above until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Collateral Trust Agreement, and thereafter means such successor.

 

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

 

Company Request” or “Company Order” means a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by two Officers of the Company, or by one Officer of the Company and either an Assistant Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by the Company as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Securities from the redemption date to January 1, 2022 that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of a maturity most nearly equal to January 1, 2022.

 

Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, the consolidated net income (or loss) of the Group Members, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP but there shall be excluded, without duplication, (a) the income (or loss) of any Person (other than a Group Member) in which any Group Member has an ownership interest and any income represented by any dividends, distributions or proceeds of redemptions of Capital Stock in respect of any Person (other than a Group Member) in which a Group Member has an ownership interest, except, in each case, to the extent of the amount of cash dividends and other distributions actually paid to any Group Member during such period, and (b) the undistributed earnings of any Group Member to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Subsidiary is not at the time permitted by the terms of any contractual obligation (other than under any Priority Lien Document or Parity Lien Document) or Requirement of Law applicable to such Group Member, but any non-cash income attributable to cancellation or early extinguishment of any Indebtedness of any Group Member shall be excluded in calculating Consolidated Net Income.

 

Contractual Requirement” means the terms of any indenture, loan agreement, lease agreement, mortgage, deed of trust, agreement or other instrument to which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of its property or assets is bound.

 

Convertible Notes” means Indebtedness of the Company that is optionally convertible into common stock of the Company (and/or cash based on the value of such common stock) and/or Indebtedness of a Subsidiary that is optionally exchangeable for common stock of the Company (and/or cash based on the value of such common stock).

 

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Corporate Trust Office” means the principal office of the Trustee at which at any time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at Trust and Agency Services, 60 Wall Street, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10005, Attention: Corporates Team, Chesapeake Energy Corporation, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Company, or the principal corporate trust office of any successor Trustee (or such other address as such successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders of Securities and the Company).

 

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

 

De Minimis Guaranteed Amount” means a principal amount of Indebtedness that does not exceed $25,000,000.

 

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

 

Depositary” means, unless otherwise specified by the Company pursuant to Section 2.13, with respect to any Securities issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, or any successor thereto registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act or other applicable statute or regulations.

 

Designated Non-Cash Consideration” means the Fair Market Value of non-cash consideration received by any Obligor in connection with a Collateral Sale that is designated as Designated Non-Cash Consideration pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate, setting forth the basis of such valuation minus the Fair Market Value of the portion of the non-cash consideration converted to cash or Cash Equivalents within 365 days following the consummation of the applicable Collateral Sale.

 

Disqualified Stock” means any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security or other Capital Stock into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event or condition (1) matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests), pursuant to a sinking fund obligation, scheduled redemption or otherwise (except as a result of an asset sale), (2) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests and other than as a result of an asset sale), or (3) is or becomes convertible into or exchangeable for Indebtedness or any other Capital Stock that would otherwise constitute Disqualified Stock, in the case of each of clauses (1), (2) and (3), prior to the date that is 91 days after the Maturity Date at the time of issuance of such Capital Stock; provided that (A) 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 a “change of control” occurring prior to the Maturity Date of the Securities shall not constitute Disqualified Stock if: (x) the “change of control” provisions applicable to such Capital Stock are not more favorable to holders of such Capital Stock than the provisions set forth in Section 4.13 and (y) any such requirement only becomes operative after compliance with such corresponding terms applicable to the Securities, including the purchase of any Securities tendered pursuant thereto; and (B) if such Capital Stock is issued pursuant to any plan for the benefit of future, current or former employees, directors, officers, members of management or consultants of the Company or the Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, directors, officers, members of management or consultants, such Capital Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because they may be required to be repurchased by the Company or the Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations, or as a result of such employee’s, director’s, officer’s, management member’s or consultant’s termination, death or disability; provided, further, that any Capital Stock held by any future, current or former employee, director, officer, member of management or consultant of the Company, any Subsidiary, or any other Person in which the Company or a Subsidiary has an Investment and is designated in good faith as an “affiliate” by the Board of Directors of the Company (or the compensation committee thereof), in each case pursuant to any stock subscription or shareholders’ agreement, management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Company or the Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory obligations or as a result of such employee’s, director’s, officer’s, management member’s or consultant’s termination, death or disability. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, any Preferred Stock outstanding on the Issue Date shall not constitute Disqualified Stock.

 

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Disregarded Entity” means any Domestic Subsidiary that is disregarded for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

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

 

Domestic Subsidiary” means each Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof, or the District of Columbia.

 

Equity Offering” means any public or private sale after the Issue Date of Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock), other than:

 

(a) public offerings with respect to the Company’s common stock registered on Form S-4 or Form S-8; and

 

(b) issuances to any Subsidiary.

 

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

 

Excluded Deposit Account” means deposit accounts (within the meaning of the Uniform Commercial Code) (a) the balance of which consists exclusively of (i) withheld income taxes and federal, state or local employment taxes required to be paid to the Internal Revenue Service or state or local government agencies with respect to employees of the Company or any Subsidiary, (ii) amounts required to be paid over to an employee benefit plan on behalf of or for the benefit of employees of the Company or any Subsidiary, (iii) amounts set aside for payroll and the payment of accrued employee benefits, medical, dental and employee benefits claims to employees of the Company or any Subsidiary, (iv) amounts constituting purchase price deposits held in escrow pursuant to a binding and enforceable purchase and sale agreement with a third party containing customary provisions regarding the payment and refunding of such deposits, (v) amounts held in escrow or in trust pending litigation or other settlement claims, (vi) amounts held in escrow by a trustee under any indenture or other debt instrument pursuant to customary escrow arrangements pending the discharge, defeasance, redemption or repurchase of Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, in each case solely to the extent the relevant discharge, defeasance, redemption or repurchase would be permitted under this Indenture, and (vii) amounts held in trust or as fiduciaries for third parties in respect of such third party’s ratable share of the revenues of Oil and Gas Properties or (b) identified in writing to the Collateral Trustee on or before the Issue Date or within 15 Business Days of such deposit account being opened; but the deposit accounts described under this clause (b) shall not have a balance, in the aggregate, at any time greater than $10,000,000.

 

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Excluded Property” means (a) all Excluded Stock; (b) any property to the extent the grant or maintenance of a Lien on such property (i) is prohibited by any Requirement of Law, (ii) could reasonably be expected to result in material adverse tax consequences to the Company or any Subsidiary, (iii) requires a consent not obtained of any Governmental Authority pursuant to applicable law or (iv) is prohibited by, or requires any consent not obtained under, any Contractual Requirements, except to the extent that such Contractual Requirement (not entered into in contemplation of this Indenture) providing for such prohibition or requiring such consent is ineffective under applicable law (including pursuant to Section 9-406, 9-407, 9-408 or 9-409 of the Uniform Commercial Code); (c) motor vehicles and other assets subject to certificates of title; (d) Excluded Deposit Accounts and Excluded Securities Accounts; (e) all real property (owned or leased) not constituting Borrowing Base Properties; (f) any foreign assets or credit support with respect to such foreign assets; (g) any property or assets owned by a non-Obligor; (h) any intellectual property; (i) margin stock and, to the extent prohibited by the terms of any applicable organizational documents, joint venture agreement, shareholders’ agreement or similar agreement, Capital Stock in any other Person other than wholly owned Subsidiaries that are Group Members and (j) any property with respect to which, in the reasonable judgment of the Priority Lien Agent, the cost of obtaining a security interest in, or Lien on, such property in favor of the secured parties under the Priority Lien Credit Agreement, or the perfection of such security interest or Lien, shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the secured parties under the Priority Lien Credit Agreement.

 

Excluded Securities Account” means securities accounts (within the meaning of the Uniform Commercial Code) identified in writing to the Collateral Trustee on either the Issue Date or within 15 Business Days of such securities account being opened; but the securities accounts so identified shall not have a balance, in the aggregate, at any time greater than $10,000,000, unless any such account is used exclusively for the repurchases of then-outstanding (i) senior notes issued pursuant to any indenture (including any supplemental indenture) governing any outstanding senior, public, unsecured, long-term notes of the Company or (ii) BVL Notes, pending cancellation of such senior notes, subject to no other Liens and solely to the extent the repurchases of such senior notes would be permitted under the Priority Lien Credit Agreement.

 

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Excluded Stock” means (a) any Capital Stock with respect to which, in the reasonable judgment of the Priority Lien Agent, the cost of pledging such Capital Stock to secure the Priority Lien Obligations, or the perfection of such pledge, shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations therefrom; (b) solely in the case of any pledge of Capital Stock of any Foreign Corporate Subsidiary or FSHCO to secure the Parity Lien Obligations, any Capital Stock that is Voting Stock of such Foreign Corporate Subsidiary or FSHCO in excess of 66% of the outstanding Capital Stock of such class and, solely in the case of a pledge of Capital Stock of any Disregarded Entity substantially all of whose assets consist of Capital Stock of Foreign Corporate Subsidiaries to secure the Parity Lien Obligations, any Capital Stock of such Disregarded Entity in excess of 66% of the outstanding Capital Stock of such entity (such percentages to be adjusted upon any change of law as may be required to avoid adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences to the Company or any Subsidiary); (c) in the case of (i) any Capital Stock of any Subsidiary to the extent the pledge of such Capital Stock is prohibited by Contractual Requirements or (ii) any Capital Stock of any Subsidiary that is not wholly owned by a Group Member at the time such Subsidiary becomes a Subsidiary, any Capital Stock of each such Subsidiary described in clause (i) or (ii) to the extent (A) that a pledge thereof to secure the Parity Lien Obligations is prohibited by any applicable Contractual Requirement (not entered into in contemplation of this Indenture) (other than customary nonassignment provisions which are ineffective under the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable Requirements of Law), (B) any Contractual Requirement prohibits such a pledge without the consent of any other party; but this clause (B) shall not apply if (1) such other party is a Group Member or (2) consent has been obtained to consummate such pledge (it being understood that the foregoing shall not be deemed to obligate any Group Member to obtain any such consent) and for so long as such Contractual Requirement or replacement or renewal thereof is in effect, or (C) a pledge thereof to secure the Parity Lien Obligations would give any other party (other than a Group Member) to any Contractual Requirement governing such Capital Stock the right to terminate its obligations thereunder (other than customary non- assignment provisions that are ineffective under the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable Requirement of Law); (d) the Capital Stock of any Subsidiary that is not pledged to secure the Priority Lien Obligations, (e) the Capital Stock of any Subsidiary of a Foreign Corporate Subsidiary, (f) any Capital Stock of any Subsidiary to the extent that the pledge of such Capital Stock would result in material adverse tax consequences to the Company or any Subsidiary as reasonably determined by the Company, (g) any Capital Stock to the extent the pledge thereof would be prohibited by any Requirement of Law and (h) any Capital Stock set forth on Schedule 8 to the Security Agreement.

 

Existing Unsecured Notes” means the Company’s outstanding (a) 6.625% Senior Notes due 2020, (b) 6.875% Senior Notes due 2020, (c) 6.125% Senior Notes due 2021, (d) 5.375% Senior Notes due 2021, (e) 4.875% Senior Notes due 2022, (f) 5.75% Senior Notes due 2023, (g) 7.00% Senior Notes due 2024, (h) 8.00% Senior Notes due 2025, (i) 5.5% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026, (j) 7.50% Senior Notes due 2026, (k) 8.00% Senior Notes due 2026 and (l) 8.00% Senior Notes due 2027.

 

Fair Market Value” means, with respect to any asset or liability, the fair market value of such asset or liability as determined by the Company in good faith.

 

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Financial Officer” of any Person means the chief financial officer, chief accounting officer, principal accounting officer, controller, treasurer or assistant treasurer of such Person.

 

Foreclosure Proceeds” means, with respect to any Priority Lien Debt, any proceeds from Collateral received or payable (x) in connection with the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to any portion of the Collateral or (y) pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar dispositive restructuring plan.

 

Foreign Corporate Subsidiary” means a Foreign Subsidiary that is treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

Foreign Subsidiary” means each Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

 

FSHCO” means any direct or indirect Subsidiary that has no material assets other than the Capital Stock of one or more direct or indirect Foreign Corporate Subsidiaries.

 

Funded Debt” means, with regard to any Person, all Indebtedness of the type described in clause (a) of the definition of “Indebtedness” incurred, created, assumed or guaranteed by such Person.

 

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles as in effect in the United States of America from time to time.

 

Global Security” means a Security in global form that evidences all or part of the Securities and registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee thereof.

 

Governmental Authority” means any nation, sovereign or government, any state, province, territory or other political subdivision thereof, and any entity or authority exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government, including a central bank or stock exchange and any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank.

 

Group Member” means the Company and the “Restricted Subsidiaries”, from time to time, as such term is defined in the Priority Lien Credit Agreement as in effect on the Issue Date.

 

Hedge Agreements” means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, fixed-price physical delivery contracts, whether or not exchange traded, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “Master Agreement”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement and (c) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect a Person or any subsidiary thereof against fluctuations in interest rates, commodity prices or currency exchange rates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, agreements or obligations entered into in the ordinary course of business to physically buy or sell any commodity produced from the Company’s and the Subsidiaries’ Oil and Gas Properties or electricity generation facilities under an agreement that has a tenor under 90 days shall not be considered Hedge Agreements.

 

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Hedge Bank” means any Person (other than the Company or any Subsidiary) that (a) at the time it enters into a Hedge Agreement is a Lender, the administrative agent under the Priority Lien Credit Agreement or an Affiliate of any of them or (b) at any time after it enters into a Hedge Agreement, becomes a Lender, the administrative agent under the Priority Lien Credit Agreement or an Affiliate of any of them.

 

Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under Hedge Agreements.

 

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

 

Hydrocarbon Interests” means all rights, titles, interests and estates and the lands and premises covered or affected thereby in and to oil and gas leases, oil, gas and mineral leases, or other liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon leases, fee interests, surface interests, mineral fee interests, overriding royalty and royalty interests, net profit interests and production payment interests, including any reserved or residual interests of whatever nature.

 

Hydrocarbons” means all oil, gas, casinghead gas, drip gasoline, natural gasoline, condensate, distillate, liquid hydrocarbons, gaseous hydrocarbons and constituents, elements or compounds thereof and all products refined or separated therefrom.

 

Indebtedness” means, without duplication, with respect to any Person, (a) all obligations of such Person, including those evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments, for the repayment of money borrowed (whether or not the recourse of the lender is to the whole of the assets of such Person or only to a portion thereof); (b) all liabilities of others of the kind described in the preceding clause (a) that such Person has guaranteed; and (c) Indebtedness (as otherwise defined in this definition) of another Person secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person, the amount of such obligations being deemed to be the lesser of (1) the full amount of such obligations so secured, and (2) the fair market value of such asset, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of such Person, which determination shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution.

 

Indenture” means this Indenture, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof, and shall include the form and terms of the Securities as contemplated hereunder.

 

Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding” means:

 

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(a) any case commenced by or against an Obligor under any Bankruptcy Law, any other proceeding for the reorganization, recapitalization or adjustment or marshalling of the assets or liabilities of such Obligor, any receivership or assignment for the benefit of creditors relating to an Obligor or any similar case or proceeding relative to an Obligor or its creditors, as such, in each case whether or not voluntary;

 

(b) any liquidation, dissolution, marshalling of assets or liabilities or other winding up of or relating to an Obligor, in each case whether or not voluntary and whether or not involving bankruptcy or insolvency; or

 

(c) any other proceeding of any type or nature (including any composition agreement) in which substantially all claims of creditors of any Obligor are determined and any payment or distribution is or may be made on account of such claims.

 

Intercreditor Agreement” means the Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, among the Collateral Trustee, the Trustee, the Priority Lien Agent and the other parties from time to time party thereto, and which has been acknowledged and agreed to by each of the Obligors, as it may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Indenture.

 

Investment” of any Person means (i) all investments by such Person in any other Person in the form of loans, advances or capital contributions, (ii) all guarantees of Indebtedness of any other Person by such Person, (iii) all purchases (or other acquisitions for consideration) by such Person of Indebtedness, Capital Stock or other securities of any other Person and (iv) all other items that would be classified as investments or advances on a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP.

 

Investment Grade” means a rating of Baa3 or better by Moody’s (or its equivalent under any successor rating category of Moody’s) and a rating of BBB- or better by S&P (or its equivalent under any successor rating category of S&P), and the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any replacement rating agency or rating agencies selected by the Company under the circumstances permitting the Company to select a replacement agency and in the manner for selecting a replacement agency, in each case as set forth in the definition of “Rating Agency.”

 

Issue Date” means December 19, 2019.

 

Junior Lien” means a Lien, junior to the Priority Liens and the Parity Liens as provided in the Intercreditor Agreement, granted by an Obligor in favor of holders of Junior Lien Debt (or any collateral trustee or representative in connection therewith), at any time, upon any property of such Obligor to secure Junior Lien Obligations.

 

Junior Lien Agent” means the collateral trustee or other representative of lenders or holders of Junior Lien Obligations designated pursuant to the terms of the Junior Lien Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Junior Lien Debt” means any Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness owing to the Company or any Subsidiary) of any Obligor that is secured by a Junior Lien that was permitted to be incurred and so secured under each applicable Secured Debt Document; provided that, in the case of any Indebtedness referred to in this definition:

 

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(a) on or before the date on which such Indebtedness is incurred by any Obligor, such Indebtedness is designated by the Company, in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Junior Lien Agent and Collateral Trustee as “Junior Lien Debt” for the purposes of the Secured Debt Documents; provided that if such Series of Secured Debt is designated “Junior Lien Debt,” it cannot also be designated as Parity Lien Debt or Priority Lien Debt (or any combination of the three);

 

(b) the collateral agent or other representative with respect to such Indebtedness, the Priority Lien Agent, the Junior Lien Agent, the Collateral Trustee, each Obligor has duly executed and delivered a joinder to the Intercreditor Agreement or a new Intercreditor Agreement substantially similar to the Intercreditor Agreement as in effect on the Issue Date, and in a form reasonably acceptable to each of the parties thereto;

 

(c) such Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than 90 days after the Maturity Date; and

 

(d) all other requirements set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement as to the confirmation, grant or perfection of the Liens of the holders of Junior Lien Debt to secure such Indebtedness or Obligations in respect thereof are satisfied.

 

Junior Lien Documents” means, collectively, any indenture, credit agreement or other agreement or instrument pursuant to which Junior Lien Debt is incurred and the documents pursuant to which Junior Lien Obligations are granted.

 

Junior Lien Obligations” means Junior Lien Debt and all other Obligations in respect thereof.

 

Lender” means any lender under the Priority Lien Credit Agreement.

 

Lender Hedging Obligations” means obligations under any Hedge Agreement which (a) are permitted by the Priority Lien Credit Agreement between any Obligor and a Hedge Bank and (b) specifies that such obligations are secured by the Priority Lien.

 

Lien” means, with respect to any Person, any mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, easement, restriction, charge or adverse claim affecting title or resulting in an encumbrance against real or personal property of such Person, or a security interest of any kind (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof or other similar agreement to sell, in each case securing obligations of such Person).

 

Make-Whole Premium” means, with respect to a Security, at any applicable redemption date, the excess of (i) the present value at such redemption date of (A) the redemption price of such Security on January 1, 2022 (such redemption price being described in paragraph 5(a) of the Security) exclusive of any accrued interest plus (B) all required remaining scheduled interest payments due on such Security through January 1, 2022 (but excluding accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date), computed using a discount rate equal to the Adjusted Treasury Rate, over (ii) the principal amount of such Security on such redemption date.

 

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Maturity Date” means January 1, 2025.

 

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

 

Mortgages” means all mortgages, deeds of trust, security documents and similar documents, instruments and agreements (and all amendments, modifications and supplements thereof) creating, evidencing, perfecting or otherwise establishing the Liens on the Collateral to secure payment of the Securities and the Guarantee or any part thereof.

 

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

 

Net Cash Proceeds” means:

 

(a) with respect to Collateral Sales of any Person, cash proceeds actually received by the Obligors (including, without limitation, any cash or Cash Equivalents received upon the sale or other disposition of Designated Non-Cash Consideration received in a Collateral Sale), net of the costs relating to such Collateral Sale and the sale of such Designated Non-Cash Consideration, including legal, accounting and investment banking fees, payments made in order to obtain a necessary consent or required by applicable law, and brokerage and sales commissions, all dividends, distributions or other payments required to be made to minority interest holders in the Subsidiary Guarantor as a result of any such Collateral Sale by the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor, the amount of any purchase price or similar adjustment claimed by any Person to be owed by any Obligor or otherwise estimated in good faith by the Company, until such time as such claim shall have been settled or otherwise finally resolved, or paid or payable by any Obligor, in either case in respect of such Collateral Sale, any relocation expenses incurred as a result thereof, other fees and expenses, including title and recordation expenses, survey costs, title insurance premiums, the Company’s good faith estimate of Taxes paid and payable as a result thereof or any transactions occurring or deemed to occur to effectuate a payment (including, for the avoidance of doubt, withholding Taxes and Taxes imposed on the distribution of any such net proceeds) under this Indenture, amounts required to be applied to the repayment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on Indebtedness or amounts required to be applied to the repayments of Indebtedness secured by a Lien on such assets and amounts required to be paid in connection with the termination of Hedging Obligations related to Indebtedness repaid with such proceeds or hedging oil, natural gas and natural gas liquid production in notional volumes corresponding to the Oil and Gas Properties subject to such Collateral Sale, as a result of such transaction, and including any deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by any Obligor as a reserve in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities associated with the asset disposed of in such transaction and retained by the Obligors after such sale or other disposition thereof, including pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations associated with such transaction, in each case, as determined reasonably and in good faith by a Financial Officer of the Company; and

 

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(b) with respect to any issuance or sale of Capital Stock, or any capital contribution, the cash proceeds of such issuance, sale or contribution, net of attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, underwriters’, placement agents’ or dealer managers’ fees, discounts or commissions and brokerage, consultant and other fees actually incurred in connection with such issuance, sale or contribution and net of Taxes paid or payable as a result thereof.

 

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

 

Note Documents” means this Indenture, the Securities, the Guarantees, the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Obligations” means any principal (including reimbursement obligations and obligations to provide cash collateral with respect to letters of credit whether or not drawn), interest, premium (if any), fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, expenses and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness including, to the extent legally permitted, all interest, fees and other amounts incurred, accrued or arising thereon after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding at the applicable interest rate, including any applicable post-default interest rate even if such interest, fees and other amounts are not enforceable, allowable or allowed as a claim in such proceeding.

 

Obligor” means the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

Offering Memorandum” means the Company’s Offering Memorandum, dated December 4, 2019, relating to the offering of the Securities.

 

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

 

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

 

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Oil and Gas Business” means the business of the exploration for, and exploitation, development, production, processing, marketing, storage and transportation of, hydrocarbons, and other related energy and natural resource businesses (including oil and gas services businesses related to the foregoing).

 

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

 

Oil and Gas Properties” means (a) Hydrocarbon Interests, (b) the properties now or hereafter pooled or unitized with Hydrocarbon Interests, (c) all presently existing or future unitization, pooling agreements and declarations of pooled units and the units created thereby (including all units created under orders, regulations and rules of any governmental authority) which may affect all or any portion of the Hydrocarbon Interests, (d) all operating agreements, contracts and other agreements, including production sharing contracts and agreements, which relate to any of the Hydrocarbon Interests or the production, sale, purchase, exchange or processing of Hydrocarbons from or attributable to such Hydrocarbon Interests, (e) all Hydrocarbons in and under and which may be produced and saved or attributable to the Hydrocarbon Interests, including all oil in tanks, and all rents, issues, profits, proceeds, products, revenues and other incomes from or attributable to the Hydrocarbon Interests, (f) all tenements, hereditaments, appurtenances and properties in any manner appertaining, belonging, affixed or incidental to the Hydrocarbon Interests and (g) all properties, rights, titles, interests and estates described or referred to above, including any and all property, real or personal, now owned or hereafter acquired and situated upon, used, held for use or useful in connection with the operating, working or development of any of such Hydrocarbon Interests or property (excluding drilling rigs, automotive equipment, rental equipment or other personal property which may be on such premises for the purpose of drilling a well or for other similar temporary uses) and including any and all oil wells, gas wells, injection wells or other wells, structures, fuel separators, liquid extraction plants, plant compressors, pumps, pumping units, field gathering systems, gas processing plants and pipeline systems, power and cogeneration facilities and any related infrastructure to any thereof, tanks and tank batteries, fixtures, valves, fittings, machinery and parts, engines, boilers, meters, apparatus, equipment, appliances, tools, implements, cables, wires, towers, casing, tubing and rods, surface leases, rights-of-way, easements and servitudes together with all additions, substitutions, replacements, accessions and attachments to any and all of the foregoing.

 

Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel. The counsel may be an employee (who is an attorney) of or counsel to the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

Parity Lien” means a Lien granted by a Parity Lien Document to the Collateral Trustee, at any time, upon any Collateral by an Obligor to secure the Parity Lien Obligations.

 

Parity Lien Debt” means:

 

(a) the Securities issued on the Issue Date and Guarantees thereof; and

 

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(b) all additional Indebtedness of any Obligor (including Additional Securities and Guarantees thereof), in each case that was permitted to be incurred and secured in accordance with the Secured Debt Documents equally and ratably with the Securities by a Parity Lien; provided that, in the case of any Indebtedness referred to in this clause (b):

 

(i) on or before the date on which such Indebtedness is incurred by any Obligor, such Indebtedness is designated by the Company, in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to each Parity Lien Representative and the Collateral Trustee, as “Parity Lien Debt” for the purposes of this Indenture and the Collateral Trust Agreement; provided, further, that if such Series of Secured Debt is designated as “Parity Lien Debt,” it cannot also be designated as Priority Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt (or any combination of the three);

 

(ii) other than in the case of Additional Securities, such Indebtedness is governed by an indenture, credit agreement or other agreement that includes an Additional Secured Debt Designation and, in each case, the Parity Lien Representative of such Parity Lien Debt (other than in the case of Additional Securities) shall have executed a joinder to the Intercreditor Agreement in the form provided; and

 

(iii) all requirements set forth in the Collateral Trust Agreement as to the confirmation, grant or perfection of the Collateral Trustee’s Liens to secure such Indebtedness or Obligations in respect thereof are satisfied (and the satisfaction of such requirements and the other provisions of this clause (iii) will be conclusively established if the Company delivers to the Collateral Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that such requirements and other provisions have been satisfied and that such Indebtedness is “Parity Lien Debt”).

 

Parity Lien Documents” means, collectively, the Note Documents (excluding the Intercreditor Agreement) and any additional indenture, supplemental indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing each other Series of Parity Lien Debt.

 

Parity Lien Obligations” means Parity Lien Debt and all other Obligations in respect thereof. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, the term “Parity Lien Obligations” will include accrued interest, fees, costs, and other charges incurred under the Parity Lien Documents, whether incurred before or after commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding and whether or not allowable in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

 

Parity Lien Representative” means:

 

(a) in the case of the Securities, the Trustee; and

 

(b) in the case of any other Series of Parity Lien Debt, the trustee, agent or representative of the holders of such Series of Parity Lien Debt who (i) is appointed as a Parity Lien Representative (for purposes related to the administration of the security documents) pursuant to the indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Parity Lien Debt, together with its successors in such capacity, and (ii) has become a party to the Collateral Trust Agreement by executing a joinder in the form required under the Collateral Trust Agreement.

 

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Permitted Asset Swap” means the substantially concurrent (and in any event occurring within 180 days of each other) purchase and sale or exchange (including Section 1031 exchanges and reverse Section 1031 exchanges, in each case made in accordance with the Code) of Related Business Assets or a combination of Related Business Assets and cash and Cash Equivalents between any Obligor and another Person; provided that the Fair Market Value of the properties or assets traded or exchanged by such Obligor (together with any cash or Cash Equivalents) is reasonably equivalent to the Fair Market Value of the properties or assets (together with any cash or Cash Equivalents) to be received by such Obligor; provided, further, that any cash or Cash Equivalents received must be applied in accordance with Section 4.12; provided, further, that such Related Business Assets shall be secured for the benefits of all Holders as Collateral.

 

Permitted Liens” means (i) Liens existing on the Issue Date (excluding any Liens securing the Securities and Liens securing Indebtedness incurred under the Priority Lien Credit Agreement or the Term Loan Agreement); (ii) Liens securing Indebtedness under Credit Facilities provided by a group of lenders with respect to which the majority (determined based on the aggregate amount of commitments and loans outstanding thereunder) is composed of commercial banks (or affiliates of commercial banks) regularly providing asset-based credit facilities in the oil and gas industry; provided that, in the case of any Liens created, assumed or incurred pursuant to this clause (ii) to secure Priority Lien Debt or Parity Lien Debt, the aggregate principal amount of such Priority Lien Debt or Parity Lien Debt, as applicable, does not, when taken together with the principal amount of all other Priority Lien Debt and Parity Lien Debt secured by Liens created, assumed or incurred pursuant to this clause (ii) that are then outstanding, exceed $3,500,000,000; provided, further, that all Liens securing Indebtedness under the Priority Lien Credit Agreement, as of the Issue Date, shall be deemed to have been incurred pursuant to this clause (ii); (iii) Liens securing Indebtedness under Credit Facilities; provided that, in the case of any Liens created, assumed or incurred pursuant to this clause (iii) to secure Priority Lien Debt or Parity Lien Debt, the aggregate principal amount of such Priority Lien Debt or Parity Lien Debt, as applicable, does not, when taken together with the principal amount of all other Priority Lien Debt and Parity Lien Debt secured by Liens created, assumed or incurred pursuant to this clause (iii) that are then outstanding, exceed $1,500,000,000; provided, further, that all Liens securing Indebtedness under the Term Loan Agreement as of the Issue Date, shall be deemed to have been incurred pursuant to this clause (iii); (iv) Liens securing any renewal, extension, substitution, refinancing or replacement of secured Indebtedness; provided, that such Liens extend to or cover only the property or assets then securing the Indebtedness being refinanced and that the Indebtedness being refinanced was not incurred under the Credit Facilities; (v) Liens on, or related to, properties to secure all or part of the costs incurred in the ordinary course of business of exploration, drilling, development or operation thereof; (vi) Liens upon (a) any property of or any interests in any Person existing at the time of acquisition of such property or interests by the Company or a Subsidiary, (b) any property of or interests in a Person existing at the time such Person is merged or consolidated with the Company or any Subsidiary or existing at the time of the sale or transfer of any such property of or interests in such Person to the Company or any Subsidiary, or (c) any property of or interests in a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided, that in each case such Lien has not been created in contemplation of such sale, merger, consolidation, transfer or acquisition, and provided, further, that in each such case no such Lien shall extend to or cover any property of the Company or any Subsidiary other than the property being acquired and improvements thereon; (vii) Liens on deposits to secure public or statutory obligations or in lieu of surety or appeal bonds entered into in the ordinary course of business; (viii) Liens in favor of collecting or payor banks having a right of setoff, revocation, refund or chargeback with respect to money or instruments of the Company or any Subsidiary on deposit with or in possession of such bank; (ix) purchase money security interests granted in connection with the acquisition of assets in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices, provided, that (a) such Liens attach only to the property so acquired with the purchase money indebtedness secured thereby and (b) such Liens secure only Indebtedness that is not in excess of 100% of the purchase price of such assets; (x) Liens reserved in oil and gas mineral leases for bonus or rental payments and for compliance with the terms of such leases; (xi) Liens arising under partnership agreements, oil and gas leases, farm-out agreements, division orders, contracts for the sale, purchase, exchange, transportation or processing of oil, gas or other hydrocarbons, unitization and pooling declarations and agreements, development agreements, operating agreements, area of mutual interest agreements, and other similar agreements which are customary in the Oil and Gas Business; (xii) Liens securing obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under Oil and Gas Hedging Contracts; (xiii) Liens in favor of the United States, any State thereof, any foreign country or any department, agency or instrumentality or political subdivision of any such jurisdiction, to secure partial, progress, advance or other payments pursuant to any contract or statute or to secure any indebtedness incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or the cost of constructing or improving the property subject to such Liens, including without limitation, Liens to secure Funded Debt of the pollution control or industrial revenue bond type; and (xiv) Liens in favor of any Obligor.

 

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

 

Petroleum Industry Standards” means the Definitions for Oil and Gas Reserves promulgated by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (or any generally recognized successor), as in effect at the time in question.

 

Place of Payment” means the office or agency of the Company in The City of New York and such other place or places where, subject to the provisions of Section 4.04, the principal of, and any premium and interest on, the Securities are payable.

 

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

 

Principal Property” means any property interest in oil and gas reserves located in the United States owned by the Company or any Subsidiary and which is capable of producing crude oil, condensate, natural gas, natural gas liquids or other similar hydrocarbon substances in paying quantities, the net book value of which property interest or interests exceeds 2% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, except any such property interest or interests that in the opinion of the Board of Directors of the Company is not of material importance to the total business conducted by the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. Without limitation, the term “Principal Property” shall not include (i) property or assets employed in gathering, treating, processing, refining, transportation, distribution or marketing, (ii) accounts receivable and other obligations of any obligor under a contract for the sale, exploration, production, drilling, development, processing or transportation of crude oil, condensate, natural gas, natural gas liquids or other similar hydrocarbon substances by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and all related rights of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and all guarantees, insurance, letters of credit and other agreements or arrangements of whatever character supporting or securing payment of such receivables or obligations, or (iii) the production or any proceeds from production of crude oil, condensate, natural gas, natural gas liquids or other similar hydrocarbon substances.

 

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Priority Lien” means a Lien granted by any Obligor in favor of the Priority Lien Agent at any time, upon any property of such Obligor to secure Priority Lien Obligations.

 

Priority Lien Agent” means the administrative agent under the Priority Lien Credit Agreement (or other Person designated by the administrative agent under the Priority Lien Credit Agreement), or if the Priority Lien Credit Agreement ceases to exist, the collateral agent or other representative of lenders or holders of Priority Lien Obligations designated pursuant to the terms of the Priority Lien Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Priority Lien Credit Agreement” means the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of September 12, 2018 among the Company, the Lenders and MUFG Union Bank, N.A., as administrative agent for the Lenders, including any related notes, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith (in each case, as the same has been amended and as it may be amended, restated, supplemented, modified, renewed or refunded, or replaced or refinanced with any Priority Substitute Credit Facility (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement), in each case from time to time hereafter in accordance with the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement).

 

Priority Lien Debt” means:

 

(a) Indebtedness of the Obligors under the Priority Lien Credit Agreement (including letters of credit (with outstanding letters of credit being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the stated amount thereof) and reimbursement obligations with respect thereto) that is subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and permitted to be incurred and secured under each applicable Secured Debt Document; and

 

(b) additional Indebtedness of the Obligors under any other Credit Facility that is secured by a Priority Lien that was permitted to be incurred and so secured under each applicable Secured Debt Document; provided that, in the case of any Indebtedness referred to in this clause (b), that:

 

(i) on or before the date on which such Indebtedness is incurred by the Obligors, such Indebtedness is designated by the Company, in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Priority Lien Agent and the Collateral Trustee, as “Priority Lien Debt” for the purposes of the Secured Debt Documents; provided that if such Series of Secured Debt is designated as “Priority Lien Debt,” it cannot also be designated as Parity Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt (or any combination of the three);

 

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(ii) the collateral agent or other representative with respect to such Indebtedness, the Priority Lien Agent, the Collateral Trustee and each Obligor have duly executed and delivered the Intercreditor Agreement (or a joinder to the Intercreditor Agreement or a new Intercreditor Agreement substantially similar to the Intercreditor Agreement, as in effect on the Issue Date, and in a form reasonably acceptable to each of the parties thereto); and
     
(iii) all other requirements set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement as to the confirmation, grant or perfection of the Priority Lien Agent’s Liens to secure such Indebtedness or Obligations in respect thereof are satisfied.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, with respect to Priority Lien Debt incurred under clause (a) or (b) above, Priority Lien Obligations consisting of the Priority Lien Credit Agreement, Lender Hedging Obligations and Cash Management Services Obligations shall be permitted to have Foreclosure Proceeds with priority status pursuant to written contract (as to which any Obligor is a party) in relation to other Priority Lien Debt (such other Priority Lien Debt, “FLLO Debt”), including the Obligations under the Term Loan Agreement, but no FLLO Debt shall be permitted to have Foreclosure Proceeds with priority status pursuant to written contract (as to which any Obligor is a party) in relation to other FLLO Debt.

 

Priority Lien Documents” means the Priority Lien Credit Agreement, the Priority Lien Security Documents, the other “Credit Documents” (as defined in the Priority Lien Credit Agreement) and all other loan documents, notes, guarantees, instruments and agreements governing or evidencing, or executed or delivered in connection with, any Credit Facility pursuant to which any Priority Lien Debt is incurred.

 

Priority Lien Obligations” means the Priority Lien Debt and all other Obligations in respect of Priority Lien Debt, Lender Hedging Obligations and Cash Management Services Obligations, in each case, that are secured by the Priority Liens.

 

Priority Lien Security Documents” means the Priority Lien Credit Agreement (insofar as the same grants a Lien on the Collateral), the agreements listed on Part A of Exhibit B to the Intercreditor Agreement and any other security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, control agreements, or grants or transfers for security, now existing or entered into after the date hereof, executed and delivered by any Obligor creating (or purporting to create) a Lien upon Collateral in favor of the Priority Lien Agent (including any such agreements, assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust and other documents or instruments associated with any Credit Facility pursuant to which any Priority Lien Debt is incurred).

 

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

 

Production Payments and Reserve Sales” means the grant or transfer by the Company or any Subsidiary to any Person of a royalty, overriding royalty, net profits interest, Production Payment, partnership or other interest in Oil and Gas Properties, reserves or the right to receive all or a portion of the production or the proceeds from the sale of production attributable to such properties, including any such grants or transfers pursuant to incentive programs on terms that are reasonably customary in the Oil and Gas Business for geologists, geophysicists or other providers of technical services to the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

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Proved Developed Reserves” means Proved Reserves that, in accordance with the Petroleum Industry Standards are classified as one of the following: (a) “Developed Producing Reserves” or (b) “Developed Non-Producing Reserves”; and Proved Developed Reserves in the aggregate comprise Proved Reserves that are “Developed Producing Reserves” and “Developed Non-Producing Reserves.”

 

Proved Reserves” means oil and gas reserves that, in accordance with the Petroleum Industry Standards are classified as both “Proved Reserves” and one or more of the following: (a) “Developed Producing Reserves,” (b) “Developed Non-Producing Reserves” or (c) “Undeveloped Reserves”; and “Proved Reserves” in the aggregate comprise Proved Reserves that are “Developed Producing Reserves”, “Developed Non-Producing Reserves”, and “Undeveloped Reserves.”

 

Proved Undeveloped Reserves” means Proved Reserves that, in accordance with Petroleum Industry Standards, are classified as “Undeveloped Reserves.”

 

PV-10” means, with respect to any Proved Reserves expected to be produced from any Oil and Gas Properties evaluated in a Reserve Report, the net present value as of the applicable date of determination, discounted at 10% per annum, of the future net revenues expected to accrue to the Obligors’ collective interests in such reserves during the expected economic lives of such reserves, calculated using the “Strip Price” (as defined in the Priority Lien Credit Agreement as in effect on the Issue Date); provided that in no event shall the amount of Proved Undeveloped Reserves included in such calculation exceed 25% of PV-10.

 

PV-10 Collateral Coverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) PV-10, calculated as of the date of the most recent Reserve Report delivered (or required to be delivered) under the Priority Lien Credit Agreement (provided that the calculation of PV-10 for purposes of this calculation shall give effect to exploration and production activities, acquisitions, dispositions and production since the date of the last applicable Reserve Report to the relevant calculation date) to (b) the sum of the aggregate principal amount of Funded Debt of the Obligors that is secured by Priority Liens or Parity Liens; provided that if there is no Priority Lien Credit Agreement requiring delivery of a Reserve Report, the Company shall be required to deliver to the Trustee (at the times such a Reserve Report was required to be delivered by the Company to the Priority Lien Agent under the Priority Lien Credit Agreement as in effect on the Issue Date) a Reserve Report in form substantially consistent as determined in good faith by the Company with the Reserve Report required to be delivered under the Priority Lien Credit Agreement as in effect on the Issue Date.

 

QIB” means a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act.

 

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Qualified Equity Interests” means any Capital Stock that is not Disqualified Stock.

 

Rating Agency” means each of Moody’s and S&P; provided, that if any of Moody’s or S&P ceases to provide rating services to issuers or investors, the Company may appoint another “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act as a replacement for such Rating Agency.

 

Refinance” means, in respect of any Indebtedness, to refinance, extend, renew, refund, repay, prepay, redeem, defease or retire, or to issue other Indebtedness in exchange or replacement for, such Indebtedness. “Refinanced” and “Refinancing” shall have correlative meanings.

 

Refinancing Indebtedness” means Indebtedness that Refinances any Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary existing on the Issue Date or incurred thereafter in compliance with this Indenture, including Indebtedness that Refinances Refinancing Indebtedness; provided, however, that (i) such Refinancing Indebtedness has a stated maturity date no earlier than the stated maturity date of the Indebtedness being Refinanced, (ii) such Refinancing Indebtedness has an Average Life at the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is incurred that is equal to or greater than the Average Life of the Indebtedness being Refinanced, (iii) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of any such Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Refinanced Indebtedness outstanding immediately before such Refinancing except by an amount equal to the unpaid accrued interest and premium thereon plus other amounts paid and fees and expenses incurred in connection with such Refinancing plus an amount equal to any existing commitment unutilized and letters of credit undrawn thereunder; (iv) to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness refinances Indebtedness subordinated or pari passu to the Securities or any Guarantee, such Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated or pari passu to the Securities or such Guarantee at least to the same extent as the Indebtedness being refinanced or refunded; provided, further, however, that Refinancing Indebtedness shall not include (A) Indebtedness of a non-Subsidiary Guarantor that Refinances Indebtedness of the Company or (B) Indebtedness of a non-Subsidiary Guarantor that Refinances Indebtedness of a Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

Related Business Assets” means assets (other than cash or Cash Equivalents) used or useful in an Oil and Gas Business.

 

Required Parity Lien Debtholders” means, at any time, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of all Parity Lien Debt then outstanding (and including a majority in principal amount of the Securities), calculated in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.2 of the Collateral Trust Agreement. For purposes of this definition, Parity Lien Debt registered in the name of, or beneficially owned by, the Company or any Affiliate of the Company will be deemed not to be outstanding.

 

Requirement of Law” means, as to any Person, any law, treaty, rule, regulation statute, order, ordinance, decree, judgment, consent decree, writ, injunction, settlement agreement or governmental requirement enacted, promulgated or imposed or entered into or agreed by any Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or assets or to which such Person or any of its property or assets is subject.

 

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Reserve Report” means a report setting forth, as of each January 1st or July 1st (or another date as required or permitted by the Priority Lien Credit Agreement), the Proved Reserves and Proved Developed Reserves (including the aggregate values thereof) attributable to the Oil and Gas Properties of the Obligors, together with a projection of the rate of production and future net income, taxes, operating expenses and capital expenditures with respect thereto as of such date, in each case in the form delivered in accordance with the requirements of the Priority Lien Credit Agreement, or if there is no Priority Lien Credit Agreement requiring delivery of a Reserve Report, in form substantially consistent as determined in good faith by the Company with the form of Reserve Report required under the Priority Lien Credit Agreement as in effect on the Issue Date.

 

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

 

Restricted Payment” with respect to any Person means:

 

(a) the declaration or payment of any dividends or any other distributions of any sort in respect of its Capital Stock (including any payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving such Person) or similar payment to the direct or indirect holders of its Capital Stock (other than dividends or distributions payable solely in Qualified Equity Interests of such Person and dividends or distributions payable solely to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, and other than pro rata dividends or other distributions made by a subsidiary that is not a wholly owned subsidiary to minority stockholders (or owners of an equivalent interest in the case of a subsidiary that is an entity other than a corporation));

 

(b) the purchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Capital Stock of the Company held by any Person or of any Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary held by any Affiliate of the Company (other than a Restricted Subsidiary), including the exercise of any option to exchange any Capital Stock (other than into Qualified Equity Interests of the Company);

 

(c) the purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value, prior to scheduled maturity, scheduled repayment or scheduled sinking fund payment of any Subordinated Obligations of such Person (other than the purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition of Subordinated Obligations purchased in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of such purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition); or

 

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(d) the purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value, prior to scheduled maturity, scheduled repayment or scheduled sinking fund payment of any Specified Junior Indebtedness of such Person (other than the purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition of any such Specified Junior Indebtedness purchased in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of such purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition).

 

Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that, as of the applicable date of determination, (i) is a Subsidiary Guarantor or (ii) directly owns or leases any Principal Property.

 

S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, or any successor to the ratings agency business thereof.

 

Sale/Leaseback Transaction” means with respect to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, any arrangement with any Person providing for the leasing by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of any Principal Property which was acquired or placed into service more than one year prior to such arrangement, whereby such property has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary to such Person; provided, that the term “Sale/Leaseback Transaction” shall not include any such arrangement that does not provide for a lease by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with a period, including renewals, of more than three years. For the avoidance of doubt, a transaction primarily involving Dollar-Denominated Production Payments or Volumetric Production Payments shall not be deemed to be a Sale/Leaseback Transaction.

 

SEC” or “Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or its successor.

 

Secured Debt” means Priority Lien Debt, Parity Lien Debt and Junior Lien Debt.

 

Secured Debt Documents” means the Priority Lien Documents, the Parity Lien Documents and the Junior Lien Documents.

 

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

 

Security Agreement” means the Collateral Agreement dated as of the Issue Date made by the Obligors in favor the Collateral Trustee.

 

Security Documents” means the Collateral Trust Agreement, each joinder agreement required by the Collateral Trust Agreement, the Security Agreement and all security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, Mortgages, collateral agency agreements, control agreements or other grants or transfers for security executed and delivered by any Obligor creating (or purporting to create) a Parity Lien upon Collateral in favor of the Collateral Trustee, in each case, as amended, modified, renewed, restated or replaced, in whole or in part, from time to time, in accordance with its terms and the provisions of Section 7.1 of the Collateral Trust Agreement.

 

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

 

Series of Junior Lien Debt” means, severally, each issue or series of Junior Lien Debt for which a single transfer register is maintained.

 

Series of Parity Lien Debt” means, severally, the Securities and each other issue or series of Parity Lien Debt for which a single transfer register is maintained.

 

Series of Priority Lien Debt” means, severally, the Indebtedness outstanding under the Priority Lien Credit Agreement and any other Credit Facility that constitutes Priority Lien Debt.

 

Series of Secured Debt” means each Series of Priority Lien Debt, each Series of Parity Lien Debt and each Series of Junior Lien Debt.

 

Specified Junior Indebtedness” means any obligations of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor (but excluding any BVL Notes) (whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter incurred) of the type described in clause (a) of the definition of “Indebtedness” that (x) are unsecured and (y) have a stated maturity date that is on or after the Maturity Date.

 

Subordinated Obligations” means with respect to any Person, any Indebtedness of such Person (whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter incurred) which is subordinate or junior in right of payment to the Securities or a Guarantee of such Person, as the case may be, pursuant to a written agreement to that effect; provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, Indebtedness shall not be deemed subordinate or junior in right of payment solely as a result of the lien priority of such Indebtedness, or as a result of being unsecured.

 

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

 

Subsidiary Guarantor” means (i) each of the Subsidiaries that executes this Indenture as a subsidiary guarantor until such time as such Subsidiary shall no longer be a Subsidiary Guarantor of the Securities pursuant to Article Ten and (ii) each other Subsidiary that becomes a Subsidiary Guarantor of the Securities in compliance with the provisions of Article Ten of this Indenture until such time as such Subsidiary shall no longer be a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to Article Ten.

 

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Taxes” means any and all present or future taxes, duties, levies, imposts, assessments, deductions, withholdings or other similar charges imposed by any governmental authority and any interest, fines, penalties or additions to tax with respect to the foregoing.

 

Term Loan Agreement” means that certain Term Loan Agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, by and among the Company, as borrower, the lenders from time to time party thereto and GLAS USA LLC, as term agent, as amended, restated, adjusted, waived, renewed, extended, supplemented (including by that certain Class A Term Loan Supplement, dated as of the Issue Date, by and among the Company, as borrower, the lenders party thereto and GLAS USA LLC, as term agent).

 

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

 

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

 

Uniform Commercial Code” means the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of New York or of any other state the laws of which are required to be applied in connection with the perfection of security interests in any Collateral.

 

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

 

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

 

Volumetric Production Payments” means sales of limited-term overriding royalty interests in natural gas and oil reserves that (i) entitle the purchaser to receive scheduled production volumes over a period of time from specific lease interests; (ii) are free and clear of all associated future production costs and capital expenditures; (iii) are nonrecourse to the seller (i.e., the purchaser’s only recourse is to the reserves acquired); (iv) transfer title of the reserves to the purchaser; and (v) allow the seller to retain all production beyond the specified volumes, if any, after the scheduled production volumes have been delivered.

 

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

 

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SECTION 1.02                     Other Definitions.

 

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

 

Term Defined in Section
Additional Collateral Lien 11.03
Agent Members 2.13
AHYDOs 3.08
AHYDO Payment Date 3.08
Appendix 2.01
Bankruptcy Law 6.01
Certificated Securities 2.13
Change of Control Offer 4.13
Code 3.08
Collateral Sale Offer 4.12
Covenant Defeasance 8.04
Custodian 6.01
DTC 2.13
EDGAR 4.02
Event of Default 6.01
Excess Collateral Proceeds 4.12
Excess Proceeds 4.11
Funding Guarantor 10.07
Guarantee 10.02
Legal Defeasance 8.03
Legal Holiday 13.07
Mandatory Principal Payment 3.08
Mandatory Principal Payment Amount 3.08
Net Proceeds Offer 4.11
Net Proceeds Offer Triggering Event 4.11
Net Proceeds Payment Date 4.11
Notes Obligations 11.01
Offer Notice 4.11
Paying Agent 2.06
Payment Default 6.01
Register 2.06
Registrar 2.06
Regulation S Appendix
Securities Preamble
Successor 5.01

 

SECTION 1.03                      [Reserved].

 

SECTION 1.04                      Rules of Construction. Unless the context otherwise requires:

 

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

 

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

 

(c)               “or” is not exclusive;

 

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

 

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

 

(f)                provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

 

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

 

(h)               references to “second lien” or “second-priority” Liens means Liens that may be junior in priority to the Liens securing Priority Lien Obligations, to the extent permitted to be incurred or to exist under the Intercreditor Agreement, and to certain Permitted Liens; and

 

(i)                 this Indenture shall not treat (1) unsecured Indebtedness as subordinated or junior to Secured Debt merely because it is unsecured or (2) Senior Indebtedness as subordinated or junior to any other Senior Indebtedness merely because it has a junior priority with respect to the same collateral or because it is guaranteed by other obligors.

 

ARTICLE Two

 

THE SECURITIES

 

SECTION 2.01                      Form and Dating. Provisions relating to the Securities are set forth in the Rule 144A/Regulation S Appendix attached hereto (the “Appendix”), which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made part of this Indenture. The Securities shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit 1 to the Appendix, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The Securities may have such insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate or as may be required or appropriate to comply with any law or with any rules made pursuant thereto or with any rules of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, or to conform to general usage, or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the Officers of the Company executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of the Securities.

 

The definitive Securities 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, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

 

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SECTION 2.02                      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 referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

 

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS

As Trustee

   
  Date: _________ By:                    
  Authorized Signatory

 

SECTION 2.03                      Amount Unlimited; Issuance of Additional Securities. The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be issued, executed, authenticated, delivered and outstanding under this Indenture is unlimited.

 

On the Issue Date, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver $2,210,156,000 aggregate principal amount of Securities.

 

The Company shall be entitled, subject to its compliance with Section 4.10, to issue Additional Securities under this Indenture which shall have identical terms as the Securities issued on the Issue Date, other than with respect to the date of issuance and issue price. The Securities issued on the Issue Date and any Additional Securities shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture, including waivers, consents, directions, declarations, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase; provided, however, that if any Additional Securities are not fungible with the Securities issued on the Issue Date for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such Additional Securities shall be issued under a separate CUSIP number (and, if applicable, ISIN).

 

The Securities shall be issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

SECTION 2.04                      Execution of Securities. The Securities shall be signed on behalf of the Company by two Officers thereof. Such signatures upon the Securities may be the manual or facsimile signatures of the present or any future such Officers and may be imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Securities. The seal of the Company, if any, is not required to appear on the Securities, but if it does so appear it may be in the form of a facsimile thereof and may be impressed, affixed, imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Securities.

 

Only such Securities as shall bear thereon a certificate of authentication substantially in the form hereinbefore recited, manually signed by the Trustee, shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. Such certificate by the Trustee upon any Security executed by the Company shall be conclusive evidence that the Security so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

 

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In case any Officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Securities shall cease to be such Officer before the Securities so signed shall have been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, or disposed of by the Company, such Securities nevertheless may be authenticated and delivered or disposed of as though the Person who signed such Securities had not ceased to be such Officer of the Company; and any Security may be signed on behalf of the Company by such Persons as, at the actual date of the execution of such Security, shall be the proper Officers of the Company, although at the date of such Security or of the execution of this Indenture any such Person was not such Officer.

 

SECTION 2.05                      Authentication and Delivery of Securities. At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and deliver such Securities in accordance with such Company Order.

 

The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities 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.

 

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 2.14, such Security shall for all purposes of this Indenture be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

 

The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent reasonably acceptable to the Company to authenticate Securities. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate Securities whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights under Section 7.03 to deal with the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates as any Registrar or Paying Agent.

 

Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

 

SECTION 2.06                      Registrar and Paying Agent. The Company shall maintain an office or agency where Securities may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (the “Registrar”), and an office or agency where Securities may be presented for redemption or repurchase, if applicable, and for payment (the “Paying Agent”). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Securities and of their transfer and exchange (the “Register”). The Company may have one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents for the Securities. With respect to any Securities, the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent and the term “Registrar” includes any additional co-registrar.

 

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The Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Registrar or Paying Agent not a party to this Indenture. The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such Agent. The Company shall notify the Trustee of the name and address of any such Agent and shall furnish the Trustee with an executed counterpart of any such agency agreement. The Company at any time may replace any Registrar or Paying Agent or change the location of any such office or agency without notice to any Holder. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such replacement or change in location. If the Company fails to maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent the Trustee shall act as such and shall be entitled to appropriate compensation therefor pursuant to Section 7.07. The Company or any Subsidiary incorporated or organized within the United States of America may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

 

The Company initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar and Paying Agent.

 

SECTION 2.07                      Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust. The Company shall require each Paying Agent (other than the Trustee) to agree in writing that the Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of, and any premium and interest on, the Securities and shall notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment. If the Company or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate the money held by it as Paying Agent and hold it as a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed by the Paying Agent. Upon complying with this Section, the Paying Agent shall have no further liability for the money delivered to the Trustee.

 

SECTION 2.08                      Holder Lists. The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Holders of Securities. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee, in writing at least five Business Days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of Holders of the Securities.

 

SECTION 2.09                      Transfer and Exchange. The Securities shall be transferable only upon the surrender of a Security for registration of transfer. When a Security is presented to the Registrar with a request to register a transfer, the Registrar shall register the transfer as requested if the requirements of this Indenture and any reasonable regulations prescribed by the Company or the Registrar are met. When Securities (other than Global Securities) are presented to the Registrar with a request to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Securities of other denominations, the Registrar shall make the exchange as requested if the same requirements are met.

 

To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate at the Registrar’s request one or more new Securities of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor.

 

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax, assessments, or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes, assessments or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange not involving any transfer pursuant to Section 3.07).

 

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The Registrar shall not be required to register the transfer of or exchange of any Security for a period beginning 15 Business Days before the mailing of a notice of redemption or of an offer to repurchase Securities and ending at the close of business on the date of such mailing, or for a period beginning 15 Business Days before an interest payment date and ending on the close of business on such interest payment date, or of any Security selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

SECTION 2.10                      Replacement Securities. If a mutilated Security is surrendered to the Registrar or if the Holder of a Security claims that the Security has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Security if the Holder satisfies the reasonable requirements of the Company and the Trustee. If required by the Company or the Trustee, such Holder shall furnish an indemnity bond or other security sufficient in the judgment of the Company and the Trustee to protect the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Registrar from any loss which any of them may suffer if a Security is replaced. The Company and the Trustee may charge the Holder for their expenses in replacing a Security.

 

Every replacement Security is an additional obligation of the Company.

 

SECTION 2.11                      Outstanding Securities. Securities outstanding at any time are all Securities authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation and those described in this Section as not outstanding. Except to the extent provided in the last paragraph of this Section 2.11, a Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Security.

 

If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.10, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee and the Company receive proof satisfactory to them that the replaced Security is held by a bona fide purchaser.

 

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

 

If the principal amount of any Security is considered paid under Section 4.01, it ceases to be outstanding and interest on it ceases to accrue.

 

Securities with respect to which the Company has effected legal defeasance or covenant defeasance as provided in Article Eight cease to be outstanding except to the extent provided in Sections 8.03 and 8.04.

 

In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company 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 or waiver, only Securities which a Responsible Officer actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned as described in the immediately preceding sentence 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 other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor.

 

SECTION 2.12                      Temporary Securities. Until definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Securities. Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of definitive Securities but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate definitive Securities and deliver them in exchange for temporary Securities.

 

SECTION 2.13                      Securities Issuable in the Form of a Global Security.

 

(a)               For all Securities that are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, any such Global Security shall represent such of the outstanding Securities as shall be specified therein and may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of outstanding Securities from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of outstanding Securities represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges, transfers or redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Security to reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in the amount, of outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee (i) in such manner and upon instructions given by such Person or Persons as shall be specified in such Security or in a Company Order to be delivered to the Trustee pursuant to Section 2.05 or (ii) otherwise in accordance with written instructions from the Depositary or its nominee on behalf of any Person having a beneficial interest in such Global Security. Any such Global Security shall be registered in the name of the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities or its nominee, shall be delivered by the Trustee or its agent to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction and shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect (or to such effect as may be required by the Depositary):

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(c)               Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, no Global Security may be transferred to, or registered or exchanged for Securities registered in the name of, any Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or any nominee thereof, and no such transfer may be registered, except as provided in this Section 2.13(c). Every Security authenticated and delivered upon registration or transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Security shall be a Global Security, except as provided in this Section 2.13(c). If (1) (A) the Depositary for a Global Security notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and (B) a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days, (2) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to the Securities and the Registrar has received a request from the Depositary to issue certificated securities (“Certificated Securities”) in lieu of all or a portion of the Global Securities (in which case the Company shall deliver Certificated Securities within 30 days of such request) or (3) the Company determines in its sole discretion and notifies the Trustee that Securities issued in global form shall no longer be represented by a Global Security, then such Global Security may be exchanged by such Depositary for Certificated Securities of any authorized denomination and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor, registered in the names of, and the transfer of such Global Security or portion thereof may be registered to, such Persons as such Depositary shall direct, in each case, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Appendix.

 

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(d)               Neither the Company nor the Trustee shall have any responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a Global Security, or interest therein, Agent Member or other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depositary or its nominee or of any Agent Member, with respect to any ownership interest in Global Securities or with respect to the delivery to any Agent Member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depositary) of any notice (including any notice of redemption) or the payment of any amount, under or with respect to such Securities. Neither the Company nor the Trustee shall be liable for any delay by the related Holder of the Global Security or the Depositary in identifying the beneficial owners, and each such Person may conclusively rely on, and shall be protected in relying on, instructions from such Global Security Holder or the Depositary for all purposes (including with respect to the registration and delivery and the respective principal amounts, of the Securities to be issued).

 

(e)               Neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent shall have any responsibility or liability for any actions taken or not taken by the Depositary.

 

SECTION 2.14                      Cancellation. The Company at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Securities surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee and no one else shall cancel and dispose of (subject to the record retention requirements of the Exchange Act) all Securities surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment or cancellation in its customary manner and upon written request shall deliver a certificate of such cancellation to the Company. Any Securities purchased by the Company may, to the extent permitted by law, be reissued or resold or may, at its option, be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation. The Company may not issue new Securities to replace Securities it has delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, except as expressly permitted by the terms of the Securities.

 

SECTION 2.15                      Defaulted Interest. If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Securities, the Company shall pay defaulted interest (plus interest on such defaulted interest to the extent lawful) at the rate borne by the Securities in any lawful manner. In the event that the Company is required to pay defaulted interest to Holders, the Company will provide written notice to the Trustee of its obligation to pay such defaulted interest no later than five days prior to the proposed payment date for the defaulted interest, and such notice shall set forth the amount of defaulted interest to be paid by the Company on such payment date. The Trustee shall not at any time be under any duty or responsibility to any Holder to determine the defaulted interest, or with respect to the nature, extent, or calculation of the amount of defaulted interest owed, or with respect to the method employed in such calculation of the defaulted interest. The Company may pay the defaulted interest to the persons who are Holders on a subsequent special record date. The Company shall fix or cause to be fixed any such special record date and payment date to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee and shall promptly mail or cause to be mailed to each Holder a notice that states the special record date, the payment date and the amount of defaulted interest to be paid.

 

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SECTION 2.16                      CUSIP Numbers and ISINs. The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers and/or “ISINs” (if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP numbers and/or ISINs in notices of redemption or repurchase as a convenience to Holders; provided, however, that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption or repurchase and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP numbers and/or ISINs.

 

ARTICLE Three

 

REDEMPTION

 

SECTION 3.01                      Optional Redemption.

 

(a)               Except as set forth in this Section 3.01(a), the Company shall not be entitled to optionally redeem the Securities prior to January 1, 2022.

 

(1)               At any time prior to January 1, 2022, the Company will be entitled at its option to redeem the Securities, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed plus the Make-Whole Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), in accordance with paragraph 4 of the Securities.

 

(2)               At any time prior to January 1, 2022, the Company will be entitled at its option on any one or more occasions to redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities issued under this Indenture at a redemption price equal to 111.500% of the principal amount of the Securities redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), with an amount of cash not greater than the Net Cash Proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings by the Company; provided that, with respect to each such redemption:

 

(A)             at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities issued under the Indenture (excluding any Securities held by the Company and its Subsidiaries) remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption; and

 

(B)              such redemption occurs within 180 days of the date of the closing of such Equity Offering.

 

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(b)               At any time on or after January 1, 2022, the Company may redeem the Securities, in whole or in part, at its option, at the redemption prices set forth in paragraph 5(a) of the Securities, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), in accordance with paragraph 5 of the Securities.

 

(c)               The Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation whatsoever to calculate the Adjusted Treasury Rate or the Make-Whole Premium in connection with any redemption. The Company will calculate the Adjusted Treasury Rate and the Make-Whole Premium and, prior to the redemption date, deliver an Officers’ Certificate to the Trustee setting forth the Adjusted Treasury Rate and the Make-Whole Premium and showing the calculation of each in reasonable detail.

 

SECTION 3.02                      Notice to Trustee. If the Company elects to redeem all or any part of the Securities pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Article 3 and the Securities, it shall furnish to the Trustee and the Registrar, at least 30 days but not more than 75 days before the redemption date (unless the Trustee consents to a shorter period), an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the redemption date, the principal amount of Securities to be redeemed and the redemption price (or the manner of calculation thereof) for Securities to be redeemed, except that such Officers’ Certificate may be given more than 75 days before the applicable redemption date if such notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Securities or a satisfaction and discharge with respect to the Securities in accordance with this Indenture.

 

SECTION 3.03                      Selection of Securities to Be Redeemed. If less than all of the Securities are to be redeemed at any time, the Trustee shall select the particular Securities to be redeemed on a pro rata basis or by lot, in each case, in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary, or, if the Securities are listed on any securities exchange, by any other method that complies with the requirements of such exchange; provided, however, that no Securities with a principal amount of $2,000 or less will be redeemed in part. The Trustee shall make the selection from outstanding Securities not previously called for redemption not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption date. Securities and portions of them it selects shall be in amounts of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, except that if all of the Securities of a Holder are to be redeemed, the entire outstanding amount of such Securities held by such Holder, even if not a multiple of $1,000, shall be redeemed. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Securities called for redemption also apply to portions of Securities called for redemption. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of the Securities or portions of Securities selected for redemption.

 

SECTION 3.04                      Notice of Redemption.

 

(a)               At least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company shall mail or cause to be mailed a notice of redemption by first-class mail to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed at such Holder’s registered address or send such notice in accordance with the Depositary’s applicable procedures, except that notice of redemption may be given more than 60 days before the applicable redemption date if such notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Securities or a satisfaction and discharge with respect to the Securities in accordance with this Indenture. The notice shall state:

 

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(1)               the redemption date;

 

(2)               the redemption price or, if the redemption price is not then determinable, the manner in which it is to be determined;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(7)               if fewer than all of the outstanding Securities are to be redeemed, the identification of the particular Securities to be redeemed, and if any Security is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Security to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date, upon surrender of such Security, in the case of a Certificated Security, a new Security or Securities in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion will be issued in the name of the Holder thereof upon cancellation of the Security or Securities being redeemed;

 

(8)               the CUSIP number and/or ISIN, if any, of the Securities to be redeemed;

 

(9)               any condition precedent to such redemption; and

 

(10)           the paragraph of the Security and/or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the Securities called for redemption are being redeemed.

 

(b)               At the Company’s written request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption required in Section 3.04(a) in the Company’s name and at the Company’s expense; provided, however, that the Company shall deliver to the Trustee, at least 15 days prior to the date on which the Company requests that the Trustee give such notice (unless the Trustee consents to a shorter notice period), an Officers’ Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in Section 3.04(a).

 

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(c)               Notice of any redemption, including, without limitation, upon an Equity Offering, may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of a related Equity Offering. The Company may redeem Securities pursuant to one or more of the relevant provisions in this Indenture, and a single notice of redemption may be delivered with respect to the redemptions made pursuant to different provisions hereof. In addition, if such redemption is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice shall state that, in the Company’s discretion, the redemption date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied, or such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the redemption date, or by the redemption date so delayed. In addition, the Company may provide in such notice that payment of the redemption price and performance of the Company’s obligations with respect to such redemption may be performed by another Person.

 

SECTION 3.05                      Effect of Notice of Redemption. Once notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with Section 3.04, subject to the satisfaction of any conditions precedent set forth in such notice, Securities called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date at the redemption price. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Securities shall be paid at the redemption price, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the redemption date; provided, however, that installments of interest that are due and payable on or prior to the redemption date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, registered as such, at the close of business on the relevant record date for the payment of such installment of interest. Failure to give notice or any defect in the notice to any Holder shall not affect the validity of the notice to any other Holder.

 

SECTION 3.06                      Deposit of Redemption Price. Prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent (or if the Company or a Subsidiary is the Paying Agent, shall segregate and hold in trust) funds available on the redemption date sufficient to pay the redemption price of, and accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the redemption date on, the Securities to be redeemed on that date. The Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Company any money so deposited which is not required for that purpose upon the written request of the Company, except with respect to monies owed as obligations to the Trustee pursuant to Article Seven.

 

Unless the Company defaults in making such payment, interest on the Securities to be redeemed will cease to accrue on the applicable redemption date, whether or not such Securities are presented for payment. If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon redemption because of the failure of the Company to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest will continue to be payable on the unpaid principal and any premium including from the redemption date until such principal and any premium is paid, and, to the extent lawful, on any interest not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Securities and in Section 4.01 hereof.

 

SECTION 3.07                      Securities Redeemed in Part. Upon surrender of a Security that is to be redeemed in part, in the case of a Certificated Security, the Company shall issue and the Trustee upon receipt of a Company Order shall authenticate for the Holder, at the expense of the Company, a new Security equal in aggregate amount to the unredeemed portion of the Security surrendered.

 

SECTION 3.08                      No Mandatory Redemption or Sinking Fund.

 

(a)       Except as set forth in Section 3.08(b), the Company shall not be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Securities, nor (except pursuant to Section 4.11, Section 4.12 and Section 4.13) shall the Company be required to repurchase the Securities at the option of the Holders.

 

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(b) If the Securities would otherwise constitute “applicable high yield discount obligations” (“AHYDOs”) within the meaning of Section 163(i)(1) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), at the end of all accrual periods ending after the fifth anniversary of the Issue Date (each, an “AHYDO Payment Date”), but not including the final accrual period, the Company will make pro-rata cash payments to all Holders of the Securities then outstanding in an amount equal to the Mandatory Principal Payment Amount (each such payment, a “Mandatory Principal Payment”). The “Mandatory Principal Payment Amount” means the portion of the Securities’ principal required to be paid as of each AHYDO Payment Date to prevent the Securities from being treated as an AHYDO within the meaning of Section 163(i)(1) of the Code. No partial payments, redemptions or repurchases of the Securities prior to an AHYDO Payment Date pursuant to any other provision of this Indenture or the Securities will alter the Company’s obligation to make the Mandatory Principal Payment with respect to the Securities that remain outstanding on an AHYDO Payment Date. Solely for U.S. federal income tax purposes, any Mandatory Principal Payment shall be treated as a payment of accrued original issue discount that constitutes interest for purposes of Section 163(i)(2) of the Code. Any Mandatory Principal Payment paid with respect to Global Securities will be processed as a “partial redemption” through the Depositary, in accordance with its rules and procedures as a “Pro Rata Pass-Through Distribution of Principal.” Any Mandatory Principal Payment shall otherwise be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.02 through 3.07.

 

ARTICLE Four

 

COVENANTS

 

SECTION 4.01                      Payment of Securities. The Company, for the benefit of the Holders of Securities, shall pay the principal of, and any premium and interest on, the Securities on the dates and in the manner provided in the terms of the Securities and this Indenture. Principal or redemption price, and any premium and interest with respect to the Securities, shall be considered paid on the date due if the Trustee or Paying Agent holds by 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on that date money deposited by the Company designated for and sufficient to pay such principal, redemption price, premium and interest as is then due.

 

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

 

SECTION 4.02                      SEC Reports and Rule 144A Information. (a) Notwithstanding that the Company may not be required to remain subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company, within 15 days after it files the same with the SEC, shall deliver to the Trustee copies of the annual reports and the information, documents and other reports (or copies of any such portions of any of the foregoing as the SEC may by rules and regulations prescribe) specified in Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act; provided that any such annual reports, information, documents or other reports filed with or furnished to the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval (or “EDGAR”) system shall be deemed to be delivered to the Trustee as of the time such information, documents or reports are filed or furnished via EDGAR; provided, however, that the Trustee shall have no obligation whatsoever to determine whether or not such information, documents or reports have been filed pursuant to the EDGAR system (or its successor). 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 Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).

 

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(b)       At any time the Company is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company shall, so long as any of the Securities shall, at such time, constitute “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act, promptly provide to the Trustee and shall, upon written request, provide to any holder, beneficial owner or prospective purchaser of such Securities the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act to facilitate the resale of such Securities pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act. The Company shall take such further action as any holder or beneficial owner of such Securities may reasonably request to the extent from time to time required to enable such holder or beneficial owner to sell such Securities in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time.

 

SECTION 4.03                      Compliance Certificates.

 

(a)               The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, an Officers’ Certificate, stating that a review of the activities of the Company and the Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether each of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that, to the best of such Officers’ knowledge, each of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions hereof (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which such Officers may have knowledge and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto).

 

(b)               The Company will, so long as any of the Securities are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee within 30 days after any Officer becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default or default in the performance of any covenant, agreement or condition contained in this Indenture, an Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Company proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

SECTION 4.04                      Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment an office or agency where Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange or for presentation for payment, and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the address of the Trustee set forth in Section 13.02 or at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

 

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The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in each Place of Payment 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. The Company hereby initially designates as the Place of Payment for the Securities The City of New York, and initially appoints the Trustee as Paying Agent at its Corporate Trust Office as the Company’s office or agency for each such purpose in such city.

 

SECTION 4.05                      Continued Existence. Except as permitted by Article Five and Section 10.03 hereof, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence and the corporate, partnership or other existence of each Restricted Subsidiary and all rights (charter and statutory) and franchises of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, that the Company shall not be required to preserve the corporate, partnership or other existence of any Restricted Subsidiary, or any such right or franchise, if the Company shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that the loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders.

 

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

 

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

 

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SECTION 4.08                      Maintenance of Properties and Insurance.

 

(a)               The Company shall cause all properties used or held for use in the conduct of its business or the business of any Restricted Subsidiary to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair and working order (ordinary wear and tear excepted) and supplied with all necessary equipment and shall cause to be made all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements thereof, all as in the judgment of the Company may be necessary so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly and advantageously conducted at all times; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 4.08 shall prevent the Company from discontinuing the operation or maintenance of any such property, or disposing of it, if such discontinuance or disposal is, in the judgment of the Company, desirable in the conduct of its business and not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders.

 

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

 

SECTION 4.09                      Limitation on Restricted Payments.

 

(a)               The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, make a Restricted Payment, if at the time the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary makes such Restricted Payment:

 

(1)               a Default shall have occurred and be continuing (or would result therefrom); or

 

(2)               the aggregate amount of such Restricted Payment and all other Restricted Payments (including Restricted Payments permitted by clause (4) of Section 4.09(b), but excluding all other Restricted Payments permitted by Section 4.09(b)) since the Issue Date would exceed the sum of (without duplication):

 

(A)             50% of the Consolidated Net Income accrued during the period (treated as one accounting period) from the beginning of the fiscal quarter in which the Issue Date occurs to the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for which consolidated financial statements of the Company and the Subsidiaries have been made available pursuant to Section 4.02(a) immediately preceding the date of such Restricted Payment (or, in case such Consolidated Net Income shall be a deficit, minus 100% of such deficit); plus

 

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(B)              100% of the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds and the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Company) of property or assets received by the Company since the Issue Date (x) as a capital contribution (other than from a Subsidiary) to the Company’s common equity capital or (y) from the issuance or sale of Qualified Equity Interests (other than an issuance or sale to any Subsidiary and other than an issuance or sale to an employee stock ownership plan or to a trust established by the Company or any Subsidiary for the benefit of their employees); plus

 

(C)              the amount by which Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary is reduced on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet upon the conversion or exchange (other than by any Subsidiary) subsequent to the Issue Date of any Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary convertible or exchangeable for Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company (less the amount of any cash, or the fair market value of any other property, distributed by the Company upon such conversion or exchange).

 

(b)               The provisions of Section 4.09(a) shall not prohibit:

 

(1)               any purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of Capital Stock, Disqualified Stock, Subordinated Obligations or Specified Junior Indebtedness made by exchange for, or out of the Net Cash Proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock and other than Capital Stock issued or sold to a Subsidiary or an employee stock ownership plan or to a trust established by the Company or any Subsidiary for the benefit of their employees) or a substantially concurrent capital cash contribution received by the Company from its stockholders; provided, however, that (x) such Restricted Payment shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments and (y) the Net Cash Proceeds from such sale or such capital cash contribution (to the extent so used for such Restricted Payment) shall be excluded from the calculation of amounts under clause (2)(B) of Section 4.09(a);

 

(2)               any purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of Subordinated Obligations or Specified Junior Indebtedness made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, Refinancing Indebtedness; provided, however, that such purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;

 

(3)               any purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of Disqualified Stock of the Company or any Subsidiary made by exchange for, or out of the Net Cash Proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, Disqualified Stock of the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, so long as such refinancing Disqualified Stock constitutes Refinancing Indebtedness; provided, however, that such purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;

 

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(4)               dividends paid within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof if at such date of declaration such dividend would have complied with this covenant; provided, however, that such dividend shall be included in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;

 

(5)               if no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing (or would result therefrom), the declaration and payment of cash dividends in respect of accrued but unpaid dividends owing on any Preferred Stock of the Company previously issued and outstanding on the Issue Date; provided, however, that such payments shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;

 

(6)               (A) the purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Capital Stock of the Company or any Subsidiary held by any present or former officer, manager, consultant, director or employee (or their respective Affiliates, estates, spouses, former spouses, successors, executors, administrators, heirs, legatees, distributes or immediate family members) of the Company or any Subsidiary, upon the death, disability, retirement or termination of employment of any such Person or otherwise in accordance with any equity option or equity appreciation rights plan, any management, director and/or employee equity ownership, benefit or incentive plan or agreement, equity subscription plan, employment termination agreement or any other employment agreements or equity holders’ agreement so long as the aggregate amount of all cash paid in respect of all such shares of Capital Stock so purchased, repurchased, redeemed, defeased, acquired or retired in any calendar year pursuant to the terms of any equity option or equity appreciation rights plan, any management, director and/or employee equity ownership, benefit or incentive plan or agreement, equity subscription plan, employment termination agreement or any other employment agreements or equity holders’ agreement does not exceed $50,000,000; and (B) the payment of withholding or similar Taxes payable or expected to be payable by any present or former employee, director, manager or consultant (or their respective Affiliates, estates or immediate family members) and any repurchases of Capital Stock in consideration of such payments including deemed repurchases in connection with the exercise of stock options so long as the amount of such payments does not exceed $25,000,000 in the aggregate; provided, however, that payments of the amounts referred to in the preceding clauses (A) and (B) shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;

 

(7)               the purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Subordinated Obligation or any Specified Junior Indebtedness at a purchase price not greater than 101% of the principal amount of such Subordinated Obligation (or Specified Junior Indebtedness, as applicable) in the event of a “Change of Control” in accordance with provisions similar to those set forth in Section 4.13; provided that, prior to or simultaneously with such purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement, the Company has made the required Change of Control Offer, as provided in Section 4.13 with respect to the Securities and has completed the repurchase of all Securities validly tendered for payment in connection with such Change of Control Offer; provided further, however, that such purchases, repurchases, redemptions, defeasances or other acquisitions or retirements for value shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;

 

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(8)               cash payments in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares or interests in connection with the exercise of warrants, options or other rights or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock of the Company or any Subsidiary or in connection with a reverse stock split; provided, however, that such amounts shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;

 

(9)               the repurchase of Capital Stock of the Company (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) deemed to occur upon the exercise of stock options if such Capital Stock represents a portion of the exercise price thereof; provided, however, that such repurchases shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;

 

(10)           other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount, taken together with all other Restricted Payments made pursuant to this clause (10), not to exceed $100,000,000; provided, however, that at the time of such Restricted Payment, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing (or would result therefrom); provided, further, however, that such Restricted Payments shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;

 

(11)           any payment of cash by the Company or any Subsidiary issuer to a holder of Convertible Notes to the extent such cash payment does not exceed an amount equal to the principal amount of such Convertible Notes that are converted or exchanged and any accrued interest paid thereon; provided, however, that such payment shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments; and

 

(12)           the consummation of any exchange of Existing Unsecured Notes for the Securities pursuant to the exchange offers contemplated by the Offering Memorandum; provided, however, that any such exchanges shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments.

 

For the purposes of this Section 4.09, the amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) shall be the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Company) on the date of such Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities proposed to be paid, transferred or issued by or to the Company or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to such Restricted Payment.

 

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SECTION 4.10                      Limitation on Liens Securing Funded Debt.

 

(a)               The Company (i) will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, create, incur or assume any Funded Debt secured by any Liens (other than Permitted Liens) upon any of the properties of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur or assume any Funded Debt secured by any Liens (other than Permitted Liens) upon the Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary or the Capital Stock of any Subsidiary that owns, directly or indirectly through ownership in another Subsidiary, the Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary.

 

(b)               Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4.10(a), the Company or any Subsidiary may create, incur or assume Funded Debt secured by Parity Liens (including the Securities) or Junior Liens which would otherwise be subject to the restrictions of such Section, if the aggregate principal amount of such Funded Debt and all other then-outstanding Funded Debt of the Company and any Subsidiary theretofore created, incurred or assumed pursuant to the exception in this Section 4.10(b) does not exceed $2,500,000,000, less, without duplication, the aggregate principal amount of the Securities outstanding at such time.

 

SECTION 4.11                      Limitation on Sale/Leaseback Transactions.

 

(a)               The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into any Sale/Leaseback Transaction with any Person (other than the Company or any other Subsidiary) unless (i) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, would be entitled to incur Funded Debt secured by Liens in a principal amount equal to the Attributable Indebtedness (treated as if such Attributable Indebtedness were Funded Debt) with respect to such Sale/Leaseback Transaction in accordance with Section 4.10, provided, that Attributable Indebtedness in respect of any Sale/Leaseback Transaction entered into pursuant to this clause (i) shall be treated as Funded Debt for purposes of Section 4.10; or (ii) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary receives proceeds from such Sale/Leaseback Transaction at least equal to the Fair Market Value thereof and such proceeds are applied in accordance with paragraphs (b) to (c) hereof (or, in the case of a Sale/Leaseback Transaction of any Collateral, such proceeds are applied in accordance with paragraphs (b) and (c) of Section 4.12 (treating such Sale/Leaseback Transaction of such Collateral as a Collateral Sale and the Net Available Proceeds attributable thereto as Net Cash Proceeds for such purposes)).

 

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

 

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(c)               If, upon completion of the 365-day period referred to in Section 4.11(b), any portion of the Net Available Proceeds (other than Net Available Proceeds of a Sale/Leaseback Transaction of any Collateral, with such Net Available Proceeds to be considered Net Cash Proceeds for such purpose) shall not have been applied by the Company as described in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) of Section 4.11(b) and such remaining Net Available Proceeds, together with any remaining net cash proceeds from any prior Sale/Leaseback Transaction (such aggregate constituting “Excess Proceeds”), exceed $60,000,000, then the Company will be obligated to make an offer (the “Net Proceeds Offer”) to purchase the Securities and any other Senior Indebtedness in respect of which such an offer to purchase is required to be made concurrently with the Net Proceeds Offer having an aggregate principal amount equal to the Excess Proceeds (such purchase to be made on a pro rata basis if the amount available for such repurchase is less than the principal amount of the Securities and other Senior Indebtedness tendered in such Net Proceeds Offer) at a purchase price of 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Securities and other Senior Indebtedness so repurchased to the date of repurchase; provided that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to commence any Net Proceeds Offer if, as of the date of the most recent Reserve Report delivered (or required to be delivered) on or prior to the date such Net Proceeds Offer would otherwise be required to be made, the PV-10 Collateral Coverage Ratio equals or exceeds 1.50 to 1.00 (it being understood that the Company shall be required to deliver to the Trustee a calculation of such ratio as of the applicable calculation date in a form reasonably acceptable to the Trustee). Upon the completion of the Net Proceeds Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds will be reset to zero.

 

(d)               Within 15 days after the Company becomes obligated to make a Net Proceeds Offer (a “Net Proceeds Offer Triggering Event”), the Company (with notice to the Trustee and the Paying Agent), or the Trustee at the Company’s request and expense, will mail or cause to be mailed (or otherwise communicate in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary) to all Holders on the date of the Net Proceeds Offer Triggering Event a notice prepared by the Company (the “Offer Notice”) of the occurrence of such Net Proceeds Offer Triggering Event and of the Holders’ rights arising as a result thereof. The Offer Notice will contain all instructions and materials necessary to enable Holders to tender their Securities to the Company. The Offer Notice, which shall govern the terms of the Net Proceeds Offer, shall state: (1) that the Net Proceeds Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 4.11; (2) the purchase price and the Net Proceeds Payment Date; (3) that any Security not tendered will continue to accrue interest at the stated rate; (4) that any Security accepted for payment pursuant to the Net Proceeds Offer shall cease to accrue interest on the Net Proceeds Payment Date; (5) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the Company, Depositary or Paying Agent, as the case may be, receives, not later than the expiration of the Net Proceeds Offer, or such longer period as may be required by law, a notice to such effect in the form specified in the Offer Notice; and (6) that Holders whose Securities are purchased only in part will be issued Securities equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Securities surrendered. The Net Proceeds Offer shall be deemed to have commenced upon mailing (or other communication in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary) of the Offer Notice and shall terminate 20 Business Days after its commencement, unless a longer offering period is required by law.

 

(e)               Promptly after the termination of the Net Proceeds Offer (the “Net Proceeds Payment Date”), the Company shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, (i) accept for payment Securities or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Net Proceeds Offer, (ii) deposit with the Depositary or Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the purchase price of all Securities or portions thereof so tendered and (iii) deliver to the Trustee Securities so accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the Securities or portions thereof tendered to the Company. The Depositary, the Company or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, shall promptly mail or deliver to the Holders of Securities so accepted payment in an amount equal to the purchase price (representing those funds received pursuant to clause (ii) of this Section 4.11(e)), and the Trustee shall promptly authenticate and mail or deliver to each such Holder a new Security equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Security surrendered; provided that each such new Security will be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. For purposes of this Section 4.11, the Trustee shall act as the Paying Agent.

 

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(f)                The Company will comply with Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the provisions of Regulation 14E and any other tender offer rules under the Exchange Act and any other federal and state securities laws, rules and regulations which may then be applicable to any Net Proceeds Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Net Proceeds Offer procedures included in this Indenture, the Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will be deemed to have complied with its obligations under the Net Proceeds Offer provisions of this Indenture by virtue of such compliance.

 

(g)               The provisions under this Section 4.11 relative to the Company’s obligation to make an offer to repurchase the Securities as a result of a Sale/Leaseback Transaction may be waived or modified at any time with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities.

 

SECTION 4.12                      Limitation on Collateral Sales.

 

(a)               The Company will not, and will not permit any of the Subsidiary Guarantors to, consummate a Collateral Sale, unless:

 

(1)               the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantor receives consideration at the time of such Collateral Sale at least equal to the Fair Market Value of the Collateral sold or otherwise disposed of (whether directly or indirectly through the sale or disposition of a Subsidiary Guarantor); and

 

(2)               at least 75% of the consideration received by the Obligors (determined on the date of contractually agreeing to such Collateral Sale) and all other Collateral Sales since the Issue Date, on a cumulative basis, is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents; provided that the following shall be deemed to be Cash Equivalents for purposes of this clause (2) and for no other purpose:

 

(A)             any liabilities (as shown on the Company’s most recent consolidated balance sheet or in the footnotes thereto or if incurred or accrued subsequent to the date of such balance sheet, such liabilities as would have been reflected in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet or the footnotes thereto if such incurrence or accrual had been put in place on or prior to the date of such balance sheet, as determined in good faith by the Company), other than contingent liabilities or liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Securities or the Guarantee, which (i) are assumed by the transferee of any such assets and from which the applicable Obligor shall have been validly released by all applicable creditors in writing or (ii) that are otherwise cancelled or terminated in connection with the transaction with such transferee (other than intercompany debt owed to the Company or the Subsidiaries);

 

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(B)              any securities, notes or other obligations or assets received by an Obligor from such transferee that are converted by an Obligor into cash or Cash Equivalents (to the extent of the cash or Cash Equivalents received) within 180 days following the closing of such Collateral Sale;

 

(C)              with respect to any Collateral Sale of Oil and Gas Properties by any Obligor in which such Obligor retains an interest in such property (whether directly or indirectly through retentions of any Capital Stock in any Person owning such property), the costs and expenses related to the exploration, development, completion or production of such Oil and Gas Properties and activities related thereto agreed to be assumed by the transferee (or an Affiliate thereof);

 

(D)             Indebtedness of any Subsidiary Guarantor that ceases to be a Subsidiary Guarantor as a result of such asset disposition (other than intercompany debt owed to the Company or the Subsidiaries), to the extent that the Company and each other Subsidiary Guarantor are released from any guarantee of payment of the principal amount of such Indebtedness in connection with such Collateral Sale; and

 

(E)              any Designated Non-Cash Consideration received by any Obligor in respect of the applicable Collateral Sale having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Designated Non-Cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (E) at any time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (x) $500,000,000 and (y) 5% of ACNTA determined as of the time of the receipt of such Designated Non-Cash Consideration, with the Fair Market Value of each item of Designated Non-Cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value.

 

(b)               Within 365 days after the receipt of any Net Cash Proceeds from any Collateral Sale, any Obligor may apply such Net Cash Proceeds at its option:

 

(1)               to permanently prepay, repay, redeem, defease or repurchase Priority Lien Debt and other outstanding Priority Lien Obligations;

 

(2)               to permanently prepay, repay, redeem, defease or repurchase Parity Lien Debt and other outstanding Parity Lien Obligations other than Indebtedness owed to the Company or another Subsidiary; provided that if the Company shall so prepay, repay, redeem, defease or repurchase any such Parity Lien Debt, the Company shall equally and ratably repay (or offer to repay) the Securities as provided either, at the Company’s option, under Section 3.01, through open-market purchases (to the extent such purchases are at or above 100% of the principal amount thereof) or by making an offer (in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 4.12 for a Collateral Sale Offer) to all Holders to purchase their Securities at 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus the amount of accrued but unpaid interest, if any, on the amount of Securities that would otherwise be prepaid;

 

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(3)               to (A) repurchase, prepay or redeem Indebtedness with a stated maturity date prior to the Maturity Date; or (B) repay borrowings under the Priority Lien Credit Agreement if either (x) required in connection with a reduction of the “Borrowing Base” (as defined therein) thereunder or (y) accompanied by a reduction in commitments thereunder in the same amount;

 

(4)               to acquire all or substantially all of the assets of, or a division or line of business of, any Person engaged in an Oil and Gas Business, or any Capital Stock of any Person engaged in an Oil and Gas Business, if, after giving effect to any such acquisition of Capital Stock, such Person is or becomes a Subsidiary Guarantor;

 

(5)               to make capital expenditures or to make other expenditures for leasehold or seismic purposes, or for maintenance, repair or improvement of existing properties and assets;

 

(6)               to acquire other assets that are used or useful in an Oil and Gas Business, including Oil and Gas Properties; or

 

(7)               any combination of the foregoing;

 

provided that in the case of clauses (4), (5) and (6) above (or combination thereof), a binding commitment to make such acquisitions or expenditures is entered into within 365 days of the consummation of the Collateral Sale that generated the Net Cash Proceeds shall be treated as a permitted application of the Net Cash Proceeds from the date of such commitment so long as an Obligor enters into such commitment with the good faith expectation that such Net Cash Proceeds will be applied to satisfy such commitment within 545 days after the consummation of the Collateral Sale that generated such Net Cash Proceeds and, in the event such commitment is later cancelled or terminated for any reason before the Net Cash Proceeds are applied in connection therewith, then such Net Cash Proceeds shall constitute Excess Collateral Proceeds as described herein as of the date of such cancellation or termination.

 

(c)               Any Net Cash Proceeds from Collateral Sales that are not applied or invested as provided in Section 4.12(b) will constitute “Excess Collateral Proceeds.” When the aggregate amount of Excess Collateral Proceeds exceeds $60,000,000, the Company will, within 45 days, make an offer to all Holders, and, if required by the terms of other Parity Lien Debt containing provisions similar to those set forth in this Section 4.12 with respect to offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets, to all holders of such other similar Parity Lien Debt (a “Collateral Sale Offer”) to purchase the maximum principal amount of Securities and/or such Parity Lien Debt that may be purchased out of the Excess Collateral Proceeds; provided that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to commence any Collateral Sale Offer if, as of the date of the most recent Reserve Report delivered (or required to be delivered) on or prior to the date such Collateral Sale Offer would otherwise be required to be made, the PV-10 Collateral Coverage Ratio equals or exceeds 1.50 to 1.00 (it being understood that the Company shall be required to deliver to the Trustee a calculation of such ratio as of the applicable calculation date in a form reasonably acceptable to the Trustee). The offer price in any Collateral Sale Offer will be equal to 100% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, to, but excluding, the date of purchase, and will be payable in cash.

 

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(d)               The Company shall commence a Collateral Sale Offer by mailing (with notice to the Trustee and the Paying Agent), or the Trustee at the Company’s request and expense, mailing or causing to be mailed (or otherwise communicating in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary) to all Holders, a notice prepared by the Company of the Collateral Sale Offer and of the Holders’ rights arising as a result thereof. The notice will contain all instructions and materials necessary to enable Holders to tender their Securities to the Company. The notice, which shall govern the terms of the Collateral Sale Offer, shall state: (1) that the Collateral Sale Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 4.12; (2) the purchase price and the payment date; (3) that any Security not tendered will continue to accrue interest at the stated rate; (4) that any Security accepted for payment pursuant to the Collateral Sale Offer shall cease to accrue interest on the payment date; (5) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the Company, Depositary or Paying Agent, as the case may be, receives, not later than the expiration of the Collateral Sale Offer, or such longer period as may be required by law, a notice to such effect in the form specified in the Collateral Sale Offer; and (6) that Holders whose Securities are purchased only in part will be issued Securities equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Securities surrendered. The Collateral Sale Offer shall be deemed to have commenced upon mailing (or other communication in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary) of the notice and shall terminate 20 Business Days after its commencement, unless a longer offering period is required by law. If the aggregate principal amount of Securities and other Parity Lien Debt tendered into such Collateral Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Collateral Proceeds, the Excess Collateral Proceeds will be allocated between the Securities and such other Parity Lien Debt based on the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Securities and such other Parity Lien Debt tendered and the Trustee will select the Securities to be purchased in the manner described in Section 4.12(g). Upon completion of each Collateral Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Collateral Proceeds will be reset at zero.

 

(e)               Pending the final application of any Net Cash Proceeds pursuant to this Section 4.12, the holder of such Net Cash Proceeds may apply such Net Cash Proceeds temporarily to reduce obligations under a revolving credit facility or otherwise invest such Net Cash Proceeds in any manner not prohibited by the Indenture. If any Excess Collateral Proceeds remain after consummation of the Collateral Sale Offer, the Company may use those funds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by the Indenture and they will no longer constitute Excess Collateral Proceeds.

 

(f)                The Company will comply with Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the provisions of Regulation 14E and any other tender offer rules under the Exchange Act and any other federal and state securities laws, rules and regulations which may then be applicable to any Collateral Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Collateral Sale Offer procedures included in the Indenture, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will be deemed to have complied with its obligations under the Collateral Sale provisions of the Indenture by virtue of such compliance.

 

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(g)               If the aggregate principal amount of Securities and Parity Lien Debt validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to a Collateral Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Collateral Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Securities and the Company shall select such Parity Lien Debt to be purchased on a pro rata basis on the basis of the aggregate accreted value or principal amount of tendered Securities and Parity Lien Debt (provided that the selection of such Parity Lien Debt shall be made pursuant to the terms of such Parity Lien Debt) and in such manner as complies with applicable legal requirements and applicable procedures of the Depositary.

 

(h)               The provisions under this Section 4.12 relative to the Company’s obligation to make an offer to repurchase the Securities as a result of a Collateral Sale may be waived or modified at any time with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities.

 

SECTION 4.13                      Change of Control.

 

(a)               Upon the occurrence of a “Change of Control”, each Holder shall have the right to require that the Company repurchase such Holder’s Securities at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest on the relevant interest payment date), in accordance with the terms contemplated in Section 4.13(b).

 

(b)               Unless the Company has previously mailed (or otherwise sent in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary) a notice of redemption pursuant to Section 3.04(a) with respect to all of the outstanding Securities or the Company has previously made a Change of Control Offer in connection with such Change of Control, within 30 days following a Change of Control, the Company shall mail or cause to be mailed (or otherwise communicate in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary) a notice to each Holder (each, a “Change of Control Offer”) with a copy to the Trustee stating:

 

(1)               that a Change of Control has occurred and that such Holder has the right to require the Company to purchase such Holder’s Securities at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest on the relevant interest payment date);

 

(2)               a description of the transaction or transactions that constitute a Change of Control;

 

(3)               the purchase date (which shall be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed or otherwise communicated in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary);

 

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(4)               if such notice is delivered prior to the occurrence of a Change of Control, that the Change of Control is conditioned upon the occurrence of such Change of Control and setting forth a brief description of the definitive agreement for the Change of Control; and

 

(5)               the instructions determined by the Company, consistent with this Section 4.13, that a Holder must follow in order to have its Securities purchased.

 

(c)               Holders electing to have a Security purchased pursuant to this Section 4.13 shall be required to surrender the Security, with an appropriate form duly completed, to the Company at the address specified in the notice at least three Business Days prior to the purchase date. Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election pursuant to this Section 4.13 if the Trustee or the Company receives not later than one Business Day prior to the purchase date, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Security which was delivered for purchase by the Holder and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Security purchased.

 

(d)               On the purchase date, all Securities purchased by the Company under this Section 4.13 shall be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, together with an Officers’ Certificate to confirm the purchase and directing the Trustee to cancel such Securities, and the Company shall pay the purchase price plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Holders entitled thereto.

 

(e)               Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, a Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, conditional upon such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement that if fully performed would result in a Change of Control is in effect at the time of making of the Change of Control Offer.

 

(f)                If Holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of outstanding Securities validly tender and do not withdraw such Securities in a Change of Control Offer and the Company, or any third party making a Change of Control Offer in lieu of the Company as set forth in Section 4.13(h), repurchases all of the Securities validly tendered and not validly withdrawn by such Holders, the Company or such third party shall have the right, upon not less than 30 days’ nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, provided that such notice is given not more than 30 days following such repurchase pursuant to the Change of Control Offer, to redeem all Securities that remain outstanding following such repurchase at a price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption.

 

(g)               The Company will comply, to the extent applicable, with Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the provisions of Regulation 14E and any other tender offer rules under the Exchange Act and any other federal and state securities laws, rules and regulations which may then be applicable in connection with the repurchase of Securities pursuant to this Section 4.13. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Section 4.13, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will be deemed to have complied with its obligations under this Section 4.13 by virtue of such compliance.

 

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(h)               The Company shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer pursuant to this Section 4.13 if a third party:

 

(1)               makes such offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Section 4.13 relating to the Company’s obligations to make such an offer; and

 

(2)               purchases all Securities validly tendered and not withdrawn under such an offer.

 

(i)                 The provisions under this Section 4.13 relative to the Company’s obligations to make a Change of Control Offer may be waived or modified with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in outstanding principal amount of the Securities.

 

ARTICLE Five

 

SUCCESSORS

 

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

 

(1)               (a) the Company survives such consolidation or merger or (b) the Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or that acquires by sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, or which leases, all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a “Successor”) is a corporation, limited liability company, general partnership or limited partnership organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, or Canada or any province thereof, and expressly assumes, by supplemental indenture in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (and similar documents with respect to the other Note Documents, in each case in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee and Collateral Trustee, as applicable), the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and any premium and interest on, all the Securities and the performance of every other covenant and obligation of the Company under this Indenture and the other Note Documents (including taking such action (or agreeing to take such action) as may be reasonably necessary to cause any property or assets that constitute Collateral owned by or transferred to such Successor to continue to constitute Collateral and to be subject to the Parity Liens in the manner and to the extent required under the Note Documents); provided, that unless the Successor is a corporation, a corporate co-issuer of the Securities shall be added hereto by the execution and delivery of a supplemental indenture by such co-issuer; and

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

ARTICLE Six

 

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

 

SECTION 6.01                      Events of Default. An “Event of Default” occurs in respect of the Securities upon:

 

(1)               default by any Obligor in the payment of principal of, or any premium on, the Securities when due and payable at maturity, upon redemption, upon required purchase, upon declaration or otherwise;

 

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

 

(3)               default by any Obligor with respect to any other Indebtedness of any Obligor if either (A) such default results in the acceleration of the maturity of any such Indebtedness having a principal amount of $75,000,000 or more individually or, taken together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness the maturity of which has been so accelerated, in the aggregate, or (B) such default results from the failure to pay when due principal of any such Indebtedness, after giving effect to any applicable grace period (a “Payment Default”), having a principal amount of $75,000,000 or more individually or, taken together with the principal amount of any other Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default, in the aggregate; provided that if any such default is cured or waived or any such acceleration is rescinded, or such Indebtedness is repaid, within a period of 30 days from the continuation of such default beyond any applicable grace period or the occurrence of such acceleration, as the case may be, such Event of Default and any consequent acceleration of the Securities shall be rescinded, so long as any such rescission does not conflict with any judgment or decree or applicable provision of law;

 

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(4)               default in the performance, or breach of, any covenant or agreement of any Obligor in the Indenture (other than a failure to purchase or repurchase the Securities when required under Section 4.11, Section 4.12 or Section 4.13, which, in each case, shall constitute an Event of Default under clause (1) above) and, in each such case, failure to remedy such default within a period of 60 days after written notice thereof from the Trustee or Holders of 25% of the principal amount of the Securities; provided, however, that the Company shall have 90 days after the receipt of such written notice to remedy, or receive a waiver for, any failure to comply with its obligations under this Indenture so long as the Company is attempting to cure such failure as promptly as reasonably practicable;

 

(5)               a Guarantee by a Subsidiary Guarantor shall cease to be in full force and effect (other than a release of a Guarantee in accordance with Section 10.05) or any Subsidiary Guarantor shall deny or disaffirm its obligations with respect thereto;

 

(6)               any Obligor pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

 

(A)             commences a voluntary case or proceeding,

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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(8)               the occurrence of any of the following:

 

(A)             except as permitted by the Note Documents, any Note Document establishing the Parity Liens ceases for any reason to be enforceable; provided that it will not be an Event of Default under this clause 8(A) if the sole result of the failure of one or more Note Documents to be fully enforceable is that any Parity Lien purported to be granted under such Note Documents on Collateral, individually or in the aggregate, having a Fair Market Value of not more than $50,000,000, ceases to be an enforceable and perfected Parity Lien; provided further, that if such failure is susceptible to cure, no Event of Default shall arise with respect thereto until 90 days after any officer of any Obligor becomes aware of such failure, which failure has not been cured during such time period;

 

(B)              except as permitted by the Note Documents, any Parity Lien purported to be granted under any Note Document on Collateral, individually or in the aggregate, having a Fair Market Value in excess of $50,000,000, ceases to be an enforceable and perfected second-priority Lien, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and Permitted Liens; provided that if such failure is susceptible to cure, no Event of Default shall arise with respect thereto until 90 days after any officer of any Obligor becomes aware of such failure, which failure has not been cured during such time period; or

 

(C)              any Obligor, or any Person acting on behalf of any of them, denies or disaffirms, in writing, any obligations of any Obligor set forth in or arising under any Note Document establishing Parity Liens.

 

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

 

SECTION 6.02                      Acceleration. If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in clauses (6) or (7)) under Section 6.01 occurs and is continuing, then and in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% of the principal amount of the outstanding Securities may declare the unpaid principal of, and any premium and accrued and unpaid interest on, all the Securities then outstanding to be due and payable, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee, if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal, and any premium and accrued and unpaid interest shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in clauses (6) or (7) of Section 6.01 above occurs, all unpaid principal of, and any premium and accrued and unpaid interest on, all Securities then outstanding will become due and payable, without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.

 

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

 

SECTION 6.03                      Other Remedies. Subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, if an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may, but is not obligated to, pursue, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, any available remedy by proceeding at law or in equity to collect the payment of principal or interest on the Securities or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Securities or this Indenture. If an Event of Default specified under clauses (6) or (7) of Section 6.01 occurs with respect to the Company at a time when the Company is the Paying Agent, the Trustee shall assume the duties of Paying Agent.

 

The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Securities or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. No remedy is exclusive of any other remedy. All available remedies are cumulative.

 

SECTION 6.04                      Waiver of Past Defaults. Subject to Sections 6.07 and 9.02, the Holders of at least a majority of the principal amount of the outstanding Securities by notice to the Trustee may waive an existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences, except an Event of Default under clauses (1) and (2) of Section 6.01.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(3)               such Holder or Holders have offered to such Trustee indemnity or security 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 or security has failed to institute any 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 of the principal amount of the outstanding Securities.

 

A Holder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder or to obtain a preference or priority over other Holders.

 

SECTION 6.07                      Rights of Holders to Receive Payment.

 

(a)               Subject to Section 6.07(b) and notwithstanding any provision of this Indenture other than Section 6.07(b), the Holder of any Securities will have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and interest on such Securities on the due date and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such right may not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

 

(b)               Notwithstanding Section 6.07(a) and for the avoidance of doubt, no amendment to, or deletion or waiver of any of, the covenants set forth in this Indenture or any action taken by any Obligor not prohibited by this Indenture (in each case other than with respect to actions set forth in Section 9.02 that require the consent of each Holder of any outstanding Security affected) shall be deemed to impair or affect any rights of any Holder to receive such payment.

 

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

 

SECTION 6.09                      Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

 

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

 

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

 

SECTION 6.10                      Priorities. Subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and the Collateral Trust Agreement, if the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article Six with respect to the Securities, it shall pay out the money in the following order:

 

First: to the Trustee, the Collateral Trustee and their agents for amounts due under Section 7.07;

 

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

 

Third: to the Company or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct.

 

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

 

SECTION 6.11                      Undertaking for Costs. In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section 6.11 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.07, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities.

 

ARTICLE Seven

 

TRUSTEE

 

SECTION 7.01                      Duties of Trustee.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(1)               This paragraph (c) does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section 7.01.

 

(2)               The Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts, as determined pursuant to a final, non-appealable judgment in a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

(3)               The Trustee shall not be liable to Holders of Securities with respect to action it takes or omits to take in good faith (A) in accordance with a direction received by it from Holders pursuant to Section 6.05, and the Trustee shall be entitled from time to time to request such a direction or (B) in connection with the exercise by the Trustee of any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee under this Indenture.

 

(d)               Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 7.01.

 

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

 

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

 

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SECTION 7.02                      Rights of Trustee. Subject to Section 7.01:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(f)                In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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(j)                 Any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order and resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution.

 

(k)               The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder.

 

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

 

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

 

SECTION 7.05                      Notice of Defaults. If a Default occurs and is continuing and if it is actually known to a Responsible Officer, the Trustee shall mail to each Holder of Securities pursuant to Section 13.02 a notice of the Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a Default in any payment on any Security, the Trustee may withhold the notice and shall be protected in so withholding if and so long as it determines in good faith that withholding the notice is in the interests of Holders of Securities.

 

SECTION 7.06                      TIA and Listings. The Trustee shall comply with TIA Section 313(b)(2) as if such provision were applicable to this Indenture. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing when the Securities become listed on any national securities exchange or of any delisting thereof.

 

SECTION 7.07                      Compensation and Indemnity. Each of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, jointly and severally, agrees to pay the Trustee from time to time compensation for its services as shall be agreed upon from time to time in writing between the Company and the Trustee (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust). The Company agrees to reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, disbursements and advances incurred by it. Such expenses shall include when applicable the reasonable compensation and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.

 

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The Trustee shall not be under any obligation to institute any suit, or take any remedial action under this Indenture, or to enter any appearance or in any way defend any suit in which it may be a defendant, or to take any steps in the execution of the trusts created hereby or thereby or in the enforcement of any rights and powers under this Indenture, until it shall be indemnified to its satisfaction against any and all expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provisions of this Indenture, including compensation for services, costs, expenses, outlays, counsel fees and other disbursements, and against all liability (including fees and expenses incurred by the Trustee pursuant to the penultimate paragraph of Section 7.08) determined not to have been caused by its own negligence or willful misconduct. Each of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors agrees to indemnify the Trustee against any loss, liability, claim, damage or expenses incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the acceptance and administration of the trust and its duties hereunder as Trustee, Registrar and/or Paying Agent, if any, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Company (including with respect to this Section 7.07) and of defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Company or any Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder. The Trustee shall notify the Company of any claim of which a Responsible Officer has received written notice for which it may seek indemnity; however, the failure of the Trustee to promptly notify the Company shall not limit its right to indemnification. The Company shall defend each such claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may retain separate counsel and the Company shall reimburse the Trustee for the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary Guarantor shall pay for any settlement made without its consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld).

 

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

 

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after the occurrence of any Event of Default specified in clauses (6) or (7) of Section 6.01, the expenses and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(b)               the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

If the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10, any Holder of Securities may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee. Any successor Trustee shall comply with TIA Section 310(a)(5) as if such provision were applicable to this Indenture.

 

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

 

SECTION 7.10                      Eligibility; Disqualification. This Indenture shall always have a Trustee that is a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities and that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $100,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. No obligor upon the Securities shall serve as a Trustee.

 

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

 

ARTICLE Eight

 

DEFEASANCE

 

SECTION 8.01                      [Reserved].

 

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SECTION 8.02                      Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. The Company may, at the option of its Board of Directors evidenced by a resolution set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, at any time, elect to exercise its rights pursuant to either Section 8.03 or 8.04 with respect to all outstanding Securities upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article Eight.

 

SECTION 8.03                      Legal Defeasance and Discharge. Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.02 of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, each Obligor shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to all outstanding Securities on the date all conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, such Legal Defeasance means that the Obligors shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Securities and any Guarantees thereof, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 8.06 and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 8.03, and to have satisfied all their other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture and the other Note Documents (insofar as related to the Securities and this Indenture) (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following which shall survive such satisfaction and discharge until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (a) the rights of Holders of outstanding Securities to receive solely from the trust fund described in Section 8.06, 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 such payments are due, (b) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities under Sections 2.06, 2.09, 2.10, 2.12 and 4.04, (c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Company’s obligations in connection therewith (including, but not limited to, Section 7.07) and (d) this Article Eight. Subject to compliance with this Article Eight, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 8.03 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.04.

 

If the Company exercises its Legal Defeasance option, the Collateral will be released.

 

SECTION 8.04                      Covenant Defeasance. Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.02 of the option applicable to this Section 8.04, the Company shall be released from its obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 4.02, 4.03, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12 and 4.13 and Article Five and any covenants contained in the Security Documents (insofar as related to the Securities and this Indenture) with respect to the outstanding Securities on and after the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Covenant Defeasance”), and the Securities shall thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Securities shall not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, such Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Securities, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.01, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.02 of the option applicable to this Section 8.04, clauses (3) through (8) of Section 6.01 shall not constitute Events of Default with regard to such Securities.

 

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If the Company exercises its Covenant Defeasance option, the Collateral will be released.

 

SECTION 8.05                      Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance. The following shall be the conditions to application of either Section 8.03 or Section 8.04:

 

(a)               The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or cause to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 7.10 who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Article Eight applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of Securities, (a) cash in U.S. Legal Tender in an amount, or (b) U.S. Government Securities which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment, cash in U.S. Legal Tender in an amount, or (c) a combination thereof, in such amounts, as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) to pay the principal of, and any premium and interest on, the outstanding Securities on each date on which such principal or any premium or interest is due and payable or on any redemption date established pursuant to the last paragraph of Section 8.06; provided that, upon any redemption that requires the payment of a make-whole or other premium, (x) the amount of cash in U.S. Legal Tender, U.S. Government Securities or combination thereof that must be deposited will be determined using an assumed applicable premium calculated as of the date of such deposit and (y) the Company will deposit any deficit in trust on or prior to the redemption date as necessary to pay the applicable premium as determined by such date; provided further, that the Trustee shall have been irrevocably instructed to apply such money or the proceeds of such U.S. Government Securities to said payments with respect to the Securities;

 

(b)               In the case of an election under Section 8.03, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that (i) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (ii) since the date hereof, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of the outstanding Securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

 

(c)               In the case of an election under Section 8.04, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee to the effect that the Holders of the outstanding Securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

 

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(d)               No Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or, insofar as clauses (6) or (7) of Section 6.01 is concerned, at any time in the period ending on the 91st day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period);

 

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

 

(f)                In the case of any election under Section 8.03 or 8.04, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the deposit made by the Company pursuant to its election under Section 8.03 or 8.04 was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders over other creditors of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding creditors of the Company or others; and

 

(g)               The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to either the Legal Defeasance under Section 8.03 or the Covenant Defeasance under Section 8.04 (as the case may be) have been complied with as contemplated by this Section 8.05.

 

SECTION 8.06                      Deposited Money and U.S. Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions. Subject to Section 8.07, all money and U.S. Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 8.06, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 8.05 shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor, if any, acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of the Securities of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal and any premium and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or U.S. Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.05 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 the outstanding Securities.

 

Anything in this Article Eight to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the Company’s written request any money or U.S. Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 8.05 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 8.05(b)), are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

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Before or after the deposit pursuant to Section 8.05(a), the Company may make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of Securities at a future date pursuant to Article Three.

 

SECTION 8.07                      Repayment to Company. Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, whether pursuant to this Article Eight or otherwise, in trust for the payment of the principal of, and any premium and interest on, or redemption price on, any Security which has remained unclaimed for two years after such principal and any premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on its written request (unless an abandoned property law designates another Person) or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Securities shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease.

 

SECTION 8.08                      Reinstatement. If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any U.S. Legal Tender or U.S. Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.03 or 8.04, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining, or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s obligations under this Indenture, the Securities and the other Note Documents (insofar as related to this Indenture and the Securities) shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.03 or 8.04 until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with this Article Eight; provided, however, that, if the Company makes any payment of principal of, or any premium or interest on, or redemption price on the Securities following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of the Securities to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent. In the event the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Securities are revived and reinstated pursuant to this Section 8.08, then the obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor under its Guarantee, if any, and this Indenture that were released pursuant to Section 10.05 as a result of the Company’s exercise of its rights under this Article Eight shall be revived and reinstated as though such release had not occurred.

 

ARTICLE Nine

 

AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS

 

SECTION 9.01                      Without Consent of Holders. The Obligors, the Trustee and the Collateral Trustee, if applicable, may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Securities or the other Note Documents without notice to or consent of any Holder:

 

(a)               to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency; provided that such modification shall not adversely affect the Holders in any material respect;

 

(b)               to comply with Sections 5.01 and 10.03;

 

(c)               [Reserved];

 

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(d)               to reflect the addition or release of any Subsidiary Guarantor from its Guarantee, as provided for by this Indenture, or to reflect the addition of any Collateral or the release of Liens on the Collateral, in the manner provided for in this Indenture or the other Note Documents;

 

(e)               [Reserved];

 

(f)                to provide for the issuance of Additional Securities in accordance with the limitations set forth in this Indenture;

 

(g)               [Reserved];

 

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

 

(i)                 to evidence or provide for the acceptance of an appointment by a successor Trustee or Collateral Trustee;

 

(j)                 to conform the text of the Note Documents (i) to any provision under the heading “Description of Second Lien Notes” in the Offering Memorandum, to the extent that the Trustee (and Collateral Trustee, if applicable) has received an Officers’ Certificate stating that such text constitutes an unintended conflict with, or is inconsistent with, the description of the corresponding provision in such “Description of Second Lien Notes” or (ii) as may be necessary or advisable to preserve and confirm the relative priorities of the Secured Debt Documents as such priorities are contemplated by and set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement, as set forth in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee (and Collateral Trustee, if applicable);

 

(k)               to make, complete or confirm any grant of Collateral permitted or required by the Note Documents;

 

(l)                 to release or subordinate Liens on Collateral in accordance with the Note Documents or to confirm and evidence such release or subordination, or the termination or discharge of any Lien with respect to or securing the Securities or the Guarantee, in accordance with the Note Documents; or

 

(m)             with respect to the Note Documents, as provided in the Intercreditor Agreement and the Collateral Trust Agreement.

 

In addition, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Collateral Trust Agreement may be amended in accordance with their terms and without the consent of any Holder or the Trustee with the consent of the parties thereto or otherwise in accordance with their terms, including to add additional Indebtedness as Priority Lien Debt, Parity Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt and add other parties (or any authorized agent thereof or trustee therefor) holding such Indebtedness thereto and to establish that the Liens on any Collateral securing such Indebtedness shall rank equally with the Liens on such Collateral securing the other Priority Lien Debt, Parity Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt, as applicable, then outstanding, in each case to the extent permitted by the Secured Debt Documents.

 

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Upon the written request of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, accompanied by a Board Resolution of the Company and of each Subsidiary Guarantor authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 9.06, the Trustee and the Collateral Trustee, if applicable, shall join with the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors in the execution of any supplemental indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained.

 

SECTION 9.02                      With Consent of Holders. Except as provided below in this Section 9.02, the Obligors, the Trustee and the Collateral Trustee, if applicable, may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Securities with the consent (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for Securities or a solicitation of consents in respect of Securities) of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities then outstanding.

 

For purposes of this Indenture, the consent of the Holder of a Global Security shall be deemed to include any consent delivered by any member of, or participant in, the Depositary or such other depositary institution hereinafter appointed by the Company by electronic means in accordance with the Automated Tender Offer Procedures system or other customary procedures of, and pursuant to authorization by, such entity.

 

Upon the written request of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, accompanied by a Board Resolution of the Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee and the Collateral Trustee, if applicable, of evidence of the consent of the Holders as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the Opinion of Counsel and Officers’ Certificate described in Section 9.06, the Trustee and the Collateral Trustee, if applicable, shall join with the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors in the execution of such supplemental indenture.

 

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

 

The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Securities may waive compliance in a particular instance by the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors with any provision of this Indenture or the Securities (including waivers obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for Securities or a solicitation of consents in respect of Securities). However, without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 may not:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(4)               reduce the amount payable upon a required purchase (to the extent the Company has at the time become obligated under this Indenture to affect a required purchase) or the redemption of any Security;

 

(5)               [Reserved];

 

(6)               waive any Event of Default under clauses (1) and (2) of Section 6.01;

 

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

 

(8)               impair the right of Holders of Securities to receive payment of the principal of and interest on the Securities on the respective due dates therefor and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment; or

 

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

 

In addition, the consent of Holders representing at least 66.67% of the outstanding Securities (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for Securities or a solicitation of consents in respect of Securities) will be required to release the Liens for the benefit of the Holders on all or substantially all of the Collateral, other than in accordance with the Note Documents.

 

SECTION 9.03                      [Reserved].

 

SECTION 9.04                      Revocation and Effect of Consents. A consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver by a Holder of a Security shall bind the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Security. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to its Security or portion of a Security if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before a date and time therefor identified by the Company in a notice furnished to such Holder in accordance with the terms of this Indenture or, if no such date and time shall be identified, the date the amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.

 

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The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to consent to any amendment, supplement or waiver. If the Company elects to fix a record date for such purpose, the record date shall be fixed at (i) the later of 30 days prior to the first solicitation of such consent or the date of the most recent list of Holders furnished to the Trustee prior to such solicitation pursuant to Section 2.08, or (ii) such other date as the Company shall designate. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the provisions of the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to consent to such amendment, supplement or waiver or to revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No consent shall be valid or effective for more than 90 days after such record date unless consent from the Holders of the principal amount of Securities required hereunder for such amendment, supplement or waiver to be effective also shall have been given and not revoked within such 90-day period.

 

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

 

SECTION 9.05                      Notation on or Exchange of Securities. If an amendment, supplement or waiver changes the terms of a Security, the Trustee may require the Holder of the Security to deliver it to the Trustee. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation on the Security about the changed terms and return it to the Holder. Alternatively, if the Company or the Trustee so determines, the Company in exchange for the Security shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a new Security that reflects the changed terms. Failure to make appropriate notation or issue a new Security shall not affect the validity of any such amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

SECTION 9.06                      Trustee Protected. The Trustee and the Collateral Trustee shall sign any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article Nine if the amendment, supplement or waiver does not adversely affect the rights of the Trustee or the Collateral Trustee, as applicable. If it does adversely affect the rights of the Trustee or the Collateral Trustee, the Trustee or the Collateral Trustee, as applicable, may but need not sign it. In signing such amendment, supplement or waiver the Trustee and the Collateral Trustee shall be provided with, and (subject to Article Seven) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers’ Certificate of the Company complying with the requirements of Section 13.05 and stating that such amendment, supplement or waiver is authorized or permitted by and complies with this Indenture.

 

ARTICLE Ten

 

GUARANTEES

 

SECTION 10.01                  [Reserved].

 

SECTION 10.02                  Unconditional Guarantee. Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby, jointly and severally, fully and unconditionally guarantees, as principal obligor and not only as surety (such guarantee to be referred to herein, individually and collectively, as the “Guarantee”), to each Holder the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and any premium and interest on, the Securities and all other amounts due and payable under this Indenture and the Securities by the Company whether at Maturity Date or otherwise, including, without limitation, interest on the overdue principal of, and any premium and interest on, the Securities, to the extent lawful, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; subject, however, to the limitations set forth in Section 10.06.

 

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

 

SECTION 10.03                  Subsidiary Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms.

 

(a)               Subject to paragraph (b) of this Section 10.03, no Subsidiary Guarantor (other than a Subsidiary Guarantor whose Guarantee is to be released in accordance with this Indenture) may consolidate or merge with or into (whether or not such Subsidiary Guarantor is the surviving Person) another Person unless (i) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Subsidiary Guarantor) (a “Successor Guarantor”) assumes all the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under this Indenture and the other Note Documents (and takes such action (or agrees to take such action) as may be reasonably necessary to cause any property or assets that constitute Collateral owned by or transferred to such Successor Guarantor to continue to constitute Collateral and to be subject to the Parity Liens in the manner and to the extent required under the Note Documents) pursuant to a supplemental indenture (and similar documents with respect to the other Note Documents), in each case, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee and Collateral Trustee and (ii) immediately after such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists. In connection with any consolidation or merger contemplated by this Section 10.03, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee prior to the consummation of the proposed transaction an Officers’ Certificate to the foregoing effect and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the proposed transaction and such supplemental indenture, if any, comply with this Indenture. This Section 10.03(a) is not applicable to a merger between Subsidiary Guarantors or a merger between the Company and a Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

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

 

SECTION 10.04                  Addition of Subsidiary Guarantors.

 

(a)               The Company shall cause each Person that becomes a Domestic Subsidiary after the Issue Date and that guarantees any other Indebtedness of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor in excess of the De Minimis Guaranteed Amount to execute and deliver a supplemental indenture pursuant to which such Subsidiary shall guarantee the payment of such Securities pursuant to the terms hereof within 60 days after the later of (i) the date that such Person becomes a Domestic Subsidiary and (ii) the date that such Person guarantees such other Indebtedness; provided that no guarantee shall be required if the Subsidiary merges into the Company or merges into an existing Subsidiary Guarantor and the surviving entity remains a Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

(b)               Any Person that was not a Subsidiary Guarantor on the date of this Indenture may become a Subsidiary Guarantor by executing and delivering to the Trustee (i) a supplemental indenture in form and substance satisfactory to the Trustee, which subjects such Person to the provisions of this Indenture as a Subsidiary Guarantor and (ii) an Opinion of Counsel and Officers’ Certificate to the effect that such supplemental indenture has been duly authorized and executed by such Person and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Person (subject to such customary exceptions concerning creditors’ rights and equitable principles as may be acceptable to the Trustee in its discretion and provided that no opinion need be rendered concerning the enforceability of the Guarantee) and complying with the requirements of Section 13.05.

 

SECTION 10.05                  Release of a Subsidiary Guarantor. Upon (i) the sale or disposition of all the Capital Stock of a Subsidiary Guarantor (or all or substantially all of its assets), in any case whether by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise or (ii) subject to satisfaction of the requirements set forth in Section 4.01(a)(i) of the Intercreditor Agreement, the cessation by a Subsidiary Guarantor to guarantee any other Indebtedness of the Company or any other Subsidiary Guarantor other than the De Minimis Guaranteed Amount, in each case which is otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture, including but not limited to the provisions of Section 10.03, such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be automatically released from all of its Guarantee and related obligations in this Indenture without any further action by the Trustee, the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor and the Lien on such Subsidiary Guarantor’s Collateral securing the Parity Lien Obligations (including such Subsidiary Guarantor’s Guarantee) shall be released. Subject to Section 8.08, upon the Company’s election, in compliance with the conditions set forth in Article Eight hereof, to exercise its rights pursuant to either Section 8.03 or 8.04 with respect to all outstanding Securities, each Subsidiary Guarantor shall be automatically released from all of its Guarantee and related obligations in this Indenture without any further action by the Trustee, the Collateral Trustee, the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor. The Trustee and the Collateral Trustee, as applicable, shall deliver an appropriate instrument evidencing any such release upon receipt of a written request by the Company accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate. Any Subsidiary Guarantor not so released remains liable for the full amount of principal of and interest on the Securities as provided in this Article Ten.

 

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SECTION 10.06                  Limitation of Subsidiary Guarantor’s Liability. Each Subsidiary Guarantor, and by its acceptance hereof each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the guarantee by such Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to its Guarantee does not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of any federal, state or foreign law. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Holders and each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor under the Guarantee shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Subsidiary Guarantor and after giving effect to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Subsidiary Guarantor under its Guarantee or pursuant to Section 10.07, result in the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under the Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under federal, state or foreign law. This Section 10.06 is for the benefit of the creditors of each Subsidiary Guarantor, and, for purposes of applicable fraudulent transfer and fraudulent conveyance law, any Indebtedness of a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to Credit Facilities shall be deemed to have been incurred prior to the incurrence by such Subsidiary Guarantor of its liability under the Guarantee.

 

SECTION 10.07                  Contribution. In order to provide for just and equitable contribution among the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Subsidiary Guarantors agree, inter se, that in the event any payment or distribution is made by any Subsidiary Guarantor (a “Funding Guarantor”) under the Guarantee, such Funding Guarantor shall be entitled to a contribution from each other Subsidiary Guarantor in a pro rata amount based on the Adjusted Net Assets of each Subsidiary Guarantor (including the Funding Guarantor) for all payments, damages and expenses incurred by the Funding Guarantor in discharging the Company’s obligations with respect to the Securities or any other Subsidiary Guarantor’s obligations with respect to the Guarantee.

 

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

 

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ARTICLE Eleven

 

COLLATERAL AND SECURITY

 

SECTION 11.01                  Security Interest.

 

(a)               The due and punctual payment of the Obligations on the Securities and the Obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors under the Guarantees, when and as the same shall be due and payable, whether on an interest payment date, at maturity, by acceleration, repurchase, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of, premium, if any, and interest (to the extent permitted by law), on the Securities, the Guarantees and performance and payment of all other obligations of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors to the Holders or the Trustee and/or the Collateral Trustee under the Note Documents, according to the terms hereunder or thereunder (collectively, the “Notes Obligations”), are secured as provided in the Security Documents. Each Obligor consents and agrees to be bound by the terms of the Security Documents to which it is a party, as the same may be in effect from time to time, and agrees to perform its obligations thereunder in accordance therewith. Each Obligor hereby agrees that the Collateral Trustee shall hold the Collateral on behalf of and for the benefit of all of the Holders and the other holders of Parity Lien Obligations.

 

(b)               Each Holder of Securities, by its acceptance thereof and of the Guarantees, consents and agrees to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Trust Agreement and the Security Documents (including, without limitation, the provisions providing for foreclosure and release of Collateral and amendments to the Security Documents) as the same may be in effect or may be amended from time to time in accordance with their terms, and authorizes and appoints Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas as the Trustee and as the Collateral Trustee. The Trustee hereby authorizes and appoints Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas as Collateral Trustee, and each Holder of Securities and the Trustee direct the Collateral Trustee to enter into the Security Documents (including any amendments thereto contemplated by Section 7.1 of the Collateral Trust Agreement and any security documents to secure additional Parity Lien Debt in accordance with Section 5.3 of the Collateral Trust Agreement, all as more particularly described in the Collateral Trust Agreement) and to perform its obligations and exercise its rights thereunder in accordance therewith, subject to the terms and conditions thereof, including, the limitations on duties of the Collateral Trustee provided in Section 5.12 of the Collateral Trust Agreement. The Trustee, the Collateral Trustee and each Holder of Securities, by accepting the Securities and the Guarantees of the Subsidiary Guarantors, acknowledges that, as more fully set forth in the Security Documents, the Collateral as now or hereafter constituted shall be held, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, for the benefit of all the holders of Parity Lien Obligations, the Collateral Trustee and the Trustee, and the Lien of this Indenture and the Security Documents is subject to and qualified and limited in all respects by the Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Trust Agreement, the Security Documents and actions that may be taken thereunder.

 

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SECTION 11.02                  Post-Issue Date Collateral Requirements.

 

(a)               Within 60 days of the Issue Date, the Company shall, or shall cause the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor to, (i) execute and deliver to the Priority Lien Agent or its counsel for recordation, on behalf of the Collateral Trustee as mortgagee or beneficiary, as applicable, such Mortgages, together with satisfactory evidence of the completion (or satisfactory arrangements for the completion) of all recordings and filings of such Mortgages in the proper recorders’ offices or appropriate public records (and payment of any taxes or fees in connection therewith) as may be necessary to create a valid, perfected second-priority Lien (subject to the Intercreditor Agreement), against the Oil and Gas Properties and related assets of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors that are subject to Liens securing the Priority Lien Obligations on the Issue Date, and (ii) on the date that each such Mortgage is so filed or recorded, cause its counsel for the jurisdiction in which the relevant Oil and Gas Properties and related assets are located to execute and deliver to the Collateral Trustee a favorable Opinion of Counsel with respect thereto in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Trustee. The Company shall give notice (A) that it has delivered to the Priority Lien Agent or its counsel the Mortgages establishing the Parity Liens on Oil and Gas Properties required to be subject to a Mortgage in accordance with this Section 11.02(a) and (B) that it has received copies of at least 90% (by number, with each Mortgage to be recorded in a county, parish or other jurisdiction to be counted as a separate Mortgage) of such Mortgages with markings reflecting their recordation, in each case, either (x) by notice promptly thereafter to the Trustee with a direction to transmit the same to the Holders or (y) by disclosure contained in the Company’s next Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or Annual Report on Form 10-K, as the case may be, to be filed.

 

(b)               Any Security Documents entered into after the Issue Date shall be substantially in the form of the corresponding security document securing the Priority Liens Obligations, or to the extent there is no such corresponding security document, the corresponding security documents securing the Priority Lien Obligations in place on the Issue Date, in each case, with such changes as are reasonably necessary to reflect the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and with such deletions or modifications of representations, warranties and covenants as are customary with respect to security documents establishing Liens securing publicly traded debt securities, all as certified to the Collateral Trustee pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate of the Company.

 

SECTION 11.03                  Further Assurances; Liens on Additional Property.

 

(a)               Each Obligor shall do or cause to be done all acts and things that may be required, or that the Collateral Trustee from time to time may reasonably request, to assure and confirm that the Collateral Trustee holds, for the benefit of the holders of Parity Lien Obligations, duly created Liens upon the Collateral (including any property or assets constituting Collateral that are acquired or otherwise become, or are required by any Parity Lien Document to become, Collateral after the Issue Date), in each case, as contemplated by, and, to the extent required to be perfected, perfected, and enforceable Liens, with the Lien priority required under, the Parity Lien Documents, and in connection with any merger or consolidation of any Obligor, the property and assets of the Person which is consolidated or merged with or into such Obligor, to the extent that they are property or assets of the types which would constitute Collateral under the Security Documents, shall be treated as after-acquired property and such Obligor shall take such action as may be reasonably necessary to cause such property and assets to be made subject to the Parity Liens, in the manner and to the extent required under the Parity Lien Documents.

 

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(b)               Upon the reasonable request of the Collateral Trustee or any Parity Lien Representative at any time and from time to time, each Obligor shall promptly execute, acknowledge and deliver such Security Documents, instruments, certificates, notices and other documents, and take such other actions as shall be reasonably required, or that the Collateral Trustee may reasonably request, to create, perfect, protect, assure or enforce the Liens and benefits intended to be conferred, in each case as contemplated by the Parity Lien Documents for the benefit of the holders of Parity Lien Obligations; provided, that no such Security Document, instrument or other document shall contain provisions that are materially more burdensome upon the Obligors than the Parity Lien Documents executed and delivered (or required to be executed and delivered promptly after the Issue Date, including pursuant to Section 11.02) by the Obligors in connection with the issuance of the Securities on the Issue Date. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Security Documents, and subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall not be required to take any action to perfect a security interest in any Collateral other than (i) to file financing or continuation statements under the Uniform Commercial Code (or similar laws) in effect in any jurisdiction with respect to the security interests created under the Security Documents, (ii) recordings and filings of Mortgages, as described in Section 11.02(a), (iii) the execution and delivery of control agreements with respect to deposit accounts, securities accounts and uncertificated securities in the manner contemplated by the Security Agreement or (iv) the delivery (initially to the Priority Lien Agent, acting as agent for the Collateral Trustee) of promissory notes and certificated securities accompanied with appropriate endorsements or transfer powers in the manner contemplated by the Security Agreement.

 

(c)               In addition, from and after the Issue Date, if any Obligor acquires any property or asset that constitutes collateral for the Priority Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt, and any Priority Lien Document or Junior Lien Document, as applicable, requires any supplemental security document for such collateral or other actions to achieve a perfected Lien on such collateral, the Company shall, or shall cause the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor to, promptly (but in any event no later than the date that is 60 days after which such supplemental security documents are executed and delivered (or other action taken) under such Priority Lien Documents or Junior Lien Documents, as applicable), to the extent permitted by applicable law, execute and deliver to the Collateral Trustee appropriate Security Documents (or amendments thereto) in such form as shall be necessary in the Collateral Trustee’s reasonable discretion to grant the Collateral Trustee a perfected second-priority Lien on such Collateral or take such other actions in favor of the Collateral Trustee as shall be reasonably necessary to grant a valid and enforceable perfected second-priority Lien on such Collateral to the Collateral Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders and holders of any other Parity Lien Obligations, subject to the terms of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement and the other Note Documents. Additionally, subject to this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement and the other Note Documents, if any Obligor creates any additional Lien upon any assets or property that is required to become Collateral, or takes any additional actions to perfect any existing Lien on Collateral, in each case for the benefit of the holders of the Priority Lien Debt or the holders of Junior Lien Debt, after the Issue Date, the such Obligor shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, within 60 days after such Lien is granted or other action taken, grant a valid and enforceable perfected second-priority Lien upon such property or asset, or take such additional perfection actions, as applicable, for the benefit of the Holders and obtain all related deliverables as those delivered to the Priority Lien Representative or Junior Lien Agent, as applicable, in each case as security for the Notes Obligations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that any Lien on any Collateral is perfected by the possession or control of such Collateral or of any account in which such Collateral is held, and if such Collateral or any such account is in fact in the possession or under the control of the Priority Lien Agent, or of agents or bailees of the Priority Lien Agent, the perfection actions and related deliverables described in Section 11.03(b)(iii) and (iv) and this Section 11.03(c) shall not be required.

 

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From and after the Issue Date, if any Obligor grants a Lien (an “Additional Collateral Lien”) on any property or assets, other than Excluded Property, to secure Indebtedness under a Credit Facility that does not constitute Priority Lien Debt, then the Company shall, or shall cause the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor to, promptly (but in any event no later than the date that is 60 days thereafter), to the extent permitted by applicable law, execute and deliver to the Collateral Trustee appropriate Security Documents in such form as shall be necessary in the Collateral Trustee’s reasonable discretion to grant the Collateral Trustee a valid and enforceable Lien on such property or assets perfected on a second lien basis to such Additional Collateral Lien to secure the Parity Lien Obligations, subject to the terms of an intercreditor arrangement substantially in the form of the Intercreditor Agreement, as it relates to the Priority Lien Debt and the Parity Lien Debt, including with respect to releases of such Liens. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any such property or assets that become subject to a Lien to secure the Parity Lien Obligations as provided in this Section 11.03(c) will not constitute “Collateral” for purposes of the Intercreditor Agreement. No Credit Facility shall be permitted to be secured as described in this second paragraph of this Section 11.03(c) unless the Priority Lien Agent shall have consented to such property and assets not constituting “Collateral” for purposes of the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

(d)               The Company will deliver to the Trustee copies of all documents delivered to the Collateral Trustee pursuant to the Security Documents.

 

(e)               Each applicable Obligor will cause to be delivered to the Collateral Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Collateral Trustee has a valid and perfected Lien with respect to each real property subject to a Mortgage only in the circumstances required by the Collateral Trust Agreement.

 

(f)                In acting hereunder and under the other Note Documents, the Holders, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors agree that the Collateral Trustee shall be entitled to the rights, privileges, protections, immunities, indemnities and benefits provided to the Trustee hereunder as if such were provided to the Collateral Trustee.

 

SECTION 11.04                  Intercreditor Agreement. This Article 11 and the provisions of each Security Document are subject to the terms, conditions and benefits set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement. Each Obligor consents to, and agrees to be bound by, the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, as the same may be in effect from time to time, and to perform its obligations thereunder in accordance with the terms thereof. Each Holder of Securities, by its acceptance of the Securities (a) consents to the subordination of Liens provided for in the Intercreditor Agreement, (b) agrees that it will be bound by, and will take no actions contrary to, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement and (c) authorizes and instructs the Collateral Trustee on behalf of each Holder to enter into the Intercreditor Agreement as the “Original Second Lien Collateral Trustee” (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) on behalf of such Holders as “Second Lien Secured Parties” (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement). In addition, each Holder authorizes and instructs the Collateral Trustee to enter into any amendments or joinders to the Intercreditor Agreement, without the consent of any Holder or the Trustee, to add additional Indebtedness as Priority Lien Debt, Parity Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt and add other parties (or any authorized agent or trustee therefor) holding such Indebtedness thereto and to establish that the Lien on any Collateral securing such Indebtedness ranks equally with the Liens on such Collateral securing the other Priority Lien Debt, Parity Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt, as applicable, then outstanding, in each case, where the incurrence of such secured Indebtedness is permitted by this Indenture. The foregoing provisions are intended as an inducement to the lenders under the Priority Lien Credit Agreement to extend credit to the Company and certain of the Subsidiaries, and such lenders are intended third party beneficiaries of such provisions and the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

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SECTION 11.05                  Collateral Trust Agreement. This Article 11 and the provisions of each Security Document are subject to the terms, conditions and benefits set forth in the Collateral Trust Agreement. Each Obligor consents to, and agrees to be bound by, the terms of the Collateral Trust Agreement and to perform its obligations thereunder in accordance with the terms therewith. Each Holder of Securities, by its acceptance of the Securities (a) agrees that it will be bound by, and will take no actions contrary to, the provisions of the Collateral Trust Agreement and (b) authorizes and instructs the Collateral Trustee on behalf of the Holders and each other holder of Parity Lien Obligations to enter into the Collateral Trust Agreement as Collateral Trustee on behalf of the Holders and the other holders of Parity Lien Obligations.

 

SECTION 11.06                    Release of Liens in Respect of Securities. The Collateral Trustee’s Parity Liens upon the Collateral will no longer secure the Securities outstanding under this Indenture or any other Notes Obligations, and the right of the Holders to the benefits and proceeds of the Collateral Trustee’s Parity Liens on the Collateral will terminate and be discharged:

 

(a)               upon satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture in accordance with Article 12 hereof;

 

(b)               upon Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance in accordance with Article 8 hereof;

 

(c)               upon payment in full in cash and discharge of all Securities outstanding under this Indenture and all other Notes Obligations that are outstanding, due and payable under this Indenture and the other Note Documents at the time the Securities are paid in full in cash and discharged (other than contingent indemnity obligations for which no claim has been made);

 

(d)               as to any Collateral of a Obligor that is sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by a Obligor to a Person that is not (either before or after such sale, transfer or disposition) the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction or other circumstance that does not violate Section 4.12 (other than the obligation to apply proceeds of such Collateral Sale as provided in such section) and is permitted by all of the other Note Documents (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Section 4.01(a)(i) of the Intercreditor Agreement), at the time of such sale, transfer or other disposition or to the extent of the interest sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of; provided that the Collateral Trustee’s Liens upon the Collateral will not be released if the sale or disposition is subject to Section 5.01;

 

(e)               in whole or in part, with the consent of the Holders of the requisite percentage of aggregate principal amount of Securities in accordance with Section 9.02 hereof;

 

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(f)                with respect to the assets of any Subsidiary Guarantor, at the time that such Subsidiary Guarantor is released from its Guarantee in accordance with Section 10.05, subject to satisfaction of the requirements set forth in Section 4.01(a)(i) of the Intercreditor Agreement; or

 

(g)               if and to the extent required by Section 4.1(a) of the Collateral Trust Agreement or Section 4.01(a) of the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Upon receipt of an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel, the Collateral Trustee shall execute, deliver or acknowledge any necessary or proper instruments of termination, satisfaction or release prepared by the Company of any Collateral permitted to be released pursuant to this Section 11.06.

 

SECTION 11.07                  Collateral Trustee.

 

(a)               The Collateral Trustee will hold (directly or through co-trustees or agents) and, subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, will be entitled to enforce all Liens on the Collateral created by the Security Documents.

 

(b)               Except as provided in the Collateral Trust Agreement or as directed by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders in accordance with the Collateral Trust Agreement, the Collateral Trustee will not be obligated:

 

(1)               to act upon directions purported to be delivered to it by any Person;

 

(2)               to foreclose upon or otherwise enforce any Lien; or

 

(3)               to take any other action whatsoever with regard to any or all of the Security Documents, the Liens created thereby or the Collateral.

 

(c)               By accepting a Security, each Holder is deemed to authorize the Collateral Trustee to release or subordinate any Collateral that is permitted to be sold, reclassified or released or be subject to a Priority Lien pursuant to the terms of this Indenture and the Security Documents. By accepting a Security, each Holder is deemed to authorize the Collateral Trustee to execute and deliver to the Company, at the Company’s sole cost and expense, any and all releases of Liens, termination statements, assignments or other documents reasonably requested by the Company in connection with any sale, reclassification or other disposition of Collateral to the extent such sale, reclassification or other disposition, and such release of Liens, is permitted by the terms of this Indenture and the Security Documents.

 

(d)               Neither the Trustee nor the Collateral Trustee shall be responsible for (i) perfecting, maintaining, monitoring, preserving or protecting the Liens granted under the Security Documents or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, (ii) the filing, re-filing, recording, re-recording or continuing of any document, financing statement, Mortgage, assignment, notice, instrument of further assurance or other instrument in any public office at any time or times or (iii) providing, maintaining, monitoring or preserving insurance on or the payment of taxes with respect to the Collateral. The actions described in clauses (i) through (iii) shall be the sole responsibility of the Obligors.

 

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ARTICLE Twelve

 

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

SECTION 12.01                  Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture. This Indenture and the other Note Documents (insofar as related to the Indenture and the Securities) shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of the Securities herein expressly provided for), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the other Note Documents (insofar as related to the Indenture and the Securities), when:

 

(a)               either

 

(1)               all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.10, and (ii) Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been, as provided in Section 2.07, 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 8.07) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

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

 

(A)             have become due and payable,

 

(B)              will become due and payable on the Maturity Date within one year, or

 

(C)              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 (A), (B) or (C) above, has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for this purpose an amount of money in U.S. Legal Tender sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal of, and any premium and interest thereon, to the Maturity Date or applicable redemption date, as the case may be in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and the Securities (provided that, upon any redemption that requires the payment of a make-whole or other premium, (x) the amount of cash in U.S. Legal Tender that must be deposited will be determined using an assumed applicable premium calculated as of the date of such deposit and (y) the Company will deposit any deficit in trust on or prior to the redemption date as necessary to pay the applicable premium as determined by such date);

 

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

 

(c)               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 the Securities have been complied with.

 

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to Securities, (i) the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 7.07 and the right of the Trustee to resign under Section 7.08 shall survive, (ii) the obligations of the Company in Sections 2.06, 2.07, 2.08, 2.09, 2.10 and 2.11 and in Article 8 and this Article 12 shall survive until the Securities have been repaid in full, and (iii) if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to clause (2) of subsection (a) of this Section, the obligations of the Company and/or the Trustee under Sections 2.08, 4.04, 7.01(f), 8.07 and 12.02 shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.

 

SECTION 12.02                  Application of Trust Money. Subject to the provisions of Section 8.07, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 12.01 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the 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.

 

ARTICLE Thirteen

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

SECTION 13.01                  [Reserved].

 

SECTION 13.02                  Notices. Any notice or communication to the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor, the Trustee, the Collateral Trustee or any Agent shall be sufficiently given if in writing in English and delivered in person or mailed by certified or registered mail (return receipt requested), e-mail in PDF format, facsimile, telecopier or overnight courier guaranteeing next day delivery, addressed as follows:

 

If to the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor:

 

Chesapeake Energy Corporation
6100 North Western Avenue
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73118
Attention: Treasurer
Facsimile: (405) 849-6119

 

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If to the Trustee, the Collateral Trustee or any Agent:

 

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas

Trust and Agency Services

60 Wall Street, 24th Floor

Mail Stop: NYC60-2407

New York, New York 10005

USA

Attn: Corporates Team, Chesapeake Energy Corp. SF0873

Facsimile: (732) 578-4635

 

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

 

The Trustee agrees to accept and act upon instructions or directions pursuant to this Indenture sent by unsecured e-mail in PDF format, facsimile transmission or other similar unsecured electronic methods, provided, however, that the Trustee shall have received an incumbency certificate listing persons designated to give such instructions or directions and containing specimen signatures of such designated persons, which such incumbency certificate shall be amended and replaced whenever a person is to be added or deleted from the listing. If the Company elects to give the Trustee e-mail in PDF format or facsimile instructions (or instructions by a similar electronic method) and the Trustee in its reasonable discretion elects to act upon such instructions, the Trustee’s reasonable understanding of such instructions shall be deemed controlling. The Trustee shall not be liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from the Trustee’s reasonable reliance upon and compliance with such instructions notwithstanding such instructions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent written instruction. The Company agrees to assume all risks arising out of incidents of actual use by the Company of such electronic methods to submit instructions and directions to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions and the risk of interception by third parties.

 

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

 

Any notice or communication mailed to a Holder shall be mailed by first-class mail to the address for such Holder appearing on the Register and shall be sufficiently given to such Holder if so mailed within the time prescribed. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders. 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 made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.

 

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

 

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Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or any Security, where this Indenture or any Security provides for notice of any event (including any notice of redemption) to a Holder of a Global Security (whether by mail or otherwise), such notice also shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary for such Security (or its designee), pursuant to the customary procedures of such Depositary, 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 13.03                  Communication by Holders with Other Holders. Holders may communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities.

 

SECTION 13.04                  Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent. Upon any request or application by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be, shall furnish to the Trustee:

 

(a)               an Officers’ Certificate (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 13.05) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, the conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and

 

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

 

SECTION 13.05                  Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion. Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include:

 

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

 

(b)               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;

 

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

 

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

 

SECTION 13.06                  Rules by Trustee and Agents. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for actions taken by, or meetings or consents of, Holders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules for its functions.

 

SECTION 13.07                  Legal Holidays. A “Legal Holiday” is a Saturday, a Sunday, or a day on which banks and trust companies in The City of New York are not required by law or executive order to be open. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a Place of Payment, payment may be made at such place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, without additional interest.

 

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SECTION 13.08                  Governing Law. THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES AND THE GUARANTEES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAW OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.

 

SECTION 13.09                  No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements. This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Subsidiary. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

 

SECTION 13.10                  No Recourse Against Others. Obligations of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors under this Indenture, the Guarantees, the Securities and the other Note Documents are payable only out of the respective cash flow and assets of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors. The Trustee, the Collateral Trustee and each Holder of a Security by its acceptance thereof, will be deemed to have agreed in this Indenture that no director, officer, employee, or shareholder, as such, of the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee or the Collateral Trustee or of any Affiliate of any of the foregoing entities shall have any liability in respect of the obligations of the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee or the Collateral Trustee under this Indenture, the Guarantees, the Securities or the other Note Documents or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. The agreements set forth in this Section 13.10 are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Securities.

 

SECTION 13.11                  Successors. All agreements of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors in this Indenture, the Securities and the Guarantees shall bind their respective successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successor.

 

SECTION 13.12                  Duplicate Originals. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same instrument.

 

SECTION 13.13                  Severability. In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

SECTION 13.14                  Force Majeure. The Trustee shall not incur any liability for not performing any act or fulfilling any duty, obligation or responsibility hereunder by reason of any occurrence beyond the control of the Trustee (including but not limited to any act or provision of any present or future law or regulation or governmental authority, any act of God or war, civil unrest, local or national disturbance or disaster, any act of terrorism, or the unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire or facsimile or other wire or communication facility).

 

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SECTION 13.15                  Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVE, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES OR THE TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

SECTION 13.16                  Patriot Act. In order to comply with the laws, rules, regulations and executive orders in effect from time to time applicable to banking institutions, including, without limitation, those relating to the funding of terrorist activities and money laundering, including Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act of the United States (“Applicable Law”), the Trustee is required to obtain, verify, record and update certain information relating to individuals and entities which maintain a business relationship with the Trustee. Accordingly, each of the parties agree to provide to the Trustee, upon their request from time to time such identifying information and documentation as may be available for such party in order to enable the Trustee to comply with Applicable Law.

 

 

SECTION 13.17                  Execution in Counterparts. This Indenture may be executed in two or more counterparts, which, when so executed, shall constitute one and the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

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

 

  COMPANY:
   
  CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION
   
  By: /s/ Bryan J. Lemmerman
   

Name:

Bryan J. Lemmerman

    Title: Vice President – Business Development and Treasurer

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO INDENTURE

 

 

 

  SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS:
  CHESAPEAKE AEZ EXPLORATION, L.L.C.
  CHESAPEAKE APPALACHIA, L.L.C.
  CHESAPEAKE-CLEMENTS ACQUISITION, L.L.C.
  CHESAPEAKE ENERGY LOUISIANA, LLC
  CHESAPEAKE ENERGY MARKETING, L.L.C.
  CHESAPEAKE EXPLORATION, L.L.C.
  CHESAPEAKE E&P Holding, L.L.C.
  CHESAPEAKE LAND DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.L.C.
  CHESAPEAKE LOUISIANA, L.P.
  BY: CHESAPEAKE OPERATING, L.L.C., its General Partner
  CHESAPEAKE MIDSTREAM DEVELOPMENT, L.L.C.
  CHESAPEAKE NG VENTURES CORPORATION
  CHESAPEAKE OPERATING, L.L.C.
  CHESAPEAKE plains, LLC
  CHESAPEAKE ROYALTY, L.L.C.
  CHESAPEAKE VRT, L.L.C.
  CHK energy holdings, inc.
  chk utica, l.l.c.
  COMPASS MANUFACTURING, L.L.C.
  EMLP, L.L.C.
  EMPRESS LOUISIANA PROPERTIES, L.P.
  By:  EMLP, L.L.C., its General Partner
  EMPRESS, L.L.C.
  GSF, L.L.C.
  MC LOUISIANA MINERALS, L.L.C.
  MC MINERAL COMPANY, L.L.C.
  MIDCON COMPRESSION, L.L.C.
  NOMAC SERVICES, L.L.C.
  NORTHERN MICHIGAN EXPLORATION COMPANY, L.L.C.
  SPARKS DRIVE SWD, INC.
  WINTER MOON ENERGY CORPORATION

 

  By: /s/ Bryan J. Lemmerman
  Name: Bryan J. Lemmerman
  Title: Vice President – Business Development and Treasurer

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO INDENTURE

 

 

 

  TRUSTEE:
   
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS,
as Trustee and Collateral Trustee

 

    By: /s/ Bridgette Casasnovas
      Name: Bridgette Casasnovas
      Title: Vice President

 

    By: /s/ Jacqueline Bartnick
      Name: Jacqueline Bartnick
      Title: Director

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO INDENTURE

 

 

 

RULE 144A/REGULATION S APPENDIX

 

PROVISIONS RELATING TO SECURITIES

 

1. Definitions

 

1.1                                      Definitions.

 

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

 

Transfer Restricted Securities” means Securities that bear or are required to bear the legend set forth in Section 2.3(d)(i) hereof.

 

Unrestricted Securities” means any Securities that are not Transfer Restricted Securities.

 

1.2           Other Definitions.

 

Term

 

Defined in Section:

Permanent Regulation S Global Security   2.1(b)
Regulation S   2.1(a)
Regulation S Global Security   2.1(b)
Resale Restriction Termination Date   2.3(d)
Restricted Global Security   2.1(a)
Restricted Period   2.1(b)
Rule 144A   2.1(b)
Rule 144A Global Security   2.1(a)
Temporary Regulation S Global Security   2.1(a)

 

2.

 

2.1           The Securities.

 

(a)               Form and Dating. Securities offered and sold to QIBs (“Rule 144A Global Securities”) shall be issued initially in the form of one or more permanent Global Securities in definitive, fully registered form, and Securities offered and sold in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act (“Regulation S”), shall be issued initially in the form of one or more temporary Global Securities in fully registered form (“Temporary Regulation S Global Securities”), in each case, without interest coupons and with the Global Securities legend, Restricted Securities legend and the OID Legend set forth in Section 2.3 (each security, unless and until becoming an Unrestricted Security in accordance with Section 2.3(d)(ii) below, a “Restricted Global Security”), which shall be deposited on behalf of the holders of the Securities represented thereby with the Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary (or with such other custodian as the Depositary may direct), and registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided.

 

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

 

 

 

The Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with this Section 2.1(b), authenticate and deliver initially one or more Global Securities that (a) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary for such Global Security or Global Securities or the nominee of such Depositary and (b) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depositary or pursuant to such Depositary’s instructions or held by the Trustee as custodian for the Depositary. If such Global Securities are Restricted Global Securities, then separate Global Securities shall be issued to represent Rule 144A Global Securities and Regulation S Global Securities so long as required by law or the Depositary.

 

Except as set forth in this Section 2.1(b), beneficial interests in the Temporary Regulation S Global Security will not be exchangeable for interests in the Rule 144A Global Security, a permanent global security (the “Permanent Regulation S Global Security” and, together with the Temporary Regulation S Global Security, the “Regulation S Global Security”) or any other Security prior to the expiration of the period through and including the 40th day after the later of the commencement of the offering of any Securities and the closing of such offering (such period, the “Restricted Period”) and then, after the expiration of the Restricted Period, may be exchanged for interests in a Rule 144A Global Security or the Permanent Regulation S Global Security only upon certification in form reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee that beneficial ownership interests in such Temporary Regulation S Global Security are owned either by non-U.S. persons or U.S. persons who purchased such interests in a transaction that did not require registration under the Securities Act.

 

Prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, beneficial interests in the Temporary Regulation S Global Security may be exchanged for beneficial interests in the Rule 144A Global Security only if (i) such exchange occurs in connection with a transfer of the Securities pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act (“Rule 144A”), (ii) the transferor first delivers to the Trustee a written certificate (in the form provided in Exhibit 1 hereto) to the effect that the beneficial interest in the Temporary Regulation S Global Security is being transferred to a Person who the transferor reasonably believes to be a QIB and is purchasing for its own account or the account of a QIB, in each case in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, and (iii) the transfer is in accordance with all applicable securities laws of the states of the United States and other jurisdictions. After the expiration of the Restricted Period, such certification requirements shall not apply to such transfers of beneficial interests in a Restricted Global Security representing Regulation S Global Securities.

 

Beneficial interests in a Rule 144A Global Security may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery in the form of an interest in the Regulation S Global Security, whether before or after the expiration of the Restricted Period, only if the transferor first delivers to the Trustee a written certificate (in the form provided in Exhibit 1 hereto) to the effect that such transfer is being made in accordance with Rule 903 or 904 of Regulation S or Rule 144 (if available).

 

The aggregate principal amount of the Global Securities may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and the Depositary or its nominee as provided herein and in the Indenture.

 

(c)               Certificated Securities. Except as provided in Section 2.13(c) of the Indenture, owners of beneficial interests in Restricted Global Securities shall not be entitled to receive Certificated Securities. Certificated Securities shall be exchangeable for beneficial interests in Global Securities only as provided in Section 2.13(c) of the Indenture and Section 2.3.

 

 

 

2.2           [Reserved].

 

2.3           Transfer and Exchange.

 

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

 

(i)                 Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Appendix, a Global Security may not be transferred as a whole except by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary.

 

(ii)              In the event that a Restricted Global Security is exchanged for Certificated Securities pursuant to Section 2.4(a) hereof, such Securities may be exchanged only in accordance with such procedures as are substantially consistent with the provisions of this Section 2.3 (including the certification requirements set forth on the reverse of the Securities intended to ensure that such transfers comply with Rule 144A or Regulation S or another applicable exemption under the Securities Act, as the case may be) and such other procedures as may from time to time be adopted by the Company.

 

(b)               Transfer and Exchange of Certificated Securities. When Certificated Securities are presented to the Registrar with a request (x) to register the transfer of such Certificated Securities or (y) to exchange such Certificated Securities for an equal principal amount of Certificated Securities of other authorized denominations, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange as requested if its reasonable requirements for such transaction are met; provided, however, that the Certificated Securities surrendered for transfer or exchange:

 

(i)                 shall be duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or its attorney duly authorized in writing; and

 

(ii)              if such Certificated Securities are required to bear a Restricted Securities legend, they are being transferred or exchanged pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, pursuant to Section 2.3(c) or pursuant to clause (A), (B) or (C) below, and are accompanied by the following additional information and documents, as applicable:

 

 

 

(A)             if such Certificated Securities are being delivered to the Registrar by a Holder for registration in the name of such Holder, without transfer, a certification from such Holder to that effect; or

 

(B)              if such Certificated Securities are being transferred to the Company, a Subsidiary Guarantor or any Subsidiary thereof a certification to that effect; or

 

(C)              if such Certificated Securities are being transferred (x) pursuant to an exemption from registration in accordance with Rule 144A, Regulation S or Rule 144 under the Securities Act; or (y) in reliance upon another exemption from the requirements of the Securities Act: (I) a certification to that effect (in the form set forth on the reverse of the Security) and (II) if the Company so requests, an opinion of counsel or other evidence reasonably satisfactory to it as to the compliance with the restrictions set forth in the legend set forth in Section 2.3(d).

 

(c)               Restrictions on Transfer of a Certificated Security for a Beneficial Interest in a Global Security. A Certificated Security may not be exchanged for a beneficial interest in a Rule 144A Global Security or a Permanent Regulation S Global Security except upon satisfaction of the requirements set forth below. Upon receipt by the Trustee of a Certificated Security, duly endorsed or accompanied by appropriate instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, together with:

 

(i)                 certification, in the form set forth on the reverse of the Security, that such Certificated Security is either (A) being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, or (B) being transferred after expiration of the Restricted Period by a Person who initially purchased such Security in reliance on Regulation S to a buyer who elects to hold its interest in such Security in the form of a beneficial interest in the Permanent Regulation S Global Security; and

 

(ii)              written instructions directing the Trustee to make, or to direct the Securities custodian to make, an adjustment on its books and records with respect to such Rule 144A Global Security (in the case of a transfer pursuant to clause (c)(i)(A)) or Permanent Regulation S Global Security (in the case of a transfer pursuant to clause (c)(i)(B)) to reflect an increase in the aggregate principal amount of the Securities represented by the Rule 144A Global Security or Permanent Regulation S Global Security, as applicable, such instructions to contain information regarding the Depositary account to be credited with such increase,

 

then the Trustee shall cancel such Certificated Security and cause, or direct the Securities custodian to cause, in accordance with the standing instructions and procedures existing between the Depositary and the Securities custodian, the aggregate principal amount of Securities represented by the Rule 144A Global Security or Permanent Regulation S Global Security, as applicable, to be increased by the aggregate principal amount of the Certificated Security to be exchanged and shall credit or cause to be credited to the account of the Person specified in such instructions a beneficial interest in the Rule 144A Global Security or Permanent Regulation S Global Security, as applicable, equal to the principal amount of the Certificated Security so canceled. If no Rule 144A Global Securities or Permanent Regulation S Global Securities, as applicable, are then outstanding, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate, upon written order of the Company in the form of an Officers’ Certificate of the Company, a new Rule 144A Global Security or Permanent Regulation S Global Security, as applicable, in the appropriate principal amount.

 

 

 

(d)               Legend.

 

(i)                 Except as permitted by the following paragraphs (ii) and (iii), each Security certificate evidencing the Restricted Global Securities (and all Securities issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof) shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

 

THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “U.S. SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”)) OR (B) IT IS NOT A “U.S. PERSON” AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION” AS DEFINED IN REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, (2) AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR FOR WHICH IT HAS EXCHANGED SECURITIES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) THAT IS [IN THE CASE OF SECURITIES INITIALLY ISSUED TO QIBS: ONE YEAR (OR SUCH SHORTER PERIOD AS IS PRESCRIBED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AS THEN IN EFFECT OR ANY SUCCESSOR RULE WITHOUT ANY VOLUME OR MANNER OF SALE RESTRICTIONS OR COMPLIANCE BY THE COMPANY WITH ANY CURRENT PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS THEREUNDER) AFTER THE LATER OF THE ISSUE DATE AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES WERE THE OWNER OF SUCH SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR THERETO)] [IN THE CASE OF REGULATION S GLOBAL SECURITY: 40 DAYS AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE DATE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY) WAS FIRST OFFERED TO PERSONS OTHER THAN “DISTRIBUTORS” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 902 OF REGULATION S) IN RELIANCE ON REGULATION S] ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY, THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO PERSONS WHO ARE NOT U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES TO ANY REQUIREMENT OR LAW THAT THE DISPOSITION OF ITS PROPERTY OR THE PROPERTY OF SUCH INVESTOR ACCOUNT OR ACCOUNTS BE AT ALL TIMES WITHIN ITS OR THEIR CONTROL AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND ANY APPLICABLE LOCAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL GIVE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND; PROVIDED, THAT THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE AND THE TRANSFER AGENT SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER (I) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (D) PRIOR TO THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE OR PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM AND (II) IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES, TO REQUIRE THAT A CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING ON THE REVERSE OF THIS SECURITY IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEROR TO THE TRUSTEE.

 

 

 

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AND WARRANTED THAT EITHER (1) NO PORTION OF THE ASSETS USED BY SUCH HOLDER TO ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS SECURITY CONSTITUTES THE ASSETS OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN THAT IS SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE U.S. EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), OR A PLAN, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER ARRANGEMENT THAT IS SUBJECT TO SECTION 4975 OF THE U.S. INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”) OR PROVISIONS UNDER ANY OTHER FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, NON-U.S. OR OTHER LAWS OR REGULATIONS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO SUCH PROVISIONS OF ERISA OR THE CODE (“SIMILAR LAWS”), OR OF AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS ARE CONSIDERED TO INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY SUCH PLAN, ACCOUNT OR ARRANGEMENT, (2) THE ACQUISITION AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A NON-EXEMPT PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE OR A SIMILAR VIOLATION UNDER ANY APPLICABLE SIMILAR LAWS OR (3) NO ADVICE PROVIDED BY US OR ANY OF OUR AFFILIATES HAS FORMED A PRIMARY BASIS FOR MAKING ANY INVESTMENT OR OTHER DECISION FOR OR ON BEHALF OF SUCH PLAN IN CONNECTION WITH THE SECURITIES OR THE EXERCISE OF ANY RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO THE SECURITIES.

 

Each Certificated Security shall also bear the following additional legend:

 

IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS SUCH TRANSFER AGENT MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.

 

 

 

Each Temporary Regulation S Global Security shall also bear the following legend:

 

THE RIGHTS ATTACHING TO THIS TEMPORARY REGULATION S GLOBAL SECURITY, AND THE CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING (I) THE EXCHANGE OF BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN THIS TEMPORARY REGULATION S GLOBAL SECURITY FOR INTERESTS IN THE PERMANENT REGULATION S GLOBAL SECURITY OR RULE 144A GLOBAL SECURITY AND (II) THE TRANSFER OF INTERESTS IN THIS TEMPORARY REGULATION S GLOBAL SECURITY, ARE AS SPECIFIED IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.

 

(ii)              The Company, acting in its discretion, may remove the Restricted Securities legend set forth in paragraph (i) above from any Transfer Restricted Security at any time on or after the Resale Restriction Termination Date applicable to such Transfer Restricted Security. Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, the Company may effect such removal by issuing and delivering, in exchange for such Transfer Restricted Security, an Unrestricted Security without such legend, registered to the same Holder and in an equal principal amount, and upon receipt by the Trustee of a Company Order stating that the Resale Restriction Termination Date applicable to such Transfer Restricted Security has occurred and requesting the authentication and delivery of an Unrestricted Security in exchange therefor given at least three Business Days in advance of the proposed date of exchange specified therein (which shall be no earlier than such Resale Restriction Termination Date), the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver such Unrestricted Security to the Depositary or pursuant to such Depositary’s instructions or hold such Security as custodian for the Depositary and shall request the Depositary to, or, if the Trustee is custodian of such Transfer Restricted Security, shall itself, surrender such Transfer Restricted Security in exchange for such Unrestricted Security without such legend and thereupon cancel such Transfer Restricted Security so surrendered, all as directed in such order. For purposes of determining whether the Resale Restriction Termination Date has occurred with respect to any Securities evidenced by a Transfer Restricted Security or delivering any order pursuant to this Section 2.3(d)(ii) with respect to such Securities, (i) only those Securities which a Principal Officer of the Company actually knows (after reasonable inquiry) to be or to have been owned by an Affiliate of the Company shall be deemed to be or to have been, respectively, owned by an Affiliate of the Company; and (ii) “Principal Officer” means the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Company.

 

For purposes of this Section 2.3(d)(ii), all provisions relating to the removal of the legend set forth in paragraph (i) above shall relate, if the Resale Restriction Termination Date has occurred only with respect to a portion of the Securities evidenced by a Transfer Restricted Security, to such portion of the Securities so evidenced as to which the Resale Restriction Termination Date has occurred.

 

 

 

 

Each holder of any Securities evidenced by any Restricted Global Security, by its acceptance thereof, (A) authorizes and consents to, (B) appoints the Company as its agent for the sole purpose of delivering such electronic messages, executing and delivering such instruments and taking such other actions, on such holder’s behalf, as the Depositary or the Trustee may require to effect, and (C) upon the request of the Company, agrees to deliver such electronic messages, execute and deliver such instruments and take such other actions as the Depositary or the Trustee may require, or as shall otherwise be necessary to effect, the removal of the legend set forth in Section 2.3(d)(i) (including by means of the exchange of all or the portion of such Restricted Global Security evidencing such Security for a certificate evidencing such Security that does not bear such legend) at any time after the Resale Restriction Termination Date.

 

(iii)            Upon any sale or transfer of a Transfer Restricted Security that is a Certificated Security pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, the Registrar shall permit the transferee thereof to exchange such Transfer Restricted Security for a Certificated Security that does not bear the legend set forth above and rescind any restriction on the transfer of such Transfer Restricted Security, if the transferor thereof certifies in writing to the Registrar that, and if the Company or the Trustee so request, delivers an opinion of counsel to the effect that, such sale or transfer was made in reliance on Rule 144 (such certification to be in the form set forth on the reverse of the Security).

 

(iv)             Each Security certificate evidencing the Restricted Global Securities (and all Securities issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof), unless not required in the Company’s reasonable determination, shall bear a legend in substantially the following form (the “OID Legend”).

 

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS SUPPLIED SOLELY FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES. THIS NOTE WAS ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT (“OID”) WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 1273 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”), AND THIS LEGEND IS REQUIRED BY SECTION 1275(c) OF THE CODE. HOLDERS MAY OBTAIN INFORMATION REGARDING THE AMOUNT OF OID, THE ISSUE PRICE, THE ISSUE DATE AND THE YIELD TO MATURITY RELATING TO THE NOTES BY CONTACTING THE ISSUER AT 6100 NORTH WESTERN AVENUE, OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA 73118, ATTENTION: INVESTOR RELATIONS.

 

(e)               Restrictions on Transfer of Temporary Regulation S Global Securities. During the Restricted Period, beneficial ownership interests in Temporary Regulation S Global Securities may only be sold, pledged or transferred in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary and only (i) to the Company, (ii) in an offshore transaction in accordance with Regulation S (other than a transaction resulting in an exchange for an interest in a Permanent Regulation S Global Security) or (iii) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, in each case, in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any state of the United States.

 

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

2.4       Certificated Securities.

 

(a)               A Global Security deposited with the Depositary or with the Trustee as custodian for the Depositary pursuant to Section 2.1 shall be transferred to the beneficial owners thereof in the form of Certificated Securities in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Security, in exchange for such Global Security, only in the circumstances described in Section 2.13(c) of this Indenture and only if such transfer complies with Section 2.3 hereof.

 

(b)               Any Global Security that is transferable to the beneficial owners thereof pursuant to this Section 2.4 shall be surrendered by the Depositary or the custodian to the Trustee located at its Corporate Trust Office to be so transferred, in whole or from time to time in part, without charge, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, upon such transfer of each portion of such Global Security, an equal aggregate principal amount of Certificated Securities of authorized denominations. Any portion of a Global Security transferred pursuant to this Section 2.4 shall be executed, authenticated and delivered only in denominations equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, and registered in such names as the Depositary shall direct. Any Certificated Security delivered in exchange for an interest in a Global Security shall, except as otherwise provided by Section 2.3, bear the Restricted Securities legend, Certificated Securities legend and, if applicable, the OID Legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto.

 

(c)               In no event shall beneficial interests in the Temporary Regulation S Global Security be transferred or exchanged for Certificated Securities prior to (x) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (y) the receipt by the Registrar of any certificates required pursuant to Rule 903(b)(3)(ii)(B) of Regulation S under the Securities Act.

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT 1 TO RULE 144A/REGULATION S APPENDIX

 

FORM OF SECURITY

 

[FACE OF SECURITY]

 

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

 

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.]1

 

[Restricted Securities Legend]

 

THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “U.S. SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”)) OR (B) IT IS NOT A “U.S. PERSON” AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION” AS DEFINED IN REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, (2) AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR FOR WHICH IT HAS EXCHANGED SECURITIES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) THAT IS [IN THE CASE OF SECURITIES INITIALLY ISSUED TO QIBS: ONE YEAR (OR SUCH SHORTER PERIOD AS IS PRESCRIBED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AS THEN IN EFFECT OR ANY SUCCESSOR RULE WITHOUT ANY VOLUME OR MANNER OF SALE RESTRICTIONS OR COMPLIANCE BY THE COMPANY WITH ANY CURRENT PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS THEREUNDER) AFTER THE LATER OF THE ISSUE DATE AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES WERE THE OWNER OF SUCH SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR THERETO)] [IN THE CASE OF REGULATION S SECURITIES: 40 DAYS AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE DATE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY) WAS FIRST OFFERED TO PERSONS OTHER THAN “DISTRIBUTORS” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 902 OF REGULATION S) IN RELIANCE ON REGULATION S] ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY, THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO PERSONS WHO ARE NOT U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES TO ANY REQUIREMENT OR LAW THAT THE DISPOSITION OF ITS PROPERTY OR THE PROPERTY OF SUCH INVESTOR ACCOUNT OR ACCOUNTS BE AT ALL TIMES WITHIN ITS OR THEIR CONTROL AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND ANY APPLICABLE LOCAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL GIVE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND; PROVIDED, THAT THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE AND THE TRANSFER AGENT SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER (I) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (D) PRIOR TO THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE OR PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM AND (II) IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES, TO REQUIRE THAT A CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING ON THE REVERSE OF THIS SECURITY IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEROR TO THE TRUSTEE.

 

 

1 To be included in a Global Security

 

 

 

 

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AND WARRANTED THAT EITHER (1) NO PORTION OF THE ASSETS USED BY SUCH HOLDER TO ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS SECURITY CONSTITUTES THE ASSETS OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN THAT IS SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE U.S. EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), OR A PLAN, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER ARRANGEMENT THAT IS SUBJECT TO SECTION 4975 OF THE U.S. INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”) OR PROVISIONS UNDER ANY OTHER FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, NON-U.S. OR OTHER LAWS OR REGULATIONS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO SUCH PROVISIONS OF ERISA OR THE CODE (“SIMILAR LAWS”), OR OF AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS ARE CONSIDERED TO INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY SUCH PLAN, ACCOUNT OR ARRANGEMENT, (2) THE ACQUISITION AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A NON-EXEMPT PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE OR A SIMILAR VIOLATION UNDER ANY APPLICABLE SIMILAR LAWS OR (3) NO ADVICE PROVIDED BY US OR ANY OF OUR AFFILIATES HAS FORMED A PRIMARY BASIS FOR MAKING ANY INVESTMENT OR OTHER DECISION FOR OR ON BEHALF OF SUCH PLAN IN CONNECTION WITH THE SECURITIES OR THE EXERCISE OF ANY RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO THE SECURITIES.

 

[Temporary Regulation S Legend]

 

THE RIGHTS ATTACHING TO THIS TEMPORARY REGULATION S GLOBAL SECURITY, AND THE CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING (I) THE EXCHANGE OF BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN THIS TEMPORARY REGULATION S GLOBAL SECURITY FOR INTERESTS IN THE PERMANENT REGULATION S GLOBAL SECURITY OR RULE 144A GLOBAL SECURITY AND (II) THE TRANSFER OF INTERESTS IN THIS TEMPORARY REGULATION S GLOBAL SECURITY, ARE AS SPECIFIED IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.

 

[OID Legend]

 

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS SUPPLIED SOLELY FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES. THIS NOTE WAS ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT (“OID”) WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 1273 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”), AND THIS LEGEND IS REQUIRED BY SECTION 1275(c) OF THE CODE. HOLDERS MAY OBTAIN INFORMATION REGARDING THE AMOUNT OF OID, THE ISSUE PRICE, THE ISSUE DATE AND THE YIELD TO MATURITY RELATING TO THE NOTES BY CONTACTING THE ISSUER AT 6100 NORTH WESTERN AVENUE, OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA 73118, ATTENTION: INVESTOR RELATIONS.

 

 

 

 

Certificate No. [CUSIP NO. [QIB: [●] / REG S: [●]]]
$ [ISIN NO. [QIB: [●] / REG S: [●]]]

 

11.5% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2025

 

Chesapeake Energy Corporation, an Oklahoma corporation, promises to pay to ______________, or registered assigns, the principal sum of __________________________________ Dollars [(as may be increased or decreased as set forth on the Schedule of Increases or Decreases in Global Security attached hereto)]2 on January 1, 2025.

 

Interest Payment Dates: January 1 and July 1

 

Record Dates: December 15 and June 15

 

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

 

 

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION 

   
By:  
    Name:
    Title:

 

  By:  
    Name:
    Title:

 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF

AUTHENTICATION

 

This is one of the Securities referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
As Trustee

 

Date: _____________ By:  
      Authorized Signatory

 

 

2 To be included in a Global Security.

 

 

 

 

[REVERSE SIDE OF SECURITY]

 

11.5% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2025

 

1.       Interest

 

Chesapeake Energy Corporation, an Oklahoma corporation (such corporation, and its successors and assigns under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, being herein called the “Company”), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Security at the fixed rate per annum shown above. The Company shall pay interest semiannually on January 1 and July 1 of each year. The first interest payment date shall be July 1, 2020. Interest on the Security shall accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from December 19, 2019. Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.

 

2.       Method of Payment

 

The Company shall pay interest on the Securities (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered holders of Securities at the close of business on the June 15 or December 15 next preceding the interest payment date even if Securities are canceled after the record date and on or before the interest payment date. Holders must surrender Securities to a Paying Agent to collect principal payments. The Company shall pay principal and interest in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Payments in respect of the Securities represented by a Global Security (including principal, premium and interest) shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Depositary. The Company shall make all payments in respect of a certificated Security (including principal, premium and interest), at the Company’s option, at the corporate trust office of the Trustee or by mailing a check to the registered address of each Holder thereof; provided, however, that payments on a certificated Security shall be made by wire transfer to a U.S. dollar account maintained by the payee with a bank in the United States if such Holder elects payment by wire transfer by giving written notice to the Trustee or the Paying Agent to such effect designating such account no later than 30 days immediately preceding the relevant due date for payment (or such other date as the Trustee may accept in its discretion).

 

If any scheduled payment date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the applicable payment to be made on such payment date will be made on the next Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the relevant payment date. No interest will accrue on such payment for the period from and after the applicable payment date.

 

3.       Indenture

 

The Company issued the Securities under an Indenture dated as of December 19, 2019, among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee and the Collateral Trustee (“Indenture”). The terms of the Securities include those stated in the Indenture. Terms defined in the Indenture and not defined herein have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture. The Securities are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture for a statement of those terms. The Securities are entitled to the benefits of the Security Documents, subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, all as more fully set forth in the Indenture.

 

 

 

 

The Company shall be entitled to issue Additional Securities pursuant to Section 2.03 of the Indenture. The Securities issued on the Issue Date and any Additional Securities shall be treated as a single series for all purposes under the Indenture.

 

4.       Make-Whole Redemption

 

Except as set forth below in this paragraph 4 or paragraph 5, or in the Indenture, the Company shall not be entitled to optionally redeem the Securities prior to January 1, 2022.

 

At any time prior to January 1, 2022, the Company shall be entitled at its option to redeem the Securities, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed plus the Make-Whole Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date). Any redemption pursuant to this paragraph 4 shall be made, to the extent applicable, pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.07 of the Indenture.

 

The Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation whatsoever to calculate the Adjusted Treasury Rate or the Make-Whole Premium in connection with any redemption hereunder. Such responsibility shall be solely that of the Company.

 

For the purposes of this paragraph 4, the following terms shall have the meaning indicated:

 

“Adjusted Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the yield, under the heading which represents the average for the immediately preceding week, appearing in the most recently published Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) or any successor publication which is published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or, if such release (or any successor release) is not published, any publicly available source of similar market data) and which establishes yields on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity under the caption “Treasury Constant Maturities,” for the maturity corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue (if no maturity is within three months before or after January 1, 2022, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue shall be determined and the Adjusted Treasury Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated from such yields on a straight line basis, rounding to the nearest month), calculated on the third Business Day immediately preceding the redemption date, plus 50 basis points.

 

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by the Company as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Securities from the redemption date to January 1, 2022 that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of a maturity most nearly equal to January 1, 2022.

 

“Make-Whole Premium” means with respect to a Security at any applicable redemption date, the excess of (i) the present value at such redemption date of (A) the redemption price of such Security on January 1, 2022 (such redemption price being described in paragraph 5 below) exclusive of any accrued interest plus (B) all required remaining scheduled interest payments due on such Security through January 1, 2022 (but excluding accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date), computed using a discount rate equal to the Adjusted Treasury Rate, over (ii) the principal amount of such Security on such redemption date.

 

 

 

 

5.       Optional Redemption

 

(a)       At any time on or after January 1, 2022, the Company may redeem the Securities, in whole or in part, at its option, at the following redemption prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount thereof), plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), if redeemed during the 12-month period (or, in the case of the period commencing January 1, 2022, such 12-month period and thereafter) commencing on January 1 of the years set forth below:

 

Year   Percentage  
2022     105.750 %
2023     102.875 %
2024 and thereafter     100.000 %

 

(b)       At any time prior to January 1, 2022, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities issued under the Indenture at a redemption price equal to 111.500% of the principal amount of the Securities redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), with an amount of cash not greater than the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings by the Company; provided that, with respect to each such redemption, (i) at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities issued under the Indenture (excluding any Securities held by the Company and its Subsidiaries) remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption and (ii) such redemption occurs within 180 days of the date of the closing of such Equity Offering.

 

(c)       Any redemption pursuant to this paragraph 5 shall be made, to the extent applicable, pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.07 of the Indenture.

 

6.       Applicable High Yield Discount Obligations

 

If this Security would otherwise constitute “applicable high yield discount obligations” (“AHYDOs”) within the meaning of Section 163(i)(1) of the Code, at the end of all accrual periods ending after December 19, 2024 (each, an “AHYDO Payment Date”), but not including the final accrual period, the Company will make pro-rata cash payments to all Holders of this Security then outstanding in an amount equal to the Mandatory Principal Payment Amount (each such payment, a “Mandatory Principal Payment”). The “Mandatory Principal Payment Amount” means the portion of this Security’s principal required to be paid as of each AHYDO Payment Date to prevent this Security from being treated as an AHYDO within the meaning of Section 163(i)(1) of the Code. No partial payments, redemptions or repurchases of this Security prior to an AHYDO Payment Date pursuant to any other provision of the Indenture or this Security will alter the Company’s obligation to make the Mandatory Principal Payment with respect to the amount of this Security that remain outstanding on an AHYDO Payment Date. Solely for U.S. federal income tax purposes, any Mandatory Principal Payment shall be treated as a payment of accrued OID that constitutes interest for purposes of Section 163(i)(2) of the Code.

 

 

 

 

Any Mandatory Principal Payment paid with respect to Global Securities will be processed as a “partial redemption” through the Depositary, in accordance with its rules and procedures as a “Pro Rata Pass-Through Distribution of Principal.”

 

7.       Notice of Redemption

 

At least 30 days but not more than 75 days before a redemption date, the Company shall mail a notice of redemption by first class mail (or otherwise give such notice in accordance with the Indenture) to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed at such Holder’s registered address, except that notice may be given more than 75 days before the applicable redemption date in connection with a defeasance of the Securities or a satisfaction and discharge with respect to the Securities in accordance with the Indenture. If less than all of the Securities are redeemed at any time, the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed on a pro rata basis or by lot, in each case, in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary, or, if the Securities are listed on any securities exchange, by any other method that complies with the requirements of such exchange; provided, however, that no Securities with a principal amount of $2,000 or less shall be redeemed in part. Unless the Company defaults in payment of the applicable redemption price, interest on the Securities to be redeemed shall cease to accrue on the applicable redemption date, whether or not such Securities are presented for payment.

 

8.       Repurchase at Option of Holder

 

(a)       In the event of certain Sale/Leaseback Transactions, the Company may be required to make a Net Proceeds Offer to purchase on a pro rata basis all or any portion of each Holder’s Securities and any other Senior Indebtedness in respect of which such an offer to purchase is also required to be made, at 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the Net Proceeds Payment Date.

 

(b)       In the event of certain Collateral Sales, the Company may be required to make a Collateral Sale Offer to purchase on a pro rata basis all or a portion of each Holder’s Securities and any other Parity Lien Debt containing provisions similar to those set forth in the Indenture with respect to offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets, at 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of purchase.

 

(c)       In the event of a Change of Control, each Holder shall have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or a portion of such Holder’s Securities at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase, as provided in, and subject to the terms of the Indenture.

 

9.       Restrictive Covenants

 

The Indenture imposes certain limitations on, among other things, the ability of the Company to merge or consolidate with, or transfer all or substantially all of its assets to, any other Person, make certain restricted payments, sell and lease back certain of its properties or assets, the ability of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to incur encumbrances securing funded debt against certain property and the ability of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to sell certain Collateral, all subject to certain exceptions and limitations described in the Indenture.

 

 

 

 

10.       Ranking and Guarantees

 

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

 

11.       Denominations; Transfer; Exchange

 

The Securities are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 principal amount and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. A Holder may transfer or exchange Securities in accordance with the Indenture. The Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements or transfer documents and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Registrar need not register the transfer of or exchange of any Securities selected for redemption (except, in the case of a Security to be redeemed in part, the portion of the Security not to be redeemed) or any Securities for a period of 15 Business Days before the mailing of a notice of an offer to repurchase or redeem Securities or 15 Business Days before an interest payment date.

 

12.       Security Documents; Intercreditor Agreement

 

Each Holder, by accepting a Security, shall be deemed to have agreed to and accepted the terms and conditions of the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement and the performance by the Trustee and the Collateral Trustee of their respective obligations and the exercise of their respective rights thereunder and in connection therewith.

 

13.       Persons Deemed Owners

 

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

 

14.       Unclaimed Money

 

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

 

 

 

 

15.       Discharge and Defeasance

 

Subject to certain conditions, the Company at any time shall be entitled to terminate some or all of its obligations under the Securities and the Indenture and to the release of liens on the Collateral if the Company deposits with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Securities for the payment of principal of, and interest on, the outstanding Securities to redemption or maturity, as the case may be; provided that, upon any redemption that requires the payment of a make-whole or other premium, (x) the amount of cash, U.S. Government Securities, or a combination thereof, that must be deposited will be determined using an assumed applicable premium calculated as of the date of such deposit and (y) the Company will deposit any deficit in trust on or prior to the redemption date as necessary to pay the applicable premium as determined by such date.

 

16.       Amendment, Supplement, Waiver

 

The amendment, supplement and waiver provisions are set forth in the Indenture. Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture, the Securities or the other Note Documents may be amended or supplemented with the consent (including, for the avoidance of doubt, consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for Securities or a solicitation of consents in respect of Securities) of the Holders of at least a majority of the outstanding principal amount of the Securities, and any past default or noncompliance with any provision may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities. Without the consent of any Holder, the Company may amend or supplement the Indenture, the Securities or the other Note Documents to, among other things, cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency or to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder in any material respect.

 

17.       Successor Obligor

 

When a successor obligor assumes all the obligations of its predecessor under the Securities, the Indenture and the other Note Documents, the predecessor obligor shall be released from those obligations.

 

18.       Defaults and Remedies

 

The defaults, events of default and remedies provisions are set forth in the Indenture. An Event of Default generally is: (i) default by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor in payment of principal of, or premium, if any, on the Securities; (ii) default by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor for 30 days in payment of interest on the Securities; (iii) defaults resulting in acceleration prior to maturity of certain other Indebtedness or resulting from payment defaults under certain other Indebtedness; (iv) failure by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor for 60 days after notice to comply with any of its other agreements in the Indenture; (v) a failure of any Guarantee of a Subsidiary Guarantor to be in full force and effect or denial by any Subsidiary Guarantor of its obligations with respect thereto; (vi) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization; and (vii) except as permitted by the Note Documents, certain Note Documents or Parity Liens cease for any reason to be enforceable or, in certain cases, perfected, or denial by a Obligor of its obligations with respect thereto. Subject to certain limitations in the Indenture, if an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities may declare all the Securities to be due and payable immediately, except that in the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, all outstanding Securities shall become due and payable immediately without further action or notice. Holders may not enforce the Note Documents except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee may require security or indemnity satisfactory to it before it enforces the Note Documents. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Company must furnish an annual compliance certificate to the Trustee.

 

 

 

 

19.       Trustee Dealings with Company and Subsidiary Guarantors

 

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

 

20.       No Recourse Against Others

 

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

 

21.       Authentication

 

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

 

22.       Abbreviations

 

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

 

23.       CUSIP Numbers

 

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

 

24.       Governing Law

 

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

 

 

 

 

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

 

Chesapeake Energy Corporation

6100 North Western Avenue

Oklahoma City, OK 73118

 

Attention: Treasurer

 

 

 

 

ASSIGNMENT FORM

 

To assign this Security, fill in the form below:

 

I or we assign and transfer this Security to

 

 
(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)
 
(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. No.)
 
and irrevocably appoint                                 agent to transfer this Security on the books of the Company.  The agent may substitute another to act for him.
   
Date:                                          Your signature:  
   
  Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Security.
 
Signature Guarantee:
 
(Signature must be guaranteed)
 
Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
 
 
[Include the following only if the Restricted Securities Legend is included hereon]

 

In connection with any transfer of any of the Securities evidenced by this certificate occurring prior to one year (or such shorter period as is prescribed by Rule 144 under the Securities Act as then in effect or any successor rule without any volume or manner of sale restrictions or compliance by the Company with any current public information requirements thereunder) after the later of the date of original issuance of such Securities and the last date, if any, on which such Securities were owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company (or, in the case of Regulation S Securities, prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period), the undersigned confirms that such Securities are being transferred in accordance with their terms:

 

 

 

 

CHECK ONE BOX BELOW

 

(1)  ¨ to the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors or any Subsidiary thereof; or
     
(2)  ¨ pursuant to a registration statement that has been declared effective under the Securities Act of 1933; or
     
(3)  ¨ for so long as the Securities are eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A, to a person who the undersigned reasonably believes is a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933) that is purchasing for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer to whom notice is given that such transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, in each case pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933; or
     
(4)  ¨ pursuant to offers and sales to non-U.S. persons that occur outside the United States within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act in compliance with Rule 904 under the Securities Act of 1933; or
     
(5)  ¨ pursuant to another exemption from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, (other than Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933).

 

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

 

 

Signature

 

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

Dated:    
      Notice:  To be executed by an executive officer

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY 3

 

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

 

Date of
Exchange

 

Amount of decrease in
Principal amount of
this Global Security

 

Amount of increase in
Principal amount of
this Global Security

 

Principal amount of
this Global Security
following such
decrease or increase

 

Signature of
authorized signatory
of Trustee

 

 

 

 

3 To be included in a Global Security.

 

 

 

 

OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

 

If you want to elect to have this Security purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.11, Section 4.12 or Section 4.13 of the Indenture, check the box:

 

¨ Section 4.11 ¨ Section 4.12 ¨ Section 4.13

 

If you want to elect to have only part of this Security purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.11, Section 4.12 or Section 4.13 of the Indenture, state the amount in principal amount:

 

$    

 

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

 

Signature Guarantee:

 

___________________________________

Signature must be guaranteed

 

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

 

 

 

 

[FORM OF CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED

IN CONNECTION WITH TRANSFERS PURSUANT TO REGULATION S]

 

Chesapeake Energy Corporation

6100 North Western Avenue

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73118

Facsimile: (405) 849-6119

Attention: Treasurer

 

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas

Trust and Agency Services

60 Wall Street, 24th Floor

Mail Stop: NYC60-2407

New York, New York 10005

Facsimile: (732) 578-4635

Attention: Corporates Team – Chesapeake Energy Corp. SF0873

 

Re: Chesapeake Energy Corporation (the “Issuer”) 11.5% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2025 (the “Notes”)

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

In connection with our proposed sale of $______________ aggregate principal amount of the Notes (CUSIP No._______________), we confirm that such sale has been effected pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation S (“Regulation S”) under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and, accordingly, we represent that:

 

(1)       the offer of the Notes was not made to a person in the United States;

 

(2)       either (a) at the time the buy order was originated, the transferee was outside the United States or we and any person acting on our behalf reasonably believed that the transferee was outside the United States or (b) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated off-shore securities market and neither we nor any person acting on our behalf knows that the transaction has been pre-arranged with a buyer in the United States;

 

(3)       no directed selling efforts have been made in the United States in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S, as applicable; and

 

(4)       the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

 

In addition, if the sale is made during a restricted period and the provisions of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S are applicable thereto, we confirm that such sale has been made in accordance with the applicable provisions of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b), as the case may be.

 

 

 

 

The Issuer and you are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby. Terms used in this certificate have the meanings set forth in Regulation S.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
   
  [Name of Transferor]
   
  By:  
    Authorized Signature

 

 

 

Exhibit 4.2

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

 

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION
and
the Subsidiary Guarantors named herein

 

 

 

11.5% SENIOR SECURED SECOND LIEN NOTES DUE 2025

 

 

 

 

 

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

 

DATED AS OF DECEMBER 23, 2019

 

 

 

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS

 

as Trustee and Collateral Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

     

 

 

THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of December 23, 2019, is among Chesapeake Energy Corporation, an Oklahoma corporation (the “Company”), each of the parties identified under the caption “Subsidiary Guarantors” on the signature pages hereto (which, for the avoidance of doubt, includes Brazos Valley Longhorn Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation; Brazos Valley Longhorn, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company; Burleson Sand LLC, a Delaware limited liability company; Burleson Water Resources, LLC, a Texas limited liability company; Esquisto Resources II, LLC, a Texas limited liability company; Petromax E&P Burleson, LLC, a Texas limited liability company; WHE AcqCo., LLC, a Delaware limited liability company; WHR Eagle Ford LLC, a Delaware limited liability company; WildHorse Resources II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and WildHorse Resources Management Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as new subsidiary guarantors, the “New Subsidiary Guarantors”) (the “Subsidiary Guarantors”) and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee (the “Trustee”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto, and the Trustee entered into an Indenture, dated as of December 19, 2019 (the “Indenture”), pursuant to which the Company has originally issued $2,210,156,000 in principal amount of 11.5% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2025 (the “Notes”);

 

WHEREAS, Section 9.01(d) of the Indenture provides that the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture without notice to or consent of any Holder to reflect the addition of any Subsidiary Guarantor, as provided for in the Indenture;

 

WHEREAS, each New Subsidiary Guarantor has guaranteed other Indebtedness of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor in excess of a De Minimis Guaranteed Amount, and as a result, the Company is obligated under Section 10.04 of the Indenture to cause such New Subsidiary Guarantor to become a Subsidiary Guarantor under the Indenture; and

 

WHEREAS, all acts and things prescribed by the Indenture, by law and by the charter and the bylaws (or comparable constituent documents) of the Company, of the Subsidiary Guarantors and of the Trustee necessary to make this First Supplemental Indenture a valid instrument legally binding on the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee, in accordance with its terms, have been duly done and performed.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, to comply with the provisions of the Indenture and in consideration of the above premises, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee covenant and agree as follows:

 

Article 1 

 

Section 1.01.      This First Supplemental Indenture is supplemental to the Indenture and does and shall be deemed to form a part of, and shall be construed in connection with and as part of, the Indenture for any and all purposes.

 

Section 1.02.      This First Supplemental Indenture shall become effective immediately upon its execution and delivery by each of the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee.

 

   - 2 -  

 

 

Article 2 

 

Section 2.01.      From this date, in accordance with Section 10.04 of the Indenture and by executing this First Supplemental Indenture, each New Subsidiary Guarantor is subject to the provisions of the Indenture as a Subsidiary Guarantor to the extent provided for in Article Ten thereunder.

 

Article 3 

 

Section 3.01.      Except as specifically modified herein, the Indenture and the Notes are in all respects ratified and confirmed (mutatis mutandis) and shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with their terms with all capitalized terms used herein without definition having the same respective meanings ascribed to them as in the Indenture.

 

Section 3.02.      Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no duties, responsibilities or liabilities are assumed, or shall be construed to be assumed, by the Trustee by reason of this First Supplemental Indenture. This First Supplemental Indenture is executed and accepted by the Trustee subject to all the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture with the same force and effect as if those terms and conditions were repeated at length herein and made applicable to the Trustee with respect hereto. The Trustee makes no representations as to (i) the validity or sufficiency of this First Supplemental Indenture, (ii) the proper authorization hereof by the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors by action or otherwise, (iii) the due execution hereof by the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors or (iv) the consequences of any amendment herein provided for. The recitals and statements herein are deemed to be those of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors and not of the Trustee.

 

Section 3.03.      THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE AND ENFORCE THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE.

 

Section 3.04.       The parties may sign any number of copies of this First Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of such executed copies together shall represent the same agreement.

 

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

   - 3 -  

 

 

 

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

   
  CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION

 

  By: /s/ Bryan J. Lemmerman
  Name: Bryan J. Lemmerman
  Title: Vice President – Business Development and Treasurer

  

Signature Page to Supplemental Indenture

 

     

 

 

  SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS:
   
  CHESAPEAKE AEZ EXPLORATION, L.L.C.
  CHESAPEAKE APPALACHIA, L.L.C.
  CHESAPEAKE-CLEMENTS ACQUISITION, L.L.C.
  CHESAPEAKE ENERGY LOUISIANA, LLC
  CHESAPEAKE ENERGY MARKETING, L.L.C.
  CHESAPEAKE EXPLORATION, L.L.C.
  CHESAPEAKE E&P Holding, L.L.C.
  CHESAPEAKE LAND DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.L.C.
 

CHESAPEAKE LOUISIANA, L.P.

BY: CHESAPEAKE OPERATING, L.L.C., its General Partner

  CHESAPEAKE MIDSTREAM DEVELOPMENT, L.L.C.
  CHESAPEAKE NG VENTURES CORPORATION
  CHESAPEAKE OPERATING, L.L.C.
  CHESAPEAKE plains, LLC
  CHESAPEAKE ROYALTY, L.L.C.
  CHESAPEAKE VRT, L.L.C.
  CHK energy holdings, inc.
  chk utica, l.l.c.
  COMPASS MANUFACTURING, L.L.C.
  EMLP, L.L.C.
  EMPRESS LOUISIANA PROPERTIES, L.P.
  By:  EMLP, L.L.C., its General Partner
  EMPRESS, L.L.C.
  GSF, L.L.C.
  MC LOUISIANA MINERALS, L.L.C.
  MC MINERAL COMPANY, L.L.C.
  MIDCON COMPRESSION, L.L.C.
  NOMAC SERVICES, L.L.C.
  NORTHERN MICHIGAN EXPLORATION COMPANY, L.L.C.
  SPARKS DRIVE SWD, INC.
  WINTER MOON ENERGY CORPORATION
     
     
  By: /s/ Bryan J. Lemmerman
  Name: Bryan J. Lemmerman
  Title: Vice President – Business Development and Treasurer

 

Signature Page to Supplemental Indenture

 

     

 

 

  BRAZOS VALLEY LONGHORN FINANCE CORP.
  BRAZOS VALLEY LONGHORN, L.L.C.
  BURLESON SAND LLC
  BURLESON WATER RESOURCES, LLC
  ESQUISTO RESOURCES II, LLC
  PETROMAX E&P BURLESON, LLC
  WHE ACQCO., LLC
  WHR EAGLE FORD LLC
  WILDHORSE RESOURCES II, LLC
  WILDHORSE RESOURCES MANAGEMENT COMPANY, LLC

 

 

  By: /s/ Bryan J. Lemmerman
  Name: Bryan J. Lemmerman
  Title: Vice President – Business Development and Treasurer

 

Signature Page to Supplemental Indenture

 

     

 

 

  TRUSTEE:
   
  DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Trustee and Collateral Trustee
     
  By: /s/ Bridgette Casasnovas
  Name: Bridgette Casasnovas
  Title: Vice President

 

Signature Page to Supplemental Indenture

 

     

 

 

 

Exhibit 4.3

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

TERM LOAN AGREEMENT


DATED AS OF DECEMBER 19, 2019

AMONG

Chesapeake Energy Corporation,
AS THE BORROWER,

THE SEVERAL LENDERS
FROM TIME TO TIME PARTIES HERETO,

 

AND

GLAS USA LLC,

AS THE TERM AGENT

 

 

 

 

 

Table of Contents

 

  Page
   
ARTICLE I Definitions 1
1.1 Defined Terms 1
1.2 Other Interpretive Provisions 38
1.3 Accounting Terms 40
1.4 Rounding 40
1.5 References to Agreements, Laws, Etc. 40
1.6 Times of Day 40
1.7 Timing of Payment or Performance 40
1.8 Currency Equivalents Generally 40
1.9 Classifications 41
     
ARTICLE II Amount and Terms of Loans 41
2.1 Classes of Loans 41
2.2 Disbursement of Funds 43
2.3 Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt 43
2.4 Pro Rata Borrowings 43
2.5 Defaulting Lenders 43
     
ARTICLE III Fees; Commitments 45
3.1 Fees 45
3.2 Termination of Commitments 45
     
ARTICLE IV Payments 45
4.1 Mandatory Prepayments 45
4.2 Method and Place of Payment 48
4.3 Net Payments 49
4.4 Limit on Rate of Interest 53
     
ARTICLE V Conditions Precedent to Initial Effectiveness 53
5.1 Executed Term Loan Agreement 53
5.2 Secretary’s Certificates 53
5.3 Good Standing Certificate of the Credit Parties 54
5.4 Certain Credit Documents 54
5.5 Legal Opinions 54
5.6 Closing Certificate 54
5.7 Fees 54
5.8 KYC Information 54
5.9 Insurance 54
5.10 Solvency Certificate 55
     
ARTICLE VI Conditions Precedent to Each Class of Loans 55
6.1 Executed Term Loan Supplement 55
6.2 Secretary’s Certificates 55
6.3 Good Standing Certificate of the Credit Parties 55
6.4 Closing Certificate 55
6.5 Solvency Certificate 56
6.6 No Default; Representations and Warranties 56

 

i

 

 

6.7 Conditions Precedent in Term Loan Supplement 56
6.8 Funding Notice 56
     
ARTICLE VII Representations and Warranties 56
7.1 Corporate Status 57
7.2 Corporate Power and Authority; Enforceability 57
7.3 No Violation 57
7.4 Litigation 57
7.5 Margin Regulations 57
7.6 Governmental Approvals 57
7.7 Investment Company Act 58
7.8 True and Complete Disclosure 58
7.9 Financial Condition; Financial Statements 58
7.10 Tax Matters 59
7.11 Compliance with ERISA 59
7.12 Subsidiaries 59
7.13 Environmental Laws 59
7.14 Properties 59
7.15 Solvency 60
7.16 Hedge Agreements 60
7.17 No Default 60
7.18 Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions 60
7.19 Pari Passu or Priority Status 60
7.20 No Material Adverse Effect 60
7.21 EEA Financial Institution 61
7.22 Beneficial Ownership Certification 61
7.23 Plan Assets; Prohibited Transactions 61
     
ARTICLE VIII Affirmative Covenants 61
8.1 Information Covenants 61
8.2 Books and Records 64
8.3 Maintenance of Insurance 64
8.4 Payment of Taxes 65
8.5 Existence 65
8.6 Compliance with Statutes, Regulations, Etc. 65
8.7 Maintenance of Properties 65
8.8 Unrestricted Subsidiaries 66
8.9 Guarantors, Grantors and Collateral 66
8.10 Use of Proceeds 69
8.11 Further Assurances 70
     
ARTICLE IX Negative Covenants 70
9.1 Limitations on Indebtedness 71
9.2 Limitation on Liens Securing Funded Debt 74
9.3 Limitation on Fundamental Changes 74
9.4 Limitation on Collateral Sales 76
9.5 Limitation on Investments 77
9.6 Limitation on Restricted Payments 79
9.7 Limitations on Junior Debt Payments and Amendments 81
9.8 Negative Pledge Agreements 81
9.9 Limitation on Subsidiary Distributions 83

 

ii

 

 

9.10 Hedge Agreements 84
9.11 Transactions with Affiliates 85
9.12 Change in Business 86
9.13 Use of Proceeds 86
9.14 Anti-Layering 86
9.15 Sanctions; Anti-Corruption Use of Proceeds 86
     
ARTICLE X Events of Default 87
10.1 Payments 87
10.2 Representations, Etc. 87
10.3 Covenants 87
10.4 Default Under Other Indebtedness 87
10.5 Bankruptcy, Etc. 87
10.6 ERISA 88
10.7 Guarantee 88
10.8 Security Documents 88
10.9 Judgments 89
10.10 Term Loan Supplement 89
     
ARTICLE XI The Term Agent 90
11.1 Appointment 90
11.2 Delegation of Duties 91
11.3 Exculpatory Provisions 91
11.4 Reliance 92
11.5 Notice of Default 93
11.6 Non-Reliance on Term Agent and Other Lenders 93
11.7 Indemnification 94
11.8 Agent in Its Individual Capacity 95
11.9 Successor Agent 95
11.10 Withholding Tax 96
11.11 Security Documents and Guarantee 96
11.12 Right to Realize on Collateral and Enforce Guarantee 97
11.13 Term Agent and Collateral Trustee May File Proofs of Claim 98
11.14 Posting of Communications 99
11.15 Certain ERISA Matters 101
     
ARTICLE XII Miscellaneous 102
12.1 Amendments, Waivers and Releases 102
12.2 Notices 103
12.3 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies 104
12.4 Survival of Representations and Warranties 104
12.5 Payment of Expenses; Indemnification 104
12.6 Successors and Assigns; Participations and Assignments 106
12.7 Replacements of Lenders under Certain Circumstances 110
12.8 Counterparts 111
12.9 Severability 111
12.10 Integration 112
12.11 GOVERNING LAW 112
12.12 Submission to Jurisdiction; Waivers 112
12.13 Acknowledgments 112
12.14 WAIVERS OF JURY TRIAL 113

 

iii

 

 

12.15 Confidentiality 113
12.16 Release of Collateral and Guarantee Obligations; Disavowal of Liens 115
12.17 USA Patriot Act 117
12.18 Payments Set Aside 117
12.19 Reinstatement 117
12.20 Disposition of Proceeds 117
12.21 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions 118

 

Schedules and Exhibits

 

Schedule 7.4 Litigation
Schedule 7.12 Subsidiaries
Schedule 9.1 Indebtedness
Schedule 9.5 Investments
Schedule 9.8 Initial Closing Date Negative Pledge Agreements
Schedule 9.9 Initial Closing Date Contractual Encumbrances
Schedule 9.11 Initial Closing Date Affiliate Transactions
Schedule 12.2 Notice Addresses
   
Exhibit A Form of Collateral Trust Agreement
Exhibit B Form of Closing Certificate
Exhibit C Form of Assignment and Acceptance
Exhibit D Form of Security Agreement
Exhibit E Form of Term Loan Supplement

 

iv

 

 

This TERM LOAN AGREEMENT, dated as of December 19, 2019, is among Chesapeake Energy Corporation, an Oklahoma corporation (together with its permitted successors, the “Borrower”), the lenders from time to time party hereto (each a “Lender” and, collectively, the “Lenders”), and GLAS USA LLC, a New Jersey limited liability company, as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Term Agent”) for the Lenders.

 

WHEREAS, by entering into a supplement (each, and as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, a “Term Loan Supplement”) to this Agreement with the Borrower and the Term Agent, the lenders party thereto shall become party to this Agreement as Lenders, making Loans to the Borrower in accordance with the terms of this Agreement as supplemented by such Term Loan Supplement (but without giving effect to any other Term Loan Supplement unless otherwise specified herein or in such original Term Loan Supplement); such Loans shall be designated as a Class of Loans as specified in such Term Loan Supplement, with no Class of Loans to bear the same designation as any other Class, and such Lenders and such Term Loan Supplement shall be referenced with the same designation (e.g., “Class A”) as such Class of Loans;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I
Definitions

 

1.1           Defined Terms.

 

(a)           Terms defined in the preamble have the meaning ascribed to them in the preamble.

 

(b)           As used herein, the following terms shall have the meanings specified in this Section unless the context otherwise requires (it being understood that defined terms in this Agreement shall include in the singular number the plural and in the plural the singular):

 

Administrative Questionnaire” means, for each Lender, an administrative questionnaire in a form supplied by the Term Agent from time to time.

 

Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with such Person. A Person shall be deemed to control another Person if such Person possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such other Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. “Controlling” (“controlling”) and “controlled” shall have meanings correlative thereto.

 

Agreement” means this Term Loan Agreement, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, including, with respect to any Class of Loans, by all Term Loan Supplements applicable to such Class of Loans.

 

 

 

 

Anti-Corruption Laws” means all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to the Borrower or the Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery, money laundering or corruption.

 

Approved Bank” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of “Cash Equivalents”.

 

Approved Fund” means any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

 

Arrangers” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., MUFG Union Bank, N.A., BofA Securities Inc., Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc. and each documentation agent or syndication agent named in the Class A Term Loan Supplement, with respect to this Agreement and the Class A Term Loan Supplement, and any Person identified as arranger, lead arranger, joint lead arranger, documentation agent or syndication agent in any other Term Loan Supplement, with respect to this Agreement and such Term Loan Supplement.

 

Assignment and Acceptance” means an assignment and acceptance substantially in the form of Exhibit C.

 

Authorized Officer” means, with respect to any Person, the President, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Operating Officer, the Treasurer, the Vice President-Finance, the General Counsel, any Senior Vice President or any Executive Vice President of such Person (or, in the case of any limited partnership without its own officers, any of the foregoing of the general partner of such limited partnership). Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by an Authorized Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, limited liability company, partnership and/or other action on the part of any Credit Party and such Authorized Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Person.

 

Available Amount” means, as of any date of determination, an amount equal to, without duplication,

 

(a)           the sum, without duplication, of:

 

(i)            50% of the Consolidated Net Income for the period (treated as one accounting period) from the beginning of the fiscal quarter of the Borrower in which the Initial Closing Date occurs to the end of the Borrower’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which financial statements delivered to the Term Agent pursuant to Section 8.1 as of such date (or, if such Consolidated Net Income for such period shall be a negative number, 100% of such negative number), plus

 

(ii)           100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds and the Fair Market Value of property or assets received by the Borrower since the Initial Closing Date (A) as a contribution (other than from a Subsidiary) to its common equity capital or from the issuance or sale (other than to a Subsidiary) of Stock of the Borrower (other than Disqualified Stock) or (B) from the issuance or sale of Disqualified Stock or the incurrence of Indebtedness by the Borrower (other than to a Subsidiary), in each case that shall have been converted into or exchanged for Stock of the Borrower (other than Disqualified Stock); minus

 

2

 

 

(b)           the sum, without duplication, of:

 

(i)            the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments made in reliance on Section 9.6(l); plus

 

(ii)           the aggregate amount of prepayments, repurchases, redemptions and defeasances made in reliance on Section 9.7(a)(v).

 

Concurrently with the consummation of any transaction effected pursuant to Section 9.6(l) or Section 9.7(a)(v) using all or any portion of the Available Amount, the Borrower shall provide to the Term Agent a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower setting forth in reasonable detail the Available Amount as of the date of such transaction.

 

Bail-In Action” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable EEA Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an EEA Financial Institution.

 

Bail-In Legislation” means, with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

 

Bankruptcy Code” shall have the meaning provided in Section 10.5.

 

Beneficial Ownership Certification” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

 

Beneficial Ownership Regulation” means 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230.

 

Benefit Plan” means any of (a) an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in ERISA) that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a “plan” as defined in and subject to Section 4975 of the Code or (c) any Person whose assets include (for purposes of ERISA Section 3(42) or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) the assets of any such “employee benefit plan” or “plan”.

 

Board” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States (or any successor).

 

Board of Directors” means, as to any Person, the board of directors or other governing body of such Person, or if such Person is owned or managed by a single entity, the board of directors or other governing body of such entity.

 

Borrower” shall have the meaning provided in the preamble of this Agreement.

 

Borrowing” means the incurrence of a Loan on a given date.

 

3

 

 

Borrowing Base” means, with respect to borrowings under the Revolving Credit Agreement as in effect on the Initial Closing Date or under any amended, restated, supplemented or replacement Revolving Credit Agreement in the form of a reserve-based borrowing base credit facility of the Borrower that is provided by a group of lenders with respect to which the majority (determined based on the aggregate amount of commitments and loans outstanding thereunder) is composed of commercial banks (or affiliates of commercial banks) regularly providing asset-based credit facilities in the oil and gas industry, the aggregate amount in Dollars determined or re-determined by the lenders under the Revolving Credit Agreement as the aggregate lending value to be ascribed to the Oil and Gas Properties of the Credit Parties against which such lenders are prepared to provide loans or other Indebtedness to the Credit Parties under the Revolving Credit Agreement, using their customary practices and standards for determining reserve-based borrowing base loans and which are generally applied by commercial lenders to borrowers of similar type and character as the Borrower in the Oil and Gas Business, as determined semi-annually during each calendar year and/or on such other occasions as may be provided for in the Revolving Credit Agreement, and which is based upon, inter alia, the review by such lenders of the Hydrocarbon reserves, royalty interests and assets and liabilities of the Credit Parties.

 

Business Day” means any day excluding Saturday, Sunday and any other day on which banking institutions in New York City, New York are authorized by Law to close, and, if such day relates to (a) any interest rate settings as to a Loan bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the London interbank offered rate, (b) any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in respect of any such Loan, or (c) any other dealings pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such Loan, such day shall be a day on which dealings in deposits in Dollars are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank eurodollar market.

 

BVL Notes” means WildHorse’s outstanding 6.875% Senior Notes due 2025.

 

Calculation Date” means the date on which PV-9 is determined. For the avoidance of doubt and as an example, March 28 would be the Calculation Date if the Borrower determined PV-9 (with a Reserve Date of the preceding December 31) on such March 28.

 

Capital Expenditures” means, for any period, the aggregate of all expenditures (whether paid in cash or accrued as liabilities and including in all events all amounts expended or capitalized under Capital Leases) by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period that, in conformity with GAAP, are or are required to be included as capital expenditures on a consolidated statement of cash flows of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

Capital Lease” means, as applied to any Person, any lease of any property (whether real, personal or mixed) by that Person as lessee that, in conformity with GAAP, is, or is required to be, accounted for as a capital lease on the balance sheet of that Person.

 

Capital Lease Obligations” means, as applied to any Person, all obligations under Capital Leases of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case taken at the amount thereof accounted for as liabilities in accordance with GAAP.

 

Cash Equivalents” means any of the following:

 

(a)           Dollars;

 

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(b)       United States government securities with maturities of two years or less from the date of acquisition;

 

(c)       certificates of deposit, time deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of three years or less from the date of acquisition, demand deposits, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding three years and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any domestic or foreign commercial bank having capital and surplus of not less than $500,000,000 in the case of U.S. banks and $250,000,000 (or the Dollar equivalent as of the date of determination) in the case of non-U.S. banks (any such bank in the foregoing, an “Approved Bank”);

 

(d)       repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (b) and (c) above or clauses (f) and (g) below entered into with any Approved Bank or recognized securities dealer meeting the qualifications specified in clause (c) above;

 

(e)       commercial paper and variable or fixed rate notes issued by an Approved Bank (or by the parent company thereof) or any variable or fixed rate note issued by, or guaranteed by, a corporation (other than structured investment vehicles and other than corporations used in structured financing transactions) rated at least P-2 (or the equivalent thereof) or A-2 (or the equivalent thereof) from either Moody’s or S&P (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency selected by the Borrower) and in each case maturing within 36 months after the date of acquisition thereof;

 

(f)       marketable short-term money market and similar liquid funds having either (i) assets in excess of $500 million or (ii) a rating of at least P-2 (or the equivalent thereof) or A-2 (or the equivalent thereof) from either Moody’s or S&P, respectively (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency selected by the Borrower);

 

(g)       readily marketable direct obligations issued or fully guaranteed by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof; but each such readily marketable direct obligation shall be rated investment grade from either Moody’s or S&P (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency selected by the Borrower) with maturities of two years or less from the date of acquisition;

 

(h)       Investments with average maturities of 18 months or less from the date of acquisition in money market funds rated AAA- (or the equivalent thereof) or better by S&P or Aaa3 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by Moody’s (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency selected by the Borrower);

 

(i)       investment funds investing substantially all of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (a) through (h) above; and

 

(j)       Indebtedness or preferred stock issued by Persons with a rating of “A” or higher from S&P and “A-2” from Moody’s with maturities of two years or less from the date of acquisition.

 

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Cash Management Services” means (a) commercial credit cards, merchant card services, purchase or debit cards, including non-card e-payables services, (b) treasury management services (including controlled disbursement, overdraft, automated clearing house fund transfer services, return items and interstate depository network services), (c) any other demand deposit or operating account relationships and (d) other cash management services.

 

Casualty Event” means, with respect to any Collateral, (a) any damage to, destruction of, or other casualty or loss involving, any property or asset or (b) any seizure, condemnation, confiscation or taking under the power of eminent domain of, or any requisition of title or use of, or relating to, or any similar event in respect of, any property or asset.

 

Change in Law” means the occurrence after the date of this Agreement of any of the following: (a) the adoption of any Law, (b) any change in any Law or the interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) compliance by any Lender with any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the date of this Agreement; but, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.

 

Change of Control” means, and will be deemed to have occurred, if any “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such “person” or “group” and their respective Subsidiaries and any Person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) shall at any time have acquired direct or indirect “beneficial ownership” (as defined in Rules 13(d)-3 and 13(d)-5 under the Exchange Act) of the outstanding common Stock of the Borrower having more than 50% of the ordinary voting power for the election of directors of the Borrower.

 

Change of Control Offer” shall have the meaning provided in Section 4.1(b).

 

Change of Control Prepayment” shall have the meaning provided in Section 4.1(b).

 

Change of Control Purchase Date” shall have the meaning provided in Section 4.1(b)(ii).

 

Class” means the Loans made (or to be made) pursuant to this Agreement as supplemented by a single Term Loan Supplement.

 

Class A Loans” means the Loans made pursuant to this Agreement as supplemented by the Class A Term Loan Supplement.

 

Class A Term Loan Supplement” means the Term Loan Supplement of even date herewith, establishing the Class A Loans in an aggregate principal amount of $1,500,000,000.

 

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Class Commitment” means, with respect to a Class of Loans, with respect to each Lender that is a party to a Term Loan Supplement, the amount set forth therein as such Lender’s “Commitment”.

 

Class Exposure” means, with respect to any Lender at any time and with respect to any Class of Loans, the aggregate principal amount of the Loans of such Lender then outstanding for such Class of Loans.

 

Class Maturity Date” means the Maturity Date of the Loans of any Class of Loans as set forth in the Term Loan Supplement for such Class of Loans.

 

Class Total Commitment” means, with respect to any Class of Loans, as of any date of determination, the aggregate amount of the Class Commitments of all Lenders of such Class with respect to such Class of Loans.

 

Class Total Exposure” means, with respect to any Class of Loans, the sum of the Class Exposures of the Lenders of such Class with respect to such Class of Loans.

 

Closing Date” means, with respect to any Class of Loans, the date on which the conditions set forth in Article VI and any conditions set forth in the Term Loan Supplement for such Class of Loans are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 12.1) with respect to such Class of Loans.

 

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

 

Collateral” shall have the meaning provided for such term in each Security Document; but with respect to any Mortgages, “Collateral”, as defined herein, shall include “Mortgaged Property” as defined therein.

 

Collateral Sale” means the Disposition (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) of property or assets constituting Collateral (including by way of Production Payments and Reserve Sales, but not by way of Sale/Leaseback Transactions and including by way of any Disposition of a Credit Party; for the avoidance of doubt, excluding any assets or property not constituting Collateral) (other than an operating lease entered into in the ordinary course of the Oil and Gas Business) (each referred to in this definition as a “disposition”); but the term “Collateral Sale” shall exclude:

 

(a)       any disposition of (i) cash and Cash Equivalents, (ii) obsolete, damaged, worn out or surplus property or assets or any disposition of inventory or goods (or other assets) held for sale, including Hydrocarbons and other mineral products, each in the ordinary course of business, (iii) assets (other than Oil and Gas Properties) no longer used or useful in the ordinary course, (iv) assets no longer economically practicable or commercially reasonable to maintain (as determined in good faith by the management of the Borrower), (v) dispositions to landlords of improvements made to leased real property pursuant to customary terms of leases entered into in the ordinary course of business, and (vi) assets for the purposes of charitable contributions, community outreach or similar gifts and political contributions made in accordance with applicable Law to the extent such assets are not material to the ability of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to conduct its business in the ordinary course;

 

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(b)        the disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Borrower in a manner permitted pursuant to Section 9.3;

 

(c)        any disposition of property or assets of any Credit Party (including by way of any sale or disposition of a Guarantor) in any transaction or series of related transactions with an aggregate Fair Market Value of less than $10,000,000;

 

(d)        any dispositions of property or assets of any Credit Party (including by way of any sale or disposition of a Guarantor) with an aggregate Fair Market Value during any fiscal year of the Borrower of less than $100,000,000; but the Borrower may elect for any disposition to be a “Collateral Sale” without such disposition counting towards such annual threshold;

 

(e)         any disposition of property or assets or issuance of securities by a Credit Party to a Credit Party (including a Person that becomes a Credit Party in accordance with the Credit Documents);

 

(f)        the lease, sub-lease, license or sublicense of any real or personal property in the ordinary course of business and the exercise of termination rights with respect to any lease, sub-lease, license or sublicense or other agreement;

 

(g)       foreclosures, condemnation, expropriation, disposition or any similar action with respect to any property or other assets or the granting of Liens not prohibited by this Agreement;

 

(h)       the sale or discount of inventory, accounts receivable or notes receivable in the ordinary course of business or the conversion of accounts receivable to notes receivable;

 

(i)       the licensing or sub-licensing of intellectual property or other general intangibles in the ordinary course of business;

 

(j)       the unwinding of any Hedging Obligations;

 

(k)       sales, transfers and other dispositions of Investments in joint ventures to the extent required by, or made pursuant to, customary buy/sell arrangements between the joint venture parties set forth in joint venture arrangements and similar binding arrangements;

 

(l)       the transfer of assets as part of the consideration for Investment in a joint venture so long as the transfer is done at Fair Market Value;

 

(m)       the lapse or abandonment of intellectual property rights in the ordinary course of business or which in the good faith determination of the Borrower are not material to the conduct of the business of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole;

 

(n)       any surrender, expiration or waiver of contract rights or oil and gas leases or the settlement, release, recovery on or surrender of contract, tort or other claims of any kind;

 

(o)       any Production Payments and Reserve Sales (other than VPPs); but any such Production Payments and Reserve Sales, other than incentive compensation programs on terms that are reasonably customary in the Oil and Gas Business for geologists, geophysicists and other providers of technical services to the Borrower or a Subsidiary, shall have been created, incurred, issued, assumed or guaranteed in connection with the financing of, and within 180 days after the acquisition of, the property that is subject thereto;

 

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(p)       the abandonment, farm-out pursuant to a farm-out agreement, lease or sublease or other disposition of Oil and Gas Properties with no associated Proved Reserves owned or held by any Credit Party, whether or not in the ordinary course of business;

 

(q)       dispositions of receivables in connection with the compromise, settlement or collection thereof in the ordinary course of business or in bankruptcy or similar proceedings;

 

(r)       in the ordinary course of business, any swap of assets, or lease, assignment or sublease of any real or personal property, in exchange for services related to Capital Expenditures (including with any outsourcing arrangements) of comparable or greater value or usefulness to the business of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, as determined in good faith by the Borrower;

 

(s)       dispositions of machinery and equipment that are not Oil and Gas Properties for Fair Market Value;

 

(t)       Permitted Asset Swaps, to the extent included in the definition of Collateral Sale;

 

(u)       transfers of property subject to a (i) casualty event or in connection with any condemnation proceeding with respect to Collateral upon receipt of the net cash proceeds of such casualty event or condemnation proceeding or (ii) in connection with any casualty event or any condemnation proceeding, in each case with respect to property that does not constitute Collateral; and

 

(v)       any financing transaction with respect to property built or acquired by any Credit Party after the Initial Closing Date, including Sale/Leaseback Transactions and asset securitizations permitted by this Agreement and the Term Loan Supplements;

 

but, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this definition, any VPP shall constitute a Collateral Sale.

 

Collateral Sale Cure” means compliance with the proviso of Section 8.9(b).

 

Collateral Sale Offer” shall have the meaning provided in Section 4.1(a)(ii).

 

Collateral Trust Agreement” means, the agreement among the Collateral Trustee, the Term Agent, the Revolving Agent, the Borrower and certain Subsidiaries of the Borrower, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A.

 

Collateral Trustee” means MUFG Union Bank, N.A., as collateral trustee, for the benefit of the Secured Parties pursuant to the terms of a Collateral Trust Agreement (or the applicable successor thereof).

 

Commitment” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of “Class Commitment”.

 

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Commitment Percentage” means, with respect to any Class of Loans, at any time, for each Lender with respect to such Class of Loans, the percentage obtained by dividing (a) such Lender’s Class Commitment for such Class of Loans at such time by (b) the amount of the Class Total Commitment for such Class of Loans at such time; but at any time when the Class Total Commitment for such Class of Loans shall have been terminated, each Lender’s Commitment Percentage with respect to such Class of Loans shall be the percentage obtained by dividing (i) such Lender’s Class Exposure for such Class of Loans at such time by (ii) the Class Total Exposure for such Class of Loans at such time.

 

Confidential Information” shall have the meaning provided in Section 12.15.

 

Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, the consolidated net income (or loss) of the Group Members, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; but there shall be excluded, without duplication, (a) the income (or loss) of any Person (other than a Group Member) in which any Group Member has an ownership interest and any income represented by any dividends, distributions or proceeds of redemptions of Stock in respect of any Person (other than a Group Member) in which a Group Member has an ownership interest, except, in each case, to the extent of the amount of cash dividends and other distributions actually paid to any Group Member during such period, and (b) the undistributed earnings of any Group Member to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Subsidiary is not at the time permitted by the terms of any contractual obligation (other than under any Credit Document) or Requirement of Law applicable to such Group Member; but any non-cash income attributable to cancellation or early extinguishment of any Indebtedness of any Group Member shall be excluded in calculating Consolidated Net Income.

 

Contractual Requirement” shall have the meaning provided in Section 7.3.

 

Credit Documents” means this Agreement (including all Term Loan Supplements), the Guarantee and the Security Documents.

 

Credit Event” means and include the making (but not the conversion or continuation) of a Loan.

 

Credit Party” means each of the Borrower and the Guarantors.

 

Default” means any event, act or condition that with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

 

Defaulting Lender” means any Lender whose acts or failure to act, whether directly or indirectly, cause it to meet any part of the definition of “Lender Default”.

 

Deposit Accounts” shall have the meaning set forth in the Uniform Commercial Code.

 

Designated Non-Cash Consideration” means the Fair Market Value of non-cash consideration received by any Credit Party in connection with a Collateral Sale that is designated as Designated Non-Cash Consideration pursuant to an Authorized Officer’s certificate delivered by the Borrower to the Term Agent, setting forth the basis of such valuation minus the Fair Market Value of the portion of the non-cash consideration converted to cash or Cash Equivalents within 365 days following the consummation of the applicable Collateral Sale.

 

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Disposition” means, with respect to any property, any sale, lease, sale and leaseback, assignment, conveyance, transfer or other disposition thereof. The terms “Dispose” and “Disposed of” shall have correlative meanings.

 

Disqualified Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any Stock or Stock Equivalents of such Person which, by its terms, or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is putable or exchangeable, or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely for Stock or Stock Equivalents that is not Disqualified Stock), other than as a result of a change of control or asset sale, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than as a result of a change of control or asset sale to the extent the terms of such Stock or Stock Equivalents provide that such Stock or Stock Equivalents shall not be required to be repurchased or redeemed until the Last Maturity Date has occurred or such repurchase or redemption is otherwise permitted by this Agreement (including as a result of a waiver hereunder)), in whole or in part, in each case before the date that is 91 days after the Last Maturity Date; but if such Stock or Stock Equivalents are issued to any plan for the benefit of employees of the Borrower or the Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Stock or Stock Equivalents shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Borrower or the Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations; provided, further, that any Stock or Stock Equivalents held by any future, present or former employee, director, manager or consultant of the Borrower, any of the Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies or any other entity in which the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary has an Investment and is designated in good faith as an “affiliate” by the Board of Directors of the Borrower, in each case pursuant to any equity holders’ agreement, management equity plan or stock incentive plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Borrower or the Subsidiaries.

 

Disregarded Entity” means any Domestic Subsidiary that is disregarded for United States federal income tax purposes.

 

Distressed Person” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of “Lender-Related Distress Event”.

 

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

 

Dollars” and “$” means dollars in lawful currency of the United States of America.

 

Domestic Subsidiary” means each Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof, or the District of Columbia.

 

Dutch Auction” means an auction of Loans conducted pursuant to Section 12.6(g) to allow the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to purchase Loans on a non-pro rata basis, in each case in accordance with the applicable Dutch Auction Procedures.

 

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Dutch Auction Procedures” means, with respect to a purchase of Loans by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to Section 12.6(g), Dutch auction procedures to be agreed upon in connection with any such purchase by the Borrower and an auction agent reasonably selected by the Borrower, in connection with any such purchase.

 

EEA Financial Institution” means (a) any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition or (c) any financial institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.

 

EEA Member Country” means any member state of the European Union, the United Kingdom, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

 

EEA Resolution Authority” means any public administrative authority or any person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.

 

Enumerated Lien” means, at any time of determination, any Lien securing Indebtedness under the Revolving Credit Agreement or any Indenture, any Indebtedness referred to in Section 9.1(a), Section 9.1(r) or Section 9.1(u) or any Indebtedness that Refinances any of the foregoing.

 

Environmental Law” means any applicable federal, state or local statute, law (including common law), rule, regulation, ordinance, or code of any Governmental Authority now or hereafter in effect and in each case as amended, and any binding judicial or administrative interpretation thereof, including any binding judicial or administrative order, consent decree or judgment, relating to the protection of the environment, including ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface and subsurface strata and natural resources such as wetlands, or human health or workplace safety (to the extent relating to human exposure to hazardous or toxic materials), or the release or threatened release of hazardous or toxic materials.

 

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time. Section references to ERISA are to ERISA as in effect on the Closing Date and any subsequent provisions of ERISA amendatory thereof, supplemental thereto or substituted therefor.

 

ERISA Affiliate” means each person (as defined in Section 3(9) of ERISA) that together with the Borrower would be deemed to be a “single employer” within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.

 

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ERISA Event” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Plan; (b) the failure by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate to meet the minimum funding standard of Section 412 of the Code, other than a failure to which a waiver of such minimum funding standard applies; (c) the incurrence by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any liability pursuant to Section 4063 or 4064 of ERISA; (d) a complete or partial withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan if there is potential liability therefor or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in endangered or critical status or is insolvent (within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA); (e) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate a Plan in a distress termination under, or the treatment of a Plan amendment as a distress termination under, Section 4041(c) of ERISA; (f) receipt from the IRS of notice of the failure of a Plan to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code; (g) the engagement by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or Section 4212(c) of ERISA; (h) the imposition of a Lien upon the Borrower pursuant to Section 430(k) of the Code or Section 303(k) of ERISA; (i) the making of an amendment to a Plan that could result in the posting of bond or security under Section 436(f)(1) of the Code; or (j) the imposition or incurrence of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA upon the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate.

 

EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person), as in effect from time to time.

 

Event of Default” shall have the meaning provided in Article X.

 

Excess Collateral Proceeds” shall have the meaning provided in Section 4.1(a)(ii).

 

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

 

Exchange Rate” means on any day with respect to any currency (other than Dollars), the rate at which such currency may be exchanged into any other currency (including Dollars), as set forth at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such day on the Reuters World Currency Page for such currency. In the event that such rate does not appear on any Reuters World Currency Page, the Exchange Rate shall be determined by reference to such other publicly available service for displaying exchange rates as may be selected by the Borrower, or such Exchange Rate shall instead be the arithmetic average of the spot rates of exchange of a money center bank selected by the Borrower in the market where its foreign currency exchange operations in respect of such currency are then being conducted, at or about 11:00 a.m., local time, on such date for the purchase of the relevant currency for delivery two Business Days later.

 

Excluded Deposit Account” means Deposit Accounts (a) the balance of which consists exclusively of (i) withheld income taxes and federal, state or local employment taxes required to be paid to the IRS or state or local government agencies with respect to employees of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) amounts required to be paid over to an employee benefit plan on behalf of or for the benefit of employees of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, (iii) amounts set aside for payroll and the payment of accrued employee benefits, medical, dental and employee benefits claims to employees of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, (iv) amounts constituting purchase price deposits held in escrow pursuant to a binding and enforceable purchase and sale agreement with a third party containing customary provisions regarding the payment and refunding of such deposits, (v) amounts held in escrow or in trust pending litigation or other settlement claims, (vi) amounts held in escrow by a trustee under any indenture or other debt instrument pursuant to customary escrow arrangements pending the discharge, defeasance, redemption or repurchase of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof, in each case solely to the extent permitted hereunder and (vii) amounts held in trust or as fiduciaries for third parties in respect of such third party’s ratable share of the revenues of Oil and Gas Properties or (b) identified in writing to the Term Agent either on or before the Initial Closing Date or within 15 Business Days of such Deposit Account being opened; but the Deposit Accounts described under this clause (b) shall not have a balance, in the aggregate, at any time greater than $10,000,000.

 

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Excluded Information” shall have the meaning provided in Section 12.6(g)(iii).

 

Excluded Property” means (a) all Excluded Stock; (b) any property to the extent the grant or maintenance of a Lien on such property (i) is prohibited by any Requirement of Law, (ii) could reasonably be expected to result in material adverse tax consequences to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, (iii) requires a consent not obtained of any Governmental Authority pursuant to applicable Law or (iv) is prohibited by, or requires any consent not obtained under, any Contractual Requirements, except to the extent that such Contractual Requirement providing for such prohibition or requiring such consent is ineffective under applicable Law (including pursuant to Section 9-406, 9-407, 9-408 or 9-409 of the Uniform Commercial Code); (c) motor vehicles and other assets subject to certificates of title; (d) Excluded Deposit Accounts and Excluded Securities Accounts; (e) all real property (owned or leased) not constituting Mortgaged Properties; (f) any foreign collateral or credit support with respect to such foreign collateral; (g) any property or assets owned by a Foreign Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary; (h) any intellectual property; (i) margin stock and, to the extent prohibited by the terms of any applicable organizational documents, joint venture agreement, shareholders’ agreement or similar agreement, Stock or Stock Equivalents in any other Person other than wholly owned Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries and (j) any property with respect to which, in the judgment of the any property with respect to which, in the reasonable judgment of the Revolving Agent, the cost of obtaining a security interest in, or Lien on, such property in favor of the Term Loan Secured Parties under the Security Documents, or the perfection of such security interest or Lien, shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Term Loan Secured Parties therefrom.

 

Excluded Securities Account” means Securities Accounts identified in writing to the Term Agent on either the Initial Closing Date or within 15 Business Days of such Securities Account being opened; but the Securities Accounts so identified shall not have a balance, in the aggregate, at any time greater than $10,000,000, unless any such account is used exclusively for the repurchases of then-outstanding senior notes issued pursuant to the Indentures and the WildHorse Indenture, pending cancellation of such senior notes, subject to no other Liens and solely to the extent the repurchases of such senior notes would be permitted under this Agreement.

 

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Excluded Stock” means (a) any Stock or Stock Equivalents with respect to which, in the reasonable judgment of the Revolving Agent, the cost of pledging such Stock or Stock Equivalents in favor of the Secured Parties under the Security Documents, or the perfection of such pledge, shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Secured Parties therefrom; (b) solely in the case of any pledge of Stock or Stock Equivalents of any Foreign Corporate Subsidiary or FSHCO to secure the Obligations, any Stock or Stock Equivalents that is voting Stock of such Foreign Corporate Subsidiary or FSHCO in excess of 66% of the outstanding Stock and Stock Equivalents of such class and, solely in the case of a pledge of Stock or Stock Equivalents of any Disregarded Entity substantially all of whose assets consist of Stock and Stock Equivalents of Foreign Corporate Subsidiaries to secure the Obligations, any Stock or Stock Equivalents of such Disregarded Entity in excess of 66% of the outstanding Stock and Stock Equivalents of such entity (such percentages to be adjusted upon any change of law as may be required to avoid adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences to the Borrower or any Subsidiary); (c) in the case of (i) any Stock or Stock Equivalents of any Subsidiary to the extent the pledge of such Stock or Stock Equivalents is prohibited by Contractual Requirements or (ii) any Stock or Stock Equivalents of any Subsidiary that is not wholly owned by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries at the time such Subsidiary becomes a Subsidiary, any Stock or Stock Equivalents of each such Subsidiary described in clause (i) or (ii) to the extent (A) that a pledge thereof to secure the Obligations is prohibited by any applicable Contractual Requirement (not entered into in contemplation of this Agreement) (other than customary nonassignment provisions which are ineffective under the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable Requirements of Law), (B) any Contractual Requirement prohibits such a pledge without the consent of any other party; but this clause (B) shall not apply if (1) such other party is a Credit Party or a wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary or (2) consent has been obtained to consummate such pledge (it being understood that the foregoing shall not be deemed to obligate the Borrower or any Subsidiary to obtain any such consent) and for so long as such Contractual Requirement or replacement or renewal thereof is in effect, or (C) a pledge thereof to secure the Obligations would give any other party (other than a Credit Party or a wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary) to any Contractual Requirement governing such Stock or Stock Equivalents the right to terminate its obligations thereunder (other than customary non-assignment provisions that are ineffective under the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable Requirement of Law); (d) the Stock or Stock Equivalents of any Unrestricted Subsidiary, (e) the Stock or Stock Equivalents of any Subsidiary of a Foreign Corporate Subsidiary, (f) any Stock or Stock Equivalents of any Subsidiary to the extent that the pledge of such Stock or Stock Equivalents would result in material adverse tax consequences to the Borrower or any Subsidiary as reasonably determined by the Borrower, (g) any Stock or Stock Equivalents to the extent the pledge thereof would be prohibited by any Requirement of Law and (h) any Stock or Stock Equivalents set forth on Schedule 8 to the Security Agreement.

 

Excluded Subsidiary” means (a) any Disregarded Entity substantially all the assets of which consist of Stock and Stock Equivalents of Foreign Corporate Subsidiaries or FSHCOs; (b) each Domestic Subsidiary that is prohibited by any applicable Contractual Requirement (not entered into in contemplation of this Agreement) or Requirement of Law from guaranteeing or granting Liens to secure the Obligations (for so long as such restriction or any replacement or renewal thereof is in effect) or that would require consent, approval, license or authorization of a Governmental Authority to guarantee or grant Liens to secure the Obligations (unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received); (c) each Domestic Subsidiary that is a Subsidiary of a Foreign Corporate Subsidiary; (d) any Foreign Corporate Subsidiary or FSHCO; (e) each Unrestricted Subsidiary; and (f) any other Domestic Subsidiary with respect to which providing such a Guarantee would result in material adverse tax consequences as reasonably determined by the Borrower.  As of the Initial Closing Date, there are no Excluded Subsidiaries other than the Unrestricted Subsidiaries set forth on Schedule 7.12.

 

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Excluded Taxes” means, with respect to the Term Agent, any Lender or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any Credit Party under any Credit Document, (i) Taxes imposed on or measured by its overall net income or branch profits (however denominated, and including (for the avoidance of doubt) any backup withholding in respect thereof under Section 3406 of the Code or any similar provision of state, local or foreign law and any Taxes attributable to a failure to comply with Section 4.3(d) or Section 4.3(h)), and franchise (and similar) Taxes imposed on it (in lieu of net income Taxes), in each case by a jurisdiction (including any political subdivision thereof) as a result of such recipient being organized in, having its principal office in, or in the case of any Lender, having its applicable lending office in, such jurisdiction, or as a result of any other present or former connection with such jurisdiction (other than any such connection arising solely from any Credit Documents or any Transaction), (ii) except in the case of a Lender that is an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 12.7, in the case of a Non-U.S. Lender, any United States federal withholding Tax imposed on any payment by or on account of any obligation of any Credit Party under any Credit Document that (A) is required to be imposed on amounts payable to such Non-U.S. Lender pursuant to laws in force at the time such Non-U.S. Lender becomes a party hereto (or designates a new lending office), except to the extent that such Non-U.S. Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, immediately before the designation of a new lending office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts or indemnification payments from any Credit Party with respect to such withholding Tax pursuant to Section 4.3 or (B) is attributable to such Non-U.S. Lender’s failure to comply with Section 4.3(d), Section 4.3(e) or Section 4.3(i) or (iii) any withholding Tax imposed under FATCA.

 

Exposure” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the aggregate principal amount of the Loans of such Lender then outstanding.

 

Facility” means the Commitments and the Loans of all Classes.

 

Facility Termination” means the first Business Day when all Obligations (other than indemnification and other contingent obligations for which no claim has been asserted at the relevant time of determination) have been paid in full and all Commitments have terminated or expired.

 

Fair Market Value” means, with respect to any asset or group of assets on any date of determination, the value of the consideration obtainable in a Disposition of such asset at such date of determination assuming a Disposition by a willing seller to a willing purchaser dealing at arm’s length and arranged in an orderly manner over a reasonable period of time having regard to the nature and characteristics of such asset, as reasonably determined by the Borrower.

 

FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations thereunder or official interpretations thereof and any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code, any intergovernmental agreement entered into in connection with the implementation of such Sections of the Code and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to such intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention among Governmental Authorities implementing such Sections of the Code.

 

Federal Funds Effective Rate” means, for any day, the weighted average of the per annum rates on overnight federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by federal funds brokers on such day, as published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or, if such rate is not so published for any date that is a Business Day, the Federal Funds Effective Rate for such day shall be the average rate (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%) of the quotations for such day for such transactions received by the Term Agent from three Federal Funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

 

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Fee Letter” means the fee letter dated as of even date herewith, between the Borrower and the Term Agent.

 

Foreclosure Proceeds” means Shared Collateral or Proceeds (each as defined in the Collateral Trust Agreement) received or payable (a) in connection with the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to any portion of the Shared Collateral or (b) pursuant to a plan of reorganization or similar dispositive restructuring plan.

 

Foreign Corporate Subsidiary” means a Foreign Subsidiary that is treated as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes.

 

Foreign Subsidiary” means each Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

 

FSHCO” means any direct or indirect Subsidiary that has no material assets other than the Stock of one or more direct or indirect Foreign Corporate Subsidiaries.

 

Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course.

 

Funded Debt” means, with regard to any Person, all borrowed money Indebtedness (including such Indebtedness evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or other similar instruments) incurred, created, assumed or guaranteed by such Person.

 

GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles, as in effect from time to time.

 

Governmental Authority” means any nation, sovereign or government, any state, province, territory or other political subdivision thereof, and any entity or authority exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government, including a central bank or stock exchange and any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank.

 

Group Members” means, collectively, the Borrower and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

Guarantee” means the Guarantee made by any Guarantor in favor of the Term Agent for the benefit of the Term Loan Secured Parties.

 

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Guarantee Obligations” means, as to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing or intended to guarantee any Indebtedness of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent, (a) to purchase any such Indebtedness or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor, (b) to advance or supply funds (i) for the purchase or payment of any such Indebtedness or (ii) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor, (c) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such Indebtedness of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such Indebtedness or (d) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the owner of such Indebtedness against loss in respect thereof; but the term “Guarantee Obligations” shall not include endorsements of instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business or customary and reasonable indemnity obligations in effect on the Closing Date or entered into in connection with any acquisition or Disposition of assets permitted under this Agreement (other than such obligations with respect to Indebtedness). The amount of any Guarantee Obligation shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the Indebtedness in respect of which such Guarantee Obligation is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof (assuming such Person is required to perform thereunder) as determined by such Person in good faith.

 

Guarantors” means each Material Subsidiary (other than any Excluded Subsidiary), and, in any event, including each “Guarantor” under and as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement.

 

Hazardous Materials” means (a) any petroleum or petroleum products, radioactive materials, friable asbestos, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, polychlorinated biphenyls, and radon gas, (b) any chemicals, materials or substances defined as or included in the definition of “hazardous substances”, “hazardous waste”, “hazardous materials”, “extremely hazardous waste”, “restricted hazardous waste”, “toxic substances”, “toxic pollutants”, “contaminants”, or “pollutants”, or words of similar import, under any applicable Environmental Law and (c) any other chemical, material or substance, which is prohibited, limited or regulated by any applicable Environmental Law.

 

Hedge Agreements” means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, fixed-price physical delivery contracts, whether or not exchange traded, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “Master Agreement”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, agreements or obligations entered into in the ordinary course of business to physically buy or sell any commodity produced from the Borrower’s and the Subsidiaries’ Oil and Gas Properties or electricity generation facilities under an agreement that has a tenor under 90 days shall not be considered Hedge Agreements.

 

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Hedge Termination Value” means, in respect of any one or more Hedge Agreements, after taking into account the effect of any netting agreement relating to such Hedge Agreements, (a) for any date on or after the date such Hedge Agreement has been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date before the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the mark-to-market value(s) for such Hedge Agreement, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Hedge Agreement (including any Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender).

 

Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person incurred in the normal course of business and not for speculative purposes under Hedge Agreements.

 

Historical Financial Statements” means (a) the audited combined balance sheets of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2018, and the related audited combined statements of income and comprehensive income, statements of net investment and statements of cash flows for each of the fiscal years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2018 and (b) the unaudited combined balance sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of September 30, 2019, and the related unaudited combined statements of income and comprehensive income and statements of cash flows for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2019.

 

Hydrocarbon Interests” means all rights, titles, interests and estates now or hereafter acquired in and to oil and gas leases, oil, gas and mineral leases, or other liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon leases, mineral fee interests, overriding royalty and royalty interests, net profit interests and production payment interests, including any reserved or residual interests of whatever nature.

 

Hydrocarbons” means oil, gas, casinghead gas, drip gasoline, natural gasoline, condensate, distillate, liquid hydrocarbons, gaseous hydrocarbons and all products refined or separated therefrom.

 

Immaterial Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary and that as of any applicable date of determination does not have (a) direct Indebtedness in the aggregate in excess of $10,000,000, (b) Guarantee Obligations in the aggregate excess of $10,000,000 or (c) assets or annual revenues in excess of $10,000,000.

 

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Indebtedness” of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such Person for the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than current trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of such Person’s business and other obligations to the extent such obligations may be satisfied at such Person’s sole discretion by the issuance of Stock other than Disqualified Stock of such Person), (c) all obligations of such Person evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or other similar instruments, (d) all indebtedness created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement with respect to property acquired by such Person (even though the rights and remedies of the seller or lender under such agreement in the event of default are limited to repossession or sale of such property), (e) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person, (f) all obligations of such Person, contingent or otherwise, as an account party or applicant under or in respect of banker’s acceptances, letters of credit, or similar arrangements, (g) all Guarantee Obligations of such Person in respect of obligations of the kind referred to in clauses (a) through (f) above, (h) all obligations of the kind referred to in clauses (a) through (f) above secured by (or for which the holder of such obligation has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned by such Person (including accounts and contract rights, but excluding any Stock in joint ventures or Unrestricted Subsidiaries to the extent the Liens on such Stock secures Indebtedness of such joint venture or such Unrestricted Subsidiary that is nonrecourse to any Group Member), whether or not such Person has assumed or become liable for the payment of such obligation, but the amount of Indebtedness for purposes of this clause (h) shall be an amount equal to the lesser of the unpaid amount of such Indebtedness and the Fair Market Value of the property subject to such Lien, (i) liabilities with respect to payments received in consideration of oil, gas, or other minerals yet to be acquired or produced at the time of payment other than in respect of a Qualifying VPP (including obligations under “take-or-pay” contracts to deliver gas in return for payments already received and the undischarged balance of any production payment (other than a Qualifying VPP) created by such Person or for the creation of which such Person directly or indirectly received payment) and (j) for the purposes of any Section in a Term Loan Supplement governing the incurrence of Indebtedness or Liens and Sections 9.1, 9.2 and 10.4 only, all net obligations of such Person in respect of Hedge Agreements (and any reference to the “principal amount” of obligations, or Indebtedness, in respect of any Hedge Agreement shall be the Hedge Termination Value at the relevant time of determination). The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other entity (including any partnership in which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness expressly provide that such Person is not liable therefor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) any Indebtedness that 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 obligations relating to such Indebtedness 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 or be deemed Indebtedness, if such defeasance has been made in a manner not prohibited by this Agreement, (ii) for purposes of Section 9.1 and Section 9.2 governing the incurrence of Indebtedness and Liens, respectively, a Qualifying VPP shall not be treated as Indebtedness, and (iii) Indebtedness shall not include endorsements of checks, bills of exchange and other instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business.

 

Indemnified Liabilities” shall have the meaning provided in Section 12.5.

 

Indemnified Taxes” means all Taxes imposed on or with respect to or measured by, any payment by or on account of any obligation of any Credit Party under any Credit Document other than (a) Excluded Taxes, (b) Other Taxes and (c) any interest, penalties or expenses caused by the Term Agent’s or Lender’s gross negligence or willful misconduct (as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction).

 

Indentures” means each indenture (including any supplemental indenture) governing any outstanding senior, public, unsecured, long-term notes of the Borrower issued before the Closing Date or issued from time to time after the Closing Date as permitted hereunder or under any Term Loan Supplement.

 

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Industry Investment” means Investments and/or expenditures made in the ordinary course of, and of a nature that is or shall have become customary in, the oil and gas business as a means of actively engaging therein through agreements, transactions, interests or arrangements that permit one to share risks or costs, comply with regulatory requirements regarding local ownership or satisfy other objectives customarily achieved through the conduct of oil and gas business jointly with third parties, including: (1) ownership interests in oil and gas properties or gathering, transportation, processing, or related systems; and (2) Investments and/or expenditures in the form of or pursuant to operating agreements, processing agreements, farm-in agreements, farm-out agreements, development agreements, area of mutual interest agreements, unitization agreements, pooling arrangements, service contracts, joint venture agreements, partnership agreements (whether general or limited), and other similar agreements (including for limited liability companies) with third parties.

 

Ineligible Person” means, on any date, (a) a natural person (or a company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural person), (b) a Defaulting Lender or any parent entity thereof, (c) except for assignments pursuant to Section 12.6(g), the Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Borrower or (d) any competitor of the Borrower which has been designated by the Borrower as an “Ineligible Person” by written notice to the Term Agent and the Lenders (including by posting such notice electronically) not less than two Business Days before such date; but “Ineligible Person” shall exclude any Person referred to in the preceding clause (d) that the Borrower has designated as no longer being an “Ineligible Person” by written notice delivered to the Term Agent from time to time.

 

Initial Class A Lenders” means the Lenders that are signatories to the Class A Supplement.

 

Initial Closing Date” shall have the meaning provided in Article V.

 

Institutional Lender” means any bank, investment bank, insurance company, mutual fund or other institutional lender.

 

Intercreditor Agreement” means the Intercreditor Agreement of even date herewith among the Borrower, the Guarantors, the Revolving Agent (as the Priority Lien Agent (as defined therein)), the Second Lien Collateral Trustee (as defined therein) and the other parties from time to time party thereto.

 

Interim PV-9 Determination” shall have the meaning provided in Section 8.9(b).

 

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Investment” means, for any Person: (a) the acquisition (whether for cash, property, services or securities or otherwise) of Stock, Stock Equivalents, bonds, notes, debentures, partnership or other ownership interests or other securities of any other Person (including any “short sale” or any sale of any securities at a time when such securities are not owned by the Person entering into such sale), (b) the making of any deposit with, or advance, loan or other extension of credit to, assumption of Indebtedness of, or capital contribution to, or purchase or other acquisition of an equity participation in, any other Person (including the purchase of property from another Person subject to an understanding or agreement, contingent or otherwise, to resell such property to such Person) (including any partnership or joint venture), (c) the entering into of any guarantee of, or other contingent obligation with respect to, Indebtedness, (d) the purchase or other acquisition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of (i) all or substantially all of the property and assets or business of another Person or (ii) assets constituting a business unit, line of business or division of such Person; but in the event that any Investment is made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in any Person through substantially concurrent interim transfers of any amount through one or more other Restricted Subsidiaries, then such other substantially concurrent interim transfers shall be disregarded for purposes of Section 9.5, or (e) the acquisition of Funded Debt of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries by such Person or any of its Subsidiaries, if such Funded Debt is then cancelled.

 

IRS” means the Internal Revenue Service of the federal government of the United States.

 

Junior Debt” means (a) any borrowed money Indebtedness subordinated in right of payment to the Loans, (b) any borrowed money Indebtedness secured by a subordinate Lien on all or any part of the Collateral and (c) any unsecured borrowed money Indebtedness.

 

Junior Lien Debt” means secured Indebtedness that satisfies all of the requirements of Section 9.1(u).

 

Last Maturity Date” means, as of any date, the Maturity Date for all outstanding Classes of Loans that is the last to occur.

 

Laws” means, collectively, all international, foreign, federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in each case whether or not having the force of law.

 

Lender” shall have the meaning provided in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Lender Default” means (a) the refusal or failure of any Lender to make available its portion of any incurrence of Loans, which refusal or failure is not cured within two Business Days after the date of such refusal or failure, unless such Lender notifies the Term Agent and the Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s good faith determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied; (b) the failure of any Lender to pay over to the Term Agent, or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within two Business Days of the date when due, unless the subject of a good faith dispute; (c) a Lender has notified the Borrower or the Term Agent in writing that it does not intend or expect to comply with any of its funding obligations or has made a public statement to that effect with respect to its funding obligations under the Facility (unless such writing or public statement relates to such Lender’s obligation to fund a Loan hereunder and states that such position is based on such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent to funding (which condition precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing or public statement) cannot be satisfied); (d) the failure, within three Business Days after a written request by the Term Agent or the Borrower, by a Lender to confirm in writing to the Term Agent and the Borrower that it will comply with its obligations under the Facility (but such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (d) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Term Agent and the Borrower) or (e) a Distressed Person has admitted in writing that it is insolvent or such Distressed Person becomes subject to a Lender-Related Distress Event.

 

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Lender-Related Distress Event” means, with respect to any Lender, that such Lender or any Person that directly or indirectly controls such Lender (each, a “Distressed Person”), as the case may be, is or becomes subject to a voluntary or involuntary case with respect to such Distressed Person under any debt relief law, or a custodian, conservator, receiver or similar official is appointed for such Distressed Person or any substantial part of such Distressed Person’s assets, or such Distressed Person or any Person that directly or indirectly controls such Distressed Person is subject to a forced liquidation, or such Distressed Person makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or is otherwise adjudicated as, or determined by any Governmental Authority having regulatory authority over such Distressed Person or its assets to be, insolvent or bankrupt, or such Distressed Person becomes the subject of a Bail-In Action; but a Lender-Related Distress Event shall not be deemed to have occurred solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any equity interests in any Lender or any Person that directly or indirectly controls such Lender by a Governmental Authority or an instrumentality thereof so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender.

 

Lien” means any interest in property securing an obligation owed to, or a claim by, a Person other than the owner of the property, whether such interest is based on the common law, statute or contract, and whether such obligation or claim is fixed or contingent, and including (a) the lien or security interest arising from a mortgage, encumbrance, pledge, security agreement or a financing lease, consignment or bailment for security purposes or (b) production payments and the like payable out of Oil and Gas Properties; but in no event shall an operating lease be deemed to be a Lien.

 

Loan” means any Loan made pursuant to a Term Loan Supplement.

 

Majority Lenders” means, at any date, (a) Non-Defaulting Lenders having or holding more than 50% of the unused Total Commitment at such date and the Total Exposure (excluding the Exposure of Defaulting Lenders) at such date or (b) if the Total Commitment has been terminated, or for the purposes of acceleration pursuant to Article X, Non-Defaulting Lenders having or holding more than 50% of the Total Exposure (excluding the Exposure of Defaulting Lenders) at such date; but with respect to any Class of Loans, the foregoing shall be read to reference only the Lenders of such Class of Loans, mutatis mutandis.

 

Master Agreement” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of “Hedge Agreements”.

 

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Material Adverse Effect” means a circumstance or condition affecting the business, assets, operations, properties or financial condition of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, that would, individually or in the aggregate, materially adversely affect (a) the ability of the Credit Parties, taken as a whole, to perform their payment obligations under the Credit Documents or (b) the rights and remedies of the Term Agent and the Lenders under the Credit Documents.

 

Material Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is not an Immaterial Subsidiary.

 

Maturity Date” means the scheduled maturity date of any Class of Loans as specified in the Term Loan Supplement for such Class.

 

Modified ACNTA” means (without duplication), as of the date of determination, (a) the sum of:

 

(i) the discounted future net revenue from proved oil and gas reserves of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines but using Strip Prices (before any state or federal income taxes), as estimated by petroleum engineers (which may include the Borrower’s internal engineers) in a reserve report prepared as of the most recent practicable date (the “Start Date”),

 

as increased by, as of the date of determination, the discounted future net revenue of

 

(A) estimated proved oil and gas reserves of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries attributable to any acquisition consummated since the Start Date, and

 

(B) estimated proved oil and gas reserves of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries attributable to extensions, discoveries and other additions and upward revisions of estimates of proved oil and gas reserves (including previously estimated development costs incurred during the period and the accretion of discount since the prior period end) due to exploration, development or exploitation, production or other activities conducted or otherwise occurring since the Start Date,

 

which, in the case of clauses (A) and (B), would, in accordance with standard industry practice, result in such increases as calculated on a pre-tax basis in accordance with SEC guidelines but using Strip Prices as of the Start Date by the Borrower’s petroleum engineers or any independent petroleum engineers engaged by the Borrower for such purpose,

 

and decreased by, as of the date of determination, the discounted future net revenue attributable to

 

(C) estimated proved oil and gas reserves of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries reflected in such reserve report produced or disposed of since the Start Date and

 

(D) reductions in the estimated proved oil and gas reserves of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries reflected in such reserve report attributable to downward revisions of estimates of proved oil and gas reserves since the Start Date due to exploration, development or exploitation, production or other activities conducted or otherwise occurring since the Start Date; in the case of clauses (C) and (D), calculated on a pre-tax basis in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the Strip Prices as of the Start Date) by the Borrower’s petroleum engineers or any independent petroleum engineers engaged by the Borrower for such purpose;

 

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(ii) the capitalized costs that are attributable to oil and gas properties of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries to which no proved oil and gas reserves are attributable, based on the Borrower’s books and records as of a date no earlier than the date of the Borrower’s most recent annual or quarterly period for which internal financial statements are available;

 

(iii) the Net Working Capital as of a date no earlier than the last day of the Borrower’s most recent annual or quarterly period for which internal financial statements are available; and

 

(iv) the greater of

 

(I) the net book value on a date no earlier than the last day of the Borrower’s most recent annual or quarterly period for which internal financial statements are available and

 

(II) the appraised value, as estimated by independent appraisers, as of a date no earlier than the date of the Borrower’s latest audited financial statements,

 

of other tangible assets (including Investments in unconsolidated Subsidiaries) of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, but if no such appraisal has been performed, the Borrower shall not be required to obtain such an appraisal and only clause (iv)(I) of this definition will apply,

 

minus (b) to the extent not otherwise taken into account in the immediately preceding clause (a), the sum of:

 

(i) minority interests;

 

(ii) to the extent not otherwise taken into account in the determination of Modified ACNTA, any gas balancing liabilities of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries as of the last day of the Borrower’s most recent annual or quarterly period for which internal financial statements are available;

 

(iii) to the extent included in clause (a)(1) above, the discounted future net revenues, calculated on a pre-tax basis in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the Strip Prices utilized in the Borrower’s Start Date reserve report) by the Borrower’s petroleum engineers or any independent petroleum engineer engaged by the Borrower for such purpose, attributable to reserves which are required to be delivered to third parties to fully satisfy the obligations of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries with respect to VPPs on the schedules specified with respect thereto;

 

(iv) the discounted future net revenue, calculated on a pre-tax basis in accordance with SEC guidelines, attributable to reserves subject to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments which, based on the estimates of production and price assumptions included in determining the discounted future net revenue specified in clause (a)(i) above, would be necessary to fully satisfy the payment obligations of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries with respect to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments on the schedules specified with respect thereto; and

 

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(v) the discounted future net revenue, calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines, attributable to reserves subject to participation interests, overriding royalty interests or other interests of third parties, pursuant to participation, partnership, vendor financing or other agreements then in effect, or which otherwise are required to be delivered to third parties.

 

If the Borrower changes its method of accounting from the full cost method to the successful efforts method or a similar method of accounting, Modified ACNTA will continue to be calculated as if the Borrower were still using the full cost method of accounting. As used in this definition, “Net Working Capital” means (i) all current assets of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, minus (ii) all current liabilities of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, except current liabilities included in Indebtedness.

 

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or any successor by merger or consolidation to its business.

 

Mortgage” means a mortgage or a deed of trust, deed to secure debt, trust deed, assignment of as-extracted collateral, fixture filing or other security document entered into by the owner of a Mortgaged Property and the Collateral Trustee for the benefit of the Term Loan Secured Parties in respect of that Mortgaged Property.

 

Mortgaged Property” means the real property and improvements thereto with respect to which a Mortgage is required to be granted pursuant to Section 8.9; but, notwithstanding any provision in any Mortgage to the contrary, in no event shall any Building (as defined in the applicable Flood Insurance Regulation) or Manufactured (Mobile) Home (as defined in the applicable Flood Insurance Regulation) located on the Mortgaged Properties (as defined in the applicable Mortgage) within an area having special flood hazards and in which flood insurance is available under the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 be included in the definition of “Mortgaged Property” or “Mortgaged Properties” and no such Building or Manufactured (Mobile) Home shall be encumbered by any Mortgage. As used herein, “Flood Insurance Regulations” means (i) the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto, (ii) the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statue thereto, (iii) the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 (amending 42 USC 4001, et seq.), as the same may be amended or recodified from time to time, and (iv) the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 and any regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Multiemployer Plan” means a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA that is subject to Title IV of ERISA and is or was within any of the last preceding six years contributed to by the Borrower or an ERISA Affiliate.

 

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Net Cash Proceeds” means, with respect to any Collateral Sale or Casualty Event, cash proceeds (including, in the case of any Casualty Event, insurance, condemnation or similar proceeds) actually received by the Credit Parties, net of the costs relating to such Collateral Sale or Casualty Event, including legal, accounting and investment banking fees, payments made in order to obtain a necessary consent or required by applicable Law, and brokerage and sales commissions, all dividends, distributions or other payments required to be made to minority interest holders in any Guarantor as a result of any such Collateral Sale or Casualty Event by the Borrower or such Guarantor, the amount of any purchase price or similar adjustment claimed by any Person to be owed by the Borrower or any Guarantor or otherwise estimated in good faith by the Borrower, until such time as such claim shall have been settled or otherwise finally resolved, or paid or payable by the Borrower or any other Guarantor, in either case in respect of such Collateral Sale or Casualty Event, any relocation expenses incurred as a result thereof, other fees and expenses, including title and recordation expenses, survey costs, title insurance premiums, the Borrower’s good faith estimate of Taxes paid and payable as a result thereof or any transactions occurring or deemed to occur to effectuate a payment (including, for the avoidance of doubt, withholding Taxes and Taxes imposed on the distribution of any such net proceeds) under this Agreement, amounts required to be applied to the repayment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on Indebtedness or amounts required to be applied to the repayments of Indebtedness secured by a Lien on such assets and amounts required to be paid in connection with the termination of hedging obligations related to Indebtedness repaid with such proceeds or hedging oil, natural gas and natural gas liquid production in notional volumes corresponding to the Oil and Gas Properties subject to such Collateral Sale or Casualty Event, as a result of such transaction, and including any deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the Borrower or any other Guarantor as a reserve in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities associated with the asset disposed of in such transaction and retained by the Borrower or any other Guarantor after such sale or other disposition thereof, including pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations associated with such transaction, in each case, as determined reasonably and in good faith by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower.

 

Non-Defaulting Lender” means and includes each Lender other than a Defaulting Lender.

 

Non-U.S. Lender” means any Lender that is not a “United States person” as defined by Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

 

Obligations” means all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, any Credit Party arising under any Credit Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan entered into with any Credit Party, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against any Credit Party or any Affiliate thereof in any proceeding under any bankruptcy or insolvency law naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Obligations of the Credit Parties under the Credit Documents include the obligation (including Guarantee Obligations) to pay principal, interest, make-whole amounts, charges, expenses, fees, attorney costs, indemnities and other amounts payable by any Credit Party under any Credit Document.

 

Oil and Gas Business” means the business of the exploration for, and exploitation, development, production, processing, marketing, storage and transportation of, hydrocarbons, and other related energy and natural resource businesses (including oil and gas services businesses related to the foregoing).

 

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Oil and Gas Properties” means (a) Hydrocarbon Interests, (b) the properties now or hereafter pooled or unitized with Hydrocarbon Interests, (c) all presently existing or future unitization, pooling agreements and declarations of pooled units and the units created thereby (including all units created under orders, regulations and rules of any Governmental Authority) which may affect all or any portion of the Hydrocarbon Interests, (d) all operating agreements, contracts and other agreements, including production sharing contracts and agreements, which relate to any Hydrocarbon Interest or the production, sale, purchase, exchange or processing of Hydrocarbons from or attributable to such Hydrocarbon Interests, (e) all Hydrocarbons in and under and which may be produced and saved or attributable to the Hydrocarbon Interests, including all oil in tanks, and all rents, issues, profits, proceeds, products, revenues and other incomes from or attributable to the Hydrocarbon Interests, (f) all tenements, hereditaments, appurtenances and properties in any manner appertaining, belonging, affixed or incidental to the Hydrocarbon Interests and (g) all properties, rights, titles, interests and estates described or referred to above, including any and all property, real or personal, now owned or hereafter acquired and situated upon, used, held for use or useful in connection with the operating, working or development of any of such Hydrocarbon Interests or property (excluding drilling rigs, automotive equipment, rental equipment or other personal property which may be on such premises for the purpose of drilling a well or for other similar temporary uses) and including any and all oil wells, gas wells, injection wells or other wells, structures, fuel separators, liquid extraction plants, plant compressors, pumps, pumping units, field gathering systems, gas processing plants and pipeline systems, power and cogeneration facilities and any related infrastructure to any thereof, tanks and tank batteries, fixtures, valves, fittings, machinery and parts, engines, boilers, meters, apparatus, equipment, appliances, tools, implements, cables, wires, towers, casing, tubing and rods, surface leases, rights-of-way, easements and servitudes together with all additions, substitutions, replacements, accessions and attachments to any and all of the foregoing.

 

Other Taxes” means any and all present or future stamp, registration, documentary, intangible, recording, filing or any other excise, property or similar taxes (including interest, fines, penalties, additions to tax and related, reasonable, out-of-pocket expenses with regard thereto) arising from any payment made under any Credit Document or from the execution or delivery of, registration or enforcement of, consummation or administration of, or otherwise with respect to, any Credit Document; but such term shall not include any of the foregoing Taxes (i) that result from an assignment, grant of a participation pursuant to Section 12.6(c) or transfer or assignment to or designation of a new lending office or other office for receiving payments under any Credit Document (“Assignment Taxes”) to the extent such Assignment Taxes are imposed as a result of a connection between the assignor/participating Lender and/or the assignee/Participant and the taxing jurisdiction (other than a connection arising solely from any Credit Documents or any Transactions), except to the extent that any such action described in this proviso is requested or required by the Borrower, or (ii) that are Excluded Taxes.

 

Overnight Rate” means, for any day, the greater of (a) the Federal Funds Effective Rate and (b) an overnight rate determined by the Term Agent, as the case may be, in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

 

Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement” means, with respect to any Permitted Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness, a collateral trust agreement or an intercreditor agreement, in each that contains terms and conditions that are substantially similar to the Collateral Trust Agreement or are otherwise within the range of terms and conditions customary for collateral trust and intercreditor agreements that are of the type that govern intercreditor relationships between holders of senior secured credit facilities and holders of the same type of Indebtedness as such Permitted Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness.

 

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Participant” shall have the meaning provided in Section 12.6(c)(i).

 

Participant Register” shall have the meaning provided in Section 12.6(c)(ii).

 

Patriot Act” shall have the meaning provided in Section 12.17.

 

PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation established pursuant to Section 4002 of ERISA, or any successor thereto.

 

Permitted Asset Swap” means the substantially concurrent (and in any event occurring within 180 days of each other) purchase and sale or exchange (including Section 1031 exchanges and reverse Section 1031 exchanges, in each case made in accordance with the Code) of Related Business Assets or a combination of Related Business Assets and cash and Cash Equivalents between any Credit Party and another Person; but the Fair Market Value of the properties or assets traded or exchanged by such Credit Party (together with any cash or Cash Equivalents) is reasonably equivalent to the Fair Market Value of the properties or assets (together with any cash or Cash Equivalents) to be received by such Credit Party; provided further that any cash or Cash Equivalents received must be applied in accordance with Section 4.1(a); provided further that such Related Business Assets shall be secured for the benefit of all Term Loan Secured Parties as Collateral.

 

Permitted Liens” means (a) Liens existing on the Initial Closing Date (excluding any Liens securing (i) the Loans, (ii) Indebtedness permitted by Section 9.1(r) and (iii) Junior Lien Debt permitted by Section 9.1(u)); (b) Liens on the Collateral securing Indebtedness permitted by Section 9.1(a), Section 9.1(r) and Section 9.1(u), in each case, subject to compliance with the requirements of such Sections; (c) Liens securing any renewal, extension, substitution, refinancing or replacement of secured Indebtedness, if such Liens extend to or cover only the property or assets then securing the Indebtedness being refinanced and that the Indebtedness being refinanced was not incurred under Section 9.1(a), 9.1(r) or 9.1(u); (d) Liens on, or related to, properties to secure all or part of the costs incurred in the ordinary course of business of exploration, drilling, development or operation thereof; (e) Liens upon (i) any property of or any interests in any Person existing at the time of acquisition of such property or interests by the Borrower or a Subsidiary, (ii) any property of or interests in a Person existing at the time such Person is merged or consolidated with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or existing at the time of the sale or transfer of any such property of or interests in such Person to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or (iii) any property of or interests in a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; if in each case such Lien has not been created in contemplation of such sale, merger, consolidation, transfer or acquisition, and provided further that, in each such case, no such Lien shall extend to or cover any property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary other than the property being acquired and improvements thereon; (f) Liens on deposits to secure public or statutory obligations or in lieu of surety or appeal bonds entered into in the ordinary course of business; (g) 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 Borrower or any Subsidiary on deposit with or in possession of such bank; (h) Liens securing purchase money security interests granted in connection Indebtedness permitted under Section 9.1(f)(i), if (i) such Liens attach only to the property so acquired with the purchase money indebtedness secured thereby (and accessions and additions to such assets, replacements and products thereof and customary security deposits) and (ii) such Liens secure only Indebtedness that is not in excess of 100% of the purchase price of such assets; (i) Liens arising under Capital Leases to secure Capital Lease Obligations permitted under Section 9.1(f)(ii), if such Liens do not at any time extend to or cover any assets (except for accessions and additions to such assets, replacements and products thereof and customary security deposits) other than the assets subject to such Capital Leases, provided further that individual financings of equipment provided by one lender may be cross collateralized to other financings of equipment provided by such lender; (j) Liens reserved in oil and gas mineral leases for bonus or rental payments and for compliance with the terms of such leases; (k) Liens arising under partnership agreements, oil and gas leases, farm-out agreements, division orders, contracts for the sale, purchase, exchange, transportation or processing of oil, gas or other hydrocarbons, unitization and pooling declarations and agreements, development agreements, operating agreements, area of mutual interest agreements, and other similar agreements which are customary in the Oil and Gas Business; (l) Liens securing obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary under Hedge Agreements; (m) Liens in favor of the United States, any State thereof, any foreign country or any department, agency or instrumentality or political subdivision of any such jurisdiction, to secure partial, progress, advance or other payments pursuant to any contract or statute or to secure any indebtedness incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or the cost of constructing or improving the property subject to such Liens, including Liens to secure Funded Debt of the pollution control or industrial revenue bond type; (n) Liens in favor of any Credit Party; and (o) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted by Section 9.1(i), Section 9.1(n), Section 9.1(q) and Section 9.1(t) (limited to Liens on the assets referred to in such Section 9.1(t)).

 

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Permitted Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness” means any secured Indebtedness of any Credit Party, if (a) such Indebtedness is secured by Liens on all or a portion of the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations in respect of the Class A Loans and any other Class of Loans incurred and outstanding pursuant to Section 9.1(a) (but without regard to the control of remedies or priority in the payment of Foreclosure Proceeds) and is not secured by any assets of the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary other than the Collateral, (b) such Indebtedness is not guaranteed by any Subsidiaries other than the Guarantors and (c) the administrative agent, collateral agent, trustee and/or any similar representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness shall have become party to the Collateral Trust Agreement, or a Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement (or if such Indebtedness constitutes an additional Class of Loans hereunder, is otherwise subject to the Collateral Trust Agreement or a Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement), providing that the Liens on the Collateral securing such Indebtedness shall rank equal in priority to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations in respect of the Class A Loans and any other Class of Loans incurred and outstanding pursuant to Section 9.1(a) (and providing for the control of remedies and the priority in payment of Foreclosure Proceeds, in each case in a manner substantially similar to that set forth in the Collateral Trust Agreement or as otherwise permitted by this Agreement).

 

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Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Indebtedness (the “Refinanced Indebtedness”), any Indebtedness issued or incurred in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used (or held for use and in fact used within 90 days of receipt thereof) to modify, extend, refinance, renew, replace, repurchase or refund (or to refund to the Borrower any amounts repaid, repurchased or prepaid in respect of Indebtedness within 90 days before the incurrence of such Indebtedness) (collectively to “Refinance” or a “Refinancing” or “Refinanced”), such Refinanced Indebtedness (or previous refinancing thereof constituting Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness), if (A) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of any such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Refinanced Indebtedness outstanding immediately before such Refinancing except by an amount equal to the unpaid accrued interest and premium thereon plus other amounts paid and fees and expenses incurred in connection with such Refinancing plus an amount equal to any existing commitment unutilized and letters of credit undrawn thereunder, (B) if the Indebtedness being Refinanced is Indebtedness permitted by Sections 9.1(g) or 9.1(h), the direct and contingent obligors with respect to such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness are not changed (except that a Credit Party may be added as an additional obligor) and (C) other than with respect to a Refinancing in respect of Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 9.1(f), such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall have a final maturity date equal to or later than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Refinanced Indebtedness.

 

Permitted Restrictions” shall have the meaning provided in Section 9.8(b).

 

Person” means any individual, partnership, joint venture, firm, corporation, limited liability company, association, trust or other enterprise or any Governmental Authority.

 

Petroleum Industry Standards” means the Definitions for Oil and Gas Reserves promulgated by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (or any generally recognized successor) as in effect at the time in question.

 

Plan” means any single-employer plan, as defined in Section 4001 of ERISA and subject to Title IV of ERISA, that is or was within any of the preceding six years maintained or contributed to (or to which there is or was an obligation to contribute or to make payments to) by the Borrower or an ERISA Affiliate.

 

Plan Asset Regulations” means 29 CFR § 2510.3-101 et seq., as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA, as amended from time to time.

 

Platform” shall have the meaning provided in Section 8.1.

 

Pricing Date” means the date used to determine the Strip Prices used in connection with the determination of PV-9; such date shall be no more than 30 days before the related Reserve Date and no later than the related Calculation Date. For the avoidance of doubt and as an example, the Pricing Date could be as early as December 1 and as late as March 31 if the Reserve Date was December 31 and the Calculation Date was the following March 31.

 

Production Payments” means Dollar-Denominated Production Payments and VPPs, collectively.

 

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Production Payments and Reserve Sales” means the grant or transfer by the Borrower or any Subsidiary to any Person of a royalty, overriding royalty, net profits interest, Production Payment, partnership or other interest in Oil and Gas Properties, reserves or the right to receive all or a portion of the production or the proceeds from the sale of production attributable to such properties, including any such grants or transfers pursuant to incentive programs on terms that are reasonably customary in the Oil and Gas Business for geologists, geophysicists or other providers of technical services to the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

 

Proved Developed Reserves” means Proved Reserves that, in accordance with the Petroleum Industry Standards, are classified as one of the following: (a) “Developed Producing Reserves” or (b) “Developed Non-Producing Reserves”; and Proved Developed Reserves in the aggregate comprise Proved Reserves that are “Developed Producing Reserves” and “Developed Non-Producing Reserves”.

 

Proved Reserves” means oil and gas reserves that, in accordance with the Petroleum Industry Standards, are classified as both “Proved Reserves” and one or more of the following: (a) “Developed Producing Reserves,” (b) “Developed Non-Producing Reserves” or (c) “Undeveloped Reserves”; and “Proved Reserves” in the aggregate comprise Proved Reserves that are “Developed Producing Reserves”, “Developed Non-Producing Reserves”, and “Undeveloped Reserves.”

 

Proved Undeveloped Reserves” means Proved Reserves that, in accordance with Petroleum Industry Standards, are classified as “Undeveloped Reserves”.

 

PTE” means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.

 

PV-9” means, with respect to any Proved Reserves expected to be produced from any Oil and Gas Properties of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, the net present value as of any Reserve Date, discounted at 9% per annum, of the future net revenues expected to accrue to the Borrower’s and the Subsidiaries’ collective interests in such reserves during the remaining expected economic lives of such reserves, calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines, except that the Strip Prices as of the Pricing Date shall be used in such calculations. For the avoidance of doubt, the calculation of PV-9 for any Reserve Date (other than a Specified Date) shall give effect to exploration and production activities, acquisitions, Dispositions and production since the Reserve Date to the Calculation Date.

 

PV-10” means, with respect to any Proved Reserves expected to be produced from any Oil and Gas Properties evaluated in a Reserve Report, the net present value as of the applicable date of determination, discounted at 10% per annum, of the future net revenues expected to accrue to the Borrower’s and the Guarantors’ collective interests in such reserves during the expected economic lives of such reserves, calculated using the Strip Price (provided that any reference to “PV-9” made in any component definitions herein shall be deemed to be a reference to “PV-10” as defined herein); provided that in no event shall the amount of Proved Undeveloped Reserves included in such calculation exceed 25% of PV-10.

 

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PV-10 Collateral Coverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) PV-10, calculated as of the date of the most recent Reserve Report delivered (or required to be delivered) under the Revolving Credit Agreement (provided that the calculation of PV-10 for purposes of this calculation shall give effect to exploration and production activities, acquisitions, dispositions and production since the date of the last applicable Reserve Report to the relevant calculation date), to (b) the sum of the aggregate principal amount of Funded Debt of the Credit Parties that is secured by Priority Liens (as such term is defined in the Intercreditor Agreement); provided that if there is no Revolving Credit Agreement requiring delivery of a Reserve Report, the Borrower shall be required to deliver to the Term Agent (at the times such a Reserve Report was required to be delivered by the Borrower to the Revolving Agent under the Revolving Credit Agreement as in effect on the Initial Closing Date) a Reserve Report in form substantially consistent as determined in good faith by the Borrower with the Reserve Report required to be delivered under the Revolving Credit Agreement as in effect on the Initial Closing Date.

 

Qualifying VPP” means (a) each VPP existing on the Closing Date and (b) any VPP granted by a Group Member or Group Members (the “VPP Seller”) to the purchaser of the VPP (the “VPP Buyer”), if (i) no portion of the working or other interests in oil and gas properties burdened by the VPP (the “VPP Properties”) constitute Collateral, (ii) the consideration for such VPP consists only of cash or Cash Equivalents, (iii) any obligation of any Group Member to purchase the VPP Buyer’s share of production is at a fair market index price in effect from time to time (adjusted for shrinkage and transportation costs, as applicable), (iv) any Liens securing the VPP or any related obligations of the VPP Seller to the VPP Buyer are limited to the VPP Seller’s retained interests in the VPP Properties and the production therefrom and its rights, titles and interests related thereto and (v) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of the grant of the VPP or shall result therefrom.

 

Refinance” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of “Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness.”

 

Register” shall have the meaning provided in Section 12.6(b)(iv).

 

Regulation T” means Regulation T of the Board as from time to time in effect and any successor to all or a portion thereof establishing margin requirements.

 

Regulation U” means Regulation U of the Board as from time to time in effect and any successor to all or a portion thereof establishing margin requirements.

 

Regulation X” means Regulation X of the Board as from time to time in effect and any successor to all or a portion thereof establishing margin requirements.

 

Related Business Assets” means assets (other than cash or Cash Equivalents) used or useful in an Oil and Gas Business.

 

Related Parties” means, with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the directors, officers, employees, agents and members of such Person or such Person’s Affiliates.

 

Relevant Lenders” shall have the meaning provided in Section 11.13(b).

 

Reportable Event” means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than events for which the 30-day notice period has been waived.

 

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Requirement of Law” means, as to any Person, any law, treaty, rule, regulation statute, order, ordinance, decree, judgment, consent decree, writ, injunction, settlement agreement or governmental requirement enacted, promulgated or imposed or entered into or agreed by any Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or assets or to which such Person or any of its property or assets is subject.

 

Reserve Certificate” shall have the meaning provided in Section 8.1(e).

 

Reserve Date” means the date as of which the Proved Reserves are estimated in connection with the determination of PV-9. For the avoidance of doubt and as an example, the Reserve Date would be December 31 for a determination of PV-9 as of such December 31.

 

Reserve Reportmeans a report setting forth, as of each January 1st or July 1st (or another date as required or permitted by the Revolving Credit Agreement), the Proved Reserves and Proved Developed Reserves (including the aggregate values thereof) attributable to the Oil and Gas Properties of the Credit Parties, together with a projection of the rate of production and future net income, taxes, operating expenses and capital expenditures with respect thereto as of such date, in each case in the form delivered in accordance with the requirements of the Revolving Credit Agreement, or if there is no Revolving Credit Agreement requiring delivery of a Reserve Report, in form substantially consistent as determined in good faith by the Company with the form of Reserve Report required under the Revolving Credit Agreement as in effect on the Initial Closing Date.

 

Restricted Payments” shall have the meaning provided in Section 9.6.

 

Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

Revolving Agent” means MUFG Union Bank, N.A., as administrative agent under the Revolving Credit Agreement, and any successor thereto.

 

Revolving Credit Agreement” means that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of September 12, 2018, among the Borrower, the Revolving Agent, and the other agents and lenders from time to time party thereto, as the same has been and may hereafter be amended, supplemented, restated or replaced.

 

Revolving Secured Parties” means, collectively, the Revolving Agent, the lenders under the Revolving Credit Agreement and the Hedge Banks (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement as in effect on the Initial Closing Date).

 

Royalty Trust” means a statutory trust, business trust, limited liability company, partnership or other form of legal entity to which the Borrower or one or more of the Subsidiaries grants or conveys any term or perpetual overriding royalty interests, net profits interests or other similar interests in Oil and Gas Properties in exchange for units of beneficial interest or ownership interests in such trust or other entity, or for cash.

 

S&P” means S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global Inc., or any successor by merger or consolidation to its business.

 

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Sale/Leaseback Transaction” means, with respect to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, any arrangement with any Person providing for the leasing by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of any property which was acquired or placed into service more than one year before such arrangement, whereby such property has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary to such Person; but the term “Sale/Leaseback Transaction” shall not include any such arrangement that does not provide for a lease by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with a period, including renewals, of more than three years. For the avoidance of doubt, a transaction primarily involving Dollar-Denominated Production Payments or VPPs shall not be deemed to be a Sale/Leaseback Transaction.

 

Sanctioned Country” means, at any time, a country or territory which is itself the subject or target of any Sanctions (at the time of this Agreement, including Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria).

 

Sanctioned Person” means, at any time, (a) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of State, or by the United Nations Security Council, the Government of Canada, the European Union, any European Union member state or Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom, (b) any Person operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country or (c) any Person owned or controlled by any such Person or Persons described in the foregoing clauses (a) or (b).

 

Sanctions” means economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by (a) the United States government, including those administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State, or (b) the United Nations Security Council, the Government of Canada, the European Union, any European Union member state or Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom.

 

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto.

 

Section 8.1 Financials” means the financial statements delivered, or required to be delivered, pursuant to Section 8.1(a) or (b), together with the accompanying Authorized Officer’s certificate delivered, or required to be delivered, pursuant to Section 8.1(d).

 

Secured Parties” means, collectively, (a) the Term Loan Secured Parties and (b) the Revolving Secured Parties.

 

Security Accounts” shall have the meaning provided in the Uniform Commercial Code.

 

Security Agreement” means a security agreement in the form of Exhibit D entered into by the Credit Parties in favor of the Collateral Trustee for the benefit of the Term Loan Secured Parties.

 

Security Documents” means, collectively, (a) the Mortgages, (b) the Security Agreement, (c) the Intercreditor Agreement, (d) the Collateral Trust Agreement, (e) any control agreements and (f) each other security agreement or other instrument or document executed and delivered pursuant to Sections 8.9 or 8.11 or pursuant to any other such Security Documents or otherwise to secure or perfect the security interest in, or otherwise relating to, any or all of the Collateral securing the Obligations.

 

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Solvent” means, with respect to any Person, that as of any date of determination, that such Person is not “insolvent” as defined in the federal Bankruptcy Code.

 

Specified Date” means, (i) in the case of a Reserve Certificate required under Section 8.1(e) to be delivered by March 31st, the immediately preceding December 31st and (ii) in the case of a Reserve Certificate required under Section 8.1(e) to be delivered by September 30th, the immediately preceding June 30th. For the avoidance of doubt, a Specified Date is also a Reserve Date.

 

Specified Subsidiary” means, at any date of determination any Restricted Subsidiary (a) whose Total Assets at the last day of the Test Period ending on the last day of the most recent fiscal period for which Section 8.1 Financials have been delivered were equal to or greater than 15% of the Modified ACNTA of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries at such date or (b) whose revenues during such Test Period were equal to or greater than 15% of the consolidated revenues of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Stock” means any and all shares of capital stock or shares in the capital, as the case may be (whether denominated as common stock or preferred stock or ordinary shares or preferred shares, as the case may be), beneficial, partnership or membership interests, participations or other equivalents (regardless of how designated) of or in a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or equivalent entity, whether voting or non-voting.

 

Stock Equivalents” means all securities convertible into or exchangeable for Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to purchase or subscribe for any Stock, whether or not presently convertible, exchangeable or exercisable.

 

Strip Prices” means, as of any Pricing Date, (x) the actual price for each month from the related Reserve Date to the Pricing Date, if the Pricing Date is after the Reserve Date, and (y) the forward price for each month after such date to and including the last month for which such prices are available (such month, the “Series End”; as of the Initial Closing Date, the month that is ten years after the current month) (a) for crude oil, the closing settlement price for the CL Light, Sweet Crude Oil futures contract for each such month and (b) for natural gas, the closing settlement price for the NG Henry Hub Natural Gas futures contract for each such month, in each case as published by New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) on such date. For any month after the Series End, Strip Prices for such month will be equal to the relevant published contract price for the Series End, escalated at a rate equal to 1.5% per annum.

 

Subsidiary” means as to any Person, a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which shares of Stock or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power (other than Stock or such other ownership interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) to elect a majority of the Board of Directors of such corporation, partnership or other entity are at the time owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise expressly provided, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary of the Borrower. A Royalty Trust shall not constitute a “Subsidiary” of the Borrower or the Subsidiaries.

 

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Successor Borrower” shall have the meaning provided in Section 9.3(a).

 

Taxes” means any and all present or future taxes, duties, levies, imposts, assessments, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding) or other similar charges in the nature of a tax imposed by any Governmental Authority whether computed on a separate, consolidated, unitary, combined or other basis and any interest, fines, penalties or additions to tax with respect to the foregoing.

 

Term Agent” means GLAS USA LLC, as the administrative agent for the Lenders under the Credit Documents, or any successor administrative agent appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.9.

 

Term Agent’s Office” means the Term Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 12.2, or such other address or account as the Term Agent may from time to time notify in writing to the Borrower and the Lenders.

 

Term Loan Secured Parties” means, collectively, the Term Agent, the Collateral Trustee, the Lenders, the Arrangers, the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Credit Party under any Credit Document and the successors and assigns of each of the foregoing.

 

Term Loan Supplement” shall have the meaning provided in the recitals hereto.

 

Test Period” means, for any determination under this Agreement, the four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower then last ended and for which Section 8.1 Financials have been delivered to the Term Agent.

 

Total Assets” means, as of any date of determination with respect to any Person, the amount that would, in conformity with GAAP, be set forth opposite the caption “total assets” (or any like caption) on a balance sheet of such Person at such date.

 

Total Commitment” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate amount of the Class Commitments of all Lenders.

 

Total Exposure” means the sum of the Exposures of the Lenders.

 

Total Exposure Percentage” means, at any time, for each Lender, the percentage obtained by dividing (a) such Lender’s Exposure at such time by (b) the aggregate Total Exposure for all Classes of Loans outstanding at such time.

 

Transaction Expenses” means any fees or expenses incurred or paid by the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any of their Affiliates in connection with the Transactions or the Credit Documents.

 

Transactions” means, collectively, the execution, delivery and performance of the Credit Documents, the borrowing of Loans, the use of the proceeds thereof, the payment of Transaction Expenses on the Closing Date and the other transactions contemplated by the Credit Documents.

 

Transferee” shall have the meaning provided in Section 12.6(e).

 

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Uniform Commercial Code” means the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of New York or of any other state the laws of which are required to be applied in connection with the perfection of security interests in any Collateral.

 

Unrestricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 8.8.

 

U.S. Lender” shall have the meaning provided in Section 4.3(h).

 

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate” shall have the meaning provided in Section 4.3(e)(iii).

 

VPP” means the sale of limited-term overriding royalty interests in natural gas and/or oil reserves that (a) entitle the purchaser to receive scheduled production volumes over a period of time from specific lease interests; (b) are free and clear of all associated future production costs and Capital Expenditures; (c) are nonrecourse to the seller (i.e., the purchaser’s only recourse is to the reserves acquired); (d) transfer title of the reserves to the purchaser; and (e) allow the seller to retain all production beyond the specified volumes, if any, after the scheduled production volumes have been delivered.

 

Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing: (a) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (i) the amount of each then-remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (ii) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment by (b) the then-outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.

 

WildHorse” means Brazos Valley Longhorn, L.L.C.

 

WildHorse Indenture” means the Indenture, dated as of February 1, 2017, now among Brazos Valley Longhorn, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company converted from a Delaware corporation named WildHorse Resource Development Corporation, and Brazos Valley Longhorn Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation, as issuers, the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee.

 

Write-Down and Conversion Powers” means, with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

 

YieldCo” means a publicly traded company formed to own operating assets producing a predictable cash flow, expected to pay a substantial portion of earnings in dividends.

 

1.2              Other Interpretive Provisions. With reference to each Credit Document, unless otherwise specified therein or in such other Credit Document:

 

(a)               The meanings of defined terms are equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.

 

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(b)               The words “herein”, “hereto”, “hereof” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in any Credit Document shall refer to such Credit Document as a whole and not to any particular provision thereof; but, in respect of any Class of Loans, such references shall exclude Term Loan Supplements relating only to other Classes of Loans.

 

(c)               Article, Section, Exhibit and Schedule references are to the Credit Document in which such reference appears, and any reference to a provision contained herein shall be deemed to be a reference to such provision, as supplemented by all Term Loan Supplements for each Class of Loans then outstanding.

 

(d)               The term “including” is by way of example and not limitation.

 

(e)               The term “documents” includes any and all instruments, documents, agreements, certificates, notices, reports, financial statements and other writings, however evidenced, whether in physical or electronic form.

 

(f)                In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including”; the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding”; and the word “through” means “to and including”.

 

(g)               Section headings in each Credit Document are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of such Credit Document.

 

(h)               Any reference to any Person shall be constructed to include such Person’s successors or assigns (subject to any restrictions on assignment set forth herein) and, in the case of any Governmental Authority, any other Governmental Authority that shall have succeeded to any or all of the functions thereof.

 

(i)                 Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms.

 

(j)                 The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning as the word “shall”.

 

(k)               The words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

 

(l)                 Any reference herein to a merger, transfer, consolidation, amalgamation, consolidation, assignment, sale, disposition or transfer, or similar term, (each, a “Transformation”) shall be deemed to apply to a division of or by a limited liability company, limited partnership or trust (each, a “Divisible Entity”) into—or an allocation of assets to—a series of a Divisible Entity (or the unwinding of such a division or allocation), as if it were a Transformation to, of or with a separate Person. Any division of a Divisible Entity shall be considered a separate Person for all purposes hereunder, and any division of a Divisible Entity that is a Subsidiary, Restricted Subsidiary, Unrestricted Subsidiary, joint venture or other like term shall also constitute such a Person or entity.

 

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1.3              Accounting Terms. All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP, applied in a consistent manner; but if the Borrower notifies the Term Agent in writing that the Borrower requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the Closing Date in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Term Agent notifies the Borrower that all Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Credit Document, for purposes of calculations made pursuant to the terms of any Credit Document, GAAP will be deemed to treat leases that would have been classified as operating leases in accordance with GAAP as in effect on September 12, 2018 in a manner consistent with the treatment of such leases under GAAP as in effect on September 12, 2018, notwithstanding any modifications or interpretive changes to GAAP that may occur thereafter.

 

1.4              Rounding. Any financial ratios required to be maintained or complied with by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement (or required to be satisfied in order for a specific action to be permitted under this Agreement) shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).

 

1.5              References to Agreements, Laws, Etc. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (a) references to organizational documents, agreements (including the Credit Documents) and other Contractual Requirements shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications thereto, but only to the extent that such amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications are permitted by any Credit Document and (b) references to any Requirement of Law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such Requirement of Law.

 

1.6              Times of Day. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to New York City (daylight or standard, as applicable) time.

 

1.7              Timing of Payment or Performance. When the payment of any obligation or the performance of any covenant, duty or obligation is stated to be due or performance required on a day which is not a Business Day, the date of such payment or performance shall extend to the immediately succeeding Business Day.

 

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1.8              Currency Equivalents Generally.

 

(a)               For purposes of any determination under Article VIII, Article IX or Article X or any determination under any other provision of this Agreement requiring the use of a current exchange rate, all amounts incurred, outstanding or proposed to be incurred or outstanding in currencies other than Dollars shall be translated into Dollars at the Exchange Rate then in effect on the date of such determination; but (i) for purposes of determining compliance with Article IX with respect to the amount of any Indebtedness, Investment, Disposition, Restricted Payment or payment under Section 9.7 in a currency other than Dollars, no Default or Event of Default shall be deemed to have occurred solely as a result of changes in rates of exchange occurring after the time such Indebtedness or Investment is incurred or Disposition, Restricted Payment or payment under Section 9.7 is made, (ii) for purposes of determining compliance with any Dollar-denominated restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness, if such Indebtedness is incurred to Refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such Refinancing would cause the applicable Dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such Refinancing, such Dollar-denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such Refinanced Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being Refinanced and (iii) for the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing provisions of this Section shall otherwise apply to such Sections, including with respect to determining whether any Indebtedness or Investment may be incurred or Disposition, Restricted Payment or payment under Section 9.7 may be made at any time under such Sections.

 

(b)               Unless the Majority Lenders give written notice to the Term Agent to their objection thereto within five Business Days after receiving notice thereof (and the Term Agent shall give notice thereof to the Lenders upon receipt from the Borrower of notice of such a proposed change of construction), this Agreement shall be subject to such reasonable changes of construction as the Borrower may specify by written notice to the Term Agent to appropriately reflect a change in currency of any country and any relevant market conditions or practices relating to such change in currency.

 

1.9              Classifications(a). For purposes of this Agreement, Loans, Commitments, Term Loan Supplements, Lenders, Closing Dates and other matters related to a Class of Loans may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., “Class A Commitments”, “Class B Term Loan Supplement”, “Class C Lenders” and “Class D Closing Date”).

 

ARTICLE II
Amount and Terms of Loans

 

2.1              Classes of Loans.

 

(a)               Term Loan Supplement. The Term Loan Supplement for a Class of Loans shall be in the form attached to this Agreement as Exhibit E (or such other form as may be agreed by the Borrower and the Lenders party thereto), and shall set forth the following information:

 

(i)               the Commitment of each Lender party to such Term Loan Supplement;

 

(ii)              the total Commitment for such Class;

 

(iii)            the Closing Date (which must be a Business Day) for such Class;

 

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(iv)             the sequential alphabetical designation to differentiate such Class from other Classes;

 

(v)               subject to the conditions in Sections 2.1(b) and 2.1(c), (1) the interest rate or rates applicable to such Class of Loans, (2) the dates for the payment of principal (including any amortization of principal) and interest on such Class of Loans, (3) any provisions for the optional or mandatory prepayment of all or any portion of such Class of Loans, including the premiums, if any, thereon, (4) any additional or different conditions precedent to closing (including any modification or deletion of the conditions precedent set forth in Article VI with respect to such Class of Loans), and such additional or different representations, warranties, covenants and other terms (including any modification or deletion of the representations, warranties, covenants and other terms of this Agreement with respect to such Class of Loans to make such representations, warranties, covenants and other terms less burdensome or less adverse to the Borrower, as they apply to such Class) as shall be specified in such Term Loan Supplement;

 

(vi)             the requirements to amend or waive any provision of such Term Loan Supplement; and

 

(vii)            the order of application of Foreclosure Proceeds, so long as the order of application in any new Term Loan Supplement is permitted by, and does not contravene the order of application provided for in, any prior Term Loan Supplement then in effect.

 

(b)               Conditions to Effectiveness of New Class. As a condition precedent to a new Class of Loans, each Lender signatory to the applicable Term Loan Supplement shall be an Institutional Lender, as determined to the satisfaction of the Borrower in its sole, absolute and unfettered discretion.

 

(c)               Class Maturity Date of New Class of Loans. Notwithstanding the requirements of Section 2.1(b), from time to time the Borrower may enter into a Term Loan Supplement to permit the creation of a Class of Loan that provides for Foreclosure Proceeds to be paid to Lenders of such new Class concurrently with or after the Lenders of any existing Class of Loans (including any existing Class of Loans which is to be repaid with the proceeds of such new Class of Loans) only if (1) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such new Class of Loans is not shorter than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such existing Class(es) of Loans at the Closing Date for such new Class of Loans and (2) the Class Maturity Date of such new Class of Loans is not earlier than the Class Maturity Date of such existing Class of Loans (or, if there is more than one such existing Class of Loans, the last of the Class Maturity Dates for such Classes of Loans).

 

(d)               Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that the Credit Documents may be amended pursuant to a Term Loan Supplement, without the consent of any other Lenders, to the extent (but only to the extent) necessary to reflect the existence and terms of the Class of Loans incurred pursuant thereto, and the Lenders hereby expressly authorize the Term Agent to enter into any such Term Loan Supplement; but no such Term Loan Supplement shall establish any Class of Loans or effect any other amendment prohibited by this Agreement or any Term Loan Supplement governing Loans of any other Class that remain outstanding. This Section shall control Section 12.1 and any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary.

 

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2.2              Disbursement of Funds.

 

(a)               No later than 11:00 a.m. on the Closing Date for a Class of Loans, each Lender of such Class of Loans will make available its pro rata portion of such Loans requested to be made on such date in the manner provided below.

 

(b)               Each Lender of a Class of Loans shall make available all amounts it is to fund to the Borrower under any Class of Loans in immediately available funds to the Term Agent at the Term Agent’s Office in Dollars, and the Term Agent will make available to the Borrower, by depositing or wiring to an account as designated by the Borrower in a written notice to the Term Agent the aggregate of the amounts so made available in Dollars.

 

2.3              Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt.

 

(a)               The Borrower hereby promises to pay to the Term Agent, for the benefit of the applicable Lenders for a Class of Loans, on the Maturity Date for such Class, the then-outstanding principal amount of all Loans comprising such Class.

 

(b)               The Term Agent shall maintain the Register pursuant to Section 12.6(b), and a subaccount for each Lender, in which Register and subaccounts (taken together) shall be recorded (i) the Class and the amount of each Loan made hereunder, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower hereunder, (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Term Agent hereunder from the Borrower and (iv) in each such subaccount, each Lender’s share of each of the foregoing.

 

(c)               The entries made in the Register and accounts and subaccounts maintained pursuant to clauses (b) and (c) of this Section shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Requirements of Law, be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations of the Borrower therein recorded; but the failure of any Lender or the Term Agent to maintain such account, such Register or such subaccount, as applicable, or any error therein, shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay (with applicable interest) the Loans made to the Borrower by such Lender in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

2.4              Pro Rata Borrowings. Each Borrowing of a Class of Loans under this Agreement shall be made by the Lenders of such Class pro rata on the basis of their then-applicable Commitment Percentages. It is understood that (a) no Lender shall be responsible for any default by any other Lender in its obligation to make Loans hereunder and that each Lender severally but not jointly shall be obligated to make the Loans provided to be made by it hereunder, regardless of the failure of any other Lender to fulfill its commitments hereunder and (b) failure by a Lender to perform any of its obligations under any Credit Document shall not release any Person from performance of its obligation under any Credit Document.

 

2.5              Defaulting Lenders. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the following provisions shall apply for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender:

 

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(a)               Any commitment fees or ticking fees provided for in the applicable Term Loan Supplement shall cease to accrue on any unfunded portion of the Class Commitment of such Defaulting Lender.

 

(b)               The Commitment and the Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether all Lenders or the Majority Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment or waiver pursuant to Section 12.1); but any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders pursuant to Section 12.1 (other than Section 12.1(D)), shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender (which for the avoidance of doubt would include any change to the Maturity Date(s) of any Class of Loans for which applicable to such Defaulting Lender is a Lender, decreasing or forgiving any principal or interest due to such Defaulting Lender, any decrease of any interest rate applicable to Loans made by such Defaulting Lender (other than the waiving of post-default interest rates) and any increase in such Defaulting Lender’s Class Commitment).

 

(c)               If, in its discretion, the Borrower gives written notice to the Term Agent that a Defaulting Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, the Term Agent will so notify the other Lenders, whereupon, as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein, that Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase at par that portion of outstanding Loans of the applicable Class(es) of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Term Agent may determine (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) to be necessary to cause the Loans to be held pro rata by the Lenders in accordance with the Class Commitments, whereupon such Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; but no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; provided, further that, except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Non-Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from such Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

 

(d)               Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Term Agent for the account of that Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Article X or otherwise), shall be applied as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by that Defaulting Lender to the Term Agent hereunder; second, as the Borrower may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which that Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement; third, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender against that Defaulting Lender as a result of that Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; fourth, so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against that Defaulting Lender as a result of that Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and fifth, to that Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; but if such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the relevant Loans of the relevant non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis before being applied in the manner set forth in this Section 2.5(d). Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender shall be deemed paid to and redirected by that Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

 

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ARTICLE III
Fees; Commitments

 

3.1              Fees. The Borrower agrees to pay to the Term Agent, for its own account, the fees set forth in the Fee Letter at the times and in the amounts specified therein. Such fees shall be fully earned when due and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever and will be in addition to the reimbursement of the Term Agent’s out-of-pocket expenses in accordance with Section 12.5.

 

3.2              Termination of Commitments. Class Commitments shall terminate as described in the applicable Term Loan Supplement for such Class of Loans.

 

ARTICLE IV
Payments

 

4.1              Mandatory Prepayments.

 

(a)               Prepayment of Loans Following a Disposition.

 

(i)                 Within 365 days after receipt of Net Cash Proceeds from a Collateral Sale or Casualty Event, the Borrower shall use the Net Cash Proceeds received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiaries of such Collateral Sale or Casualty Event at its option:

 

(A)             to acquire assets constituting Proved Reserves;

 

(B)              to fund drilling and completion Capital Expenditures and activities, related costs and related general and administrative expenses (other than capitalized interest) undertaken with a view to adding to the Proved Reserves of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, all as reasonably determined by the Borrower;

 

(C)              (i) repurchase, prepay or redeem Indebtedness with a stated maturity date on or before the earliest Maturity Date of any Class of Loans or (ii) repay borrowings under the Revolving Credit Agreement if either (1) required in connection with a reduction of the Borrowing Base thereunder or (2) accompanied by a reduction in commitments thereunder in the same amount; or

 

(D)              any combination of the foregoing;

 

but a binding commitment to acquire Proved Reserves (or a Person engaged in the Oil and Gas Business owning Proved Reserves) entered into within 365 days of the consummation of the Collateral Sale or Casualty Event that generated the Net Cash Proceeds shall be treated as a permitted application of the Net Cash Proceeds from the date of such commitment so long as the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary enters into such commitment with the good faith expectation that such Net Cash Proceeds will be applied to satisfy such commitment within 545 days after the consummation of the Collateral Sale or Casualty Event that generated such Net Cash Proceeds and, in the event such commitment is later cancelled or terminated for any reason before the Net Cash Proceeds are applied in connection therewith, then such Net Cash Proceeds shall constitute Excess Collateral Proceeds as described below as of the date of such cancellation or termination.

 

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(ii)              Any Net Cash Proceeds from any Collateral Sale or Casualty Event that are not applied or invested as provided in Section 4.1(a)(i) will constitute “Excess Collateral Proceeds.” When the aggregate amount of Excess Collateral Proceeds exceeds $60,000,000, the Borrower will, within 45 days, make an offer to all Lenders, and, if required by the terms of other Indebtedness that is secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Facility containing provisions similar to those set forth in this Section 4.1(a) with respect to offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets, to all holders of such other similar Indebtedness that is secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Facility (a “Collateral Sale Offer”) to purchase the maximum principal amount of Loans and/or such Indebtedness that may be purchased out of the Excess Collateral Proceeds; but, (A) notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Borrower shall not be required to commence any Collateral Sale Offer if, as of the date of the most recent reserve report delivered (or required to be delivered) on or before the date such Collateral Sale Offer would otherwise be required to be made, the PV-10 Collateral Coverage Ratio equals or exceeds 1.75 to 1.00 and (B) notwithstanding that a Collateral Sale Offer may be made to all Lenders and holders of other Indebtedness secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Facility, (1) to the extent required by the Collateral Trust Agreement, Excess Collateral Proceeds shall, or may, as applicable, be applied first to prepay the obligations under (x) the Revolving Credit Agreement and (y) any Permitted Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness permitted hereunder with priority in the payment of Foreclosure Proceeds over all Loans, with any remaining Excess Collateral Proceeds being applied as provided in this Section 4.1(a) and (2) any remaining Excess Collateral Proceeds shall be applied to prepay Loans in the order of their priority in the payment of Foreclosure Proceeds. The offer price in any Collateral Sale Offer will be equal to 100% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, to, but excluding, the date of purchase, and will be payable in cash.

 

(iii)            The Borrower shall commence a Collateral Sale Offer by mailing (with a copy to the Term Agent), or the Term Agent, at the Borrower’s written request and expense, mailing or causing to be mailed (or otherwise communicating in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Term Agent) to all Lenders (and, if applicable, holders of any Permitted Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness), a notice prepared by the Borrower of the Collateral Sale Offer and of the Lenders’ rights arising as a result thereof. The notice will contain all instructions and materials necessary to enable Lenders to elect to have a portion of their Loans prepaid. The notice, which shall govern the terms of the Collateral Sale Offer, shall state:

 

(A)             that the Collateral Sale Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 4.1(a);

 

(B)              the aggregate amount of prepayments being offered to be made on the Loans and the payment date;

 

(C)              that any Loans not prepaid will continue to accrue interest at the stated rate(s);

 

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(D)             that any Loans prepaid pursuant to the Collateral Sale Offer shall cease to accrue interest on the payment date; and

 

(E)              that Lenders will be entitled to withdraw their election to have a portion of their Loans prepaid if the Borrower or Term Agent, as the case may be, receives, not later than the expiration of the Collateral Sale Offer, or such longer period as may be required by law, a written notice to such effect in the form specified in the Collateral Sale Offer.

 

The Collateral Sale Offer shall be deemed to have commenced upon mailing (or other communication in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Term Agent) of the notice and shall terminate 20 Business Days after its commencement, unless a longer offering period is required by law. If the aggregate principal amount of Loans and other Indebtedness that is secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Facility tendered into such Collateral Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Collateral Proceeds, the Excess Collateral Proceeds will be allocated as provided in Section 4.1(a)(ii) and, as among the Loans and other Indebtedness of a given priority in respect of Foreclosure Proceeds, based on the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Loans and other Indebtedness of such priority elected to be prepaid. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Borrower may use any remaining Excess Collateral Proceeds that are not used to optionally prepay, repurchase or redeem or otherwise defease any Junior Debt. Upon completion of each Collateral Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Collateral Proceeds will be reset at zero.

 

(iv)             Pending the final application of any Net Cash Proceeds pursuant to this Section 4.1(a), the holder of such Net Cash Proceeds may apply such Net Cash Proceeds temporarily to reduce obligations under a revolving credit facility or otherwise invest such Net Cash Proceeds in any manner not prohibited by this Agreement. If any Excess Collateral Proceeds remain after consummation of the Collateral Sale Offer, the Borrower may use those funds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by this Agreement and they will no longer constitute Excess Collateral Proceeds.

 

(b)               Prepayment Following a Change of Control. Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Borrower (or a third party, on the Borrower’s behalf) will make an offer (a “Change of Control Offer”) to each Lender to prepay all or any part of that Lender’s Loans at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the principal amount of such Loans prepaid, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Loans prepaid to the date of purchase (the “Change of Control Prepayment”). Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Borrower will deliver a written notice to the Term Agent describing briefly the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control and stating:

 

(i)                 that the Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this Section and that all Loans or portions thereof may be prepaid if requested by any Lender;

 

(ii)              the Change of Control Prepayment and the purchase date, which shall be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is sent (the “Change of Control Purchase Date”);

 

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(iii)            that any Loan not prepaid will remain outstanding;

 

(iv)             that, unless the Borrower defaults in the payment of the Change of Control Prepayment, all Loans accepted for prepayment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer will cease to accrue interest on and after the Change of Control Purchase Date;

 

(v)               that Lenders electing to have any Loans prepaid pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required to deliver written notice to the Term Agent and the Borrower before the close of business on the Change of Control Purchase Date; and

 

(vi)             that Lenders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the Term Agent and Borrower receives, not later than the close of business on the Change of Control Purchase Date, a written notice that such Lender is withdrawing its election to have the Loans prepaid.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, a Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, conditioned upon the consummation of such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time the Change of Control Offer is made.

 

(c)               Prepayment Following Issuance of Certain Indebtedness. Upon the incurrence of any Indebtedness by the Borrower and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness permitted hereunder), the Borrower shall prepay an aggregate principal of Loans equal to 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds received by the Borrower and/or Restricted Subsidiaries from such incurrence of Indebtedness; but to the extent required by the Collateral Trust Agreement, such Net Cash Proceeds shall, or may, as applicable, be applied first to prepay or offer to prepay the obligations under the Revolving Credit Agreement, with any remaining Net Cash Proceeds being applied as provided in this Section 4.1(c). Such prepayments shall be made pro rata in accordance with each Lender’s Total Exposure Percentage.

 

4.2              Method and Place of Payment.

 

(a)               Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, all payments under this Agreement shall be made by the Borrower without set-off, counterclaim or deduction of any kind, to the Term Agent for the ratable account of the Lenders entitled thereto, as the case may be, not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date when due and shall be made in immediately available funds at the Term Agent’s Office or at such other office as the Term Agent shall specify for such purpose by notice to the Borrower; it being understood that written or facsimile notice by the Borrower to the Term Agent to make a payment from the funds in the Borrower’s account (if any) at the Term Agent’s Office shall constitute the making of such payment to the extent of such funds held in such account. All repayments or prepayments of any Loans (whether of principal, interest or otherwise) hereunder and all other payments under each Credit Document shall be made in Dollars. The Term Agent will thereafter cause to be distributed on the same day (if payment was actually received by the Term Agent before 2:00 p.m. or, if payment was not actually so received by the Term Agent by such time, on the next Business Day in the sole discretion of the Term Agent), like funds relating to the payment of principal or interest or fees ratably to the Lenders entitled thereto.

 

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(b)               For purposes of computing interest or fees, any payments under this Agreement that are made later than 2:00 p.m. in respect of Loans shall be deemed to have been made on the next succeeding Business Day. Whenever any payment to be made hereunder shall be stated to be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the due date thereof shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day and, with respect to payments of principal, interest shall be payable during such extension at the applicable rate in effect immediately before such extension.

 

4.3              Net Payments.

 

(a)               Any and all payments made by or on behalf of any Credit Party under any Credit Document shall be made free and clear of, and without deduction or withholding for or on account of, any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes; but if any Credit Party or the Term Agent shall be required by applicable Requirements of Law to deduct or withhold any Taxes from such payments, then (i) such Credit Party or the Term Agent shall make such deductions or withholdings as are reasonably determined by such Credit Party or the Term Agent to be required by any applicable Requirement of Law, (ii) such Credit Party or the Term Agent, as applicable, shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority within the time allowed and in accordance with applicable Requirements of Law and (iii) to the extent withholding or deduction is required to be made on account of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes, the sum payable by such Credit Party shall be increased as necessary so that, after making all required deductions and withholdings (including deductions or withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section), the Term Agent or any Lender, as the case may be, receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions or withholdings on account of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes been made. Whenever any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes are payable by such Credit Party, as promptly as possible thereafter, such Credit Party shall send to the Term Agent for its own account or for the account of such Lender, as the case may be, a certified copy of an official receipt (or other evidence acceptable to such Lender, acting reasonably) received by such Credit Party showing payment thereof. After any payment of Taxes by any Credit Party to a Governmental Authority as provided in this Section, such Credit Party shall deliver to the Term Agent a copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of any return required by laws to report such payment or other evidence of such payment.

 

(b)               The Borrower shall timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Law, or at the option of the Term Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of, any Other Taxes.

 

(c)               The Credit Parties shall indemnify and hold harmless the Term Agent and each Lender within 15 Business Days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed on the Term Agent or such Lender, as the case may be (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section), and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate setting forth in reasonable detail the basis and calculation of the amount of such payment or liability delivered (together with sufficient supporting information to substantiate such payment or liability) to the Borrower by a Lender or the Term Agent (as applicable) on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

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(d)               Each Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Term Agent, at such time or times prescribed by applicable Law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Term Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable Law and such other reasonably requested information as will permit the Borrower or the Term Agent, as the case may be, to determine (A) whether or not any payments made under any Credit Document are subject to Taxes, (B) if applicable, the required rate of withholding or deduction, and (C) such Lender’s entitlement to any available exemption from, or reduction of, applicable Taxes in respect of any payments to be made to such Lender by any Credit Party pursuant to any Credit Document or otherwise to establish such Lender’s status for withholding tax purposes in the applicable jurisdiction. In addition, any Lender, if requested by the Borrower or the Term Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable Law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Term Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Term Agent, as the case may be, to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than the documentation set forth in Section 4.3(e), (h) and (i)) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.

 

(e)               Without limiting the generality of Section 4.3(d), any Non-U.S. Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Term Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the Borrower or the Term Agent) on or before the date on which such Non-U.S. Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Term Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:

 

(i)                 in the case of a Non-U.S. Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Credit Document, duly completed, valid, and executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, United States federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “interest” article of such tax treaty and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under any Credit Document, IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, United States federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “business profits” or “other income” article of such tax treaty;

 

(ii)              duly completed, valid, and executed originals of IRS Form W-8ECI;

 

(iii)            in the case of a Non-U.S. Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate to the effect that such Non-U.S. Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) duly completed, valid, and executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E; or

 

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(iv)             to the extent a Non-U.S. Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed originals of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate, IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; but if the Non-U.S. Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Non-U.S. Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Non-U.S. Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;

 

(v)               duly completed, valid, and executed updated originals of any such form or certification (or any applicable successor form) on or before the date that any such form or certification expires or becomes obsolete, inaccurate or invalid, after the occurrence of any event requiring a change in the most recent form previously delivered by it to the Borrower, and from time to time thereafter if reasonably requested by the Borrower and the Term Agent; and

 

(vi)             duly completed, valid, and executed originals of any other form prescribed by applicable U.S. federal income tax law (including the United States Treasury Regulations) as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in United States federal withholding Tax on any payments to such Lender under the Credit Documents;

 

unless in any such case any Change in Law has occurred before the date on which any such delivery would otherwise be required that renders any such form inapplicable or would prevent such Non-U.S. Lender from duly completing and delivering any such form with respect to it and such Non-U.S. Lender promptly so advises the Borrower and the Term Agent in writing. Each Person that shall become a Participant pursuant to Section 12.6 or a Lender pursuant to Section 12.6 shall, upon the effectiveness of the related transfer, be required to provide all the forms and statements required pursuant to this Section 4.3(e); but in the case of a Participant, such Participant shall furnish all such required forms and statements to the Lender from which the related participation shall have been purchased.

 

(f)                If any Lender or the Term Agent, as applicable, determines, in its sole discretion, that it had received and retained a refund of an Indemnified Tax or Other Tax for which a payment has been made by any Credit Party pursuant to any Credit Document, which refund in the good faith judgment of such Lender or the Term Agent, as the case may be, is attributable to such payment made by any Credit Party, then such Lender or the Term Agent, as the case may be, shall promptly reimburse such Credit Party for such amount (net of all out-of-pocket expenses of such Lender or the Term Agent, as the case may be, and without interest other than any interest received thereon from the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund) as such Lender or the Term Agent, as the case may be, determines in its sole discretion to be the proportion of the refund as will leave it, after such reimbursement, in no better or worse position (taking into account expenses or any taxes imposed on the refund) than it would have been in if the payment had not been required; but such Credit Party, upon the request of such Lender or the Term Agent, as the case may be, agrees to repay the amount paid over to such Credit Party (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to such Lender or the Term Agent, as the case may be, in the event such Lender or the Term Agent, as the case may be, is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. In such event, such Lender or the Term Agent, as the case may be, shall, at the Borrower’s request, provide the Borrower with a copy of any notice of assessment or other evidence of the requirement to repay such refund received from the relevant Governmental Authority (but such Lender or the Term Agent, as the case may be, may delete any information therein that it deems confidential). Each Lender and the Term Agent shall claim any refund that it determines is available to it, unless it concludes in its sole discretion that it would be adversely affected by making such a claim. Neither the Term Agent nor any Lender shall be obliged to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes that it deems confidential) to any Credit Party in connection with this clause (f) or any other provision of this Section. For purposes of this clause (f), the term “refund” shall include the monetary benefit of a credit received in lieu of a refund.

 

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(g)               If the Borrower determines that a reasonable basis exists for contesting an Indemnified Tax or Other Tax, each Lender or the Term Agent, as the case may be, shall use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrower as the Borrower may reasonably request in challenging such tax. The Borrower shall indemnify and hold each Lender and the Term Agent harmless against any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such Person in connection with any written request made by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 4.3(g). Nothing in this Section 4.3(g) shall obligate any Lender or the Term Agent to take any action that such Person, in its sole judgment, determines may result in a material detriment to such Person.

 

(h)               The Term Agent and each Lender that is a United States person under Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code (each, a “U.S. Lender”) shall deliver to the Borrower and the Term Agent two IRS Forms W-9 (or substitute or successor form), properly completed and duly executed, certifying that such Person is exempt from United States federal backup withholding (i) on or before the Closing Date (or on or before the date it becomes a party to this Agreement), (ii) on or before the date that such form expires or becomes obsolete, inaccurate or invalid, (iii) after the occurrence of a change in Person’s circumstances requiring a change in the most recent form previously delivered by it to the Borrower and the Term Agent, and (iv) from time to time thereafter if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Term Agent.

 

(i)                 If a payment made to any Lender or the Term Agent under any Credit Document would be subject to United States federal withholding tax imposed by FATCA if such Person were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Person shall deliver to the Borrower and the Term Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Term Agent, as the case may be, such documentation prescribed by applicable Law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Term Agent, as the case may be, as may be necessary for the Borrower or the Term Agent, as the case may be, to comply with their obligations under FATCA, to determine that such Person has or has not complied with such Person’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount, if any, to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this Section 4.3(i), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

 

(j)                 For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Section, the term “Lender” includes all Lenders for each Class of Loans.

 

(k)               The agreements in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

 

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4.4              Limit on Rate of Interest.

 

(a)               No Payment Shall Exceed Lawful Rate. Notwithstanding any other term of this Agreement, the Borrower shall not be obligated to pay any interest or other amounts under or in connection with this Agreement or otherwise in respect to any Obligation in excess of the amount or rate permitted under or consistent with any applicable Requirement of Law.

 

(b)               Payment at Highest Lawful Rate. If the Borrower is not obliged to make a payment that it would otherwise be required to make, as a result of Section 4.4(a), the Borrower shall make such payment to the maximum extent permitted by or consistent with applicable Requirement of Law.

 

(c)               Adjustment if Any Payment Exceeds Lawful Rate. If any provision of any Credit Document would obligate any Credit Party to make any payment of interest or other amount payable to any Lender in an amount or calculated at a rate that would be prohibited by any applicable Requirement of Law, then notwithstanding such provision, such amount or rate shall be deemed to have been adjusted with retroactive effect to the maximum amount or rate of interest, as the case may be, as would not be so prohibited by applicable Requirements of Law, such adjustment to be effected, to the extent necessary, by reducing the amount or rate of interest required to be paid by the Borrower to the affected Lender under any provision in a Term Loan Supplement governing the interest rate(s) applicable to the applicable Class of Loans.

 

(d)               Rebate of Excess Interest. Notwithstanding the foregoing, and after giving effect to all adjustments contemplated thereby, if any Lender shall have received from the Borrower an amount in excess of the maximum permitted by any applicable Requirement of Law, then the Borrower shall be entitled, by notice in writing to the Term Agent to obtain reimbursement from that Lender in an amount equal to such excess, and pending such reimbursement, such amount shall be deemed to be an amount payable by that Lender to the Borrower.

 

ARTICLE V
Conditions Precedent to Initial Effectiveness

 

This Agreement shall become effective on the date (the “Initial Closing Date”) on which each of the following conditions have been satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 12.1):

 

5.1              Executed Term Loan Agreement. The Term Agent and the Initial Class A Lenders shall have received (including by facsimile or other electronic means) this Agreement, executed and delivered by a duly Authorized Officer of the Borrower and of the Term Agent.

 

5.2              Secretary’s Certificates. The Term Agent and the Initial Class A Lenders shall have received certificates of the secretary or an assistant secretary of each Credit Party containing specimen signatures of the Persons authorized to execute Credit Documents to which such Credit Party is a party, together with (a) a copy of the resolutions of the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof (or other equivalent governing body) of such Credit Party authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Credit Documents to which it is a party and (b) true and complete copies of each of the organizational documents of such Credit Party as of the Initial Closing Date.

 

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5.3              Good Standing Certificate of the Credit Parties. The Term Agent and the Initial Class A Lenders shall have received a certificate of good standing (or the equivalent) from the appropriate governing agency of each Credit Party’s jurisdiction of organization (to the extent good standing (or the equivalent) has meaning in such jurisdiction).

 

5.4              Certain Credit Documents. The Term Agent and the Initial Class A Lenders shall have received the Guarantee, the Security Agreement, a Priority Confirmation Joinder (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) to the Intercreditor Agreement and the Collateral Trust Agreement, executed and delivered by a duly Authorized Officer of each Person that is a party thereto as of the Initial Closing Date (including, in the case of the Guarantee, the Security Agreement and the Collateral Trust Agreement, each Subsidiary that at the time is a Guarantor under and as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement), and the same shall be in full force and effect as of the Initial Closing Date. The Term Agent shall have received written notification from the Borrower the conditions set forth in Section 4.04(b) of the Intercreditor Agreement have been satisfied with respect to the Obligations.

 

5.5              Legal Opinions. The Term Agent and the Initial Class A Lenders shall have received, on behalf of itself and the Majority Lenders, (a) the executed legal opinion of Baker Botts L.L.P., counsel to the Borrower, and (b) the executed legal opinion of Derrick & Briggs, LLP, Oklahoma counsel to the Borrower, in each case addressing customary matters for such legal opinions. The Credit Parties hereby instruct such counsel to deliver such legal opinions.

 

5.6              Closing Certificate. The Term Agent and the Initial Class A Lenders shall have received a certificate of the Borrower, dated the Initial Closing Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit B.

 

5.7              Fees. All fees required to be paid on the Initial Closing Date pursuant to the Fee Letter and the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses required to be paid on the Initial Closing Date pursuant, to the extent invoiced at least two Business Days before the Initial Closing Date (except as otherwise reasonably agreed by the Borrower), shall have been, or will be substantially simultaneously, paid.

 

5.8              KYC Information. The Term Agent shall have received all documentation and other information (including Beneficial Ownership Certifications) about the Credit Parties as shall have been reasonably requested in writing by the Term Agent at least seven calendar days before the Initial Closing Date and as is mutually agreed to be required by U.S. regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer,” beneficial ownership and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, including the Patriot Act and if the Borrower qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, a Beneficial Ownership Certification in respect of the Borrower.

 

5.9              Insurance. The Term Agent shall have received written notice confirming that the Collateral Trustee shall have received copies of insurance certificates evidencing the insurance required to be maintained by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries pursuant to Section 8.3.

 

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5.10          Solvency Certificate. The Term Agent and the Lenders with respect to the Class A Loans shall have received a solvency certificate from the chief financial officer or controller (or other financial officer) of the Borrower, dated as of the Initial Closing Date, setting forth the conclusion that (after giving effect to the consummation of the Transactions through the Initial Closing Date), the Borrower, on a consolidated basis with its Restricted Subsidiaries, is Solvent. A certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B, if executed by the chief financial officer or controller (or other financial officer) of the Borrower will satisfy this condition precedent.

 

Without limiting the generality of the provisions of Section 11.03, for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Article V, each Initial Class A Lender as of the Closing Date shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required hereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Term Agent shall have received written notice from such Lender prior to the Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.

 

ARTICLE VI
Conditions Precedent to Each Class of Loans

 

The agreement of each Lender to make any Loan (in each case, with respect to a Class of Loans) requested to be made by it on any date on or after the Initial Closing Date, is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

 

6.1              Executed Term Loan Supplement. The Term Agent and each Lender with respect to such Class shall have received (including by facsimile or other electronic means) the Term Loan Supplement for such Class of Loans, executed and delivered by a duly Authorized Officer of the Borrower, the Term Agent and each Lender of such Class of Loans.

 

6.2              Secretary’s Certificates. The Term Agent and each Lender with respect to such Class shall have received a certificate of the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Borrower containing specimen signatures of the Persons authorized to execute the Term Loan Supplement for such Class of Loans, together with (a) a copy of the resolutions of the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereto (or other equivalent governing body) of the Borrower authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of such Term Loan Supplement and (b) true and complete copies of each of the organizational documents of the Borrower as of the Closing Date for such Class of Loans (or a certification that the organizational documents of the Borrower attached to a certificate of the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Borrower and delivered to the Term Agent in connection with another Class of Loans are true and complete copies of the same as of such Closing Date).

 

6.3              Good Standing Certificate of the Credit Parties. The Term Agent and each Lender with respect to such Class shall have received a certificate of good standing (or the equivalent) from the appropriate governing agency of each Credit Party’s jurisdiction of organization (to the extent good standing (or the equivalent) has meaning in such jurisdiction).

 

6.4              Closing Certificate. The Term Agent and each Lender with respect to such Class shall have received a certificate of the Borrower, dated the Closing Date for such Class of Loans, substantially in the form of Exhibit B.

 

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6.5              Solvency Certificate. The Term Agent and each Lender with respect to such Class shall have received a solvency certificate from the chief financial officer or controller (or other financial officer) of the Borrower, dated as of the Closing Date for such Class of Loans. A certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B, if executed by the chief financial officer or controller (or other financial officer) of the Borrower will satisfy this condition precedent.

 

6.6              No Default; Representations and Warranties. At the time of each Credit Event and also immediately after giving effect thereto (a) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (b) all representations and warranties made by any Credit Party contained herein after giving effect to the applicable Term Loan Supplement in such Term Loan Supplement or in the Security Documents shall be, to the knowledge of the Authorized Officers of the Borrower, true and correct in all material respects (unless such representations and warranties are already qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case they are true and correct in all respects) with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on and as of the date of such Credit Event (except where such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall have been true and correct in all material respects (unless such representations and warranties are already qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case they are true and correct in all respects) as of such earlier date) and (c) to the knowledge of the Authorized Officers of the Borrower, no Material Adverse Effect has occurred since December 31, 2018.

 

6.7              Conditions Precedent in Term Loan Supplement. Before any Credit Event with respect to a Class of Loans, all conditions precedent included in the applicable Term Loan Supplement for such Class of Loans shall be satisfied.

 

6.8              Funding Notice. The Term Agent shall have received a written request from the Borrower, no later than 11:00 a.m. two Business Days prior to the requested funding date for such Class, setting forth the date of the proposed funding, the amount requested to be funded and the initial interest period therefor.

 

Without limiting the generality of the provisions of Section 11.03, for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Article VI, each Lender of a Class of Loans as of the funding date for such Class shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required hereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Term Agent shall have received written notice from such Lender prior to such funding date specifying its objection thereto.

 

ARTICLE VII
Representations and Warranties

 

In order to induce the Lenders to enter into this Agreement and to make the Loans as provided for herein, the Borrower makes, on the Initial Closing Date and on the Closing Date of each Class, the following representations and warranties to the Term Agent and, on each Closing Date for a Class of Loans, the following representations and warranties to the Lenders of such Class:

 

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7.1              Corporate Status. Each of the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary (a) is a duly organized and validly existing corporation or other entity in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, (b) has the corporate or other organizational power and authority to own its property and assets and to transact the business in which it is engaged, and (c) has duly qualified and is authorized to do business and is in good standing in all jurisdictions where it is required to be so qualified, except in each case referred to in clauses (b) and (c), where the failure to have such power and authority or be so qualified would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

7.2              Corporate Power and Authority; Enforceability. Each Credit Party has the corporate or other organizational power and authority to execute, deliver and carry out the terms and provisions of the Credit Documents to which it is a party and has taken all necessary corporate or other organizational action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of the Credit Documents to which it is a party. Each Credit Party has duly executed and delivered each Credit Document to which it is a party and each such Credit Document constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Credit Party enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or law).

 

7.3              No Violation. None of the execution, delivery or performance by any Credit Party of the Credit Documents to which it is a party or the compliance with the terms and provisions thereof will (a) contravene any material applicable provision of any material Requirement of Law, (b) result in any breach of any term, covenant, condition or provision of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of (or the obligation to create or impose) any Lien upon any of the property or assets of such Credit Party or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than Liens created under the Credit Documents) pursuant to the terms of any indenture, loan agreement, lease agreement, mortgage, deed of trust, agreement or other instrument to which such Credit Party or any Restricted Subsidiary is a party or by which it or any of its property or assets is bound (any such term, covenant, condition or provision, a “Contractual Requirement”) except to the extent such breach, default or Lien would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or (c) violate any provision of the certificate of incorporation, by-laws or other organizational documents of such Credit Party or any Restricted Subsidiary.

 

7.4              Litigation. Except as set forth on Schedule 7.4, as of the Initial Closing Date, or as disclosed in the Term Loan Supplement for a Class of Loans, as of the Closing Date for such Class, there are no actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower, threatened with respect to the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

7.5              Margin Regulations. The proceeds of the Loans will not be used by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in violation of the provisions of Regulation T, Regulation U or Regulation X. The Borrower is not engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of buying or carrying margin stock.

 

7.6              Governmental Approvals. The execution, delivery and performance of each Credit Document do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or other action by, any Governmental Authority, except for (a) such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect, (b) filings and recordings in respect of the Liens created pursuant to the Security Documents, (c) any reports required to be filed by the Borrower with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act, (d) those that may be required from time to time in the ordinary course of business that may be required to comply with certain covenants contained in the Credit Documents and (e) such consents, approvals, registrations, filings or actions the failure of which to obtain or make would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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7.7              Investment Company Act. No Credit Party is an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

7.8              True and Complete Disclosure.

 

(a)               None of the written factual information and written data (taken as a whole) furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any of their respective authorized representatives to the Term Agent on or before the Initial Closing Date, or to the Term Agent and/or the Lenders of a Class on or before the Closing Date of such Class (including all such information and data contained in the Credit Documents) for purposes of or in connection with this Agreement or any transaction contemplated herein contained any untrue statement of any material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary to make such information and data (taken as a whole) not materially misleading at such time (after giving effect to all supplements so furnished before such time) in light of the circumstances under which such information or data was furnished; it being understood and agreed that for purposes of this Section 7.8(a), such factual information and data shall not include pro forma financial information, projections or estimates (including financial estimates, forecasts and other forward-looking information) and information of a general economic or general industry nature.

 

(b)               The projections (including financial estimates, forecasts and other forward-looking information) contained in the information and data referred to in Section 7.8(a) were based on good faith estimates and assumptions believed by the Borrower to be reasonable at the time made; it being recognized by the Term Agent and the Lenders that such projections are as to future events and are not to be viewed as facts, the projections are subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, that no assurance can be given that any particular projections will be realized and that actual results during the period or periods covered by any such projections may differ from the projected results and such differences may be material.

 

7.9              Financial Condition; Financial Statements.

 

(a)               On the Initial Closing Date, the Historical Financial Statements present fairly in all material respects the combined consolidated financial position of the Borrower and the combined consolidated Subsidiaries at the dates of such information and for the period covered thereby and have been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied except to the extent provided in the notes thereto, if any, subject, in the case of the unaudited financial information, to changes resulting from audit, normal year end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

 

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(b)               On the Initial Closing Date, neither the Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary has any material Indebtedness (including Disqualified Stock), off balance sheet liabilities, partnership liabilities for taxes or unusual forward or long-term commitments that, in each case, are not reflected or provided for in the Historical Financial Statements, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

7.10          Tax Matters. Except where the failure of which would not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, each of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries has filed all United States federal income tax returns and all other tax returns, domestic and foreign, required to be filed by it and has paid or caused to be paid all material Taxes payable by it that have become due, other than those (i) not yet delinquent or (ii) being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and as to which adequate reserves have been provided to the extent required by and in accordance with GAAP.

 

7.11          Compliance with ERISA. No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Each Plan is in compliance with applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other applicable Laws except to the extent failure to comply would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

7.12          Subsidiaries. Schedule 7.12 lists each Material Subsidiary existing on the Initial Closing Date. Each Guarantor, Material Subsidiary and Unrestricted Subsidiary as of the Initial Closing Date has been so designated on Schedule 7.12.

 

7.13          Environmental Laws.

 

(a)               On the Initial Closing Date, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: (i) the Borrower, each Restricted Subsidiary and all Oil and Gas Properties are in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws; (ii) neither the Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary has received written notice of any liability under any applicable Environmental Law; (iii) neither the Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary is conducting any investigation, removal, remedial or other corrective action pursuant to any applicable Environmental Law at any location; and (iv) there has been no release or, to the knowledge of any Authorized Officer of the Borrower, threatened release of any Hazardous Materials at, on, under or from any Oil and Gas Properties currently owned or leased by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

(b)               On the Initial Closing Date and on the Closing Date of each Class, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary has treated, stored, transported, released or disposed or arranged for disposal or transport for disposal of Hazardous Materials at, on, under or from any currently or formerly owned or leased Oil and Gas Properties or facility in a manner that would reasonably be expected to give rise to liability of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary under any applicable Environmental Law.

 

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7.14          Properties. Each Credit Party has good and defensible title to all of its material properties and assets, free and clear of all Liens other than Liens permitted under Section 9.2 and of all impediments to the use of such properties and assets in such Credit Party’s business, except that no representation or warranty is made with respect to any oil, gas or mineral property or interest to which no Proved Reserves are properly attributed. Except for Liens permitted under Section 9.2, each Credit Party will respectively own in the aggregate, in all material respects, the net interests in production attributable to all material wells and units owned by the Credit Party. The ownership of such properties shall not in the aggregate in any material respect obligate such Credit Party to bear the costs and expenses relating to the maintenance, development and operations of such properties in an amount materially in excess of the working interest of such properties. Each Credit Party has paid in all material respects all royalties payable under the oil and gas leases to which it is operator, except those contested in accordance with the terms of the applicable joint operating agreement or otherwise contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which reserves in conformity with GAAP have been provided on the books of such Credit Party.

 

7.15          Solvency. The Borrower, on a consolidated basis with its Restricted Subsidiaries, is Solvent.

 

7.16          Hedge Agreements. As of the Initial Closing Date, the Hedge Agreements of the Credit Parties are in compliance with Section 9.10.

 

7.17          No Default. On the Initial Closing Date, no Credit Party is in default under or with respect to any Contractual Requirement that would, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from the consummation of the Transactions.

 

7.18          Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions. The Borrower has implemented and maintains in effect policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by the Borrower, the Subsidiaries and its directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions, and the Borrower, the Subsidiaries and their respective officers and employees and, to the knowledge of the Authorized Officers of the Borrower, its directors and agents, are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects and are not knowingly engaged in any activity that would reasonably be expected to result in the Borrower being designated as a Sanctioned Person. None of (a) the Borrower, any Subsidiary or, to the knowledge of the Authorized Officers of the Borrower, any of their respective directors, officers or employees, or (b) to the knowledge of the Authorized Officers of the Borrower, any agent of the Borrower or any Subsidiary that will act in any capacity in connection with or benefit from the Facility, is a Sanctioned Person. No Loan, use of proceeds or other Transactions will violate Anti-Corruption Laws or applicable Sanctions.

 

7.19          Pari Passu or Priority Status. No Credit Party has taken any action which would cause the claims of unsecured creditors of any Credit Party (other than claims of such creditors to the extent that they are statutorily preferred or Permitted Liens) to have priority over the claims of the Term Agent and the Term Loan Secured Parties against such Credit Party under the Credit Documents.

 

7.20          No Material Adverse Effect. No Material Adverse Effect has occurred since December 31, 2018.

 

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7.21          EEA Financial Institution. No Credit Party is an EEA Financial Institution.

 

7.22          Beneficial Ownership Certification. As of the Initial Closing Date, the information in the Beneficial Ownership Certifications delivered to the Term Agent is true and correct in all material respects.

 

7.23          Plan Assets; Prohibited Transactions. None of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is an entity deemed to hold “plan assets” (within the meaning of the Plan Asset Regulations), and neither the execution, delivery nor performance of the transactions contemplated under this Agreement, including the making of any Loan, will give rise to a non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.

 

ARTICLE VIII
Affirmative Covenants

 

The Borrower hereby covenants and agrees with the Lenders from and after the Closing Date until Facility Termination, as follows:

 

8.1              Information Covenants. The Borrower will furnish to the Term Agent (which shall make such information available to the Lenders in accordance with customary practice):

 

(a)               Annual Financial Statements. As soon as available and in any event within five Business Days after the date on which such financial statements are required to be filed with the SEC (after giving effect to any permitted extensions) (or, if such financial statements are not required to be filed with the SEC, on or before the date that is 95 days after the end of each such fiscal year), the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth comparative consolidated figures for the preceding fiscal years (and, if more than 10% of Modified ACNTA for such fiscal year is attributable to Unrestricted Subsidiaries, a reasonably detailed reconciliation, reflecting such financial information for the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, on the other hand, for such fiscal year), all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP and (other than with respect to such reconciliation) certified by independent certified public accountants of recognized national standing whose opinion shall not be materially qualified with a “going concern” or like qualification or exception (other than with respect to, or resulting from, (i) the occurrence of the maturity date of any Indebtedness of a Group Member within one year from the date such opinion is delivered or (ii) any potential inability to satisfy one or more financial covenants in the Revolving Credit Agreement on a future date or in a future period).

 

(b)               Quarterly Financial Statements. As soon as available and in any event within five Business Days after the date on which such financial statements are required to be filed with the SEC (after giving effect to any permitted extensions) with respect to each of the first three quarterly accounting periods in each fiscal year of the Borrower (or, if such financial statements are not required to be filed with the SEC, on or before the date that is 60 days after the end of each such quarterly accounting period), the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries as at the end of such quarterly period and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such quarterly accounting period and for the elapsed portion of the fiscal year ended with the last day of such quarterly period, and setting forth comparative consolidated figures for the related periods in the prior fiscal year or, in the case of such consolidated balance sheet, for the last day of the prior fiscal year, (and, if more than 10% of Modified ACNTA for such quarterly accounting period is attributable to Unrestricted Subsidiaries, a reasonably detailed reconciliation, reflecting such financial information for the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, on the other hand, for such quarterly accounting period) all of which shall be certified by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower as fairly presenting in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows, of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries (or, in the case of such reconciliation, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries) in accordance with GAAP, subject to changes resulting from audit and normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

 

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(c)               Other Information. Promptly upon filing thereof, copies of any filings (including on Form 10-K, 10-Q or 8-K) with, and reports to, the SEC or any analogous Governmental Authority in any relevant jurisdiction by the Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than amendments to any registration statement, exhibits to any registration statement and, if applicable, any registration statements on Form S-8), and with reasonable promptness, but subject to the limitations set forth in the last two sentences of Section 12.15, such other information (financial or otherwise) as the Term Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of any Lender (acting through the Term Agent) may reasonably request in writing from time to time. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, neither the Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary will be required to disclose, or permit the discussion of, any document, information or other matter (i) that constitutes non-financial trade secrets or non-financial proprietary information, (ii) in respect of which disclosure to the Term Agent or any Lender (or their respective representatives or contractors) is prohibited by any Requirement of Law or any binding agreement or (iii) that is subject to attorney-client or similar privilege or constitutes attorney work product.

 

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 8.1(a), (b) and (c) may be delivered electronically and, if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 12.2, (ii) on which such documents are transmitted by electronic mail to the Term Agent or (iii) on which such documents are filed of record with the SEC. Each Lender acknowledges that the Term Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery or to maintain copies of the documents referred to in this Section 8.1, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Borrower with any such request for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for timely accessing posted documents or requesting delivery of such documents from the Term Agent and maintaining its copies of such documents.

 

(d)               Officer’s Certificates. At the time of the delivery of the financial statements provided for in Section 8.1(a) and (b), a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower to the effect that no Default or Event of Default exists or, if any Default or Event of Default does exist, specifying the nature and extent thereof, which certificate shall set forth a specification of any change in the identity of the Restricted Subsidiaries, Material Subsidiaries, Guarantors and Unrestricted Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year or period, as the case may be, from the Restricted Subsidiaries, Material Subsidiaries, Guarantors and Unrestricted Subsidiaries, respectively, provided to the Lenders on the Closing Date or the most recent fiscal year or period, as the case may be.

 

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(e)               Reserve Certificates. On or before March 31st and September 30th of each year, beginning March 31, 2020, the Borrower shall furnish to the Term Agent (i) a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower setting forth, as of the immediately preceding Specified Date, summary valuation information as to the Proved Reserves of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries as of the Specified Date (including the aggregate values attributed by the Borrower and its independent engineers to the respective portions of such Proved Reserves valued by them) and confirming that the Collateral subject as of the Specified Date to perfected Liens securing the Obligations included Oil and Gas Properties of the Credit Parties that accounted for not less than 80% (subject to the Collateral Sale Cure) of the PV-9 attributable to the Proved Reserves of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries at such date in accordance with Section 8.9(b) (each such certificate, accompanied by the letter described in clause (ii), a “Reserve Certificate”), and (ii) a letter from the Borrower’s independent petroleum engineers confirming that the summary information included in such Authorized Officer’s certificate reflects the values attributed by the Borrower and its independent engineers to the portions of the Proved Reserves valued by them.

 

(f)                Notice of Default. Promptly after an Authorized Officer of the Borrower obtains actual knowledge thereof, notice of the occurrence of any event that constitutes a Default or Event of Default, which notice shall specify the nature thereof, the period of existence thereof and what action the Borrower proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

(g)               Mortgage Filing Status. If requested by any Lender during the 60-days after the Initial Closing Date, the Borrower shall provide a written update to the Term Agent for the benefit of such Lender as to the status of the filings of any Mortgages required pursuant to Section 8.9(a). Upon the completion of delivery of all documents, evidence and opinions required to be delivered to the Collateral Trustee pursuant to the first sentence of Section 8.9(a) with respect to properties owned on the Initial Closing Date, the Borrower shall provide written notice to the Term Agent and the Term Agent shall make such notice available to each Lender in accordance with the Term Agent’s customary practice. The Borrower will (1) give notice that it has delivered to the Mortgages required pursuant to Section 8.9(a) and (2) give notice that it has received copies of at least 90% (by number, with each Mortgage to be recorded in a county, parish or other jurisdiction to be counted as a separate Mortgage) of such Mortgages with markings reflecting their recordation, in each case either (i) by notice promptly thereafter to the Term Agent and the Term Agent shall make such notice available to each Lender in accordance with the Term Agent’s customary practice or (ii) by disclosure contained in the Borrower’s next Form 10-Q or Form 10-K, as the case may be, to be filed.

 

The Borrower and each Lender hereby acknowledges that the Term Agent will make information available to the Lenders by posting the information on IntraLinks or another similar electronic system (the “Platform”). Each Lender agrees that any document or notice posted on the Platform by the Term Agent shall be deemed to have been delivered to the Lenders. The Borrower and the Lenders further agree that, to the extent reasonably practicable, any document delivered to the Term Agent for purposes of compliance with any provision of this Agreement or for dissemination to any other party hereto shall be delivered to the Term Agent in electronic form capable of being posted to the Platform.

 

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The Borrower and each Lender understands that the distribution of materials and other communications through an electronic medium is not necessarily secure and that there are confidentiality and other risks associated with such distribution, and each agrees and assumes the risks associated with such electronic distribution, except to the extent caused by the willful misconduct or gross negligence of the Term Agent, as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

The Platform is provided “as is” and “as available”. Neither the Term Agent, any other agent nor any of their respective Affiliates warrants the accuracy or completeness of the information contained on the Platform or the adequacy of the Platform and each expressly disclaims liability for errors or omissions in the information contained on the Platform. No warranty of any kind, express, implied or statutory, including any warranty of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement of third-party rights or freedom from viruses or other code defects is made by the Term Agent, any other agent or any of their respective Affiliates in connection with the information contained on the Platform.

 

8.2              Books and Records. The Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, maintain proper books of record and account, in which entries that are full, true and correct in all material respects and are in conformity with GAAP consistently applied shall be made of all material financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be.

 

8.3              Maintenance of Insurance.

 

(a)               The Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, at all times maintain in full force and effect, pursuant to self-insurance arrangements or with insurance companies that the Borrower believes (in the good faith judgment of the management of the Borrower) are financially sound and responsible at the time the relevant coverage is placed or renewed, insurance in at least such amounts (after giving effect to any self-insurance which the Borrower believes (in the good faith judgment of management of the Borrower) is reasonable and prudent in light of the size and nature of its business) and against at least such risks (and with such risk retentions) as the Borrower believes (in the good faith judgment of management of the Borrower) is reasonable and prudent in light of the size and nature of its business.

 

(b)               The Collateral Trustee, on behalf of the Term Loan Secured Parties, shall be an additional insured on any such liability insurance as its interests may appear and, if property insurance is obtained, the Collateral Trustee shall be an additional loss payee under any such property insurance; but, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is then continuing, the Term Loan Secured Parties will provide any proceeds of such property insurance to the Borrower to the extent that the Borrower undertakes to apply such proceeds to the reconstruction, replacement or repair of the property insured thereby. The Borrower shall use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that all policies of insurance required by the terms of this Agreement or any Security Document shall provide that each insurer shall endeavor to give at least 30 days’ prior written notice to the Collateral Trustee of any cancellation of such insurance (or at least ten days’ prior written notice in the case of cancellation of such insurance due to non-payment of premiums).

 

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8.4              Payment of Taxes. The Borrower will pay and discharge, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to pay and discharge, all taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies imposed upon it or upon its income or profits, or upon any properties belonging to it, before the date on which material penalties attach thereto, and all lawful material claims in respect of any Taxes imposed, assessed or levied that, if unpaid, would reasonably be expected to become a material Lien upon any properties of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; but neither the Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary shall be required to pay or discharge any such tax, assessment, charge, levy or claim that is being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings if it has maintained adequate reserves (in the good faith judgment of management of the Borrower) with respect thereto to the extent required by, and in accordance with, GAAP or the failure to pay or discharge would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

8.5              Existence. The Borrower will do, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its legal existence, corporate (or equivalent) rights and authority, except to the extent that the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; but the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries may consummate any transaction permitted under Sections 9.3, 9.4 or 9.5 or to the extent permitted by each Term Loan Supplement in respect of each Class of Loans then outstanding under any covenant governing Dispositions or Investments contained therein.

 

8.6              Compliance with Statutes, Regulations, Etc.. The Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, comply with all Requirements of Law applicable to it or its property, including all governmental approvals or authorizations required to conduct its business, and to maintain all such governmental approvals or authorizations in full force and effect, in each case except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Borrower will maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by the Borrower, the Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions.

 

8.7              Maintenance of Properties. The Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, except in each case where the failure to so comply would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect:

 

(a)               operate its Oil and Gas Properties and other material properties or cause such Oil and Gas Properties and other material properties to be operated in a careful and efficient manner in accordance with the practices of the industry and in compliance with all applicable Contractual Requirements and all applicable Requirements of Law, including applicable proration requirements and applicable Environmental Laws, and all applicable Requirements of Law of every other Governmental Authority from time to time constituted to regulate the development and operation of its Oil and Gas Properties and the production and sale of Hydrocarbons and other minerals therefrom;

 

(b)               keep and maintain all property material to the conduct of its business in good working order and condition (ordinary wear and tear excepted) and preserve, maintain and keep in good repair, working order and efficiency (ordinary wear and tear excepted) all of its material Oil and Gas Properties and other material properties, including all equipment, machinery and facilities; and

 

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(c)               to the extent a Credit Party is not the operator of any property, the Borrower shall use reasonable efforts to cause the operator to comply with this Section.

 

8.8         Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

 

(a)               Unless designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary as of the date hereof on Schedule 7.12 or thereafter in compliance with Section 8.8(b), any Person that is or becomes a Subsidiary shall be a Restricted Subsidiary.

 

(b)               The Borrower may designate by written notification thereof to the Term Agent, any Subsidiary, including a newly formed or newly acquired Subsidiary, as an Unrestricted Subsidiary if immediately after giving effect to such designation, (i) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (ii) such Unrestricted Subsidiary will be in compliance with Section 8.8(d), (iii) the Borrower shall be in compliance with Section 9.5, (iv) such Unrestricted Subsidiary is not a “Restricted Subsidiary” under the Revolving Credit Agreement, or guarantor of the Revolving Credit Agreement, the Indentures or any other Indebtedness permitted under Section 9.1(a), Section 9.1(r) or Section 9.1(u), and (v) the Borrower shall deliver a certificate of an Authorized Officer to the effect that after giving effect to such designation, the Collateral subject to perfected Liens securing the Obligations includes Oil and Gas Properties of the Credit Parties that accounted for not less than 80% of the PV-9 attributable to the Proved Reserves of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries as reflected in the most recent Reserve Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 8.1(e) after giving effect to exploration and production activities, acquisitions, Dispositions and production since the Specified Date of such Reserve Certificate.

 

(c)               The Borrower may designate an Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary if immediately after giving effect to such designation, (i) the representations and warranties of each Credit Party contained in each Credit Document are true and correct in all material respects on and as of such date of the designation (or, if stated to have been made expressly as of an earlier date, were true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date) and (ii) no Event of Default would be continuing.

 

(d)               No Unrestricted Subsidiary will be the owner or holder of Stock of any Group Member.

 

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8.9         Guarantors, Grantors and Collateral.

 

(a)               Within 60 days of the Initial Closing Date, the Borrower shall, or shall cause the Guarantors to, (1) execute and deliver to the Collateral Trustee, as mortgagee or beneficiary, as applicable, such Mortgages or amendments to Mortgages, together with satisfactory evidence of the completion (or satisfactory arrangements for the completion, which will include delivery of recordable originals of such Mortgages in the proper recorders’ offices or appropriate public records and payment of any taxes or fees in connection therewith) of all recordings and filings of such Mortgages or amendments to Mortgages as may be necessary to create a valid, perfected first-priority Lien (subject to Permitted Liens, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Collateral Trust Agreement), against the Oil and Gas Properties and related assets of the Credit Parties that are subject to Liens securing obligations owing to the Revolving Secured Parties on the Initial Closing Date and (2) as of the date that each such Mortgage is so executed and delivered, cause its counsel for the jurisdiction in which the relevant Oil and Gas Properties and related assets are located to execute and deliver to the Collateral Trustee a favorable opinion of counsel with respect thereto in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Trustee. In addition but subject to the 60-day period to deliver mortgages contained in the first sentence of this Section 8.9, from and after the Initial Closing Date, if any Credit Party acquires any property or asset that constitutes collateral for obligations owing to the Revolving Secured Parties (or the holders of any other Indebtedness permitted under Section 9.1(a), (r) or (u)), and the Revolving Credit Agreement (or the agreement or instrument governing such other Indebtedness permitted under Section 9.1(a), (r) or (u)) requires any supplemental security document for such collateral or other actions to achieve a perfected Lien on such collateral, the Borrower shall, or shall cause the applicable Guarantors to, promptly, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, execute and deliver to the Collateral Trustee appropriate Security Documents (or amendments thereto) in such form as shall be necessary in the Collateral Trustee’s reasonable discretion to grant the Collateral Trustee a perfected first-priority Lien on such Collateral or take such other actions in favor of the Collateral Trustee as shall be reasonably necessary to grant a valid and enforceable perfected first-priority Lien on such Collateral to the Collateral Trustee, for the benefit of the Term Loan Secured Parties, in each case, subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Collateral Trust Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement and the other Credit Documents. For the avoidance of doubt, the Collateral will not include any Excluded Property unless any such property constitutes collateral for the obligations owing to the Revolving Secured Parties or other Indebtedness permitted under Section 9.1(a), (r) or (u).

 

(b)               Subject to the 60-day period to deliver mortgages contained in the first sentence of Section 8.9, (i) the Borrower will cause to be executed and delivered for recording additional Mortgages or supplements or amendments to existing Mortgages as may be necessary in order to maintain Collateral subject to perfected Liens securing the Obligations that includes Oil and Gas Properties of the Credit Parties that account for not less than 80% of the PV-9 attributable to the Proved Reserves of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, and will internally confirm compliance with such requirement as of the last day of each calendar quarter (using the last day of the prior calendar quarter as the Reserve Date), and (ii) as of the date of any Collateral Sale permitted under Section 9.4, release of Collateral pursuant to Section 12.16(a)(ii) or (iii) or designation of a Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 8.8, the Borrower will cause the Collateral subject to perfected Liens securing the Obligations to include Oil and Gas Properties of the Credit Parties that represent, as of such date and after giving effect to such Collateral Sale, release or designation, not less than 80% of the PV-9 attributable to the Proved Reserves of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries as reflected in the most recent Reserve Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 8.1(e) or, if the Borrower has determined the PV-9 attributable to the Proved Reserves of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries (an “Interim PV-9 Determination”) as of a more recent Reserve Date, in each case after giving effect to exploration and production activities, acquisitions, Dispositions and production since the Specified Date of such Reserve Certificate or, if applicable, the Reserve Date used for such Interim PV-9 Determination; but, in the case of a Collateral Sale permitted under Section 9.4, the Borrower shall be deemed to be in compliance with its obligations under this Section 8.9(b) so long as (i) as of the date of such Collateral Sale and as of the first day of any calendar quarter that is within 60 days after the date of such Collateral Sale, the Collateral subject to perfected Liens securing the Obligations includes Oil and Gas Properties of the Credit Parties that represent, as of such dates and after giving effect to such Collateral Sale, not less than 70% of the PV-9 attributable to the Proved Reserves of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries as reflected in the most recent Reserve Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 8.1(e) or Interim PV-9 Determination, as appropriate, after giving effect to exploration and production activities, acquisitions, Dispositions and production since the Specified Date of such Reserve Certificate or, if applicable, the Reserve Date used for such Interim PV-9 Determination, and (ii) within 60 days after the date of such Collateral Sale, additional Mortgages or supplements or amendments to existing Mortgages shall be delivered for recording such that the Collateral subject to perfected Liens securing the Obligations includes Oil and Gas Properties of the Credit Parties that account for not less than 80% of the PV-9 attributable to the Proved Reserves of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries as reflected in the most recent Reserve Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 8.1(e) or the Interim PV-9 Determination, as appropriate, after giving effect to exploration and production activities, acquisitions, Dispositions and production since the Specified Date of such Reserve Certificate or, if applicable, the Reserve Date used for such Interim PV-9 Determination.

 

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(c)               Subject to any applicable limitations set forth in the Credit Documents, the Borrower will cause (i) any direct or indirect Material Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary) formed or otherwise purchased or acquired after the Initial Closing Date, (ii) any direct or indirect Material Subsidiary that ceases to be an Excluded Subsidiary, in each case that guarantees obligations owing to the Revolving Secured Parties or other Indebtedness permitted under Section 9.1(a), (r) or (u), to execute a supplement to the Guarantee and a supplement to the Security Agreement and become a Guarantor and Grantor (as defined in the Security Agreement) within 60 days from the date of such formation, acquisition or cessation, as applicable, and (iii) its counsel to deliver customary opinions regarding the enforceability of such guaranty and the creation and perfection of the liens and security interests granted pursuant to such documents.

 

(d)               Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower will not be required to take any action to perfect a Lien on any of its or the Subsidiaries’ personal property unless perfection may be accomplished by (A) the filing of a Uniform Commercial Code financing statement in Borrower’s or a Subsidiary’s respective jurisdiction of formation, or in the case of as-extracted collateral and goods that are or are to become fixtures or collateral in connection with a Mortgage, the filing of a financing statement filed as a fixture filing, a UCC-1 affecting as-extracted collateral or as a financing statement covering such property both centrally and in the county in which such collateral or fixtures are located, (B) delivery of certificates representing pledged Stock or Stock Equivalents consisting of certificated securities together with appropriate endorsements or transfer powers, (C) granting the Collateral Trustee “control” (within the meaning of the relevant Uniform Commercial Code) over any pledged Stock or Stock Equivalents consisting of uncertificated securities or (D) granting the Collateral Trustee “control” (within the meaning of the relevant Uniform Commercial Code) over any Deposit Accounts (other than Excluded Deposit Accounts) and Securities Accounts (other than Excluded Securities Accounts) by entering into control agreements with, and reasonably satisfactory to, the Collateral Trustee and the account bank for such Deposit Account or securities intermediary for such Securities Account, as applicable.

 

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(e)               Within 30 days of the Initial Closing Date, the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Credit Party to, subject all Deposit Accounts and Securities Accounts (in each case excluding any Excluded Deposit Accounts and Excluded Securities Accounts) that are (as of the Initial Closing Date) subject to an agreement granting the Revolving Agent “control” (within the meaning of the relevant Uniform Commercial Code) to an agreement or amendment to such existing agreements reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Trustee granting the Collateral Trustee “control” (within the meaning of the relevant Uniform Commercial Code) over such Deposit Accounts and Securities Accounts.

 

(f)                The Borrower shall promptly provide to the Term Agent copies of all notices, documents, certificates and instruments delivered to the Collateral Trustee pursuant to the Security Documents.

 

(g)               Collateral Trust Agreement and Intercreditor Agreement. This Section, Section 12.16 and the provisions of each Security Document are subject to the terms, conditions and benefits set forth in the Collateral Trust Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement and any Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement. Each Credit Party consents to, and agrees to be bound by, the terms of the Collateral Trust Agreement, Intercreditor Agreement and any Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement, as the same may be in effect from time to time, and to perform its obligations thereunder in accordance with the terms thereof. Each Lender (a) consents to the priority of payments provided for in the Collateral Trust Agreement and the priority of Liens provided for in the Intercreditor Agreement and, so long as in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and each applicable Term Loan Supplement, any Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement, (b) agrees that it will be bound by, and will take no actions contrary to, the provisions of the Collateral Trust Agreement, Intercreditor Agreement and any Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement and (c) authorizes and instructs the Term Agent on behalf of each Lender to enter into the Collateral Trust Agreement as the Original Term Loan Agent (as defined in the Collateral Trust Agreement), to join the Intercreditor Agreement as a Priority Lien Representative (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) on behalf of such Lenders and to enter into or join any Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement on behalf of such Lenders as an authorized representative of such Lenders. In addition, each Lender authorizes and instructs the Term Agent to enter into any amendments or joinders, without the consent of any Lender, to (i) the Intercreditor Agreement to add additional Indebtedness as Priority Lien Debt, Parity Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt (as such terms are defined therein) and add other parties (or any authorized agent or trustee therefor) holding such Indebtedness thereto and to establish that the Lien on any Collateral securing such Indebtedness ranks equally with the Liens on such Collateral securing the other Priority Lien Debt, Parity Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt, as applicable, then outstanding and (ii) the Collateral Trust Agreement to add additional Indebtedness as Revolver Debt or Term Loan Debt (as such terms are defined therein) and add other parties (or any authorized agent or trustee therefor) holding such Indebtedness thereto and to establish that the Lien on any Collateral securing such Indebtedness ranks equally with the Liens on such Collateral securing the other Revolver Debt or Term Loan Debt, as applicable, then outstanding, in each case, where the incurrence of such secured Indebtedness is permitted by this Agreement. The foregoing provisions are intended as an inducement to the lenders under the Revolving Credit Agreement to extend credit to the Borrower and certain of the Subsidiaries, and such lenders are intended third party beneficiaries of such provisions and the provisions of the Collateral Trust Agreement and, if applicable, any Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement.

 

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8.10       Use of Proceeds.

 

(a)               The Borrower will use the proceeds of the Loans (i) to pay Transaction Expenses, (ii) to fund, in part, tender offers by the Borrower for senior unsecured notes issued by the Borrower and to pay fees and expenses in connection with such tender offers, (iii) for general corporate purposes of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries and (iv) with respect to any Class of Loans, for any other purposes specified in the applicable Term Loan Supplement for such Class of Loans.

 

(b)               The Borrower shall not use, and shall procure that the Subsidiaries and its or their respective directors, officers, employees and agents shall not use the proceeds of any Loan, (i) in furtherance of an offer, a payment, a promise to pay, or an authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws, (ii) for the purpose of funding, financing or facilitating any activities, business or transaction of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned Country, or (iii) in any manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions by the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

 

8.11       Further Assurances.

 

(a)               Subject to the applicable limitations set forth in Section 8.9, the Collateral Trust Agreement and the other Security Documents, the Borrower will, and will cause each other Credit Party to, execute any and all further documents, financing statements, agreements and instruments, and take all such further actions (including the filing and recording of financing statements, fixture, filings, assignments of as-extracted collateral, mortgages, deeds of trust and other documents) that may be required under any applicable Requirements of Law, or that the Collateral Trustee may reasonably request, in order to grant, preserve, protect and perfect the validity and priority of the security interests created or intended to be created by the applicable Security Documents, all at the expense of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

(b)               Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if the Collateral Trustee and the Borrower reasonably determine in writing that the cost of creating or perfecting any Lien on any property is excessive in relation to the benefits afforded to the Lenders thereby, then such property may be excluded from the Collateral for all purposes of the Credit Documents.

 

(c)               Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Credit Document, to the extent that any Credit Party delivers Mortgages or amendments or supplements to prior Mortgages naming the Collateral Trustee, as mortgagee or beneficiary, no local counsel opinion or opinions to the effect that the Collateral Trustee has a valid and perfected Lien with respect to such Mortgaged Property (subject to customary assumptions and qualifications) will be required to be delivered to the extent Mortgages have previously been recorded in the public records of the state applicable to such additional Mortgages or amendments or supplements to prior Mortgages, unless a corresponding opinion has been or will be delivered to the Revolving Agent pursuant to the Revolving Credit Agreement.

 

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ARTICLE IX

Negative Covenants

 

The Borrower hereby covenants and agrees with the Lenders from and after the Initial Closing Date until Facility Termination, as follows:

 

9.1         Limitations on Indebtedness.  The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness other than the following:

 

(a)               Indebtedness of the Credit Parties, including under the Credit Documents and, for the avoidance of doubt, any Indebtedness created under the Term Loan Supplement on the date hereof, and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness of the Credit Parties in respect of any Indebtedness incurred under this clause (a), in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not to exceed $1,500,000,000; but, in each case, that (A) such Indebtedness constitutes Permitted Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness, with the priority in the payment of Foreclosure Proceeds as set forth in the Collateral Trust Agreement (or a Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement) and otherwise in compliance with the Term Loan Supplements of each Class of Loans then outstanding, and (B) with respect to any mandatory prepayments or mandatory offers to prepay such Indebtedness, such Indebtedness may participate in such mandatory prepayments or mandatory prepayment offers on a pro rata basis (or on a basis that is less than a pro rata basis, but not on a greater than pro rata basis) with any other Permitted Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness then outstanding; but, further, for the avoidance of doubt, (x) the amounts incurred in reliance on this clause (a) shall consist solely of the Term Loans provided hereunder (including the Term Loan Supplement of even date herewith) and (y) there shall be no other Indebtedness that is contractually equal in the right of payment of Foreclosure Proceeds to the Indebtedness incurred in reliance on this clause (a).

 

(b)               Intercompany loans and advances made by the Borrower to any Restricted Subsidiary or made by any Restricted Subsidiary to the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(c)               Indebtedness in respect of any bankers’ acceptance, bank guarantees, letter of credit, warehouse receipt or similar facilities entered into in the ordinary course of business (including in respect of workers compensation claims, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement-type obligations regarding workers compensation claims);

 

(d)               subject to compliance with Section 9.5, Guarantee Obligations of (i) Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of Indebtedness of the Borrower or other Restricted Subsidiaries that is permitted to be incurred under this Agreement and (ii) the Borrower in respect of Indebtedness of Restricted Subsidiaries that is permitted to be incurred under this Agreement; but (A) if the Indebtedness being guaranteed under this Section 9.1(d) is subordinated to the Obligations, such Guarantee Obligations shall be subordinated to the Obligations or the Guarantee of the Obligations, as applicable, of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, on terms at least as favorable to the Lenders as those contained in the subordination of such Indebtedness, and (B) no guarantee by any Restricted Subsidiary of any Indebtedness under clause (a) above or clause (g), clause (r) or clause (u) below shall be permitted unless such Restricted Subsidiary shall have also provided a guarantee of the Obligations substantially on the terms set forth in the Guarantee;

 

(e)               Guarantee Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business in respect of obligations of (or to) suppliers, customers, franchisees, lessors, licensees or sublicensees;

 

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(f)                (i) Indebtedness incurred within 270 days of, or assumed in connection with, the acquisition, construction, lease, repair, replacement, expansion or improvement of fixed or capital assets to finance the acquisition, construction, lease, repair, replacement expansion, or improvement of such fixed or capital assets, (ii) Indebtedness arising under Capital Leases and (iii) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness issued or incurred to Refinance any such Indebtedness incurred in reliance on clause (f)(i); if, in each case, that any Liens securing such Indebtedness do not apply to any assets other than the assets referred to in clause (f)(i) or subject to the Capital Leases referred to in clause (f)(ii);

 

(g)               Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness referred to in clauses (a), (r) and (u) of this Section) outstanding on the Initial Closing Date and listed on Schedule 9.1, and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness issued or incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness;

 

(h)               Indebtedness of a Person or Indebtedness attaching to the assets of a Person that, in either case, becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (or is a Restricted Subsidiary that survives a merger with such Person or any of its Subsidiaries) or Indebtedness attaching to the assets that are acquired by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, in each case after the Initial Closing Date as the result of a transaction permitted under this Agreement, if (A) such Indebtedness existed at the time such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary or at the time such assets were acquired and, in each case, was not created in anticipation thereof, and (B) such Indebtedness is not guaranteed in any respect by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any such Person that so becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is the survivor of a merger with such Person or any of its Subsidiaries), and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness issued or incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness;

 

(i)                 Indebtedness consisting of secured financings by a Foreign Subsidiary in which no Credit Party’s assets are used to secure such Indebtedness;

 

(j)                 Indebtedness in respect of performance bonds, bid bonds, appeal bonds, surety bonds and completion guarantees and similar obligations not in connection with money borrowed, in each case provided in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice, including those incurred to secure health, safety and environmental obligations in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

 

(k)               obligations in respect of Cash Management Services and other Indebtedness in respect of netting services, automatic clearing house arrangements, employees’ credit or purchase cards, overdraft protections and similar arrangements in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(l)                 Indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of business in respect of obligations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to pay the deferred purchase price of goods or services or progress payments in connection with such goods and services;

 

(m)             Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations (including earn-outs), in each case entered into in connection with any acquisition or Disposition permitted hereunder;

 

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(n)               Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary consisting of (i) obligations to pay insurance premiums or (ii) obligations contained in firm transportation or supply agreements or other take or pay contracts, in each case arising in the ordinary course of business;

 

(o)               Indebtedness representing deferred compensation to employees, consultants or independent contractors of the Borrower (or, to the extent such work is done for the Borrower or the Subsidiaries, any direct or indirect parent thereof) and the Restricted Subsidiaries incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(p)               Indebtedness to current or former officers, managers, consultants, directors and employees (or their respective spouses, former spouses, successors, executors, administrators, heirs, legatees or distributees) to finance the purchase or redemption of Stock or Stock Equivalents of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) permitted by Section 9.6;

 

(q)               Indebtedness associated with bonds or surety obligations required by Requirements of Law or by Governmental Authorities in connection with the operation of Oil and Gas Properties in the ordinary course of business;

 

(r)                Indebtedness of the Credit Parties under the Revolving Credit Agreement; but (1) the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness incurred in reliance on this clause (r) shall not exceed the lesser of (A) $3,500,000,000 and (B) if a Borrowing Base is in effect under the Revolving Credit Agreement, the Borrowing Base in effect at such time and (2) such Indebtedness shall constitute “Revolver Obligations” under the Collateral Trust Agreement or shall otherwise constitute Permitted Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness (and may have priority to the Obligations in the payment of Foreclosure Proceeds as provided in the Collateral Trust Agreement or, in a substantially similar manner, in any Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement); but, further, for the avoidance of doubt, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries shall be entitled to rely on this clause (r) only if the facility provided under the Revolving Credit Agreement is (i) provided by a group of lenders with respect to which the majority (determined based on the aggregate amount of commitments and loans outstanding thereunder) is composed of commercial banks (or affiliates of commercial banks) regularly providing asset-based credit facilities in the oil and gas industry and (ii) and there shall be no other Indebtedness that is contractually senior in right of payment of Foreclosure Proceeds to the Indebtedness created under this Agreement (including the Term Loan Supplement) other than those incurred in reliance on this clause (r);

 

(s)                Indebtedness under Hedge Agreements permitted by Section 9.10;

 

(t)                 Indebtedness secured by Liens on (i) real property that is not Oil and Gas Property and that is not material to the operation of any Mortgaged Property and (ii) fixtures and personal property related to the real property in the foregoing clause (i) and that is also not material to the operation of any Mortgaged Property;

 

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(u)               unsecured Indebtedness and Junior Lien Debt of the Credit Parties; but if incurred after the Initial Closing Date, it must (i) have a stated maturity no earlier than 91 days after the Last Maturity Date in effect at time such Indebtedness is incurred, (ii) have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity no shorter than 91 days after the longest Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any Class of Loans outstanding at the time such Indebtedness is incurred and (iii) in the case of Junior Lien Debt, provide that (A) such Indebtedness shall be secured by Liens on all or a portion of the Collateral on a junior priority basis with the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations and shall not be secured by any assets of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary other than the Collateral, (B) such Indebtedness shall not be guaranteed by any Subsidiaries other than the Guarantors and (C) the holders of such Indebtedness, or the administrative agent, collateral agent, trustee and/or any similar representative acting on behalf of such holders, shall have become party to the Intercreditor Agreement (or a substantially similar intercreditor agreement or other intercreditor agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower and the Majority Lenders) providing that the Liens on the Collateral securing such Indebtedness shall rank junior in priority to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations;

 

(v)               Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $250,000,000 at any one time outstanding, if (1) immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom and (2) such Indebtedness is not prohibited by the Revolving Credit Agreement; and

 

(w)             all premiums (if any), interest (including post-petition interest), fees, expenses, charges, and additional or contingent interest on obligations described in clauses (a) through (v) above.

 

9.2          Limitation on Liens Securing Funded Debt.  The Borrower (i) will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, create, incur or assume any Funded Debt secured by any Liens (other than Permitted Liens) upon any of the properties of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur or assume any Funded Debt secured by any Liens (other than Permitted Liens) upon the Stock or Stock Equivalents of any Restricted Subsidiary or the Stock or Stock Equivalents of any Subsidiary that owns, directly or indirectly through ownership in another Subsidiary, the Stock or Stock Equivalents of any Restricted Subsidiary.

 

9.3         Limitation on Fundamental Changes.  Except as permitted by Section 9.4 (other than pursuant to clause (b) of the definition of the term “Collateral Sale”) or Section 9.5 (other than Section 9.5(o)), the Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any merger, consolidation or amalgamation, or liquidate, wind up or dissolve itself (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution), or Dispose of, all or substantially all its assets, except that:

 

(a)               the Borrower may merge, consolidate or amalgamate with any Person (including any Subsidiary), if (i) the Borrower shall be the surviving, continuing or resulting entity or, if the foregoing is not the case, the surviving, continuing, or resulting entity shall be an entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof (the Borrower or such Person, as the case may be, being herein referred to as the “Successor Borrower”), (ii) the Successor Borrower (if other than the Borrower) shall expressly assume all the obligations of the Borrower under the Credit Documents pursuant to a supplement hereto or thereto (iii) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the date of such merger, amalgamation or consolidation or would result from such consummation of such merger, amalgamation or consolidation, and (iv) if such merger, amalgamation or consolidation involves the Borrower and a Person that, before the consummation of such merger, amalgamation or consolidation, is not a Subsidiary of the Borrower (A) each Guarantor, unless it is the other party to such merger, amalgamation or consolidation (or unless the Successor Borrower is the Borrower) shall have confirmed in an officer’s certificate delivered to the Term Agent that its Guarantee shall apply to the Successor Borrower’s obligations under this Agreement (and shall have confirmed that its obligations under the Security Documents shall apply to the Successor Borrower’s obligations under this Agreement), (B) each mortgagor of a Mortgaged Property, unless it is the other party to such merger or consolidation or unless the Successor Borrower is the Borrower, shall have by an amendment to or restatement of the applicable Mortgage confirmed that its obligations thereunder shall apply to the Successor Borrower’s obligations under this Agreement, and (C) an opinion of counsel and an officer’s certificate of the Borrower shall be required to be provided to the Term Agent to the effect that such merger, amalgamation or consolidation does not violate any Credit Document; provided, further, that if the foregoing are satisfied, the Successor Borrower (if other than the Borrower) will succeed to, and be substituted for, the Borrower under this Agreement;

 

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(b)               any Guarantor may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with (i) any Credit Party (but if the Borrower is involved in any such merger, amalgamation or consolidation, the provisions of clause (a) above shall govern) or (ii) any other Person (including any other Subsidiary); but (A) in the case of any merger, amalgamation or consolidation involving one or more Restricted Subsidiaries, (1) a Restricted Subsidiary shall be the continuing or surviving Person or (2) the Borrower shall take all steps necessary to cause the Person formed by or surviving any such merger, amalgamation or consolidation (if other than a Restricted Subsidiary) to become a Restricted Subsidiary, (B) in the case of any merger, amalgamation or consolidation involving one or more Guarantors, a Guarantor shall be the continuing or surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such merger, amalgamation or consolidation (if other than a Guarantor) shall execute a supplement to the Guarantee and any applicable Mortgage and/or other Security Documents, each in form and substance as is reasonably necessary for the surviving Person to become a Guarantor and pledgor, mortgagor and grantor of Collateral for the benefit of the Term Loan Secured Parties, and (C) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of such merger, amalgamation or consolidation or would result from the consummation of such merger, amalgamation or consolidation;

 

(c)               any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with, or Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to, the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary (but if the Borrower is involved in the case of any such merger, amalgamation or consolidation, the provisions of clause (a) above shall govern);

 

(d)               any Restricted Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve if (i) the Borrower determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of the Borrower and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders and (ii) to the extent such Restricted Subsidiary is a Credit Party, any assets or business of such Restricted Subsidiary not otherwise Disposed of or transferred in accordance with Section 9.4 (other than pursuant to clause (b) of the definition of the term “Collateral Sale”) or Section 9.5 (other than Section 9.5(o)), or in the case of any such business, discontinued, shall be transferred to, or otherwise owned or conducted by, a Credit Party after giving effect to such liquidation or dissolution; and

 

(e)               to the extent that no Default or Event of Default would result from the consummation of such Disposition, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries may consummate a merger, dissolution, liquidation, consolidation or Disposition, the purpose of which is to effect a Disposition permitted pursuant to Section 9.4 (other than pursuant to clause (b) of the definition of the term “Collateral Sale”).

 

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9.4         Limitation on Collateral Sales. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any other Credit Party to, consummate a Collateral Sale, unless:

 

(a)               the applicable Credit Party receives consideration at the time of such Collateral Sale at least equal to the Fair Market Value of the Collateral Disposed of (whether directly or indirectly through the Disposition of a Guarantor);

 

(b)               at least 75% of the consideration received by the Credit Parties (determined on the date of contractually agreeing to such Collateral Sale) and all other Collateral Sales since the Initial Closing Date, on a cumulative basis, is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents; but the following shall be deemed to be Cash Equivalents for purposes of this clause (b) and for no other purpose:

 

(i)                 any liabilities (as shown on the Borrower’s most recent consolidated balance sheet or in the footnotes thereto or if incurred or accrued subsequent to the date of such balance sheet, such liabilities as would have been reflected in the Borrower’s consolidated balance sheet or the footnotes thereto if such incurrence or accrual had been put in place on or before the date of such balance sheet, as determined in good faith by the Borrower), other than contingent liabilities or liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Loans or any Guarantee, which (A) are assumed by the transferee of any such assets and from which the applicable Credit Party shall have been validly released by all applicable creditors in writing or (B) are otherwise cancelled or terminated in connection with the transaction with such transferee (other than intercompany debt owed to the Borrower or the Subsidiaries);

 

(ii)              any securities, notes or other obligations or assets received by the appropriate Credit Party from such transferee that are converted by such Credit Party into cash or Cash Equivalents (to the extent of the cash or Cash Equivalents received) within 180 days following the closing of such Collateral Sale;

 

(iii)            with respect to any Collateral Sale of Oil and Gas Properties by a Credit Party in which such Credit Party retains an interest in such property (whether directly or indirectly through retentions of any Stock in any Person owning such property), the costs and expenses related to the exploration, development, completion or production of such Oil and Gas Properties and activities related thereto agreed to be assumed by the transferee (or an Affiliate thereof);

 

(iv)             Indebtedness of a Credit Party that ceases to be a Credit Party as a result of such asset disposition (other than intercompany debt owed to the Borrower or any Subsidiary), to the extent that every applicable Credit Party is released from any guarantee of payment of the principal amount of such Indebtedness in connection with such Collateral Sale; and

 

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(v)               any Designated Non-Cash Consideration received by any Credit Party in respect of the applicable Collateral Sale having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Designated Non-Cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (v) at any time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (A) $500,000,000 and (B) 5% of Modified ACNTA determined as of the time of the receipt of such Designated Non-Cash Consideration, with the Fair Market Value of each item of Designated Non-Cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value;

 

(c)               at the time of any Collateral Sale for consideration in excess of $100,000,000, the Borrower shall deliver a certificate of an Authorized Officer to the effect that either (i) as of the date of such Collateral Sale, after giving effect to such Collateral Sale, the Collateral subject to perfected Liens securing the Obligations includes Oil and Gas Properties of the Credit Parties that account for not less than 80% of the PV-9 attributable to the remaining Proved Reserves of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries as reflected in the most recent Reserve Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 8.1(e) or, if the Borrower has made an Interim PV-9 Determination as of a more recent Reserve Date, such PV-9, after giving effect to exploration and production activities, acquisitions, Dispositions and production since the applicable Reserve Date or (ii) (A) as of the date of such Collateral Sale, after giving effect to such Collateral Sale, the Collateral subject to perfected Liens securing the Obligations includes Oil and Gas Properties of the Credit Parties that account for not less than 70% of the PV-9 attributable to the remaining Proved Reserves of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries as reflected in the most recent Reserve Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 8.1(e) after giving effect to exploration and production activities, acquisitions, Dispositions and production since applicable Reserve Date and (B) within 60 days after the date of such Collateral Sale, additional Mortgages or supplements or amendments to existing Mortgages shall be delivered for recording such that the Collateral subject to perfected Liens securing the Obligations includes Oil and Gas Properties of the Credit Parties that account for not less than 80% of the PV-9 attributable to the remaining Proved Reserves of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries as reflected in the most recent Reserve Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 8.1(e) or, if the Borrower has made an Interim PV-9 Determination as of a more recent Reserve Date, such PV-9, after giving effect to exploration and production activities, acquisitions, Dispositions and production since the applicable Reserve Date; and

 

(d)               the Net Cash Proceeds of such Collateral Sale shall be applied in accordance with the requirements of Section 4.1(a).

 

9.5          Limitation on Investments. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any Investment except:

 

(a)               extensions of trade credit and purchases of assets and services (including purchases of inventory, supplies and materials) in the ordinary course of business;

 

(b)               Investments in assets that constituted Cash Equivalents at the time such Investments were made;

 

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(c)               (i) Investments existing on, or made pursuant to legally binding written commitments in existence on, the Initial Closing Date in an aggregate amount not to exceed $25,000,000 except as set forth on Schedule 9.5 to this Agreement, (ii) Investments existing on the Initial Closing Date of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in any other Subsidiary and (iii) any extensions, renewals or reinvestments thereof, so long as the amount of any Investment made pursuant to this clause (iii) is not increased at any time above the amount of such Investment on the Initial Closing Date;

 

(d)               Investments received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of suppliers or customers and in settlement of delinquent obligations of, and other disputes with, customers arising in the ordinary course of business or upon foreclosure with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment;

 

(e)               Investments to the extent that payment for such Investments is made with Stock or Stock Equivalents (other than Disqualified Stock not otherwise permitted by Section 9.1) of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof);

 

(f)                Investments constituting non-cash proceeds of Dispositions of assets to the extent such Disposition is permitted by Section 9.4;

 

(g)               Investments made to repurchase or retire Stock or Stock Equivalents of the Borrower or any direct or indirect parent thereof owned by any employee or any stock ownership plan or key employee stock ownership plan of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof);

 

(h)               loans and advances to any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower in lieu of, and not in excess of the amount of, Restricted Payments to the extent permitted to be made to such parent in accordance with Section 9.6;

 

(i)                 Investments consisting of extensions of credit in the nature of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising from the grant of trade credit in the ordinary course of business, and Investments received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof from financially troubled account debtors and other credits to suppliers in the ordinary course of business;

 

(j)                 Investments in the ordinary course of business consisting of endorsements for collection or deposit and customary trade arrangements with customers consistent with past practices;

 

(k)               advances of payroll payments to employees, consultants or independent contractors or other advances of salaries or compensation to employees, consultants or independent contractors, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

 

(l)                 guarantee obligations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of leases (other than Capital Leases) or of other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(m)             Investments in Industry Investments and in interests in additional Oil and Gas Properties and gas gathering systems related thereto or Investments related to farm-out, farm-in, joint operating, joint venture, joint development or other area of mutual interest agreements, other similar industry investments, gathering systems, pipelines or other similar oil and gas exploration and production business arrangements whether through direct ownership or ownership through a joint venture or similar arrangement;

 

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(n)               Investments in Hedge Agreements permitted by Section 9.1 and Section 9.10;

 

(o)               Investments consisting of Indebtedness, fundamental changes, Dispositions, acquisitions of Funded Debt and Restricted Payments permitted under Sections 9.1, 9.3, 9.4, 9.6 (other than Section 9.6(c)) and 9.7 (other than Section 9.7(a)(vii));

 

(p)               Investments by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(q)               Investments consisting of licensing of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons in the ordinary course of business; and

 

(r)                Investments in any Person other than a Group Member if (1) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom and (2) the aggregate value at the date made (in each case valued at Fair Market Value (determined by the Borrower acting in good faith) as of such date) of each then-existing Investment in all Persons other than Group Members does not then exceed the greater of (i) $750,000,000 and (ii) 1% of Modified ACNTA.

 

9.6         Limitation on Restricted Payments.  The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, pay any dividends (other than Restricted Payments payable solely in its Stock that is not Disqualified Stock) or return any capital to its equity holders or make any other distribution, payment or delivery of property or cash to its equity holders as such, or redeem, retire, purchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, for consideration, any shares of any class of its Stock or Stock Equivalents now or hereafter outstanding, or set aside any funds for any of the foregoing purposes, or permit any Restricted Subsidiary to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration (other than in connection with an Investment permitted by Section 9.5 (other than Section 9.5(o))) any Stock or Stock Equivalents of the Borrower, now or hereafter outstanding (all of the foregoing, “Restricted Payments”); except that:

 

(a)               the Borrower may redeem in whole or in part any of its Stock or Stock Equivalents in exchange for another class of its Stock or Stock Equivalents or with proceeds from substantially concurrent equity contributions or issuances of new Stock or Stock Equivalents; but such new Stock or Stock Equivalents contain terms and provisions at least as advantageous to the Lenders in all material respects to their interests as those contained in the Stock or Stock Equivalents redeemed thereby, and the Borrower may pay Restricted Payments payable solely in the Stock and Stock Equivalents (other than Disqualified Stock not otherwise permitted by Section 9.1) of the Borrower;

 

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(b)               the Borrower may (i) redeem, acquire, retire or repurchase shares of its Stock or Stock Equivalents held by any present or former officer, manager, consultant, director or employee (or their respective Affiliates, estates, spouses, former spouses, successors, executors, administrators, heirs, legatees, distributees or immediate family members) of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, upon the death, disability, retirement or termination of employment of any such Person or otherwise in accordance with any equity option or equity appreciation rights plan, any management, director and/or employee equity ownership, benefit or incentive plan or agreement, equity subscription plan, employment termination agreement or any other employment agreements or equity holders’ agreement; but the aggregate amount of all cash paid in respect of all such shares of Stock or Stock Equivalents so redeemed, acquired, retired or repurchased in any calendar year pursuant to the terms of any equity option or equity appreciation rights plan, any management, director and/or employee equity ownership, benefit or incentive plan or agreement, equity subscription plan, employment termination agreement or any other employment agreements or equity holders’ agreement does not exceed $50,000,000; and (ii) pay Restricted Payments in an amount equal to withholding or similar Taxes payable or expected to be payable by any present or former employee, director, manager or consultant (or their respective Affiliates, estates or immediate family members) and any repurchases of Stock or Stock Equivalents in consideration of such payments including deemed repurchases in connection with the exercise of stock options so long as the amount of such payments does not exceed $25,000,000 in the aggregate;

 

(c)               to the extent constituting Restricted Payments, the Borrower may make Investments permitted by Section 9.5 (other than Section 9.5(o));

 

(d)               to the extent constituting Restricted Payments, the Borrower may enter into and consummate transactions expressly permitted by any provision of Section 9.3;

 

(e)               the Borrower may repurchase Stock or Stock Equivalents of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) upon exercise of stock options or warrants if such Stock or Stock Equivalents represents all or a portion of the exercise price of such options or warrants;

 

(f)                the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may (i) pay cash in lieu of fractional shares in connection with any dividend, split or combination thereof or any acquisition permitted hereby and (ii) so long as, immediately after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, honor any conversion request by a holder of convertible Indebtedness and make cash payments in lieu of fractional shares in connection with any such conversion and may make payments on convertible Indebtedness in accordance with its terms;

 

(g)               the Borrower may pay any Restricted Payment within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof, if at the date of declaration such payment would have complied with the provisions of this Agreement;

 

(h)               if no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom the Borrower may declare and pay Restricted Payments in cash in respect of accrued but unpaid dividends owing on any preferred equity issued and outstanding on the Initial Closing Date;

 

(i)                 Restricted Subsidiaries may make Restricted Payments (A) to the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary and (B) ratably to all holders of its outstanding Stock and Stock Equivalents;

 

(j)                 the Borrower may make payments described in Sections 9.11(a), 9.11(c), 9.11(d), 9.11(e), 9.11(h), 9.11(i) and 9.11(j) (subject to the conditions, if any, set out therein);

 

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(k)               the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may make additional Restricted Payments; but (i) the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments made in reliance on this clause (k), together with the aggregate amount of Junior Debt payments made pursuant to Section 9.7(a)(iv), shall not exceed $100,000,000 and (ii) at the time of any such Restricted Payment, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom; and

 

(l)                 the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may make additional Restricted Payments; but (i) the amount of any such Restricted Payment shall not exceed the Available Amount at the time such Restricted Payment is made and (ii) at the time of any such Restricted Payment, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom.

 

9.7         Limitations on Junior Debt Payments and Amendments.

 

(a)               The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, optionally prepay, repurchase or redeem or otherwise defease any Junior Debt (it being understood that payments of regularly scheduled cash interest in respect of, and payment of principal on the scheduled maturity date of such Junior Debt shall be permitted); but the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may optionally prepay, repurchase, redeem or defease any Junior Debt (i) with the proceeds of any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, (ii) by converting or exchanging such Junior Debt to Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Borrower, (iii) (A) if the scheduled maturity date of such Junior Debt is before the Maturity Date of each Class of Loans then outstanding or (B) in connection with the consummation of any exchange of notes issued under the Indentures for the Borrower’s 11.5% Senior Secured Notes pursuant to the exchange offers contemplated by the Offering Memorandum, dated as of December 4, 2019 of the Borrower, (C) if payments are made to prepay, repurchase or redeem or otherwise defease any amounts outstanding under the BVL Notes, (iv) if the scheduled maturity date of such Junior Debt is on or after the Maturity Date of each Class of Loans then outstanding, (A) in an aggregate amount for all such prepayments, repurchases, redemptions and defeasances made in reliance on this clause (iv), together with the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments made pursuant to Section 9.6(k), not to exceed $100,000,000 and (B) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom or (v) so long as, at the time any such prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance is made in reliance on this clause (v), (A) the amount thereof shall not exceed the Available Amount at such time and (B) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom.

 

(b)               The Borrower will not amend or modify the documentation governing any Junior Debt or the terms applicable thereto to the extent that (i) any such amendment or modification, taken as a whole, would be adverse to the Lenders in any material respect or (ii) the documentation governing any Junior Debt, as so amended or modified, would not be permitted by this Agreement to be included in the documentation governing any senior subordinated or subordinated Indebtedness that was issued at such time.

 

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9.8         Negative Pledge Agreements. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into or permit to exist any Contractual Requirement (other than the Credit Documents or any documentation in respect of (a) secured Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder or (b) the Credit Parties’ Oil and Gas Properties to the extent that the property covered thereby is not required to be pledged as Collateral pursuant to the Credit Documents) that limits the ability of any Credit Party to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on property of such Person for the benefit of the Term Loan Secured Parties with respect to the Obligations or under the Credit Documents; but the foregoing shall not apply to Contractual Requirements that (i)(A) exist on the Initial Closing Date and (to the extent not otherwise permitted by this Section) are listed on Schedule 9.8 and (B) to the extent Contractual Requirements permitted by clause (A) are set forth in an agreement evidencing Indebtedness or other obligations, are set forth in any agreement evidencing any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred in compliance with Section 9.1 to Refinance such Indebtedness or obligation so long as such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not expand the scope of such restriction in such Contractual Requirement, (ii) are binding on a Restricted Subsidiary at the time such Restricted Subsidiary first becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (or are binding on property at the time such property first becomes property of the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary), so long as such Contractual Requirements were not entered into solely in contemplation of such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary (or such property becomes property of the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary), (iii) represent Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor to the extent such Indebtedness is permitted by Section 9.1 so long as such Contractual Requirement applies only to such Subsidiary, (iv) arise pursuant to agreements entered into with respect to any Disposition permitted hereunder and are applicable solely to assets which are the subject of such Disposition, (v) are customary provisions in joint venture agreements or agreements governing property held with a common owner and other similar agreements or arrangements (with a third party acting as a co-venturer) relating solely to such joint venture or property or otherwise arise in (A) agreements which restrict the Disposition or distribution of assets or property in oil and gas leases, joint operating agreements, joint exploration and/or development agreements, participation agreements or (B) any production sharing contract or similar instrument on which a Lien cannot be granted without the consent of a third party and, in each case, other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of the oil and gas exploration and development business, (vi) are negative pledges and restrictions on Liens in favor of any holder of Indebtedness permitted under Section 9.1, but solely to the extent any negative pledge relates to the property financed by or the subject of such Indebtedness, (vii) are customary restrictions on leases, subleases, licenses or asset sale agreements otherwise permitted hereby so long as such restrictions relate to the assets subject thereto, (viii) comprise restrictions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 9.1 to the extent that such restrictions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness, (ix) are customary provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing a leasehold interest of the Borrower or any Subsidiary or in leases prohibiting Liens on retained property rights of the lessor in connection with operations of the lessee conducted on the leased property, (x) are customary provisions restricting assignment of any agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business, (xi) restrict the use of cash or other deposits imposed by customers or suppliers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business, (xii) are imposed by any Requirement of Law, (xiii) exist under any documentation governing any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred in compliance with Section 9.1 to Refinance any Indebtedness but only to the extent such Contractual Requirement was contained in the document evidencing the Indebtedness being refinanced, (xiv) are customary net worth provisions contained in real property leases entered into by Subsidiaries of the Borrower, so long as the Borrower has determined in good faith that such net worth provisions would not reasonably be expected to impair the ability of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries to meet their ongoing obligations, (xv) relate to property, an interest in which has been granted or conveyed to a Royalty Trust, YieldCo or a master limited partnership or which is subject to a term net profits interest, and (xvi) are restrictions regarding licenses or sublicenses by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries of intellectual property in the ordinary course of business (in which case such restriction shall relate only to such intellectual property)(clauses (i) through (xvi), collectively, “Permitted Restrictions”).

 

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9.9         Limitation on Subsidiary Distributions.  The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any such Restricted Subsidiary to pay dividends or make any other distributions to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary on its Stock or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits or transfer any property to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary except (in each case) for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

 

(a)               Contractual Requirements in effect on the Initial Closing Date that are described on Schedule 9.9 or pursuant to the Credit Documents;

 

(b)               purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business and Capital Lease Obligations that impose restrictions on transferring the property so acquired;

 

(c)               Requirement of Law or any applicable rule, regulation or order;

 

(d)               any agreement or other instrument of a Person acquired by or merged or consolidated with or into the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, or of an Unrestricted Subsidiary that is designated a Restricted Subsidiary, or that is assumed in connection with the acquisition of assets from such Person, in each case that is in existence at the time of such transaction (but not created in contemplation thereof), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person and its Subsidiaries, or the property or assets of the Person and its Subsidiaries, so acquired or designated;

 

(e)               contracts for the sale of assets, including customary restrictions with respect to a Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement that has been entered into for the Disposition of all or substantially all of the Stock or assets of such Subsidiary;

 

(f)                secured Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred pursuant to Sections 9.1 and 9.2 that limit the right of the debtor to Dispose of the assets securing such Indebtedness;

 

(g)               restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers or suppliers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(h)               other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock of Restricted Subsidiaries permitted to be incurred subsequent to the Initial Closing Date pursuant to Section 9.1 and either (i) the provisions relating to such encumbrance or restriction contained in such Indebtedness are no less favorable to the Borrower, taken as a whole, as determined by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower in good faith, than the provisions contained in this Agreement or (ii) any such encumbrance or restriction contained in such Indebtedness does not prohibit (except upon a default or an event of default thereunder) the payment of dividends in an amount sufficient, as determined by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower in good faith, to make scheduled payments of cash interest on the Obligations when due;

 

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(i)                 customary provisions in joint venture agreements or agreements governing property held with a common owner and other similar agreements or arrangements relating solely to such joint venture or property;

 

(j)                 customary provisions contained in leases, sub-leases, licenses, sub-licenses or similar agreements, in each case, entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(k)               provisions contained in agreements which prohibit the transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the obligor thereunder unless the transferee shall assume the obligations of the obligor under such agreement;

 

(l)                 Permitted Restrictions; and

 

(m)             any encumbrances or restrictions imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses (a) through (l) above, if such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the good faith judgment of the Borrower, no more restrictive in any material respect with respect to such encumbrance and other restrictions taken as a whole than those before such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing.

 

9.10       Hedge Agreements. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any Hedge Agreements with any Person other than (a) Hedge Agreements not for speculative purposes entered into to hedge or mitigate risks to which the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary has or may have exposure (including with respect to commodity prices), (b) Hedge Agreements not for speculative purposes entered into in order to effectively cap, collar or exchange interest rates (from fixed to floating rates, from one floating rate to another floating rate or otherwise) with respect to any interest-bearing liability or investment of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and (c) other Hedge Agreements not for speculative purposes permitted under the risk management policies approved by the Borrower’s Board of Directors from time to time. It is understood that for purposes of this Section, the following Hedge Agreements shall not be deemed speculative or entered into for speculative purposes: (i) any commodity Hedge Agreement intended, at inception of execution, to hedge or manage any of the risks related to existing and or forecasted Hydrocarbon production of the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries (whether or not contracted), and (ii) any Hedge Agreement intended, at inception of execution, (A) to hedge or manage the interest rate exposure associated with any debt securities, debt facilities or leases (existing or forecasted) of the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries, (B) for foreign exchange or currency exchange management, (C) to manage commodity portfolio exposure associated with changes in interest rates or (D) to hedge any exposure that the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries may have to counterparties under other Hedge Agreements such that the combination of such Hedge Agreements is not speculative taken as a whole.

 

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9.11       Transactions with Affiliates. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, conduct any material transaction with any of its Affiliates (other than the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries or any entity that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction), unless the terms of such transaction (taken as a whole) are substantially at least as favorable to the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary as it would obtain at the time in a comparable arm’s-length transaction (which includes, for the avoidance of doubt, any transaction consummated for Fair Market Value) with a Person that is not an Affiliate (or, if no comparable transaction is available with which to compare such transaction, such transaction is otherwise fair to the Borrower or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary as determined by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower in good faith); but the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to:

 

(a)               the payment of Transaction Expenses,

 

(b)               loans, advances and other transactions between or among the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any joint venture (regardless of the form of legal entity) in which the Borrower or any Subsidiary has invested (and which Subsidiary or joint venture would not be an Affiliate of the Borrower or such Subsidiary, but for the Borrower’s or such Subsidiary’s ownership of Stock or Stock Equivalents in such joint venture or such Subsidiary) to the extent otherwise permitted under this Article,

 

(c)               employment and severance arrangements and health, disability, retirement savings, employee benefit and similar insurance or benefit plans between the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) and the Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees or consultants (including management and employee benefit plans or agreements, subscription agreements or similar agreements pertaining to the repurchase of Stock or Stock Equivalents pursuant to put/call rights or similar rights with current or former employees, officers, directors or consultants and equity option or incentive plans and other compensation arrangements) in the ordinary course of business or as otherwise approved by the Board of Directors of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof),

 

(d)               the payment of customary fees and reasonable out of pocket costs to, and indemnities provided on behalf of, directors, managers, consultants, officers and employees of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) and the Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business to the extent attributable to the ownership or operation of, or in connection with any services provided to, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries,

 

(e)               transactions pursuant to agreements in existence on the Initial Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 9.11 or any amendment thereto to the extent such an amendment is not adverse, taken as a whole, to the Lenders in any material respect,

 

(f)                Restricted Payments, redemptions, repurchases and other actions permitted under Section 9.6 or 9.7,

 

(g)               any issuance of Stock or Stock Equivalents or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities, Stock, Stock Equivalents or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment arrangements, equity options and equity ownership plans approved by the Board of Directors of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof),

 

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(h)               transactions with joint ventures for the purchase or sale of goods, equipment and services entered into in the ordinary course of business and in a manner consistent with prudent business practice followed by companies in the industry of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries,

 

(i)                 payments by the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) and the Subsidiaries pursuant to tax sharing agreements among the Borrower (and any such parent) and the Subsidiaries on customary terms; but payments by Borrower and the Subsidiaries under any such tax sharing agreements shall not exceed the excess (if any) of the amount they would have paid on a standalone basis over the amount they actually pay directly to Governmental Authorities, and

 

(j)                 customary agreements and arrangements with Royalty Trusts, YieldCos and master limited partnerships that comply with the affiliate transaction provisions of such Royalty Trust, YieldCo or master limited partnership agreement.

 

9.12       Change in Business.  The Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, will not fundamentally and substantively alter the character of their business, taken as a whole, from the business conducted by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on the date hereof and other business activities incidental or reasonably related thereto.

 

9.13       Use of Proceeds. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, use the proceeds of any Loans in violation of the provisions of Regulation T, Regulation U or Regulation X of the Board.

 

9.14       Anti-Layering. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any other Credit Party to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist (a) any Lien on any Collateral for the benefit of any holders of any Indebtedness (or for the benefit of any administrative agent, collateral agent, trustee and/or any similar representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness) that is contractually senior to the Lien on such Collateral securing the Obligations and contractually subordinate or junior to any Lien on such Collateral securing any other Indebtedness or (b) any Indebtedness if such Indebtedness is contractually subordinate or junior in ranking in right of payment to any other Indebtedness, unless such Indebtedness is contractually subordinate or junior in ranking in right of payment to the Obligations; but, in the case of this clause (b), the documentation for any Permitted Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness may provide that certain Permitted Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness may have priority over certain other Permitted Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness in the payment of Foreclosure Proceeds.

 

9.15       Sanctions; Anti-Corruption Use of Proceeds. The Borrower will not knowingly, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the Loans, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person, (i) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any applicable Anti-Corruption Law, or (ii) (A) to fund, in violation of applicable Sanctions, any activities or business of or with any Person, or in any country or territory, that, at the time of such funding, is, or whose government is, the subject of Sanctions, or (B) in any other manner that would result in a violation of applicable Sanctions by any Person (including any Person participating in the Loans), whether as Agent Bank, Letter of Credit Issuer, Lender, underwriter, advisor, investor, or otherwise.

 

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ARTICLE X

 Events of Default

 

Upon the occurrence of any of the following specified events (each an “Event of Default”):

 

10.1       Payments. The Borrower shall (i) default in the payment when due of any principal of any Class of Loans or (ii) default in the payment when due of any interest on any Class of Loans, fees or of any other amounts owing under any Credit Document and such default shall continue for five or more days (but such event shall not, by itself, be an Event of Default with respect to any other Class of Loans).

 

10.2       Representations, Etc. Any representation, warranty or statement made or deemed made by any Credit Party in this Agreement or any Security Document or any certificate delivered or required to be delivered pursuant thereto (in the case of any Class of Loans, as such representation, warranty or statement shall have been modified or deleted in the Term Loan Supplement for such Class) shall prove to be untrue or misleading in any material respect on the date as of which made or deemed made.

 

10.3       Covenants. Any Credit Party shall:

 

(a)               default in the due performance or observance by it of any term, covenant or agreement contained in Sections 8.1(e), 8.5 (solely with respect to the Borrower), 8.10(b) or Article IX (in the case of any Class of Loans, as such term, covenant or agreement may have been modified in the Term Loan Supplement for such Class); or

 

(b)               default in the due performance or observance by it of any term, covenant or agreement (other than those referred to in Sections 10.1, 10.2 or 10.3(a)) contained in this Agreement or any Security Document (in the case of any Class of Loans, as such covenant or agreement shall have been modified or deleted in the Term Loan Supplement for such Class) and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of at least 30 days after receipt of written notice thereof by the Borrower from the Term Agent at the direction of the Majority Lenders.

 

10.4      Default Under Other Indebtedness. (a) The Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall default in any payment with respect to any Indebtedness (including, as to Loans of any Class, Loans of any other Class), or any Indebtedness in respect of any Hedge Agreement, in each case with an outstanding principal balance or termination value in excess of $125,000,000, beyond the grace period, if any, provided in the instrument or agreement under which such Indebtedness was created or (b) any such Indebtedness shall be declared to be due and payable, or shall be required to be prepaid, defeased or redeemed before the stated maturity thereof, other than (i) as a result of a regularly scheduled required prepayment or as a mandatory prepayment, (ii) in the case of any Indebtedness in respect of any Hedge Agreement, as a result of termination event or equivalent event under such Hedge Agreement and (iii) secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of a Disposition (including as a result of Casualty Event) of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness permitted under this Agreement.

 

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10.5       Bankruptcy, Etc. The Borrower or any Specified Subsidiary shall commence a voluntary case, proceeding or action concerning itself under (a) Title 11 of the United States Code entitled “Bankruptcy”; or (b) in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary that is a Specified Subsidiary, any domestic or foreign law relating to bankruptcy, judicial management, insolvency, reorganization, administration or relief of debtors in effect in its jurisdiction of incorporation, in each case as now or hereafter in effect, or any successor thereto (collectively, the “Bankruptcy Code”); or an involuntary case, proceeding or action is commenced against the Borrower or any Specified Subsidiary and the petition is not dismissed within 60 days after commencement of the case, proceeding or action or, in connection with any such voluntary proceeding or action, the Borrower or any Specified Subsidiary commences any other proceeding or action under any reorganization, arrangement, adjustment of debt, relief of debtors, dissolution, insolvency or liquidation or similar law of any jurisdiction whether now or hereafter in effect relating to the Borrower or any Specified Subsidiary; or a custodian (as defined in the Bankruptcy Code), receiver, receiver manager, trustee or similar Person is appointed for, or takes charge of, all or substantially all of the property of the Borrower or any Specified Subsidiary; or there is commenced against the Borrower or any Specified Subsidiary any such proceeding or action that remains undismissed for a period of 60 days; or any order of relief or other order approving any such case or proceeding or action is entered; or the Borrower or any Specified Subsidiary suffers any appointment of any custodian, receiver, receiver manager, trustee or the like for it or any substantial part of its property to continue undischarged or unstayed for a period of 60 days; or the Borrower or any Specified Subsidiary makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors.

 

10.6       ERISA.

 

(a)               Any Plan shall fail to satisfy the minimum funding standard required for any plan year or part thereof or a waiver of such standard or extension of any amortization period is sought or granted under Section 412 of the Code; any Plan or Multiemployer Plan is or shall have been terminated or is the subject of termination proceedings under ERISA (including the giving of written notice thereof); an event shall have occurred or a condition shall exist in either case entitling the PBGC to terminate any Plan or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan (including the giving of written notice thereof); the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate has incurred or is likely to incur a liability to or on account of a Plan or a Multiemployer Plan under Section 409, 502(i), 502(l), 515, 4062, 4063, 4064, 4069, 4201 or 4204 or of ERISA or Section 4971 or 4975 of the Code (including the giving of written notice thereof);

 

(b)               there results from any event or events set forth in clause (a) of this Section the imposition of a Lien or a liability; and

 

(c)               such Lien or liability would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

10.7       Guarantee. The Guarantee or any material provision thereof shall cease to be in full force or effect (other than pursuant to the terms hereof and thereof) or any Credit Party shall deny or disaffirm in writing any Guarantor’s obligations under the Guarantee.

 

10.8       Security Documents. Any Security Document or any material provision thereof shall cease to be in full force or effect (other than pursuant to the terms hereof or thereof) or any Credit Party shall deny or disaffirm in writing any grantor’s obligations under any Security Document.

 

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10.9       Judgments. One or more monetary judgments or decrees of a court of competent jurisdiction shall be entered against the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary involving a liability of $125,000,000 or more in the aggregate for all such judgments and decrees for the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (to the extent not paid or covered by insurance provided by a carrier not disputing coverage) and any such judgments or decrees shall not have been satisfied, vacated, discharged or stayed or bonded pending appeal within 60 days after the entry thereof.

 

10.10     Term Loan Supplement. With respect only to such Class of Loans, the Majority Lenders with respect to any Class of Loans have directed the Term Agent to declare that an Event of Default has occurred as the result of the occurrence of any event or circumstance identified as an “Event of Default” in the Term Loan Supplement for such Class (but such event shall not, by itself, be an Event of Default with respect to any other Class of Loans).

 

Then, and in any such event, and at any time thereafter, if any Event of Default shall then be continuing with respect to a Class of Loans, the Term Agent may and, upon the written request of the Majority Lenders of such Class of Loans, shall, by written notice to the Borrower, take any or all of the following actions, without prejudice to the rights of the Term Agent or any Lender to enforce its claims against any Credit Party, except as otherwise specifically provided for in this Agreement (but if an Event of Default specified in Section 10.5 shall occur with respect to the Borrower, clauses (x) and (y) below shall occur automatically without presentment, demand, protest or other notice or requirements of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by Borrower): (x) declare the Class Total Commitment of such Class of Loans terminated, whereupon the Class Commitment of each Lender of such Class of Loans, as the case may be, shall forthwith terminate immediately and any fees theretofore accrued shall forthwith become due and payable without any other notice of any kind; and/or (y) declare the principal of, any accrued interest and fees and any applicable make-whole or other premium (as provided in any Term Loan Supplement) in respect of any or all Loans of such Class and any or all Obligations owing hereunder and thereunder with respect to such Class of Loans to be, whereupon the same shall become, forthwith due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower. In addition, after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Term Agent and the Lenders will have all other rights and remedies available at law and equity; but only the Term Agent (at the direction of the Majority Lenders) may bring an action, at law or in equity, against any Credit Party to enforce the Credit Documents.

 

Any amount received by the Term Agent from any Credit Party (other than Foreclosure Proceeds) following any acceleration of the Obligations under this Agreement or any Event of Default with respect to the Borrower under Section 10.5 shall be applied as set forth in the Collateral Trust Agreement and, thereafter, shall be applied:

 

(i)               first, to payment or reimbursement of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, expenses and indemnities payable to the Term Agent in its capacity as such;

 

(ii)              second, to the payment of unpaid accrued interest on the Loans then due and payable, pro rata to the Lenders in accordance with such interest; and

 

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(iii)            third, to the payment of unpaid principal of and any applicable make-whole or other premium (as provided in any Term Loan Supplement) on the Loans, pro rata to the Lenders in accordance with such principal.

 

Any Foreclosure Proceeds received by the Term Agent shall be applied as set forth in the Collateral Trust Agreement and, thereafter, shall be applied:

 

(iv)             first, to payment or reimbursement of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, expenses and indemnities payable to the Term Agent in its capacity as such;

 

(v)               second, to the Class or Classes in the order set forth in the Term Loan Supplements (and if multiple Classes are grouped together for this purpose, then to such Classes pro rata in accordance with their outstanding Obligations), and within each Class first to the payout of unpaid accrued interest on the Loans of such Class then due and payable and then to the unpaid principal of and any applicable make-whole or other premium (as provided in any Term Loan Supplement) on the Loans of such Class then due and payable, in each case pro rata to the Lenders of such Class (but if any Lender disclaims any benefit of a Lien over real property in accordance with Section 12.16(d), then such Lender and such Lender’s Loans shall be disregarded to the extent of any Foreclosure Proceeds otherwise attributable to such disclaimed benefit); and

 

(vi)             last, any surplus then remaining, after all of the Obligations then due shall have been paid in full in cash, shall be paid to the Borrower or its successors or assigns or to whomever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same or as a court of competent jurisdiction may award.

 

ARTICLE XI

The Term Agent

 

11.1       Appointment.

 

(a)               Each Lender hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Term Agent as the agent hereunder the Credit Documents and irrevocably authorizes the Term Agent, in such capacity, to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of the Credit Documents and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to the Term Agent by the terms of the Credit Documents, together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Term Agent and the Lenders, and the Borrower shall not have rights as third party beneficiary of any such provision. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary elsewhere in this Agreement, the Term Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth in any Credit Document, or any fiduciary relationship with any Lender, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into any Credit Document or otherwise exist against the Term Agent. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, the use of the term “agent” herein and in the other Credit Documents with reference to the Term Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law. Instead, such term is used merely as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between independent contracting parties. The duties of the Term Agent under the Credit Documents are solely mechanical and administrative in nature.

 

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(b)               No Arranger shall have any right, power, obligation, liability, responsibility or duty under the Credit Documents other than those applicable to the Term Agent (if such Arranger is the Term Agent) or those applicable to a Lender (if such Arranger is a Lender).

 

11.2       Delegation of Duties. The Term Agent may execute any of its duties under the Credit Documents by or through agents, sub-agents, employees or attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. The Term Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agents, sub-agents or attorneys-in-fact selected by it in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct by the Term Agent (as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction).

 

11.3       Exculpatory Provisions. Neither the Term Agent nor any of its officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or Affiliates shall be (i) liable for any action lawfully taken or omitted to be taken by any of them under or in connection with any Credit Document (except for its or such Person’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, in connection with its duties expressly set forth in any Credit Document (IT BEING THE INTENTION OF THE PARTIES HERETO THAT THE TERM AGENT AND ANY RELATED PARTIES SHALL, IN ALL CASES, BE INDEMNIFIED FOR ITS ORDINARY, COMPARATIVE, CONTRIBUTORY OR SOLE NEGLIGENCE, INCLUDING, FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, ANY ACT DONE OR STEP TAKEN OR OMITTED IN GOOD FAITH OR FOR ANY MISTAKE IN ACT OR LAW)), which such action was taken with the consent or at the request of the Majority Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Term Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Section 12.1 and Article X), (ii) responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into the value or the sufficiency of any Collateral or (iii) responsible in any manner to any Lender or any participant for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties made by any Credit Party or any officer thereof contained in any Credit Document or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Term Agent under or in connection with, any Credit Document or for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of any Credit Document, or the perfection or priority of or any unsuitability, inadequacy, expiration or unfitness of any Lien or security interest created or purported to be created under the Security Documents, or for any failure of any Credit Party to perform its obligations thereunder or (iv) responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Articles V and VI or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Term Agent. The Term Agent shall not be under any obligation to any Lender to make any investigation into, and shall be entitled to assume the adequacy and fitness of, any Lien or security interest created under the Credit Documents, including the Security Documents. The Term Agent shall not be under any obligation to any Lender to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this Agreement or any other Credit Document, or to inspect the properties, books or records of any Credit Party. For the avoidance of doubt, the Term Agent shall have no responsibility for or liability with respect to monitoring compliance of any other party to the Credit Documents.

 

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11.4       Reliance.

 

(a)               The Term Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any writing, resolution, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telecopy, telex or teletype message, statement, order or other document or instruction believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person or Persons and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including counsel to the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by the Term Agent. The Term Agent may deem and treat the Lender specified in the Register with respect to any amount owing hereunder as the owner thereof for all purposes unless a written notice of assignment, negotiation or transfer thereof shall have been filed with the Term Agent. The Term Agent shall be entitled to request written instructions, or clarification of any instruction, from the Majority Lenders (or, if the relevant Credit Document stipulates the matter is a decision for any other Lender or group of Lenders, from that Lender or group of Lenders) as to whether, and in what manner, it should exercise or refrain from exercising any right, power, authority or discretion, and the Term Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under any Credit Document unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the Majority Lenders as it deems appropriate and, if it so requests, it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Lenders against any and all liability and expense that may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. In the absence of written instruction, the Term Agent may act (or refrain from acting) as it considers to be in the best interests of the Lenders. The Term Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under the Credit Documents in accordance with a request of the Majority Lenders, or in the absence of written instructions from the Majority Lenders, as it considers to be in the best interests of the Lenders, and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all the Lenders and all future holders of the Loans; but the Term Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or in the opinion of its counsel, may expose it to liability or that is contrary to any Credit Document or applicable Requirements of Law; provided further that each of the Term Agent and the Collateral Trustee, in exercising any discretionary power granted to it under any Credit Document (including, for the avoidance of doubt, clause (j) of the definition of “Excluded Property”), to the extent there is a corresponding or substantially similar provision in the Revolving Credit Agreement or any other “Credit Document” (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement) is authorized and instructed by the Lenders, to exercise, and shall be protected from any liability whatsoever by exercising, such discretionary power in the same manner as the Revolving Agent has exercised or is exercising its discretionary power with respect to such corresponding or substantially similar provision. Each of the Term Agent and the Collateral Trustee may rely exclusively on a certificate of an Authorized Officer specifying the discretionary power the Revolving Agent has exercised or is exercising with respect to such corresponding or substantially similar provision. Notwithstanding the foregoing and, for the avoidance of doubt, any release of Liens on the Collateral must be in accordance with Section 12.16. For purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in Article V on the Initial Closing Date, each Lender that has signed the Class A Term Loan Supplement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to such Lender unless the Term Agent shall have received notice from such Lender before the proposed Closing Date for the Class A Loans specifying its objection thereto. For purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in Article VI on a Closing Date, each Lender that has signed the relevant Term Loan Supplement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to such Lender unless the Term Agent shall have received notice from such Lender before the proposed Closing Date for such Class of Loans specifying its objection thereto.

 

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(b)               The Term Agent shall not have any duty to (i) take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Credit Documents that the Term Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Majority Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Credit Documents); but the Term Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Term Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Credit Document or applicable Law; and (ii) to disclose, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Credit Documents, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Term Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity, and for the avoidance of doubt shall not be liable for the failure to disclose any information provided to the Term Agent, regardless of any duty to disclose hereunder.

 

11.5       Notice of Default. The Term Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default hereunder unless the Term Agent has received written notice from a Lender or the Borrower referring to this Agreement, describing such Default or Event of Default and stating that such notice is a “notice of default”. In the event that the Term Agent receives such a notice, it shall give notice thereof to the Lenders. The Term Agent shall take such action with respect to such Default or Event of Default as shall be reasonably directed by the Majority Lenders in accordance with the terms hereof; but unless and until the Term Agent shall have received such directions, the Term Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Default or Event of Default as it shall deem advisable in the best interests of the Lenders.

 

11.6       Non-Reliance on Term Agent and Other Lenders. Each Lender expressly acknowledges that neither the Term Agent nor any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or Affiliates has made any representations or warranties to it and that no act by the Term Agent hereinafter taken, including any review of the affairs of any Credit Party, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by the Term Agent or any of its officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or Affiliates to any Lender. Each Lender acknowledges to the Term Agent that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Term Agent or any of its officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or Affiliates or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of and investigation into the business, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Credit Parties and made its own decision to make its credit extensions hereunder and enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Term Agent or any of its officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or Affiliates or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under the Credit Documents, and to make such investigation as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Credit Parties. Except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Term Agent hereunder, the Term Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide any Lender with any credit or other information concerning the business, assets, operations, properties, financial condition, prospects or creditworthiness of any Credit Party that may come into the possession of the Term Agent any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or Affiliates.

 

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11.7       Indemnification. The Lenders agree to indemnify the Term Agent in its capacity as such (to the extent not reimbursed by the Credit Parties and without limiting the obligation of the Credit Parties to do so), ratably according to their respective portions of the Commitments or Loans, as applicable, outstanding in effect on the date on which indemnification is sought (or, if indemnification is sought after the date upon which the Commitments shall have terminated and the Loans shall have been paid in full, ratably in accordance with their respective portions of the Total Exposure in effect immediately before such date), from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind whatsoever that may at any time occur (including at any time following the payment of the Loans) be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the Term Agent in any way relating to or arising out of the Commitments, any Credit Document or any documents contemplated by or referred to therein or the Transactions or any action taken or omitted by the Term Agent under or in connection with any of the foregoing; but no Lender shall be liable to the Term Agent for the payment of any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulting from the Term Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction (IT BEING THE INTENTION OF THE PARTIES HERETO THAT THE TERM AGENT AND ANY RELATED PARTIES SHALL, IN ALL CASES, BE INDEMNIFIED FOR ITS ORDINARY, COMPARATIVE, CONTRIBUTORY OR SOLE NEGLIGENCE, INCLUDING, FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, ANY ACT DONE OR STEP TAKEN OR OMITTED IN GOOD FAITH OR FOR ANY MISTAKE IN ACT OR LAW); provided, further, that no action taken by the Term Agent in accordance with the directions of the Majority Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be required by the Credit Documents) shall be deemed to constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Term Agent for purposes of this Section. In the case of any investigation, litigation or proceeding giving rise to any liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind whatsoever that may at any time occur (including at any time following the payment of the Loans), this Section applies whether any such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by any Lender or any other Person. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender shall reimburse the Term Agent upon demand for its ratable share of any costs or out-of-pocket expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred by the Term Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice rendered in respect of rights or responsibilities under, any Credit Document, or any document contemplated by or referred to therein, to the extent that the Term Agent is not reimbursed for such expenses by or on behalf of the Borrower; but such reimbursement by the Lenders shall not affect the Borrower’s continuing reimbursement obligations with respect thereto. If any indemnity furnished to the Term Agent for any purpose shall, in the opinion of the Term Agent, be insufficient or become impaired, the Term Agent may call for additional indemnity and cease, or not commence, to do the acts indemnified against until such additional indemnity is furnished; but in no event shall this sentence require any Lender to indemnify the Term Agent against any liability, obligation, loss, damage, penalty, action, judgment, suit, cost, expense or disbursement in excess of such Lender’s pro rata portion thereof; and provided further, this sentence shall not be deemed to require any Lender to indemnify the Term Agent against any liability, obligation, loss, damage, penalty, action, judgment, suit, cost, expense or disbursement resulting from the Term Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct (as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction). The agreements in this Section shall survive the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder and the resignation or removal of the Term Agent.

 

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11.8       Agent in Its Individual Capacity. The Term Agent and its Affiliates may make loans to, accept deposits from and generally engage in any kind of business with any Credit Party as though the Term Agent were not the Term Agent under the Credit Documents. The Lenders acknowledge that, pursuant to such activities, the Term Agent or its Affiliates may receive information regarding the Borrower or its Affiliates (including information that may be subject to confidentiality obligations in favor of the Borrower or such Affiliate) and acknowledge that the Term Agent shall be under no obligation to provide such information to them. With respect to the Loans (if any) made by it, the Term Agent shall have the same rights and powers under the Credit Documents as any Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Term Agent, and the terms “Lender” and “Lenders” shall include the Term Agent in its individual capacity if it is a Lender.

 

11.9       Successor Agent. The Term Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders and the Borrower. If the Term Agent is a Lender and becomes a Defaulting Lender, then such Term Agent may be removed as the Term Agent, as the case may be, at the reasonable request of the Borrower and the Majority Lenders. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation or removal, as the case may be, the Majority Lenders shall have the right, subject to the consent of the Borrower (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) so long as no Event of Default under Section 10.1 or 10.5 is continuing, to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States but shall not, in any case, be a Defaulting Lender or an Affiliate of a Defaulting Lender; but if, on terms, conditions and documents satisfactory to such successor Term Agent and the resigning Term Agent in consultation with the Borrower, an Affiliate of the resigning Term Agent or, so long as no Event of Default is continuing and subject to the consent of the Borrower, a nationally recognized provider of trustee and agency services for corporate financing transactions (as determined by the Borrower) (a) is willing to accept appointment as a successor Term Agent, (b) is a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of a bank with an office in the United States, and (c) executes and delivers an acceptance of such appointment to the Borrower and the Lenders (upon which the Collateral Trustee and others may rely), then such Person shall thereupon, and without any requirement of advance notice to any Person other than the Borrower, become the successor Term Agent. If, in the case of the resignation of the Term Agent, (x) no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Majority Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the Term Agent gives notice of its resignation and (y) a successor Term Agent has not accepted appointment in accordance with the proviso of the immediately preceding sentence, then the Term Agent may on behalf of and at the expense of the Borrower, petition a court of competent jurisdiction to appoint a successor Term Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as the Term Agent hereunder, and upon the execution and filing or recording of such instruments or notices as may be necessary or desirable, or as the Majority Lenders may request, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Term Agent, and the retiring Term Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations under the Credit Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section). The fees payable by the Borrower (following the effectiveness of such appointment) to the successor Term Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the retiring Term Agent’s resignation under the Credit Documents, the provisions of this Article (including Section 11.7) and Section 12.5 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Term Agent, its sub agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Term Agent was acting as the Term Agent. The retiring Term Agent shall have no responsibility or liability whatsoever for the actions or omissions of any successor Term Agent.

 

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11.10       Withholding Tax. To the extent required by any applicable Requirement of Law, the Term Agent may withhold from any payment to any Lender an amount equivalent to any applicable withholding tax. If the IRS or any authority of the United States or other jurisdiction asserts a claim that the Term Agent did not properly withhold tax from amounts paid to or for the account of any Lender (because the appropriate form was not delivered, was not properly executed, or because such Lender failed to notify the Term Agent of a change in circumstances that rendered the exemption from, or reduction of, withholding tax ineffective, or for any other reason), such Lender shall indemnify the Term Agent (to the extent that the Term Agent has not already been reimbursed by any applicable Credit Party and without limiting the obligation of any applicable Credit Party to do so) fully for all amounts paid, directly or indirectly, by the Term Agent as Tax or otherwise, including penalties, additions to Tax and interest, together with all expenses incurred, including legal expenses, allocated staff costs and any out of pocket expenses. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Term Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Credit Document against any amount due to the Term Agent under this Section.

 

11.11       Security Documents and Guarantee.

 

(a)          Each Lender hereby further authorizes the Term Agent to enter into the Collateral Trust Agreement with the Collateral Trustee, which on behalf of and for the benefit of the Term Loan Secured Parties, shall be the agent for and representative of the Term Loan Secured Parties with respect to the Collateral and the Security Documents. In accordance with the prior sentence, the Collateral Trustee is hereby acknowledged to be a sub-agent of the Term Agent to act with respect to the Collateral and the Security Documents, pursuant to Section 11.2, and each Lender authorizes such sub-agency and directs the Term Agent to so appoint the Collateral Trustee. It is agreed and acknowledged that the Collateral Trustee is entitled to all the rights and remedies of the Term Agent (including separate and distinct, and not derivative, indemnification and reimbursement rights (with respect to legal expenses, limited to reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of one primary outside counsel to the Collateral Trustees of its choosing and additional special counsel as applicable (limited to one firm of special counsel, of the Collateral Trustee’s choosing per specialty))) pursuant to Section 12.5. Subject to Section 12.1 and the Collateral Trust Agreement, without further written consent or authorization from any Term Loan Secured Parties, the Term Agent or Collateral Trustee, as applicable, may (a) execute any documents or instruments necessary in connection with a Disposition of assets permitted by this Agreement, (b) release any Lien encumbering any item of Collateral that is the subject of such Disposition of assets or with respect to which Majority Lenders (or such other Lenders as may be required to give such consent under Section 12.1) have otherwise consented or (c) release any Guarantor from the Guarantee with respect to which Majority Lenders (or such other Lenders as may be required to give such consent under Section 12.1) have otherwise consented (and, in the case of any automatic release of a Guarantor in accordance with Section 12.16, execute any documents or instruments that may be necessary or advisable to evidence such release).

 

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(b)          In connection with its resignation pursuant to Section 3.22 of the Collateral Trust Agreement, the Collateral Trustee may also resign as sub-agent of the Term Agent to act with respect to the Collateral and the Security Documents at any time by giving not less than 30 days’ prior written notice addressed to the Borrower and the Term Agent (which shall promptly make such notice available to the Lenders in accordance with its customary practice). In case of the resignation of the Collateral Trustee as such sub-agent, the Lenders authorize and direct the Term Agent to appoint, and the Term Agent hereby agrees that it will appoint, as sub-agent of the Term Agent to act with respect to the Collateral and the Security Documents the successor Collateral Trustee appointed pursuant to Section 3.23 of the Collateral Trust Agreement. The resigning Collateral Trustee will fulfill its obligations with respect to the Collateral and the Security Documents until a successor Collateral Trustee is appointed pursuant to Section 3.23 of the Collateral Trust Agreement. Written notice of such appointment and designation shall be given by the Term Agent to the Credit Parties, but the validity of any such appointment shall not be impaired or affected by failure to give such notice or by any defect therein. Such appointment and designation shall be full evidence of the right and authority to make the same and of all the facts therein recited. Upon the making of any such appointment and designation, the Security Documents shall vest in the successor all the estate and title in and to all of the Collateral, and the successor shall thereupon succeed to all of the rights, powers, privileges, immunities and duties hereby conferred upon the Collateral Trustee therein; but solely for purposes of maintaining the Liens granted to the Collateral Trustee under the Security Documents for the benefit of the Term Loan Secured Parties, the retiring Collateral Trustee shall continue to be vested with such Liens as collateral trustee for the benefit of the Term Loan Secured Parties until such time as all filings and other actions necessary to continue the perfection of such Liens in favor of the successor Collateral Trustee shall have been completed (it being understood and agreed that the retiring Collateral Trustee shall have no duty or obligation to take any further action or to exercise any discretion under any Security Document). Any one such appointment and designation shall not exhaust the right to appoint and designate an additional successor but such right may be exercised repeatedly until Facility Termination. To facilitate the administration of the duties with respect to the Collateral and the Security Documents, the Term Agent may appoint multiple trustees to serve in such capacity or in such jurisdictions as the Term Agent may designate.

 

11.12      Right to Realize on Collateral and Enforce Guarantee. Anything contained in any Credit Document to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrower, the Term Agent and each Term Loan Secured Party hereby agree that no Term Loan Secured Party shall have any right individually to realize upon any Collateral or to enforce the Guarantee; it being understood and agreed that all powers, rights and remedies hereunder may be exercised solely by the Collateral Trustee or, to the extent permitted by the Collateral Trust Agreement, the Term Agent, on behalf of the Term Loan Secured Parties in accordance with the terms hereof and all powers, rights and remedies under the Security Documents and the Guarantee may be exercised solely by the Collateral Trustee or, to the extent permitted by the Collateral Trust Agreement, the Term Agent.

 

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11.13      Term Agent and Collateral Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding, constituting an Event of Default under Section 10.5, the Term Agent or the Collateral Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Term Agent or the Collateral Trustee shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

 

(a)          to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, the Term Agent and the Collateral Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the Term Agent and the Collateral Trustee and their respective agents and counsel, to the extent due under Section 12.5) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

 

(b)          to collect and receive any monies 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 Lender to make such payments to the Term Agent and, in the event that the Term Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, to pay to the Term Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Term Agent and its agents and counsel, to the extent due under Section 12.5.

 

Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Term Agent or the Collateral Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Indebtedness or the rights of any Lender or to authorize the Term Agent or the Collateral Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.

 

Neither the Term Agent nor the Collateral Trustee shall incur any liability for not performing, or for delay in performing, any act or fulfilling any duty, obligation or responsibility hereunder arising out of, or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond the control of the Term Agent or the Collateral Trustee (including, without limitation, any act or provision of any present or future law or regulation or governmental authority, any act of God or war, civil unrest, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, local or national disturbance or disaster, any act of war or terrorism, military disturbance, nuclear or natural catastrophes, the unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire or facsimile or other wire or communication facility, or interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services), as applicable.

 

Neither the Term Agent nor the Collateral Trustee shall be required to expend or risk any of its own funds or otherwise incur any liability, financial or otherwise, in the performance of any of its duties under any Credit Document, 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 indemnity satisfactory to it against such risk or liability is not assured to it.

 

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Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary herein, whenever reference is made in this Agreement to any discretionary action by, consent, designation, specification, requirement or approval of, notice, request or other communication from, or other direction given or action to be undertaken or to be (or not to be) suffered or omitted by the Term Agent or the Collateral Trustee or to any election, decision, opinion, acceptance, use of judgment, expression of satisfaction or other exercise of discretion, rights or remedies to be made (or not to be made) by the Term Agent or the Collateral Trustee, it is understood that in all cases the Term Agent and the Collateral Trustee, as applicable, shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any such action under this Agreement if it shall not have received such written instruction, advice or concurrence of the Majority Lenders or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for in the Credit Documents (such Lenders being referred to herein as the “Relevant Lenders”) or any agreement to which the Relevant Lenders and (i) the Term Agent or (ii) the Collateral Trustee are parties and each acting in accordance with such documents, as the Term Agent or the Collateral Trustee, as applicable, deems appropriate. Upon receipt of such written instruction, advice or concurrence from the Relevant Lenders, the Term Agent or the Collateral Trustee, as applicable, shall take such discretionary actions in accordance with such written instruction, advice or concurrence. This provision is intended solely for the benefit of the Term Agent and the Collateral Trustee and their successors and permitted assigns and is not intended to and will not entitle the other parties hereto to any defense, claim or counterclaim, or confer any rights or benefits on any party hereto. This provision is not intended to limit Section 11.4. For the avoidance of doubt, the Term Agent shall have no liability whatsoever for any action or inaction on the part of the Collateral Trustee or any successor thereto.

 

Each of the Term Agent and the Collateral Trustee may consult with legal counsel of its own choosing, at the reasonable and documented expense of the Borrower, as to any matter relating to this Agreement, and neither the Term Agent nor the Collateral Trustee shall incur any liability in acting in good faith in accordance with any advice from such counsel.

 

Money held by the Term Agent in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds, except to the extent required by Law. The Term Agent shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder, except as otherwise agreed in writing.

 

11.14      Posting of Communications. (a) The Borrower agrees that the Term Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make any Communications available to the Lenders by posting the Communications on IntraLinks™, DebtDomain, SyndTrak, ClearPar or any other electronic platform chosen by the Term Agent to be its electronic transmission system (the “Approved Electronic Platform”).

 

(b)          Although the Approved Electronic Platform and its primary web portal are secured with generally-applicable security procedures and policies implemented or modified by the Term Agent from time to time (including, as of the Initial Closing Date, a user ID/password authorization system) and the Approved Electronic Platform is secured through a per-deal authorization method whereby each user may access the Approved Electronic Platform only on a deal-by-deal basis, each of the Lenders and the Borrower acknowledges and agrees that the distribution of material through an electronic medium is not necessarily secure, that the Term Agent is not responsible for approving or vetting the representatives or contacts of any Lender that are added to the Approved Electronic Platform, and that there may be confidentiality and other risks associated with such distribution. Each of the Lenders and the Borrower hereby approves distribution of the Communications through the Approved Electronic Platform and understands and assumes the risks of such distribution.

 

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(c)          THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND THE COMMUNICATIONS ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE”. THE APPLICABLE PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE COMMUNICATIONS, OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND THE COMMUNICATIONS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY THE APPLICABLE PARTIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS OR THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE TERM AGENT, ANY ARRANGER OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE RELATED PARTIES (COLLECTIVELY, “APPLICABLE PARTIES”) HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO ANY CREDIT PARTY, ANY LENDER OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DIRECT OR INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOSSES OR EXPENSES (WHETHER IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF ANY CREDIT PARTY’S OR THE TERM AGENT’S TRANSMISSION OF COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH THE INTERNET OR THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM.

 

Communications” means, collectively, any notice, demand, communication, information, document or other material provided by or on behalf of the Borrower, any other Credit Party pursuant to any Credit Document or the transactions contemplated therein which is distributed by the Term Agent or any Lender by means of electronic communications pursuant to this Section, including through an Approved Electronic Platform.

 

(d)          Each Lender agrees that notice to it (as provided in the next sentence) specifying that Communications have been posted to the Approved Electronic Platform shall constitute effective delivery of the Communications to such Lender for purposes of the Credit Documents. Each Lender agrees (i) to notify the Term Agent in writing (which could be in the form of electronic communication) from time to time of such Lender’s email address to which the foregoing notice may be sent by electronic transmission and (ii) that the foregoing notice may be sent to such email address.

 

(e)          Each of the Lenders and the Borrower agrees that the Term Agent may, but (except as may be required by applicable Law) shall not be obligated to, store the Communications on the Approved Electronic Platform in accordance with the Term Agent’s generally applicable document retention procedures and policies.

 

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(f)          Nothing herein shall prejudice the right of the Term Agent or any Lender to give any notice or other communication pursuant to any Credit Document in any other manner specified in such Credit Document.

 

11.15      Certain ERISA Matters.

 

(a)          Each Lender (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Term Agent and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower, that at least one of the following is and will be true:

 

(i)                 such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of Section 3(42) of ERISA or otherwise) of one or more Benefit Plans with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments or this Agreement,

 

(ii)              the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement,

 

(iii)            (A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, or

 

(iv)             such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Term Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.

 

(b)          In addition, unless either (1) sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or (2) a Lender has provided another representation, warranty and covenant in accordance with sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Term Agent and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower, that the Term Agent is not a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender involved in such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Term Agent under this Agreement or any documents related hereto or thereto).

 

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ARTICLE XII
Miscellaneous

 

12.1          Amendments, Waivers and Releases. Except as expressly set forth in the applicable Credit Document, neither such Credit Document nor any terms thereof may be amended, supplemented or modified except in accordance with the provisions of this Section; but each Term Loan Supplement shall provide for the exclusive means of its waiver, amendment, modification or supplementation. The Majority Lenders of each Class may, or, at the written direction of the Majority Lenders of each Class, the Term Agent shall, from time to time, enter into with the relevant Credit Party or Credit Parties written amendments, supplements or modifications to the Credit Documents or waive in writing, on such terms and conditions as may be specified, any requirement of the Credit Documents or any Default or Event of Default and its consequences; but each such waiver and each such amendment, supplement or modification shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, further, that (i) any amendment or waiver that by its terms affects the rights or duties of Lenders under only one or more Classes of Loans, or is with reference to the Term Loan Supplement of such one or more Classes of Loans, but in each case not any other Class, shall only require the approval of the Majority Lenders of such affected Class of Loans, (ii) any amendment or waiver relating to a provision of this Agreement that under the terms of any Term Loan Supplement shall not be applicable to the Loans of the Class established thereby may be effected without the approval of any Lenders of such Class and (iii) no such waiver and no such amendment, supplement or modification shall:

 

(A)             amend, modify or waive any provision of this Section, or amend or modify any provision of Section 4.2 to the extent it would alter the ratable allocation of payments thereunder, or reduce the percentages specified in the definitions of the term “Majority Lenders”, consent to the assignment or transfer by the Borrower of its rights and obligations under any Credit Document to which it is a party (except as permitted pursuant to Section 9.3(a)), allow for the amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of a Term Loan Supplement except as described therein, or alter the orders of applications set forth in the final paragraphs of Article X or modify any definition used in such final paragraph if the effect thereof would be to alter the order of payment specified therein, in each case without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby;

 

(B)              amend, modify or waive any provision of Article XI without the written consent of the then-current Term Agent, as applicable, or any other former Term Agent to whom Article XI then applies in a manner that directly and adversely affects such Person,

 

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(C)              release all or substantially all of the value of the Guarantee (except as expressly permitted by the Guarantee or this Agreement) without the prior written consent of each Lender;

 

(D)             permit the Collateral Trustee to release all or substantially all of the Collateral under the Security Documents (except as expressly permitted by Section 12.16 of this Agreement or the Collateral Trust Agreement) without the prior written consent of each Lender;

 

(E)              affect the rights or duties of, or any fees or other amounts payable to the Term Agent under any Credit Document without the prior written consent of the Term Agent; or

 

(F)              amend, modify or waive any provision of Article VI with respect to the Closing Date of a Class of Loans without the written consent of each Lender of such Class;

 

provided, further, that any provision of any Credit Document may be amended by an agreement in writing entered into by the Borrower and the Term Agent, without the consent of any Lender, to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency. Any such waiver and any such amendment, supplement or modification shall apply equally to each affected Lender and shall be binding upon the Borrower, such Lenders, the Term Agent and all future holders of the affected Loans. In the case of any waiver, the Borrower, the Lenders and the Term Agent shall be restored to their former positions and rights under the Credit Documents, and any Default or Event of Default waived shall be deemed to be cured and not continuing; it being understood that no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. In connection with the foregoing provisions, the Term Agent may, but shall have no obligation to, with the concurrence of any Lender, execute amendments, modifications, waivers or consents on behalf of such Lender.

 

12.2          Notices. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, all notices and other communications provided for under any Credit Document shall be in writing (including by facsimile or email transmission). All such written notices shall be mailed, faxed or delivered to the applicable address, facsimile number or electronic mail address, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:

 

(a)               if to the Borrower or the Term Agent, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 12.2 or to such other address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to the other parties; and

 

(b)               if to any Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire or to such other address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to the Borrower and the Term Agent.

 

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All such notices and other communications shall be deemed to be given or made upon the earlier to occur of (i) actual receipt by the relevant party hereto and (ii)(A) if delivered by hand or by courier, when signed for by or on behalf of the relevant party hereto; (B) if delivered by mail, three Business Days after deposit in the mails, postage prepaid; (C) if delivered by facsimile, when sent and receipt has been confirmed by telephone; and (D) if delivered by electronic mail, when delivered; but notices and other communications to the Term Agent or the Lenders regarding the voluntary prepayment of any Loans shall not be effective until received.

 

12.3          No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising, on the part of the Term Agent or any Lender, any right, remedy, power or privilege under the Credit Documents shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by Requirements of Law.

 

12.4          Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties made in the Credit Documents and in any document, certificate or statement delivered pursuant hereto or in connection herewith shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of the Loans hereunder.

 

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12.5          Payment of Expenses; Indemnification. The Borrower agrees (a) to pay or reimburse the Term Agent and the Arrangers for all of their reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses (with respect to legal expenses, limited to reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of one primary outside counsel to the Term Agent of its choosing and one primary outside counsel to the Arrangers, additional specialist counsel as applicable (limited to one firm of specialist counsel, of the Term Agent’s choosing, to the Term Agent per specialty and one firm of specialist counsel to the Arrangers per specialty), and one outside counsel in each appropriate local jurisdiction incurred in connection with the preparation and execution and delivery of, and any amendment, waiver, supplement or modification to, the Credit Documents and any other documents prepared in connection therewith, and the consummation and administration of the Transactions), (b) to pay or reimburse the Term Agent, each Arranger and each Lender for all its reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement or preservation of any rights under the Credit Documents and any such other documents (with respect to attorney costs, limited to the reasonable and documented fees, disbursements and other charges of one primary outside counsel for all such Persons, taken as a whole, and, if necessary, of a single firm of local outside counsel in each material jurisdiction for all Persons, taken as a whole (unless there is an actual or perceived conflict of interest in which case each such Person with such conflict may retain its own outside counsel) and additional specialist counsel as applicable (limited to one firm of specialist counsel for all such Persons, taken as a whole, per specialty), and one outside counsel in each appropriate local jurisdiction), (c) to pay, indemnify, and hold harmless each Lender and the Term Agent from any and all recording and filing fees, and (d) to pay, indemnify, and hold harmless each Lender, the Term Agent and each Arranger and their respective Related Parties from and against any and all other liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, demands, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever, whether or not such proceedings are brought by the Borrower, any of its Related Parties or any other third Person (with respect to attorney costs, limited to the reasonable and documented fees, disbursements and other charges of one primary outside counsel for all such Persons, taken as a whole, and, if necessary, of a single firm of local outside counsel in each appropriate jurisdiction for all such Persons, taken as a whole (unless there is an actual or perceived conflict of interest in which case each such Person may retain its own outside counsel)), with respect to the execution, delivery, enforcement, performance and administration of the Credit Documents and any such other documents, including any of the foregoing relating to the violation of, noncompliance with or liability under, any applicable Environmental Law (other than by such indemnified person or any of its Related Parties (other than any trustee or advisor)) or to any actual or alleged presence, release or threatened release of Hazardous Materials involving or attributable to the operations of the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any Oil and Gas Property (all the foregoing in this clause (d), collectively, the “Indemnified Liabilities”); but the Borrower shall have no obligation hereunder to the Term Agent, any Lender or any Arranger or any of their respective Related Parties with respect to Indemnified Liabilities to the extent they have been determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from (i) the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the party to be indemnified or any of its Related Parties (IT BEING THE INTENTION OF THE PARTIES HERETO THAT EACH LENDER, THE TERM AGENT AND EACH ARRANGER AND THEIR RESPECTIVE RELATED PARTIES SHALL, IN ALL CASES, BE INDEMNIFIED FOR ITS ORDINARY COMPARATIVE, CONTRIBUTORY OR SOLE NEGLIGENCE, INCLUDING, FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, ANY ACT DONE OR STEP TAKEN OR OMITTED IN GOOD FAITH OR FOR ANY MISTAKE IN ACT OR LAW), (ii) any material breach of any Credit Document by the party to be indemnified or (iii) disputes, claims, demands, actions, judgments or suits not arising from any act or omission by the Borrower or its Affiliates, brought by an indemnified Person against any other indemnified Person (other than disputes, claims, demands, actions, judgments or suits involving claims against the Term Agent or an Arranger in its capacity as such). NO PERSON ENTITLED TO INDEMNIFICATION UNDER CLAUSE (D) OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES ARISING FROM THE USE BY UNINTENDED RECIPIENTS OF ANY INFORMATION OR OTHER MATERIALS DISTRIBUTED BY IT THROUGH TELECOMMUNICATIONS, ELECTRONIC OR OTHER INFORMATION TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS IN CONNECTION WITH THE CREDIT DOCUMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY. THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS, ELECTRONIC OR OTHER INFORMATION TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS USED BY THE TERM AGENT IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” NONE OF THE TERM AGENT OR ANY OF ITS RELATED PARTIES WARRANTS THE ADEQUACY OF SUCH TELECOMMUNICATIONS, ELECTRONIC OR OTHER INFORMATION TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS LIABILITY FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN THE COMMUNICATIONS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD-PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY TERM AGENT OR ANY OF ITS RELATED PARTIES IN CONNECTION WITH ANY COMMUNICATIONS OR ANY TELECOMMUNICATIONS, ELECTRONIC OR OTHER INFORMATION TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS. No Person entitled to indemnification under clause (d) of this Section, nor the Borrower or any Subsidiary, shall have any liability for any special, punitive, indirect, exemplary or consequential losses or damages of any kind whatsoever (including any loss of profits, business or anticipated savings) relating to any Credit Document or arising out of its activities in connection herewith or therewith (whether before or after the Initial Closing Date); but the foregoing shall not negate the Borrower’s obligations with respect to Indemnified Liabilities. All amounts payable under this Section shall be paid within 15 Business Days of receipt by the Borrower of an invoice relating thereto setting forth such expense in reasonable detail. The agreements in this Section shall survive repayment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder. This Section shall not apply with respect to any claims for Taxes which shall be governed exclusively by Section 4.3 and, to the extent set forth therein, with respect to any Class of Loans, any provision in the Term Loan Supplement for such Class of Loans regarding increased costs, illegality and related issues. For the avoidance of doubt, the Borrower shall not be obligated under this Section with respect to any allocated costs of in-house counsel.

 

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12.6          Successors and Assigns; Participations and Assignments.

 

(a)          The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of any Lender that makes a Loan), except that (i) except as expressly permitted by Section 9.3, the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Term Agent and each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrower without such consent shall be null and void) and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of any Lender that makes a Loan), Participants (to the extent provided in Section 12.6(c)) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of the Term Agent, each Lender and each other Person entitled to indemnification under Section 12.5) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

(b)          (i) Subject to the conditions set forth in clause (b)(ii) below, any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees (other than an Ineligible Person) all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitments and the Loans at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent of:

 

(A) the Borrower, if such assignment includes the assignment of a Commitment with respect to a Class of Loans (but not if such assignment is of outstanding Loans);

 

(B) the Borrower, with such consent not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, if such assignment includes only the assignment of Loans but not of any Commitment, and to be deemed to have been given unless the Borrower shall object to a proposed assignment by written notice to the Term Agent within ten Business Days after having received notice thereof; but no consent of the Borrower shall be required (i) for an assignment of only Loans to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, in each case with respect to a Lender, (ii) if an Event of Default under Sections 10.1 or 10.5 has occurred and is continuing or (iii) for an assignment of Loans of any Class to the extent, if any, provided in the Term Loan Supplement related to that Class; and

 

(C) the Term Agent, such consent not be unreasonably withheld or delayed; but no consent of the Term Agent shall be required for (i) assignments in respect of the Facility if such assignment is to a Person that is a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to a Lender, (ii) of Loans to the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to Section 12.6(g) or (iii) for an assignment of Loans of any Class to the extent, if any, provided in the Term Loan Supplement related to that Class.

 

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(ii)              Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:

 

(A)             except in the case of an assignment to an existing Lender or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment or Loans of a Class, (1) the amount of the Commitment or Loans of a Class of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Term Agent) shall not be less than $1,000,000 and increments of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and (2) after giving effect to such assignment, the amount of the remaining Commitment or Loans of such Class of the assigning Lender (determined as of the date the Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Term Agent) shall not be less than $1,000,000 (unless such amount shall be zero), in each case unless the Term Agent otherwise consents (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed); but contemporaneous assignments to a single assignee made by Affiliates of Lenders and related Approved Funds shall be aggregated for purposes of meeting the minimum assignment amount requirements stated above;

 

(B)              each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to a Class;

 

(C)              the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Term Agent an Assignment and Acceptance, together with a processing and recordation fee in the amount of $3,500 (except as may be otherwise provided in the Term Loan Supplement for Commitments and Loans of the Class being assigned); and

 

(D)             the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Term Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.

 

(iii)            Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to Section 12.6(b)(iv), from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance, the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and to the relevant Term Loan Supplement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement and such Term Loan Supplement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of any provision in the Term Loan Supplement for such Class of Loans regarding increased costs, illegality and related issues and Sections 4.3 and 12.5 and any other provisions, if any, specified in the Term Loan Supplement applicable to such Class). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with Section 12.6(c).

 

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(iv)             The Term Agent, acting for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at the Term Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of various Classes of, and principal amount (and stated interest amounts) of the Loans of various Classes owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). Further, the Register shall contain the name and address of the Term Agent, the Lenders and the lending office through which each such Person acts under this Agreement. The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Term Agent and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and, solely with respect to itself, each Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

(v)               Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Acceptance executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, the assignee’s completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in Section 12.6(b) (unless waived) and any written consent to such assignment required by Section 12.6(b), the Term Agent shall accept such Assignment and Acceptance and record the information contained therein in the Register.

 

(c)               (i) Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower or the Term Agent, sell participations to one or more Persons other than an Ineligible Person (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to one or more Classes (including all or a portion of its Commitments and the Loans owing to it with respect to such one or more Classes); but (A) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (B) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (C) the Borrower, the Term Agent and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to such one or more Classes. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision any Credit Document; but such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in clause (ii) of the proviso to Section 12.1 that affects such Participant, but the Participant shall have no right to consent to any modification to the percentage specified in the definitions of the term “Majority Lenders”. Subject to Section 12.6(c)(i), the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of any provision in the Term Loan Supplement for such Class of Loans regarding increased costs, illegality and related issues and Section 4.3 to the same extent as if it were a Lender (subject to the limitations and requirements of those Sections as though it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section 12.6(b), including the requirements of clauses (e), (f) and (i) of Section 4.3).

 

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(ii)              A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under any provision in the Term Loan Supplement for such Class of Loans regarding increased costs, illegality and related issues and Section 4.3 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation; but the Participant shall be subject to any provisions in the Term Loan Supplement for such Class of Loans regarding a Lender mitigating increased costs or taxes or illegality by designating a different lending office as if it were an assignee under clauses (a) and (b) of this Section. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each participant and the principal amounts (and related interest amounts) of each participant’s interest in the Loans with respect to one or more Classes of Loans or other obligations with respect to such one or more Classes under this Agreement (the “Participant Register”). The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive, absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. No Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register to any Person (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Credit Document) except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations.

 

(d)          Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower or the Term Agent at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender to a Federal Reserve Bank or any central bank having jurisdiction over such Lender, and this Section shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; but no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

 

(e)          Subject to Section 12.15, the Borrower authorizes each Lender to disclose to any Participant, secured creditor of such Lender or assignee (each, a “Transferee”) and any prospective Transferee any and all financial information in such Lender’s possession concerning the Borrower and its Affiliates that has been delivered to such Lender by or on behalf of the Borrower and its Affiliates pursuant to this Agreement or that has been delivered to such Lender by or on behalf of the Borrower and its Affiliates in connection with such Lender’s credit evaluation of the Borrower and its Affiliates before becoming a party to this Agreement.

 

(f)          The words “execution”, “signed”, “signature”, and words of like import in any Assignment and Acceptance shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable Law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

 

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(g)          Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary contained in this Agreement, any Lender may assign all or a portion of its Loans of any Class to the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to a Dutch Auction or open market purchase by the Borrower; but:

 

(i)                 the assigning Lender and the Borrower or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary purchasing such Lender’s Loans, as applicable, shall execute and deliver to the Term Agent an Assignment and Acceptance;

 

(ii)              any Loans assigned to the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be automatically and permanently cancelled upon the effectiveness of such assignment and will thereafter no longer be outstanding for any purpose hereunder;

 

(iii)            the Borrower shall either (A) represent and warrant to the effect that it is not in possession of any information that has not been disclosed in writing to the auction manager, the Term Agent and “non-Public Lenders” and that could reasonably be expected to be material to a Lender’s decision to participate in an auction or an assignment (“Excluded Information”) or (B) make a statement that such representation cannot be made,

 

(iv)             no Event of Default has occurred or is continuing; and

 

(v)               the assignment to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary and cancellation of Loans shall not constitute a mandatory or voluntary payment for purposes of Sections 4.1 and 4.2, but the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Loans shall be deemed reduced by the full par value of the aggregate principal amount of the Loans purchased pursuant to this Section 12.6(g), and each principal repayment installment with respect to the Loans of such Class shall be reduced pro rata by the aggregate principal amount of Loans of such Class purchased hereunder.

 

To the extent a statement is made pursuant to Section 12.6(g)(iii)(B), each Lender making an assignment to the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries acknowledges and agrees that in connection with such assignment, (1) the Borrower then may have, and later may come into possession of, Excluded Information regarding the Loans or the Credit Parties hereunder, (2) such Lender has independently and, without reliance on the Borrower, the Term Agent, any auction manager or any of their respective Affiliates, made its own analysis and determination to enter into such assignment notwithstanding such Lender’s lack of knowledge of the Excluded Information and (3) none of the Borrower, the Term Agent, any auction manager or any of their respective Affiliates shall have any liability to such Lender, and such Lender hereby waives and releases, to the extent permitted by law, any claims such Lender may have against the Borrower, the Term Agent, any auction manager and their respective Affiliates, under applicable Laws or otherwise, with respect to the nondisclosure of the Excluded Information. Each Lender entering into such an assignment further acknowledges that the Excluded Information may not be available to the Term Agent, any auction manager or the other Lenders.

 

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12.7          Replacements of Lenders under Certain Circumstances.

 

(a)          The Borrower shall, at its sole expense and cost, be permitted to replace any Lender that (i) requests reimbursement for amounts owing as a result of a Change in Law, (ii) becomes a Defaulting Lender, (iii) does not consent to any waiver or amendment desired by the Borrower requiring the consent of all Lenders, the Majority Lenders or all Lenders directly affected thereby (so long as the Majority Lenders have consented thereto), or (iv) has failed to fund Loans or has made a notification or public statement that it does not intend or expect to comply with its funding obligations hereunder, in each case as a result of its determination that a condition precedent to funding has not or cannot be satisfied pursuant to the definition of “Lender Default”, in each case, with an Institutional Lender as the replacement Lender, if (A) such replacement does not conflict with any Requirement of Law, (B) no Event of Default under Sections 10.1 or 10.5 shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such replacement, (C) the replacement Lender shall purchase, at par, all Loans of the replaced Lender and the Borrower shall pay (1) all other amounts (other than any disputed amounts), pursuant to any provision in the Term Loan Supplement for the applicable Class of Loans regarding increased costs, illegality or Section 4.3, as the case may be owing to such replaced Lender before the date of replacement and (2) in the case of a replacement of a Lender pursuant to clause (iii) above, an amount equal to any make whole premium or other prepayment premium provided for in the applicable Term Loan Supplement, and (D) the Term Agent has consented to such replacement Lender (to the extent the consent of such Person would be required if an assignment were being made to such replacement Lender under Section 12.6(b)); in connection therewith, (x) the replaced Lender shall be obligated to make such replacement in accordance with the provisions of Section 12.6(b) (but the Borrower shall be obligated to pay the registration and processing fee referred to therein), and (y) any such replacement shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any rights that the Borrower, the Term Agent or any other Lender shall have against the replaced Lender.

 

(b)          Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, each party hereto agrees that any assignment pursuant to the terms of this Section may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance executed by the Borrower, the Term Agent and the assignee and that the Lender making such assignment need not be a party thereto.

 

12.8          Counterparts. Any Credit Document may be executed by one or more of the parties thereto on any number of separate counterparts (including by facsimile or other electronic transmission, i.e. a “pdf” or a “tif”), and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. A set of the copies of the Credit Documents signed by all the parties shall be lodged with the Borrower. Delivery by telecopier or other electronic transmission of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement and each other Credit Document shall be effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Agreement and such other Credit Document. The Term Agent may also require that any such documents and signatures delivered by telecopier or other electronic transmission be confirmed by a manually-signed original thereof; provided that the failure to request or deliver the same shall not limit the effectiveness of any document or signature delivered by telecopier or other electronic transmission.

 

12.9          Severability. Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

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12.10       Integration. The Credit Documents represent the agreement of the Credit Parties, the Term Agent and the Lenders with respect to the subject matter thereof, and there are no promises, undertakings, representations or warranties by the Credit Parties, the Term Agent nor any Lender relative to the subject matter thereof not expressly set forth or referred to therein.

 

12.11       GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

12.12       Submission to Jurisdiction; Waivers. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally:

 

(a)          submits for itself and its property in any legal action or proceeding relating to the Credit Documents to which it is a party, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect thereof, to the nonexclusive general jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York, County of New York, the courts of the United States of America for the Southern District of New York and appellate courts from any thereof;

 

(b)          consents that any such action or proceeding shall be brought in such courts and waives any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the venue of any such action or proceeding in any such court or that such action or proceeding was brought in an inconvenient court and agrees not to plead or claim the same;

 

(c)          agrees that service of process in any such action or proceeding may be effected by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to such Person at its address set forth on Schedule 12.2 at such other address of which the Term Agent shall have been notified pursuant to Section 12.2;

 

(d)          agrees that nothing herein shall affect the right to effect service of process in any other manner permitted by Requirements of Law or shall limit the right to sue in any other jurisdiction;

 

(e)          waives, to the maximum extent not prohibited by law, any right it may have to claim or recover in any legal action or proceeding referred to in this Section any special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages; and

 

(f)          agrees that a final judgment in any action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law.

 

12.13       Acknowledgments. The Borrower hereby acknowledges that:

 

(a)          it has been advised by counsel in the negotiation, execution and delivery of the Credit Documents;

 

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(b)          (i) the credit facilities provided for hereunder and any related arranging or other services in connection therewith (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification of any Credit Document) are an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Credit Parties, on the one hand, and the Term Agent and the Lenders, on the other hand, and the Credit Parties are capable of evaluating and understanding and understand and accept the terms, risks and conditions of the Transactions (including any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or thereof); (ii) in connection with the process leading to such transaction, the Term Agent and each Lender is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the financial advisor, agent or fiduciary for any Credit Party or any of their respective Affiliates, equity holders, creditors or employees or any other Person; (iii) neither the Term Agent nor any Lender has assumed or will assume an advisory, agency or fiduciary responsibility in favor of any Credit Party with respect to any Transaction contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto, including with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification of any Credit Document (irrespective of whether the Term Agent or any Lender has advised or is currently advising any of the Credit Parties or their respective Affiliates on other matters) and none of the Term Agent or any Lender has any obligation to any Credit Party or its Affiliates with respect to the Transactions, in each case, except those obligations expressly set forth in the Credit Documents; (iv) the Credit Parties and their respective Affiliates will not assert any claim based on alleged breach of fiduciary duty; (v) the Term Agent and its Affiliates and each Lender and its Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower and its respective Affiliates, and none of the Term Agent or any Lender has any obligation to disclose any of such interests by virtue of any advisory, agency or fiduciary relationship; and (vi) neither the Term Agent nor any Lender has provided and none will provide any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to any Transactions (including any amendment, waiver or other modification of any Credit Document) and the Borrower has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate. The Borrower hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that it may have against the Term Agent with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty; and

 

(c)          no joint venture is created by the Credit Documents or otherwise exists by virtue of the Transactions among the Lenders or among the Borrower, on the one hand, and any Lender, on the other hand.

 

12.14      WAIVERS OF JURY TRIAL. THE BORROWER, THE TERM AGENT AND EACH LENDER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO ANY CREDIT DOCUMENT AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.

 

12.15       Confidentiality. The Term Agent and each other Lender shall hold all information furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary other than any such information that is available to such Person on a nonconfidential basis before disclosure by the Borrower or any such Subsidiary (“Confidential Information”), confidential in accordance with its customary procedure for handling confidential information of this nature and in any event may make disclosure (a) to such Person’s Affiliates and the directors, officers, employees, attorneys, professional advisors, independent auditors, trustees and agents of such Person or such Person’s Affiliates, in each case who need to know such information in connection with the administration of the Credit Documents (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Confidential Information, are instructed to keep such Confidential Information confidential and agree to keep such Confidential Information confidential on the same terms as provided herein), (b) as required or requested by any Governmental Authority, self-regulatory agency or representative thereof purporting (on a reasonable basis, as determined by such Person) to have jurisdiction over such Person or pursuant to legal process or applicable Requirements of Law, (c) to any other party hereto, (d) in connection with the exercise of any remedies under any Credit Document or any action or proceeding relating to any Credit Document or the enforcement of rights thereunder, (e) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (x) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement, or (y) any actual or prospective party (or its Related Parties) to any swap, derivative or other transaction under which payments are to be made by reference to the Borrower and its obligations, this Agreement or payments hereunder or to any credit insurance provider related to the Borrower and its Obligations, (f) with the consent of the Borrower, and (g) to the extent such Confidential Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section, or (y) becomes available to the Term Agent, any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof (unless the Term Agent or such Affiliate has actual knowledge that such source owes an obligation of confidence to the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof with respect to such Confidential Information); but unless specifically prohibited by applicable Requirements of Law, each Lender and the Term Agent shall notify the Borrower (without any liability for a failure to so notify the Borrower) of any request made to such Person for Confidential Information by any Governmental Authority, self-regulatory agency or representative thereof or pursuant to legal process or applicable Requirements of Law (other than any such request in connection with an examination of the financial condition of such Lender by such governmental agency) before disclosure of such Confidential Information; provided further that in no event shall any Lender or the Term Agent be obligated or required to return any materials furnished by the Borrower or any Subsidiary; provided further that, at any time after the Borrower has filed this Agreement with the SEC, the Term Agent and the Lenders may disclose the existence of this Agreement and information about the terms of this Agreement to market data collectors, similar service providers to the lending industry and service providers to the Term Agent and the Lenders in connection with the administration of the Credit Documents and the Commitments.

 

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EACH LENDER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT INFORMATION FURNISHED TO IT PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY INCLUDE MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION CONCERNING THE BORROWER, AND ITS AFFILIATES AND THEIR RELATED PARTIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE SECURITIES, AND CONFIRMS THAT SUCH LENDER HAS DEVELOPED COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES REGARDING THE USE OF MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION AND THAT IT WILL HANDLE SUCH MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THOSE PROCEDURES AND APPLICABLE LAW, INCLUDING FEDERAL AND STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

 

ALL INFORMATION, INCLUDING REQUESTS FOR WAIVERS AND AMENDMENTS, FURNISHED BY THE BORROWER OR THE TERM AGENT PURSUANT TO, OR IN THE COURSE OF ADMINISTERING, THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE SYNDICATE-LEVEL INFORMATION, WHICH MAY CONTAIN MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE BORROWER, THE CREDIT PARTIES AND THEIR RELATED PARTIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE SECURITIES. ACCORDINGLY, EACH LENDER REPRESENTS TO THE BORROWER AND THE TERM AGENT THAT SUCH LENDER HAS IDENTIFIED IN ITS ADMINISTRATIVE QUESTIONNAIRE A CREDIT CONTACT WHO MAY RECEIVE INFORMATION THAT MAY CONTAIN MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES AND APPLICABLE LAW, INCLUDING FEDERAL AND STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

 

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12.16       Release of Collateral and Guarantee Obligations; Disavowal of Liens.

 

(a)          The Term Loan Secured Parties hereby irrevocably agree that the Liens granted to the Collateral Trustee by the Credit Parties on any Collateral shall be automatically released (i) in full, as set forth in clauses (b) below, (ii) upon the Disposition of such Collateral (including as part of or in connection with any other Disposition permitted hereunder) to any Person other than the Borrower or a Subsidiary, to the extent such Disposition is made in compliance with the terms of this Agreement (and the Term Agent and the Collateral Trustee may rely conclusively on a certificate to that effect provided to it by any Credit Party upon its reasonable request without further inquiry), (iii) upon the concurrent release of all then-existing Enumerated Liens on such Collateral if (A) such release is in connection with a substantially concurrent grant of Liens on other property or assets of comparable or greater value to the Collateral being released, as determined in good faith by the Borrower, or (B) at the time of such release (I) the amount of drawn commitments and the amount of undrawn commitments available to be borrowed under the Revolving Credit Agreement is not less than $1.0 billion and (II) the Borrower shall deliver a certificate of an Authorized Officer to the effect that after giving effect to such release and the recording of any additional Mortgages or supplements or amendments to existing Mortgages on or before the consummation of such release, the Collateral subject to perfected Liens securing the Obligations includes Oil and Gas Properties of the Credit Parties that accounted for not less than 80% (subject to the Collateral Sale Cure) of the PV-9 attributable to the Proved Reserves of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries as reflected in the most recent Reserve Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 8.1(e) after giving effect to exploration and production activities, acquisitions, Dispositions and production since the Specified Date of such Reserve Certificate, (iv) to the extent such Collateral is comprised of property leased to a Credit Party, upon termination or expiration of such lease, (v) if the release of such Lien is approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Majority Lenders of each Class of Loans (or such other percentage of the Lenders of each Class whose consent may be required in accordance with Section 12.1), (vi) to the extent the property constituting such Collateral is owned by any Guarantor, upon the release of such Guarantor from its obligations under the Guarantee and (vii) as required by the Collateral Trustee to effect any Disposition of Collateral in connection with any exercise of remedies of the Collateral Trustee pursuant to the Security Documents; but in the case of clauses (ii), (iii), or (v), such release of Liens shall be conditioned upon the concurrent release of any then-existing Enumerated Lien on such Collateral. The Term Agent may rely exclusively on a certificate of an Authorized Officer as to whether any release of Liens is permitted hereunder and, promptly upon receipt thereof, shall execute and deliver to the Collateral Trustee an instruction to execute, acknowledge and deliver documents to release such Liens. Any such release shall not in any manner discharge, affect, or impair the Obligations or any Liens (other than those being released) upon (or obligations (other than those being released) of the Credit Parties in respect of) all interests retained by the Credit Parties, including the proceeds of any Disposition, all of which shall continue to constitute part of the Collateral to the extent required by the applicable Credit Documents, except to the extent otherwise released in accordance with the provisions of the Credit Documents. Additionally, the Term Loan Secured Parties hereby irrevocably agree that any Guarantor shall be automatically released from the Guarantee in respect of the Facility upon (A) consummation of any transaction permitted hereunder resulting in such Guarantor becoming an Excluded Subsidiary (including an Unrestricted Subsidiary), (B) consummation of any transaction permitted hereunder resulting in such Guarantor no longer being a Subsidiary of the Borrower or (C) subject to satisfaction of the conditions set forth in clause (iii) of the first sentence of this Section, with reference in subclause (A) thereof to “the Collateral being released” being deemed to refer to the Collateral owned by such Guarantor. Further, the Term Agent shall release any Guarantor from the Guarantee if such Guarantor ceases to be a Material Subsidiary, promptly upon the Borrower delivering a written request for such release to the Term Agent (which request shall certify that such release is permitted under the Credit Documents, it being agreed by the Lenders that the Term Agent may conclusively rely on such certification). The Term Loan Secured Parties hereby (1) authorize the Collateral Trustee or, to the extent permitted by the Collateral Trust Agreement, the Term Agent to (all without the further consent or joinder of any Lender), and the Collateral Trustee or, to the extent permitted by the Collateral Trust Agreement, the Term Agent shall, execute and deliver any instruments, documents, and agreements necessary or desirable to effect, evidence and/or confirm the release of any Guarantor or Collateral pursuant to (and subject to the requirements of) the foregoing provisions of this Section and (2) agree that (w) the Term Agent’s entry into the Intercreditor Agreement and the Collateral Trust Agreement is reasonable and consent to such Intercreditor Agreement and Collateral Trust Agreement and to the Term Agent’s execution thereof, (x) the Term Agent is authorized, without any further consent of any Lender, to enter into or amend any other intercreditor agreement or collateral trust agreement with the agent or other representatives of the holders of Indebtedness that is permitted under this Agreement to be secured by a Lien on the Collateral that is permitted under this Agreement, in each case for the purpose of adding the holders of such Indebtedness (or their representative) as a party thereto and otherwise causing such Indebtedness to be subject thereto (it being understood that any such amendment, amendment and restatement or supplement may make such other changes to the applicable intercreditor agreement or the applicable collateral trust agreement as, in the good faith determination of the Term Agent, are required to effectuate the foregoing), (y) the Term Agent may rely exclusively on a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower as to whether any such other Liens are permitted and (z) any such intercreditor agreement or collateral trust agreement referred to in clause (x) above and the Intercreditor Agreement and Collateral Trust Agreement, entered into by the Term Agent, shall be binding on the Lenders. Upon any such release, any representation, warranty or covenant contained in any Credit Document relating to any such Collateral or Guarantor shall no longer be deemed to be repeated.

 

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(b)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Credit Document, upon the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement), all Liens in all Collateral and all obligations under all the Credit Documents shall be automatically released and discharged as contemplated by the Intercreditor Agreement, and the Term Agent or Collateral Trustee shall (without notice to, or vote or consent of, any Term Loan Secured Party) take such actions as shall be required, advisable or reasonably requested by the Borrower to evidence or otherwise more fully effect the foregoing, but such Obligations shall be reinstated if after such release any portion of any payment in respect of the Obligations guaranteed thereby shall be rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of any Credit Party, or upon or as a result of the appointment of a receiver, intervenor or conservator of, or trustee or similar officer for, any Credit Party or any substantial part of its property, or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made.

 

(c)          If any Lender determines, acting reasonably, that any applicable Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for such Lender to hold or benefit from a Lien over real property pursuant to any law of the United States or any State thereof, such Lender may notify the Term Agent and disclaim any benefit of such Lien to the extent of such illegality; but such determination or disclaimer shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such Lien for the benefit of any other Lender.

 

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12.17       USA Patriot Act. In order to comply with the laws, rules, regulations and executive orders in effect from time to time, applicable to banking institutions, including those relating to the funding of terrorist activities and money laundering, including Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act of the United States (the “Patriot Act”), the Term Agent is required to obtain, verify, record and update certain information relating to individuals and entities which maintain a business relationship with the Term Agent. Accordingly, each of the parties agree to provide to the Term Agent, upon the Term Agent’s request from time to time, such identifying information and documentation as may be available for such party in order to enable the Term Agent to comply with the Patriot Act.

 

12.18       Payments Set Aside. To the extent that any payment made by or on behalf of the Borrower is made to the Term Agent or any Lender, or the Term Agent or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Term Agent or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Term Agent upon demand its applicable share of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Term Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect.

 

12.19       Reinstatement. This Agreement shall continue to be effective, or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of any monetary Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by the Term Agent or any other Term Loan Secured Party upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of the Borrower, or upon or as a result of the appointment of a receiver, intervenor or conservator of, or trustee or similar officer for, the Borrower or any substantial part of its property, or otherwise, all as though such payments had not been made.

 

12.20       Disposition of Proceeds. If executed and delivered, any Security Document may contain an assignment by the applicable Credit Party unto and in favor of the Collateral Trustee for the benefit of the Term Loan Secured Parties of all of such Credit Party’s interest in and to its as-extracted collateral in the form of production and all proceeds attributable thereto which may be produced from or allocated to the Collateral covered thereby. If executed and delivered, the Security Documents may further provide in general for the application of such proceeds to the satisfaction of the Obligations described therein and secured thereby. Notwithstanding the assignment contained in such Security Documents and subject to the Collateral Trust Agreement, unless an Event of Default is continuing, (a) the Term Agent and the Lenders agree that they will not instruct the Collateral Trustee to notify the purchaser or purchasers of such production nor take any other action to cause such proceeds to be remitted to the Collateral Trustee, and all such proceeds shall be permitted to be paid to the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, and (b) the Lenders hereby authorize the Collateral Trustee and Term Agent to take such actions as may be necessary to cause such proceeds to be paid to the Borrower and/or such Subsidiaries.

 

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12.21       Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Credit Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among the parties thereto, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any EEA Financial Institution arising under any Credit Document, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of an EEA Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

 

(a)          the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by an EEA Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an EEA Financial Institution; and

 

(b)          the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:

 

(i)               a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;

 

(ii)              a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such EEA Financial Institution, its parent undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under any Credit Document; or

 

(iii)             the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of any EEA Resolution Authority.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused a counterpart of this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.

 

  CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION, as the Borrower
   
  /s/ Bryan J. Lemmerman
 
  Name:   Bryan J. Lemmerman
  Title: Vice President – Business Development and Treasurer

 

[Term Loan Agreement]

 

 

 

 

GLAS USA LLC, as the Term Agent

   
  /s/ Yana Kislenko
   
  Name:   Yana Kislenko
  Title: Vice President
   

 

[Term Loan Agreement]

 

 

 

Exhibit 4.4

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

$1,500,000,000 CLASS A LOANS

 

CLASS A

TERM LOAN SUPPLEMENT
DATED AS OF DECEMBER 19, 2019

TO

TERM LOAN AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF DECEMBER 19, 2019

AMONG

Chesapeake Energy Corporation,
AS THE BORROWER,

THE SEVERAL LENDERS
FROM TIME TO TIME PARTIES THERETO,

 

AND

GLAS USA LLC,

AS THE TERM AGENT

 

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. MUFG UNION BANK, N.A. BOFA SECURITIES, INC. MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR
FUNDING, INC.

 

JOINT LEAD ARRANGERS AND JOINT BOOKRUNNERS

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., SYNDICATION AGENT

 

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC. ROYAL BANK OF CANADA

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL

ASSOCIATION

 

GOLDMAN SACHS LENDING PARTNERS LLC
BMO CAPITAL MARKETS CORP. CRÉDIT AGRICOLE CORPORATE AND
INVESTMENT BANK
MIZUHO BANK, LTD. ABN AMRO SECURITIES (USA) LLC
DNB MARKETS, INC. NATIXIS, NEW YORK BRANCH

DOCUMENTATION AGENTS

 

 

 

 

Table of Contents

 

Page

 

ARTICLE I Definitions 1
   
1.1   Defined Terms 1
1.2   Interest Rates; LIBOR Notification 5
   
ARTICLE II Class A Commitments and Loans 5
   
2.1   Class A Loans 5
2.2   Disbursement of Funds 6
2.3   Pro Rata Treatment 6
2.4   Interest 6
2.5   Interest Periods 7
2.6   Conversions and Continuations 8
2.7   Increased Costs, Illegality, Etc. 8
2.8   Compensation 11
2.9   Change of Lending Office 11
2.10   Notice of Certain Costs 11
   
ARTICLE III Fees 12
   
3.1   Fees 12
   
ARTICLE IV Payments 12
   
4.1   Maturity 12
4.2   Voluntary Prepayments 12
4.3   Mandatory Prepayment 13
4.4   Computations of Interest and Fees 13
   
ARTICLE V [Reserved] 13
   
ARTICLE VI Conditions Precedent to Class A Loans 13
   
6.1   Legal Opinions 13
6.2   Fees 13
6.3   BVL Inclusion Date 13
6.4   Uniform Commercial Code Searches 13
   
ARTICLE VII Representations and Warranties 14
   
ARTICLE VIII Affirmative Covenants 14
   
ARTICLE IX Negative Covenants 14
   
ARTICLE X Events of Default 14
   
10.1   Events of Default 14
10.2   Order of Foreclosure Proceeds 15
10.3   Premium 15
   
ARTICLE XI The Arrangers and the LIBOR Transition Agent 15
   
ARTICLE XII Miscellaneous 16
   
12.1   Amendments, Waivers and Releases 16
12.2   Replacement of Class A Lenders 17
12.3   Successors and Assigns 17
12.4   Counterparts 17

 

i

 

 

12.5   Severability 17
12.6   Integration 17
12.7   GOVERNING LAW 18
12.8   WAIVERS OF JURY TRIAL 18

 

Exhibit

   
Exhibit A Form of Notice of Continuance or Conversion

 

ii

 

 

 

This TERM LOAN SUPPLEMENT, dated as of December 19, 2019 (this “Supplement”), is among Chesapeake Energy Corporation, an Oklahoma corporation (together with its permitted successors, the “Borrower”), the lenders from time to time party hereto (each a “Class A Lender” and, collectively, the “Class A Lenders”), and GLAS USA LLC, as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Term Agent”) for the Lenders.

 

WHEREAS, the Borrower and Term Agent entered into that certain Term Loan Agreement of even date herewith (as amended and restated from time to time, the “Base Term Loan Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Base Term Loan Agreement as supplemented by this Supplement (as so supplemented, the “Supplemented Term Loan Agreement”), the Borrower has requested that the Class A Lenders extend credit in the form of Class A Loans; and

 

WHEREAS, the Class A Lenders are willing to make available to the Borrower such credit upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Supplemented Term Loan Agreement;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants and agreements contained in the Supplemented Term Loan Agreement, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I
Definitions

 

1.1              Defined Terms.

 

(a)               Any term defined in the preamble has the meaning ascribed to it in the preamble.

 

(b)               Any capitalized term used but not defined herein has the meaning set forth in the Base Term Loan Agreement. In addition, as used in this Supplement, each of the following terms shall have the meaning specified for it in this Section 1.1 unless the context otherwise requires (it being understood that defined terms in this Supplement shall include in the singular number the plural and in the plural the singular):

 

18-Month Anniversary” means six months after the first anniversary of the BVL Inclusion Date.

 

30-Month Anniversary” means six months after the second anniversary of the BVL Inclusion Date.

 

42-Month Anniversary” means six months after the third anniversary of the BVL Inclusion Date.

 

54-Month Anniversary” means six months after the fourth anniversary of the BVL Inclusion Date.

 

 

 

 

ABR” means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Effective Rate plus ½ of 1.00% per annum, (b) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by the Reference Bank as its “prime rate” and (c) the LIBOR Rate for a one-month Interest Period commencing on such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) plus 1.00% per annum; but if the applicable interest rate as determined under any of the preceding provisions of this definition is less than 2.00% per annum, then “ABR” shall be deemed to be equal to 2.00% per annum for such determination. The “prime rate” is a rate set by the Reference Bank based upon various factors, including its costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate. Any change in the ABR due to a change in such rate announced by the Reference Bank, in the Federal Funds Effective Rate or in the one-month LIBOR Rate shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change.

 

ABR Loan” means each Class A Loan bearing interest based on the ABR.

 

Applicable Margin” means the rate per annum of 7.00% with respect to any ABR Loan and 8.00% with respect to any LIBOR Loan.

 

Applicable Premium” means, with respect to a Class A Loan at any Make-Whole Payment Date before the 18-Month Anniversary, the excess of: (i) the net present value at such Make-Whole Payment Date of (A) the repayment price on the 18-Month Anniversary of the principal amount that is subject to prepayment or repayment of such Class A Loan or the subject of acceleration on such Make-Whole Payment Date, plus (B) all required remaining scheduled interest payments due on the principal amount that is subject to prepayment or repayment of such Class A Loan, or the subject of acceleration, to but excluding the 18-Month Anniversary, calculated assuming that such Class A Loan continued to bear interest at the rate, and on the interest payment date schedule, applicable on the BVL Inclusion Date, computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate plus 50 basis points per annum discounted on a semi-annual bond equivalent basis, over (ii) the principal amount that is subject to prepayment or repayment, or the subject of acceleration, of such Class A Loan on such Make-Whole Payment Date.

 

Borrowing” means the incurrence of one Type of Loan on a given date (or resulting from a conversion on a given date); but ABR Loans incurred pursuant to Section 2.7(b) shall be considered part of any related Borrowing of LIBOR Loans.

 

BVL Credit Facility” means the revolving credit facility under that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of December 19, 2016, by and among Brazos Valley Longhorn, L.L.C. (as successor-by-merger to WildHorse Resource Development Corporation), the lenders from time to time party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified.

 

BVL Inclusion Date” means the date that WildHorse LLC and its subsidiaries become Restricted Subsidiaries and Guarantors; but such date shall have occurred no later than 30 days after the Class A Closing Date.

 

Class A Closing Date” means December 23, 2019.

 

2

 

 

Class A Commitment” means the amount set forth opposite the initial Class A Lender’s name on the signature pages of this Supplement as such Class A Lender’s “Class Commitment”.

 

Class A Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.1.

 

Class A Majority Lenders” means the Majority Lenders of the Class A Loans.

 

Class A Maturity Date” means the 54-Month Anniversary.

 

Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security that would be used, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities, selected by the Borrower as having a maturity closest to the 18-Month Anniversary.

 

Default Rate” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.4(c).

 

Interest Period” means, with respect to any LIBOR Loan, the interest period applicable thereto, as determined pursuant to Section 2.5.

 

LIBOR Loan” means any Class A Loan bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the LIBOR Rate (other than an ABR Loan bearing interest by reference to the LIBOR Rate by virtue of clause (c) of the definition of ABR).

 

LIBOR Rate” means, for any Interest Period for each LIBOR Loan, the London interbank offered rate as administered by Intercontinental Exchange Benchmark Administration Ltd. (or any other Person that takes over the administration of such rate for Dollars) for a period equal in length to such Interest Period as displayed on page LIBOR01 or LIBOR02 of the Reuters screen that displays such rate (or, in the event such rate does not appear on a Reuters page or screen, on any successor or substitute page on such screen that displays such rate, or on the appropriate page of such other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the LIBOR Transition Agent (by notice to the Term Agent and the Borrower) in its reasonable discretion; in each case the “LIBOR Screen Rate”) at approximately 11:00 A.M. (London time) two Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period; but if the LIBOR Screen Rate shall be less than 1.00% per annum, such rate shall be deemed to be 1.00% per annum for the purposes of this Supplement.

 

LIBOR Transition Agent” means the Revolving Agent; but if there is no Revolving Agent or the Revolving Agent refuses to serve as the LIBOR Transition Agent, then the Borrower shall nominate a commercial bank to serve in such capacity by notice to the Term Agent, and the Term Agent shall give notice thereof to the Class A Lenders, and such nomination shall become effective unless the Class A Majority Lenders notify the Term Agent of their objection thereto within five Business Days after the Term Agent’s delivery of such notice.

 

Make-Whole Amount” means an amount as set forth below:

 

3

 

 

Make-Whole Payment Date Make-Whole Amount
From the BVL Inclusion Date to but excluding the 18-Month Anniversary The Applicable Premium
From the 18-Month Anniversary to but excluding the 30-Month Anniversary 5.00% of the principal amount that is subject to prepayment or repayment or the subject of acceleration
From the 30-Month Anniversary to but excluding the 42-Month Anniversary 2.50% of the principal amount that is subject to prepayment or repayment or the subject of acceleration
On or after the 42-Month Anniversary $0.00

 

Make-Whole Payment Date” means, as applicable, (i) the date of any prepayment of Class A Loans pursuant to Section 4.2(a), (ii) the date of any prepayment of Class A Loans pursuant to Section 4.1(c) of the Base Term Loan Agreement, (iii) the date that any Class A Loans are required to be prepaid in the event the maturity of the Class A Loans shall be accelerated as a result of any Event of Default or (iv) the date on which any Class A Lender shall be replaced pursuant to clause (iii) of Section 12.7 of the Base Term Loan Agreement.

 

Notice of Conversion or Continuation” means a notice substantially in the form of Exhibit A.

 

Reference Bank” means MUFG Union Bank, N.A.

 

Replacement Rate” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.7(c).

 

Reuters” means Thomson Reuters Corporation, a corporation incorporated under and governed by the Business Corporations Act (Ontario), Canada, Refinitiv or, in each case, successor thereto.

 

Side-Car Loan” means any borrowed money Indebtedness that is secured by Liens on the Collateral that are pari passu with the Liens securing the Loans (including the Class A Loans), but is not (a) a Loan or (b) Indebtedness, in each case, under the Revolving Credit Agreement.

 

Treasury Rate” means, with respect to a Make-Whole Payment Date before the 18-Month Anniversary, the yield, under the heading which represents the average for the immediately preceding week, appearing in the most recently published Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) or any successor publication which is published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or, if such release (or any successor release) is not published, any publicly available source of similar market data) and which establishes yields on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity under the caption “Treasury Constant Maturities,” for the maturity corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue (if no maturity is within three months before or after the 18-Month Anniversary, 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).

 

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Type” means, as to any Class A Loan, its nature as an ABR Loan or a LIBOR Loan.

 

WildHorse LLC” means Brazos Valley Longhorn, L.L.C.

 

1.2              Interest Rates; LIBOR Notification. The interest rate on LIBOR Loans is determined by reference to the LIBOR Rate, which is derived from the London interbank offered rate. The London interbank offered rate is intended to represent the rate at which contributing banks may obtain short-term borrowings from each other in the London interbank market. In July 2017, the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority announced that, after the end of 2021, it would no longer persuade or compel contributing banks to make rate submissions to the Intercontinental Exchange Benchmark Administration Ltd. (together with any successor thereto, the “IBA”) for purposes of the IBA setting the London interbank offered rate. As a result, it is possible that commencing in 2022, the London interbank offered rate may no longer be available or may no longer be deemed an appropriate reference rate upon which to determine the interest rate on LIBOR Loans. In light of this eventuality, public and private sector industry initiatives are currently underway to identify new or alternative reference rates to be used in place of the London interbank offered rate. Upon the occurrence of the circumstances set forth in Section 2.7(a)(i)(A) or Section 2.7(a)(i)(B), Section 2.7(c) provides a mechanism for determining an alternative rate of interest. The LIBOR Transition Agent will promptly notify the Borrower and the Term Agent, pursuant to Section 2.7(c), of any change to the reference rate upon which the interest rate on LIBOR Loans is based. However, the LIBOR Transition Agent does not warrant or accept any responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to, the administration, submission or any other matter related to the London interbank offered rate or other rates in the definition of “LIBOR Rate” or with respect to any alternative or successor rate thereto, or replacement rate thereof (including, without limitation, (i) any such alternative, successor or replacement rate implemented pursuant to Section 2.7(c), whether upon the occurrence of the circumstances set forth in Section 2.7(a)(i)(A) or Section 2.7(a)(i)(B), and (ii) the implementation of any replacement rate conforming changes pursuant to Section 2.7(c)), including whether the composition or characteristics of any such alternative, successor or replacement reference rate will be similar to, or produce the same value or economic equivalence of, the LIBOR Rate or have the same volume or liquidity as did the London interbank offered rate before its discontinuance or unavailability.

 

ARTICLE II
Class A Commitments and Loans

 

2.1              Class A Loans. Subject to and upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Supplemented Term Loan Agreement, the initial Class A Lender agrees to make Loans in Dollars (each, a “Class A Loan”) to the Borrower on the BVL Inclusion Date, in a principal amount equal to such Class A Lender’s Class A Commitment, which shall be disbursed in a single advance as LIBOR Loans with a three-month Interest Period on the BVL Inclusion Date. Such Class A Loans may thereafter, at the option of the Borrower, be incurred and maintained as, and/or converted into, ABR Loans or LIBOR Loans in accordance with the terms of this Supplement; but all Class A Loans shall consist entirely of Class A Loans of the same Type. The initial Class A Lender’s Class A Commitment shall terminate immediately after giving effect to such advance by such Class A Lender. Amounts repaid or prepaid in respect of the Class A Loans may not be reborrowed. The Class A Loans funded on the BVL Inclusion Date will be funded with an original issue discount in an amount equal to 98% of the par principal amount thereof (it being agreed that the Borrower shall be obligated to repay 100% of the principal amount of the Class A Loans as provided herein).

 

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2.2              Disbursement of Funds. Section 2.2 of the Base Term Loan Agreement is modified to read as follows with respect to the Class A Loans:

 

(a)               The initial Class A Lender will make available the Class A Loans on the BVL Inclusion Date in the manner provided below.

 

(b)               On the BVL Inclusion Date, the initial Class A Lender shall make available to the Borrower such Class A Lender’s Class A Commitment in immediately available funds in Dollars, and the initial Class A Lender shall disburse the same in accordance with written instructions of the Borrower provided to such Class A Lender before such disbursement.

 

2.3              Pro Rata Treatment.

 

(a)               It is understood that (a) no Class A Lender shall be responsible for any default by any other Class A Lender in its obligation to make Class A Loans pursuant to the Supplemented Term Loan Agreement and that each Class A Lender severally but not jointly shall be obligated to make the Class A Loans provided to be made by it thereunder, regardless of the failure of any other Class A Lender to fulfill its commitments thereunder, and (b) failure by a Class A Lender to perform any of its obligations under any of the Credit Documents to which it is a party shall not release any Person from performance of its obligation under any Credit Document.

 

(b)               Except as specified herein or in the Base Term Loan Agreement, including in Section 12.6(g) thereof, each repayment by the Borrower in respect of principal or interest on the Class A Loans and each payment in respect of fees or expenses payable under the Supplemented Term Loan Agreement shall be applied to the amounts of such obligations owing to the Class A Lenders entitled thereto pro rata in accordance with the respective amounts then due and owing to the Class A Lenders.

 

2.4              Interest.

 

(a)               The unpaid principal amount of each ABR Loan shall bear interest on any date until the repayment thereof at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Margin plus the ABR in effect on such date.

 

(b)               The unpaid principal amount of each LIBOR Loan shall bear interest on any date during an Interest Period applicable thereto until the repayment thereof at a rate per annum that shall at all times be the Applicable Margin plus the LIBOR Rate for such Interest Period.

 

(c)               If all or a portion of (i) the principal amount of any Class A Loan or (ii) any interest payable thereon shall not be paid when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), such overdue amount shall bear interest at a rate per annum (the “Default Rate”) that is (A) in the case of overdue principal, the rate that would otherwise be applicable thereto plus 2.00% per annum or (B) in the case of any overdue interest, to the extent permitted by applicable Requirements of Law, the rate described in Section 2.4(a) plus 2.00% per annum, in each case from the date of such non-payment to the date on which such amount is paid in full (after as well as before judgment).

 

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(d)               Interest on each Class A Loan shall accrue from and including the date of any Borrowing to but excluding the date of any repayment thereof and shall be payable in Dollars; but any Class A Loan that is repaid on the same date on which it is made shall bear interest for one day. Except as provided below, interest shall be payable (i) in respect of each ABR Loan, quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, (ii) in respect of each LIBOR Loan, on the last day of each Interest Period applicable thereto and, in the case of an Interest Period in excess of three months, on each date occurring at three-month intervals after the first day of such Interest Period, and (iii) in respect of each Loan, (A) upon any prepayment (on the amount prepaid), (B) at maturity (whether by acceleration or otherwise) and (C) after such maturity, on demand.

 

(e)               All computations of interest hereunder shall be made in accordance with Section 4.4.

 

(f)                The Term Agent, upon determining the interest rate for any Borrowing of LIBOR Loans, shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Class A Lenders thereof. Each such determination shall, absent clearly demonstrable error, be final and conclusive and binding on all parties hereto.

 

2.5              Interest Periods. At the time the Borrower gives a Notice of Conversion or Continuation in respect of the making of, or conversion into or continuation as, a Borrowing of LIBOR Loans in accordance with Section 2.6(a), the Borrower shall give the Term Agent written notice of the Interest Period applicable to such LIBOR Loan, which Interest Period shall, at the option of the Borrower, be a period of one, two, three or six months.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained above:

 

(a)               the initial Interest Period for any Borrowing of LIBOR Loans shall commence on the date of such Borrowing (including the date of any conversion from a Borrowing of ABR Loans) and each Interest Period occurring thereafter in respect of such Borrowing shall commence on the day on which the next preceding Interest Period expires;

 

(b)               if any Interest Period relating to a Borrowing of LIBOR Loans begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month or begins on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period, such Interest Period shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period;

 

(c)               if any Interest Period would otherwise expire on a day that is not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall expire on the next succeeding Business Day; but if any Interest Period in respect of a LIBOR Loan would otherwise expire on a day that is not a Business Day, but is a day of the month after which no further Business Day occurs in such month, such Interest Period shall expire on the next preceding Business Day; and

 

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(d)               the Borrower shall not be entitled to elect any Interest Period in respect of any LIBOR Loan if such Interest Period would extend beyond the Class A Maturity Date.

 

2.6              Conversions and Continuations.

 

(a)               Subject to the restrictions in this Supplement, (i) the Borrower shall have the option on any Business Day to convert all of the outstanding principal amount of the Class A Loans of one Type into a Borrowing of the other Type, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 2.7, and (ii) at a time when the Class A Loans are LIBOR Loans, the Borrower shall have the option on any Business Day to continue all of the outstanding principal amount of such Loans as LIBOR Loans for an additional Interest Period, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 2.7; but (A) ABR Loans may not be converted into LIBOR Loans if an Event of Default is in existence on the date of the conversion and the Term Agent has or the Class A Majority Lenders have determined in its or their sole discretion not to permit such conversion and (B) LIBOR Loans may not be continued as LIBOR Loans for an additional Interest Period if an Event of Default is in existence on the date of the proposed continuation and the Term Agent has or the Class A Majority Lenders have determined in its or their sole discretion not to permit such continuation. Each such conversion or continuation shall be effected by the Borrower by giving the Term Agent at the Term Agent’s Office before 1:00 p.m. (1) in the case of a continuation of or conversion to LIBOR Loans, at least three Business Days before the effectiveness of such proposed continuation or conversion or (2) in the case of a conversion into ABR Loans, at least one Business Day before the effectiveness of such proposed conversion, a Notice of Conversion or Continuation specifying that the Class A Loans are to be so converted or continued, the Type of Loans to be converted into or continued and, in the case of LIBOR Loans, the Interest Period to be applicable thereto.

 

(b)               If any Event of Default is in existence at the time of any proposed continuation of any LIBOR Loans and the Term Agent has or the Class A Majority Lenders have determined in its or their sole discretion not to permit such continuation, such LIBOR Loans shall be automatically converted on the last day of the current Interest Period into ABR Loans. If upon the expiration of any Interest Period in respect of LIBOR Loans, the Borrower has failed to convert or continue such LIBOR Loans as provided in clause (a) above, the Borrower shall be deemed to have elected to continue such LIBOR Loans with an Interest Period of three months effective as of the expiration date of such current Interest Period; but if Section 2.6(a) or Section 2.5(d) would prohibit the election of such an Interest Period, then the Borrower (if it has not acted as provided in clause (a) above) shall be deemed to have elected to convert such LIBOR Loans to ABR Loans. The Term Agent shall give each Class A Lender notice as promptly as practicable of any such proposed conversion or continuation affecting the Class A Loans.

 

2.7              Increased Costs, Illegality, Etc..

 

(a)               In the event that (x) in the case of clause (i) below, the Class A Majority Lenders or (y) in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) below, any Class A Lender, shall have reasonably determined (which determination shall, absent clearly demonstrable error, be final and conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto):

 

(i)                 on any date for determining the LIBOR Rate for any Interest Period that (A) deposits in the principal amounts of the Class A Loans are not generally available in the relevant market or (B) by reason of any changes arising on or after the Class A Closing Date affecting the interbank LIBOR market, adequate and fair means do not exist for ascertaining the applicable interest rate on the basis provided for in the definition of LIBOR Rate; or

 

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(ii)              that, due to a Change in Law occurring at any time after the Class A Closing Date, which Change in Law shall (A) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Class A Lender, (B) subject any Class A Lender to any Tax with respect to any Credit Document or any Class A Loan made by it (other than (i) Taxes indemnifiable under the Base Term Loan Agreement or (ii) Excluded Taxes), or (C) impose on any Class A Lender or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting the Supplemented Term Loan Agreement or LIBOR Loans made by such Class A Lender, which results in the cost to such Class A Lender of making, converting into, continuing or maintaining LIBOR Loans increasing by an amount which such Class A Lender reasonably deems material or the amounts received or receivable by such Class A Lender hereunder with respect to the foregoing shall be reduced; or

 

(iii)            at any time, that the making or continuance of any LIBOR Loan has become unlawful as a result of compliance by such Class A Lender in good faith with any Requirement of Law (or would conflict with any such Requirement of Law not having the force of law even though the failure to comply therewith would not be unlawful);

 

then, and in any such event, such Class A Lenders (or the Class A Majority Lenders in the case of clause (i) above) shall within a reasonable time thereafter give notice to the Borrower and to the Term Agent of such determination (which notice the Term Agent shall promptly transmit to each of the other Class A Lenders). Thereafter (x) in the case of clause (i) above, LIBOR Loans shall no longer be available until such time as the Term Agent notifies the Borrower and the Class A Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice by the Term Agent no longer exist (which notice the Term Agent agrees to give at such time when such circumstances no longer exist), and any Notice of Conversion or Continuation given by the Borrower with respect to LIBOR Loans that have not yet been incurred shall be deemed rescinded by the Borrower, (y) in the case of clause (ii) above, the Borrower shall pay to such Class A Lender, promptly (but no later than 15 Business Days) after receipt of written demand therefor such additional amounts as shall be required to compensate such Lender for such increased costs or reductions in amounts receivable hereunder (it being agreed that a written notice as to the additional amounts owed to such Class A Lender, showing in reasonable detail the basis for the calculation thereof, submitted to the Borrower by such Lender shall, absent clearly demonstrable error, be final and conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto) and (z) in the case of clause (iii) above, the Borrower shall take one of the actions specified in Section 2.7(b) as promptly as possible and, in any event, within the time period required by applicable Requirements of Law.

 

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(b)               If, after the Class A Closing Date, any Change in Law relating to capital adequacy or liquidity requirements of any Lender or compliance by any Class A Lender or its parent with any Change in Law relating to capital adequacy or liquidity requirements occurring after the Class A Closing Date, has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Class A Lender’s or its parent’s capital or assets as a consequence of such Class A Lender’s commitments or obligations hereunder to a level below that which such Class A Lender or its parent could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or its parent’s policies with respect to capital adequacy or liquidity requirements), then from time to time, promptly (but in any event no later than 15 Business Days) after written demand by such Class A Lender (with a copy to the Term Agent), the Borrower shall pay to such Class A Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or its parent for such reduction, it being understood and agreed, however, that a Class A Lender shall not be entitled to such compensation as a result of such Class A Lender’s compliance with, or pursuant to any request or directive to comply with, any applicable Requirement of Law as in effect on the Class A Closing Date (except as otherwise set forth in the definition of Change in Law). Each Class A Lender, upon determining in good faith that any additional amounts will be payable pursuant to this Section 2.7(b), will give prompt written notice thereof to the Borrower, which notice shall set forth in reasonable detail the basis of the calculation of such additional amounts, although the failure to give any such notice shall not, subject to Section 2.10, release or diminish the Borrower’s obligations to pay additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.7(b) upon receipt of such notice.

 

(c)               If at any time the LIBOR Transition Agent (as agent for the Term Agent) determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that (i) the circumstances set forth in Section 2.7(a)(i)(A) or Section 2.7(a)(i)(B) have arisen and such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary, (ii) the LIBOR Rate is no longer a widely recognized benchmark rate for newly originated loans in the U.S. syndicated loan market in the applicable currency or (iii) the applicable supervisor or the administrator of the LIBOR Rate or a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the LIBOR Transition Agent has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which the LIBOR Rate shall no longer be used for determining interest rates for loans, then, in each case, the LIBOR Transition Agent may, to the extent practicable (in consultation with the Borrower and as determined by the LIBOR Transition Agent to be consistent with market practice generally), establish a replacement interest rate (the “Replacement Rate”), in which case, the Replacement Rate shall, subject to the next two sentences, replace such applicable interest rate for all purposes under the Credit Documents unless and until (A) an event described in Section 2.7(a)(i)(A), (a)(i)(B), (a)(i)(C), (c)(i) or (c)(ii) occurs with respect to the Replacement Rate or (B) the LIBOR Transition Agent (or the Class A Majority Lenders through the Term Agent) notifies the Borrower that the Replacement Rate does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to the Class A Lenders of funding the Class A Loans bearing interest at the Replacement Rate; but if such Replacement Rate shall be less than 1.00% per annum, such rate shall be deemed to be 1.00% per annum for purposes of this Supplement. In connection with the establishment and application of the Replacement Rate, the Credit Documents shall be amended solely with the consent of the LIBOR Transition Agent (as agent for the Term Agent), as may be necessary or appropriate, in the opinion of the LIBOR Transition Agent, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.7(c). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Credit Documents (including Section 12.1 of the Base Term Loan Agreement), such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Supplement so long as the LIBOR Transition Agent shall not have received, within five Business Days of the date notice of such amendment (together with a copy of such amendment) to the Class A Lenders, notices from the Class A Majority Lenders, with each such notice stating that such Class A Lender objects to such amendment. To the extent the Replacement Rate is approved by the LIBOR Transition Agent in connection with this clause (c), the Replacement Rate shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; but, in each case, to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the LIBOR Transition Agent, such Replacement Rate shall be applied as otherwise reasonably determined by the LIBOR Transition Agent and the Borrower (it being understood that any such modification by the LIBOR Transition Agent and the Borrower shall not require the consent of, or consultation with, any of the Class A Lenders), provided, further that, until the Replacement Rate shall be determined in accordance with this clause (c) (but, in the case of the circumstances described in clause (iii) of this Section 2.7(c), only to the extent the LIBOR Rate for such Interest Period is not available or published at such time on a current basis), any Notice of Conversion or Continuation that requests the conversion of Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a LIBOR Loan shall be ineffective and (y) on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable thereto, such Borrowing shall be continued as a Borrowing of ABR Loans.

 

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2.8              Compensation. If (a) any payment of principal of any LIBOR Loan is made by the Borrower to or for the account of a Class A Lender other than on the last day of the Interest Period for such LIBOR Loan as a result of a payment or conversion pursuant to Sections 2.6, 2.10, 4.2 or 4.3 or Sections 4.1, 4.2 or 12.7 of the Base Term Loan Agreement, as a result of acceleration of the maturity of the Loans pursuant to Article XI of the Base Term Loan Agreement or for any other reason, (b) any ABR Loan is not converted into a LIBOR Loan on the date specified in a Notice of Conversion or Continuation, (c) any LIBOR Loan is not continued as a LIBOR Loan on the date specified in a Notice of Conversion or Continuation or (d) any prepayment of principal of any LIBOR Loan is not made as a result of a withdrawn notice of prepayment pursuant to Sections 4.2 or 4.3 or Section 4.1 or 4.2 of the Base Term Loan Agreement, the Borrower shall, after the Borrower’s receipt of a written request by such Class A Lender (which request shall set forth in reasonable detail the basis for requesting such amount and shall be conclusive and binding in the absence of manifest error), pay to the Term Agent (within 15 Business Days) for the account of such Class A Lender any amounts required to compensate such Class A Lender for any additional losses, costs or expenses that such Class A Lender may reasonably incur as a result of such payment, failure to convert, failure to continue or failure to prepay, including any loss, cost or expense (excluding loss of anticipated profits) actually incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired by any Class A Lender to fund or maintain such LIBOR Loan.

 

2.9              Change of Lending Office. Each Class A Lender agrees that, upon the occurrence of any event giving rise to the operation of Section 2.7(a)(ii), 2.7(a)(iii) or 2.7(c) or Section 4.3 of the Base Term Loan Agreement with respect to such Class A Lender, it will, if requested by the Borrower, use reasonable efforts (subject to overall policy considerations of such Class A Lender) to designate another lending office for any Class A Loans affected by such event, if such designation is made on such terms that such Class A Lender and its lending office suffer no economic, legal or regulatory disadvantage, with the object of avoiding the consequence of the event giving rise to the operation of any such Section. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Class A Lender in connection with any such designation. Nothing in this Section 2.9 shall affect or postpone any of the obligations of the Borrower or the right of any Class A Lender provided in Section 2.7(a) or Section 4.3 of the Base Term Loan Agreement.

 

2.10          Notice of Certain Costs. Notwithstanding anything in this Supplement to the contrary, to the extent any notice required by Section 2.7 or 2.8 or Section 4.3 of the Base Term Loan Agreement is given by any Class A Lender more than 120 days after such Person has knowledge (or should have had knowledge) of the occurrence of the event giving rise to the additional cost, reduction in amounts, loss, tax or other additional amounts described in such Sections, such Person shall not be entitled to compensation under Section 2.7 or 2.8 or Section 4.3 of the Base Term Loan Agreement, as the case may be, for any such amounts incurred or accruing on or before the 120th day before the giving of such notice to the Borrower; but if the circumstance giving rise to such claim is retroactive, then such 120-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.

 

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ARTICLE III
Fees

 

3.1              Fees. The Borrower agrees to pay to the Term Agent the fees (if any) of the Term Agent with respect to the Class A Loan, in the amounts and on the dates as set forth in the Fee Letter. Such fees shall be fully earned when due and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever and will be in addition to the reimbursement of the Term Agent’s out-of-pocket expenses in accordance with Section 12.5 of the Base Term Loan Agreement.

 

ARTICLE IV
Payments

 

4.1              Maturity. All principal of and accrued interest on the Class A Loans shall be finally due and payable on the Class A Maturity Date.

 

4.2              Voluntary Prepayments.

 

(a)               The Borrower shall have the right to prepay Class A Loans, in whole or in part from time to time in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Section 4.2. If, before the 42-Month Anniversary, the Borrower prepays all or any part of the principal balance of the Class A Loans, then on the Make-Whole Payment Date, the Borrower shall pay to each Class A Lender of the Class A Loans that are so prepaid, in addition to the principal of such Class A Loans and accrued interest thereon to but excluding the Make-Whole Payment Date, an amount equal to the Make-Whole Amount. For the avoidance of doubt, and as a result of the impracticability and extreme difficulty of ascertaining actual damages, it is understood and agreed that any Make-Whole Amount shall be presumed to be the liquidated damages sustained by each Class A Lender as a result of the early termination of the Class A Loans, and the Borrower agrees that such amounts shall constitute Obligations under the Supplemented Term Loan Agreement. With respect to any prepayment of the Class A Loans on or after the 42-Month Anniversary, the Make-Whole Amount shall be zero.

 

(b)               The Borrower shall give the Term Agent at the Term Agent’s Office written notice of its intent to make such prepayment and the amount of such prepayment, which notice shall be given by the Borrower no later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day immediately preceding the date of such prepayment and shall promptly be transmitted by the Term Agent to each of the Class A Lenders.

 

(c)               Each partial prepayment of Class A Loans shall be in a minimum amount of $500,000 and in multiples of $100,000 in excess thereof.

 

(d)               With respect to each prepayment of Class A Loans elected under this Section 4.2, each prepayment of Class A Loans shall be applied pro rata among the Class A Loans.

 

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4.3              Mandatory Prepayment. Class A Loans shall not be subject to any mandatory prepayment, or mandatory offer to prepay, requirements other than as provided for in Section 4.1 of the Base Term Loan Agreement; but with respect to any mandatory prepayments of Class A Loans pursuant to Section 4.1(c) of the Base Term Loan Agreement, the Borrower shall pay to each Class A Lender of the Class A Loans that are so prepaid before the 42-Month Anniversary, in addition to the principal of such Class A Loans and accrued interest thereon to but not including the Make-Whole Payment Date, an amount equal to the Make-Whole Amount.

 

4.4              Computations of Interest and Fees. Interest on Class A Loans shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year for the actual days elapsed; but interest on ABR Loans in respect of which the rate of interest is calculated on the basis of the Reference Bank’s prime rate and interest on overdue interest shall be calculated on the basis of a 365- (or 366-, as the case may be) day year for the actual days elapsed.

 

ARTICLE V
[Reserved]

 

ARTICLE VI
Conditions Precedent to Class A Loans

 

The agreement of each Class A Lender to make its Class A Loan on the BVL Inclusion Date is subject to the Base Term Loan Agreement being in full force and effect, the satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in Article VI of the Base Term Loan Agreement and the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

 

6.1              Legal Opinions. The Term Agent shall have received the executed legal opinion of Baker Botts L.L.P., counsel to the Borrower, and the executed legal opinion of Derrick & Briggs, LLP, Oklahoma counsel to the Borrower, in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the initial Class A Lender. The Borrower hereby instructs such counsel to deliver such legal opinions.

 

6.2              Fees. All fees required to be paid on or before the BVL Inclusion Date pursuant to any fee letter previously agreed in writing by the Borrower and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses required to be paid on or before the BVL Inclusion Date, to the extent invoiced at least three Business Days before the BVL Inclusion Date (except as otherwise reasonably agreed by the Borrower), shall have been, or will be substantially simultaneously, paid.

 

6.3              BVL Inclusion Date. WildHorse LLC and its subsidiaries shall have been designated as Restricted Subsidiaries and become Guarantors no later than 30 days after the Class A Closing Date.

 

6.4              Uniform Commercial Code Searches. Appropriate Uniform Commercial Code search results in respect of the Credit Parties, as may be reasonably requested by the Term Agent, at the direction of the Initial Class A Lenders, from Delaware and any other relevant jurisdiction, reflecting no prior Liens encumbering the properties of any Credit Party, other than those permitted under Section 9.2 of the Base Term Loan Agreement.

 

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ARTICLE VII
Representations and Warranties

 

The representations and warranties of Sections 7.12, 7.13, 7.15, 7.16, and 7.17 of the Base Term Loan Agreement are repeated herein verbatim, amended only by substituting the “Class A Closing Date” for the “Initial Closing Date” appearing therein. Other than the foregoing, this Supplement does not modify or add to any of the representations and warranties in Article VII of the Base Term Loan Agreement.

 

ARTICLE VIII
Affirmative Covenants

 

This Supplement does not modify or add to any of the affirmative covenants in Article VIII of the Base Term Loan Agreement, other than to explicitly provide that “general corporate purposes” as used in Section 8.10 of the Base Term Loan Agreement includes the use of proceeds of the Class A Loans to fund, in part, the repayment of secured Indebtedness owing by WildHorse LLC under the BVL Credit Facility and the notes issued under the WildHorse Indenture and the payment of fees, premiums and expenses associated therewith.

 

ARTICLE IX
Negative Covenants

 

This Supplement does not modify any of the negative covenants in Article IX of the Base Term Loan Agreement.

 

ARTICLE X
Events of Default

 

10.1          Events of Default. In addition to the Events of Default described in the Base Term Loan Agreement, the following shall constitute “Events of Default” in respect of the Class A Loans:

 

(a)             The Borrower shall default in the due performance or observance by it of any term, covenant or agreement contained Article IX (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the agreement of the Borrower not to enter into any other Term Loan Supplement with an order of payment of Foreclosure Proceeds contravening the order of payment of Foreclosure Proceeds permitted by this Supplement);

 

(b)             The Borrower shall default in the due performance or observance by it of any other term, covenant or agreement contained in this Supplement and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of at least 30 days after receipt of written notice thereof by the Borrower from the Term Agent at the written direction of the Class A Majority Lenders; or

 

(c)             (i) The Borrower shall default in any payment with respect to any Class of Loans (other than the Class A Loans) with an outstanding principal balance in excess of $125,000,000, beyond the grace period, if any, provided in the Base Term Loan Agreement or any Term Loan Supplement applicable to such Loans or (ii) any such Loans shall be declared to be due and payable, or shall be required to be prepaid, defeased or redeemed before the stated maturity thereof, other than (A) as a result of a regularly scheduled required prepayment or as a mandatory prepayment and (B) Loans that become due as a result of a Disposition (including as a result of a Casualty Event) of the property or assets securing such Loans permitted under the Base Term Loan Agreement and this Supplement.

 

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10.2          Order of Foreclosure Proceeds. As provided in Section 2.1(a) of the Base Term Loan Agreement, the Borrower may designate the order of application of Foreclosure Proceeds in any Term Loan Supplement, so long as the order of application in any new Term Loan Supplement does not contravene the order of application in any prior Term Loan Supplement then in effect. This Supplement provides that the Foreclosure Proceeds may be applied to the Class A Loans after application to other Loans and Side-Car Loans with terms providing for such application, if each such other Loan and Side-Car Loan satisfied Sections 9.1 and 9.2 of the Base Term Loan Agreement on the date of its incurrence. This Supplement provides that Foreclosure Proceeds may be applied to the Class A Loans and other Loans and Side-Car Loans, pro rata, if such other Loans and Side-Car Loans had terms providing for such application and each such other Loan and Side-Car Loan satisfied Sections 9.1 and 9.2 of the Base Term Loan Agreement on the date of its incurrence. This Supplement provides that Foreclosure Proceeds may be applied to other Classes of Loans and Side-Car Loans after Foreclosure Proceeds have been applied to the Class A Loans, if each such other Loan and Side-Car Loan satisfied Sections 9.1 and 9.2 of the Base Term Loan Agreement on the date of incurrence thereof.

 

10.3          Premium. In the event the maturity of the Class A Loans shall be accelerated as a result of any Event of Default, the amount becoming due and payable shall include, in addition to principal and accrued interest, an amount equal to the Make-Whole Amount at the time of such acceleration. It is agreed that payment of such Make-Whole Amount shall constitute liquidated damages, not “unmatured interest”, for purposes of the Bankruptcy Code. EACH CREDIT PARTY EXPRESSLY WAIVES (TO THE FULLEST EXTENT IT MAY LAWFULLY DO SO) THE PROVISIONS OF ANY PRESENT OR FUTURE STATUTE OR LAW THAT PROHIBITS OR MAY PROHIBIT THE COLLECTION OF THE MAKE-WHOLE AMOUNT IN CONNECTION WITH ANY SUCH ACCELERATION.

 

ARTICLE XI
THE ARRANGERS and the libor transition agent

 

Notwithstanding anything in the Supplemented Term Loan Agreement to the contrary, no Person identified on the cover page of this Supplement as a Joint Lead Arranger, Joint Bookrunner, Syndication Agent or Documentation Agent shall have any right, power, obligation, liability, responsibility or duty under the Supplemented Term Loan Agreement other than those applicable to all Class A Lenders as such (to the extent such Person is a Class A Lender).

 

The Term Agent hereby designates and appoints the LIBOR Transition Agent as its sub-agent, and each Class A Lender hereby confirms and ratifies such designation and appointment, with respect to the provisions of Section 2.7(c). The rights and benefits of the Term Agent under Sections 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4, 11.5, 11.6, 11.7, 11.8 and 12.5 of the Base Term Loan Agreement are hereby extended as rights and benefits of the LIBOR Transition Agent, mutatis mutandis.

 

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ARTICLE XII
Miscellaneous

 

12.1          Amendments, Waivers and Releases. Except as expressly set forth in this Supplement or the Base Term Loan Agreement, neither this Supplement, nor any terms hereof, may be amended, supplemented or modified except in accordance with the provisions of this Section 12.1. The Class A Majority Lenders may, or, at the written direction of the Class A Majority Lenders, the Term Agent shall, from time to time, (a) enter into with the Borrower written amendments, supplements or modifications hereto or (b) waive in writing, on such terms and conditions as the Class A Majority Lenders or the Term Agent (at the direction of the Class A Majority Lenders), as the case may be, may specify in such instrument, any of the requirements of this Supplement or any Default or Event of Default with respect to the Class A Loans and its consequences; but each such waiver and each such amendment, supplement or modification shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, further, that no such waiver and no such amendment, supplement or modification shall:

 

(i)                 forgive or reduce any portion of any Class A Loan or reduce the stated rate (it being understood that only the consent of the Class A Majority Lenders shall be necessary to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest at the Default Rate or amend Section 2.4(c)), or forgive any portion, or extend the date for the payment, of any interest or fee payable hereunder (other than as a result of waiving the applicability of any post-default increase in interest rates), or amend, modify or waive any provision of Section 4.2(a), 4.3, 10.3 or 12.2 to the extent it would alter the right to receive the Make-Whole Amount or the definitions related thereto, or extend the Class A Closing Date, the BVL Inclusion Date or the Class A Maturity Date, or increase the amount of the Class A Commitment of any Lender, or make any Class A Loan, interest, fee or other amount payable in any currency other than Dollars, in each case without the written consent of each Class A Lender directly and adversely affected thereby;

 

(ii)              amend, modify or waive any provision of Section 2.3(b) or this Section 12.1, consent to the assignment or transfer by the Borrower of its rights and obligations hereunder or alter the order of application set forth in Section 10.2 without the written consent of each Class A Lender;

 

(iii)            affect the rights or duties of, or any fees or other amounts payable to the Term Agent under this Supplement without the prior written consent of the Term Agent;

 

(iv)             affect the rights or duties of, or any fees or other amounts payable to the LIBOR Transition Agent under this Supplement without the prior written consent of the LIBOR Transition Agent; or

 

(v)               amend, modify or waive any provision of Article IX or Section 10.2 without the written consent of each Class A Lender;

 

provided, further, that any provision of this Supplement may be amended by an agreement in writing entered into by the Borrower and the Term Agent to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency, but neither shall have any obligation to do so. Any such waiver and any such amendment, supplement or modification shall apply equally to each of the affected Class A Lenders and shall be binding upon the Borrower, such Class A Lenders, the Term Agent, the LIBOR Transition Agent and all future Class A Lenders. In the case of any waiver, the Borrower, the Class A Lenders, the LIBOR Transition Agent and the Term Agent shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, and any Default or Event of Default under this Supplement waived shall be deemed to be cured and not continuing; it being understood that no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. In connection with the foregoing provisions, the Term Agent may, but shall have no obligation to, with the concurrence of any Class A Lender, execute amendments, modifications, waivers or consents on behalf of such Class A Lender.

 

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12.2          Replacement of Class A Lenders. In the event that any Class A Lender shall be replaced pursuant to clause (iii) of Section 12.7 of the Base Term Loan Agreement, the Borrower shall pay to such Class A Lender an amount equal to the Make-Whole Amount.

 

12.3          Successors and Assigns. Notwithstanding any provision of Section 12.6 of the Base Term Loan Agreement, assignments of Class A Loans by or to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. or any of its Affiliates will not require the consent of the Borrower or the Term Agent; but, as provided in Section 12.6 of the Base Term Loan Agreement, the consent of the Borrower shall be required in connection with any assignment of all or any part of any Class A Commitment.

 

12.4          Counterparts. This Supplement may be executed by one or more of the parties hereto on any number of separate counterparts (including by facsimile or other electronic transmission, i.e. a “pdf” or a “tif”), and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. A set of the copies of this Supplement signed by all the parties shall be lodged with the Borrower. Delivery by telecopier or other electronic transmission of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Supplement shall be effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Supplement. The Term Agent may also require that any such documents and signatures delivered by telecopier or other electronic transmission be confirmed by a manually-signed original thereof; but the failure to request or deliver the same shall not limit the effectiveness of any document or signature delivered by telecopier or other electronic transmission.

 

12.5          Severability. Any provision of this Supplement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

12.6          Integration. The Supplemented Term Loan Agreement and the other Credit Documents represent the agreement of the Borrower, the Guarantors, the Term Agent and the Class A Lenders with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and there are no promises, undertakings, representations or warranties by the Borrower, the Guarantors, the Term Agent nor any Class A Lender relative to the subject matter thereof not expressly set forth or referred to herein or in the other Credit Documents.

 

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12.7          GOVERNING LAW. THIS SUPPLEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

12.8          WAIVERS OF JURY TRIAL. EACH OF THE BORROWER, THE TERM AGENT AND EACH CLASS A LENDER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THE SUPPLEMENTED TERM LOAN AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENT AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.

 

18

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused a counterpart of this Supplement to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.

 

  CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION, as the Borrower
   
  By: /s/ Bryan J. Lemmerman
  Name:

Bryan J. Lemmerman

  Title: Vice President – Business Development and Treasurer

 

[Class A Term Loan Supplement]

 

 

 

  GLAS USA LLC, as the Term Agent  
   
  By: /s/ Yana Kislenko
  Name: Yana Kislenko
  Title: Vice President

 

[Class A Term Loan Supplement]

 

 

 

Class Commitment:
$1,500,000,000
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as the initial Class A Lender
   
  By: /s/ Dave Katz 
  Name: Dave Katz
  Title: Managing Director

 

[Class A Term Loan Supplement]

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

NOTICE OF CONVERSION/CONTINUATION

 

Date: ___________, _____

 

To: GLAS USA LLC, as Term Agent

 

Reference is made to that certain Term Loan Agreement, dated as of December 19, 2019 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “Term Loan Agreement”), among Chesapeake Energy Corporation, an Oklahoma corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders from time to time party thereto, GLAS USA LLC, as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Term Agent”), as supplemented by that certain Class A Term Loan Supplement, dated as of December 19, 2019 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “Class A Supplement”), among the Borrower, the Class A Lenders from time to time party thereto and the Term Agent. Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Term Loan Agreement or the Class A Supplement, as applicable.

 

Pursuant to Section 2.6 of the Class A Supplement, the Borrower desires to [convert][continue] all of the Class A Loans, as specified below.

 

On ______________________________ (a Business Day)1.

 

[LIBOR Loans to be continued with an Interest Period of ___ month(s)2.]

[ABR Loans to be converted to LIBOR Loans with an Interest Period of ___ month(s)3.]

[LIBOR Loans to be converted to ABR Loans.]

 

[The undersigned hereby certifies that no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.]4

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any other Credit Document, this notice may be amended, supplemented or modified with the consent only of the Borrower and the Term Agent.

 

  CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION
   
  By:                
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

 

1 If (i) converting ABR Loans to LIBOR Loans or (ii) continuing LIBOR Loans, notice must be delivered before 1:00 p.m. (New York time) at least three (3) Business Days before the date of such conversion or continuation.

If converting LIBOR Loans to ABR Loans, notice must be delivered before 1:00 p.m. (New York time) on the date of such conversion.

2 Interest Period to be one, two, three or six months.

3 Interest Period to be one, two, three or six months.

4 To be included if continuing LIBOR Loans or converting ABR Loans to LIBOR Loans.

 

Exhibit A

 

 

 

Exhibit 4.5

 

Execution Version

 

FIFTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

 

Fifth Supplemental Indenture (this “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of December 19, 2019, among Brazos Valley Longhorn, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company converted from a Delaware corporation named WildHorse Resource Development Corporation (the “Issuer”), Brazos Valley Longhorn Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Co-Issuer” and, together with the Issuer, the “Issuers”), the Guarantors (as defined in the Indenture referred to herein) and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee under the Indenture referred to below (the “Trustee”).

 

W I T N E S S E T H

 

WHEREAS, the Issuers have heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Indenture”), dated as of February 1, 2017 providing for the issuance of their 6.875% Senior Notes due 2025 (the “Notes”);

 

WHEREAS, Chesapeake Energy Corporation (the “Parent”), an Oklahoma corporation and the owner of all of the outstanding Capital Stock (as defined in the Indenture) of the Issuer, has offered to purchase for cash any and all outstanding Notes pursuant to the tender offer commenced on December 4, 2019 (the “Tender Offer”) upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation Statement dated as of December 4, 2019 (the “Offer to Purchase”);

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the Tender Offer, the Parent has requested that Holders of the Notes deliver their consents with respect to the proposed amendments to certain provisions of the Indenture on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase (the “Consent Solicitation”);

 

WHEREAS, Section 9.02 of the Indenture provides that the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee may, subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, amend or supplement the Indenture and the Notes with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then-outstanding Notes voting as a single class (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Notes);

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Consent Solicitation, the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes have duly consented to the proposed modifications set forth in this Supplemental Indenture in accordance with the Indenture (including Section 9.02 thereof);

 

WHEREAS, the Issuers have heretofore delivered, or are delivering contemporaneously herewith, to the Trustee (i) a copy of resolutions of the Board of Directors of each Issuer authorizing the execution of this Supplemental Indenture, (ii) evidence of the consent of the Holders set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph and (iii) the Officers’ Certificate and the Opinion of Counsel described in Sections 9.05 and 12.04 of the Indenture; and

 

 

 

 

WHEREAS, all conditions necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture and to make this Supplemental Indenture valid and binding have been complied with or have been done or performed.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and notwithstanding any provision of the Indenture which, absent this Supplemental Indenture, might operate to limit such action, the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes as follows:

 

1.               Capitalized Terms. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 

2.               Amendments.

 

i. Subject to Section 5 hereof, the Indenture is hereby amended by deleting in their entireties, and inserting in lieu thereof the word “[Reserved.]” after each such section number, Sections 3.09, 4.03, 4.04 (except for such portions thereof required by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939), 4.05, 4.06, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.14, 4.15, 4.16, 4.17, 4.18, 5.01, 6.01(c), 6.01(d), 6.01(e), 6.01(f), 6.01(g), 6.01(h), 6.01(i) and 6.01(j) of the Indenture.

 

ii. Subject to Section 5 hereof, Section 5.02 of the Indenture is hereby amended by deleting the stricken text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: stricken text):

 

Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Issuer in a transaction that is subject to, and that complies with the provisions of, Section 5.01 in which the Issuer is not the surviving or successor Person, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Issuer is merged or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, lease or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of the Issuer under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the predecessor Issuer herein and shall be substituted for the Issuer (so that from and after the date of such consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the provisions of this Indenture referring to the “Issuer” shall refer instead to the successor Person and not to the predecessor Issuer) and such predecessor Issuer shall be discharged and released from all of its obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Notes and the Trustee shall enter into a supplemental indenture to evidence the succession and substitution of such successor and such discharge and release of such predecessor Issuer; provided, however, that the predecessor Issuer shall not be relieved from the obligation to pay the principal of, or premium or interest, if any, on, the Notes in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of the Issuer’s properties or assets in a transaction that is subject to, and that complies with the provisions of, Section 5.01.

 

2

 

 

iii. Effective as of the date the amendments referred to above become operative pursuant to Section 5 hereof, none of the Issuers, the Trustee or other parties to or beneficiaries of the Indenture shall have any rights, obligations or liabilities under the Sections or clauses referred to in Section 2(i) above and such Sections or clauses shall not be considered in determining whether an Event of Default has occurred or whether the Issuers have observed, performed or complied with the provisions of the Indenture.

 

3.              Amendment of Definitions and References. Subject to Section 5 hereof, the Indenture is hereby further amended by (a) deleting any definitions from the Indenture with respect to which references would be eliminated as a result of the amendments to the Indenture pursuant to Section 2 hereof and (b) deleting any references in the Indenture to Sections, clauses or definitions set forth in the Indenture that will be eliminated as a result of the amendments to the Indenture contemplated hereby. The Notes are also hereby deemed amended as appropriate to reflect the amendments to the Indenture contemplated hereby.

 

4.               Effect of Supplemental Indenture. Except as amended hereby, all of the terms of the Indenture shall remain and continue in full force and effect and are hereby confirmed in all respects. From and after the date of this Supplemental Indenture, all references to the Indenture (whether in the Indenture or in any other agreements, documents or instruments) shall be deemed to be references to the Indenture as amended and supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture.

 

5.               Effectiveness. The provisions of this Supplemental Indenture shall be effective upon execution and delivery of this instrument by each of the parties hereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the provisions of this Supplemental Indenture shall become operative only upon (and shall be deemed to become operative automatically upon) the first Settlement Date (as defined in the Offer to Purchase); provided that the Parent purchases at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes on such Settlement Date in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase. If the purchase contemplated by the foregoing sentence does not occur in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, the amendments to the Indenture described in this Supplemental Indenture shall not become operative and shall be null and void for all purposes under the Indenture.

 

6.              NEW YORK LAW TO GOVERN. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

7.              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 Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every Holder of any Note heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby.

 

3

 

 

8.              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. The exchange of copies of this Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this instrument as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original instrument for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

 

9.               Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

10.            The Trustee. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the invalidity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Issuers and the Guarantors.

 

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

4

 

 

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

 

  Issuer:
  Brazos Valley Longhorn, L.L.C.
   
  By: /s/ Bryan J. Lemmerman
  Name:   Bryan J. Lemmerman
  Title: Vice President – Business Development and Treasurer
   
  Co-Issuer:
  Brazos Valley Longhorn Finance Corp.
   
  By: /s/ Bryan J. Lemmerman
  Name:   Bryan J. Lemmerman
  Title: Vice President – Business Development and Treasurer

 

Signature Page – Fifth Supplemental Indenture

 

 

 

 

  Guarantors:
   
  WILDHORSE RESOURCES II, LLC,
  ESQUISTO RESOURCES II, LLC,
  WHE ACQCO., LLC,
  WHR EAGLE FORD LLC and
  BURLESON SAND LLC
   
  By:   Brazos Valley Longhorn, L.L.C.,
    sole member of each of the above-named companies

 

  By: /s/ Bryan J. Lemmerman
  Name:   Bryan J. Lemmerman
  Title: Vice President – Business Development and Treasurer

 

  WILDHORSE RESOURCES MANAGEMENT COMPANY, LLC
  By: WildHorse Resources II, LLC, its sole member
  By: Brazos Valley Longhorn, L.L.C., its sole member

 

  By: /s/ Bryan J. Lemmerman
  Name:   Bryan J. Lemmerman
  Title: Vice President – Business Development and Treasurer

 

  PETROMAX E&P BURLESON, LLC and
  BURLESON WATER RESOURCES, LLC
  By: Esquisto Resources II, LLC, sole member of each of the above-named companies
    By: Brazos Valley Longhorn, L.L.C., its sole member

 

  By: /s/ Bryan J. Lemmerman
  Name:   Bryan J. Lemmerman
  Title: Vice President – Business Development and Treasurer

 

Signature Page – Fifth Supplemental Indenture

 

 

 

 

  U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
  As Trustee

 

  By: /s/ Kristel D. Richards Jech
  Name: Kristel D. Richards Jech
  Title: Vice President

 

Signature Page – Fifth Supplemental Indenture

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT

 

dated as of December 19, 2019 between

 

MUFG Union Bank, N.A.,

as Priority Lien Agent,

 

and

 

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas,

as Second Lien Collateral Trustee

 

and Acknowledged and Agreed by

Chesapeake Energy Corporation and certain of its subsidiaries

 

 

THIS IS THE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT REFERRED TO IN (A) THE INDENTURE DATED AS OF DECEMBER 19, 2019, AMONG CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION, CERTAIN OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY THERETO AND DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS TRUSTEE AND COLLATERAL TRUSTEE, (B) THE AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT DATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 12, 2018 AS AMENDED, SUPPLEMENTED, RESTATED OR OTHERWISE MODIFIED FROM TIME TO TIME, AMONG CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION, THE LENDERS PARTY THERETO FROM TIME TO TIME AND MUFG UNION BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, (C) THE OTHER NOTE DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO IN SUCH INDENTURE AND (D) THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO IN SUCH CREDIT AGREEMENT.

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Article I
DEFINITIONS
 
Section 1.01 Construction; Certain Defined Terms 1
   
Article II
LIEN PRIORITIES
 
Section 2.01 Relative Priorities 22
Section 2.02 Prohibition on Marshalling, Etc. 23
Section 2.03 No New Liens 24
Section 2.04 Similar Collateral and Agreements 25
Section 2.05 No Duties of Priority Lien Agent 26
Section 2.06 No Duties of Second Lien Collateral Trustee 27
   
Article III
ENFORCEMENT RIGHTS; PURCHASE OPTION
 
Section 3.01 Limitation on Enforcement Action 27
Section 3.02 Standstill Periods; Permitted Enforcement Action 29
Section 3.03 [Reserved] 31
Section 3.04 [Reserved] 31
Section 3.05 No Interference; Payment Over 31
Section 3.06 Purchase Option 34
   
Article IV
OTHER AGREEMENTS
 
Section 4.01 Release of Liens; Automatic Release of Second Liens and Third Liens 37
Section 4.02 Certain Agreements With Respect to Insolvency or Liquidation Proceedings 38
Section 4.03 Reinstatement 47
Section 4.04 Refinancings; Additional Priority Lien Debt; Additional Second Lien Debt; Initial Third Lien Indebtedness; Additional Third Lien Debt 48
Section 4.05 Amendments to Second Lien Documents and Third Lien Documents 50
Section 4.06 Legends 51
Section 4.07 Second Lien Secured Parties and Third Lien Secured Parties Rights as Unsecured Creditors; Judgment Lien Creditor 52
Section 4.08 Postponement of Subrogation 52
Section 4.09 Acknowledgment by the Secured Debt Representatives 53
Section 4.10 Insurance 53
   
Article V
GRATUITOUS BAILMENT FOR PERFECTION OF CERTAIN SECURITY INTERESTS
 
Section 5.01 General 54
   
Article VI
APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS; DETERMINATION OF AMOUNTS
 
Section 6.01 Application of Proceeds 55
Section 6.02 Determination of Amounts 55

 

 

 

Article VII
NO RELIANCE; NO LIABILITY; OBLIGATIONS ABSOLUTE; CONSENT OF GRANTORS; ETC.
 
Section 7.01 No Reliance; Information 56
Section 7.02 No Warranties or Liability 56
Section 7.03 Obligations Absolute 58
Section 7.04 Grantors’ Consent 58
   
Article VIII
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
 
Section 8.01 Representations and Warranties of Each Party 58
Section 8.02 Representations and Warranties of Each Representative 59
   
Article IX
MISCELLANEOUS
 
Section 9.01 Notices 59
Section 9.02 Waivers; Amendment 60
Section 9.03 Actions Upon Breach; Specific Performance 60
Section 9.04 Parties in Interest 61
Section 9.05 Survival of Agreement 62
Section 9.06 Counterparts 62
Section 9.07 Severability 62
Section 9.08 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process 62
Section 9.09 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL 63
Section 9.10 Headings 63
Section 9.11 Conflicts 63
Section 9.12 Provisions Solely to Define Relative Rights 63
Section 9.13 Certain Terms Concerning the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee 63
Section 9.14 Certain Terms Concerning the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee 64
Section 9.15 Authorization of Secured Agents 64
Section 9.16 Further Assurances 64
Section 9.17 Relationship of Secured Parties 65
Section 9.18 Third Lien Provisions 65

 

Annex and Exhibits

 

Annex I

 

Exhibit A Form of Priority Confirmation Joinder
Exhibit B Security Documents

 

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INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT, dated as of December 19, 2019 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof, this “Agreement”), between MUFG Union Bank, N.A., as administrative agent for the Priority Lien Secured Parties referred to herein (in such capacity, and together with its successors and assigns in such capacity, the “Original Priority Lien Agent”), and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as collateral trustee for the Second Lien Secured Parties referred to herein (in such capacity, and together with its successors in such capacity, the “Original Second Lien Collateral Trustee”) and acknowledged and agreed by Chesapeake Energy Corporation, an Oklahoma corporation (together with its successors and assigns, “Chesapeake”) and certain of its subsidiaries.

 

Reference is made to (a) the Priority Credit Agreement (defined below); (b) the Second Lien Indenture (defined below) governing the Second Lien Indenture Notes (defined below); and (c) the New Debt Agreement (defined below) entered into as of the date of this Agreement.

 

From time to time following the date hereof, Chesapeake may (i) incur Additional Priority Lien Obligations (defined below) to the extent permitted by the Secured Debt Documents (defined below); in connection with any Additional Priority Lien Obligations, Chesapeake and the Priority Lien Agent (defined below) shall, concurrently with the incurrence of such Additional Priority Lien Obligations, enter into a Priority Lien Collateral Trust Agreement (defined below); (ii) incur Additional Notes or Additional Second Lien Obligations (each defined below) to the extent permitted by the Secured Debt Documents; in connection with any Additional Second Lien Obligations (defined below), the applicable Second Lien Representative (defined below) and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee (defined below) shall, concurrently with the incurrence of such Additional Second Lien Obligations, enter into a joinder to the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement (defined below) and (iii) incur Initial Third Lien Obligations and Additional Third Lien Obligations (each as defined below) to the extent permitted by the Secured Debt Documents; in connection with the Initial Third Lien Obligations, Chesapeake and certain of its subsidiaries, the Third Lien Representative (defined below) and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee (defined below) shall, concurrently with the incurrence of such Additional Third Lien Obligations, enter into a Third Lien Collateral Trust Agreement (defined below).

 

In consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Priority Lien Agent (for itself and on behalf of the Priority Lien Secured Parties) and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee (for itself and on behalf of the Second Lien Secured Parties) agree as follows:

 

Article I

DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.01        Construction; Certain Defined Terms. (a) The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.” The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.” Unless the context requires otherwise, (i) any reference herein to any agreement, instrument, other document, statute or regulation shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument, other document, statute or regulation as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, to the extent not prohibited by this Agreement, (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, but shall not be deemed to include the subsidiaries of such Person unless express reference is made to such subsidiaries, (iii) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (iv) all references herein to Articles, Sections and Annexes shall be construed to refer to Articles, Sections and Annexes of this Agreement, (v) unless otherwise expressly qualified herein, the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights and (vi) the term “or” is not exclusive.

 

 

 

(b)               All terms used in this Agreement that are defined in Article 1, 8 or 9 of the New York UCC (whether capitalized herein or not) and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in Article 1, 8 or 9 of the New York UCC. If a term is defined in Article 9 of the New York UCC and another Article of the UCC, such term shall have the meaning assigned to it in Article 9 of the New York UCC.

 

(c)               All terms capitalized but not defined herein shall have the meaning assigned to them in the Priority Credit Agreement as in effect on the date hereof.

 

(d)               Unless otherwise set forth herein, all references herein to (i) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall be deemed to refer to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee in its capacity as collateral trustee under the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement and (ii) the Third Lien Collateral Trustee shall be deemed to refer to the Third Lien Collateral Trustee in its capacity as collateral trustee under the Third Lien Collateral Trust Agreement.

 

(e)               As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:

 

Additional Notes” has the meaning given to the term “Additional Securities” in the Second Lien Indenture as in effect on the date hereof.

 

Additional Priority Lien Debt Agreement” means the credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument evidencing or governing the terms of any Additional Priority Lien Debt Facility, including, for the avoidance of doubt, the New Debt Agreement.

 

Additional Priority Lien Debt Facility” means any Indebtedness under any Credit Facility for which the requirements of Section 4.04(b) of this Agreement have been satisfied, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, restated, restructured, increased, supplemented, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time in accordance with each applicable Secured Debt Document and this Agreement, including for the avoidance of doubt, the New Debt Facility; provided that neither the Priority Credit Agreement nor any Priority Substitute Credit Facility shall constitute an Additional Priority Lien Debt Facility at any time.

 

Additional Priority Lien Documents” means the Additional Priority Lien Debt Credit Agreement, the Priority Lien Collateral Trust Agreement, the Additional Priority Lien Security Documents, including, for the avoidance of doubt, the New Debt Documents, and any documents with respect to Banking Services Obligations if secured under the terms of Additional Priority Lien Security Documents.

 

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Additional Priority Lien Obligations” means, with respect to any Grantor, any Obligations of such Grantor owed to any Additional Priority Lien Secured Party (or any of its Affiliates) in respect of the Additional Priority Lien Documents, including, for the avoidance of doubt, the New Debt Obligations.

 

Additional Priority Lien Secured Parties” means, at any time, (a) the Priority Lien Agent, (b) the trustee, agent or other representative of the holders of any Series of Priority Lien Debt who maintains the transfer register for such Series of Priority Lien Debt, (c) each lender or issuing bank under the Additional Priority Lien Debt Facility or an Affiliate (as defined in the Additional Priority Lien Debt Credit Agreement) thereof at the time such Banking Services Obligation is entered into, and is a secured party (or a party entitled to the benefits of the security) under any Additional Priority Lien Document, (d) the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Grantor under any Additional Priority Lien Document and (e) each other holder of, or obligee in respect of, any holder or lender pursuant to any Series of Priority Lien Debt outstanding at such time; provided that the Credit Agreement Secured Parties (other than the Priority Lien Agent) shall not be deemed Additional Priority Lien Secured Parties.

 

Additional Priority Lien Security Documents” means the Additional Priority Lien Debt Credit Agreement (insofar as the same grants a Lien on the Collateral) and any other security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral agency agreements, control agreements, or grants or transfers for security, now existing or entered into after the date hereof, executed and delivered by Chesapeake or any other Grantor to the Priority Lien Agent creating (or purporting to create) a Lien upon the Priority Lien Collateral in favor of the Additional Priority Lien Secured Parties, including, for the avoidance of doubt, the New Debt Security Documents.

 

Additional Second Lien Debt Agreement” means the credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument evidencing or governing the terms of any Additional Second Lien Debt Facility.

 

Additional Second Lien Debt Facility” means any Indebtedness for which the requirements of Section 4.04(b) of this Agreement have been satisfied, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, restated, restructured, increased, supplemented, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time in accordance with each applicable Secured Debt Document and this Agreement; provided that neither the Second Lien Indenture nor any Second Lien Substitute Facility shall constitute an Additional Second Lien Debt Facility at any time.

 

Additional Second Lien Documents” means the Additional Second Lien Debt Agreement and the Additional Second Lien Security Documents.

 

Additional Second Lien Obligations” means, with respect to any Grantor, any Obligations of such Grantor owed to any Additional Second Lien Secured Party (or any of its Affiliates) in respect of the Additional Second Lien Documents.

 

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Additional Second Lien Secured Parties” means, at any time, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, the trustee, agent or other representative of the holders of any Series of Second Lien Debt who maintains the transfer register for such Series of Second Lien Debt, the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Grantor under any Additional Second Lien Document and each other holder of, or obligee in respect of, any holder or lender pursuant to any Series of Second Lien Debt outstanding at such time; provided that the Second Lien Indenture Secured Parties shall not be deemed Additional Second Lien Secured Parties.

 

Additional Second Lien Security Documents” means the Additional Second Lien Debt Agreement (insofar as the same grants a Lien on the Collateral) and any other security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral agency agreements, control agreements, or grants or transfers for security, now existing or entered into after the date hereof, executed and delivered by Chesapeake or any other Grantor creating (or purporting to create) a Lien upon the Second Lien Collateral in favor of the Additional Second Lien Secured Parties.

 

Additional Third Lien Debt Agreement” means the credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument evidencing or governing the terms of any Additional Third Lien Debt Facility.

 

Additional Third Lien Debt Facility” means any Indebtedness for which the requirements of Section 4.04(b) of this Agreement have been satisfied, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, restated, restructured, increased, supplemented, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time in accordance with each applicable Secured Debt Document and this Agreement; provided that no Third Lien Substitute Facility shall constitute an Additional Third Lien Debt Facility at any time.

 

Additional Third Lien Documents” means the Additional Third Lien Debt Agreement and the Additional Third Lien Security Documents.

 

Additional Third Lien Obligations” means, with respect to any Grantor, any Obligations of such Grantor owed to any Additional Third Lien Secured Party (or any of its Affiliates) in respect of the Additional Third Lien Documents.

 

Additional Third Lien Secured Parties” means, at any time, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, the trustee, agent or other representative of the holders of any Series of Third Lien Debt who maintains the transfer register for such Series of Third Lien Debt, the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Grantor under any Additional Third Lien Document and each other holder of, or obligee in respect of, any holder or lender pursuant to any Series of Third Lien Debt outstanding at such time.

 

Additional Third Lien Security Documents” means the Additional Third Lien Debt Agreement (insofar as the same grants a Lien on the Collateral) and any other security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral agency agreements, control agreements, or grants or transfers for security, now existing or entered into after the date hereof, executed and delivered by Chesapeake or any other Grantor creating (or purporting to create) a Lien upon the Third Lien Collateral in favor of the Additional Third Lien Secured Parties.

 

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

 

Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

 

Banking Services” means (a) commercial credit cards, merchant card services, purchase or debit cards, including non-card e-payables services, (b) treasury management services (including controlled disbursement, overdraft, automated clearing house fund transfer services, return items and interstate depository network services) and (c) any other demand deposit or operating account relationships or other cash management services, including pursuant to any agreement in respect of the foregoing.

 

Banking Services Obligations” means any and all Obligations of Chesapeake or any other Grantor, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor) in connection with Banking Services.

 

Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code.

 

Bankruptcy Law” means the Bankruptcy Code and any similar federal, state or foreign law providing for the relief of debtors.

 

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

 

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

 

Capital Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock, partnership or limited liability company interests or other equity securities (including, without limitation, beneficial interests in or other securities of a trust) and any and all warrants, options and rights with respect thereto (whether or not currently exercisable), including each class of common stock and preferred stock of such Person.

 

Chesapeake” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

 

Class” means (a) in the case of Priority Lien Debt, every Series of Priority Lien Debt, taken together, (b) in the case of Second Lien Debt, every Series of Second Lien Debt, taken together and (c) in the case of Third Lien Debt, every Series of Third Lien Debt, taken together.

 

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Collateral” means all of the assets and property of any Grantor, whether real, personal or mixed, constituting the Priority Lien Collateral, the Second Lien Collateral and/or the Third Lien Collateral.

 

Credit Agreement Debt” means the Indebtedness under the Priority Credit Agreement (including letters of credit and reimbursement obligations with respect thereto) and Indebtedness under any Priority Substitute Credit Facility. For purposes of this Agreement, Indebtedness under the Priority Credit Agreement is permitted to be incurred under each of the Second Lien Indenture and any Initial Third Lien Document.

 

Credit Agreement Documents” means the Priority Credit Agreement, the Credit Agreement Security Documents, the other “Credit Documents” (as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement), any documents with respect to Hedging Obligations and Banking Service Obligations secured under the terms of Credit Agreement Security Documents and all other loan documents, notes, guarantees, instruments and agreements governing or evidencing, or executed or delivered in connection with, any Priority Substitute Credit Facility.

 

Credit Agreement Obligations” means the Credit Agreement Debt and all other Obligations in respect of or in connection with Credit Agreement Debt together with Hedging Obligations and Banking Services Obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, Hedging Obligations and Banking Services Obligations shall only constitute Credit Agreement Obligations to the extent that such Hedging Obligations or Banking Services Obligations, as applicable, are secured under the terms of the Credit Agreement Documents. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, the term “Credit Agreement Obligations” will include accrued interest, fees, costs, and other charges incurred under the Priority Credit Agreement and the other Credit Agreement Documents, whether incurred before or after commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, and whether or not allowed or allowable in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding. To the extent that any payment with respect to the Credit Agreement Obligations (whether by or on behalf of any Grantor, as proceeds of security, enforcement of any right of set-off, or otherwise) is declared to be fraudulent or preferential in any respect, set aside, or required to be paid to a debtor in possession, trustee, receiver, or similar Person, then the Obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied will be deemed to be reinstated and outstanding as if such payment had not occurred.

 

Credit Agreement Secured Parties” means, at any time, (a) the Priority Lien Agent, (b) each lender or issuing bank under the Priority Credit Agreement, (c) each holder, provider or obligee of any Hedging Obligations and Banking Services Obligations that (i) is a lender under the Priority Credit Agreement or an Affiliate (as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement) thereof, or (ii) was such a lender or Affiliate at the time such Hedging Obligation or Banking Services Obligation, as applicable, was entered into and is a secured party (or a party entitled to the benefits of the security) under any Credit Agreement Document, (d) the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Grantor under any Credit Agreement Document, (e) each other Person that provides letters of credit, guarantees or other credit support related thereto under any Credit Agreement Document and (f) each other holder of, or obligee in respect of, any Credit Agreement Obligations (including pursuant to a Priority Substitute Credit Facility), in each case to the extent designated as a secured party (or a party entitled to the benefits of the security) under any Credit Agreement Document outstanding at such time.

 

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Credit Agreement Security Documents” means the Priority Credit Agreement (insofar as the same grants a Lien on the Collateral), each agreement listed in Part A of Exhibit B hereto, and any other security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, control agreements, or grants or transfers for security, now existing or entered into after the date hereof, executed and delivered by Chesapeake or any other Grantor creating (or purporting to create) a Lien upon Collateral in favor of the Priority Lien Agent (including any such agreements, assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust and other documents or instruments associated with any Priority Substitute Credit Facility).

 

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

 

DIP Financing” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.02(b).

 

DIP Financing Liens” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.02(b).

 

DIP Lenders” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.02(b).

 

Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations” means the occurrence of all of the following:

 

(a)               termination or expiration of all commitments to extend credit that would constitute Priority Lien Debt;

 

(b)               payment in full in cash of the principal of and interest and premium (if any) on all Priority Lien Debt (other than any undrawn letters of credit);

 

(c)               discharge or cash collateralization (in an amount equal to the lower of (i) 105% of the aggregate undrawn amount and (ii) the percentage of the aggregate undrawn amount required for release of Liens under the terms of the applicable Priority Lien Document) of all outstanding letters of credit constituting Priority Lien Obligations and the aggregate fronting and similar fees which will accrue thereon through the stated expiry of such letters of credit;

 

(d)               payment in full in cash of obligations in respect of Hedging Obligations constituting Priority Lien Obligations (and, with respect to any particular Hedge Agreement, termination of such agreement and payment in full in cash of all obligations thereunder or such other arrangements as have been made by the counterparty thereto (and communicated to the Priority Lien Agent) pursuant to the terms of the Priority Credit Agreement); and

 

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(e)               payment in full in cash of all other Priority Lien Obligations (including without limitation, Bank Services Obligations to the extent included in Priority Lien Obligations) that are outstanding and unpaid at the time the Priority Lien Debt is paid in full in cash (other than any contingent obligations for taxes, costs, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages or other liabilities in respect of which no claim or demand for payment has been made at or prior to such time); provided that, if, at any time after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations has occurred, Chesapeake or any other Grantor enters into any Priority Lien Document evidencing a Priority Lien Obligation which incurrence is not prohibited by the applicable Secured Debt Documents, then such Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations shall automatically be deemed not to have occurred for all purposes of this Agreement with respect to such new Priority Lien Obligations (other than with respect to any actions taken as a result of the occurrence of such first Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations), and, from and after the date on which Chesapeake designates such Indebtedness as Priority Lien Debt in accordance with this Agreement, the Obligations under such Priority Lien Document shall automatically and without any further action be treated as Priority Lien Obligations for all purposes of this Agreement, including for purposes of the Lien priorities and rights in respect of Collateral set forth in this Agreement, any Second Lien Obligations shall be deemed to have been at all times Second Lien Obligations and at no time Priority Lien Obligations and any Third Lien Obligations shall be deemed to have been at all times Third Lien Obligations and at no time Priority Lien Obligations or Second Lien Obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, a Replacement as contemplated by Section 4.04(a) shall not be deemed to cause a Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations.

 

Discharge of Second Lien Obligations” means the occurrence of all of the following:

 

(a)               termination or expiration of all commitments to extend credit that would constitute Second Lien Debt;

 

(b)               payment in full in cash of the principal of and interest and premium (if any) on all Second Lien Debt (other than any undrawn letters of credit);

 

(c)               discharge or cash collateralization (in an amount equal to the lower of (i) 105% of the aggregate undrawn amount and (ii) the percentage of the aggregate undrawn amount required for release of Liens under the terms of the applicable Second Lien Document) of all outstanding letters of credit constituting Second Lien Obligations and the aggregate fronting and similar fees which will accrue thereon through the stated expiry of such letters of credit; and

 

(d)               payment in full in cash of all other Second Lien Obligations (including without limitation, Bank Services Obligations to the extent included in Second Lien Obligations) that are outstanding and unpaid at the time the Second Lien Debt is paid in full in cash (other than any contingent obligations for taxes, costs, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities in respect of which no claim or demand for payment has been made at or prior to such time);

 

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provided that, if at any time after the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations has occurred, Chesapeake enters into any Second Lien Document evidencing a Second Lien Obligation which incurrence is not prohibited by the applicable Secured Debt Documents, then such Discharge of Second Lien Obligations shall automatically be deemed not to have occurred for all purposes of this Agreement with respect to such new Second Lien Obligations (other than with respect to any actions taken as a result of the occurrence of such first Discharge of Second Lien Obligations), and, from and after the date on which Chesapeake designates such Indebtedness as Second Lien Debt in accordance with this Agreement, the Obligations under such Second Lien Document shall automatically and without any further action be treated as Second Lien Obligations for all purposes of this Agreement, including for purposes of the Lien priorities and rights in respect of Collateral set forth in this Agreement, any Third Lien Obligations shall be deemed to have been at all times Third Lien Obligations and at no time Second Lien Obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, a Replacement as contemplated by Section 4.04(a) shall not be deemed to cause a Discharge of Second Lien Obligations.

 

Disposition” shall mean any sale, lease, exchange, assignment, license, contribution, transfer or other disposition. “Dispose” shall have a correlative meaning.

 

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

 

Excluded Property” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Priority Credit Agreement as in effect on the date hereof.

 

FLLO Debt” means Priority Lien Debt other than Credit Agreement Obligations.

 

Foreclosure Proceeds” means, with respect to any Priority Lien Debt, any proceeds from Collateral received or payable (x) in connection with the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to any portion of the Collateral or (y) pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar dispositive restructuring plan.

 

Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States or any other nation, or any political subdivision thereof, whether state, provincial or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other Person exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.

 

Grantor” means Chesapeake and each Subsidiary that shall have granted, or purported to grant, any Lien in favor of any of the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Third Lien Collateral Trustee on any of its assets or properties to secure any of the Secured Obligations.

 

Hedge Agreements” means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, fixed-price physical delivery contracts, whether or not exchange traded, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “Master Agreement”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement and (c) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect a Person or any subsidiary thereof against fluctuations in interest rates, commodity prices or currency exchange rates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, agreements or obligations entered into in the ordinary course of business to physically buy or sell any commodity produced from Chesapeake’s and the Subsidiaries’ Oil and Gas Properties or electricity generation facilities under an agreement that has a tenor under 90 days shall not be considered Hedge Agreements.

 

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Hedge Bank” means any Person (other than Chesapeake or any Subsidiary) that (a) at the time it enters into a Hedge Agreement is a lender under the Priority Credit Agreement, the administrative agent under the Priority Credit Agreement or an Affiliate of any of them or (b) at any time after it enters into a Hedge Agreement, becomes a lender under the Priority Credit Agreement, the administrative agent under the Priority Credit Agreement or an Affiliate of any of them.

 

Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under Hedge Agreements.

 

Hydrocarbon Interests” means all rights, titles, interests and estates and the lands and premises covered or affected thereby in and to oil and gas leases, oil, gas and mineral leases, or other liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon leases, fee interests, surface interests, mineral fee interests, overriding royalty and royalty interests, net profit interests and production payment interests, including any reserved or residual interests of whatever nature.

 

Hydrocarbons” means all oil, gas, casinghead gas, drip gasoline, natural gasoline, condensate, distillate, liquid hydrocarbons, gaseous hydrocarbons and constituents, elements or compounds thereof and all products refined or separated therefrom.

 

Indebtedness means, without duplication, with respect to any Person, (a) all obligations of such Person, including those evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments, for the repayment of money borrowed (whether or not the recourse of the lender is to the whole of the assets of such Person or only to a portion thereof); (b) all liabilities of others of the kind described in the preceding clause (a) that such Person has guaranteed; and (c) Indebtedness (as otherwise defined in this definition) of another Person secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person, the amount of such obligations being deemed to be the lesser of (i) the full amount of such obligations so secured and (ii) the fair market value of such asset, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of such Person, which determination shall be evidenced by a resolution of such Board of Directors.

 

Initial Third Lien Debt Facility” means Indebtedness secured by a Third Lien for which the requirements of Section 4.04(c) of this Agreement have been satisfied, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, restated, restructured, increased, supplemented, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time in accordance with each applicable Secured Debt Document.

 

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Initial Third Lien Documents” means the Initial Third Lien Debt Facility and the Initial Third Lien Security Documents.

 

Initial Third Lien Obligations” means, with respect to any Grantor, any Obligations of such Grantor owed to any Initial Third Lien Secured Party (or any of its Affiliates) in respect of the Initial Third Lien Documents.

 

Initial Third Lien Secured Parties” means, at any time, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, the trustees, agents and other representatives of the holders of the Initial Third Lien Debt Facility (including any holders of notes pursuant to supplements executed in connection with the issuance of Series of Third Lien Debt under the Initial Third Lien Debt Facility) who maintain the transfer register for such Third Lien Debt, the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Grantor under any Initial Third Lien Document and each other holder of, or obligee in respect of, any Initial Third Lien Obligations, any holder or lender pursuant to any Initial Third Lien Document outstanding at such time; provided that the Additional Third Lien Secured Parties shall not be deemed Initial Third Lien Secured Parties.

 

Initial Third Lien Security Documents” means the Initial Third Lien Debt Facility (insofar as the same grants a Lien on the Collateral) and any other security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral agency agreements, control agreements, or grants or transfers for security, now existing or entered into after the date hereof, executed and delivered by Chesapeake or any other Grantor creating (or purporting to create) a Lien upon the Third Lien Collateral in favor of the Initial Third Lien Secured Parties (including any such agreements, assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust and other documents or instruments associated with any Third Lien Substitute Facility).

 

Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding” means:

 

(a)               any case commenced by or against Chesapeake or any other Grantor under the Bankruptcy Code or any other Bankruptcy Law, any other proceeding for the reorganization, recapitalization or adjustment or marshalling of the assets or liabilities of Chesapeake or any other Grantor, any receivership or assignment for the benefit of creditors relating to Chesapeake or any other Grantor or any similar case or proceeding relative to Chesapeake or any other Grantor or its creditors, as such, in each case whether or not voluntary;

 

(b)               any liquidation, dissolution, marshalling of assets or liabilities or other winding up of or relating to Chesapeake or any other Grantor, in each case whether or not voluntary and whether or not involving bankruptcy or insolvency; or

 

(c)               any other proceeding of any type or nature (including any composition agreement) in which substantially all claims of creditors of Chesapeake or any other Grantor are determined and any payment or distribution is or may be made on account of such claims.

 

Legal Holiday” is a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banks and trust companies in The City of New York are not required by law or executive order to be open.

 

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Lien” means, with respect to any Person, any mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, easement, restriction, charge or adverse claim affecting title or resulting in an encumbrance against real or personal property of such Person, or a security interest of any kind (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof or other similar agreement to sell), in each case securing obligations of such Person.

 

New Debt Agent” means the administrative agent, collateral agent, trustee, collateral trustee or other representative of the lenders or holders of the Indebtedness and other Obligations evidenced under the New Debt Agreement or governed thereby, in each case, together with its successors in such capacity.

 

New Debt Agreement” means that certain Term Loan Agreement, dated as of December 19, 2019, by and among Chesapeake, as borrower, the lenders from time to time party thereto and GLAS USA LLC, as term agent, as amended, restated, adjusted, waived, renewed, extended, supplemented (including by that certain Class A Term Loan Supplement, dated as of December 19, 2019, by and among Chesapeake, as borrower, the lenders party thereto and GLAS USA LLC, as term agent) or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

New Debt Facility” means any Indebtedness under the New Debt Agreement, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, restated, restructured, increased, supplemented, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time in accordance with each applicable Secured Debt Document and this Agreement.

 

New Debt Documents” means the New Debt Agreement and the New Debt Security Documents.

 

New Debt Obligations” means, with respect to any Grantor, any Obligations of such Grantor owed to any New Debt Secured Party (or any of its Affiliates) in respect of the New Debt Obligations.

 

New Debt Secured Party” means, at any time, (a) the New Debt Agent, (b) each lender or issuing bank under the New Debt Agreement, (c) the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Grantor under any New Debt Document, (d) each other Person that provides letters of credit, guarantees or other credit support related thereto under any New Debt Document and (e) each other holder of, or obligee in respect of, any New Debt Obligations in each case to the extent designated as a secured party (or a party entitled to the benefits of the security) under any New Debt Document outstanding at such time.

 

New Debt Security Documents” means the New Debt Agreement (insofar as the same grants a Lien on the Collateral), each agreement listed in Part A of Exhibit B hereto, and any other security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, control agreements, or grants or transfers for security, now existing or entered into after the date hereof, executed and delivered by Chesapeake or any other Grantor creating (or purporting to create) a Lien upon Collateral in favor of the New Debt Agent.

 

New York UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as from time to time in effect in the State of New York.

 

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Obligations” means any principal (including reimbursement obligations and obligations to provide cash collateral with respect to letters of credit whether or not drawn), interest, premium (if any), fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, expenses and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness including all interest, fees and other amounts incurred, accrued or arising thereon after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding at the applicable interest rate, including any applicable post-default interest rate even if such interest, fees and other amounts are not enforceable, allowable or allowed as a claim in such proceeding.

 

Officer” means, with respect to any Person, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary, any Senior Vice President, any Vice President or any Assistant Vice President of such Person.

 

Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of Chesapeake by any two Officers of Chesapeake.

 

Oil and Gas Properties” means (a) Hydrocarbon Interests, (b) the properties now or hereafter pooled or unitized with Hydrocarbon Interests, (c) all presently existing or future unitization, pooling agreements and declarations of pooled units and the units created thereby (including all units created under orders, regulations and rules of any governmental authority) which may affect all or any portion of the Hydrocarbon Interests, (d) all operating agreements, contracts and other agreements, including production sharing contracts and agreements, which relate to any of the Hydrocarbon Interests or the production, sale, purchase, exchange or processing of Hydrocarbons from or attributable to such Hydrocarbon Interests, (e) all Hydrocarbons in and under and which may be produced and saved or attributable to the Hydrocarbon Interests, including all oil in tanks, and all rents, issues, profits, proceeds, products, revenues and other incomes from or attributable to the Hydrocarbon Interests, (f) all tenements, hereditaments, appurtenances and properties in any manner appertaining, belonging, affixed or incidental to the Hydrocarbon Interests and (g) all properties, rights, titles, interests and estates described or referred to above, including any and all property, real or personal, now owned or hereafter acquired and situated upon, used, held for use or useful in connection with the operating, working or development of any of such Hydrocarbon Interests or property (excluding drilling rigs, automotive equipment, rental equipment or other personal property which may be on such premises for the purpose of drilling a well or for other similar temporary uses) and including any and all oil wells, gas wells, injection wells or other wells, structures, fuel separators, liquid extraction plants, plant compressors, pumps, pumping units, field gathering systems, gas processing plants and pipeline systems, power and cogeneration facilities and any related infrastructure to any thereof, tanks and tank batteries, fixtures, valves, fittings, machinery and parts, engines, boilers, meters, apparatus, equipment, appliances, tools, implements, cables, wires, towers, casing, tubing and rods, surface leases, rights-of-way, easements and servitudes together with all additions, substitutions, replacements, accessions and attachments to any and all of the foregoing.

 

Original Priority Lien Agent” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

 

Original Second Lien Collateral Trustee” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

 

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Original Second Lien Trustee” means Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, in its capacity as trustee under the Second Lien Indenture, and together with its successors in such capacity.

 

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

 

Priority Confirmation Joinder” means an agreement substantially in the form of
Exhibit A.

 

Priority Credit Agreement” means that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of September 12, 2018, by and among Chesapeake, as borrower, the Original Priority Lien Agent, as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto, as such agreement, in whole or in part, in one or more instances, may be amended, restated, renewed, extended, substituted, restructured, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time (including, without limitation, any successive amendments, restatements, renewals, extensions or substitutions), or replaced or refinanced with any Priority Substitute Credit Facility, and any credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument evidencing or governing the terms of any Priority Substitute Credit Facility.

 

Priority Lien” means a Lien granted, or purported to be granted, by Chesapeake or any other Grantor in favor of the Priority Lien Agent, at any time, upon any Property of Chesapeake or such Grantor to secure Priority Lien Obligations (including Liens on such Collateral under the security documents associated with any Priority Substitute Credit Facility).

 

Priority Lien Agent” means (a) the Original Priority Lien Agent, and, from and after the date of execution and delivery of a Priority Substitute Credit Facility, the agent, collateral agent, trustee or other representative of the lenders or holders of the Indebtedness and other Obligations evidenced thereunder or governed thereby, in each case, together with its successors in such capacity and (b) the Priority Lien Agent as collateral trustee or agent in respect of any Additional Priority Lien Debt Facility pursuant to the Priority Lien Collateral Trust Agreement.

 

Priority Lien Collateral” shall mean all “Collateral”, as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement or any other Priority Lien Document, and any other assets of any Grantor now or at any time hereafter subject to Liens which secure or purport to secure any Priority Lien Obligation.

 

Priority Lien Collateral Trust Agreement” means that certain collateral trust agreement dated as of December 19, 2019 by and among the Priority Lien Agent, as collateral trustee and Revolver Agent (as defined therein), GLAS USA, LLC, as Original Term Loan Agent (as defined therein), and the other Priority Lien Representatives from time to time party thereto and acknowledged by Chesapeake and the other Grantors.

 

Priority Lien Debt” means the Credit Agreement Debt and all additional Indebtedness incurred under any Additional Priority Lien Documents and with respect to which the requirements of Section 4.04(b) have been satisfied.

 

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Priority Lien Documents” means the Credit Agreement Documents, the Additional Priority Lien Documents and the Priority Lien Security Documents.

 

Priority Lien Obligations” means the Credit Agreement Obligations, Additional Priority Lien Obligations and, in each case, all other Obligations in respect thereof. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, the term “Priority Lien Obligations” will include accrued interest, fees, costs and other charges incurred under the Priority Lien Documents, whether incurred before or after commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding and whether or not allowed or allowable in any such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

 

Priority Lien Representative” means (a) in the case of the Priority Credit Agreement, the Priority Lien Agent, and (b) in the case of any other Series of Priority Lien Debt, the trustee, agent or representative of the holders of such Series of Priority Lien Debt who (i) is appointed as a Priority Lien Representative (for purposes related to the administration of the security documents) pursuant to the indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Priority Lien Debt, together with its successors in such capacity, and (ii) has executed the Priority Lien Collateral Trust Agreement or become party to the Priority Lien Collateral Trust Agreement by executing a joinder in the form required under the Priority Lien Collateral Trust Agreement.

 

Priority Lien Secured Parties” means, at any time, the Credit Agreement Secured Parties and the Additional Priority Lien Secured Parties.

 

Priority Lien Security Documents” means the Credit Agreement Security Documents and the Additional Priority Lien Security Documents.

 

Priority Substitute Credit Facility” means any Credit Facility with respect to which the requirements contained in Section 4.04(a) of this Agreement have been satisfied and that Replaces the Priority Credit Agreement then in existence. For the avoidance of doubt, no Priority Substitute Credit Facility shall be required to be a revolving or asset-based loan facility and may be a facility evidenced or governed by a credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument; provided that any Priority Lien securing, or purporting to secure, such Priority Substitute Credit Facility shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement for all purposes (including the lien priorities as set forth herein as of the date hereof).

 

Property” means, with respect to any Person, any interest of such Person in any kind of property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, or tangible or intangible, including, without limitation, cash, securities, accounts, contract rights, Capital Stock and other securities issued by any other Person (but excluding Capital Stock or other securities issued by such first mentioned Person).

 

Proved Developed Reserves” means Proved Reserves that, in accordance with the Definitions for Oil and Gas Reserves promulgated by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (or any generally recognized successor), as in effect at the time in question, are classified as one of the following: (a) “Developed Producing Reserves” or (b) “Developed Non-Producing Reserves”; and Proved Developed Reserves in the aggregate comprise Proved Reserves that are “Developed Producing Reserves” and “Developed Non-Producing Reserves”.

 

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Proved Reserves” means oil and gas reserves that, in accordance with the Definitions for Oil and Gas Reserves promulgated by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (or any generally recognized successor), as in effect at the time in question, are classified as both “Proved Reserves” and one or more of the following: (a) “Developed Producing Reserves,” (b) “Developed Non-Producing Reserves” or (c) “Undeveloped Reserves”; and “Proved Reserves” in the aggregate comprise Proved Reserves that are “Developed Producing Reserves”, “Developed Non-Producing Reserves”, and “Undeveloped Reserves.”

 

Purchasable Obligations” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.06(b).

 

Purchasable Priority Lien + DIP Obligations” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.06(a).

 

Purchasable Priority Lien Obligations” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.06(a).

 

Recovery” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.03(a).

 

Replaces” means, (a) in respect of any agreement with reference to the Priority Credit Agreement or the Priority Lien Obligations or any Priority Substitute Credit Facility, that such agreement refunds, refinances or replaces the Priority Credit Agreement, the Priority Lien Obligations or such Priority Substitute Credit Facility in whole (in a transaction that is in compliance with Section 4.04(a)) and that all commitments thereunder are terminated, or, to the extent permitted by the terms of the Priority Credit Agreement, Priority Lien Obligations or such Priority Substitute Credit Facility, in part, (b) in respect of any agreement with reference to the Second Lien Documents, the Second Lien Obligations or any Second Lien Substitute Facility, that such Indebtedness refunds, refinances or replaces the Second Lien Documents, the Second Lien Obligations or such Second Lien Substitute Facility in whole (in a transaction that is in compliance with Section 4.04(a)) and that all commitments thereunder are terminated, or, to the extent permitted by the terms of the Second Lien Documents, the Second Lien Obligations or such Second Lien Substitute Facility, in part and (c) in respect of any agreement with reference to the Third Lien Documents, the Third Lien Obligations or any Third Lien Substitute Facility, that such Indebtedness refunds, refinances or replaces the Third Lien Documents, the Third Lien Obligations or such Third Lien Substitute Facility in whole (in a transaction that is in compliance with Section 4.04(a)) and that all commitments thereunder are terminated, or, to the extent permitted by the terms of the Third Lien Documents, the Third Lien Obligations, or such Third Lien Substitute Facility, in part. “Replace,” “Replaced,” “Replacing” and “Replacement” shall have correlative meanings.

 

Reserve Report” means a report setting forth, as of each January 1st or July 1st (or another date as required or permitted by the Priority Credit Agreement), the Proved Reserves and Proved Developed Reserves (including the aggregate values thereof) attributable to the Oil and Gas Properties of Chesapeake and the Grantors, together with a projection of the rate of production and future net income, taxes, operating expenses and capital expenditures with respect thereto as of such date, in each case in the form delivered in accordance with the requirements of the Priority Credit Agreement, or if there is no Priority Credit Agreement requiring delivery of a Reserve Report, in form substantially consistent as determined in good faith by Chesapeake with the form of Reserve Report required under the Priority Credit Agreement as in effect on the Issue Date.

 

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Second Lien” means a Lien granted by a Second Lien Document to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, at any time, upon any Collateral by any Grantor to secure Second Lien Obligations (including Liens on such Collateral under the security documents associated with any Second Lien Substitute Facility).

 

Second Lien Collateral” shall mean all “Collateral”, as defined in any Second Lien Document, and any other assets of any Grantor now or at any time hereafter subject to Liens which secure, or purports to secure, any Second Lien Obligations, but excludes any such “Collateral” that is granted to secure the Second Lien Obligations pursuant to the second paragraph of Section 11.03(c) of the Second Lien Indenture as in effect on the date hereof and in compliance with such Section and the other Secured Debt Documents.

 

Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement” means the Collateral Trust Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among Chesapeake, the other Grantors from time to time party thereto, the Second Lien Trustee, the other Second Lien Representatives from time to time party thereto and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, as amended, restated, adjusted, waived, renewed, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, in accordance with each applicable Second Lien Document.

 

Second Lien Collateral Trustee” means the Original Second Lien Collateral Trustee, and, from and after the date of execution and delivery of a Second Lien Substitute Facility, the agent, collateral agent, trustee or other representative of the lenders or other holders of the Indebtedness and other obligations evidenced thereunder or governed thereby, in each case, together with its successors in such capacity appointed in accordance with the terms of the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement.

 

Second Lien Debt” means the Indebtedness under the Second Lien Indenture Notes issued on the date hereof and guarantees thereof and all additional Indebtedness incurred under any Additional Second Lien Documents and all additional Indebtedness in respect of Additional Notes and guarantees thereof, in each case with respect to which the requirements of Section 4.04(b) have been (or are deemed) satisfied, and all Indebtedness incurred under any Second Lien Substitute Facility.

 

Second Lien Documents” means the Second Lien Indenture Documents and the Additional Second Lien Documents.

 

Second Lien Indenture” means the Indenture, dated as of the date hereof, among Chesapeake, the Grantors party thereto from time to time, the Second Lien Trustee and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, as amended, restated, adjusted, waived, renewed, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof (including any supplements executed in connection with the issuance of any Series of Second Lien Debt under the Second Lien Indenture), and any credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument evidencing or governing the terms of any Second Lien Substitute Facility.

 

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Second Lien Indenture Documents” means the Second Lien Indenture, the Second Lien Indenture Notes, the Second Lien Indenture Security Documents and all other documents, notes, guarantees, instruments and agreements governing or evidencing the Second Lien Indenture Obligations or any Second Lien Substitute Facility.

 

Second Lien Indenture Notes” means (i) the 11.5% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2025 issued under the Second Lien Indenture on the date hereof and (ii) any Additional Notes for which the requirements of Section 3.8 of the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement have been satisfied.

 

Second Lien Indenture Obligations” means, with respect to any Grantor, any Obligations of such Grantor owed to any Second Lien Indenture Secured Party (or any of its Affiliates) in respect of the Second Lien Indenture Documents.

 

Second Lien Indenture Secured Parties” means, at any time, the Second Lien Trustee, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, the trustees, agents and other representatives of the holders of the Second Lien Indenture Notes (including any holders of notes pursuant to supplements executed in connection with the issuance of any Series of Second Lien Debt under the Second Lien Indenture) who maintain the transfer register for such Second Lien Indenture Notes or such Series of Second Lien Debt, the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Grantor under any Second Lien Indenture Document and each other holder of, or obligee in respect of, any Second Lien Indenture Notes, any holder or lender pursuant to any Second Lien Indenture Document outstanding at such time; provided that the Additional Second Lien Secured Parties shall not be deemed Second Lien Indenture Secured Parties.

 

Second Lien Indenture Security Documents” means the Second Lien Indenture (insofar as the same grants a Lien on the Collateral), the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement, each agreement listed in Part B of Exhibit B hereto and any other security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral agency agreements, control agreements, or grants or transfers for security, now existing or entered into after the date hereof, executed and delivered by Chesapeake or any other Grantor creating (or purporting to create) a Lien upon Collateral in favor of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee (including any such agreements, assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust and other documents or instruments associated with any Second Lien Substitute Facility).

 

Second Lien Obligations” means Second Lien Debt and all other Obligations in respect thereof. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, the term “Second Lien Obligations” will include accrued interest, fees, costs and other charges incurred under the Second Lien Indenture and the other Second Lien Documents, whether incurred before or after commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding and whether or not allowed or allowable in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

 

Second Lien Purchaser Representative” means (a) initially, the Second Lien Trustee or (b) such other Person that is appointed from time to time by the Second Lien Representatives to replace the Second Lien Trustee (or subsequent Second Lien Purchaser Representative) pursuant to a written notice to the Priority Lien Agent.

 

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Second Lien Purchasers” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.06(a).

 

Second Lien Recovery” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.03(b).

 

Second Lien Representative” means (a) in the case of the Second Lien Indenture Notes, the Second Lien Trustee, and (b) in the case of any other Series of Second Lien Debt, the trustee, agent or representative of the holders of such Series of Second Lien Debt who (i) is appointed as a Second Lien Representative (for purposes related to the administration of the Additional Second Lien Security Documents) pursuant to the indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Second Lien Debt, together with its successors in such capacity, and (ii) has become party to the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement by executing a joinder in the form required under the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement.

 

Second Lien Secured Parties” means the Second Lien Indenture Secured Parties and the Additional Second Lien Secured Parties.

 

Second Lien Security Documents” means the Second Lien Indenture Security Documents and the Additional Second Lien Security Documents.

 

Second Lien Standstill Period” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.02(a)(i).

 

Second Lien Substitute Facility” means any facility with respect to which the requirements contained in Section 4.04(a) of this Agreement have been satisfied and that Replaces the Second Lien Indenture and/or any Additional Second Lien Debt Facility then in existence. For the avoidance of doubt, no Second Lien Substitute Facility shall be required to be evidenced by notes or other instruments and may be a facility evidenced or governed by a credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument; provided that any such Second Lien Substitute Facility shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement for all purposes (including the lien priority as set forth herein as of the date hereof).

 

Second Lien Trustee” means the Original Second Lien Trustee, and, from and after the date of execution and delivery of a Second Lien Substitute Facility, the agent, collateral agent, trustee or other representative of the lenders or other holders of the Indebtedness and other obligations evidenced thereunder or governed thereby, together with its successors in such capacity.

 

Secured Debt Documents” means the Priority Lien Documents, the Second Lien Documents and the Third Lien Documents.

 

Secured Debt Representative” means the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee.

 

Secured Obligations” means the Priority Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Obligations and the Third Lien Obligations.

 

Secured Parties” means the Priority Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Secured Parties and the Third Lien Secured Parties.

 

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Security Documents” means the Priority Lien Security Documents, the Second Lien Security Documents and the Third Lien Security Documents.

 

Series of Priority Lien Debt” means, severally, the Priority Credit Agreement and each other issue or series of Priority Lien Debt (including any Additional Priority Lien Debt Facility) for which a single transfer register is maintained.

 

Series of Second Lien Debt” means, severally, the Second Lien Indenture Notes and each other issue or series of Second Lien Debt (including any Additional Second Lien Debt Facility) for which a single transfer register is maintained.

 

Series of Secured Debt” means each Series of Priority Lien Debt, each Series of Second Lien Debt and each Series of Third Lien Debt.

 

Series of Third Lien Debt” means, severally, the Initial Third Lien Debt Facility and each other issue or series of Third Lien Debt (including any Additional Third Lien Debt Facility) for which a single transfer register is maintained.

 

Standstill Period” means the Second Lien Standstill Period the Third Lien First Standstill Period and the Third Lien Second Standstill Period, as applicable.

 

Subsidiary” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which Voting Stock (other than Capital Stock or such other ownership interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) to elect a majority of the Board of Directors of such corporation, partnership or other entity are at the time owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise specified herein, a reference to a “Subsidiary” herein means any Subsidiary of Chesapeake.

 

Third Lien” means a Lien granted by a Third Lien Document to the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, at any time, upon any Collateral by any Grantor to secure Third Lien Obligations (including Liens on such Collateral under the security documents associated with any Third Lien Substitute Facility).

 

Third Lien Collateral” shall mean all “Collateral”, as defined in any Third Lien Document, and any other assets of any Grantor now or at any time hereafter subject to Liens which secure, but only to the extent securing, any Third Lien Obligations.

 

Third Lien Collateral Trust Agreement” means from and after the date of execution and delivery of the Initial Third Lien Debt Facility, a collateral trust agreement entered into among Chesapeake, the other Grantors, the Third Lien Representatives and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, as amended, restated, adjusted, waived, renewed, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, in accordance with each applicable Third Lien Document.

 

Third Lien Collateral Trustee” means from and after the date of execution and delivery of the Initial Third Lien Debt Facility, the agent, collateral agent, trustee or other representative of the lenders or other holders of the Indebtedness and other obligations evidenced thereunder or governed thereby, in each case, together with its successors in such capacity appointed in accordance with the terms of the Third Lien Collateral Trust Agreement.

 

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Third Lien Debt” means Indebtedness under the Initial Third Lien Debt Facility and Indebtedness incurred under any Additional Third Lien Documents and with respect to which the requirements of Section 4.04(c) have been satisfied, and all Indebtedness incurred under any Third Lien Substitute Facility.

 

Third Lien Documents” means the Initial Third Lien Documents, the Additional Third Lien Documents and all other loan documents, notes, guarantees, instruments and agreements governing or evidencing any Third Lien Substitute Facility.

 

Third Lien First Standstill Period” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.02(a)(ii).

 

Third Lien Obligations” means Third Lien Debt and all other Obligations in respect thereof. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, the term “Third Lien Obligations” will include accrued interest, fees, costs and other charges incurred under the Third Lien Documents, whether incurred before or after commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

 

Third Lien Representative” means with respect to a Series of Third Lien Debt, the trustee, agent or representative of the holders of such Series of Third Lien Debt who (i) is appointed as a Third Lien Representative (for purposes related to the administration of the security documents) pursuant to the indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Third Lien Debt, together with its successors in such capacity, and (ii) has become party to the Third Lien Collateral Trust Agreement by executing a joinder in the form required under the Third Lien Collateral Trust Agreement.

 

Third Lien Second Standstill Period” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.02(b).

 

Third Lien Secured Parties” means the Initial Third Lien Secured Parties and the Additional Third Lien Secured Parties.

 

Third Lien Security Documents” means the Initial Third Lien Security Documents and the Additional Third Lien Security Documents.

 

Third Lien Substitute Facility” means any facility with respect to which the requirements contained in Section 4.04(a) of this Agreement have been satisfied and that Replaces any Initial Third Lien Debt Facility and/or Additional Third Lien Debt Facility then in existence. For the avoidance of doubt, no Third Lien Substitute Facility shall be required to be evidenced by notes or other instruments and may be a facility evidenced or governed by a credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument; provided that any such Third Lien Substitute Facility shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement for all purposes (including the lien priority as set forth herein as of the date hereof).

 

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Volumetric Production Payments” means sales of limited-term overriding royalty interests in natural gas and oil reserves that (i) entitle the purchaser to receive scheduled production volumes over a period of time from specific lease interests; (ii) are free and clear of all associated future production costs and capital expenditures; (iii) are nonrecourse to the seller (i.e., the purchaser’s only recourse is to the reserves acquired); (iv) transfer title of the reserves to the purchaser; and (v) allow the seller to retain all production beyond the specified volumes, if any, after the scheduled production volumes have been delivered.

 

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

 

Article II

LIEN PRIORITIES

 

Section 2.01            Relative Priorities.

 

(a)            The grant of the Priority Liens pursuant to the Priority Lien Documents, the grant of the Second Liens pursuant to the Second Lien Documents and the grant of the Third Liens pursuant to the Third Lien Documents create three separate and distinct Liens on the Collateral.

 

(b)            Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement, the Priority Lien Documents, the Second Lien Documents, the Third Lien Documents or any other agreement or instrument or operation of law to the contrary, or any other circumstance whatsoever and irrespective of (i) how a Lien was acquired (whether by grant, possession, statute, operation of law, subrogation, or otherwise), (ii) the time, manner, or order of the grant, attachment or perfection of a Lien, (iii) any conflicting provision of the New York UCC or other applicable law, (iv) any defect in, or non-perfection, setting aside, or avoidance of, a Lien or a Priority Lien Document, a Second Lien Document or a Third Lien Document, (v) the modification of a Priority Lien Obligation, a Second Lien Obligation or a Third Lien Obligation, or (vi) the subordination of a Lien on Collateral securing a Priority Lien Obligation to a Lien securing another obligation of Chesapeake or other Person that is permitted under the Priority Lien Documents as in effect on the date hereof or securing a DIP Financing or adequate protection Liens, each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, on behalf of itself and the other Second Lien Secured Parties, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, on behalf of itself and the other Third Lien Secured Parties, hereby agree that (i) any Priority Lien on any Collateral now or hereafter held by or for the benefit of any Priority Lien Secured Party shall be senior in right, priority, operation, effect and all other respects to (A) any and all Second Liens on any Collateral and (B) any and all Third Liens on any Collateral, (ii) any Second Lien on any Collateral now or hereafter held by or for the benefit of any Second Lien Secured Party shall be (A) junior and subordinate in right, priority, operation, effect and all other respects to any and all Priority Liens on any Collateral and (B) senior in right, priority, operation, effect and all other respects to any and all Third Liens on any Collateral and (iii) any Third Lien on any Collateral now or hereafter held by or for the benefit of any Third Lien Secured Party shall be junior and subordinate in right, priority, operation, effect and all other respects to (A) any and all Priority Liens on any Collateral and (B) any and all Second Liens on any Collateral.

 

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(c)            It is acknowledged that (i) the aggregate amount of the Priority Lien Obligations may be increased from time to time pursuant to the terms of the Priority Lien Documents, (ii) a portion of the Priority Lien Obligations consists or may consist of Indebtedness that is revolving in nature, and the amount thereof that may be outstanding at any time or from time to time may be increased or reduced and subsequently reborrowed, and (iii) (A) the Priority Lien Documents may be replaced, restated, supplemented, restructured or otherwise amended or modified from time to time and (B) the Priority Lien Obligations may be increased, extended, renewed, replaced, restated, supplemented, restructured, repaid, refunded, refinanced or otherwise amended or modified from time to time, in the case of the foregoing (A) and (B) all without affecting the subordination of the Second Liens or Third Liens hereunder or the provisions of this Agreement defining the relative rights of the Priority Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Secured Parties and the Third Lien Secured Parties. It is acknowledged that (i) the aggregate amount of the Second Lien Obligations may be increased from time to time pursuant to the terms of the Second Lien Documents (to the extent not constrained by the Priority Credit Agreement or any other relevant agreement), (ii) a portion of the Second Lien Obligations may consist of Indebtedness that is revolving in nature, and the amount thereof that may be outstanding at any time or from time to time may be increased or reduced and subsequently reborrowed, and (iii) (A) the Second Lien Documents may be replaced, restated, supplemented, restructured or otherwise amended or modified from time to time and (B) the Second Lien Obligations may be increased, extended, renewed, replaced, restated, supplemented, restructured, repaid, refunded, refinanced or otherwise amended or modified from time to time, in the case of the foregoing (A) and (B) all without affecting the subordination of the Third Liens hereunder or the provisions of this Agreement defining the relative rights of the Priority Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Secured Parties and the Third Lien Secured Parties. It is acknowledged that (i) the aggregate amount of the Third Lien Obligations may be increased from time to time pursuant to the terms of the Third Lien Documents (to the extent not constrained by the Priority Credit Agreement or any other relevant agreement), (ii) a portion of the Third Lien Obligations may consist of Indebtedness that is revolving in nature, and the amount thereof that may be outstanding at any time or from time to time may be increased or reduced and subsequently reborrowed, and (iii) (A) the Third Lien Documents may be replaced, restated, supplemented, restructured or otherwise amended or modified from time to time and (B) the Third Lien Obligations may be increased, extended, renewed, replaced, restated, supplemented, restructured, repaid, refunded, refinanced or otherwise amended or modified from time to time, in the case of the foregoing (A) and (B) all without affecting the provisions of this Agreement defining the relative rights of the Priority Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Secured Parties and the Third Lien Secured Parties. The lien priorities provided for herein shall not be altered or otherwise affected by any amendment, modification, supplement, extension, increase, renewal, restatement or Replacement of either the Priority Lien Obligations (or any part thereof), the Second Lien Obligations (or any part thereof) or the Third Lien Obligations (or any part thereof), by the release of any Collateral or of any guarantees for any Priority Lien Obligations or by any action that any Secured Debt Representative or Secured Party may take or fail to take in respect of any Collateral.

 

(d)           Priority Lien Obligations consisting of the Credit Agreement Obligations shall be permitted to have Foreclosure Proceeds with priority status pursuant to the Credit Agreement Documents or otherwise in relation to FLLO Debt, including the New Debt Obligations, but no FLLO Debt shall be permitted to have Foreclosure Proceeds with priority status pursuant to the Additional Priority Lien Documents or otherwise in relation to other FLLO Debt.

 

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Section 2.02            Prohibition on Marshalling, Etc. 

 

(a)           Until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee will not assert any marshalling, appraisal, valuation, or other similar right that may otherwise be available to such Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself, or as a representative of another Person.

 

(b)           Until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations and the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee will not assert any marshalling, appraisal, valuation, or other similar right that may otherwise be available to such Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself, or as a representative of another Person.

 

Section 2.03        No New Liens. The parties hereto agree that, (a) so long as the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations has not occurred, none of the Grantors shall, nor shall any Grantor permit any of its Subsidiaries to, (i) grant or permit any additional Liens on any asset of a Grantor or any of its Subsidiaries to secure any Third Lien Obligation, or take any action to perfect any additional Liens to secure any Third Lien Obligation, unless it has granted, or substantially concurrently therewith grants (or offers to grant), a Lien on such asset of such Grantor or such Subsidiary to secure (A) the Priority Lien Obligations and has taken all actions required to perfect such Liens and (B) the Second Lien Obligations and has taken all actions required to perfect such Liens; provided, however, the refusal or inability of the Priority Lien Agent or the Second Lien Collateral Trustee to accept such Lien will not prevent the Third Lien Collateral Trustee from taking the Lien, (ii) grant or permit any additional Liens on any asset of a Grantor or any of its Subsidiaries to secure any Second Lien Obligation, or take any action to perfect any additional Liens to secure any Second Lien Obligation, unless it has granted, or substantially concurrently therewith grants (or offers to grant), a Lien on such asset of such Grantor or such Subsidiary to secure (A) the Priority Lien Obligations (except to the extent otherwise permitted by the Priority Lien Documents) and has taken all actions required to perfect such Liens and (B) the Third Lien Obligations and has taken all actions required to perfect such Liens; provided, however, the refusal or inability of the Priority Lien Agent or the Third Lien Collateral Trustee to accept such Lien will not prevent the Second Lien Collateral Trustee from taking the Lien, or (iii) grant or permit any additional Liens on any asset of a Grantor or any of its Subsidiaries to secure any Priority Lien Obligation, or take any action to perfect any additional Liens to secure any Priority Lien Obligation, unless it has granted, or substantially concurrently therewith grants (or offers to grant), a Lien on such asset of such Grantor or such Subsidiary to secure (A) the Second Lien Obligations and has taken all actions required to perfect such Liens and (B) the Third Lien Obligations and has taken all actions required to perfect such Liens; provided, however, the refusal or inability of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Third Lien Collateral Trustee to accept such Lien will not prevent the Priority Lien Agent from taking the Lien and (b) after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, none of the Grantors shall, nor shall any Grantor permit any of its Subsidiaries to, (i) grant or permit any additional Liens on any asset of a Grantor or any of its Subsidiaries to secure any Second Lien Obligation, or take any action to perfect any additional Liens to secure any Second Lien Obligation, unless it has granted, or substantially concurrently therewith grants (or offers to grant), a Lien on such asset of such Grantor or such Subsidiary to secure the Third Lien Obligations and has taken all actions required to perfect such Liens, unless the Third Priority Collateral Trustee otherwise agrees; provided, however, the refusal or inability of the Third Lien Collateral Trustee to accept such Lien will not prevent the Second Lien Collateral Trustee from taking the Lien, or (ii) grant or permit any additional Liens on any asset of a Grantor or any of its Subsidiaries to secure any Third Lien Obligations, or take any action to perfect any additional Liens to secure any Third Lien Obligation, unless it has granted, or substantially concurrently therewith grants (or offers to grant), a Lien on such asset of a Grantor or such Subsidiary to secure the Second Lien Obligations and has taken all actions required to perfect such Liens; provided, however, the refusal or inability of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee to accept such Lien will not prevent the Third Lien Collateral Trustee from taking the Lien, with each such Lien as described in clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 2.03 to be subject to the provisions of this Agreement. To the extent that the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence are not complied with for any reason, without limiting any other right or remedy available to the Priority Lien Agent, the other Priority Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, the other Second Lien Secured Parties, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or the other Third Lien Secured Parties, each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of the other Second Lien Secured Parties, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of the other Third Lien Secured Parties, agrees that any amounts received by or distributed to any Second Lien Secured Party or Third Lien Secured Party, as applicable, pursuant to or as a result of any Lien granted in contravention of this Section 2.03 shall be subject to Section 3.05(b).

 

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Section 2.04           Similar Collateral and Agreements. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that it is their intention that the Priority Lien Collateral, the Second Lien Collateral and the Third Lien Collateral be identical (except that (x) the Priority Lien Obligations may be secured by less than all the assets in the Second Lien Collateral and the Third Lien Collateral, to the extent permitted or required by the Priority Lien Documents, (y) the Second Lien Obligations may be secured by less than all the assets in the Priority Lien Collateral and the Third Lien Collateral, to the extent permitted or required by the Second Lien Documents, and (z) the Third Lien Obligations may be secured by less than all the assets in the Priority Lien Collateral and the Second Lien Collateral, to the extent permitted or required by the Third Lien Documents). In furtherance of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree (a) to cooperate in good faith in order to determine, upon any reasonable request by the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, the specific assets included in the Priority Lien Collateral, the Second Lien Collateral and the Third Lien Collateral, the steps taken to perfect the Priority Liens, the Second Liens and the Third Liens thereon and the identity of the respective parties obligated under the Priority Lien Documents, the Second Lien Documents and the Third Lien Documents in respect of the Priority Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Obligations and the Third Lien Obligations, respectively, (b) that the Second Lien Security Documents creating Liens on the Collateral shall be in all material respects the same forms of documents as the respective Priority Lien Security Documents creating Liens on the Collateral other than (i) with respect to the priority nature of the Liens created thereunder in such Collateral, (ii) such modifications to such Second Lien Security Documents which are less restrictive than the corresponding Priority Lien Security Documents, (iii) provisions in the Second Lien Security Documents which are solely applicable to the rights and duties of the Second Lien Secured Parties, and (iv) such deletions or modifications of representations, warranties and covenants as are customary with respect to security documents establishing Liens securing publicly traded debt securities, (c) that the Third Lien Security Documents creating Liens on the Collateral shall be in all material respects the same forms of documents as the respective Priority Lien Security Documents and Second Lien Security Documents creating Liens on the Collateral other than (i) with respect to the priority nature of the Liens created thereunder in such Collateral, (ii) such modifications to such Third Lien Security Documents which are less restrictive than the corresponding Priority Lien Security Documents and Second Lien Security Documents, (iii) provisions in the Third Lien Security Documents which are solely applicable to the rights and duties of the Third Lien Secured Parties, and (iv) such deletions or modifications of representations, warranties and covenants as are customary with respect to security documents establishing Liens securing publicly traded debt securities, (d) that at no time shall there be any Grantor that is an obligor in respect of the Second Lien Obligations that is not also an obligor in respect of the Priority Lien Obligations (except to the extent otherwise permitted by the Priority Lien Documents), (e) that at no time shall there be any Grantor that is an obligor in respect of the Third Lien Obligations that is not also an obligor in respect of the Priority Lien Obligations (except as otherwise permitted by the Priority Lien Documents) and the Second Lien Obligations (except to the extent otherwise permitted by the Second Lien Documents), and (f) that at no time shall there be a Grantor that is an obligor in respect of the Priority Lien Obligations that is not also an obligor in respect of the Second Lien Obligations and the Third Lien Obligations.

 

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Section 2.05           No Duties of Priority Lien Agent. Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, acknowledges and agrees that neither the Priority Lien Agent nor any other Priority Lien Secured Party shall have any duties or other obligations to any such Second Lien Secured Party or Third Lien Secured Party with respect to any Collateral, other than to transfer to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee any remaining Collateral and any proceeds of the sale or other Disposition of any such Collateral remaining in its possession following the associated Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, in each case without representation or warranty on the part of the Priority Lien Agent or any Priority Lien Secured Party. In furtherance of the foregoing, each Second Lien Secured Party and Third Lien Secured Party acknowledges and agrees that until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations (subject to the terms of Section 3.02, including the rights of the Second Lien Secured Parties and the Third Lien Secured Parties following the expiration of any applicable Standstill Period), the Priority Lien Agent shall be entitled, for the benefit of the Priority Lien Secured Parties, to sell, transfer or otherwise Dispose of or deal with such Collateral, as provided herein and in the Priority Lien Documents, without regard to (a) any Second Lien or any rights to which the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any Second Lien Secured Party would otherwise be entitled as a result of such Second Lien or (b) any Third Lien or any rights to which the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any Third Lien Secured Party would otherwise be entitled as a result of such Third Lien. Without limiting the foregoing, each Second Lien Secured Party and Third Lien Secured Party agrees that neither the Priority Lien Agent nor any other Priority Lien Secured Party shall have any duty or obligation first to marshal or realize upon any type of Collateral, or to sell, Dispose of or otherwise liquidate all or any portion of such Collateral, in any manner that would maximize the return to the Second Lien Secured Parties or the Third Lien Secured Parties, notwithstanding that the order and timing of any such realization, sale, Disposition or liquidation may affect the amount of proceeds actually received by the Second Lien Secured Parties or the Third Lien Secured Parties, as applicable, from such realization, sale, Disposition or liquidation. Each of the Second Lien Secured Parties and Third Lien Secured Parties waives any claim such Second Lien Secured Party or Third Lien Secured Party may now or hereafter have against the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party arising out of any actions which the Priority Lien Agent or the Priority Lien Secured Parties take or omit to take (including actions with respect to the creation, perfection or continuation of Liens on any Collateral, actions with respect to the foreclosure upon, sale, release or depreciation of, or failure to realize upon, any of the Collateral, and actions with respect to the collection of any claim for all or any part of the Priority Lien Obligations from any account debtor, guarantor or any other party) in accordance with this Agreement and the Priority Lien Documents or the valuation, use, protection or release of any security for the Priority Lien Obligations.

 

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Section 2.06          No Duties of Second Lien Collateral Trustee. The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, acknowledges and agrees that neither the Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party shall have any duties or other obligations to such Third Lien Secured Party with respect to any Collateral, other than to transfer to the Third Lien Collateral Trustee any remaining Collateral and any proceeds of the sale or other Disposition of any such Collateral remaining in its possession following the associated Discharge of Second Lien Obligations (provided such Discharge of Second Lien Obligations occurs after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations), in each case without representation or warranty on the part of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any Second Lien Secured Party. In furtherance of the foregoing, each Third Lien Secured Party acknowledges and agrees that after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations and until the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations (subject to the terms of Section 3.02, including the rights of the Third Lien Secured Parties following expiration of the Third Lien Second Standstill Period), the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall be entitled, for the benefit of the Second Lien Secured Parties, to sell, transfer or otherwise Dispose of or deal with such Collateral, as provided herein and in the Second Lien Documents, without regard to any Third Lien or any rights to which the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any Third Lien Secured Party would otherwise be entitled as a result of such Third Lien. Without limiting the foregoing, each Third Lien Secured Party agrees that neither the Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party shall have any duty or obligation first to marshal or realize upon any type of Collateral, or to sell, Dispose of or otherwise liquidate all or any portion of such Collateral, in any manner that would maximize the return to the Third Lien Secured Parties, notwithstanding that the order and timing of any such realization, sale, Disposition or liquidation may affect the amount of proceeds actually received by the Third Lien Secured Parties from such realization, sale, Disposition or liquidation. Each of the Third Lien Secured Parties waives any claim such Third Lien Secured Party may now or hereafter have against the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party arising out of any actions which the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Second Lien Secured Parties take or omit to take (including actions with respect to the creation, perfection or continuation of Liens on any Collateral, actions with respect to the foreclosure upon, sale, release or depreciation of, or failure to realize upon, any of the Collateral, and actions with respect to the collection of any claim for all or any part of the Second Lien Obligations from any account debtor, guarantor or any other party) in accordance with this Agreement and the Second Lien Documents or the valuation, use, protection or release of any security for the Second Lien Obligations.

 

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Article III

ENFORCEMENT RIGHTS; PURCHASE OPTION

 

Section 3.01           Limitation on Enforcement Action.

 

(a)           Prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, hereby agrees that, subject to Sections 3.02, 3.05(b) and 4.07, none of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party shall commence any judicial or nonjudicial foreclosure proceedings with respect to, seek to have a trustee, receiver, liquidator or similar official appointed for or over, attempt any action to take possession of, exercise any right, remedy or power with respect to, or otherwise take any action to enforce its interest in or realize upon, or take any other action available to it in respect of, any Collateral under any Second Lien Security Document or Third Lien Security Document, as applicable, applicable law or otherwise (including but not limited to any right of setoff), it being agreed that only the Priority Lien Agent, acting in accordance with the applicable Priority Lien Documents, shall have the exclusive right (and whether or not any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding has been commenced), to take any such actions or exercise any such remedies, in each case, without any consultation with or the consent of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party. In exercising rights and remedies with respect to the Collateral, the Priority Lien Agent and the other Priority Lien Secured Parties may enforce the provisions of the Priority Lien Documents and exercise remedies thereunder, all in such order and in such manner as they may determine in their sole discretion and regardless of whether such exercise and enforcement is adverse to the interest of any Second Lien Secured Party or Third Lien Secured Party. Such exercise and enforcement shall include the rights of an agent appointed by them to Dispose of Collateral upon foreclosure, to incur expenses in connection with any such Disposition and to exercise all the rights and remedies of a secured creditor under the Uniform Commercial Code, the Bankruptcy Code or any other Bankruptcy Law. Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of the other Second Lien Secured Parties, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of the other Third Lien Secured Parties, hereby acknowledges and agrees that no covenant, agreement or restriction contained in any Second Lien Security Document, any other Second Lien Document, any Third Lien Security Document or any other Third Lien Document, as applicable, shall be deemed to restrict in any way the rights and remedies of the Priority Lien Agent or the other Priority Lien Secured Parties with respect to the Collateral as set forth in this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to Section 3.05, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, on behalf of the Second Lien Secured Parties, may, but will have no obligation to, take all such actions (not adverse to the Priority Liens or the rights of the Priority Lien Agent and the Priority Lien Secured Parties) it deems necessary to perfect or continue the perfection of the Second Liens in the Collateral or to create, preserve or protect (but not enforce) the Second Liens in the Collateral, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, on behalf of the Third Lien Secured Parties, may, but will have no obligation to, take all such actions (not adverse to the Priority Liens or Second Liens or the rights of the Priority Lien Agent, the Priority Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Second Lien Secured Parties) it deems necessary to perfect or continue the perfection of the Third Liens in the Collateral or to create, preserve or protect (but not enforce) the Third Liens in the Collateral. Nothing herein shall limit the right or ability of the Second Lien Secured Parties or any Third Lien Secured Parties to (i) purchase (by credit bid or otherwise) all or any portion of the Collateral in connection with any enforcement of remedies by the Priority Lien Agent to the extent that, and so long as, the Priority Lien Secured Parties receive payment in full in cash of all Priority Lien Obligations after giving effect thereto or (ii) file a proof of claim with respect to the Second Lien Obligations or the Third Lien Obligations, as applicable.

 

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(b)            Following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, hereby agrees that, subject to Sections 3.02, 3.05(b) and 4.07, neither the Third Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Third Lien Secured Party shall commence any judicial or nonjudicial foreclosure proceedings with respect to, seek to have a trustee, receiver, liquidator or similar official appointed for or over, attempt any action to take possession of, exercise any right, remedy or power with respect to, or otherwise take any action to enforce its interest in or realize upon, or take any other action available to it in respect of, any Collateral under any Third Lien Security Document, applicable law or otherwise (including but not limited to any right of setoff), it being agreed that only the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, acting in accordance with the applicable Second Lien Documents, shall have the exclusive right (and whether or not any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding has been commenced), to take any such actions or exercise any such remedies, in each case, without any consultation with or the consent of the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party. In exercising rights and remedies with respect to the Collateral, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the other Second Lien Secured Parties may enforce the provisions of the Second Lien Documents and exercise remedies thereunder, all in such order and in such manner as they may determine in their sole discretion and regardless of whether such exercise and enforcement is adverse to the interest of any Third Lien Secured Party. Such exercise and enforcement shall include the rights of an agent appointed by them to Dispose of Collateral upon foreclosure, to incur expenses in connection with any such Disposition and to exercise all the rights and remedies of a secured creditor under the Uniform Commercial Code, the Bankruptcy Code or any other Bankruptcy Law. The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of the other Third Lien Secured Parties, hereby acknowledges and agrees that no covenant, agreement or restriction contained in any Third Lien Security Document or any other Third Lien Document shall be deemed to restrict in any way the rights and remedies of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the other Second Lien Secured Parties with respect to the Collateral as set forth in this Agreement.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to Section 3.05, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee may, but will have no obligation to, on behalf of the Third Lien Secured Parties, take all such actions (not adverse to the Second Liens or the rights of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Second Lien Secured Parties) it deems necessary to perfect or continue the perfection of the Third Liens in the Collateral or to create, preserve or protect (but not enforce) the Third Liens in the Collateral.

 

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Section 3.02           Standstill Periods; Permitted Enforcement Action.

 

(a)          Prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations and notwithstanding Section 3.01, both before and during an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding:

 

(i)                 after a period of 180 days has elapsed (which period will be tolled during any period in which the Priority Lien Agent is not entitled, on behalf of the Priority Lien Secured Parties, to enforce or exercise any rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral as a result of (A) any injunction issued by a court of competent jurisdiction or (B) the automatic stay or any other stay in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding) since the date on which the Second Lien Collateral Trustee has delivered to the Priority Lien Agent and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee written notice of the acceleration of any Second Lien Debt (the “Second Lien Standstill Period”), the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the other Second Lien Secured Parties may enforce or exercise any rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral; provided, however, that notwithstanding the expiration of the Second Lien Standstill Period or anything in the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement or the Second Lien Documents to the contrary, in no event may the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party enforce or exercise any rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral, or commence, join with any Person at any time in commencing, or petition for or vote in favor of any resolution for, any such action or proceeding, if the Priority Lien Agent on behalf of the Priority Lien Secured Parties or any other Priority Lien Secured Party shall have commenced, and shall be diligently pursuing (or shall have sought or requested relief from, or modification of, the automatic stay or any other stay or other prohibition in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding to enable the commencement and pursuit thereof), the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to the Collateral or any such action or proceeding (prompt written notice thereof to be given to the Second Lien Representatives by the Priority Lien Agent); provided, further, that, at any time after the expiration of the Second Lien Standstill Period, if neither the Priority Lien Agent nor any other Priority Lien Secured Party shall have commenced and be diligently pursuing (or shall have sought or requested relief from, or modification of, the automatic stay or any other stay or other prohibition in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding to enable the commencement and pursuit thereof) the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to any material portion of the Collateral or any such action or proceeding, in respect of such rights or remedies, then the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall be free to commence the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to any material portion of the Collateral or any such action or proceeding, in respect of such rights and remedies; and

 

(ii)              after a period of 270 days has elapsed (which period will be tolled during any period in which the Priority Lien Agent is not entitled, on behalf of the Priority Lien Secured Parties, to enforce or exercise any rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral as a result of (A) any injunction issued by a court of competent jurisdiction or (B) the automatic stay or any other stay in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding) since the date on which the Third Lien Collateral Trustee has delivered to the Priority Lien Agent and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee written notice of the acceleration of any Third Lien Debt (the “Third Lien First Standstill Period”), the Third Lien Collateral Trustee and the other Third Lien Secured Parties may enforce or exercise any rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral; provided, however, that notwithstanding the expiration of the Third Lien First Standstill Period or anything in the Third Lien Collateral Trust Agreement or the Third Lien Documents to the contrary, in no event may the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party enforce or exercise any rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral, or commence, join with any Person at any time in commencing, or petition for or vote in favor of any resolution for, any such action or proceeding, if (I) the Priority Lien Agent on behalf of the Priority Lien Secured Parties or any other Priority Lien Secured Party or (II) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee on behalf of the Second Lien Secured Parties or any other Second Lien Secured Party shall have commenced, and shall be diligently pursuing (or shall have sought or requested relief from, or modification of, the automatic stay or any other stay or prohibition in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding to enable the commencement and pursuit thereof), the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to the Collateral or any such action or proceeding (prompt written notice thereof to be given to the Third Lien Representatives by the Priority Lien Agent or the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, as applicable).

 

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(b)            Following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations and notwithstanding Section 3.01, both before and during an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, after a period of 180 days has elapsed (which period will be tolled during any period in which the Second Lien Collateral Trustee is not entitled, on behalf of the Second Lien Secured Parties, to enforce or exercise any rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral as a result of (A) any injunction issued by a court of competent jurisdiction or (B) the automatic stay or any other stay in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding) since the date on which the Third Lien Collateral Trustee has delivered to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee written notice of the acceleration of any Third Lien Debt (the “Third Lien Second Standstill Period”), the Third Lien Collateral Trustee and the other Third Lien Secured Parties may enforce or exercise any rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral; provided, however, that notwithstanding the expiration of the Third Lien Second Standstill Period or anything in the Third Lien Collateral Trust Agreement or the Third Lien Documents to the contrary, in no event may the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party enforce or exercise any rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral, or commence, join with any Person at any time in commencing, or petition for or vote in favor of any resolution for, any such action or proceeding, if the Second Lien Collateral Trustee on behalf of the Second Lien Secured Parties or any other Second Lien Secured Party shall have commenced, and shall be diligently pursuing (or shall have sought or requested relief from, or modification of, the automatic stay or any other stay or prohibition in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding to enable the commencement and pursuit thereof), the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to the Collateral or any such action or proceeding (prompt written notice thereof to be given to the Third Lien Representatives by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee).

 

Section 3.03          [Reserved].

 

Section 3.04          [Reserved].

 

Section 3.05          No Interference; Payment Over.

 

(a)           No Interference.

 

(i)                 The Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Second Lien Secured Party, agrees that each Second Lien Secured Party (A) will not take or cause to be taken any action the purpose or effect of which is, or could be, to make any Second Lien pari passu with, or to give such Second Lien Secured Party any preference or priority relative to, any Priority Lien with respect to the Collateral or any part thereof, (B) will not challenge or question, including in any proceeding, the validity or enforceability of any Priority Lien Obligations or Priority Lien Document, or the validity, attachment, perfection or priority of any Priority Lien, or the validity, enforceability or non-avoidability of the priorities, rights or duties established by the provisions of this Agreement, (C) will not take or cause to be taken any action the purpose or effect of which is, or could be, to interfere, hinder or delay, in any manner, whether by judicial proceedings or otherwise, any sale, transfer or other Disposition of the Collateral by any Priority Lien Secured Party or the Priority Lien Agent in any enforcement action or other exercise of rights and remedies, (D) shall have no right to (1) direct the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party to exercise any right, remedy or power with respect to any Collateral or (2) consent to the exercise by the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party of any right, remedy or power with respect to any Collateral, (E) will not institute any suit or assert in any suit or Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding any claim against the Priority Lien Agent or other Priority Lien Secured Party seeking damages from or other relief by way of specific performance, instructions or otherwise with respect to, and neither the Priority Lien Agent nor any other Priority Lien Secured Party shall be liable for, any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Priority Lien Agent or other Priority Lien Secured Party with respect to any Priority Lien Collateral, (F) prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, will not seek, and hereby waives any right, to have any Collateral or any part thereof marshaled upon any foreclosure or other Disposition of such Collateral, (G) will not attempt, directly or indirectly, whether by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to challenge the enforceability of any provision of this Agreement, (H) will not object to forbearance by the Priority Lien Agent or any Priority Lien Secured Party, and (I) prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations will not assert, and hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any right to demand, request, plead or otherwise assert or claim the benefit of any marshalling, appraisal, valuation or other similar right that may be available under applicable law with respect to the Collateral or any similar rights a junior secured creditor may have under applicable law; and

 

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(ii)              The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that each Third Lien Secured Party (A) will not take or cause to be taken any action the purpose or effect of which is, or could be, to make any Third Lien pari passu with, or to give such Third Lien Secured Party any preference or priority relative to, any Priority Lien or Second Lien with respect to the Collateral or any part thereof, (B) will not challenge or question, including in any proceeding, the validity, enforceability or non-avoidability of any Priority Lien Obligations, Priority Lien Document, Second Lien Obligations or Second Lien Document, or the validity, attachment, perfection or priority of any Priority Lien or Second Lien, or the validity or enforceability of the priorities, rights or duties established by the provisions of this Agreement, (C) will not take or cause to be taken any action the purpose or effect of which is, or could be, to interfere, hinder or delay, in any manner, whether by judicial proceedings or otherwise, any sale, transfer or other Disposition of the Collateral by any Priority Lien Secured Party, the Priority Lien Agent, any Second Lien Secured Party or the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, in each case in any enforcement action or other exercise of rights and remedies, (D) shall have no right to (1) direct the Priority Lien Agent, any other Priority Lien Secured Party, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party to exercise any right, remedy or power with respect to any Collateral or (2) consent to the exercise by the Priority Lien Agent, any other Priority Lien Secured Party, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party of any right, remedy or power with respect to any Collateral, (E) will not institute any suit or assert in any suit or Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding any claim against the Priority Lien Agent, any other Priority Lien Secured Party, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party seeking damages from or other relief by way of specific performance, instructions or otherwise with respect to, and none of the Priority Lien Agent, any other Priority Lien Secured Party, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party shall be liable for, any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Priority Lien Agent, any other Priority Lien Secured Party, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party with respect to any Priority Lien Collateral or Second Lien Collateral, as applicable, (F) prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations and Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, will not seek, and hereby waives any right, to have any Collateral or any part thereof marshaled upon any foreclosure or other Disposition of such Collateral, (G) will not attempt, directly or indirectly, whether by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to challenge the enforceability of any provision of this Agreement, (H) will not object to forbearance by the Priority Lien Agent, any Priority Lien Secured Party, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any Second Lien Secured Party and (I) prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations and Discharge of Second Lien Obligations will not assert, and hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any right to demand, request, plead or otherwise assert or claim the benefit of any marshalling, appraisal, valuation or other similar right that may be available under applicable law with respect to the Collateral or any similar rights a junior secured creditor may have under applicable law.

 

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(b)           Payment Over.

 

(i)                 Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, hereby agrees that if any Second Lien Secured Party or Third Lien Secured Party, as applicable, shall obtain possession of any Collateral or shall realize any proceeds or payment in respect of any Collateral, pursuant to the exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to the Collateral under any Second Lien Security Document or Third Lien Security Document, as applicable, or by the exercise of any rights available to it under applicable law or in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, to the extent permitted hereunder, at any time prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations then it shall hold such Collateral, proceeds or payment in trust for the Priority Lien Agent and the other Priority Lien Secured Parties and transfer such Collateral, proceeds or payment, as the case may be, to the Priority Lien Agent as promptly as practicable. Furthermore, each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, as applicable, shall, at the Grantors’ expense, promptly send written notice to the Priority Lien Agent upon receipt of such Collateral, proceeds or payment by any Second Lien Secured Party or Third Lien Secured Party, as applicable, and if directed by the Priority Lien Agent after receipt by the Priority Lien Agent of such written notice, shall deliver such Collateral, proceeds or payment to the Priority Lien Agent in the same form as received, with any necessary endorsements, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct. The Priority Lien Agent is hereby authorized to make any such endorsements as agent for the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party, as applicable. Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that if, at any time, it obtains written notice or otherwise has actual knowledge that all or part of any payment with respect to any Priority Lien Obligations previously made may be rescinded, returned or disgorged for any reason whatsoever, it will promptly pay over to the Priority Lien Agent any payment received by it in respect of any such Collateral securing Priority Liens and shall promptly turn any such Collateral over to the Priority Lien Agent, and the provisions set forth in this Agreement will be reinstated as if such payment had not been made, until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations. All Second Liens and Third Liens will remain attached to and enforceable against all proceeds so held or remitted, subject to the priorities set forth in this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, this Section 3.05(b) shall not apply to any proceeds of Collateral realized in a transaction not prohibited by the Priority Lien Documents and as to which the possession or receipt thereof by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party, as applicable, is otherwise permitted by the Priority Lien Documents.

 

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(ii)              The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, hereby agrees that if any Third Lien Secured Party shall obtain possession of any Collateral or shall realize any proceeds or payment in respect of any Collateral, pursuant to the exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to the Collateral under any Third Lien Security Document or by the exercise of any rights available to it under applicable law or in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, to the extent permitted hereunder, at any time following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations secured, or intended to be secured, by such Collateral, then it shall hold such Collateral, proceeds or payment in trust for the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the other Second Lien Secured Parties and transfer such Collateral, proceeds or payment, as the case may be, to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee as soon as practicable. Furthermore, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee shall, at the Grantors’ expense, promptly send written notice to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee upon receipt of such Collateral, proceeds or payment by any Third Lien Secured Party, and if directed by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee after receipt by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee of such written notice, shall deliver such Collateral, proceeds or payment to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee in the same form as received, with any necessary endorsements, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct. The Second Lien Collateral Trustee is hereby authorized to make any such endorsements as agent for the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party. The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that if, at any time, it obtains written notice or otherwise has actual knowledge that all or part of any payment with respect to any Second Lien Obligations previously made may be rescinded, returned or disgorged for any reason whatsoever, it will promptly pay over to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee any payment received by it and then in its possession or under its direct control in respect of any such Collateral then held by it securing Second Lien Obligations and shall promptly turn any such Collateral over to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, and the provisions set forth in this Agreement will be reinstated as if such payment had not been made, until the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations. All Third Liens will remain attached to and enforceable against all proceeds so held or remitted, subject to the priorities set forth in this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, this Section 3.05(b) shall not apply to any proceeds of Collateral realized in a transaction not prohibited by the Second Lien Documents and as to which the possession or receipt thereof by the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party is otherwise permitted by the Second Lien Documents.

 

Section 3.06           Purchase Option.

 

(a)           Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, on or at any time after (i) the commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or (ii) the acceleration of the Priority Lien Obligations, Second Lien Secured Parties and each of their respective designated Affiliates (the “Second Lien Purchasers”) will have the right, at its sole option and election (but will not be obligated), at any time upon prior written notice to the applicable Priority Lien Representative, to purchase (in the manner set forth in Section 3.06(b) below) from the Priority Lien Secured Parties either (x) all (but not less than all) Priority Lien Obligations (including unfunded commitments) that are outstanding on the date of such purchase (the “Purchasable Priority Lien Obligations”) or (y) both the Purchasable Priority Lien Obligations and any loans provided by any of the Priority Lien Secured Parties in connection with a DIP Financing that are outstanding on the date of such purchase (together with the Purchasable Priority Lien Obligations, the “Purchasable Priority Lien + DIP Obligations”). Promptly following the receipt of such notice, the applicable Priority Lien Representative will deliver to the Second Lien Purchaser Representative a statement of the respective amounts of Priority Lien Debt, other Priority Lien Obligations and DIP Financing provided by any of the Priority Lien Secured Parties, if any, then outstanding and the amount of the cash collateral requested by the Priority Lien Agent to be delivered pursuant to Section 3.06(b)(ii) below. The right to purchase provided for in this Section 3.06 will expire unless, within 10 Business Days after the receipt by the Second Lien Purchaser Representative of such notice from the applicable Priority Lien Representative, the Second Lien Purchaser Representative delivers to the applicable Priority Lien Representative an irrevocable commitment of the Second Lien Purchasers to purchase either (x) the Purchasable Priority Lien Obligations or (y) the Purchasable Priority Lien + DIP Obligations, and in either case to otherwise complete such purchase on the terms set forth under this Section 3.06.

 

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(b)           On the date specified by the Second Lien Purchaser Representative (on behalf of the Second Lien Purchasers) in such irrevocable commitment (which shall not be less than five Business Days, nor more than 20 Business Days, after the receipt by the applicable Priority Lien Representative of such irrevocable commitment), the Priority Lien Secured Parties shall sell to the Second Lien Purchasers the Purchasable Priority Lien Obligations or the Purchasable Priority Lien + DIP Obligations, as specified in such irrevocable commitment (whichever was so specified, the “Purchasable Obligations”), subject to any required approval of any Governmental Authority then in effect, if any, and only if on the date of such sale, the applicable Priority Lien Representative receives the following:

 

(i)                 payment, in cash, as the purchase price for all Purchasable Obligations sold in such sale, of an amount equal to the full amount of (x) all Priority Lien Obligations (other than outstanding letters of credit as referred to in clause (ii) below) and, if the Purchasable Obligations are the Purchasable Priority Lien + DIP Financing Obligations, (y) loans and other financial accommodations provided by any of the Priority Lien Secured Parties in connection with a DIP Financing then outstanding (including principal, interest, fees, reasonable attorneys’ fees and legal expenses, but excluding contingent indemnification obligations for which no claim or demand for payment has been made at or prior to such time); provided that in the case of Hedging Obligations and/or Banking Services Obligations that constitute Priority Lien Obligations the Second Lien Purchasers shall cause the applicable agreements governing such Hedging Obligations and/or Banking Services Obligations to be assigned and novated or, if such agreements have been terminated, such purchase price shall include an amount equal to the sum of any unpaid amounts then due in respect of such Hedging Obligations and/or Banking Services Obligations, calculated using the market quotation method and after giving effect to any netting arrangements;

 

(ii)              a cash collateral deposit in such amount as the applicable Priority Lien Representative determines is reasonably necessary to secure the payment of any outstanding letters of credit constituting Priority Lien Obligations that may become due and payable after such sale (but not in any event in an amount greater than one hundred five percent (105%) of the amount then reasonably estimated by the applicable Priority Lien Representative to be the aggregate outstanding amount of such letters of credit at such time), which cash collateral shall be (A) held by the applicable Priority Lien Representative as security solely to reimburse the issuers of such letters of credit that become due and payable after such sale and any fees and expenses incurred in connection with such letters of credit and (B) returned to the Second Lien Purchaser Representative (except as may otherwise be required by applicable law or any order of any court or other Governmental Authority) promptly after the expiration or termination from time to time of all payment contingencies affecting such letters of credit; and

 

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(iii)            any agreements, documents or instruments which the applicable Priority Lien Representative may reasonably request pursuant to which the Second Lien Purchaser Representative and the Second Lien Purchasers in such sale expressly assume and adopt all of the obligations of the applicable Priority Lien Representative and the Priority Lien Secured Parties under the Priority Lien Documents and, if the Purchasable Obligations are the Purchasable Priority Lien + DIP Financing Obligations, all obligations in connection with loans and other financial accommodations provided by any of the Priority Lien Secured Parties in connection with a DIP Financing on and after the date of the purchase and sale, and the Second Lien Purchaser Representative (or any other representative appointed by the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Second Lien Debt then outstanding owned by such purchasers) becomes a successor agent thereunder.

 

(c)            Such purchase of the Purchasable Obligations shall be made on a pro rata basis among the Second Lien Purchasers (or on such other basis as such Second Lien Purchasers may determine) giving notice to the applicable Priority Lien Representative of their interest to exercise the purchase option hereunder according to each such Second Lien Purchaser’s portion of the Second Lien Debt outstanding on the date of purchase or such portion as such Second Lien Purchasers may otherwise agree among themselves. Such purchase price and cash collateral shall be remitted by wire transfer in federal funds to such bank account of the applicable Priority Lien Representative as the applicable Priority Lien Representative may designate in writing to the Second Lien Purchaser Representative for such purpose. Interest shall be calculated to but excluding the Business Day on which such sale occurs if the amounts so paid by the Second Lien Purchasers to the bank account designated by the applicable Priority Lien Representative are received in such bank account prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time, and interest shall be calculated to and including such Business Day if the amounts so paid by the Second Lien Purchasers to the bank account designated by the applicable Priority Lien Representative are received in such bank account later than 12:00 noon, New York City time.

 

(d)           Such sale shall be expressly made without representation or warranty of any kind by the Priority Lien Secured Parties as to the Purchasable Obligations, the Collateral or otherwise and without recourse to any Priority Lien Secured Party, except that the Priority Lien Secured Parties shall represent and warrant severally as to the Purchasable Obligations: (i) that such applicable Priority Lien Secured Party owns such Purchasable Obligations; and (ii) that such applicable Priority Lien Secured Party has the necessary corporate or other governing authority to assign such interests.

 

(e)            After such sale becomes effective, the outstanding letters of credit will remain enforceable against the issuers thereof and will remain secured by the Priority Liens upon the Collateral in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Priority Lien Documents as in effect at the time of such sale, and the issuers of letters of credit will remain entitled to the benefit of the Priority Liens upon the Collateral and sharing rights in the proceeds thereof in accordance with the provisions of the Priority Lien Documents as in effect at the time of such sale, as fully as if the sale of the Priority Lien Debt had not been made, except with respect to cash Collateral held by the issuer(s) of such letters of credit, but only the Person or successor agent to whom the Priority Liens are transferred in such sale will have the right to foreclose upon or otherwise enforce the Priority Liens and only the Second Lien Purchasers in the sale will have the right to direct such Person or successor as to matters relating to the foreclosure or other enforcement of the Priority Liens.

 

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Article IV

OTHER AGREEMENTS

 

Section 4.01           Release of Liens; Automatic Release of Second Liens and Third Liens.

 

(a)            Prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that, in the event the Priority Lien Secured Parties release their Lien on any Collateral, each of the Second Lien and Third Lien on such Collateral shall terminate and be released automatically and without further action if (i) the corresponding Liens under the Priority Lien Documents are simultaneously released or have previously been released and either (A) such release is made in connection with a sale, transfer or other Disposition of Collateral (either directly or indirectly) permitted under the Priority Lien Documents and not in violation of Section 4.11 of the Second Lien Indenture, (B) such release is in connection with a substantially concurrent grant of Liens on other property or assets of comparable or greater value to the Collateral being released, as determined in good faith by Chesapeake, or (C) at the time of such release (I) the sum of the drawn commitments and the amount of undrawn commitments available to be borrowed under the Priority Credit Agreement is not less than $1.0 billion and (II) after giving effect to such release and the recording of any additional mortgages or supplements or amendments to existing mortgages on or prior to the consummation of such release, the Collateral securing the Second Lien Obligations includes Oil and Gas Properties that include not less than 80% of the total value attributable to the Proved Reserves of Chesapeake and the Subsidiaries as reflected in the most recent Reserve Report after giving effect to exploration and production activities, acquisitions, Dispositions and production since the date of such Reserve Report, (ii) such release is effected in connection with the Priority Lien Agent’s foreclosure upon, or other exercise of rights or remedies with respect to, such Collateral, or (iii) such release is effected in connection with a sale or other Disposition of any Collateral (or any portion thereof) under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code or any other provision of the Bankruptcy Code if the Priority Lien Secured Parties shall have consented to such sale or Disposition of such Collateral; provided that, in the case of each of clauses (ii) and (iii), the Second Liens and Third Liens on such Collateral shall remain in place (and, in the case of the Second Lien Obligations, shall remain subject and subordinate to all Priority Liens securing Priority Lien Obligations and, in the case of the Third Liens, shall remain subject and subordinate to (I) all Priority Liens securing Priority Lien Obligations and (II) all Second Liens securing Second Lien Obligations) with respect to any proceeds of a sale, transfer or other Disposition of Collateral.

 

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(b)            Following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that, in the event the Second Lien Secured Parties release their Lien on any Collateral, the Third Lien on such Collateral shall terminate and be released automatically and without further action if (i) the corresponding Liens under the Second Lien Documents are simultaneously released or have previously been released, provided that any release in connection with a sale, transfer or other Disposition of Collateral in a transaction or circumstance that does not violate the applicable provisions of the Third Lien Documents shall not be subject to the conditions of this clause (i), (ii) such release is effected in connection with the Second Lien Collateral Trustee’s foreclosure upon, or other exercise of rights or remedies with respect to, such Collateral, or (iii) such release is effected in connection with a sale or other Disposition of any Collateral (or any portion thereof) under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code or any other provision of the Bankruptcy Code if the Second Lien Secured Parties shall have consented to such sale or Disposition of such Collateral; provided that, in the case of each of clauses (ii) and (iii), the Third Liens on such Collateral shall remain in place (and shall remain subject and subordinate to all Second Liens securing Second Lien Obligations) with respect to any proceeds of a sale, transfer or other Disposition of Collateral.

 

(c)            Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee agrees to execute and deliver (at the sole cost and expense of the Grantors) all such releases and other instruments as shall reasonably be requested by the Priority Lien Agent or the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, as applicable, to evidence and confirm any release of Collateral provided for in this Section 4.01. Until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations occurs, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, on behalf of itself and each other Second Lien Secured Party and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Priority Lien Agent and any officer or agent of the Priority Lien Agent, with full power of substitution, as its true and lawful attorney-in-fact with full irrevocable power and authority in the place and stead of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and such Second Lien Secured Party and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee and such Third Lien Secured Party or in the Priority Lien Agent’s own name, from time to time in the Priority Lien Agent’s discretion, for the purpose of carrying out the terms of this Section 4.01, to take any and all appropriate action and to execute any and all documents and instruments which may be necessary to accomplish the purposes of this Section 4.01, including any endorsements or other instruments of transfer or release. This power is coupled with an interest and is irrevocable until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations.

 

Section 4.02           Certain Agreements With Respect to Insolvency or Liquidation Proceedings.

 

(a)            The parties hereto acknowledge that this Agreement is a “subordination agreement” under Section 510(a) of the Bankruptcy Code and shall continue in full force and effect, notwithstanding the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding by or against Chesapeake or any Subsidiary. All references in this Agreement to Chesapeake, any Subsidiary or any subsidiary of any other Grantor will include such Person or Persons as a debtor-in-possession and any receiver or trustee for such Person or Persons in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding. For the purposes of this Section 4.02, unless otherwise provided herein, clauses (b) through and including (o) shall be in full force and effect prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations and clauses (p) through and including (cc) shall be in full force and effect following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations.

 

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(b)         If Chesapeake or any Subsidiary shall become subject to any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding and shall, as debtor(s)-in-possession, or if any receiver or trustee for such Person or Persons shall, move for approval of financing (“DIP Financing”) to be provided by one or more lenders (the “DIP Lenders”) under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code or the use of cash collateral under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code, (i) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Second Lien Secured Party, agrees that neither it nor any other Second Lien Secured Party and (ii) the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that neither it nor any other Third Lien Secured Party, will raise any objection, contest or oppose, and each Second Lien Secured Party and Third Lien Secured Party will waive any claim such Person may now or hereafter have, to any such financing or to the Liens on the collateral securing the same (“DIP Financing Liens”), or to any use, sale or lease of cash collateral that constitutes Collateral or to any grant of administrative expense priority under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code, unless (A) the Priority Lien Agent or the Priority Lien Secured Parties oppose or object to such DIP Financing or such DIP Financing Liens or such use of cash collateral, (B) the maximum principal amount of Indebtedness permitted under such DIP Financing exceeds the sum of (I) the amount of Priority Lien Obligations refinanced with the proceeds thereof and (II) the greater of (1) $1.0 billion and (2) 15% of the sum of (x) the aggregate amount of indebtedness for borrowed money constituting principal outstanding under the Priority Lien Documents plus (y) the aggregate face amount of letters of credit issued and outstanding under the Priority Lien Documents on the date of the commencement of such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, or (C) the terms of such DIP Financing provide for the sale of a substantial part of the Collateral or require the confirmation of a plan of reorganization containing specific terms or provisions (other than repayment in cash of such DIP Financing on the effective date thereof), subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, provided that any milestones related to such plan of reorganization or sale of Collateral shall not constitute a basis for the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any Third Lien Secured Party to withhold consent or oppose any DIP Financing. To the extent such DIP Financing Liens are senior to, or rank pari passu with, the Priority Liens, (1) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee will, for itself and on behalf of the other Second Lien Secured Parties, subordinate the Second Liens on the Collateral to the Priority Liens and to such DIP Financing Liens, as well as any carve-out approved by a bankruptcy court for the payment of clerk fees, United States Trustee fees, and professional fees, and any adequate protection liens granted priority over the Second Liens by a bankruptcy court so long as the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, on behalf of the Second Lien Secured Parties, retains Liens on all the Collateral, including proceeds thereof arising after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, with the same priority relative to the Priority Liens and the Third Liens as existed prior to the commencement of the case under the Bankruptcy Code and (2) the Third Lien Collateral Trustee will, for itself and on behalf of the other Third Lien Secured Parties, subordinate the Third Liens on the Collateral to the Priority Liens, the Second Liens and to such DIP Financing Liens, as well as any carve-out approved by a bankruptcy court for the payment of clerk fees, United States Trustee fees, and professional fees, and any adequate protection liens granted priority over the Third Liens by a bankruptcy court so long as the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, on behalf of the Third Lien Secured Parties, retains Liens on all the Collateral, including proceeds thereof arising after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, with the same priority relative to the Priority Liens and the Second Liens as existed prior to the commencement of the case under the Bankruptcy Code.

 

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(c)            Prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, without the consent of the Priority Lien Agent, in its sole discretion, each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, agrees not to propose, support or enter into any DIP Financing.

 

(d)            Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that it will not object to, oppose or contest (or join with or support any third party objecting to, opposing or contesting) a sale or other Disposition, a motion to sell or Dispose or the bidding procedures for such sale or Disposition of any Collateral (or any portion thereof) under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code or any other provision of the Bankruptcy Code, or object to the retention of any professionals if, (1) the Priority Lien Agent or the requisite holders of Priority Lien Obligations shall have consented to such sale or Disposition, such motion to sell or Dispose or such bidding procedure for such sale or Disposition of such Collateral and (2) either (i) all Second Liens and Third Liens on the Collateral securing the Second Lien Obligations and the Third Lien Obligations, as applicable, shall attach to the proceeds of such sale in the same respective priorities as set forth in this Agreement with respect to the Collateral or (ii) the net cash proceeds of any Disposition under Section 363(b) of the Bankruptcy Code are permanently applied to the DIP Financing or to the Priority Lien Obligations.

 

(e)            Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, waives any claim that may be had against the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party arising out of any DIP Financing Liens, administrative expense priority under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code or adequate protection Liens or claims approved by the bankruptcy court (in each case that is granted in a manner that is consistent with this Agreement).

 

(f)             The Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, agrees that neither the Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that neither the Third Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Third Lien Secured Party, will file or prosecute in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding any motion for adequate protection (or any comparable request for relief) based upon their interest in the Collateral, nor object to, oppose or contest (or join with or support any third party objecting to, opposing or contesting) (i) any request by the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party for adequate protection or (ii) any objection by the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party to any motion, relief, action or proceeding based on the Priority Lien Agent or Priority Lien Secured Parties claiming a lack of adequate protection, except that:

 

(A)         the Second Lien Secured Parties may:

 

(I)                freely seek and obtain relief granting adequate protection in the form of a replacement lien co-extensive in all respects with, but subordinated (as set forth in Section 2.01) to, and with the same relative priority to the Priority Liens and the Third Liens as existed prior to the commencement of the Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, the DIP Financing Liens and all Liens granted in the Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding to, or for the benefit of, the Priority Lien Secured Parties; and

 

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(II)              freely seek and obtain any relief upon a motion for adequate protection (or any comparable relief), without any condition or restriction whatsoever, at any time after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations; and

 

(B)          the Third Lien Secured Parties may:

 

(I)                freely seek and obtain relief granting adequate protection in the form of a replacement lien co-extensive in all respects with, but subordinated (as set forth in Section 2.01) to, and with the same relative priority to the Priority Liens and the Second Liens as existed prior to the commencement of the Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, the DIP Financing Liens and all Liens granted in the Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding to, or for the benefit of, the Priority Lien Secured Parties and the Second Lien Secured Parties; and

 

(II)              freely seek and obtain any relief upon a motion for adequate protection (or any comparable relief), without any condition or restriction whatsoever, at any time after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations and the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations.

 

(g)            Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each of the other of the Second Lien Secured Parties, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each of the other Third Lien Secured Parties, waives any claim it or any such other Second Lien Secured Party or Third Lien Secured Party, as applicable, may now or hereafter have against the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party (or their representatives) arising out of any election by the Priority Lien Agent or any Priority Lien Secured Parties, in any proceeding instituted under the Bankruptcy Code, of the application of Section 1111(b) of the Bankruptcy Code.

 

(h)            The Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, agrees that in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, neither the Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, neither the Third Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Third Lien Secured Party, shall support or vote to accept any plan of reorganization or disclosure statement of Chesapeake or any other Grantor unless such plan is accepted by the Class of Priority Lien Secured Parties in accordance with Section 1126(c) of the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise provides for the payment in full in cash of all Priority Lien Obligations (including all post-petition interest approved by the bankruptcy court, fees and expenses and cash collateralization of all letters of credit) on the effective date of such plan of reorganization.

 

(i)              The Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, agrees that neither the Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party shall, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that neither the Third Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Third Lien Secured Party shall, seek relief, pursuant to Section 362(d) of the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise, from the automatic stay of Section 362(a) of the Bankruptcy Code or from any other stay in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding in respect of the Collateral if the Priority Lien Agent has not received relief from the automatic stay (or it has not been lifted for the Priority Lien Agent’s benefit) without the prior written consent of the Priority Lien Agent.

 

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(j)             The Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, agrees that neither the Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party shall, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that neither the Third Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Third Lien Secured Party shall, oppose or seek to challenge any claim by the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party for allowance or payment in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding of Priority Lien Obligations consisting of post-petition interest, fees or expenses provided for in the Priority Lien Documents. Neither Priority Lien Agent nor any other Priority Lien Secured Party shall oppose or seek to challenge any claim by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party for allowance or payment in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding of Second Lien Obligations or Third Lien Obligations, as applicable, consisting of post-petition interest, fees or expenses provided for in the Second Lien Documents; provided that if the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party shall have made any claim for post-petition interest, fees or expenses in respect of Priority Lien Obligations, such claim (i) shall have been approved or (ii) will be approved contemporaneously with the approval of any such claim by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any Second Lien Secured Party or the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any Third Lien Secured Party, as applicable.

 

(k)             Without the express written consent of the Priority Lien Agent, none of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party shall (or shall join with or support any third party in opposing, objecting to or contesting, as the case may be), in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding involving any Grantor, (i) oppose, object to or contest the determination of the extent of any Liens held by any Priority Lien Secured Party or the value of any claims of any such holder under Section 506(a) of the Bankruptcy Code or (ii) oppose, object to or contest the payment to the Priority Lien Secured Party of interest, fees or expenses under Section 506(b) of the Bankruptcy Code.

 

(l)              Until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations has occurred, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding a determination is made that any Priority Lien encumbering any Collateral is not enforceable for any reason, then each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that, any distribution or recovery they may receive in respect of such Collateral shall be segregated and held in trust and forthwith paid over to the Priority Lien Agent for the benefit of the Priority Lien Secured Parties in the same form as received without recourse, representation or warranty (other than a representation of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, as applicable, that it has not otherwise sold, assigned, transferred or pledged any right, title or interest in and to such distribution or recovery) but with any necessary endorsements or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct. Until Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations has occurred, each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, hereby appoints the Priority Lien Agent, and any officer or agent of the Priority Lien Agent, with full power of substitution, the attorney-in-fact of each Second Lien Secured Party and Third Lien Secured Party for the limited purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Section 4.02(l) and taking any action and executing any instrument that the Priority Lien Agent may deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes of this Section 4.02(l), which appointment is irrevocable and coupled with an interest.

 

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(m)           Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, hereby agrees that the Priority Lien Agent shall have the exclusive right to credit bid the Priority Lien Obligations and further that none of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party shall (or shall join with or support any third party in opposing, objecting to or contesting, as the case may be) oppose, object to or contest such credit bid by the Priority Lien Agent or credit bid the Second Lien Obligations or Third Lien Obligations until the Priority Lien Obligations have been paid in full in cash.

 

(n)            Without the consent of the Priority Lien Agent to be granted or withheld in its sole discretion, each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees it will not file an involuntary bankruptcy petition against Chesapeake or any Subsidiary or seek the appointment of an examiner or a trustee for Chesapeake or any Subsidiary unless (i) with respect to the Second Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Standstill Period has expired, and (ii) with respect to the Third Lien Secured Parties, the Third Lien First Standstill Period and the Third Lien Second Standstill Period have expired.

 

(o)            Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, waives any right to assert or enforce any claim under Section 506(c) or 552 of the Bankruptcy Code as against any Priority Lien Secured Party or any of the Collateral.

 

(p)            After the Discharge of the Priority Lien Obligations, if Chesapeake or any Subsidiary shall become subject to any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding and shall, as debtor(s)-in-possession, or if any receiver or trustee for such Person or Persons shall, move for approval of DIP Financing to be provided by one or more DIP Lenders under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code or the use of cash collateral under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that neither it nor any other Third Lien Secured Party will raise any objection, contest or oppose, and each Third Lien Secured Party will waive any claim such Person may now or hereafter have, to any such financing or to the DIP Financing Liens on the Collateral securing the same, or to any use, sale or lease of cash collateral that constitutes Collateral or to any grant of administrative expense priority under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code, unless (i) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Second Lien Secured Parties oppose or object to such DIP Financing or such DIP Financing Liens or such use of cash collateral or (ii) the maximum principal amount of Indebtedness permitted under such DIP Financing exceeds the sum of (A) the amount of Second Lien Obligations refinanced with the proceeds thereof and (B) $1.0 billion. To the extent such DIP Financing Liens are senior to, or rank pari passu with, the Second Liens, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee will, for itself and on behalf of the other Third Lien Secured Parties, subordinate the Third Liens on the Collateral to the Second Liens and to such DIP Financing Liens, so long as the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, on behalf of the Third Lien Secured Parties, retains Liens on all the Collateral, including proceeds thereof arising after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, with the same priority relative to the Priority Liens and the Second Liens as existed prior to the commencement of the case under the Bankruptcy Code.

 

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(q)            After the Discharge of the Priority Lien Obligations, without the consent of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee in its sole discretion, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, agrees not to propose, support or enter into any DIP Financing except as permitted by clause (p) above.

 

(r)             The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that it will not object to, oppose or contest (or join with or support any third party objecting to, opposing or contesting) a sale or other Disposition, a motion to sell or Dispose or the bidding procedures for such sale or Disposition of any Collateral (or any portion thereof) under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code or any other provision of the Bankruptcy Code if (1) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the requisite holders of Second Lien Obligations shall have consented to such sale or Disposition, such motion to sell or Dispose or such bidding procedure for such sale or Disposition of such Collateral and (2) all Third Liens will attach to the proceeds of such sale with respect to the Collateral.

 

(s)           The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, waives any claim that may be had against the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party arising out of any DIP Financing Liens (granted in a manner that is consistent with this Agreement) or administrative expense priority under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code or adequate protection Liens or claims approved by the bankruptcy court.

 

(t)            The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that, following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, neither the Third Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Third Lien Secured Party will file or prosecute in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding any motion for adequate protection (or any comparable request for relief) based upon their interest in the Collateral, nor object to, oppose or contest (or join with or support any third party objecting to, opposing or contesting) (i) any request by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party for adequate protection or (ii) any objection by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party to any motion, relief, action or proceeding based on the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or Second Lien Secured Parties claiming a lack of adequate protection, except that the Third Lien Secured Parties may:

 

(A)             freely seek and obtain relief granting adequate protection in the form of a replacement lien co-extensive in all respects with, but subordinated (as set forth in Section 2.01) to, and with the same relative priority to the Second Liens as existed prior to the commencement of the Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, all Liens granted in the Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding to, or for the benefit of, the Second Lien Secured Parties; and

 

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(B)              freely seek and obtain any relief upon a motion for adequate protection (or any comparable relief), without any condition or restriction whatsoever, at any time after the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations.

 

(u)           The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each of the other of the Third Lien Secured Parties, waives any claim the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any such other Third Lien Secured Party may now or hereafter have against the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party (or their representatives) arising out of any election by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any Second Lien Secured Parties, in any proceeding instituted under the Bankruptcy Code, of the application of Section 1111(b) of the Bankruptcy Code.

 

(v)           The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, neither the Third Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Third Lien Secured Party shall support or vote for any plan of reorganization or disclosure statement of Chesapeake or any other Grantor unless such plan is accepted by the Class of Priority Lien Secured Parties and Second Lien Secured Parties in accordance with Section 1126(c) of the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise provides for the payment in full in cash of all Priority Lien Obligations and Second Lien Obligations (including all post-petition interest, fees and expenses) on the effective date of such plan of reorganization

 

(w)          The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, hereby agrees that following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but until the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations has occurred, neither the Third Lien Collateral Trustee nor any Third Lien Secured Party shall seek relief, pursuant to Section 362(d) of the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise, from the automatic stay of Section 362(a) of the Bankruptcy Code or from any other stay in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding in respect of the Collateral if the Second Lien Collateral Trustee has not received relief from the automatic stay (or it has not been lifted for the Second Lien Collateral Trustee’s benefit), without the prior written consent of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee.

 

(x)            The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that neither the Third Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Third Lien Secured Party shall oppose or seek to challenge any claim by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party for allowance or payment in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding of Second Lien Obligations consisting of post-petition interest, fees or expenses to the extent of the value of the Second Liens (it being understood that such value will be determined without regard to the existence of the Third Liens on the Collateral). Neither the Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party shall oppose or seek to challenge any claim by the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party for allowance or payment in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding of Third Lien Obligations consisting of post-petition interest, fees or expenses to the extent of the value of the Third Liens on the Collateral; provided that if the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party shall have made any claim for post-petition interest, fees or expenses in respect of Priority Lien Obligations, such claim (i) shall have been approved or (ii) will be approved contemporaneously with the approval of any such claim by the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any Third Lien Secured Party.

 

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(y)            Without the express written consent of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, neither the Third Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Third Lien Secured Party shall (or shall join with or support any third party in opposing, objecting to or contesting, as the case may be), in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding involving any Grantor, (i) oppose, object to or contest the determination of the extent of any Liens held by any of Second Lien Secured Party or the value of any claims of any such holder under Section 506(a) of the Bankruptcy Code or (ii) oppose, object to or contest the payment to the Second Lien Secured Party of interest, fees or expenses under Section 506(b) of the Bankruptcy Code.

 

(z)            Following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding a determination is made that any Second Lien encumbering any Collateral is not enforceable for any reason, then the Third Lien Collateral Trustee for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that any distribution or recovery they may receive in respect of such Collateral shall be segregated and held in trust and forthwith paid over to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee for the benefit of the Second Lien Secured Parties in the same form as received without recourse, representation or warranty (other than a representation of the Third Lien Collateral Trustee that it has not otherwise sold, assigned, transferred or pledged any right, title or interest in and to such distribution or recovery) but with any necessary endorsements or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct. Following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, hereby appoints the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, and any officer or agent of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, with full power of substitution, the attorney-in-fact of each Third Lien Secured Party for the limited purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Section 4.02(z) and taking any action and executing any instrument that the Second Lien Collateral Trustee may deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes of this Section 4.02(z), which appointment is irrevocable and coupled with an interest.

 

(aa)          The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, hereby agrees that the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall have the exclusive right after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations to credit bid the Second Lien Obligations and further that neither the Third Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Third Lien Secured Party shall (or shall join with or support any third party in opposing, objecting to or contesting, as the case may be) oppose, object to or contest such credit bid by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee.

 

(bb)         Without the consent of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee to be granted or withheld in its sole discretion, and unless the Third Lien Second Standstill Period has expired, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees it will not file an involuntary bankruptcy petition against Chesapeake or any Subsidiary or seek the appointment of an examiner or a trustee for Chesapeake or any Subsidiary.

 

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(cc)          The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, waives any right to assert or enforce any claim under Section 506(c) or 552 of the Bankruptcy Code as against any Second Lien Secured Party or any of the Collateral.

 

Section 4.03           Reinstatement.

 

(a)            If any Priority Lien Secured Party receives notice of commencement of an action in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or otherwise that would require it to turn over or otherwise pay to the estate of any Grantor any amount (a “Recovery”) for any reason whatsoever, then the Priority Lien Obligations shall be reinstated to the extent of such Recovery and the Priority Lien Secured Parties shall be entitled to a reinstatement of Priority Lien Obligations with respect to all such recovered amounts. Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that if, at any time, a Second Lien Secured Party or a Third Lien Secured Party, as applicable, receives notice of any action that would give rise to a Recovery, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party, as applicable, shall promptly pay over to the Priority Lien Agent any payment received by it (and, solely with respect to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and Third Lien Collateral Trustee, then in its possession or under its control) in respect of any Collateral subject to any Priority Lien securing such Priority Lien Obligations and shall promptly turn any Collateral subject to any such Priority Lien (and, solely with respect to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and Third Lien Collateral Trustee, then held by it) over to the Priority Lien Agent, and the provisions set forth in this Agreement shall be reinstated as if such payment had not been made. If this Agreement shall have been terminated prior to any such Recovery, this Agreement shall be reinstated in full force and effect, and such prior termination shall not diminish, release, discharge, impair or otherwise affect the obligations of the parties hereto from such date of reinstatement. Any amounts received by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party (and solely with respect to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and Third Lien Collateral Trustee, then in its possession or under its control) on account of the Second Lien Obligations or Third Lien Obligations, as applicable, after the termination of this Agreement shall, in the event of a reinstatement of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 4.03(a), be held in trust for and paid over to the Priority Lien Agent for the benefit of the Priority Lien Secured Parties for application to the reinstated Priority Lien Obligations until the discharge thereof.

 

(b)            If any Second Lien Secured Party receives notice of an action in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or otherwise that would require it to turn over or otherwise pay to the estate of any Grantor any amount (a “Second Lien Recovery”) for any reason whatsoever, then the Second Lien Obligations shall be reinstated to the extent of such Second Lien Recovery and the Second Lien Secured Parties shall be entitled to a reinstatement of Second Lien Obligations with respect to all such recovered amounts. The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that if, at any time, a Third Lien Secured Party receives notice of any action that would give rise to a Second Lien Recovery, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party, as applicable, shall promptly pay over to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee any payment received by it and then in its possession or under its control in respect of any Collateral subject to any Second Lien securing such Second Lien Obligations and shall promptly turn any Collateral subject to any such Second Lien then held by it over to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, and the provisions set forth in this Agreement shall be reinstated as if such payment had not been made. If this Agreement shall have been terminated prior to any such Second Lien Recovery, this Agreement shall be reinstated in full force and effect, and such prior termination shall not diminish, release, discharge, impair or otherwise affect the obligations of the parties hereto from such date of reinstatement. Any amounts received by the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party and then in its possession or under its control on account of the Third Lien Obligations after the termination of this Agreement shall, in the event of a reinstatement of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 4.03(b), be held in trust for and paid over to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee for the benefit of the Second Lien Secured Parties for application to the reinstated Second Lien Obligations until the discharge thereof.

 

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(c)             This Section 4.03 shall survive termination of this Agreement.

 

Section 4.04           Refinancings; Additional Priority Lien Debt; Additional Second Lien Debt; Initial Third Lien Indebtedness; Additional Third Lien Debt.

 

(a)          The Priority Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Obligations and the Third Lien Obligations may be Replaced, by any Priority Substitute Credit Facility, Second Lien Substitute Facility or Third Lien Substitute Facility, as the case may be, in each case, without notice to, or the consent of any Secured Party, all without affecting the Lien priorities provided for herein or the other provisions hereof; provided, that (i) the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee shall receive on or prior to incurrence of a Priority Substitute Credit Facility, Second Lien Substitute Facility or Third Lien Substitute Facility (A) an Officers’ Certificate from Chesapeake stating that (I) the incurrence thereof is permitted by each applicable Secured Debt Document and (II) the requirements of Section 4.06 have been satisfied, and (B) a Priority Confirmation Joinder from the holders or lenders of any Indebtedness that Replaces the Priority Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Obligations or the Third Lien Obligations (or an authorized agent, trustee or other representative on their behalf) and (ii) on or before the date of such incurrence, such Priority Substitute Credit Facility, Second Lien Substitute Facility or Third Lien Substitute Facility is designated by Chesapeake, in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, as “Priority Lien Debt”, “Second Lien Debt” or “Third Lien Debt”, as applicable, for the purposes of the Secured Debt Documents and this Agreement; provided that no Series of Secured Debt may be designated as more than one of Priority Lien Debt, Second Lien Debt or Third Lien Debt.

 

(b)            Chesapeake will be permitted to designate as an additional holder of Priority Lien Obligations, Second Lien Obligations or Third Lien Obligations hereunder each Person who is, or who becomes, the registered holder of Priority Lien Debt, Second Lien Debt or Third Lien Debt, as applicable, incurred by Chesapeake after the date of this Agreement in accordance with the terms of all applicable Secured Debt Documents. Chesapeake may effect such designation by delivering to the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, each of the following:

 

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(i)                 an Officers’ Certificate stating that Chesapeake intends to incur (A) Additional Priority Lien Obligations which will be Priority Lien Debt, (B) Additional Second Lien Obligations which will be Second Lien Debt, (C) Initial Third Lien Obligations which will be Third Lien Debt or (D) Additional Third Lien Obligations which will be Third Lien Debt, which in each case is permitted by each applicable Secured Debt Document to be incurred and secured by a Priority Lien, Second Lien or Third Lien, as applicable, equally and ratably with all previously existing and future Priority Lien Debt, Second Lien Debt or Third Lien Debt, as applicable;

 

(ii)              an authorized agent, trustee or other representative on behalf of the holders or lenders of any Additional Priority Lien Obligations, Additional Second Lien Obligations, Initial Third Lien Obligations or Additional Third Lien Obligations, as applicable, must be designated as an additional holder of Secured Obligations hereunder and must, prior to such designation, sign and deliver on behalf of the holders or lenders of such Additional Priority Lien Obligations, Additional Second Lien Obligations, Initial Third Lien Obligations or Additional Third Lien Obligations, as applicable, a Priority Confirmation Joinder, and, to the extent necessary or appropriate to facilitate such transaction, a new intercreditor agreement substantially similar to this Agreement, as in effect on the date hereof; and

 

(iii)            evidence that Chesapeake has duly authorized, executed (if applicable) and recorded (or caused to be recorded) in each appropriate governmental office all relevant filings and recordations deemed necessary by Chesapeake and the holder of such Additional Priority Lien Obligations, Additional Second Lien Obligations, Initial Third Lien Obligations or Additional Third Lien Obligations, as applicable, or its Secured Debt Representative, to ensure that the Additional Priority Lien Obligations, Additional Second Lien Obligations, Initial Third Lien Obligations or Additional Third Lien Obligations are secured by the Collateral in accordance with the Priority Lien Security Documents, Second Lien Security Documents or the Third Lien Security Documents, as applicable (provided that such filings and recordings may be authorized, executed and recorded following any incurrence on a post-closing basis if permitted by the Priority Lien Representative, Second Lien Representative or Third Lien Representative for such Additional Priority Lien Obligations, Additional Second Lien Obligations, Initial Third Lien Obligations or Additional Third Lien Obligations, as applicable).

 

The deliveries set forth in clauses (i) through (iii) of this Section 4.04(b) shall not be required (and shall be deemed satisfied) in connection with any issuance of Additional Notes.

 

(c)            Chesapeake will be permitted to enter into an Initial Third Lien Debt Facility to the extent such Initial Third Lien Debt Facility is permitted by the Priority Credit Agreement, the other Priority Lien Documents, the Second Lien Indenture and the other Second Lien Documents. Any Third Lien Debt incurred pursuant to such Initial Third Lien Debt Facility may be secured by a Third Lien under and pursuant to the Initial Third Lien Security Documents provided that the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, acting for itself and on behalf of the Initial Third Lien Secured Parties, becomes a party to this Agreement by satisfying the conditions set forth in clauses (i) and (ii) of Section 4.04(b).

 

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In order for the Third Lien Collateral Trustee to become a party to this Agreement,

 

(i)                 the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee shall have executed and delivered a Priority Confirmation Joinder pursuant to which (A) such Third Lien Collateral Trustee becomes a Secured Debt Representative hereunder and (B) the Third Lien Debt and the related Initial Third Lien Secured Parties become subject hereto and bound hereby;

 

(ii)              Chesapeake shall have delivered to the Priority Lien Agent and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee (A) true and complete copies of each Initial Third Lien Document and (B) an Officers’ Certificate certifying such copies as being true and correct and identifying the obligations to be designated as Initial Third Lien Obligations and the initial aggregate principal amount thereof; and

 

(iii)            without limiting Section 4.06, the Initial Third Lien Documents relating to such Third Lien Debt shall provide, in a manner satisfactory to the Priority Lien Agent and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, that each Initial Third Lien Secured Party shall be subject to and bound by the provisions of this Agreement in its capacity as a holder of such Third Lien Debt.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement will be construed to allow Chesapeake or any other Grantor to incur additional Indebtedness unless otherwise permitted by the terms of each applicable Secured Debt Document.

 

Each of the then-existing Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee shall be authorized to execute and deliver such documents and agreements (including amendments or supplements to this Agreement) as such holders, lenders, agent, trustee or other representative may reasonably request to give effect to any such Replacement or any incurrence of Additional Priority Lien Obligations, Additional Notes, Additional Second Lien Obligations, Initial Third Lien Obligations or Additional Third Lien Obligations, it being understood that the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or (if permitted by the terms of the applicable Secured Debt Documents) the Grantors, without the consent of any other Secured Party or (in the case of the Grantors) one or more Secured Debt Representatives, may amend, supplement, modify or restate this Agreement to the extent necessary or appropriate to facilitate such amendments or supplements to effect such Replacement or incurrence all at the expense of the Grantors. Upon the consummation of such Replacement or incurrence and the execution and delivery of the documents and agreements contemplated in the preceding sentence, the holders or lenders of such Indebtedness and any authorized agent, trustee or other representative thereof shall be entitled to the benefits of this Agreement.

 

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Section 4.05           Amendments to Second Lien Documents and Third Lien Documents.

 

(a)           Prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, and except as permitted by the Priority Lien Documents, without the prior written consent of the Priority Lien Agent, no Second Lien Document or Third Lien Document may be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified and/or refinanced or entered into to the extent such amendment, supplement, restatement or modification and/or refinancing, or the terms of any new Second Lien Document or Third Lien Document, as applicable, would (i) adversely affect the lien priority rights of the Priority Lien Secured Parties or the rights of the Priority Lien Secured Parties to receive payments owing pursuant to the Priority Lien Documents, (ii) except as otherwise provided for in this Agreement, add any Liens securing any additional property as Collateral granted under the Second Lien Security Documents or the Third Lien Security Documents, unless such additional property is added as Collateral under the Priority Lien Documents, (iii) confer any additional rights on the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party in a manner adverse to the Priority Lien Secured Parties, or (iv) contravene the provisions of this Agreement or the Priority Lien Documents.

 

(b)            Prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, and except as permitted by the Second Lien Documents, without the prior written consent of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, no Third Lien Document may be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified and/or refinanced or entered into to the extent such amendment, supplement, restatement or modification and/or refinancing, or the terms of any new Third Lien Document, would (i) adversely affect the lien priority rights of the Second Lien Secured Parties or the rights of the Second Lien Secured Parties to receive payments owing pursuant to the Second Lien Documents, (ii) except as otherwise provided for in this Agreement, add any Liens securing any additional property as Collateral granted under the Third Lien Security Documents, unless such additional property is added as Collateral under the Second Lien Documents, (iii) confer any additional rights on the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party in a manner adverse to the Second Lien Secured Parties, or (iv) contravene the provisions of this Agreement or the Second Lien Documents.

 

(c)            For the avoidance of doubt and subject to Sections 4.05(a) and (b), (1) any Second Lien Security Document may be amended or supplemented in accordance with Section 7.1 of the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement and (2) any Third Lien Security Document may be amended or supplemented with the applicable provisions of the Third Lien Collateral Trust Agreement.

 

Section 4.06            Legends. Each of,

 

(a)           the Priority Lien Agent acknowledges with respect to the (i) Priority Credit Agreement and the Credit Agreement Security Documents and (ii) the Additional Priority Lien Debt Facility and the Additional Priority Lien Security Documents, if any,

 

(b)           the Second Lien Collateral Trustee acknowledges with respect to (i) the Second Lien Indenture and the Second Lien Indenture Security Documents, and (ii) the Additional Second Lien Debt Facility and the Additional Second Lien Security Documents, if any, and

 

(c)           the Third Lien Collateral Trustee acknowledges with respect to (i) the Initial Third Lien Debt Facility and the Initial Third Lien Security Documents, if any, and (ii) the Additional Third Lien Debt Facility and the Additional Third Lien Security Documents, if any, that

 

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the Second Lien Indenture, the Initial Third Lien Debt Facility (if any), the Additional Second Lien Debt Facility (if any), the Additional Third Lien Debt Facility (if any), the Second Lien Documents (other than control agreements to which both the Priority Lien Agent and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee are parties), the Third Lien Documents (other than control agreements to which the Priority Lien Agent or the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, as applicable, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee are parties) and each associated Security Document (other than control agreements to which both the Priority Lien Agent and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee are parties or, in the case of Third Lien Security Documents, other than control agreements to which the Priority Lien Agent or the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, as applicable, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee are parties) granting any security interest in the Collateral will contain a legend to the effect set forth on Annex I.

 

Section 4.07           Second Lien Secured Parties and Third Lien Secured Parties Rights as Unsecured Creditors; Judgment Lien Creditor. Whether before or after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, any of the Second Lien Secured Parties and the Third Lien Secured Parties may take any actions and exercise any and all rights that would be available to a holder of unsecured claims except actions expressly prohibited by or inconsistent with this Agreement; provided, further, that in the event that any of the Second Lien Secured Parties or Third Lien Secured Parties becomes a judgment lien creditor in respect of any Collateral as a result of its enforcement of its rights as an unsecured creditor with respect to the Second Lien Obligations or the Third Lien Obligations, as applicable, such judgment lien shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement for all purposes (including in relation to the Priority Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Obligations and the Third Lien Obligations, as applicable) as the Second Liens and Third Liens, as applicable, are subject to this Agreement.

 

Section 4.08           Postponement of Subrogation.

 

(a)           Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, hereby agrees that no payment or distribution to any Priority Lien Secured Party pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement shall entitle any Second Lien Secured Party or Third Lien Secured Party to exercise any rights of subrogation in respect thereof until, in the case of the Second Lien Secured Parties, the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations shall have occurred and, in the case of the Third Lien Secured Parties, the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations and the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations shall have occurred. Following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, but subject to the reinstatement as provided in Section 4.03, each Priority Lien Secured Party will execute such documents, agreements, and instruments as any Second Lien Secured Party may reasonably request to evidence the transfer by subrogation to any such Person of an interest in the Priority Lien Obligations resulting from payments or distributions to such Priority Lien Secured Party by such Person, so long as all costs and expenses (including all reasonable legal fees and disbursements) incurred in connection therewith by such Priority Lien Secured Party are paid by such Person upon request for payment thereof.

 

(b)            Following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that no payment or distribution to any Second Lien Secured Party pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement shall entitle any Third Lien Secured Party to exercise any rights of subrogation in respect thereof. Following the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, but subject to the reinstatement as provided in Section 4.03, each Second Lien Secured Party will execute such documents, agreements, and instruments as any Third Lien Secured Party may reasonably request to evidence the transfer by subrogation to any such Person of an interest in the Second Lien Obligations resulting from payments or distributions to such Second Lien Secured Party by such Person, so long as all costs and expenses (including all reasonable legal fees and disbursements) incurred in connection therewith by such Second Lien Secured Party are paid by such Person upon request for payment thereof.

 

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Section 4.09           Acknowledgment by the Secured Debt Representatives. Each of the Priority Lien Agent, for itself and on behalf of the other Priority Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of the other Second Lien Secured Parties, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of the other Third Lien Secured Parties, hereby acknowledges that this Agreement is a material inducement to enter into a business relationship, that each has relied on this Agreement to enter into the Priority Lien Documents, the Second Lien Documents and the Third Lien Documents, as applicable, and all documentation related thereto, and that each will continue to rely on this Agreement in their related future dealings.

 

Section 4.10         Insurance. To the extent required under the Priority Lien Documents and unless and until the Discharge of all Priority Lien Obligations has occurred, the Priority Lien Agent and the other Priority Lien Secured Parties shall have the sole and exclusive right, subject to the rights of the Grantors under the Priority Lien Documents, to adjust settlement for any insurance policy covering the Collateral in the event of any loss thereunder and to approve any award granted in any condemnation or similar proceeding (or any deed in lieu of condemnation) affecting the Collateral. To the extent required under the Priority Lien Documents and unless and until the Discharge of all Priority Lien Obligations has occurred, and subject to the rights of the Grantors under the Priority Lien Documents, all proceeds of any such policy and any such award (or any payments with respect to a deed in lieu of condemnation) if in respect of the Collateral shall be paid to the Priority Lien Agent for the benefit of the Priority Lien Secured Parties pursuant to the terms of the Priority Lien Documents (including for purposes of cash collateralization of letters of credit) and thereafter, if a Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations has occurred, and subject to the rights of the Grantors under the Second Lien Documents, to the extent required under the Second Lien Documents, the balance of such proceeds shall be paid to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee for the benefit of the Second Lien Secured Parties to the extent required under the Second Lien Documents and then, if a Discharge of Second Lien Obligations has occurred, to the extent required under the Third Lien Documents, any remaining balance shall be paid to the Third Lien Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Third Lien Secured Parties to the extent required under the Third Lien Documents, and thereafter, any remaining balance shall be paid to the Grantors, their successors or assigns from time to time, or to whomever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same. Until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations has occurred, if the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party shall, at any time, receive any proceeds of any such insurance policy or any such award or payment in contravention of this Agreement, then it shall segregate and hold in trust and forthwith pay such proceeds over to the Priority Lien Agent in accordance with the terms of Section 3.05 of this Agreement.

 

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Article V

GRATUITOUS BAILMENT FOR PERFECTION OF CERTAIN SECURITY INTERESTS

 

Section 5.01           General. (a) Prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, the Priority Lien Agent agrees that if it shall at any time hold a Priority Lien on any Collateral that can be perfected by the possession or control of such Collateral, and if such Collateral is in fact in the possession or under the control of the Priority Lien Agent, the Priority Lien Agent will serve as gratuitous bailee for (i) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee for the sole purpose of perfecting the Second Lien of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee on such Collateral and (ii) the Third Lien Collateral Trustee for the sole purpose of perfecting the Third Lien of the Third Lien Collateral Trustee on such Collateral. It is agreed that the obligations of the Priority Lien Agent and the rights of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, the other Second Lien Secured Parties, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee and the other Third Lien Secured Parties in connection with any such bailment arrangement will be in all respects subject to the provisions of Article II. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Priority Lien Agent will be deemed to make no representation as to the adequacy of the steps taken by it to perfect the Second Lien or Third Lien on any such Collateral and shall have no responsibility, duty, obligation or liability to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party or any other Person for such perfection or failure to perfect, it being understood that the sole purpose of this Article is to enable the Second Lien Secured Parties to obtain a perfected Second Lien and the Third Lien Secured Parties to obtain a perfected Third Lien in such Collateral to the extent, if any, that such perfection results from the possession or control of such Collateral by the Priority Lien Agent. The Priority Lien Agent acting pursuant to this Section 5.01(a) shall not have by reason of the Priority Lien Security Documents, the Second Lien Security Documents, the Third Lien Security Documents, this Agreement or any other document or theory, a fiduciary relationship in respect of any Priority Lien Secured Party, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any Third Lien Secured Party. Subject to Section 4.03, from and after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, the Priority Lien Agent shall take all such actions in its power as shall reasonably be requested by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee (at the sole cost and expense of the Grantors) to transfer possession or control of such Collateral (in each case to the extent the Second Lien Collateral Trustee has a Lien on such Collateral after giving effect to any prior or concurrent releases of Liens) to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee for the benefit of all Second Lien Secured Parties.

 

(b)           Following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee agrees that if it shall at any time hold a Second Lien on any Collateral that can be perfected by the possession or control of such Collateral, and if such Collateral is in fact in the possession or under the control of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee will serve as gratuitous bailee for the Third Lien Collateral Trustee for the sole purpose of perfecting the Third Lien of the Third Lien Collateral Trustee on such Collateral. It is agreed that the obligations of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the rights of the Third Lien Collateral Trustee and the other Third Lien Secured Parties in connection with any such bailment arrangement will be in all respects subject to the provisions of Article II. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee will be deemed to make no representation as to the adequacy of the steps taken by it to perfect the Third Lien on any such Collateral and shall have no responsibility, duty, obligation or liability to the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party or any other Person for such perfection or failure to perfect, it being understood that the sole purpose of this Article is to enable the Third Lien Secured Parties to obtain a perfected Third Lien in such Collateral to the extent, if any, that such perfection results from the possession or control of such Collateral by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee. The Second Lien Collateral Trustee acting pursuant to this Section 5.01(b) shall not have by reason of the Second Lien Security Documents, the Third Lien Security Documents, this Agreement or any other document or theory, a fiduciary relationship in respect of any Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any Third Lien Secured Party. Subject to Section 4.03, from and after the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall take all such actions in its power as shall reasonably be requested by the Third Lien Collateral Trustee (at the sole cost and expense of the Grantors) to transfer possession or control of such Collateral (in each case to the extent the Third Lien Collateral Trustee has a Lien on such Collateral after giving effect to any prior or concurrent releases of Liens) to the Third Lien Collateral Trustee for the benefit of all Third Lien Secured Parties.

 

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Article VI

APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS; DETERMINATION OF AMOUNTS

 

Section 6.01        Application of Proceeds. (a) Prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, and regardless of whether an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding has been commenced, Collateral or proceeds received in connection with the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to any portion of the Collateral will be applied:

 

(i)               first, to the payment in full in cash of all Priority Lien Obligations,

 

(ii)              second, to the payment in full in cash of all Second Lien Obligations,

 

(iii)             third, to the payment in full in cash of all Third Lien Obligations, and

 

(iv)             fourth, to Chesapeake or as otherwise required by applicable law.

 

(b)               Following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, and regardless of whether an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding has been commenced, Collateral or proceeds received in connection with the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to any portion of the Collateral will be applied:

 

(i)               first, to the payment in full in cash of all Second Lien Obligations,

 

(ii)              second, to the payment in full in cash of all Third Lien Obligations, and

 

(iii)             third, to Chesapeake or as otherwise required by applicable law.

 

Section 6.02        Determination of Amounts. Whenever a Secured Debt Representative shall be required, in connection with the exercise of its rights or the performance of its obligations hereunder, to determine the existence or amount of any Priority Lien Obligations, Second Lien Obligations or Third Lien Obligations (or the existence of any commitment to extend credit that would constitute any such obligations), or the existence of any Lien securing any such obligations, or the Collateral subject to any such Lien, it may request that such information be furnished to it in writing by the other Secured Debt Representatives and shall be entitled to make such determination on the basis of the information so furnished; provided, however, that if a Secured Debt Representative shall fail or refuse reasonably promptly to provide the requested information, the requesting Secured Debt Representative shall be entitled to make any such determination by such method as it may, in the exercise of its good faith judgment, determine, including by reliance upon a certificate of Chesapeake. Each Secured Debt Representative may rely conclusively, and shall be fully protected in so relying, on any determination made by it in accordance with the provisions of the preceding sentence (or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction) and shall have no liability to Chesapeake or any of their subsidiaries, any Secured Party or any other Person as a result of such determination.

 

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Article VII

NO RELIANCE; NO LIABILITY; OBLIGATIONS ABSOLUTE;

CONSENT OF GRANTORS; ETC.

 

Section 7.01        No Reliance; Information. The Priority Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Secured Parties and the Third Lien Secured Parties shall have no duty to disclose to any Secured Party any information relating to Chesapeake or any of the other Grantors, or any other circumstance bearing upon the risk of non-payment of any of the Priority Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Obligations or the Third Lien Obligations, as the case may be, that is known or becomes known to any of them or any of their Affiliates. In the event any Priority Lien Secured Party, any Second Lien Secured Party or any Third Lien Secured Party, in its sole discretion, undertakes at any time or from time to time to provide any such information to any Secured Party, it shall be under no obligation (a) to make, and shall not make or be deemed to have made, any express or implied representation or warranty, including with respect to the accuracy, completeness, truthfulness or validity of the information so provided, (b) to provide any additional information or to provide any such information on any subsequent occasion or (c) to undertake any investigation.

 

Section 7.02        No Warranties or Liability.

 

(a)               The Priority Lien Agent, for itself and on behalf of the other Priority Lien Secured Parties, acknowledges and agrees that, except for the representations and warranties set forth in Article VIII, (i) neither the Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party has made any express or implied representation or warranty, including with respect to the execution, validity, legality, completeness, collectability or enforceability of any of the Second Lien Documents, the ownership of any Collateral or the perfection or priority of any Liens thereon and (ii) neither the Third Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Third Lien Secured Party has made any express or implied representation or warranty, including with respect to the execution, validity, legality, completeness, collectability or enforceability of any of the Third Lien Documents, the ownership of any Collateral or the perfection or priority of any Liens thereon.

 

(b)               The Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of the other Second Lien Secured Parties, acknowledges and agrees that, except for the representations and warranties set forth in Article VIII, (i) neither the Priority Lien Agent nor any other Priority Lien Secured Party has made any express or implied representation or warranty, including with respect to the execution, validity, legality, completeness, collectability or enforceability of any of the Priority Lien Documents, the ownership of any Collateral or the perfection or priority of any Liens thereon and (ii) neither the Third Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Third Lien Secured Party has made any express or implied representation or warranty, including with respect to the execution, validity, legality, completeness, collectability or enforceability of any of the Third Lien Documents, the ownership of any Collateral or the perfection or priority of any Liens thereon.

 

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(c)               The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of the other Third Lien Secured Parties, acknowledges and agrees that, except for the representations and warranties set forth in Article VIII, (i) neither the Priority Lien Agent nor any other Priority Lien Secured Party has made any express or implied representation or warranty, including with respect to the execution, validity, legality, completeness, collectability or enforceability of any of the Priority Lien Documents, the ownership of any Collateral or the perfection or priority of any Liens thereon and (ii) neither the Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party has made any express or implied representation or warranty, including with respect to the execution, validity, legality, completeness, collectability or enforceability of any of the Second Lien Documents, the ownership of any Collateral or the perfection or priority of any Liens thereon.

 

(d)               (i) The Priority Lien Agent and the other Priority Lien Secured Parties shall have no express or implied duty to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party, (ii) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the other Second Lien Secured Parties shall have no express or implied duty to the Priority Lien Agent, any other Priority Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party, and (iii) the Third Lien Collateral Trustee shall have no express or implied duty to the Priority Lien Agent, any other Priority Lien Secured Party, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party, in each case to act or refrain from acting in a manner which allows, or results in, the occurrence or continuance of a default or an event of default under any Priority Lien Document, any Second Lien Document and any Third Lien Document (other than, in each case, this Agreement), regardless of any knowledge thereof which they may have or be charged with.

 

(e)               Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, hereby waives any claim that may be had against the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party arising out of any actions which the Priority Lien Agent or such Priority Lien Secured Party takes or omits to take (including actions with respect to the creation, perfection or continuation of Liens on any Collateral, actions with respect to the foreclosure upon, sale, release or depreciation of, or failure to realize upon, any Collateral, and actions with respect to the collection of any claim for all or only part of the Priority Lien Obligations from any account debtor, guarantor or any other party) in accordance with this Agreement and the Priority Lien Documents or the valuation, use, protection or release of any security for such Priority Lien Obligations. The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf each other Third Lien Secured Party, hereby waives any claim that may be had against the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party arising out of any actions which the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or such Second Lien Secured Party takes or omits to take following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations (including actions with respect to the creation, perfection or continuation of Liens on any Collateral, actions with respect to the foreclosure upon, sale, release or depreciation of, or failure to realize upon, any Collateral, and actions with respect to the collection of any claim for all or only part of the Second Lien Obligations from any account debtor, guarantor or any other party) in accordance with this Agreement and the Second Lien Documents or the valuation, use, protection or release of any security for such Second Lien Obligations.

 

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Section 7.03        Obligations Absolute. The Lien priorities provided for herein and the respective rights, interests, agreements and obligations hereunder of the Priority Lien Agent and the other Priority Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the other Second Lien Secured Parties, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee and the other Third Lien Secured Parties shall remain in full force and effect irrespective of:

 

(a)               any lack of validity or enforceability of any Secured Debt Document;

 

(b)               any change in the time, place or manner of payment of, or in any other term of (including the Replacing of), all or any portion of the Priority Lien Obligations, it being specifically acknowledged that a portion of the Priority Lien Obligations consists or may consist of Indebtedness that is revolving in nature, and the amount thereof that may be outstanding at any time or from time to time may be increased or reduced and subsequently reborrowed;

 

(c)               any amendment, waiver or other modification, whether by course of conduct or otherwise, of any Secured Debt Document;

 

(d)               the securing of any Priority Lien Obligations, Second Lien Obligations or Third Lien Obligations with any additional collateral or guarantees, or any exchange, release, voiding, avoidance or non-perfection of any security interest in any Collateral or any other collateral or any release of any guarantee securing any Priority Lien Obligations, Second Lien Obligations or Third Lien Obligations;

 

(e)               the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding in respect of Chesapeake or any other Grantor; or

 

(f)                any other circumstances that otherwise might constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, Chesapeake or any other Grantor in respect of the Priority Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Obligations or the Third Lien Obligations.

 

Section 7.04        Grantors’ Consent. Each Grantor hereby consents to the provisions of this Agreement and the intercreditor arrangements provided for herein and agrees that the obligations of the Grantors under the Secured Debt Documents will in no way be diminished or otherwise affected by such provisions or arrangements (except as expressly provided herein).

 

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Article VIII
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

Section 8.01        Representations and Warranties of Each Party. Each party hereto represents and warrants to the other parties hereto as follows:

 

(a)               Such party is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and has all requisite power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement.

 

(b)               This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such party.

 

(c)               The execution, delivery and performance by such party of this Agreement (i) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with or any other action by any Governmental Authority of which the failure to obtain could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement as in effect on the date hereof), (ii) will not violate any applicable law or regulation or any order of any Governmental Authority or any indenture, agreement or other instrument binding upon such party which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (iii) will not violate the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of such party.

 

Section 8.02        Representations and Warranties of Each Representative. Each of the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee represents and warrants to the other parties hereto that it is authorized under the Priority Credit Agreement, the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement and the Third Lien Collateral Trust Agreement, as the case may be, to enter into this Agreement.

 

Article IX
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 9.01        Notices. All notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopy, as follows:

 

(a)          if to the Original Priority Lien Agent, to it at:

 

MUFG Union Bank, N.A.
1100 Louisiana Street, Suite 4850
Houston, TX 77002-5216
Attention: Stephen Warfel
Email: swarfel@us.mufg.jp

 

(b)          if to the Original Second Lien Collateral Trustee, to it at:

 

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
Trust and Agency Services
60 Wall Street, 24th Floor
Mail Stop: NYC60-2407
New York, New York 10005
USA
Attn: Corporates Team, Chesapeake Energy Corp.
Facsimile: (732) 578-4635
 

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(c)               if to any other Secured Debt Representative, to such address as specified in the Priority Confirmation Joinder.

 

Any party hereto may change its address or facsimile number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. All notices and other communications given to any party hereto in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given on the date of receipt (if a Business Day) and on the next Business Day thereafter (in all other cases) if delivered by hand or overnight courier service or sent by telecopy or on the date five Business Days after dispatch by certified or registered mail if mailed, in each case delivered, sent or mailed (properly addressed) to such party as provided in this Section 9.01 or in accordance with the latest unrevoked direction from such party given in accordance with this Section 9.01. As agreed to in writing among Chesapeake, the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee from time to time, notices and other communications may also be delivered by e-mail to the e-mail address of a representative of the applicable person provided from time to time by such person.

 

Section 9.02        Waivers; Amendment. (a) No failure or delay on the part of any party hereto in exercising any right or power hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the parties hereto are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by any party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section 9.02, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. No notice or demand on any party hereto in any case shall entitle such party to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.

 

(b)               Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be terminated, waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by each Secured Debt Representative; provided, however, that this Agreement may be amended from time to time as provided in the last paragraph of Section 4.04; provided, further, however, with respect to any amendment that directly and adversely affects any express rights or obligations of Chesapeake or any other Grantor hereunder, no such amendment or modification shall be effective unless consented to by Chesapeake and any applicable Grantor in writing. Any amendment of this Agreement that is proposed to be effected without the consent of a Secured Debt Representative as permitted by the first proviso to the preceding sentence shall be submitted to such Secured Debt Representative for its review at least 5 Business Days prior to the proposed effectiveness of such amendment.

 

Section 9.03        Actions Upon Breach; Specific Performance. (a) (i) Prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, if any Second Lien Secured Party or Third Lien Secured Party, contrary to this Agreement, commences or participates in any action or proceeding against any Grantor or the Collateral, such Grantor, with the prior written consent of the Priority Lien Agent, may interpose as a defense or dilatory plea the making of this Agreement, and any Priority Lien Secured Party may intervene and interpose such defense or plea in its or their name or in the name of such Grantor and (ii) following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, if any Third Lien Secured Party, contrary to this Agreement, commences or participates in any action or proceeding against any Grantor or the Collateral, such Grantor, with the prior written consent of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, may interpose as a defense or dilatory plea the making of this Agreement, and any Second Lien Secured Party may intervene and interpose such defense or plea in its or their name or in the name of such Grantor.

 

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(b)               (i) Prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, should any Second Lien Secured Party or Third Lien Secured Party, contrary to this Agreement, in any way take, attempt to or threaten to take any action with respect to the Collateral (including any attempt to realize upon or enforce any remedy with respect to this Agreement), or take any other action in violation of this Agreement or fail to take any action required by this Agreement, the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party (in its own name or in the name of the relevant Grantor) or the relevant Grantor, with the prior written consent of the Priority Lien Agent, (A) may obtain relief against such Second Lien Secured Party or Third Lien Secured Party, as applicable, by injunction, specific performance and/or other appropriate equitable relief, it being understood and agreed by each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee on behalf of each Second Lien Secured Party and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party that (I) the Priority Lien Secured Parties’ damages from its actions may at that time be difficult to ascertain and may be irreparable, and (II) each Second Lien Secured Party and Third Lien Secured Party waives any defense that the Grantors and/or the Priority Lien Secured Parties cannot demonstrate damage and/or be made whole by the awarding of damages, and (B) shall be entitled to damages, as well as reimbursement for all reasonable and documented costs and expenses incurred in connection with any action to enforce the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, should any Third Lien Secured Party, contrary to this Agreement, in any way take, attempt to or threaten to take any action with respect to the Collateral (including any attempt to realize upon or enforce any remedy with respect to this Agreement), or take any other action in violation of this Agreement or fail to take any action required by this Agreement, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party (in its own name or in the name of the relevant Grantor) or the relevant Grantor, with the prior written consent of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, (A) may obtain relief against such Third Lien Secured Party by injunction, specific performance and/or other appropriate equitable relief, it being understood and agreed by the Third Lien Collateral Trustee on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party that (I) the Second Lien Secured Parties’ damages from its actions may at that time be difficult to ascertain and may be irreparable, and (II) each Third Lien Secured Party waives any defense that the Grantors and/or the Second Lien Secured Parties cannot demonstrate damage and/or be made whole by the awarding of damages, and (B) shall be entitled to damages, as well as reimbursement for all reasonable and documented costs and expenses incurred in connection with any action to enforce the provisions of this Agreement.

 

Section 9.04        Parties in Interest. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, as well as the other Secured Parties, all of whom are intended to be bound by, and to be third party beneficiaries of, this Agreement. No other Person will be entitled to rely on, have the benefit of or enforce this Agreement.

 

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Section 9.05        Survival of Agreement. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by any party in this Agreement shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

 

Section 9.06        Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Agreement by facsimile or other electronic transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

Section 9.07        Severability. Any provision of this Agreement held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction. The parties shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

 

Section 9.08        Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process. (a) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

(b)               Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State court or, to the extent permitted by law, in such federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that any party hereto may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement in the courts of any jurisdiction.

 

(c)               Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section 9.08. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

 

(d)               Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.01. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

 

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Section 9.09        WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

 

Section 9.10        Headings. Article, Section and Annex headings used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and are not to affect the construction of, or to be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

 

Section 9.11        Conflicts. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of this Agreement and the provisions of any Secured Debt Documents, the provisions of this Agreement shall control.

 

Section 9.12        Provisions Solely to Define Relative Rights. The provisions of this Agreement are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the distinct and separate relative rights of the Priority Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Secured Parties and the Third Lien Secured Parties. None of Chesapeake, any other Grantor or any other creditor thereof shall have any rights or obligations hereunder, except as expressly provided in this Agreement (provided that nothing in this Agreement (other than Sections 4.01, 4.02, 4.04, or 4.05) is intended to or will amend, waive or otherwise modify the provisions of the Priority Lien Documents, the Second Lien Documents or the Third Lien Documents, as applicable), and except as expressly provided in this Agreement neither Chesapeake nor any other Grantor may rely on the terms hereof (other than Sections 4.01, 4.02, 4.04, or 4.05, Article VII and Article IX). Nothing in this Agreement is intended to or shall impair the obligations of Chesapeake or any other Grantor, which are absolute and unconditional, to pay the Obligations under the Secured Debt Documents as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms.

 

Section 9.13        Certain Terms Concerning the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee. (a) The Second Lien Collateral Trustee is executing and delivering this Agreement solely in its capacity as such and pursuant to direction set forth in the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement; and in so doing, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall not be responsible for the terms or sufficiency of this Agreement for any purpose. The Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall have no duties or obligations under or pursuant to this Agreement other than such duties and obligations as may be expressly set forth in this Agreement as duties and obligations on its part to be performed or observed. In entering into this Agreement, or in taking (or forbearing from) any action under or pursuant to the Agreement, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall have and be protected by all of the rights, immunities, indemnities and other protections granted to it under the Second Lien Indenture and the other Second Lien Documents (including without limitation Article 5 and Section 7.8 of the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement).

 

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(b)               The Third Lien Collateral Trustee is executing and delivering this Agreement solely in its capacity as such and pursuant to direction set forth in the Third Lien Collateral Trust Agreement; and in so doing, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee shall not be responsible for the terms or sufficiency of this Agreement for any purpose. The Third Lien Collateral Trustee shall have no duties or obligations under or pursuant to this Agreement other than such duties and obligations as may be expressly set forth in this Agreement as duties and obligations on its part to be performed or observed. In entering into this Agreement, or in taking (or forbearing from) any action under or pursuant to the Agreement, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee shall have and be protected by all of the rights, immunities, indemnities and other protections granted to it under any Initial Third Lien Debt Facility and the Third Lien Documents.Section 9.14 Certain Terms Concerning the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee. None of the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Third Lien Collateral Trustee shall have any liability or responsibility for the actions or omissions of any other Secured Party, or for any other Secured Party’s compliance with (or failure to comply with) the terms of this Agreement. None of the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Third Lien Collateral Trustee shall have individual liability to any Person if it shall mistakenly pay over or distribute to any Secured Party (or Chesapeake) any amounts in violation of the terms of this Agreement, so long as the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, as the case may be, is acting in good faith. Each party hereto hereby acknowledges and agrees that each of the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee is entering into this Agreement solely in its capacity under the Priority Lien Documents, the Second Lien Documents and the Third Lien Documents, respectively, and not in its individual capacity. (a) The Priority Lien Agent shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to (i) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Representative or any other Second Lien Secured Party or (ii) the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Representative or any other Third Lien Secured Party; (b) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to (i) the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party or (ii) the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Representative or any other Third Lien Secured Party; and (c) the Third Lien Collateral Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to (i) the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party or (ii) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Representative or any other Second Lien Secured Party.

 

Section 9.15        Authorization of Secured Agents. By accepting the benefits of this Agreement and the other Priority Lien Security Documents, each Priority Lien Secured Party authorizes the Priority Lien Agent to enter into this Agreement and to act on its behalf as collateral agent hereunder and in connection herewith. By accepting the benefits of this Agreement and the other Second Lien Security Documents, each Second Lien Secured Party authorizes the Second Lien Collateral Trustee to enter into this Agreement and to act on its behalf as collateral agent hereunder and in connection herewith. By accepting the benefits of this Agreement and the other Third Lien Security Documents, each Third Lien Secured Party authorizes the Third Lien Collateral Trustee to enter into this Agreement and to act on its behalf as collateral agent hereunder and in connection herewith.

 

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Section 9.16        Further Assurances. Each of the Priority Lien Agent, for itself and on behalf of the other Priority Lien Secured Party, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of the other Second Lien Secured Parties, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of the other Third Lien Secured Parties, and each Grantor party hereto, for itself and on behalf of its subsidiaries, agrees that it will execute, or will cause to be executed, any and all further documents, agreements and instruments, and take all such further actions, as may be required under any applicable law, or which the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Third Lien Collateral Trustee may reasonably request, to effectuate the terms of this Agreement, including the relative Lien priorities provided for herein.

 

Section 9.17        Relationship of Secured Parties. Nothing set forth herein shall create or evidence a joint venture, partnership or an agency or fiduciary relationship among the Secured Parties. None of the Secured Parties nor any of their respective directors, officers, agents or employees shall be responsible to any other Secured Party or to any other Person for any Grantor’s solvency, financial condition or ability to repay the Priority Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Obligations or the Third Lien Obligations, or for statements of any Grantor, oral or written, or for the validity, sufficiency or enforceability of the Priority Lien Documents, the Second Lien Documents or the Third Lien Documents, or any security interests granted by any Grantor to any Secured Party in connection therewith. Each Secured Party has entered into its respective financing agreements with the Grantors based upon its own independent investigation, and none of the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Third Lien Collateral Trustee makes any warranty or representation to the other Secured Debt Representatives or the Secured Parties for which it acts as agent nor does it rely upon any representation of the other agents or the Secured Parties for which it acts as agent with respect to matters identified or referred to in this Agreement.

 

Section 9.18        Third Lien Provisions. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions, until such time as the Third Lien Collateral Trustee has, pursuant to the terms hereof (including but not limited Section 4.04(c)), entered into, and, for itself and on behalf of the Third Lien Secured Parties, agreed to be bound by the terms of, this Agreement and executed a Priority Confirmation Joinder, the provisions of this Agreement relating to the Third Lien Obligations (including, but not limited to, the definitions of “Additional Third Lien Debt Facility”, “Additional Third Lien Documents”, “Additional Third Lien Obligations”, “Additional Third Lien Secured Parties”, “Additional Third Lien Security Documents”, “Third Lien”, “Third Lien Collateral”, “Third Lien Collateral Trust Agreement”, “Third Lien Collateral Trustee”, “Third Lien Debt”, “Third Lien Documents”, “Third Lien First Standstill Period”, “Third Lien Obligations”, “Third Lien Representative”, “Third Lien Second Standstill Period”, “Third Lien Secured Parties”, “Third Lien Security Documents” and “Third Lien Substitute Facility” and provisions regarding priority, enforcement actions, Standstill Periods, release of Liens, Insolvency or Liquidation Proceedings, reinstatement, amendments to Third Lien Documents and application of proceeds) shall not be operative.

 

[SIGNATURES BEGIN NEXT PAGE]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

  MUFG UNION BANK, N.A., as Priority Lien Agent
     
  By: /s/ Kevin Sparks
  Name: Kevin Sparks
  Title: Director

 

  DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Second Lien Collateral Trustee
       
    By: /s/ Bridgette Casasnovas
    Name: Bridgette Casasnovas
    Title: Vice President
       
    By: /s/ Jacqueline Bartnick
    Name: Jacqueline Bartnick
    Title: Director

 

Signature Page to Intercreditor Agreement

 

 

 

 

  ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED AS OF THE DATE FIRST ABOVE WRITTEN:
 
  CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION
     
  By: /s/ Bryan J. Lemmerman
  Name: Bryan J. Lemmerman
  Title: Vice President – Business Development and Treasurer

 

Signature Page to Intercreditor Agreement

 

 

 

 

GRANTORS: CHESAPEAKE AEZ EXPLORATION, L.L.C.
  CHESAPEAKE APPALACHIA, L.L.C.
  CHESAPEAKE E&P HOLDING, L.L.C.
  CHESAPEAKE ENERGY LOUISIANA, LLC
  CHESAPEAKE ENERGY MARKETING, L.L.C.
  CHESAPEAKE EXPLORATION, L.L.C.
  CHESAPEAKE LAND DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.L.C.
  CHESAPEAKE MIDSTREAM DEVELOPMENT, L.L.C.
  CHESAPEAKE NG VENTURES CORPORATION
  CHESAPEAKE OPERATING, L.L.C., on behalf of itself and as
    the general partner of CHESAPEAKE LOUISIANA, L.P.
  CHESAPEAKE PLAINS, LLC
  CHESAPEAKE ROYALTY, L.L.C.
  CHESAPEAKE VRT, L.L.C.
  CHESAPEAKE-CLEMENTS ACQUISITION, L.L.C.
  CHK ENERGY HOLDINGS, INC.
  CHK UTICA, L.L.C.
  COMPASS MANUFACTURING, L.L.C.
  EMLP, L.L.C., on behalf of itself and as general partner of
    EMPRESS LOUISIANA PROPERTIES, L.P.
  EMPRESS, L.L.C.
  GSF, L.L.C.
  MC LOUISIANA MINERALS, L.L.C.
  MC MINERAL COMPANY, L.L.C.
  MIDCON COMPRESSION, L.L.C.
  NOMAC SERVICES, L.L.C.
  NORTHERN MICHIGAN EXPLORATION COMPANY, L.L.C.
  SPARKS DRIVE SWD, INC.
  WINTER MOON ENERGY CORPORATION

 

  By: /s/ Bryan J. Lemmerman
  Name: Bryan J. Lemmerman
  Title: Vice President – Business Development and Treasurer, for and on behalf of each of the foregoing Grantors

 

Signature Page to Intercreditor Agreement

 

 

 

 

Annex I

 

Provision for the Second Lien Indenture, any Additional Second Lien Debt Facility, the Second Lien Documents, the Initial Third Lien Debt Facility, any Additional Third Lien Debt Facility and the Third Lien Documents

 

Reference is made to the Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of December 19, 2019, between MUFG Union Bank, N.A., as Priority Lien Agent (as defined therein), and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Second Lien Collateral Trustee (as defined therein) and acknowledged and agreed by Chesapeake Energy Corporation and certain of its subsidiaries (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the “Intercreditor Agreement”). Each holder of [Second Lien Indenture Notes][Additional Second Lien Obligations][Initial Third Lien Obligations][Additional Third Lien Obligations] (as defined therein), by its acceptance of such [Second Lien Indenture Notes][Additional Second Lien Obligations][Initial Third Lien Obligations][Additional Third Lien Obligations] i) consents to the subordination of Liens provided for in the Intercreditor Agreement, ii) agrees that it will be bound by, and will take no actions contrary to, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement and iii) authorizes and instructs the [Second/Third] Lien Collateral Trustee (as defined therein) on behalf of each [Second/Third] Lien Secured Party (as defined therein) to enter into the Intercreditor Agreement as [Second/Third] Lien Collateral Trustee on behalf of such [Second/Third] Lien Secured Parties. The foregoing provisions are intended as an inducement to the lenders under the Priority Lien Documents (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) to extend credit to Chesapeake Energy Corporation, and such lenders are intended third party beneficiaries of such provisions and the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Provision for all Second Lien Indenture Security Documents, any Additional Second Lien Security Documents, the Initial Third Lien Security Documents and the Additional Third Lien Security Documents that Grant a Security Interest in Collateral

 

Reference is made to the Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of December 19, 2019, between MUFG Union Bank, N.A., as Priority Lien Agent (as defined therein), and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Second Lien Collateral Trustee (as defined therein) and acknowledged and agreed by Chesapeake Energy Corporation and certain of its subsidiaries (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the “Intercreditor Agreement”). Each Person that is secured hereunder, by accepting the benefits of the security provided hereby, (i) consents (or is deemed to consent), to the subordination of Liens provided for in the Intercreditor Agreement, (ii) agrees (or is deemed to agree) that it will be bound by, and will take no actions contrary to, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, (iii) authorizes (or is deemed to authorize) the [Second Lien Collateral Trustee] [Third Lien Collateral Trustee] (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) on behalf of such Person to enter into, and perform under, the Intercreditor Agreement and (iv) acknowledges (or is deemed to acknowledge) that a copy of the Intercreditor Agreement was delivered, or made available, to such Person.

 

Annex I - 1

 

 

Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, this Agreement, the Liens created hereby and the rights, remedies, duties and obligations provided for herein are subject in all respects to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement and, to the extent provided therein, the applicable Security Documents (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement). In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of this Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement shall control.

 

Annex I - 2

 

 

Exhibit A 

to Intercreditor Agreement

 

[FORM OF]

PRIORITY CONFIRMATION JOINDER

 

Reference is made to the Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of December 19, 2019 (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the “Intercreditor Agreement”) between MUFG Union Bank, N.A., as Priority Lien Agent for the Priority Lien Secured Parties (as defined therein), and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Second Lien Collateral Trustee for the Second Lien Secured Parties (as defined therein) and acknowledged and agreed by Chesapeake Energy Corporation and certain of its subsidiaries.

 

Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement. This Priority Confirmation Joinder is being executed and delivered pursuant to Section 4.04 [(a)][(b)][(c)] of the Intercreditor Agreement as a condition precedent to the debt for which the undersigned is acting as representative being entitled to the rights and obligations of being [Additional [Priority/Second/Third] Lien Obligations][Initial Third Lien Obligations] under the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

1.                  Joinder. The undersigned, [                           ], a [                           ], (the “New Representative”) as [trustee] [collateral trustee] [administrative agent] [collateral agent] under that certain [describe applicable indenture, credit agreement or other document governing the Additional Priority, Second or [Initial/Additional] Third Lien Obligations] hereby:

 

(a)               represents that the New Representative has been authorized to become a party to the Intercreditor Agreement on behalf of the [Priority Lien Secured Parties under a Priority Substitute Credit Facility] [Additional Priority Lien Secured Parties under an Additional Priority Lien Debt Facility] [Second Lien Indenture Secured Parties under the Second Lien Substitute Facility] [Additional Second Lien Secured Parties under the Additional Second Lien Debt Facility] [Initial Third Lien Secured Parties under the Initial Third Lien Debt Facility] [Additional Third Lien Secured Parties under the Additional Third Lien Debt Facility] as [a Priority Lien Agent under a Priority Substitute Credit Facility] [a Second Lien Collateral Trustee under a Second Lien Substitute Facility] [a Third Lien Collateral Trustee under a Third Lien Substitute Facility] [Secured Debt Representative] [Priority Lien Representative] [Second Lien Representative] [Third Lien Representative] under the Intercreditor Agreement for all purposes thereof on the terms set forth therein, and to be bound by the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement as fully as if the undersigned had executed and delivered the Intercreditor Agreement as of the date thereof; and

 

(b)               agrees that its address for receiving notices pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement shall be as follows:

 

[Address];

 

Exhibit A - 1

 

 

2.                  Priority Confirmation.

 

[Option A: to be used if additional debt constitutes a Series of Priority Lien Debt] The undersigned New Representative, on behalf of itself and each holder of Obligations in respect of the Series of Priority Lien Debt [that constitutes a Priority Lien Substitute Facility] [that constitutes an Additional Priority Lien Debt Facility] for which the undersigned is acting as [Priority Lien Representative] [Priority Lien Agent] hereby agrees, for the benefit of all Secured Parties and each future Secured Debt Representative, and as a condition to being treated as Secured Obligations under the Intercreditor Agreement, that:

 

(a)               all Priority Lien Obligations will be and are secured in accordance with the Priority Lien Collateral Trust Agreement by all Priority Liens at any time granted by Chesapeake or any other Grantor to secure any Obligations in respect of such Series of Priority Lien Debt, whether or not upon property otherwise constituting Collateral for such Series of Priority Lien Debt, and that all such Priority Liens will be enforceable by the Priority Lien Agent with respect to such Series of Priority Lien Debt for the benefit of all Priority Lien Secured Parties equally and ratably;

 

(b)               the New Representative and each holder of Obligations in respect of the Series of Priority Lien Debt for which the undersigned is acting as [Priority Lien Representative] are bound by the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, including the provisions relating to the ranking of Priority Liens, Second Liens and Third Liens and the order of application of proceeds from enforcement of Priority Liens, Second Liens and Third Liens; and

 

(c)               the New Representative and each holder of Obligations in respect of the Series of Priority Lien Debt for which the undersigned is acting as [Priority Lien Representative] appoints the Priority Lien Agent and consents to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and the performance by the Priority Lien Agent of, and directs the Priority Lien Agent to perform, its obligations under the Intercreditor Agreement and the Priority Lien Collateral Trust Agreement, together with all such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. [or]

 

[Option B: to be used if additional debt constitutes a Series of Second Lien Debt] The undersigned New Representative, on behalf of itself and each holder of Obligations in respect of the Series of Second Lien Debt [that constitutes a Second Lien Substitute Facility] [that constitutes an Additional Second Lien Debt Facility] for which the undersigned is acting as [Second Lien Representative] [Second Lien Collateral Trustee] hereby agrees, for the benefit of all Secured Parties and each future Secured Debt Representative, and as a condition to being treated as Secured Obligations under the Intercreditor Agreement, that:

 

(a)               all Second Lien Obligations will be and are secured equally and ratably by all Second Liens at any time granted by Chesapeake or any other Grantor to secure any Obligations in respect of such Series of Second Lien Debt, whether or not upon property otherwise constituting Collateral for such Series of Second Lien Debt, and that all such Second Liens will be enforceable by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee with respect to such Series of Second Lien Debt for the benefit of all Second Lien Secured Parties equally and ratably;

 

(b)               the New Representative and each holder of Obligations in respect of the Series of Second Lien Debt for which the undersigned is acting as [Second Lien Representative] are bound by the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, including the provisions relating to the ranking of Priority Liens, Second Liens and Third Liens and the order of application of proceeds from enforcement of Priority Liens, Second Liens and Third Liens; and

 

Exhibit A - 2

 

 

(c)               the New Representative and each holder of Obligations in respect of the Series of Second Lien Debt for which the undersigned is acting as [Second Lien Representative] appoints the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and consents to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and the performance by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee of, and directs the Second Lien Collateral Trustee to perform, its obligations under the Intercreditor Agreement and the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement, together with all such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. [or]

 

[Option C: to be used if additional debt constitutes a Series of Third Lien Debt] The undersigned New Representative, on behalf of itself and each holder of Obligations in respect of the Series of Third Lien Debt [that constitutes the Initial Third Lien Debt Facility] [that constitutes a Third Lien Substitute Facility] [that constitutes an Additional Third Lien Debt Facility] for which the undersigned is acting as [Third Lien Representative] [Third Lien Collateral Trustee] hereby agrees, for the benefit of all Secured Parties and each future Secured Debt Representative, and as a condition to being treated as Secured Obligations under the Intercreditor Agreement, that:

 

(a)               all Third Lien Obligations will be and are secured equally and ratably by all Third Liens at any time granted by Chesapeake or any other Grantor to secure any Obligations in respect of such Series of Third Lien Debt, whether or not upon property otherwise constituting Collateral for such Series of Third Lien Debt, and that all such Third Liens will be enforceable by the Third Lien Collateral Trustee with respect to such Series of Third Lien Debt for the benefit of all Third Lien Secured Parties equally and ratably;

 

(b)               the New Representative and each holder of Obligations in respect of the Series of Third Lien Debt for which the undersigned is acting as [Third Lien Representative] [Third Lien Collateral Trustee] are bound by the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, including the provisions relating to the ranking of Priority Liens, Second Liens and Third Liens and the order of application of proceeds from enforcement of Priority Liens, Second Liens and Third Liens; and

 

(c)               [the New Representative and each holder of Obligations in respect of the Series of Third Lien Debt for which the undersigned is acting as [Third Lien Representative] appoints the Third Lien Collateral Trustee and consents to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and the performance by the Third Lien Collateral Trustee of, and directs the Third Lien Collateral Trustee to perform, its obligations under the Intercreditor Agreement and the Third Lien Collateral Trust Agreement, together with all such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.]1

 

 

1 Necessary only in the case of an incurrence of Additional Third Lien Obligations.

 

Exhibit A - 3

 

 

3.                  Full Force and Effect of Intercreditor Agreement. Except as expressly supplemented hereby, the Intercreditor Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

 

4.                  Governing Law and Miscellaneous Provisions. The provisions of Article IX of the Intercreditor Agreement will apply with like effect to this Priority Confirmation Joinder.

 

5.                  Expenses. Chesapeake agree to reimburse each Secured Debt Representative for its reasonable out of pocket expenses in connection with this Priority Confirmation Joinder, including the reasonable fees, other charges and disbursements of counsel.

 

Exhibit A - 4

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Priority Confirmation Joinder to be executed by their respective officers or representatives as of [                , 20       ].

 

[insert name of New Representative]
   
  By:              
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

The Priority Lien Agent hereby acknowledges receipt of this Priority Confirmation Joinder [and agrees to act as Priority Lien Agent for the New Representative and the holders of the Obligations represented thereby]:

 

   
  as Priority Lien Agent
     
  By:  
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

The Second Lien Collateral Trustee hereby acknowledges receipt of this Priority Confirmation Joinder [and agrees to act as Second Lien Collateral Trustee for the New Representative and the holders of the Obligations represented thereby]:

 

   
  as Second Lien Collateral Trustee
     
  By:  
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

[The Third Lien Collateral Trustee hereby acknowledges receipt of this Priority Confirmation Joinder [and agrees to act as Third Lien Collateral Trustee for the New Representative and the holders of the Obligations represented thereby]]:

 

   
  as Third Lien Collateral Trustee
     
  By:  
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

Exhibit A - 5

 

 

  Acknowledged and Agreed to by:
     
  CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION
     
  By:                
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

Exhibit A - 6

 

 

Exhibit B

to Intercreditor Agreement

 

SECURITY DOCUMENTS

 

PART A.

 

List of Credit Agreement Security Documents

 

1. Mortgages:

 

a. Amended and Restated Mortgage, Open-End Mortgage, Multiple Indebtedness Mortgage, Line of Credit Mortgage, Deed of Trust, Assignment of As-Extracted Collateral, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated as of April 2, 2019 from Chesapeake AEZ Exploration, L.L.C.; Chesapeake-Clements Acquisition, L.L.C.; Chesapeake Appalachia, L.L.C.; Chesapeake Exploration, L.L.C.; Chesapeake Land Development Company, L.L.C., Chesapeake Plains, LLC, Chesapeake Royalty, L.L.C., Empress, L.L.C.; GSF, L.L.C.; MC Louisiana Minerals, L.L.C., Chesapeake Louisiana, L.P., and Empress Louisiana Properties, L.P., to Stephen Warfel, as trustee, for the benefit of the Original Priority Lien Agent, as administrative agent and mortgagee.

 

2. Collateral Agreements:

 

a. Amended and Restated Collateral Agreement, dated as of September 12, 2018, by and among Chesapeake Energy Corporation, each of the Grantors party thereto from time to time, in favor of MUFG Union Bank, N.A., as collateral trustee in its capacity as administrative agent.

 

3. Deposit Account Control Agreements:

 

a. Deposit Account Control Agreement by and among Chesapeake Operating, L.L.C., the Original Priority Lien Agent, as the secured party and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the bank, dated as of February 13, 2019.

 

b. Blocked Account Control Agreement by and among Chesapeake Energy Marketing, LLC, the Original Priority Lien Agent, as the lender and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the bank, dated as of February 20, 2019.

 

c. Blocked Account Control Agreement by and among Chesapeake Energy Corporation, the Original Priority Lien Agent, as the lender and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the bank, dated as of September 22, 2016.

 

d. Blocked Account Control Agreement by and among Chesapeake Appalachia, L.L.C., the Original Priority Lien Agent, as the lender and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the bank, dated as of September 22, 2016.

 

Exhibit B

 

 

e. Blocked Account Control Agreement by and among Midcon Compression, L.L.C., the Original Priority Lien Agent, as the lender and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the bank, dated as of September 22, 2016.

 

f. Blocked Account Control Agreement by and among Mid-Atlantic Gas Services, LLC, the Original Priority Lien Agent, as the lender and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the bank, dated as of September 22, 2016.

 

g. Blocked Account Control Agreement by and among MC Mineral Company, the Original Priority Lien Agent, as the lender and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the bank, dated as of September 22, 2016.

 

h. Blocked Account Control Agreement by and among Compass Manufacturing, L.L.C., the Original Priority Lien Agent, as the lender and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the bank, dated as of September 22, 2016.

 

i. Blocked Account Control Agreement by and among Chesapeake Operating, L.L.C., the Original Priority Lien Agent, as the lender and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the bank, dated as of September 22, 2016.

 

j. Blocked Account Control Agreement by and among Chesapeake NG Ventures Corporation, the Original Priority Lien Agent, as the lender and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the bank, dated as of September 22, 2016.

 

k. Blocked Account Control Agreement by and among Chesapeake Midstream Development, L.L.C., the Original Priority Lien Agent, as the lender and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the bank, dated as of September 22, 2016.

 

l. Blocked Account Control Agreement by and among Chesapeake Land Development Company, L.L.C., the Original Priority Lien Agent, as the lender and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the bank, dated as of September 22, 2016.

 

m. Blocked Account Control Agreement by and among Chesapeake Exploration, L.L.C., the Original Priority Lien Agent, as the lender and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the bank, dated as of September 22, 2016.

 

n. Blocked Account Control Agreement by and among Chesapeake Energy Marketing, L.L.C., the Original Priority Lien Agent, as the lender and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the bank, dated as of September 22, 2016.

 

o. Deposit Account Control Agreement by and among Chesapeake Energy Corporation, Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC, Chesapeake Operating, Inc, Chesapeake Energy Marketing, LLC, CHK Utica LLC, Midcon Compression LLC, Compass Manufacturing LLC, Chesapeake Operating, L.L.C., Chesapeake Operating, Inc., Chesapeake Energy Marketing, LLC, the Original Priority Lien Agent, as the secured party and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the bank, dated as of May 4, 2016.

 

Exhibit B - 2

 

 

2. Securities Account Control Agreements:

 

a. Control Agreement by and among Chesapeake Energy Corporation, as the shareholder, the Original Priority Lien Agent, as the collateral trustee, Deutsch AM Service Company, as the agent, dated as of September 22, 2016.

 

b. Securities Account Control Agreement by and among Chesapeake Energy Corporation, the Original Priority Lien Agent, as the secured party, Wells Fargo Funds Trust, as the issuer and Boston Financial Data Services, Inc., as the intermediary, dated as of May 24, 2016.

 

c. Uncertificated Securities Control Agreement by and among Chesapeake Energy Corporation, the Original Priority Lien Agent, as the collateral agent, Goldman Sachs Trust, as the issuer and Goldman, Sachs & Co., as the transfer agent, dated as of May 6, 2016.

 

List of New Debt Security Documents

 

1. Collateral Agreements:

 

a. Collateral Agreement, dated as of December 19, 2019, by Chesapeake Energy Corporation and certain Subsidiaries from time to time party thereto in favor of the MUFG Union Bank, N.A., as Collateral Trustee for the benefit of the FLLO Secured Parties (as defined in the Priority Lien Collateral Trust Agreement).

 

2. Collateral Trust Agreement:

 

b. Collateral Trust Agreement, dated as of December 19, 2019, by Chesapeake Energy Corporation and certain Subsidiaries from time to time party thereto in favor of the Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Collateral Trustee, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Parity Lien Representative (as defined therein for the holders of the Notes (as defined therein).

 

PART B.

 

List of Second Lien Indenture Security Documents

 

1. Collateral Agreements:

 

a. Collateral Agreement, dated as of December 19, 2019, by Chesapeake Energy Corporation and certain Subsidiaries from time to time party thereto in favor of the Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Collateral Trustee for the benefit of the Parity Lien Secured Parties (as defined in the Parity Lien Collateral Trust Agreement).

 

Exhibit B - 3

 

 

2. Collateral Trust Agreement:

 

b. Collateral Trust Agreement, dated as of December 19, 2019, by Chesapeake Energy Corporation and certain Subsidiaries from time to time party thereto in favor of the Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Collateral Trustee, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Parity Lien Representative (as defined therein for the holders of the Notes (as defined therein).

 

PART C.

 

List of Initial Third Lien Security Documents

 

None as of the date hereof.

 

Exhibit B - 4

 

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

COLLATERAL TRUST AGREEMENT

 

dated as of December 19, 2019

 

among

 

Chesapeake energy corporation,

as the Company,

 

the Guarantors from time to time party hereto,

 

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas,

as Parity Lien Representative of the holders of the Notes,

 

the other Parity Lien Representatives from time to time party hereto

 

and

 

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas,

as Collateral Trustee

 

Reference is made to the Intercreditor Agreement (as defined herein). Each Person that is secured hereunder, by accepting the benefits of the security provided hereby, (i) consents (or is deemed to consent), to the subordination of Liens provided for in the Intercreditor Agreement, (ii) agrees (or is deemed to agree) that it will be bound by, and will take no actions contrary to, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, (iii) authorizes (or is deemed to authorize) the Collateral Trustee (as defined herein) on behalf of such Person to enter into, and perform under, the Intercreditor Agreement and (iv) acknowledges (or is deemed to acknowledge) that a copy of the Intercreditor Agreement was delivered, or made available, to such Person.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, this Agreement, the Liens created hereby and the rights, remedies, duties and obligations provided for herein are subject in all respects to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement and, to the extent provided therein, the applicable Security Documents (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement). In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of this Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement shall control.

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Article 1 DEFINITIONS; PRINCIPLES OF CONSTRUCTION 1
Section 1.1 Defined Terms 1
Section 1.2 Rules of Interpretation 9
   
Article 2 THE TRUST ESTATE 10
Section 2.1 Declaration of Trust 10
Section 2.2 Collateral Shared Equally and Ratably 11
Section 2.3 Similar Collateral and Agreements 11
     
Article 3 OBLIGATIONS AND POWERS OF COLLATERAL TRUSTEE 11
Section 3.1 Appointment and Undertaking of the Collateral Trustee 11
Section 3.2 Release or Subordination of Liens 12
Section 3.3 Enforcement of Liens 13
Section 3.4 Application of Proceeds 13
Section 3.5 Powers of the Collateral Trustee 14
Section 3.6 Documents and Communications 15
Section 3.7 For Sole and Exclusive Benefit of Holders of Parity Lien Obligations 15
Section 3.8 Additional Parity Lien Debt 15
     
Article 4 OBLIGATIONS ENFORCEABLE BY THE COMPANY AND THE OTHER MortgagorS 17
Section 4.1 Release of Liens on Collateral 17
Section 4.2 Delivery of Copies to Parity Lien Representatives 19
Section 4.3 Collateral Trustee not Required to Serve, File or Record 19
Section 4.4 Release of Liens in Respect of Notes 20
Section 4.5 Release of Liens in Respect of any Series of Parity Lien Debt other than the Notes 20
     
Article 5 IMMUNITIES OF THE COLLATERAL TRUSTEE 20
Section 5.1 No Implied Duty 20
Section 5.2 Appointment of Agents and Advisors 20
Section 5.3 Other Agreements 21
Section 5.4 Solicitation of Instructions 21
Section 5.5 Limitation of Liability 22
Section 5.6 Documents in Satisfactory Form 22
Section 5.7 Entitled to Rely 22
Section 5.8 Parity Lien Debt Default 22
Section 5.9 Actions by Collateral Trustee 22
Section 5.10 Security or Indemnity in favor of the Collateral Trustee 23
Section 5.11 Rights of the Collateral Trustee 23

 

i

 

 

Section 5.12 Limitations on Duty of Collateral Trustee in Respect of Collateral 23
Section 5.13 Assumption of Rights, Not Assumption of Duties 24
Section 5.14 No Liability for Clean Up of Hazardous Materials 24
Section 5.15 Other Relationships with the Company or Guarantors 24
     
Article 6 RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF THE COLLATERAL TRUSTEE 25
Section 6.1 Resignation or Removal of Collateral Trustee 25
Section 6.2 Appointment of Successor Collateral Trustee 25
Section 6.3 Succession 26
Section 6.4 Merger, Conversion or Consolidation of Collateral Trustee 26
Section 6.5 Concerning the Collateral Trustee and the Parity Lien Representatives 26
     
Article 7 MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS  
Section 7.1 Amendment 27
Section 7.2 Voting 29
Section 7.3 Further Assurances 29
Section 7.4 Successors and Assigns 31
Section 7.5 Delay and Waiver 31
Section 7.6 Notices 31
Section 7.7 Entire Agreement 32
Section 7.8 Compensation; Expenses 32
Section 7.9 Indemnity 33
Section 7.10 Severability 34
Section 7.11 Headings 34
Section 7.12 Obligations Secured 34
Section 7.13 Governing Law 34
Section 7.14 Consent to Jurisdiction 34
Section 7.15 Waiver of Jury Trial 35
Section 7.16 Counterparts, Electronic Signatures 36
Section 7.17 Effectiveness 36
Section 7.18 Mortgagors and Additional Mortgagors 36
Section 7.19 Insolvency 36
Section 7.20 Rights and Immunities of Parity Lien Representatives 36
Section 7.21 Intercreditor Agreement 37
Section 7.22 Force Majeure 37
Section 7.23 Representations and Warranties 37
Section 7.24 Additional Persons Bound Hereby 37

 

ii

 

 

Exhibit A Form of Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate A-1
     
Exhibit B Form of Collateral Trust Joinder – Additional Debt B-1
     
Exhibit C Form of Collateral Trust Joinder – Additional Mortgagor C-1

 

iii

 

 

This Collateral Trust Agreement (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified form time to time in accordance with Section 7.1 hereof, this “Agreement”) is dated as of December 19, 2019 and is by and among Chesapeake Energy Corporation (the “Company”), the Guarantors from time to time party hereto, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Parity Lien Representative (as defined below) of the holders of the Notes (as defined below) (the “Trustee”), the other Parity Lien Representatives from time to time party hereto and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Collateral Trustee (in such capacity and together with its successors in such capacity, the “Collateral Trustee”).

 

RECITALS

 

The Company intends to issue 11.5% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2025 (the “Initial Notes”) in an aggregate principal amount of $2,210,156,000 pursuant to an Indenture dated as of the date hereof (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the “Indenture”) among the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee, as trustee under the Indenture and as Collateral Trustee.

 

The Company and the Guarantors intend to secure their Obligations under the Indenture, any future Parity Lien Debt and any other Parity Lien Obligations, with Liens on all present and future Collateral to the extent that such Liens have been provided for in the applicable Parity Lien Security Documents.

 

This Agreement sets forth the terms on which each Parity Lien Secured Party (other than the Collateral Trustee) has appointed the Collateral Trustee to act as the collateral trustee for the present and future holders of the Parity Lien Obligations to receive, hold, maintain, administer and distribute the Collateral at any time delivered to the Collateral Trustee or the subject of the Parity Lien Security Documents, and to enforce the Parity Lien Security Documents and all interests, rights, powers and remedies of the Collateral Trustee with respect thereto or thereunder and the proceeds thereof.

 

Capitalized terms used in this Agreement have the meanings assigned to them above or in Article 1 below.

 

AGREEMENT

 

In consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements herein set forth, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement hereby agree as follows:

 

Article 1
DEFINITIONS; PRINCIPLES OF CONSTRUCTION

 

Section 1.1         Defined Terms. The following terms will have the following meanings:

 

Act of Parity Lien Debtholders” means, as to any matter at any time, a direction in writing delivered to the Collateral Trustee by or with the written consent of the holders of Parity Lien Debt representing the Required Parity Lien Debtholders.

 

1

 

 

Additional Notes” has the meaning given to the term “Additional Securities” in the Indenture as in effect on the date hereof.

 

Additional Parity Lien Debt” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.8(b).

 

Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate” means a notice in substantially the form of Exhibit A.

 

Additional Secured Debt Designation” means the written agreement of the Parity Lien Representative of holders of any Series of Parity Lien Debt, as set forth in the indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Parity Lien Debt, for the benefit of (i) all holders of existing and future Priority Lien Debt, the Priority Lien Agent, each existing and future holder of Priority Liens and (ii) if applicable, all holders of each existing and future Series of Parity Lien Debt, the Collateral Trustee, and each existing and future holder of Parity Liens, in each case:

 

(1)       that all Parity Lien Obligations will be and are secured equally and ratably by all Parity Liens at any time granted by any Obligor to secure any Obligations in respect of such Series of Parity Lien Debt, whether or not upon property otherwise constituting collateral for such Series of Parity Lien Debt, and that all such Parity Liens will be enforceable by the Collateral Trustee, for the benefit of all holders of Parity Lien Obligations, equally and ratably;

 

(2)       that such Parity Lien Representative and the holders of Obligations in respect of such Series of Parity Lien Debt are bound by the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, including the provisions relating to the ranking of Priority Liens and Parity Liens and the order of application of proceeds from the enforcement of Priority Liens and Parity Liens; and

 

(3)       appointing the Collateral Trustee and consenting to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and the performance by the Collateral Trustee of, and directing the Collateral Trustee to perform, its obligations under this Agreement or applicable security documents, as applicable, and the Intercreditor Agreement, together with all such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.

 

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

 

Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

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

 

Business Day” means any day on which banks in The City of New York are open and which is not a Legal Holiday.

 

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Capital Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock, partnership or limited liability company interests or other equity securities (including, without limitation, beneficial interests in or other securities of a trust) and any and all warrants, options and rights with respect thereto (whether or not currently exercisable), including each class of common stock and preferred stock of such Person, but excluding any instrument evidencing Indebtedness convertible or exchangeable into equity of such Person, whether or not such Indebtedness includes any right of participation with the equity of such Person, unless and until such instrument is so converted or exchanged.

 

Collateral” means all properties and assets of the Company and the Guarantors now owned or at any time hereafter acquired in which Liens have been granted, or purported to be granted, to the Collateral Trustee to secure any or all of the Parity Lien Obligations, and from and after the time the Collateral Trustee is required to release its Liens pursuant to Section 3.2 upon any properties or assets, shall exclude such properties or assets; provided that if such Liens are required to be released as a result of the sale, transfer or other disposition of any properties or assets of the Company or any Guarantor, such assets or properties will cease to be excluded from the Collateral if the Company or any Guarantor thereafter acquires or reacquires such assets or properties.

 

Collateral Trustee” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Collateral Trust Joinder” means (i) with respect to the provisions of this Agreement relating to any Additional Parity Lien Debt, an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit B, and (ii) with respect to the provisions of this Agreement relating to the addition of additional Obligors, an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit C.

 

Company” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Credit Agreement” means the “Priority Credit Agreement” as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Credit Agreement Agent” means, at any time, the Person serving at such time as the “Agent” or “Administrative Agent” under the Credit Agreement or any other representative then most recently designated in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Credit Agreement, together with its successors in such capacity.

 

Excluded Property” has the meaning given to such term in the Indenture.

 

Guarantee” means, individually and collectively, the guarantees given by the Guarantors pursuant to the applicable Parity Lien Documents.

 

Guarantors” means the Subsidiaries of the Company that haven given Guarantees with respect to any Parity Lien Obligations, and their respective successors and assigns, in each case until their respective Guarantee of all Parity Lien Obligations is released in accordance with the terms of the applicable Parity Lien Documents.

 

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Indebtedness” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Indenture as in effect on the date hereof, and any component definition used therein has the meaning set forth in the Indenture as in effect on the date hereof.

 

Indemnified Liabilities” means any and all liabilities (including all environmental liabilities), obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, taxes, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever with respect to the execution, delivery, performance, administration or enforcement of this Agreement or any of the other Parity Lien Security Documents, including any of the foregoing relating to the use of proceeds of any Parity Lien Debt or the violation of, noncompliance with or liability under, any law (including environmental laws) applicable to or enforceable against the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or any Guarantor or any of the Collateral and all reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel selected by the Indemnitee) incurred by any Indemnitee in connection with any claim, action, investigation or proceeding in any respect relating to any of the foregoing, whether or not suit is brought.

 

Indemnitee” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.9(a).

 

Indenture” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

Initial Notes” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding” means:

 

(1)               any case commenced by or against any Obligor under Title 11 of the United States Code, any other proceeding for the reorganization, recapitalization or adjustment or marshalling of the assets or liabilities of such Obligor, any receivership or assignment for the benefit of creditors relating to an Obligor or any similar case or proceeding relative to an Obligor or its creditors, as such, in each case whether or not voluntary;

 

(2)               any liquidation, dissolution, marshalling of assets or liabilities or other winding up of or relating to an Obligor, in each case whether or not voluntary and whether or not involving bankruptcy or insolvency; or

 

(3)               any other proceeding of any type or nature (including any composition agreement) in which substantially all claims of creditors of any Obligor are determined and any payment or distribution is or may be made on account of such claims.

 

Intercreditor Agreement” means that certain Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among the Company, the Guarantors, the Collateral Trustee, on behalf of itself and the holders of the Notes and any other Parity Lien Obligations, the Priority Lien Agent, and the other parties from time to time party thereto, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified or replaced from time to time.

 

Junior Lien” has the meaning assigned to the term “Third Lien” in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

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Junior Lien Debt” has the meaning assigned to the term “Third Lien Debt” in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Junior Lien Documents” has the meaning assigned to the term “Third Lien Documents” in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Legal Holiday is a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banks and trust companies in The City of New York are not required by law or executive order to be open.

 

Lien” means, with respect to any Person, any mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, easement, restriction, charge or adverse claim affecting title or resulting in an encumbrance against real or personal property of such Person, or a security interest of any kind, including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof or other similar agreement to sell, in each case securing obligations of such Person.

 

Mortgage” means all security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral agency agreements, control agreements or other grants or transfers for security executed and delivered by the Company or any Guarantor creating (or purporting to create) a Lien upon Collateral in favor of the Collateral Trustee, for the benefit of any of the Parity Lien Secured Parties, in each case, as amended, modified, renewed, restated or replaced, in whole or in part, from time to time, in accordance with its terms and ‎Section 7.1.

 

Mortgaged Property” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.8(d)(1).

 

Notes” means, collectively, the Initial Notes and the Additional Notes for which the requirements set forth in Section 3.8 of this Agreement have been satisfied.

 

Note Documents” means the Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees thereof, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Notes Security Documents.

 

Notes Security Documents” means this Agreement, each Collateral Trust Joinder, the Security Agreement and all security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, Mortgages, collateral agency agreements, control agreements or other grants or transfers for security executed and delivered by the Company or any Guarantor creating (or purporting to create) a Parity Lien upon Collateral in favor of the Collateral Trustee for the benefit of holders of the Notes, in each case, as amended, modified, renewed, restated or replaced, in whole or in part, from time to time, in accordance with its terms and Section 7.1.

 

Obligations” means any principal (including reimbursement obligations and obligations to provide cash collateral with respect to letters of credit whether or not drawn), interest, premium (if any), fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, expenses and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness including, to the extent legally permitted, all interest, fees and other amounts incurred, accrued or arising thereon after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding at the applicable interest rate, including any applicable post-default interest rate even if such interest, fees and other amounts are not enforceable, allowable or allowed as a claim in such proceeding.

 

Obligors” means the Company and the Guarantors.

 

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Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Agreement, signed on behalf of the Company by two officers of the Company, one of whom must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Company, including:

 

(a)               a statement that the Person making such certificate has read such covenant or condition;

 

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

 

(c)               a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been satisfied; and

 

(d)               a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been satisfied.

 

Parity Lien” means a Lien granted by any Obligor in favor of the Collateral Trustee pursuant to a Parity Lien Security Document, at any time, upon any property of such Obligor to secure Parity Lien Obligations.

 

Parity Lien Debt” means:

 

(1)               the Initial Notes and Guarantees thereof; and

 

(2)               all additional Indebtedness of any Obligor (including Additional Notes and Guarantees thereof), in each case that was permitted to be incurred and secured in accordance with the Secured Debt Documents equally and ratably with the Notes by a Parity Lien; provided that in the case of any Indebtedness referred to in this clause (2), that:

 

(a)               on or before the date on which such Indebtedness is incurred by any Obligor, such Indebtedness is designated by the Company, in an Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate executed and delivered in accordance with Section 3.8(b) as “Parity Lien Debt” for the purposes of the Indenture and this Agreement; provided further that no such Indebtedness may be designated as both Parity Lien Debt and Priority Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt (or any combination of the three);

 

(b)               other than in the case of any Additional Notes, such Indebtedness is governed by an indenture, credit agreement or other agreement that includes an Additional Secured Debt Designation and, in each case, the Parity Lien Representative of such Parity Lien Debt (other than Additional Notes) shall have executed a joinder to the Intercreditor Agreement in the form provided therein; and

 

(c)               all other requirements set forth in Section 3.8 have been complied with;

 

provided, further that in the case of any Additional Notes, on or before the date on which Indebtedness in respect of Additional Notes is incurred, the Company will deliver to the Collateral Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Indebtedness is permitted by each applicable Parity Lien Document to be incurred and secured with a Parity Lien equally and ratably with all previously existing and future Parity Lien Debt.

 

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Parity Lien Debt Default” means any “Event of Default” as defined in the Indenture, or any similar event or condition set forth in any other Parity Lien Document that causes, or permits holders of the applicable Series of Parity Lien Debt outstanding thereunder (with or without the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, and whether or not notice has been given or time has lapsed) to cause, the Parity Lien Debt outstanding thereunder to become immediately due and payable.

 

Parity Lien Documents” means, collectively, the Note Documents (excluding the Intercreditor Agreement) and any additional indenture, supplemental indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing each other Series of Parity Lien Debt and the Parity Lien Security Documents.

 

Parity Lien Obligations” means Parity Lien Debt and all other Obligations in respect thereof. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, the term “Parity Lien Obligations” will include accrued interest, fees, costs, and other charges incurred under the Parity Lien Documents, whether incurred before or after commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding and whether or not allowable in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

 

Parity Lien Representative” means:

 

(1)               in the case of the Notes, the Trustee; and

 

(2)               in the case of any other Series of Parity Lien Debt, the trustee, agent or representative of the holders of such Series of Parity Lien Debt that (A) is appointed to act for the holders of such Series of Parity Lien Debt (for purposes related to the administration of the Parity Lien Security Documents) pursuant to the indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Parity Lien Debt, together with its successors in such capacity, and (B)  has become a party to this Agreement by executing a Collateral Trust Joinder.

 

Parity Lien Secured Parties” has the meaning assigned to the term “Second Lien Secured Parties” in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Parity Lien Security Documents” means this Agreement, each Collateral Trust Joinder, the Indenture (insofar as the same grants a Lien on the Collateral), any additional indenture, supplemental indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing each other Series of Parity Lien Debt (in each case, insofar as the same grants a Lien on the Collateral), the Notes Security Documents, and all other security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral agency agreements, control agreements or other grants or transfers for security executed and delivered by any Obligor creating (or purporting to create) a Lien upon Collateral in favor of the Collateral Trustee, for the benefit of any of the Parity Lien Secured Parties, in each case, as amended, modified, renewed, restated or replaced, in whole or in part, from time to time, in accordance with its terms and Section 7.1.

 

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

 

Priority Lien” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Priority Lien Agent” means the Credit Agreement Agent, or if the Credit Agreement ceases to exist, the collateral agent or other representative of lenders or holders of Priority Lien Obligations designated pursuant to the terms of the Priority Lien Documents pursuant to which such Priority Lien Obligations were issued and the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Priority Lien Debt” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Priority Lien Documents” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Priority Lien Obligations” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Reaffirmation Agreement” means an agreement reaffirming the security interests granted to the Collateral Trustee in substantially the form attached as Exhibit 1 to Exhibit A of this Agreement.

 

Required Parity Lien Debtholders” means, at any time, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of all Parity Lien Debt then outstanding (and including a majority in principal amount of the Notes), calculated in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.2. For purposes of this definition, Parity Lien Debt registered in the name of, or beneficially owned by, the Company or any Affiliate of the Company will be deemed not to be outstanding.

 

Secured Debt Documents” means the Priority Lien Documents, the Parity Lien Documents and the Junior Lien Documents.

 

Security Agreement means the Collateral Agreement dated as of the the date hereof made by the Obligors in favor the Collateral Trustee.

 

Series of Parity Lien Debt” means, severally, the Notes and each other issue or series of Parity Lien Debt for which a single transfer register is maintained.

 

Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Company. A “subsidiary” of any Person means:

 

(1)               a corporation a majority of whose Voting Stock is at the time, directly or indirectly, owned by such Person, by one or more subsidiaries of such Person or by such Person and one or more subsidiaries of such Person;

 

(2)               a partnership in which such Person or a subsidiary of such Person is, at the date of determination, a general or limited partner of such partnership, but only if such Person or its subsidiary is entitled to receive more than 50% of the assets of such partnership upon its dissolution, or

 

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(3)               any other Person (other than a corporation or partnership) in which such Person, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination thereof, has (x) at least a majority ownership interest or (y) the power to elect or direct the election of a majority of the Board of Directors of such Person.

 

Trustee” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

Trust Estate” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.

 

UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York or any other applicable jurisdiction.

 

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

 

Section 1.2            Rules of Interpretation.

 

(a)          All capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 

(b)          Unless otherwise indicated, any reference to any agreement or instrument will be deemed to include a reference to that agreement or instrument as assigned, amended, supplemented, amended and restated, or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time or replaced in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

(c)          The use in this Agreement or any of the other Parity Lien Security Documents of the word “include” or “including,” when following any general statement, term or matter, will not be construed to limit such statement, term or matter to the specific items or matters set forth immediately following such word or to similar items or matters, whether or not non-limiting language (such as “without limitation” or “but not limited to” or words of similar import) is used with reference thereto, but will be deemed to refer to all other items or matters that fall within the broadest possible scope of such general statement, term or matter. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.”

 

(d)          References to “Sections,” “clauses,” “recitals” and the “preamble” will be to Sections, clauses, recitals and the preamble, respectively, of this Agreement unless otherwise specifically provided. References to “Articles” will be to Articles of this Agreement unless otherwise specifically provided. References to “Exhibits” will be to Exhibits to this Agreement unless otherwise specifically provided.

 

(e)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any references contained herein to any section, clause, paragraph, definition or other provision of the Indenture (including any definition contained therein) shall be deemed to be a reference to such section, clause, paragraph, definition or other provision of the Indenture as in effect on the date of this Agreement; provided that any reference to any such section, clause, paragraph or other provision shall refer to such section, clause, paragraph or other provision of the Indenture (including any definition contained therein) as amended or modified from time to time if such amendment or modification has been made in accordance with the Indenture. Unless otherwise set forth herein, references to principal amount shall include, without duplication, any reimbursement obligations with respect to a letter of credit and the face amount of any outstanding letter of credit (whether or not such amount is, at the time of determination, drawn or available to be drawn).

 

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This Agreement and the other Parity Lien Security Documents will be construed without regard to the identity of the party who drafted it and as though the parties participated equally in drafting it. Consequently, each of the parties acknowledges and agrees that any rule of construction that a document is to be construed against the drafting party will not be applicable either to this Agreement or the other Parity Lien Security Documents.

 

Article 2
THE TRUST ESTATE

 

Section 2.1         Declaration of Trust.

 

To secure the payment of the Parity Lien Obligations and in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements set forth herein, each of the Obligors hereby confirms the grant of Liens in favor of the Collateral Trustee, and the Collateral Trustee hereby accepts and agrees to hold, in trust under this Agreement for the benefit of all current and future Parity Lien Secured Parties, all of such Obligor’s right, title and interest in, to and under all Collateral and all Liens now or hereafter granted to the Collateral Trustee by each Obligor under any Parity Lien Security Document for the benefit of the Parity Lien Secured Parties, together with all of the Collateral Trustee’s right, title and interest in, to and under the Parity Lien Security Documents, and all interests, rights, powers and remedies of the Collateral Trustee thereunder or in respect thereof and all cash and non-cash proceeds thereof (collectively, the “Trust Estate”).

 

The Collateral Trustee and its successors and assigns under this Agreement will hold the Trust Estate in trust for the benefit solely and exclusively of all current and future Parity Lien Secured Parties as security for the payment of all present and future Parity Lien Obligations.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at any time:

 

(1)               all Liens securing the Parity Lien Obligations have been released as provided in Section 4.1;

 

(2)               the Collateral Trustee holds no other property in trust as part of the Trust Estate;

 

(3)               no monetary obligation (other than indemnification and other contingent obligations not then due and payable and letters of credit that have been cash collateralized at the lower of (A) 105% of the aggregate undrawn amount and (B) the percentage of the aggregate undrawn amount required for release of Liens under the terms of the applicable Parity Lien Documents) is outstanding and payable under this Agreement to the Collateral Trustee or any of its co-trustees or agents (whether in an individual or representative capacity); and

 

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(4)               the Company delivers to the Collateral Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all Parity Liens of the Collateral Trustee have been released in compliance with all applicable provisions of the Parity Lien Documents and that the Obligors are not required by any Parity Lien Document to grant any Parity Lien upon any property,

 

then the Trust Estate arising hereunder will terminate, except that all provisions set forth in Sections 7.8 and 7.9 that are enforceable by the Collateral Trustee or any of its co-trustees or agents (whether in an individual or representative capacity) will remain enforceable in accordance with their terms.

 

The parties further declare and covenant that the Trust Estate will be held and distributed by the Collateral Trustee subject to the further agreements herein.

 

Section 2.2         Collateral Shared Equally and Ratably. The parties to this Agreement agree that the payment and satisfaction of all of the Parity Lien Obligations will be secured equally and ratably by the Parity Liens established in favor of the Collateral Trustee for the benefit of the Parity Lien Secured Parties, notwithstanding the time of incurrence of any Parity Lien Obligations or time or method of creation or perfection of any Parity Liens securing such Parity Lien Obligations.

 

Section 2.3         Similar Collateral and Agreements. The parties to this Agreement agree that it is their intention that the Parity Liens be identical. In furtherance of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree that the Parity Lien Security Documents (other than the Notes Security Documents) shall be in all material respects the same forms of documents as the respective Notes Security Documents creating Liens on the Collateral.

 

Article 3
OBLIGATIONS AND POWERS OF COLLATERAL TRUSTEE

 

Section 3.1         Appointment and Undertaking of the Collateral Trustee.

 

(a)          Each Parity Lien Secured Party (other than the Collateral Trustee) acting through its respective Parity Lien Representative hereby appoints the Collateral Trustee to serve as collateral trustee hereunder on the terms and conditions set forth herein. Subject to, and in accordance with, this Agreement, the Collateral Trustee will, as collateral trustee, for the benefit solely and exclusively of the present and future Parity Lien Secured Parties:

 

(1)               accept, enter into, hold, maintain, administer and enforce all Parity Lien Security Documents, including all Collateral subject thereto, and all Liens created thereunder, perform its obligations hereunder and under the Parity Lien Security Documents and protect, exercise and enforce the interests, rights, powers and remedies granted or available to it under, pursuant to or in connection with the Parity Lien Security Documents;

 

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(2)               take all lawful and commercially reasonable actions permitted under the Parity Lien Security Documents that it may deem necessary or advisable to protect or preserve its interest in the Collateral subject thereto and such interests, rights, powers and remedies;

 

(3)               deliver and receive notices pursuant to this Agreement and the Parity Lien Security Documents;

 

(4)               sell, assign, collect, assemble, foreclose on, institute legal proceedings with respect to, or otherwise exercise or enforce the rights and remedies of a secured party (including a mortgagee and trust deed beneficiary) with respect to the Collateral under the Parity Lien Security Documents and its other interests, rights, powers and remedies;

 

(5)               remit as provided in Section 3.4 all cash proceeds received by the Collateral Trustee from the collection, foreclosure or enforcement of its interest in the Collateral under the Parity Lien Security Documents or any of its other interests, rights, powers or remedies;

 

(6)               execute and deliver amendments to the Parity Lien Security Documents as from time to time authorized pursuant to Section 7.1 accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that the amendment was permitted under Section 7.1;

 

(7)               release or subordinate any Lien granted to it by any Parity Lien Security Document upon any Collateral if and as required by Section 3.2; and

 

(8)               enter into and perform its obligations and protect, exercise and enforce its interest, rights, powers and remedies under the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

(b)          Each party to this Agreement acknowledges and consents to the undertaking of the Collateral Trustee set forth in Section 3.1(a) and agrees to each of the other provisions of this Agreement applicable to the Collateral Trustee.

 

(c)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Collateral Trustee will not commence any exercise of remedies or any foreclosure actions or otherwise take any action or proceeding against any of the Collateral (other than actions as necessary to prove, protect or preserve the Liens securing the Parity Lien Obligations to the extent permitted pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement) unless and until it shall have been directed by written notice of an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders and then only in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

(d)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates may serve as Collateral Trustee.

 

Section 3.2         Release or Subordination of Liens. The Collateral Trustee will not release or subordinate any Lien of the Collateral Trustee or consent to the release or subordination of any Lien of the Collateral Trustee, except:

 

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(a)          as directed by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that the release or subordination was permitted by each applicable Parity Lien Document and otherwise satisfying the requirements of Section 4.1(b)(1) and 4.1(b)(2);

 

(b)          as required by Article 4;

 

(c)          to release or subordinate Liens on Collateral to the extent permitted by each applicable Parity Lien Document; provided that the Collateral Trustee receives an Officers’ Certificate confirming the foregoing;

 

(d)          as ordered pursuant to applicable law under a final and nonappealable order or judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction; or

 

(e)          for the subordination of the Trust Estate and the Parity Liens to the extent required by the Intercreditor Agreement; provided that the Collateral Trustee receives an Officers’ Certificate confirming the foregoing.

 

Section 3.3         Enforcement of Liens. If the Collateral Trustee at any time receives written notice from a Parity Lien Representative stating that any event has occurred that constitutes a default under any Parity Lien Document entitling the Collateral Trustee to foreclose upon, collect or otherwise enforce its Liens under the Parity Lien Security Documents, the Collateral Trustee will promptly deliver written notice thereof to each Parity Lien Representative. Thereafter, the Collateral Trustee may await direction by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders and, subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, will act, or decline to act, as directed by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders, in the exercise and enforcement of the Collateral Trustee’s interests, rights, powers and remedies in respect of the Collateral or under the Parity Lien Security Documents or applicable law and, following the initiation of such exercise of remedies, the Collateral Trustee will act, or decline to act, with respect to the manner of such exercise of remedies as directed by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders. Unless it has been directed to the contrary by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders, the Collateral Trustee in any event may (but will not be obligated to) take or refrain from taking such action with respect to any default under any Parity Lien Document as it may deem advisable and in the interest of the holders of Parity Lien Obligations, all in the Collateral Trustee’s sole discretion.

 

Section 3.4         Application of Proceeds.

 

(a)               Subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Trustee will apply the proceeds of any collection, sale, foreclosure or other realization upon, or exercise of any right or remedy with respect to, any Collateral, and any condemnation proceeds with respect to the Collateral, in the following order of application:

 

FIRST, to the payment of all amounts payable under this Agreement on account of the Collateral Trustee’s fees and any reasonable legal fees, costs, expenses or other liabilities of any kind incurred by the Collateral Trustee or any co-trustee or agent of the Collateral Trustee in connection with any Parity Lien Document (including, but not limited to, indemnification obligations);

 

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SECOND, to the respective Parity Lien Representatives equally and ratably for application to the payment of all outstanding Parity Lien Debt and any other Parity Lien Obligations that are then due and payable in such order as may be provided in the Parity Lien Documents in an amount sufficient to pay in full in cash all outstanding Parity Lien Debt and all other Parity Lien Obligations that are then due and payable (including, to the extent legally permitted, all interest accrued thereon after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding at the rate, including any applicable post-default rate, specified in the Parity Lien Documents, even if such interest is not enforceable, allowable or allowed as a claim in such proceeding but excluding contingent indemnity obligations for which no claim has been made), and including the discharge or cash collateralization (at the lower of (1) 105% of the aggregate undrawn amount and (2) the percentage of the aggregate undrawn amount required for release of Liens under the terms of the applicable Parity Lien Document) of all outstanding letters of credit, if any, constituting Parity Lien Debt);

 

THIRD, to the repayment of Junior Lien Debt and any other Obligations secured by a permitted Junior Lien on the Collateral sold or realized upon; and

 

FOURTH, any surplus remaining after the payment in full in cash of the amounts described in the preceding clauses will be paid to the applicable Obligor, and as directed in writing by the Company, its successors or assigns, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

 

(b)          This Section 3.4 is intended for the benefit of, and will be enforceable as a third party beneficiary by, each present and future holder of Parity Lien Obligations, each present and future Parity Lien Representative and the Collateral Trustee as holder of Parity Liens. The Parity Lien Representative of each future Series of Parity Lien Debt will be required to deliver to the Collateral Trustee a Collateral Trust Joinder as provided in Section 3.8 at the time of incurrence of such Series of Parity Lien Debt (it being understood that the Trustee shall be the Parity Lien Representative of the holders of the Initial Notes and any Additional Notes, and no Collateral Trustee Joinder shall be required to be delivered in connection with an issuance of Additional Notes).

 

(c)          In connection with the application of proceeds pursuant to Section 3.4(a), except as otherwise directed by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders, the Collateral Trustee may sell any non-cash proceeds for cash prior to the application of the proceeds thereof.

 

(d)          In making the determinations and allocations in accordance with Section 3.4(a), the Collateral Trustee may conclusively rely upon information supplied by the relevant Parity Lien Representative as to the amounts of unpaid principal and interest and other amounts outstanding with respect to its respective Parity Lien Debt and any other Parity Lien Obligations.

 

Section 3.5         Powers of the Collateral Trustee.

 

(a)          The Collateral Trustee is irrevocably authorized and empowered to enter into and perform its obligations and protect, perfect, exercise and enforce its interest, rights, powers and remedies under the Parity Lien Security Documents and applicable law and in equity and to act as set forth in this Article 3 or, subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, as requested in any lawful directions given to it from time to time in respect of any matter by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders.

 

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(b)               No Parity Lien Representative or holder of Parity Lien Obligations (other than the Collateral Trustee) will have any liability whatsoever for any act or omission of the Collateral Trustee, and the Collateral Trustee will have no liability whatsoever for any act or omission of any Parity Lien Representative or any holder of Parity Lien Obligations.

 

Section 3.6         Documents and Communications. The Collateral Trustee will permit each Parity Lien Representative and each holder of Parity Lien Obligations upon reasonable written notice and at reasonable times from time to time to inspect and copy, at the cost and expense of the party requesting such copies, any and all Parity Lien Security Documents and other documents, notices, certificates, instructions or communications received by the Collateral Trustee in its capacity as such.

 

Section 3.7         For Sole and Exclusive Benefit of Holders of Parity Lien Obligations. The Collateral Trustee will accept, hold, administer and enforce all Liens on the Collateral at any time transferred or delivered to it and all other interests, rights, powers and remedies at any time granted to or enforceable by the Collateral Trustee and all other property of the Trust Estate solely and exclusively for the benefit of the present and future holders of present and future Parity Lien Obligations, and will distribute all proceeds received by it in realization thereon or from enforcement thereof solely and exclusively pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.4.

 

Section 3.8         Additional Parity Lien Debt.

 

(a)          The Collateral Trustee will, as trustee hereunder, perform its undertakings set forth in Section 3.1(a) with respect to any Parity Lien Obligations constituting Additional Notes or a Series of Parity Lien Debt that is issued or incurred after the date hereof; provided that:

 

(1)               such Parity Lien Obligations are identified as Parity Lien Debt in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 3.8(b); and

 

(2)               except in the case of Additional Notes, the designated Parity Lien Representative identified pursuant to Section 3.8(b) signs a Collateral Trust Joinder and delivers the same to the Collateral Trustee.

 

(b)          The Company will be permitted to designate as an additional holder of Parity Lien Debt hereunder each Person who is, or who becomes, the registered holder of Parity Lien Debt incurred by the Company or any Guarantor after the date of this Agreement in accordance with the terms of all applicable Parity Lien Documents, Priority Lien Documents and Junior Lien Documents. The Company may only effect such designation by delivering to the Collateral Trustee an Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate that:

 

(1)               states that the applicable Obligor intends to incur additional Parity Lien Debt (“Additional Parity Lien Debt”) that is permitted by each applicable Parity Lien Document to be secured with a Parity Lien equally and ratably with all previously existing and future Parity Lien Debt;

 

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(2)               except in the case of Additional Notes, specifies the name, address and contact information of the Parity Lien Representative for such series of Additional Parity Lien Debt for purposes of Section 7.6;

 

(3)               attaches as Exhibit 1 to such Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate a Reaffirmation Agreement in substantially the form attached as Exhibit 1 to Exhibit A of this Agreement, which Reaffirmation Agreement has been duly executed by the Company and each Guarantor; and

 

(4)               states that the Company has caused a copy of the Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate and, except in the case of Additional Notes, the related Collateral Trust Joinder to be delivered to each then existing Parity Lien Representative.

 

Although the Company shall be required to deliver a copy of each Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate and each Collateral Trust Joinder to each then existing Parity Lien Representative, the failure to so deliver a copy of the Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate and/or Collateral Trust Joinder to any then existing Parity Lien Representative shall not affect the status of such debt as Additional Parity Lien Debt if the other requirements of this Section 3.8 are complied with. Each of the Collateral Trustee and the other then existing Parity Lien Representatives shall have the right to request that the Company provide a legal opinion or opinions of counsel (subject to customary assumptions and qualifications) as to the Additional Parity Lien Debt being secured by a valid and perfected security interest in the Collateral; provided that (i) such legal opinion or opinions need not address any collateral of a type not previously covered by any legal opinion delivered by or on behalf of the Company and (ii) nothing shall preclude such legal opinion or opinions from being delivered on a post-closing basis after the incurrence of such Additional Parity Lien Debt if permitted by the Parity Lien Representative for such Additional Parity Lien Debt. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement will be construed to allow the Company or any Guarantor to incur additional Indebtedness (including Additional Notes) unless otherwise permitted by the terms of all applicable Parity Lien Documents, Priority Lien Documents and Junior Lien Documents.

 

(c)          With respect to any Parity Lien Obligations constituting Additional Notes or a Series of Parity Lien Debt that is issued or incurred after the date hereof, each Obligor agrees to take such actions (if any) as may from time to time reasonably be requested by the Collateral Trustee, any Parity Lien Representative or any Act of Parity Lien Debtholders, and enter into such technical amendments, modifications and/or supplements to the then existing Guarantees and Parity Lien Security Documents (or execute and deliver such additional Parity Lien Security Documents) as may from time to time be reasonably requested by such Persons (including as contemplated by Section 3.8(d) below), to ensure that the Additional Notes or the Additional Parity Lien Debt, as applicable, are secured by, and entitled to the benefits of, the Parity Lien Security Documents, and each Parity Lien Secured Party (by its acceptance of the benefits hereof) hereby agrees to, and authorizes the Collateral Trustee to enter into, any such technical amendments, modifications and/or supplements (and additional Parity Lien Security Documents). The Obligors hereby further agree that, if there are any recording, filing or other similar fees payable in connection with any of the actions to be taken pursuant to this Section 3.8(c) or Section 3.8(d), all such amounts shall be paid by, and shall be for the account of, the Obligors, on a joint and several basis.

 

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(d)          Without limitation of the foregoing, upon reasonable request of the Collateral Trustee, any Parity Lien Representative or any Act of Parity Lien Debtholders, each Obligor agrees to take the following actions with respect to any real property Collateral (including Oil and Gas Properties (as defined in the Indenture as in effect on the date hereof)) with respect to all Additional Parity Lien Debt (other than Additional Notes to the extent the aggregate amount of outstanding Initial Notes and Additional Notes does not exceed the maximum amount of Indebtedness listed in existing Mortgages) (it being understood that any such actions may be taken following the incurrence of any such Additional Parity Lien Debt on a post-closing basis if permitted by the Parity Lien Representative for such Additional Parity Lien Debt):

 

(1)               each applicable Obligor shall enter into, and deliver to the Collateral Trustee, a Mortgage modification or new Mortgage with regard to each real property subject to a Mortgage (each such property a “Mortgaged Property”), in proper form for recording in all applicable jurisdictions, in a form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Trustee; and

 

(2)               each applicable Obligor will cause to be delivered to the Collateral Trustee a local counsel opinion (subject to customary assumptions and qualifications) to the effect that the Collateral Trustee has a valid and perfected Lien with respect to each such Mortgaged Property, provided that, in the case of Additional Notes, to the extent Mortgages have previously been recorded in the public records of the state applicable to such additional Mortgages or amendments or supplements to prior Mortgages, no such opinion shall be required unless a corresponding opinion will be delivered to the Priority Lien Agent, and in the case of other Additional Parity Lien Debt, such opinion requirements will be subject to the applicable Parity Lien Documents.

 

The Company will deliver an Officers’ Certificate to the Collateral Trustee confirming that the foregoing conditions have been satisfied.

 

Article 4
OBLIGATIONS ENFORCEABLE BY THE OBLIGORS

 

Section 4.1         Release of Liens on Collateral.

 

(a)          The Collateral Trustee’s Liens upon the Collateral will be automatically released:

 

(1)               in whole, upon (A) payment in full in cash and discharge of all outstanding Parity Lien Debt and all other Parity Lien Obligations that are outstanding, due and payable at the time all of the Parity Lien Debt is paid in full in cash and discharged (other than contingent indemnity obligations for which no claim has been made), (B) termination or expiration of all commitments to extend credit under all Parity Lien Documents and (C) the cancellation or termination or cash collateralization (at the lower of (1) 105% of the aggregate undrawn amount and (2) the percentage of the aggregate undrawn amount required for release of Liens under the terms of the applicable Parity Lien Documents) of all outstanding letters of credit issued pursuant to any Parity Lien Documents;

 

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(2)               as to any Collateral of an Obligor that is (A) released as a Guarantor under each Parity Lien Document and (B) not obligated (as primary obligor or guarantor) with respect to any other Parity Lien Obligations and so long as the respective release does not violate the terms of any Parity Lien Document which then remains in effect, and subject to the satisfaction of the requirements set forth in Section 4.01(a)(i) of the Intercreditor Agreement;

 

(3)               as to any Collateral of an Obligor that is sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by an Obligor to a Person that is not (either before or after such sale, transfer or disposition) the Company or a Subsidiary in a transaction or other circumstance that does not violate Section 4.12 of the Indenture (other than the obligation to apply proceeds of such Collateral Sale (as defined in the Indenture) as provided in such Section 4.12 of the Indenture) and is permitted by all of the other Parity Lien Documents, and subject to the satisfaction of the requirements set forth in Section 4.01(a)(i) of the Intercreditor Agreement, at the time of such sale, transfer or other disposition or to the extent of the interest sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of; provided that the Collateral Trustee’s Liens upon the Collateral will not be released if the sale or other disposition is subject to Section 5.01 of the Indenture;

 

(4)               as to a release of less than all or substantially all of the Collateral, if consent to the release of all Parity Liens on such Collateral has been given by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders;

 

(5)               in whole, if the Liens on such Collateral have been released in accordance with the terms of each Series of Parity Lien Debt;

 

(6)               as to a release of all or substantially all of the Collateral, if (A) consent to the release of that Collateral has been given by the requisite percentage or number of holders of each Series of Parity Lien Debt at the time outstanding as provided for in the applicable Parity Lien Documents and (B) the Company, as applicable, has delivered an Officers’ Certificate to the Collateral Trustee certifying that all such necessary consents have been obtained;

 

(7)               as to any Collateral that becomes Excluded Property; or

 

(8)               if and to the extent, and in the manner, required by Section 4.01(a) of the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

(b)          The Collateral Trustee agrees for the benefit of the Obligors that if the Collateral Trustee at any time receives:

 

(1)               an Officers’ Certificate (which the Collateral Trustee shall be entitled to rely upon) stating that (A) the signing officer has read Article 4 of this Agreement and understands the provisions and the definitions relating hereto, (B) such officer has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an informed opinion as to whether or not the conditions precedent in this Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement and all other Parity Lien Documents, if any, relating to the release of the Collateral have been complied with, (C) in the opinion of such officer, such conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with and (D) such release of Collateral did not violate the terms of any applicable Parity Lien Document; and

 

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(2)               the proposed instrument or instruments releasing such Lien as to such property in recordable form, if applicable;

 

then, promptly following receipt by the Collateral Trustee of the items required by this Section 4.1(b), upon request of the Company, the Collateral Trustee will execute (with such acknowledgements and/or notarizations as are required) and deliver evidence of such release to the applicable Obligor; provided that, in the case of a release of Liens under Section 4.1(a)(8), the Collateral Trustee shall execute and deliver such proposed instruments releasing its Liens contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of such similar instruments by the Priority Lien Agent in accordance with the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

(c)          The Collateral Trustee hereby agrees that:

 

(1)               in the case of any release pursuant to Section 4.1(a)(3), if the terms of any such sale, transfer or other disposition require the payment of the purchase price to be contemporaneous with the delivery of the applicable release, then, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and at the written request of and at the expense of the applicable Obligor, the Collateral Trustee will either (A) be present at and deliver the release at the closing of such transaction or (B) deliver the release under customary escrow arrangements that permit such contemporaneous payment and delivery of the release; and

 

(2)               at any time when a Parity Lien Debt Default has occurred and is continuing, within one Business Day of the receipt by it of any Act of Parity Lien Debtholders pursuant to Section 4.1(a)(4), the Collateral Trustee will deliver a copy of such Act of Parity Lien Debtholders to each Parity Lien Representative.

 

Section 4.2         Delivery of Copies to Parity Lien Representatives. The Company will deliver to each Parity Lien Representative a copy of each Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Collateral Trustee pursuant to Section 4.1(b), together with copies of all documents delivered to the Collateral Trustee with such Officers’ Certificate. The Parity Lien Representatives will not be obligated to take notice thereof or to act thereon. Each Parity Lien Representative shall, following receipt by it of the Officers’ Certificate and proposed release instrument(s) delivered to the Collateral Trustee pursuant to Section 4.1(b), deliver a copy of such notice to each registered holder of the Series of Parity Lien Debt for which it acts as Parity Lien Representative to the extent and within the timeframe required by the applicable Parity Lien Debt Documents.

 

Section 4.3         Collateral Trustee not Required to Serve, File or Record. Subject to Section 3.2, the Collateral Trustee is not required to serve, file, register or record any instrument releasing or subordinating its Liens on any Collateral; provided that if any Obligor shall make a written demand for a termination statement under Section 9-513(c) of the UCC, the Collateral Trustee shall comply with the written request of such Obligor to comply with the requirements of such UCC provision (which written request must be accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate relating to the same); provided, further, that the Collateral Trustee must first confirm with the Parity Lien Representatives that the requirements of such UCC provisions have been satisfied.

 

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Section 4.4         Release of Liens in Respect of Notes. In addition to any release pursuant to Section 4.1 hereof, the Collateral Trustee’s Parity Liens will no longer secure the Notes outstanding under the Indenture or any other Obligations under the Note Documents, and the right of the holders of the Notes to the benefits and proceeds of the Collateral Trustee’s Parity Liens on the Collateral will terminate and be discharged upon written certification to that effect delivered by the Trustee to the Collateral Trustee in connection with a release under the Indenture.

 

Section 4.5         Release of Liens in Respect of any Series of Parity Lien Debt other than the Notes. In addition to any release pursuant to Section 4.1 hereof, as to any Series of Parity Lien Debt other than the Notes, the Collateral Trustee’s Parity Lien will no longer secure such Series of Parity Lien Debt if such Parity Lien Debt has been paid in full, all commitments to extend credit in respect of such Series of Parity Lien Debt have been terminated and all other Parity Lien Obligations related thereto that are outstanding and unpaid at the time such Series of Parity Lien Debt is paid are also paid in full, or upon written certification to that effect delivered by the applicable Parity Lien Representative to the Collateral Trustee in connection with a release under such Parity Lien Debt or the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Article 5
IMMUNITIES OF THE COLLATERAL TRUSTEE

 

Section 5.1         No Implied Duty. The Collateral Trustee will not have any fiduciary duties nor will it have responsibilities or obligations other than those expressly assumed by it in this Agreement, the other Parity Lien Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement. No implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Agreement, the other Parity Lien Documents or the Intercreditor Agreement, or otherwise exist against the Collateral Trustee. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentences, the use of the term “trustee” in this Agreement with reference to the Collateral Trustee is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law. Instead, such term is used merely as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between independent contracting parties. The Collateral Trustee will not be required to take any action that is contrary to applicable law or any provision of this Agreement, the other Parity Lien Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Section 5.2         Appointment of Agents and Advisors. The Collateral Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents, attorneys, accountants, appraisers or other experts or advisors selected by it in good faith as it may reasonably require and will not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any of them.

 

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Section 5.3         Other Agreements. The Collateral Trustee has accepted its appointment as collateral trustee hereunder and is bound by the Parity Lien Security Documents executed by the Collateral Trustee as of the date of this Agreement, and the Collateral Trustee shall at the request of the Company execute additional Parity Lien Security Documents delivered to it after the date of this Agreement (including to secure Obligations arising under Additional Parity Lien Debt to the extent such Obligations are permitted to be incurred and secured under the Parity Lien Documents); provided that such additional Parity Lien Security Documents do not adversely affect the rights, privileges, benefits and immunities of the Collateral Trustee or conflict with the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement. The Collateral Trustee will not otherwise be bound by, or be held obligated by, the provisions of any credit agreement, indenture or other agreement governing Parity Lien Debt (other than this Agreement, the Indenture and the other Parity Lien Security Documents to which it is a party).

 

Section 5.4         Solicitation of Instructions.

 

(a)          The Collateral Trustee may at any time solicit written confirmatory instructions, in the form of an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders, an Officers’ Certificate, a legal opinion from counsel to the Company (which counsel may be an employee or counsel of the Company) or an order of a court of competent jurisdiction, as to any action that it may be requested or required to take, or that it may propose to take, in the performance of any of its obligations under this Agreement or the other Parity Lien Security Documents, and the Collateral Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on any such certificate, opinion or order. In the absence of bad faith on its part, the Collateral Trustee may rely, and will 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 Person. The Collateral Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document, but, in the case of any document which is specifically required to be furnished to the Collateral Trustee pursuant to any provision hereof, the Collateral Trustee shall examine the document to determine whether it conforms to the requirements of this Agreement or the applicable Parity Lien Debt Document (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).

 

(b)          No written direction given to the Collateral Trustee by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders that in the sole judgment of the Collateral Trustee imposes, purports to impose or might reasonably be expected to impose upon the Collateral Trustee any obligation or liability not set forth in or arising under this Agreement and the other Parity Lien Security Documents will be binding upon the Collateral Trustee unless the Collateral Trustee elects, at its sole option, to accept such direction.

 

(c)          The Collateral Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Agreement at the request, order or direction of the Required Parity Lien Debtholders pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, unless such holders shall have furnished to the Collateral Trustee reasonable security or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred therein or thereby.

 

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Section 5.5         Limitation of Liability. The Collateral Trustee will not be responsible or liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it hereunder or under any other Parity Lien Security Document, except as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final, nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the Collateral Trustee’s negligence or willful misconduct.

 

Section 5.6         Documents in Satisfactory Form. The Collateral Trustee will be entitled to require that all agreements, certificates, opinions, instruments and other documents at any time submitted to it, including those expressly provided for in this Agreement, be delivered to it in a form and with substantive provisions reasonably satisfactory to it. The Collateral Trustee (i) makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of any Parity Lien Document and (ii) is not responsible for any statement in any Parity Lien Document other than its certificate of authentication and any representations and warranties made by it.

 

Section 5.7         Entitled to Rely. The Collateral Trustee may seek and rely upon, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, any judicial order or judgment, upon any advice, opinion or statement of legal counsel, independent consultants and other experts selected by it in good faith and upon any certification, instruction, notice or other writing delivered to it by the Company or any Guarantor in compliance with the provisions of this Agreement or delivered to it by any Parity Lien Representative as to the holders of Parity Lien Obligations for whom it acts, without being required to determine the authenticity thereof or the correctness of any fact stated therein or the propriety or validity of service thereof. The Collateral Trustee may act in reliance upon any instrument comporting with the provisions of this Agreement or any signature believed by it in good faith to be genuine and may assume that any Person purporting to give notice or receipt or advice or make any statement or execute any document in connection with the provisions hereof or the other Parity Lien Security Documents has been duly authorized to do so. To the extent an Officers’ Certificate or opinion of counsel is required or permitted under this Agreement to be delivered to the Collateral Trustee in respect of any matter, the Collateral Trustee may rely conclusively on an Officers’ Certificate or opinion of counsel as to such matter and such Officers’ Certificate or opinion of counsel shall be full warranty and protection to the Collateral Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the provisions of this Agreement and the other Parity Lien Security Documents. The Collateral Trustee (a) shall not be responsible to any Parity Lien Secured Party for any recitals, statements, information, representations or warranties of any other Person contained herein, in the Parity Lien Documents or in any document, certificate or other writing delivered in connection herewith or therewith or for the execution, effectiveness, genuineness, validity, enforceability, collectability, priority or sufficiency of this Agreement, the Parity Lien Documents or the financial condition of the Company, the Guarantors or any of them and (b) shall not be required to ascertain or inquire as to the performance or observation of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of this Agreement or any Parity Lien Document.

 

Section 5.8         Parity Lien Debt Default. The Collateral Trustee will not be required to inquire as to the occurrence or absence of any Parity Lien Debt Default and will not be affected by or required to act upon any notice or knowledge as to the occurrence of any Parity Lien Debt Default unless and until it is directed by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders.

 

Section 5.9         Actions by Collateral Trustee. As to any matter not expressly provided for by this Agreement or the other Parity Lien Security Documents, the Collateral Trustee will act or refrain from acting as directed by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders and will be fully protected if it does so, and any action taken, suffered or omitted pursuant hereto or thereto shall be binding on the holders of Parity Lien Obligations.

 

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Section 5.10       Security or Indemnity in favor of the Collateral Trustee. The Collateral Trustee will not be required to advance or expend any funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of its duties or the exercise of its powers or rights hereunder unless it has been provided with security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against any and all liability or expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take such action.

 

Section 5.11        Rights of the Collateral Trustee. In the event of any conflict between any terms and provisions set forth in this Agreement and those set forth in any other Parity Lien Security Document, the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall supersede and control the terms and provisions of such other Parity Lien Security Document. In the event there is any bona fide, good faith disagreement between the other parties to this Agreement or any of the other Parity Lien Security Documents resulting in adverse claims being made in connection with Collateral held by the Collateral Trustee and the terms of this Agreement or any of the other Parity Lien Security Documents do not unambiguously mandate the action the Collateral Trustee is to take or not to take in connection therewith under the circumstances then existing, or the Collateral Trustee is in doubt as to what action it is required to take or not to take hereunder or under the other Parity Lien Security Documents, it will be entitled to refrain from taking any action (and will incur no liability for doing so) until directed otherwise in writing by a request signed jointly by the parties hereto entitled to give such direction or by order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

Section 5.12        Limitations on Duty of Collateral Trustee in Respect of Collateral.

 

(a)          Beyond the exercise of reasonable care in the custody of Collateral in its possession, the Collateral Trustee will have no duty as to any Collateral in its possession or control or in the possession or control of any agent or bailee or any income thereon or as to preservation of rights against prior parties or any other rights pertaining thereto and the Collateral Trustee will not be responsible for filing any financing or continuation statements or recording any documents or instruments in any public office at any time or times or otherwise perfecting or maintaining the perfection of any Liens on the Collateral; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Collateral Trustee will have the right but not the obligation to execute, file or record UCC-3 continuation statements and other documents and instruments to preserve, protect or perfect the security interests granted to the Collateral Trustee (subject to the priorities set forth herein) if it shall receive a specific written request to execute, file or record the particular continuation statement or other specific document or instrument by any Parity Lien Representative. The Collateral Trustee shall deliver to each other Parity Lien Representative a copy of any such written request. The Collateral Trustee will be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody of the Collateral in its possession if the Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which it accords its own property, and the Collateral Trustee will not be liable or responsible for any loss or diminution in the value of any of the Collateral by reason of the act or omission of any carrier, forwarding agency or other agent or bailee selected by the Collateral Trustee in good faith.

 

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(b)               Except as provided in Section 5.12(a), the Collateral Trustee will not be responsible for the existence, genuineness or value of any of the Collateral or for the validity, perfection, priority or enforceability of the Liens in any of the Collateral, for the validity or sufficiency of the Collateral or any agreement or assignment contained therein, for the validity of the title of any Obligor to the Collateral, for insuring the Collateral or for the payment of taxes, charges, assessments or Liens upon the Collateral or otherwise as to the maintenance of the Collateral. The Collateral Trustee hereby disclaims any representation or warranty to the current and future holders of the Parity Lien Obligations concerning the perfection of the security interests granted to it or in the value of any Collateral. The Collateral Trustee shall not be under any obligation to the Trustee or any holder of Parity Lien Debt to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this or any other Parity Lien Security Document or the Intercreditor Agreement or to inspect the properties, books or records of the Company or any Guarantor.

 

Section 5.13     Assumption of Rights, Not Assumption of Duties. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein:

 

(1)               each of the parties thereto will remain liable under each of the Parity Lien Security Documents (other than this Agreement) to the extent set forth therein to perform all of their respective duties and obligations thereunder to the same extent as if this Agreement had not been executed;

 

(2)               the exercise by the Collateral Trustee of any of its rights, remedies or powers hereunder will not release such parties from any of their respective duties or obligations under the other Parity Lien Security Documents; and

 

(3)               the Collateral Trustee will not be obligated to perform any of the obligations or duties of any Obligor.

 

Section 5.14     No Liability for Clean Up of Hazardous Materials. In the event that the Collateral Trustee is required to acquire title to an asset for any reason, or take any managerial action of any kind in regard thereto, in order to carry out any fiduciary or trust obligation for the benefit of another, which in the Collateral Trustee’s sole discretion may cause the Collateral Trustee to be considered an “owner or operator” under any environmental laws or otherwise cause the Collateral Trustee to incur, or be exposed to, any environmental liability or any liability under any other federal, state or local law, the Collateral Trustee reserves the right, instead of taking such action, either to resign as Collateral Trustee (in accordance with Article 6) or to arrange for the transfer of the title or control of the asset to a court appointed receiver. The Collateral Trustee will not be liable to any Person for any environmental liability or any environmental claims or contribution actions under any federal, state or local law, rule or regulation by reason of the Collateral Trustee’s actions and conduct as authorized, empowered and directed hereunder or relating to any kind of discharge or release or threatened discharge or release of any hazardous materials into the environment.

 

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Section 5.15     Other Relationships with the Company or Guarantors. Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas and its Affiliates (and any successor Collateral Trustee and its Affiliates) may make loans to, issue letters of credit for the account of, accept deposits from, acquire equity interests in and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust, financial advisory, underwriting or other business with the Company or any Guarantor and its Affiliates as though it was not the Collateral Trustee hereunder and without notice to or consent of the Parity Lien Representatives. The Parity Lien Representatives and the holders of the Parity Lien Obligations acknowledge that, pursuant to such activities, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas or its Affiliates (and any successor Collateral Trustee and its Affiliates) may receive information regarding the Company or any Guarantor or its Affiliates (including information that may be subject to confidentiality obligations in favor of the Company, such Guarantor or such Affiliate) and acknowledge that the Collateral Trustee shall not be under any obligation to provide such information to the Parity Lien Representatives or the holders of the Parity Lien Obligations. Nothing herein shall impose or imply any obligation on the part of Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (or any successor Collateral Trustee) to advance funds.

 

Article 6
RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF THE COLLATERAL TRUSTEE

 

Section 6.1         Resignation or Removal of Collateral Trustee. Subject to the appointment of a successor Collateral Trustee as provided in Section 6.2 and the acceptance of such appointment by the successor Collateral Trustee:

 

(a)               the Collateral Trustee may resign at any time by giving not less than 30 days’ notice of resignation to each Parity Lien Representative and the Company; and

 

(b)               the Collateral Trustee may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders by giving not less than 30 days’ notice to the Collateral Trustee.

 

Section 6.2         Appointment of Successor Collateral Trustee. Upon any such resignation or removal, a successor Collateral Trustee may be appointed by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders. If no successor Collateral Trustee has been so appointed and accepted such appointment within 30 days after the predecessor Collateral Trustee gave notice of resignation or was removed, the retiring Collateral Trustee may (at the expense of the Company), at its option, appoint a successor Collateral Trustee, or petition a court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a successor Collateral Trustee, which must be a bank or trust company:

 

(1)               authorized to exercise corporate trust powers; and

 

(2)               having a combined capital and surplus of at least $250,000,000.

 

The Collateral Trustee will fulfill its obligations hereunder until a successor Collateral Trustee meeting the requirements of this Section 6.2 has accepted its appointment as Collateral Trustee and the provisions of Section 6.3 have been satisfied.

 

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Section 6.3         Succession. When the Person so appointed as successor Collateral Trustee accepts such appointment:

 

(1)               such Person will succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the predecessor Collateral Trustee, and the predecessor Collateral Trustee will be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder; and

 

(2)               the predecessor Collateral Trustee will (at the expense of the Company) promptly transfer all Liens and collateral security and other property of the Trust Estate within its possession or control to the possession or control of the successor Collateral Trustee and will execute instruments and assignments as may be necessary or desirable or reasonably requested by the successor Collateral Trustee to transfer to the successor Collateral Trustee all Liens, interests, rights, powers and remedies of the predecessor Collateral Trustee in respect of the Parity Lien Security Documents or the Trust Estate.

 

Thereafter the predecessor Collateral Trustee will remain entitled to enforce the immunities granted to it in Article 5 and the provisions of Sections 7.8 and 7.9, and said provisions will survive termination of this Agreement for the benefit of the predecessor of the Collateral Trustee.

 

Section 6.4        Merger, Conversion or Consolidation of Collateral Trustee. Any Person into which the Collateral Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Collateral Trustee shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to the business of the Collateral Trustee shall be the successor of the Collateral Trustee pursuant to Section 6.3, provided that (i) without the execution or filing of any paper with any party hereto or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, except where an instrument of transfer or assignment is required by law to effect such succession, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, such Person satisfies the eligibility requirements specified in clauses (1) and (2) of Section 6.2 and (ii) prior to any such merger, conversion or consolidation, the Collateral Trustee shall have notified the Company and each Parity Lien Representative thereof in writing.

 

Section 6.5         Concerning the Collateral Trustee and the Parity Lien Representatives.

 

(a)               Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, it is expressly understood and agreed by the parties hereto that this Agreement has been signed by each Parity Lien Representative not in its individual capacity or personally but solely in its capacity as trustee, representative or agent for the benefit of the related holders of the applicable Series of Parity Lien Debt in the exercise of the powers and authority conferred and vested in it under the related Parity Lien Documents, and in no event shall such Parity Lien Representative, in its individual capacity, have any liability for the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements or other obligations of any other party under this Agreement, any Parity Lien Document or in any of the certificates, reports, documents, data notices or agreements delivered by such other party pursuant hereto or thereto.

 

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(b)               Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, it is expressly understood and agreed by the parties hereto that this Agreement has been signed by Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, not in its individual capacity or personally but solely in its capacity as Collateral Trustee, and in no event shall Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, in its individual capacity, have any liability for the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements or other obligations of any other party under this Agreement, any Parity Lien Document or in any of the certificates, reports, documents, data notices or agreements delivered by such other party pursuant hereto or thereto.

 

(c)               [Reserved.]

 

(d)               In entering into this Agreement, the Collateral Trustee shall be entitled to the benefit of every provision of the Indenture relating to the rights, exculpations or conduct of, affecting the liability of or otherwise affording protection to the “Collateral Trustee” thereunder. In no event will the Collateral Trustee be liable for any act or omission on the part of the Obligors or any Parity Lien Representative.

 

(e)               Except as otherwise set forth herein, neither the Collateral Trustee nor any Parity Lien Representative shall be required to exercise any discretion or take any action, but shall be required to act or refrain from acting (and shall be fully protected in so acting or refraining from acting) solely upon the instructions of the applicable Required Parity Lien Debtholders as provided in the Indenture or the related Parity Lien Document; provided that neither the Collateral Trustee nor any Parity Lien Representative shall be required to take any action that (i) it in good faith believes exposes it to personal liability unless it receives an indemnification satisfactory to it from the applicable holders of the Parity Lien Obligations with respect to such action or (ii) is contrary to this Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement or applicable law.

 

Article 7
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

Section 7.1         Amendment.

 

(a)               Except as provided in the Intercreditor Agreement, no amendment or supplement to the provisions of any Parity Lien Security Document will be effective without the approval of the Collateral Trustee acting as directed by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders, except that:

 

(1)               any amendment or supplement that has the effect solely of:

 

(A)             adding or maintaining Collateral, securing additional Parity Lien Debt that was otherwise permitted by the terms of the Parity Lien Documents, Priority Lien Documents and Junior Lien Documents to be secured by the Collateral or preserving, perfecting or establishing the Liens thereon or the rights of the Collateral Trustee therein; or

 

(B)              providing for the assumption of an Obligor’s obligations under any Parity Lien Document in the case of a merger or consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of an Obligor to the extent permitted by the terms of the Indenture and the other Parity Lien Documents, as applicable;

 

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will become effective when executed and delivered by the applicable Obligor party thereto and, if required for effectiveness pursuant to its terms, the Collateral Trustee;

 

(2)               no amendment or supplement that reduces, impairs or adversely affects the right of any holder of Parity Lien Obligations:

 

(A)             to vote its outstanding Parity Lien Debt as to any matter described as subject to an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders or direction by the Required Parity Lien Debtholders (or amends the provisions of this clause (2) or the definition of “Act of Parity Lien Debtholders” or “Required Parity Lien Debtholders”),

 

(B)              to share in the order of application described in Section 3.4 in the proceeds of enforcement of or realization on any Collateral; or

 

(C)              to require that Liens securing Parity Lien Obligations be released only as set forth in the provisions described in Sections 4.1, 4.4 or 4.5,

 

will become effective without the consent of the requisite percentage or number of holders of each Series of Parity Lien Debt adversely affected thereby under the applicable Parity Lien Document; and

 

(3)               no amendment or supplement that imposes any obligation upon the Collateral Trustee or any Parity Lien Representative or adversely affects the rights of the Collateral Trustee or any Parity Lien Representative, respectively, in its individual capacity as such will become effective without the consent of the Collateral Trustee or such Parity Lien Representative, respectively.

 

Any amendment or supplement to the provisions of the Parity Lien Security Documents that releases Collateral will be effective only in accordance with the requirements set forth in the applicable Parity Lien Document referenced in Sections 4.1 or 4.5 hereof. Any amendment or supplement that results in the Collateral Trustee’s Liens upon the Collateral no longer securing the Notes and the other Obligations under the Indenture and other Note Documents may only be effected in accordance with Section 4.4 hereof.

 

(b)               Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 7.1(a) but subject to Sections 7.1(a)(2) and 7.1(a)(3):

 

(1)               any Mortgage or other Parity Lien Security Document may be amended or supplemented with the approval of the Collateral Trustee acting as directed in writing by the Required Parity Lien Debtholders, unless such amendment or supplement would not be permitted under the terms of this Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement or any Priority Lien Documents;

 

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(2)               any amendment or waiver of, or any consent under, any provision of any security document that secures Priority Lien Obligations will apply automatically to any comparable provision of any comparable Parity Lien Security Document without the consent of or notice to any holder of Parity Lien Obligations and without any action by any Obligor or any holder of Notes or other Parity Lien Obligations; and

 

(3)               any Mortgage or other Parity Lien Security Document, the Intercreditor Agreement and this Agreement may be amended or supplemented with the approval of the Collateral Trustee (but without the consent of or notice to any holder of Parity Lien Obligations and without any action by any holder of Notes or other Parity Lien Obligations), in reliance on an Officers’ Certificate and an opinion of counsel (i) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, or (ii) solely with respect to a Mortgage or other Parity Lien Security Document, to make other changes that do not have an adverse effect on the validity of the Lien created thereby.

 

(c)               The Collateral Trustee will not enter into any amendment or supplement unless it has received an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that such amendment or supplement will not result in a breach of any provision or covenant contained in this Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement or any of the Parity Lien Documents. Prior to executing any amendment or supplement pursuant to this Section 7.1, the Collateral Trustee will be entitled to receive an opinion of counsel of the Company (which counsel may be an employee or counsel of the Company) to the effect that the execution of such document is authorized or permitted hereunder, and with respect to amendments adding Collateral, an opinion of counsel of the Company (which counsel may be an employee or counsel of the Company) addressing customary creation and perfection, and if such additional Collateral consists of equity interests of any Person which equity interests constitute certificated securities, priority matters with respect to such additional Collateral (which opinion may be subject to customary assumptions and qualifications).

 

Section 7.2         Voting. In connection with any matter under this Agreement requiring a vote of holders of Parity Lien Debt, each Series of Parity Lien Debt will cast its votes in accordance with the Parity Lien Documents governing such Series of Parity Lien Debt. The amount of Parity Lien Debt to be voted by a Series of Parity Lien Debt will equal (1) the aggregate principal amount of Parity Lien Debt held by such Series of Parity Lien Debt (including outstanding letters of credit whether or not then available or drawn), plus (2) other than in connection with an exercise of remedies, the aggregate unfunded commitments to extend credit which, when funded, would constitute Indebtedness of such Series of Parity Lien Debt (to the extent such unfunded commitments have not been terminated by the holders of such Series of Parity Lien Debt). Following and in accordance with the outcome of the applicable vote under its Parity Lien Documents, the Parity Lien Representative of each Series of Parity Lien Debt will vote the total amount of Parity Lien Debt under that Series of Parity Lien Debt as a block in respect of any vote under this Agreement. In connection with this Section 7.2, the Collateral Trustee may conclusively rely upon information supplied by the relevant Parity Lien Representative as to the amounts of Parity Lien Debt held by each Series of Parity Lien Debt.

 

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Section 7.3         Further Assurances.

 

(a)               The Obligors will do or cause to be done all acts and things that may be required, or that the Collateral Trustee from time to time may reasonably request, to assure and confirm that the Collateral Trustee holds, for the benefit of the holders of Parity Lien Obligations, duly created Liens upon the Collateral (including any property or assets constituting Collateral that are acquired or otherwise become, or are required by any Parity Lien Document to become, Collateral after the date hereof), in each case, as contemplated by, and, to the extent required to be perfected, perfected, and enforceable Liens, with the Lien priority required under the Parity Lien Documents. In connection with any merger or consolidation of any Obligor, the property and assets of the Person which is consolidated or merged with or into any Obligor, to the extent that they are property or assets of the types which would constitute Collateral under the Parity Lien Security Documents, shall be treated as after-acquired property and such Obligor shall take such action as may be reasonably necessary to cause such property and assets to be made subject to the Parity Liens, in the manner and to the extent required under the Parity Lien Documents.

 

(b)               Upon the reasonable request of the Collateral Trustee or any Parity Lien Representative at any time and from time to time, each of the Obligors will promptly execute, acknowledge and deliver such security documents, instruments, certificates, notices and other documents, and take such other actions as may be reasonably required, or that the Collateral Trustee may reasonably request, to create, perfect, protect, assure or enforce the Liens and benefits intended to be conferred, in each case as contemplated by the Parity Lien Documents for the benefit of holders of Parity Lien Obligations; provided that no such security document, instrument or other document shall contain provisions that are materially more burdensome upon the Obligors than the Parity Lien Documents executed and delivered (or required to be executed and delivered promptly after the date hereof) by the Obligors in connection with the issuance of the Initial Notes.

 

(c)               From and after the date hereof, the Company shall, or shall cause the applicable Guarantor to, deliver such documents and take such actions as are required by Article 11 of the Indenture.

 

(d)               Upon the request of the Collateral Trustee, the Company and the Guarantors will permit the Collateral Trustee or any of its agents or representatives, at reasonable times and intervals upon reasonable prior notice, to visit their offices and sites and inspect any of the Collateral and to discuss matters relating to the Collateral with their respective officers and independent public accountants. The Company and the Guarantors shall, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice, permit the Collateral Trustee or any of its agents or representatives to examine and make copies of and abstracts from the records and books of account of the Company and the Guarantors and their Subsidiaries, all at the Company’s expense.

 

(e)               Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Parity Lien Document, to the extent that the Company or any Guarantor delivers Mortgages or amendments or supplements to prior Mortgages naming the Collateral Trustee, as mortgagee or beneficiary pursuant to this Section 7.3 or any corresponding provision of any Parity Lien Document, no local counsel opinion or opinions to the effect that the Collateral Trustee has a valid and perfected Lien with respect to such Mortgaged Property (subject to customary assumptions and qualifications) will be required to be delivered to the extent Mortgages have previously been recorded in the public records of the state applicable to such additional Mortgages or amendments or supplements to prior Mortgages, unless a corresponding opinion has been or will be delivered to the Priority Lien Agent.

 

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Section 7.4         Successors and Assigns.

 

(a)               Except as provided in Section 5.2 and 6.1 through 6.4, the Collateral Trustee may not, in its capacity as such, delegate any of its duties or assign any of its rights hereunder, and any attempted delegation or assignment of any such duties or rights will be null and void. All obligations of the Collateral Trustee hereunder will inure to the sole and exclusive benefit of, and be enforceable by, each Parity Lien Representative and each present and future holder of Parity Lien Obligations, each of whom will be entitled to enforce this Agreement as a third-party beneficiary hereof, and all of their respective successors and assigns.

 

(b)               Neither the Company nor any Guarantor may delegate any of its duties or assign any of its rights hereunder, and any attempted delegation or assignment of any such duties or rights will be null and void. All obligations of the Company and the Guarantors hereunder will inure to the sole and exclusive benefit of, and be enforceable by, the Collateral Trustee, each Parity Lien Representative and each present and future holder of Parity Lien Obligations, each of whom will be entitled to enforce this Agreement as a third-party beneficiary hereof, and all of their respective successors and assigns.

 

Section 7.5         Delay and Waiver. No failure to exercise, no course of dealing with respect to the exercise of, and no delay in exercising, any right, power or remedy arising under this Agreement or any of the other Parity Lien Security Documents will impair any such right, power or remedy or operate as a waiver thereof. No single or partial exercise of any such right, power or remedy will preclude any other or future exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy. The remedies herein are cumulative and are not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.

 

Section 7.6         Notices. Any communications, including notices and instructions, between the parties hereto or notices provided herein to be given may be given to the following addresses:

 

If to the Collateral Trustee:                                           Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas

Trust and Agency Services

60 Wall Street, 24th Floor

Mail Stop: NYC60-2407

New York, New York 10005

USA

Attn: Corporates Team, Chesapeake Energy Corp.

Facsimile: (732) 578-4635

 

If to any Obligor:                                                           Chesapeake Energy Corporation

6100 North Western Avenue

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73118

Attention: Treasurer

Facsimile: (405) 849-6119

Email: bryan.lemmerman@chk.com

 

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If to the Trustee:                                                            Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas

Trust and Agency Services

60 Wall Street, 24th Floor

Mail Stop: NYC60-2407

New York, New York 10005

USA

Attn: Corporates Team, Chesapeake Energy Corp.

Facsimile: (732) 578-4635

 

and if to any other Parity Lien Representative, to such address as it may specify by written notice to the parties named above.

 

All notices and communications will be mailed by first class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, or delivered by facsimile to the relevant address or number set forth above or, as to holders of Parity Lien Debt, its address shown on the register kept by the office or agency where the relevant Parity Lien Debt may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange. Failure to mail or deliver by facsimile a notice or communication to a holder of Parity Lien Debt or any defect in it will not affect its sufficiency with respect to other holders of Parity Lien Debt.

 

If a notice or communication is mailed or delivered by facsimile in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

 

Section 7.7         Entire Agreement. This Agreement states the complete agreement of the parties relating to the undertaking of the Collateral Trustee set forth herein and supersedes all oral negotiations and prior writings in respect of such undertaking.

 

Section 7.8         Compensation; Expenses. The Obligors jointly and severally agree to pay, promptly upon demand:

 

(1)               such compensation to the Collateral Trustee and its agents as the Company and the Collateral Trustee may agree in writing from time to time;

 

(2)               all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Collateral Trustee and its agents in the preparation, execution, delivery, filing, recordation, administration or enforcement of this Agreement or any other Parity Lien Security Document or any consent, amendment, waiver or other modification relating hereto or thereto;

 

(3)               all reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of legal counsel and any auditors, accountants, consultants or appraisers or other professional advisors and agents engaged by the Collateral Trustee or any Parity Lien Representative incurred in connection with the negotiation, preparation, closing, administration, performance or enforcement of this Agreement and the other Parity Lien Security Documents or any consent, amendment, waiver or other modification relating hereto or thereto and any other document or matter requested by the Company or any Guarantor;

 

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(4)               all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Collateral Trustee and its agents in creating, perfecting, preserving, releasing or enforcing the Collateral Trustee’s Liens on the Collateral, including filing and recording fees, expenses and taxes, stamp or documentary taxes and search fees;

 

(5)               all other reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Collateral Trustee and its agents in connection with the negotiation, preparation and execution of the Parity Lien Security Documents and any consents, amendments, waivers or other modifications thereto and the transactions contemplated thereby or the exercise of rights or performance of obligations by the Collateral Trustee thereunder; and

 

(6)               after the occurrence of any Parity Lien Debt Default, all costs and expenses incurred by the Collateral Trustee, its agents and any Parity Lien Representative in connection with the preservation, collection, foreclosure or enforcement of the Collateral subject to the Parity Lien Security Documents or any interest, right, power or remedy of the Collateral Trustee or in connection with the collection or enforcement of any of the Parity Lien Obligations or the proof, protection, administration or resolution of any claim based upon the Parity Lien Obligations in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, including all fees and disbursements of attorneys, accountants, auditors, consultants, appraisers and other professionals engaged by the Collateral Trustee, its agents or the Parity Lien Representatives.

 

The agreements in this Section 7.8 will survive repayment of all other Parity Lien Obligations and the removal or resignation of the Collateral Trustee and termination of this Agreement.

 

Section 7.9         Indemnity.

 

(a)               The Obligors jointly and severally agree to defend, indemnify, pay and hold harmless the Collateral Trustee, each Parity Lien Representative, each holder of Parity Lien Obligations and each of their respective Affiliates and each and all of their directors, officers, partners, trustees, employees, attorneys and agents, and (in each case) their respective heirs, representatives, successors and assigns (each of the foregoing, an “Indemnitee”) from and against any and all Indemnified Liabilities; provided that no Indemnitee will be entitled to indemnification hereunder with respect to any Indemnified Liability to the extent such Indemnified Liability is found by a final and nonappealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee. THIS INDEMNITY COVERS ORDINARY NEGLIGENCE OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING PARTIES.

 

(b)               All amounts due under this Section 7.9 will be payable promptly upon written demand.

 

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(c)               To the extent that the undertakings to defend, indemnify, pay and hold harmless set forth in Section 7.9(a) may be unenforceable in whole or in part because they violate any law or public policy, each of the Obligors will contribute the maximum portion that it is permitted to pay and satisfy under applicable law to the payment and satisfaction of all Indemnified Liabilities incurred by Indemnitees or any of them.

 

(d)               No Obligor will ever assert any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for any lost profits or special, indirect or consequential damages or (to the fullest extent a claim for punitive damages may lawfully be waived) any punitive damages arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement or any other Parity Lien Document or any agreement or instrument or transaction contemplated hereby or relating in any respect to any Indemnified Liability, and each of the Obligors hereby forever waives, releases and agrees not to sue upon any claim for any such lost profits or special, indirect, consequential or (to the fullest extent lawful) punitive damages, whether or not accrued and whether or not known or suspected to exist in its favor.

 

(e)               The agreements in this Section 7.9 will survive repayment of all other Parity Lien Obligations and the removal or resignation of the Collateral Trustee and termination of this Agreement.

 

Section 7.10     Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect or in any jurisdiction, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provision in all other respects and of all remaining provisions, and of such provision in all other jurisdictions, will not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

Section 7.11     Headings. Section headings herein have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Agreement and will in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

 

Section 7.12     Obligations Secured. All obligations of the Obligors set forth in or arising under this Agreement will be Parity Lien Obligations and are secured by all Liens granted by the Parity Lien Security Documents.

 

Section 7.13     Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

Section 7.14     Consent to Jurisdiction. All judicial proceedings brought against any party hereto arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the other Parity Lien Security Documents may be brought in any state or federal court of competent jurisdiction in the State, County and City of New York. By executing and delivering this Agreement, each party hereto irrevocably:

 

(1)               submits, for itself and its property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State court or, to the extent permitted by law, in such federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that any party hereto may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement in the courts of any jurisdiction;

 

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(2)               waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any court referred to in paragraph (1) of this Section 7.14, and waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court;

 

(3)               agrees that service of all process in any such proceeding in any such court may be made by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to such party at its address provided in accordance with Section 7.6;

 

(4)               agrees that service as provided in clause (3) above is sufficient to confer personal jurisdiction over such party in any such proceeding in any such court and otherwise constitutes effective and binding service in every respect; and

 

(5)               agrees each party hereto retains the right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law or to bring proceedings against any party in the courts of any other jurisdiction.

 

Section 7.15     Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW ITS RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER PARITY LIEN SECURITY DOCUMENTS OR ANY DEALINGS BETWEEN THEM RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS AGREEMENT OR THE INTENTS AND PURPOSES OF THE OTHER PARITY LIEN SECURITY DOCUMENTS. THE SCOPE OF THIS WAIVER IS INTENDED TO BE ALL-ENCOMPASSING OF ANY AND ALL DISPUTES THAT MAY BE FILED IN ANY COURT AND THAT RELATE TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER PARITY LIEN SECURITY DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS, BREACH OF DUTY CLAIMS AND ALL OTHER COMMON LAW AND STATUTORY CLAIMS. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS WAIVER IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT TO ENTER INTO A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP, THAT EACH PARTY HERETO HAS ALREADY RELIED ON THIS WAIVER IN ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT, AND THAT EACH PARTY HERETO WILL CONTINUE TO RELY ON THIS WAIVER IN ITS RELATED FUTURE DEALINGS. EACH PARTY HERETO FURTHER WARRANTS AND REPRESENTS THAT IT HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER WITH ITS LEGAL COUNSEL AND THAT IT KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ITS JURY TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL. THIS WAIVER IS IRREVOCABLE, MEANING THAT IT MAY NOT BE MODIFIED EITHER ORALLY OR IN WRITING (OTHER THAN BY A MUTUAL WRITTEN WAIVER SPECIFICALLY REFERRING TO THIS SECTION 7.15 AND EXECUTED BY EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO), AND THIS WAIVER WILL APPLY TO ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS, SUPPLEMENTS OR MODIFICATIONS OF OR TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER PARITY LIEN SECURITY DOCUMENTS OR TO ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS OR AGREEMENTS RELATING THERETO. IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE FILED AS A WRITTEN CONSENT TO A TRIAL BY THE COURT.

 

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Section 7.16     Counterparts, Electronic Signatures. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts (including by facsimile), each of which when so executed and delivered will be deemed an original, but all such counterparts together will constitute but one and the same instrument. The parties hereto may sign this Agreement and any Collateral Trust Joinder and transmit the executed copy by electronic means, including facsimile or noneditable.pdf files. The electronic copy of the executed Agreement and any Collateral Trust Joinder is and shall be deemed an original signature.

 

Section 7.17     Effectiveness. This Agreement will become effective upon the execution of a counterpart hereof by each of the parties hereto and receipt by each party of written notification of such execution and written or telephonic authorization of delivery thereof.

 

Section 7.18     Obligors and Additional Obligors. Each Obligor represents and warrants that it has duly executed and delivered this Agreement. The Company will cause each Person that hereafter becomes an Obligor or is required by any Parity Lien Document to become a party to this Agreement to become a party to this Agreement, for all purposes of this Agreement, by causing such Person to execute and deliver to the Collateral Trustee a Collateral Trust Joinder, whereupon such Person will be bound by the terms hereof to the same extent as if it had executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date hereof. The Company shall promptly provide each Parity Lien Representative with a copy of each Collateral Trust Joinder executed and delivered pursuant to this Section 7.18; provided that the failure to so deliver a copy of the Collateral Trust Joinder to any then existing Parity Lien Representative shall not affect the inclusion of such Person as an Obligor if the other requirements of this Section 7.18 are complied with.

 

Section 7.19     Insolvency. This Agreement will be applicable both before and after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding by or against any Obligor. The relative rights, as provided for in this Agreement, will continue after the commencement of any such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding on the same basis as prior to the date of the commencement of any such case, as provided in this Agreement.

 

Section 7.20     Rights and Immunities of Parity Lien Representatives. The Trustee and the Collateral Trustee will be entitled, to the extent applicable to such entity, to all of the rights, protections, immunities and indemnities set forth in the Indenture and any future Parity Lien Representative will be entitled to all of the rights, protections, immunities and indemnities set forth in the credit agreement, indenture or other agreement governing the applicable Parity Lien Debt with respect to which such Person will act as representative, in each case as if specifically set forth herein. In no event will any Parity Lien Representative be liable for any act or omission on the part of the Obligors or the Collateral Trustee hereunder.

 

36

 

 

Section 7.21     Intercreditor Agreement. Each Person that is secured hereunder, by accepting the benefits of the security provided hereby, (i) consents (or is deemed to consent), to the subordination of Liens in favor of the Collateral Trustee as provided for in the Intercreditor Agreement, (ii) agrees (or is deemed to agree) that it will be bound by, and will take no actions contrary to, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, and (iii) authorizes (or is deemed to authorize) and instructs (or is deemed to instruct) the Collateral Trustee on behalf of such Person to enter into, and perform under, the Intercreditor Agreement as “Second Lien Collateral Trustee” (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement). The Collateral Trustee agrees to enter into any amendments or joinders to the Intercreditor Agreement, without the consent of any holder of Parity Lien Debt or the Parity Lien Representatives, to add additional Indebtedness as Priority Lien Debt, Parity Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt (to the extent permitted to be incurred and secured by the applicable Secured Debt Documents) and add other parties (or any authorized agent or trustee therefor) holding such Indebtedness thereto and to establish that the Lien on any Collateral securing such Indebtedness ranks equally with the Liens on such Collateral securing the other Priority Lien Debt, Parity Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt, as applicable, then outstanding. The foregoing provisions are intended as an inducement to the lenders under the Credit Agreement to extend credit to the Company, as the borrower under the Credit Agreement, and such lenders are intended third party beneficiaries of this provision and the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, to the extent that any Lien on any Collateral is perfected by the possession or control of such Collateral or of any account in which such Collateral is held, and if such Collateral or any such account is in fact in the possession or under the control of the Priority Lien Agent, or of agents or bailees of the Priority Lien Agent, the perfection actions and related deliverables described in this Agreement or the other Parity Lien Security Documents shall not be required.

 

Section 7.22     Force Majeure. The Collateral Trustee shall not be liable for delays or failures in performance resulting from acts of God, strikes, lockouts, riots, acts of war, epidemics, governmental regulations superimposed after the fact, fire, communication line failures, computer viruses, power failures, earthquakes or other disasters or similar acts beyond its control.

 

Section 7.23     Representations and Warranties. The Collateral Trustee, the Company, each Guarantor and each Parity Lien Representative represents and warrants to the others as of the date hereof (or, in the case of any Parity Lien Representative that becomes a party hereto after the date hereof, on the date that it becomes party hereto), that: (a) neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor its performance of or compliance with the terms and provisions hereof will conflict with, or result in a breach of the terms, conditions, or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any other agreement to which it is now subject, which conflict, breach or default could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Credit Agreement as in effect on the date hereof); (b) it has all requisite authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement; and (c) this Agreement constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject only to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws and general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

 

Section 7.24     Additional Persons Bound Hereby. Each Parity Lien Secured Party (other than the Parity Lien Representative) and each holder of any Parity Lien Debt (other than the Parity Lien Representative) agrees, by virtue of becoming a Parity Lien Secured Party or a holder of any Parity Lien Debt, as applicable, that it shall be bound by the terms of this Agreement as if it were a party hereto.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Collateral Trust Agreement to be executed by their respective officers or representatives as of the day and year first above written.

 

COMPANY: CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION
   
  By: /s/ Bryan J. Lemmerman
  Name: Bryan J. Lemmerman
  Title: Vice President – Business Development and Treasurer

 

[Signature Page to Collateral Trust Agreement]

 

 

 

GUARANTORS: CHESAPEAKE AEZ EXPLORATION, L.L.C.
  CHESAPEAKE APPALACHIA, L.L.C.
  CHESAPEAKE E&P HOLDING, L.L.C.
  CHESAPEAKE ENERGY LOUISIANA, LLC
  CHESAPEAKE ENERGY MARKETING, L.L.C.
  CHESAPEAKE EXPLORATION, L.L.C.
  CHESAPEAKE LAND DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.L.C.
  CHESAPEAKE MIDSTREAM DEVELOPMENT, L.L.C.
  CHESAPEAKE NG VENTURES CORPORATION
  CHESAPEAKE OPERATING, L.L.C., on behalf of itself and as
  the general partner of CHESAPEAKE LOUISIANA, L.P.
  CHESAPEAKE PLAINS, LLC
  CHESAPEAKE ROYALTY, L.L.C.
  CHESAPEAKE VRT, L.L.C.
  CHESAPEAKE-CLEMENTS ACQUISITION, L.L.C.
  CHK ENERGY HOLDINGS, INC.
  CHK UTICA, L.L.C.
  COMPASS MANUFACTURING, L.L.C.
  EMLP, L.L.C., on behalf of itself and as general partner of
  EMPRESS LOUISIANA PROPERTIES, L.P.
  EMPRESS, L.L.C.
  GSF, L.L.C.
  MC LOUISIANA MINERALS, L.L.C.
  MC MINERAL COMPANY, L.L.C.
  MIDCON COMPRESSION, L.L.C.
  NOMAC SERVICES, L.L.C.
  NORTHERN MICHIGAN EXPLORATION COMPANY, L.L.C.
  SPARKS DRIVE SWD, INC.
  WINTER MOON ENERGY CORPORATION

 

  By: /s/ Bryan J. Lemmerman
  Name: Bryan J. Lemmerman
  Title: Vice President – Business Development and Treasurer, for and on behalf of each of the foregoing Guarantors

 

[Signature Page to Collateral Trust Agreement]

  

 

 

  DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Parity Lien Representative of the holders of the Notes
   
  By: /s/ Bridgette Casasnovas
  Name: Bridgette Casasnovas
  Title: Vice President
    
  By: /s/ Jacqueline Bartnick
  Name: Jacqueline Bartnick
  Title: Director
    
  DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Collateral Trustee
    
  By: /s/ Bridgette Casasnovas
  Name: Bridgette Casasnovas
  Title: Vice President
   
  By: /s/ Jacqueline Bartnick
  Name: Jacqueline Bartnick
  Title: Director

 

[Signature Page to Collateral Trust Agreement]

 

 

 

Exhibit A

 

Form of
Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate

 

Reference is made to the Collateral Trust Agreement, dated as of December 19, 2019 (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the “Collateral Trust Agreement”), among Chesapeake Energy Corporation, an Oklahoma corporation (the “Company”), the Guarantors from time to time party thereto, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Parity Lien Representative of the holders of the Notes (as defined therein), the other Parity Lien Representatives from time to time party thereto and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Collateral Trustee. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Collateral Trust Agreement. This Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate is being executed and delivered in order to designate additional secured debt as Parity Lien Debt entitled to the benefit of the Collateral Trust Agreement.

 

The undersigned, the duly appointed [specify title] of the Company, hereby certifies on behalf of [the Company or applicable Obligor] that:

 

(A)             [the Company or applicable Obligor] intends to incur additional Parity Lien Debt (“Additional Parity Lien Debt”) which will be permitted by each applicable Parity Lien Document to be secured by a Parity Lien equally and ratably with all previously existing and future Parity Lien Debt;

 

(B)              [the name and address of the Parity Lien Debt Representative for the Additional Parity Lien Debt for purposes of Section 7.6 of the Collateral Trust Agreement is:

  

     
     
Telephone:  

 

Fax:   ]1

 

(C)              Attached as Exhibit 1 hereto is a Reaffirmation Agreement duly executed by the Company and each Guarantor; and

 

(D)             the Company has caused a copy of this Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate [and the related Collateral Trust Joinder][2] to be delivered to each existing Parity Lien Representative.

 

 

1 Delete if Additional Parity Lien Debt constitutes Additional Notes.

2 Delete if Additional Parity Lien Debt constitutes Additional Notes.

 

1

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate to be duly executed by the undersigned officer as of _____________, 20____.

 

  CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION
   
  By:             
  Name:   
  Title:    

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RECEIPT

 

The undersigned, the duly appointed Collateral Trustee under the Collateral Trust Agreement, hereby acknowledges receipt of an executed copy of this Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate.

 

  DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Collateral Trustee
   
  By:         
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

2

 

 

EXHIBIT 1 TO ADDITIONAL PARITY LIEN DEBT CERTIFICATE

 

FORM OF
REAFFIRMATION AGREEMENT

 

______________, 20__

 

Reference is made to the Collateral Trust Agreement, dated as of December 19, 2019 (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the “Collateral Trust Agreement”), among Chesapeake Energy Corporation, an Oklahoma corporation (the “Company”), the Guarantors from time to time party thereto, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Parity Lien Representative of the holders of the Notes (as defined therein), the other Parity Lien Representatives from time to time party thereto and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Collateral Trustee. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Collateral Trust Agreement. This Reaffirmation Agreement is being executed and delivered as of ______________, 20__ in connection with an Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate of even date herewith which Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate has designated Additional Parity Lien Debt entitled to the benefit of the Collateral Trust Agreement.

 

Each of the undersigned hereby consents to the designation of additional secured debt as Parity Lien Debt as set forth in the Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate of even date herewith and hereby confirms its respective guarantees, pledges, grants of security interests and other obligations, as applicable, under and subject to the terms of each of the Parity Lien Documents to which it is party, and agrees that, notwithstanding the designation of such additional indebtedness or any of the transactions contemplated thereby, such guarantees, pledges, grants of security interests and other obligations, and the terms of each Parity Lien Document to which it is a party, shall continue to be in full force and effect.

 

Governing Law and Miscellaneous Provisions. The provisions of Article 7 of the Collateral Trust Agreement will apply with like effect to this Reaffirmation Agreement.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has caused this Reaffirmation Agreement to be duly executed as of the date written above.

 

  [names of the Company and Guarantors]
   
   
  Name:        
  Title:

 

3

 

 

Exhibit B

 

Form of

Collateral Trust Joinder – Additional Debt

 

Reference is made to the Collateral Trust Agreement, dated as of December 19, 2019 (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the “Collateral Trust Agreement”), among Chesapeake Energy Corporation, an Oklahoma corporation (the “Company”), the Guarantors from time to time party thereto, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Parity Lien Representative of the holders of the Notes (as defined therein), the other Parity Lien Representatives from time to time party thereto and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Collateral Trustee. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Collateral Trust Agreement. This Collateral Trust Joinder is being executed and delivered pursuant to Section 3.8 of the Collateral Trust Agreement as a condition precedent to the debt for which the undersigned is acting as agent being entitled to the benefits of being additional Parity Lien Debt under the Collateral Trust Agreement.

 

1.        Joinder. The undersigned, _____________________, a _________________, (the “New Representative”) as [trustee, administrative agent] under that certain [described applicable indenture, credit agreement or other document governing the additional secured debt] hereby agrees to become party as a Parity Lien Representative under the Collateral Trust Agreement for all purposes thereof on the terms set forth therein, and to be bound by the terms of the Collateral Trust Agreement as fully as if the undersigned had executed and delivered the Collateral Trust Agreement as of the date thereof.

 

2.       Additional Secured Debt Designation

 

The undersigned, on behalf of itself and each holder of Obligations in respect of the Series of Parity Lien Debt for which the undersigned is acting as Parity Lien Representative, hereby agrees, for the enforceable benefit of each existing and future holder of Priority Lien Obligations, the Priority Lien Agent, all holders of each current and future Series of Parity Lien Debt, each other current and future Parity Lien Representative and each current and future holder of Parity Lien Obligations and as a condition to being treated as Parity Lien Debt under the Collateral Trust Agreement that:

 

(a)               all Parity Lien Obligations will be and are secured equally and ratably by all Parity Liens at any time granted by any Obligor to secure any Obligations in respect of any Series of Parity Lien Debt, whether or not upon property otherwise constituting collateral for such Series of Parity Lien Debt, and that all such Parity Liens will be enforceable by the Collateral Trustee for the benefit of all holders of Parity Lien Obligations equally and ratably;

 

(b)               the undersigned and each holder of Obligations in respect of the Series of Parity Lien Debt for which the undersigned is acting as Parity Lien Representative are bound by the provisions of the Collateral Trust Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement, including the provisions relating to the ranking of Parity Liens and the order of application of proceeds from the enforcement of Parity Liens; and

 

1

 

 

(c)               the Collateral Trustee shall perform its obligations under the Collateral Trust Agreement, the other Parity Lien Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

3.                  Governing Law and Miscellaneous Provisions. The provisions of Article 7 of the Collateral Trust Agreement will apply with like effect to this Collateral Trust Joinder.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Collateral Trust Joinder to be executed by their respective officers or representatives as of ___________________, 20____.

 

  [insert name of the new representative or the Trustee]
   
   
  Name:          
  Title:  

 

The Collateral Trustee hereby acknowledges receipt of this Collateral Trust Joinder and agrees to act as Collateral Trustee for the [New Representative][Trustee] and the holders of the Obligations represented thereby:

 

  DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Collateral Trustee
   
  By:         
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

2

 

 

Exhibit C

 

Form of

Collateral Trust Joinder – Additional Obligor

 

Reference is made to the Collateral Trust Agreement, dated as of December 19, 2019 (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the “Collateral Trust Agreement”), among Chesapeake Energy Corporation, an Oklahoma corporation (the “Company”), the Guarantors from time to time party thereto, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Parity Lien Representative of the holders of the Notes (as defined therein), the other Parity Lien Representatives from time to time party thereto and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Collateral Trustee. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Collateral Trust Agreement. This Collateral Trust Joinder is being executed and delivered pursuant to Section 7.18 of the Collateral Trust Agreement.

 

1.                  Joinder. The undersigned, ___________________, a ___________________, hereby agrees to become party as a Guarantor and an Obligor under the Collateral Trust Agreement for all purposes thereof on the terms set forth therein, and to be bound by the terms of the Collateral Trust Agreement as fully as if the undersigned had executed and delivered the Collateral Trust Agreement as of the date thereof.

 

2.                  Governing Law and Miscellaneous Provisions. The provisions of Article 7 of the Collateral Trust Agreement will apply with like effect to this Collateral Trust Joinder.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Collateral Trust Joinder to be executed by their respective officers or representatives as of _________________, 20____.

 

  [___________________________________]
   
  By:
  Name:
  Title:

 

The Collateral Trustee hereby acknowledges receipt of this Collateral Trust Joinder and agrees to act as Collateral Trustee with respect to the Collateral pledged by the new Obligor:

 

  DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Collateral Trustee
   
  By:          
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

1

 

 

Exhibit 10.3

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

COLLATERAL TRUST AGREEMENT

 

dated as of December 19, 2019

 

among

 

MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.,

as Collateral Trustee

 

MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.,

as Revolver Agent

 

and

 

GLAS USA LLC,

as Original Term Loan Agent

 

and Acknowledged and Agreed by

Chesapeake Energy Corporation and certain of its Subsidiaries

 

THIS IS THE COLLATERAL TRUST AGREEMENT REFERRED TO IN (A) THE TERM LOAN AGREEMENT DATED AS OF DECEMBER 19, 2019 AMONG CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION, CERTAIN OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY THERETO AND GLAS USA LLC, AS TERM LOAN AGENT AND (B) THE AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT DATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 12, 2018, AMONG CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION, THE LENDERS PARTY THERETO AND MUFG UNION BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT.

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

  Page
   
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS 2
  Section 1.01 Construction; Certain Defined Terms 2
       
ARTICLE II THE TRUST ESTATE 16
  Section 2.01 Declaration of Trust 16
       
ARTICLE III THE COLLATERAL TRUSTEE 17
  Section 3.01 Appointment and Undertaking of the Collateral Trustee 17
  Section 3.02 Release or Subordination of Liens 18
  Section 3.03 Powers of the Collateral Trustee 19
  Section 3.04 Documents and Communications 19
  Section 3.05 For Sole and Exclusive Benefit of Holders of Priority Obligations 19
  Section 3.06 Priority Lien Agent 19
  Section 3.07 Delivery of Copies to Priority Debt Representatives 20
  Section 3.08 Appointment of Agents and Advisors 20
  Section 3.09 Other Agreements 20
  Section 3.10 Solicitation of Instructions 21
  Section 3.11 Limitation of Liability 21
  Section 3.12 Documents in Satisfactory Form 21
  Section 3.13 Entitled to Rely 21
  Section 3.14 Default 22
  Section 3.15 Actions by Collateral Trustee 22
  Section 3.16 Security or Indemnity in Favor of the Collateral Trustee 22
  Section 3.17 Rights of the Collateral Trustee 22
  Section 3.18 Limitations on Duty of Collateral Trustee in Respect of Shared Collateral 22
  Section 3.19 Assumptions of Rights, Not of Duties 23
  Section 3.20 No Liability for Clean Up of Hazardous Materials 24
  Section 3.21 Other Relationships with the Borrower or Grantors 24
  Section 3.22 Resignation or Removal of the Collateral Trustee 24
  Section 3.23 Appointment of Successor Collateral Trustee 24
  Section 3.24 Succession 25
  Section 3.25 Merger, Conversion or Consolidation of Collateral Trustee 25
  Section 3.26 Concerning the Collateral Trustee and the Priority Debt Representatives 26

 

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ARTICLE IV PARI PASSU LIENS 27
  Section 4.01 Lien Priorities 27
  Section 4.02 Prohibition on Marshalling, Etc. 28
  Section 4.03 No New Liens 28
  Section 4.04 Similar Collateral and Agreements 28
  Section 4.05 No Implied Duty of Collateral Trustee 29
  Section 4.06 No Duties of Revolver Agent or Collateral Trustee 29
       
ARTICLE V ENFORCEMENT RIGHTS 30
  Section 5.01 Limitation on Enforcement Action; Prohibition on Contesting Liens 30
  Section 5.02 Standstill Period; Permitted Enforcement Action 31
  Section 5.03 Insurance 32
  Section 5.04 Notification of Release of Collateral 33
  Section 5.05 No Interference; Payment Over 33
       
ARTICLE VI OTHER AGREEMENTS 35
  Section 6.01 Release of Liens 35
  Section 6.02 Certain Agreements With Respect to Insolvency or Liquidation Proceedings 35
  Section 6.03 Reinstatement 40
  Section 6.04 Refinancings; Additional FLLO Obligations 41
  Section 6.05 Amendments to Priority Debt Documents 42
  Section 6.06 Legends 43
  Section 6.07 FLLO Secured Parties Rights as Unsecured Creditors; Judgment Lien Creditor 43
  Section 6.08 Postponement of Subrogation 43
  Section 6.09 Acknowledgment by the Secured Debt Representatives 44
       
ARTICLE VII GRATUITOUS BAILMENT FOR PERFECTION OF CERTAIN SECURITY INTERESTS 44
  Section 7.01 General 44
  Section 7.02 Deposit Accounts 45
       
ARTICLE VIII APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS; DETERMINATION OF AMOUNTS 45
  Section 8.01 Application of Proceeds 45
  Section 8.02 Determination of Amounts 46
       
ARTICLE IX NO RELIANCE; NO LIABILITY; OBLIGATIONS ABSOLUTE; CONSENT OF GRANTORS; ETC. 46
  Section 9.01 No Reliance; Information 46
  Section 9.02 No Warranties or Liability 46
  Section 9.03 Obligations Absolute 47
  Section 9.04 Grantors Consent 48

 

ii

 

 

ARTICLE X REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES 48
  Section 10.01 Representations and Warranties of Each Party 48
  Section 10.02 Representations and Warranties of Each Representative 48
       
ARTICLE XI MISCELLANEOUS 49
  Section 11.01 Notices 49
  Section 11.02 Waivers; Amendment 50
  Section 11.03 Actions Upon Breach; Specific Performance 52
  Section 11.04 Parties in Interest 52
  Section 11.05 Survival of Agreement 53
  Section 11.06 Counterparts 53
  Section 11.07 Severability 53
  Section 11.08 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process 53
  Section 11.09 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL 54
  Section 11.10 Headings 54
  Section 11.11 Conflicts 54
  Section 11.12 Provisions Solely to Define Relative Rights 54
  Section 11.13 Certain Terms Concerning the Revolver Agent and the FLLO Agent 54
  Section 11.14 Authorization of Secured Agents 55
  Section 11.15 Further Assurances 55
  Section 11.16 Relationship of Secured Parties 55
  Section 11.17 Grantors and Additional Grantors 55
  Section 11.18 Compensation; Expenses 56
  Section 11.19 Indemnity 56

 

iii

 

 

COLLATERAL TRUST AGREEMENT, dated as of December 19, 2019 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof, this “Agreement”), among MUFG UNION BANK, N.A., as collateral trustee for the Revolver Secured Parties and the FLLO Secured Parties, each as referred to below (in such capacity, the “Collateral Trustee”), MUFG UNION BANK, N.A., as administrative agent for the Revolver Secured Parties referred to herein (in such capacity, and together with its successors and assigns in such capacity, the “Original Revolver Agent”), and GLAS USA LLC, as administrative agent for the Original Term Loan Secured Parties referred to herein (in such capacity, and together with its successors in such capacity, the “Original Term Loan Agent”), and acknowledged and agreed by Chesapeake Energy Corporation, an Oklahoma corporation (the “Borrower”), and the other Grantors party hereto.

 

WHEREAS, the Borrower, the Original Revolver Agent and the lenders party thereto from time to time, entered into that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of September 12, 2018 (as amended, restated, supplemented, modified or refinanced from time to time prior to the date hereof and thereafter in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the “Original Revolver Credit Agreement”), providing for a revolving credit facility of up to $3,000,000,000 (the “Original Revolver Credit Facility”);

 

WHEREAS, the Borrower and the Original Term Loan Agent are entering into that certain Term Loan Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (as amended, restated, supplemented, modified or refinanced from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the “Original Term Loan Credit Agreement”), providing for a term credit facility (the “Original Term Loan Credit Facility”);

 

WHEREAS, the Original Revolver Agent is party to that certain Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of December 19, 2019 (the “Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement”), between the Original Revolver Agent and Deutsche Bank Trust Company as the Second Lien Collateral Trustee (as defined therein), pursuant to which the Revolver Obligations constitute “Priority Lien Obligations” under and as defined in the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, the Revolver Obligations are secured by the Revolver Collateral pursuant to the terms of the Revolver Documents;

 

WHEREAS, the FLLO Obligations are secured by the FLLO Collateral pursuant to the terms of the FLLO Documents;

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 4.04(b) of the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Borrower has designated the Original Term Loan Credit Facility as an “Additional Priority Lien Debt Facility” under (and as defined in) the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement, and the Original Term Loan Obligations (as defined below) constitute FLLO Obligations (as defined below) and (together with the Revolver Obligations) “Priority Lien Obligations” under (and as defined in) the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Original Term Loan Agent (at the written direction of the Required Term Loan Lenders) has executed a “Priority Confirmation Joinder” under (and as defined in) the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement;

 

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WHEREAS, this Agreement sets forth the terms on which each Priority Secured Party (other than the Collateral Trustee) has appointed the Collateral Trustee to act as the collateral trustee for the present and future holders of the Priority Obligations to receive, hold, maintain, administer and distribute the Shared Collateral at any time delivered to the Collateral Trustee or the subject of the Security Documents, and to enforce the Security Documents and all interests, rights, powers and remedies of the Collateral Trustee with respect thereto or thereunder and the proceeds thereof;

 

WHEREAS, the Revolver Documents and the FLLO Documents provide, among other things, that the parties thereto shall set forth in this Agreement their respective rights and remedies with respect to the Shared Collateral; and

 

WHEREAS, in order to induce the Original Revolver Agent and the other Revolver Secured Parties to consent to the incurring of the FLLO Obligations and to induce the Revolver Secured Parties to continue to extend credit and other financial accommodations and lend monies to or for the benefit of the Borrower, the Original Term Loan Agent, at the direction and on behalf of the Original Term Loan Secured Parties, has agreed to the provisions set forth in this Agreement.

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, the mutual agreements herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Original Revolver Agent (for itself and on behalf of the Revolver Secured Parties) and the Original Term Loan Agent (for itself and at direction and on behalf of the Original Term Loan Secured Parties) agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.01        Construction; Certain Defined Terms. (a) The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.” The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.” Unless the context requires otherwise, (i) any reference herein to any agreement, instrument, other document, statute or regulation shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument, other document, statute or regulation as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, but shall not be deemed to include the Subsidiaries of such Person unless express reference is made to such Subsidiaries, (iii) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (iv) all references herein to Articles, Sections and Annexes shall be construed to refer to Articles, Sections and Annexes of this Agreement, (v) unless otherwise expressly qualified herein, the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights, (vi) the term “or” is not exclusive and (vii) the term “exercise of rights and remedies” or terms of like import include remedial acts to which the Borrower or a Grantor consent or assist.

 

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(b)               All terms used in this Agreement that are defined in Article 1, 8 or 9 of the New York UCC (whether capitalized herein or not) and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in Article 1, 8 or 9 of the New York UCC. If a term is defined in Article 9 of the New York UCC and another Article of the UCC, such term shall have the meaning assigned to it in Article 9 of the New York UCC.

 

(c)               Unless otherwise indicated, capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meaning given to such terms in the Revolver Credit Agreement as in effect on the date hereof (or as any such defined term may be amended in a manner not materially adverse to the holders of FLLO Obligations).

 

(d)               As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:

 

Accounts” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.01.

 

Additional FLLO Facility” means any credit agreement, indenture, note or other definitive loan agreement governing Indebtedness for which the requirements of Section 6.04(b) of this Agreement have been satisfied, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, restated, restructured, increased, supplemented, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time in accordance with each applicable Priority Debt Document; provided that neither the Original Term Loan Credit Facility nor any Substitute FLLO Facility that Replaces the Original Term Loan Credit Facility (or any Replacement thereof) shall constitute an Additional FLLO Facility at any time.

 

Additional FLLO Documents” means each Additional FLLO Facility and the Additional FLLO Security Documents.

 

Additional FLLO Obligations” means, with respect to any Grantor, any obligations of such Grantor owed to any Additional FLLO Secured Party (or any of its Affiliates) in respect of the Additional FLLO Documents.

 

Additional FLLO Secured Parties” means, at any time, the trustee, agent or other representative of the holders of any Series of FLLO Debt who maintains the transfer register for such Series of FLLO Debt (other than the Original Term Loan Credit Facility or any Substitute FLLO Facility that Replaces the Original Term Loan Credit Facility (or any Replacement thereof)), the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Grantor under any Additional FLLO Document and each other holder of, or obligee in respect of, any holder or lender pursuant to any Series of FLLO Debt outstanding at such time; provided that none of the Original Term Loan Secured Parties shall be deemed Additional FLLO Secured Parties.

 

Additional FLLO Security Documents” means any Additional FLLO Facility (insofar as the same grants a Lien on the Shared Collateral) and any other security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral agency agreements, control agreements, or grants or transfers for security, now existing or entered into after the date hereof, executed and delivered by the Borrower or any other Grantor creating (or purporting to create) a Lien upon the FLLO Collateral in favor of the Additional FLLO Secured Parties.

 

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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 purposes of this definition, “control,” as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise; provided that beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the Voting Stock of a Person will be deemed to be control. For purposes of this definition, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with” have correlative meanings.

 

Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

 

Authorized Officer” means, as to any Person, the President, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Operating Officer, the Treasurer, the Vice President-Finance, Vice President – Business Development, the General Counsel, any Senior Vice President or any Executive Vice President of such Person (or, in the case of any limited partnership without its own officers, any of the foregoing of the general partner of such limited partnership). Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by an Authorized Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, limited liability company, partnership and/or other action on the part of the Borrower or any other Grantor, and such Authorized Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Person.

 

Banking Services” means (a) commercial credit cards, merchant card services, purchase or debit cards, including non-card e-payables services, (b) treasury management services (including controlled disbursement, overdraft, automated clearing house fund transfer services, return items and interstate depository network services) and (c) any other demand deposit or operating account relationships or other cash management services, including pursuant to any agreement in respect of the foregoing.

 

Banking Services Obligations” means any and all Obligations of the Borrower or any other Grantor, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor) in connection with Banking Services.

 

Banking Services Provider” means any Person (other than the Borrower or any Subsidiary) that (a) at the time it enters into an agreement governing Banking Services is a lender under the Revolver Credit Agreement, the administrative agent under the Revolver Credit Agreement or an Affiliate of any of them or (b) at any time after it enters into an agreement governing Banking Services, becomes a lender under the Revolver Credit Agreement, the administrative agent under the Revolver Credit Agreement or an Affiliate of any of them.

 

Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code (as amended, from time to time).

 

Bankruptcy Law” means the Bankruptcy Code and any similar federal, state or foreign law providing for the relief of debtors.

 

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Board of Directors” means, as to any Person, the board of directors or other governing body of such Person, or if such Person is owned or managed by a single entity, the board of directors or other governing body of such entity.

 

Borrower” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

 

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

 

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

 

Collateral Trustee” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

 

Collateral Trust Joinder” means an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto.

 

Controlling FLLO Agent” means, the Original Term Loan Agent until the Original Term Loan Agreement is terminated and thereafter (i) the FLLO Agent with respect to a Substitute FLLO Facility that Replaces the Original Term Loan Agreement or (ii) if no such Substitute FLLO Facility is entered into, the FLLO Agent for the FLLO Facility which has been subject to this Agreement for the longest period of time.

 

Controlling Priority Debt Representative” means, the Revolver Agent until the Discharge of Revolver Obligations and thereafter, the Controlling FLLO Agent.

 

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

 

DIP Financing” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.02(b).

 

DIP Financing Liens” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.02(b).

 

DIP Lenders” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.02(b).

 

Discharge of Revolver Obligations” means the occurrence of all of the following:

 

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(a)                termination or expiration of all commitments to extend credit that would constitute Revolver Debt;

 

(b)                payment in full in cash of the principal of and interest and premium (if any) on all Revolver Debt (other than any undrawn letters of credit), including the payment in full in cash of all Post-Petition Interest with respect to the Revolver Debt and, for the avoidance of doubt, all amounts drawn under letters of credit constituting Revolver Obligations for which the issuing bank has not been reimbursed by the Borrower;

 

(c)                discharge or cash collateralization in an amount equal to 103% of the sum of the aggregate undrawn amount of all then outstanding letters of credit constituting Revolver Obligations and the aggregate fronting and similar fees which will accrue thereon through the stated expiry of such letters of credit;

 

(d)                payment of all obligations under Hedging Obligations to the extent they are secured under the terms of the Revolver Documents then due and payable (or, with respect to any particular Hedge Agreement, termination of such agreement and payment in full in cash of all obligations thereunder or such other arrangements as have been made by the counterparty thereto (and communicated to the Revolver Agent) pursuant to the terms of the Revolver Credit Agreement); and

 

(e)                payment in full in cash of all other Revolver Obligations that are outstanding and unpaid at the time the Revolver Debt is paid in full in cash (other than any obligations for taxes, costs, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities in respect of which no claim or demand for payment has been made at or prior to such time);

 

provided that, if, at any time after the Discharge of Revolver Obligations has occurred, the Borrower enters into any Revolver Document evidencing a Revolver Obligation which incurrence is not prohibited by the applicable Priority Debt Documents, then such Discharge of Revolver Obligations shall automatically be deemed not to have occurred for all purposes of this Agreement with respect to such new Revolver Obligations (other than with respect to any actions taken as a result of the occurrence of such first Discharge of Revolver Obligations), and, from and after the date on which the Borrower designates such Indebtedness as Revolver Debt in accordance with this Agreement, the obligations under such Revolver Document shall automatically and without any further action be treated as Revolver Obligations for all purposes of this Agreement, including for purposes of the priorities and rights in respect of recovery on the Shared Collateral set forth in this Agreement, any FLLO Obligations shall be deemed to have been at all times FLLO Obligations and at no time Revolver Obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, a Replacement as contemplated by Section 6.04(a) shall not be deemed to cause a Discharge of Revolver Obligations.

 

Discharge of FLLO Obligations” means the payment in full of all FLLO Obligations, including the payment in full in cash of all Post-Petition Interest with respect to the FLLO Debt (other than indemnification and other contingent obligations for which no claim has been asserted at the relevant time of determination) and the termination or expiration of all commitments to extend credit that would constitute FLLO Debt.

 

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Disposition” means any sale, lease, exchange, assignment, license, contribution, transfer or other disposition. “Dispose” shall have a correlative meaning.

 

Enforcement Action” means, with respect to any Priority Obligations, (a) the taking of any action to enforce any Lien in respect of the Shared Collateral, including the institution of any foreclosure proceedings, the noticing of any public or private sale or other disposition under the Bankruptcy Code or any attempt to vacate or obtain relief from a stay or other injunction restricting any other action described in this definition, (b) the exercise of any right or remedy provided to a secured creditor on account of a Lien under the Priority Documents (including, in either case, any delivery of any notice to seek to obtain payment directly from any account debtor of the Borrower or any Grantor or the taking of any action or the exercise of any right or remedy in respect of the setoff or recoupment against, collection or foreclosure on or marshalling of the Shared Collateral or proceeds of Shared Collateral), under applicable law, at equity, in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or otherwise, including the acceptance of Shared Collateral in full or partial satisfaction of a Lien, (c) the sale, assignment, transfer, lease, license, or other disposition as a secured creditor on account of a Lien of all or any portion of the Shared Collateral, by private or public sale (judicial or non-judicial) or any other means, (d) the solicitation of bids from third parties to conduct the liquidation of all or a portion of the Shared Collateral as a secured creditor on account of a Lien, (e) the exercise of any other enforcement right relating to the Shared Collateral (including the exercise of any voting rights relating to any capital stock composing a portion of the Collateral) whether under the Priority Debt Documents, under applicable law of any jurisdiction, in equity, in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, or otherwise, or (f) the appointment of a receiver, manager or interim receiver of all or any portion of the Shared Collateral or the commencement of, or the joinder with any creditor in commencing, any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding against the Borrower or any Grantor or any assets of the Borrower or any Grantor.

 

FLLO Agent” means (a) the Original Term Loan Agent, (b) from and after the date of execution and delivery of a Substitute FLLO Facility, the agent, collateral agent, trustee or other representative of the lenders or holders of the indebtedness and other Obligations evidenced thereunder or governed thereby and (c) in the case of any other Series of FLLO Debt, the trustee, agent or representative of the holders of such Series of FLLO Debt who is appointed as an FLLO Agent (for purposes related to the administration of the security documents) pursuant to the indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of FLLO Debt, in each case together with its successors in such capacity appointed pursuant to the terms of the Original Term Loan Credit Agreement, Substitute FLLO Facility or Additional FLLO Facility, as applicable. In any instance where Additional FLLO Obligations are issued and the trustee, agent, or representative of such Series of FLLO Debt has become a Priority Debt Representative, the term “FLLO Agent” shall include each FLLO Agent at such time.

 

FLLO Agreement” means (a) the Original Term Loan Credit Agreement and (b) any credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument evidencing or governing the terms of any Substitute FLLO Facility or Additional FLLO Facility.

 

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FLLO Collateral” shall mean all “Collateral”, as defined in any FLLO Agreement or any other FLLO Document, and any other assets of any Grantor now or at any time hereafter subject to Liens which secure or purport to secure any FLLO Obligation.

 

FLLO Debt” means (a) the indebtedness under the Original Term Loan Credit Facility and guarantees thereof and (b) all additional indebtedness incurred under any Additional FLLO Documents, and all indebtedness incurred under any Substitute FLLO Facility, in each case that was permitted to be incurred and secured under the Revolver Documents and with respect to which the requirements of Section 6.04(a) or Section 6.04(b), as applicable, have been satisfied.

 

FLLO Documents” means the Original Term Loan Documents and the Additional FLLO Documents.

 

FLLO Facility” means the Original Term Loan Credit Facility and any Substitute FLLO Facility or Additional FLLO Facility.

 

FLLO Lien” means a Lien granted by a FLLO Document to the Collateral Trustee, at any time, upon any FLLO Collateral by any Grantor to secure any FLLO Obligations (including Liens on such FLLO Collateral under the security documents associated with any Substitute FLLO Facility).

 

FLLO Obligations” means FLLO Debt and all other Obligations in respect thereof. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, the term “FLLO Obligations” will include accrued interest, premiums, fees, costs, and other charges incurred under the FLLO Documents, whether incurred before or after commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding and whether or not allowable in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding. As between the holders of the FLLO Obligations, each Series of FLLO Debt may have such rights and relative priorities (including with respect to payment) as the holders of the FLLO Obligations may agree.

 

FLLO Secured Parties” means the Original Term Loan Secured Parties, the Substitute FLLO Secured Parties and the Additional FLLO Secured Parties.

 

FLLO Security Documents” means Original FLLO Security Documents and the Additional FLLO Security Documents.

 

Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States or any other nation, or any political subdivision thereof, whether state, provincial or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other Person exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.

 

Grantor” means the Borrower, each Subsidiary of the Borrower that shall have granted any Lien in favor of any of the Revolver Agent, any Priority Lien Agent or the Collateral Trustee on any of its assets or properties to secure any of the Priority Obligations.

 

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Hedge Agreements” means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, fixed-price physical delivery contracts, whether or not exchange traded, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “Master Agreement”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement and (c) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect a Person or any Subsidiary thereof against fluctuations in interest rates, commodity prices or currency exchange rates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, agreements or obligations entered into in the ordinary course of business to physically buy or sell any commodity produced from the Borrower’s and the Subsidiaries’ Oil and Gas Properties or electricity generation facilities under an agreement that has a tenor under 90 days shall not be considered Hedge Agreements.

 

Hedge Bank” means any Person (other than the Borrower or any Subsidiary) that (a) at the time it enters into a Hedge Agreement is a lender under the Revolver Credit Agreement, the administrative agent under the Revolver Credit Agreement or an Affiliate of any of them or (b) at any time after it enters into a Hedge Agreement, becomes a lender under the Revolver Credit Agreement, the administrative agent under the Revolver Credit Agreement or an Affiliate of any of them.

 

Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person incurred in the normal course of business and not for speculative purposes under Hedge Agreements.

 

Indemnified Liabilities” means any and all liabilities (including all environmental liabilities), obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, taxes, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever with respect to the execution, delivery, performance, administration or enforcement of this Agreement or any of the other Security Documents, including any of the foregoing relating to the use of proceeds of any Revolver Debt or FLLO Debt or the violation of, noncompliance with or liability under, any law (including environmental laws) applicable to or enforceable against the Borrower, any Subsidiary of the Borrower or any other Grantor or any of the Shared Collateral and all reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel selected by the Indemnitee) incurred by any Indemnitee in connection with any claim, action, investigation or proceeding in any respect relating to any of the foregoing, whether or not suit is brought.

 

Indemnitee” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.18.

 

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Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding” means:

 

(a)                any case commenced by or against the Borrower or any other Grantor under the Bankruptcy Code or any other Bankruptcy Law, any other proceeding for the reorganization, recapitalization or adjustment or marshalling of the assets or liabilities of the Borrower or any other Grantor, any receivership or assignment for the benefit of creditors relating to the Borrower or any other Grantor or any similar case or proceeding relative to the Borrower or any other Grantor or its creditors, as such, in each case whether or not voluntary;

 

(b)                any liquidation, dissolution, marshalling of assets or liabilities or other winding up of or relating to the Borrower or any other Grantor, in each case whether or not voluntary and whether or not involving bankruptcy or insolvency; or

 

(c)                any other proceeding of any type or nature including any composition agreement in which substantially all claims of creditors of the Borrower or any other Grantor are determined and any payment or distribution is or may be made on account of such claims.

 

Legal Holiday” means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banks and trust companies in the City of New York are not required by law or executive order to be open.

 

Lien” means any interest in property securing an obligation owed to, or a claim by, a Person other than the owner of the property, whether such interest is based on the common law, statute or contract, and whether such obligation or claim is fixed or contingent, and including (a) the lien or security interest arising from a mortgage, encumbrance, pledge, security agreement or a financing lease, consignment or bailment for security purposes or (b) production payments and the like payable out of Oil and Gas Properties; provided that in no event shall an operating lease be deemed to be a Lien.

 

New York UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as from time to time in effect in the State of New York.

 

Obligations” means any principal (including reimbursement obligations and obligations to provide cash collateral with respect to letters of credit whether or not drawn), interest, premium (if any), fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, expenses and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness, including Post-Petition Interest, including any applicable post-default interest rate even if such interest is not enforceable, allowable or allowed as a claim in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

 

Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Borrower by any Authorized Officer or Authorized Officers of the Borrower.

 

Original Revolver Agent” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

 

Original Revolver Credit Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

 

Original Revolver Credit Facility” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

 

Original Term Loan Agent” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

 

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Original Term Loan Credit Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

 

Original Term Loan Credit Facility” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

 

Original Term Loan Documents” means the Original Term Loan Credit Agreement, the Original FLLO Security Documents and all other loan documents, notes, guarantees, instruments and agreements governing or evidencing, or executed and delivered in connection with, the Original Term Loan Credit Agreement or any Substitute FLLO Facility that Replaces the Original Term Loan Credit Facility (or any Replacement thereof).

 

Original Term Loan Obligations” means, with respect to any Grantor, any Obligations of such Grantor owed to any Original Term Loan Secured Party (or any of its Affiliates) in respect of the Original Term Loan Documents.

 

Original Term Loan Secured Parties” means, at any time, the Original Term Loan Agent, the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Grantor under any Original Term Loan Document, and each holder or lender pursuant to any Original Term Loan Document outstanding at such time; provided that the Additional FLLO Secured Parties shall not be deemed Original Term Loan Secured Parties.

 

Original FLLO Security Documents” means the Original Term Loan Credit Agreement (insofar as the same grants a Lien on the Shared Collateral), each agreement listed in Part B of Exhibit C hereto and any other security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral agency agreements, control agreements, or grants or transfers for security, now existing or entered into after the date hereof, executed and delivered by the Borrower or any other Grantor creating (or purporting to create) a Lien upon Shared Collateral in favor of the Collateral Trustee to secure Original Term Loan Obligations.

 

Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, limited liability company or government or other entity.

 

Post-Petition Interest” means any interest, fees, expenses or other amounts that accrues or would have accrued after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, whether or not allowed or allowable in any such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

 

Priority Confirmation Joinder” means an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A.

 

Priority Debt Documents” means the Revolver Documents and the FLLO Documents.

 

Priority Debt Representative” means the Collateral Trustee, the Revolver Agent, the FLLO Agent and each other Priority Debt Representative that becomes a party hereto pursuant to a Priority Confirmation Joinder.

 

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Priority Lien Agent” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Priority Obligations” means the Revolver Obligations and the FLLO Obligations.

 

Priority Secured Parties” means the Collateral Trustee, the Revolver Secured Parties and the FLLO Secured Parties.

 

Proceeds” means any proceeds (as defined in the New York UCC) of, from or on account of any Shared Collateral, any interest earned thereon, any insurance proceeds, any proceeds or value resulting from the Disposition of the Shared Collateral, whether such Disposition occurs during an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or otherwise, any amounts to which any Priority Secured Parties are entitled under (and as defined in) the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement and consideration received as a result of any distribution of or in respect of any Shared Collateral (or the proceeds thereof whether or not expressly characterized as such) upon any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

 

Property” means any interest in any kind of property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, or tangible or intangible, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

 

Recovery” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.03.

 

Replaces” means, (a) in respect of any agreement or facility with reference to the Revolver Credit Agreement, the Revolver Obligations or any Revolver Credit Facility (including a Revolver Substitute Credit Facility), that such agreement or facility refunds, refinances or replaces the Revolver Credit Agreement, the Revolver Obligations or such Revolver Credit Facility in whole (in a transaction that is in compliance with Section 6.04(a)) and that all commitments thereunder are terminated, or, to the extent permitted by the terms of the Revolver Credit Agreement or such Revolver Credit Facility, in part and (b) in respect of any agreement or facility with reference to any FLLO Agreement, any FLLO Obligations or any FLLO Facility (including a Substitute FLLO Facility), that such agreement or facility refunds, refinances or replaces such FLLO Agreement, such FLLO Obligations or such FLLO Facility in whole (in a transaction that is in compliance with Section 6.04(a)) and that all commitments thereunder are terminated, or, to the extent permitted by the terms of such FLLO Agreement or such FLLO Facility, in part. “Replace,” “Replaced” and “Replacement” shall have correlative meanings.

 

Required Additional FLLO Lenders” means with respect to any Additional FLLO Facility, the number of lenders or holders of FLLO Obligations under such Additional FLLO Facility required to amend, supplement or modify a provision of such Additional FLLO Facility.

 

Required Priority Lenders” means, collectively, the Required Revolver Lenders, the Required Term Loan Lenders and the Required Additional FLLO Lenders of any applicable Additional FLLO Facility.

 

Required Revolver Lenders” means those “Lenders” (as defined in the Revolver Credit Agreement) and any other Person required in the Revolver Credit Agreement, required to amend, supplement or modify a provision of a “Credit Document” (as defined in the Revolver Credit Agreement), pursuant to Section 13.1 of the Revolver Credit Agreement the same as, or similar to, any provision of a Security Document to be amended pursuant to Section 7.01 thereof.

 

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Required Term Loan Lenders” means those “Lenders” (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement) and any other Person required in the Term Loan Credit Agreement, required to amend, supplement or modify a provision of a “Credit Document” (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement), pursuant to Section 12.1 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement the same as, or similar to any provision of a Security Document to be amended pursuant to Section 7.01 thereof.

 

Revolver Agent” means the Original Revolver Agent, and, from and after the date of execution and delivery of a Revolver Substitute Credit Facility, the agent, collateral agent, trustee or other representative of the lenders or holders of the indebtedness and other Obligations evidenced thereunder or governed thereby, in each case, together with its successors in such capacity.

 

Revolver Collateral” means all “Collateral”, as defined in the Revolver Credit Agreement or any other Revolver Document, and any other assets of any Grantor now or at any time hereafter subject to Liens which secure or purport to secure any Revolver Obligation.

 

Revolver Credit Agreement” means the Original Revolver Credit Agreement and any credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument evidencing or governing the terms of any Revolver Substitute Credit Facility.

 

Revolver Credit Facility” means the Original Revolver Credit Facility and any Revolver Substitute Credit Facility.

 

Revolver Debt” means the indebtedness under the Original Revolver Credit Agreement and guarantees thereof (including letters of credit and reimbursement obligations with respect thereto) and indebtedness under any Revolver Substitute Credit Facility. For purposes of this Agreement, indebtedness under the Original Revolver Credit Agreement as in effect on the date hereof is permitted to be incurred under the Original Term Loan Credit Agreement.

 

Revolver Documents” means the Revolver Credit Agreement, the Revolver Security Documents, the other “Loan Documents” (as defined in the Original Revolver Credit Agreement), any documents with respect to Hedging Obligations and Banking Service Obligations in each case to the extent such obligations are secured pursuant to the terms of the Revolver Security Documents, and all other loan documents, notes, guarantees, instruments and agreements governing or evidencing, or executed or delivered in connection with, any Revolver Substitute Credit Facility.

 

Revolver Lien” means a Lien granted by the Borrower or other Grantor in favor of the Collateral Trustee, at any time, upon any Property of the Borrower or such Grantor or the proceeds thereof to secure Revolver Obligations (including Liens on such Revolver Collateral under the security documents associated with any Revolver Substitute Credit Facility).

 

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Revolver Obligations” means Revolver Debt and all other Obligations in respect thereof, including all “Obligations” under (and as defined in) the Original Revolver Credit Agreement (including with Hedging Obligations owed to a Hedge Bank) and any other Hedging Obligations or Banking Services Obligations, as applicable. For the avoidance of doubt, Hedging Obligations and Banking Services Obligations shall only constitute Revolver Obligations to the extent that such Hedging Obligations or Banking Services Obligations, as applicable, are secured under the terms of the Revolver Documents. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, the term “Revolver Obligations” will include accrued interest, fees, costs, and other charges incurred under the Revolver Documents, whether incurred before or after commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding and whether or not allowable in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

 

Revolver Secured Parties” means, at any time, the Revolver Agent, each lender or issuing bank under the Revolver Credit Agreement, each holder, provider or obligee of any Hedging Obligations owed to a Hedge Bank and Banking Services Obligations owed to a Banking Services Provider, if applicable, and any other party that is a secured party (or a party entitled to the benefits of the security) under any Revolver Document, the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Grantor under any Revolver Document, each other Person that provides letters of credit, guarantees or other credit support related thereto under any Revolver Document and each other holder of, or obligee in respect of, any Revolver Obligations (including pursuant to a Revolver Substitute Credit Facility).

 

Revolver Security Documents” means the Revolver Credit Agreement (insofar as the same grants a Lien on the Revolver Collateral), each agreement listed in Part A of Exhibit C hereto, and any other security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, control agreements, or grants or transfers for security, now existing or entered into after the date hereof, executed and delivered by the Borrower or any other Grantor creating (or purporting to create) a Lien upon Revolver Collateral in favor of the Revolver Agent (which will be subsequently assigned to the Collateral Trustee as contemplated by this Agreement) (including any such agreements, assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust and other documents or instruments associated with any Revolver Substitute Credit Facility).

 

Revolver Substitute Credit Facility” means any Credit Facility with respect to which the requirements contained in Section 6.04(a) of this Agreement have been satisfied and that Replaces the Revolver Credit Facility then in existence, as amended, restated, supplemented, modified or refinanced from time as permitted by this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, no Revolver Substitute Credit Facility shall be required to be a revolving, term or asset-based loan facility and may be a facility evidenced or governed by a credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument; provided that any Revolver Lien securing such Revolver Substitute Credit Facility shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement for all purposes (including the lien priorities as set forth herein as of the date hereof). For purposes of this Agreement the Original Revolver Credit Facility does not constitute a Revolver Substitute Credit Facility.

 

Second Lien Debt” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

 

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Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

 

Security Documents” means this Agreement, the Revolver Security Documents and the FLLO Security Documents.

 

Series of FLLO Debt” means, severally, the Original Term Loan Credit Facility and each other issue or series of FLLO Debt (including any Additional FLLO Facility or Substitute FLLO Facility) for which a single transfer register is maintained.

 

Shared Collateral” means all of the assets and property of any Grantor, whether real, personal or mixed, constituting the Revolver Collateral and/or the FLLO Collateral.

 

Standstill Period” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.02.

 

Subsidiary” means, as to any Person, a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which shares of stock or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power (other than stock or such other ownership interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) to elect a majority of the Board of Directors of such corporation, partnership or other entity are at the time owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise expressly provided, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” shall mean a Subsidiary of the Borrower.

 

Substitute FLLO Secured Parties” means, at any time, the Priority Debt Representative under any Substitute FLLO Facility, the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Grantor under any FLLO Document evidencing a Substitute FLLO Facility, and each holder or lender pursuant to any Substitute FLLO Facility outstanding at such time; provided that the Additional FLLO Secured Parties shall not be deemed Substitute FLLO Secured Parties.

 

Substitute FLLO Facility” means any Credit Facility or any other Indebtedness evidenced or governed by a credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument with respect to which the requirements contained in Section 6.04(a) of this Agreement have been satisfied and that is permitted to be incurred pursuant to the Revolver Documents, the proceeds of which are used to, among other things, Replace the Original Term Loan Credit Facility and/or any Additional FLLO Facility then in existence and as amended, restated, supplemented, modified or refinanced from time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

Trust Estate” has the meaning assigner to such term in Section 2.01(a).

 

Voting Stock” of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.

 

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ARTICLE II

THE TRUST ESTATE

 

Section 2.01        Declaration of Trust.

 

(a)               To secure the payment of the Priority Obligations and in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements set forth herein, each of the Grantors, each Priority Debt Representative and each other Priority Secured Party hereby confirms the grant of Liens in favor of the Collateral Trustee, and the Collateral Trustee hereby accepts and agrees to hold, in trust under this Agreement for the benefit of all current and future Priority Secured Parties, on all of such Grantor’s right, title and interest in, to and under all Shared Collateral and on all Liens now or hereafter granted to the Collateral Trustee by each Grantor under any Security Document for the benefit of the Priority Secured Parties, together with all of the Collateral Trustee’s right, title and interest in, to and under the Security Documents, and all interests, rights, powers and remedies of the Collateral Trustee thereunder or in respect thereof and all cash and non-cash proceeds thereof (collectively, the “Trust Estate”).

 

(b)               The Collateral Trustee and its successors and assigns under this Agreement will hold the Trust Estate in trust for the benefit solely and exclusively of all current and future Priority Secured Parties as security for the payment of all present and future Priority Obligations.

 

(c)               Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at any time:

 

(i)                 all Liens securing the Priority Obligations have been released as provided in the Priority Debt Documents;

 

(ii)              the Collateral Trustee holds no other property in trust as part of the Trust Estate;

 

(iii)            no monetary obligation (other than indemnification obligations and other contingent obligations not then due and payable) is outstanding and payable under this Agreement to the Collateral Trustee or any of its co-trustees or agents (whether in an individual or representative capacity); and

 

(iv)             the Borrower delivers to the Collateral Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all Liens of the Collateral Trustee have been released in compliance with all applicable provisions of the Security Documents and that the Grantors are not required by any Security Document to grant any Lien upon any property to secure the Priority Obligations,

 

then the Trust Estate arising hereunder will terminate (subject to any reinstatement pursuant to Section 6.03), except that all provisions set forth in Section 11.18 and Section 11.19 that are enforceable by the Collateral Trustee or any of its co-trustees or agents (whether in an individual or representative capacity) will remain enforceable in accordance with their terms.

 

(d)               The parties declare and covenant that the Trust Estate will be held and distributed by the Collateral Trustee subject to the further agreements herein.

 

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ARTICLE III

THE COLLATERAL TRUSTEE

 

Section 3.01        Appointment and Undertaking of the Collateral Trustee.

 

(a)               Each Priority Secured Party (other than the Collateral Trustee) acting through its respective Priority Debt Representative and/or by its acceptance of the Security Documents applicable to it hereby appoints the Collateral Trustee to serve as collateral trustee hereunder on the terms and conditions set forth herein. Subject to, and in accordance with, this Agreement, the Collateral Trustee will, as collateral trustee, for the benefit solely and exclusively of the present and future Priority Secured Parties:

 

(i)                 accept, enter into, hold, maintain, administer and enforce all Security Documents, including all Shared Collateral subject thereto, and all Liens created thereunder, perform its obligations hereunder and under the Security Documents and protect, exercise and enforce the interests, rights, powers and remedies granted or available to it under, pursuant to or in connection with the Security Documents (including in connection with any Enforcement Action or Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding);

 

(ii)              take all lawful and commercially reasonable actions permitted under the Security Documents that it may deem necessary or advisable to protect or preserve its interest in the Shared Collateral subject thereto and such interests, rights, powers and remedies;

 

(iii)            deliver and receive notices pursuant to this Agreement and the Security Documents;

 

(iv)             sell, assign, collect, assemble, foreclose on, institute legal proceedings with respect to, take any Enforcement Action, or otherwise exercise or enforce the rights and remedies of a secured party (including a mortgagee, trust deed beneficiary and insurance beneficiary or loss payee) with respect to the Shared Collateral under the Security Documents and its other interests, rights, powers and remedies;

 

(v)               remit, as provided in Section 8.01, all cash proceeds received by the Collateral Trustee from an Enforcement Action under the Security Documents or any of its other interests, rights, powers or remedies;

 

(vi)             execute and deliver (A) amendments and supplements to the Security Documents as from time to time authorized pursuant to Section 11.02 accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that the amendment or supplement was permitted under Section 11.02 and (B) acknowledgements of Priority Confirmation Joinders delivered pursuant to Section 6.04;

 

(vii)          release or subordinate any Lien granted to it by any Security Document upon any Shared Collateral if and as required by Section 3.02, Section 5.04 or Section 6.01; and

 

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(viii)        enter into and perform its obligations and protect, exercise and enforce its interest, rights, powers and remedies under the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

 

(b)               Each party to this Agreement acknowledges and consents to the undertaking of the Collateral Trustee set forth in Section 3.01(a) and agrees to each of the other provisions of this Agreement applicable to the Collateral Trustee.

 

(c)               Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Collateral Trustee will not commence any Enforcement Action or otherwise take any action or proceeding against any of the Shared Collateral unless and until it shall have been directed by written notice from the Controlling Priority Debt Representative (if the Controlling Priority Debt Representative is the Original Term Loan Agent, acting at the written direction of the Required Term Loan Lenders), and then only in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

 

(d)               Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, neither the Borrower nor any of its Affiliates may serve as Collateral Trustee.

 

Section 3.02        Release or Subordination of Liens.

 

(a)               The Collateral Trustee will not release or subordinate any Lien of the Collateral Trustee or consent to the release or subordination of any Lien of the Collateral Trustee, except:

 

(i)                 as directed by the Controlling Priority Debt Representative (if the Controlling Priority Debt Representative is the Original Term Loan Agent, acting at the direction of the Required Term Loan Lenders) in accordance with Section 6.01;

 

(ii)              if and to the extent, and in the manner, required by Section 4.01(a) of the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement;

 

(iii)            the Revolver Liens upon the Discharge of Revolver Obligations;

 

(iv)             the FLLO Liens upon the Discharge of FLLO Obligations;

 

(v)               as ordered pursuant to applicable law under a final and non-appealable order or judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction; or

 

(vi)             as directed by each Priority Debt Representative to release or subordinate Liens on Collateral to the extent permitted by each applicable Priority Debt Document; provided that the Collateral Trustee receives an Officers’ Certificate confirming the foregoing.

 

(b)               Each of the Revolver Agent, the Original Term Loan and each other Priority Debt Representative hereby agrees to direct the Collateral Trustee, pursuant to clause (a)(vi) above, to release or subordinate the Liens of the Collateral Trustee on the Collateral to the extent such release or subordination is required by the Priority Debt Documents governing the Priority Obligations for which such Person acts as Priority Debt Representative.

 

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(c)               The Collateral Trustee agrees that, upon request of the Borrower, after the occurrence of any event described in Section 3.02(a), the Collateral Trustee will execute and deliver any instruments, documents and agreements necessary or desirable to effect, evidence and/or confirm the release of any Collateral pursuant to this Section 3.02. To the extent the Collateral Trustee fails to release or subordinate the Liens of the Collateral Trustee on the Collateral to the extent required to do so in accordance with the terms of clauses (b) or (c) of this Section 3.02, the Borrower shall have the right to enforce the terms of clauses (b) and (c) of this Section 3.02 solely against the Collateral Trustee.

 

Section 3.03        Powers of the Collateral Trustee.

 

(a)               The Collateral Trustee is irrevocably authorized and empowered to enter into and perform its obligations and protect, perfect, exercise and enforce its interest, rights, powers and remedies under the Security Documents (including in connection with any Enforcement Action and in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding) and applicable law and in equity and to act as set forth in this Article III or, subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, as requested in any lawful written directions given to it from time to time in respect of any matter by the Controlling Priority Debt Representative.

 

(b)               No Priority Debt Representative or holder of Priority Obligations (other than the Collateral Trustee) will have any liability whatsoever for any act or omission of the Collateral Trustee, and the Collateral Trustee will have no liability whatsoever for any act or omission of any Priority Debt Representative or any holder of Priority Obligations.

 

Section 3.04        Documents and Communications. The Collateral Trustee will permit each Priority Debt Representative upon reasonable written notice and at reasonable times from time to time to inspect and copy, at the cost and expense of the party requesting such copies, any and all Security Documents and other documents, notices, certificates, instructions or communications received by the Collateral Trustee in its capacity as such.

 

Section 3.05        For Sole and Exclusive Benefit of Holders of Priority Obligations. The Collateral Trustee will accept, hold, administer and enforce all Liens on the Shared Collateral at any time transferred or delivered to it and all other interests, rights, powers and remedies at any time granted to or enforceable by the Collateral Trustee and all other property of the Trust Estate solely and exclusively for the benefit of the present and future holders of present and future Priority Obligations, and will distribute all proceeds received by it from an Enforcement Action solely and exclusively pursuant to the provisions of Section 8.01.

 

Section 3.06        Priority Lien Agent.

 

(a)               Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Priority Debt Documents or in any Security Documents, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

(i)                 any reference to Priority Lien Agent in the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement shall refer to the Collateral Trustee;

 

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(ii)              the Collateral Trustee, as Priority Lien Agent, will not be required to take any action under the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement unless and until the Controlling Priority Debt Representative (if the Controlling Priority Debt Representative is the Original Term Loan Agent, acting at the written direction of the Required Term Loan Lenders) directs the Collateral Trustee in writing, as Priority Lien Agent, to take such action; and

 

(iii)            in no event shall the Collateral Trustee, as Priority Lien Agent, be required to take any action in connection with the purchase or sale of Priority Obligations under Section 3.06 of the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement (rather, the purchases and sales of the Priority Obligations shall be coordinated among the holders of the Second Lien Debt and the holders of the Priority Obligations (or their appointed representative)).

 

(b)               In the event the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement requires the delivery, or receipt, of any notice by the Priority Lien Agent, such delivery or receipt will be deemed satisfied in all respects when the Collateral Trustee makes such delivery or receives such notice; provided, that, if the Controlling Priority Debt Representative fails to provide the Collateral Trustee, as Priority Lien Agent, direction in writing in connection with any notice, then the Original Priority Lien Agent may deliver or receive such notice.

 

(c)               The parties hereto agree that this Section 3.06 shall not be deemed to be in conflict or inconsistent with Section 9.11 of the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Section 3.07        Delivery of Copies to Priority Debt Representatives. The Borrower will deliver to each Priority Debt Representative a copy of each Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Collateral Trustee pursuant to this Agreement, together with copies of all documents delivered to the Collateral Trustee with such Officers’ Certificate. The Priority Debt Representatives will not be obligated to take notice thereof or to act thereon.

 

Section 3.08        Appointment of Agents and Advisors. The Collateral Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents, attorneys, accountants, appraisers or other experts or advisors selected by it in good faith as it may reasonably require and will not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any of them.

 

Section 3.09        Other Agreements. The Collateral Trustee has accepted its appointment as collateral trustee hereunder and is bound by the Security Documents assigned to, or executed by, the Collateral Trustee as of the date of this Agreement, and, as directed in writing by the Controlling Priority Debt Representative (if the Controlling Priority Debt Representative is the Original Term Loan Agent, acting at the written direction of the Required Term Loan Lenders), the Collateral Trustee shall execute additional Security Documents delivered to it after the date of this Agreement (including to secure Obligations arising under Additional FLLO Facilities to the extent such Obligations are permitted to be incurred and secured under the Priority Debt Documents); provided that such additional Security Documents do not adversely affect the rights, privileges, benefits and immunities of the Collateral Trustee or conflict with the terms of the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement. The Collateral Trustee will not otherwise be bound by, or be held obligated by, the provisions of any credit agreement, indenture or other agreement governing Priority Obligations (other than this Agreement and the other Security Documents to which it is a party).

 

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Section 3.10        Solicitation of Instructions 

 

(a)               The Collateral Trustee may at any time solicit written confirmatory instructions, in the form of a direction by the Controlling Priority Debt Representative, the other Priority Debt Representatives, an Officers’ Certificate or an order of a court of competent jurisdiction, as to any action that it may be requested or required to take, or that it may propose to take, in the performance of any of its obligations under this Agreement or the other Security Documents.

 

(b)               No written direction given to the Collateral Trustee by the Controlling Priority Debt Representative or any other Priority Debt Representative that in the sole judgment of the Collateral Trustee imposes, purports to impose or might reasonably be expected to impose upon the Collateral Trustee any obligation or liability not set forth in or arising under this Agreement and the other Security Documents will be binding upon the Collateral Trustee unless the Collateral Trustee elects, at its sole option, to accept such direction.

 

(c)               The Collateral Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Agreement at the request, order or direction of the Controlling Priority Debt Representative or any other Priority Debt Representative pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, unless such party shall have furnished to the Collateral Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities including attorneys’ fees and expenses which may be incurred therein or thereby.

 

Section 3.11        Limitation of Liability. The Collateral Trustee will not be responsible or liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it hereunder or under any other Security Document, except for its own negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

Section 3.12        Documents in Satisfactory Form. The Collateral Trustee will be entitled, but not obligated, to require that all agreements, certificates, opinions, instruments and other documents at any time submitted to it, including those expressly provided for in this Agreement, be delivered to it in a form reasonably satisfactory to it.

 

Section 3.13        Entitled to Rely. The Collateral Trustee may seek and conclusively rely upon, and shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon, any judicial order or judgment, upon any advice, opinion or statement of legal counsel, independent consultants and other experts selected by it in good faith and upon any certification, instruction, notice or other writing delivered to it by the Borrower or any Grantor in compliance with the provisions of this Agreement or delivered to it by any Priority Debt Representative as to the holders of Priority Obligations for whom it acts, without being required to determine the authenticity thereof or the correctness of any fact stated therein or the propriety or validity of service thereof. The Collateral Trustee may act in reliance upon any instrument comporting with the provisions of this Agreement or any signature believed by it in good faith to be genuine and may assume that any Person purporting to give notice or receipt or advice or make any statement or execute any document in connection with the provisions hereof or the other Security Documents has been duly authorized to do so. To the extent an Officers’ Certificate or opinion of counsel is required or permitted under this Agreement to be delivered to the Collateral Trustee in respect of any matter, the Collateral Trustee may rely conclusively on an Officers’ Certificate or opinion of counsel as to such matter and such Officers’ Certificate or opinion of counsel shall be full warranty and protection to the Collateral Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the provisions of this Agreement and the other Security Documents.

 

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Section 3.14        Default. The Collateral Trustee will not be required to inquire as to the occurrence or absence of any default or event of default under the Priority Debt Documents and will not be affected by or required to act upon any notice or knowledge as to the occurrence of any such default or event of default unless and until it is directed in writing by the appropriate Priority Debt Representative.

 

Section 3.15        Actions by Collateral Trustee. As to any matter not expressly provided for by this Agreement or the other Security Documents, the Collateral Trustee will act or refrain from acting as directed in writing by the Controlling Priority Debt Representative and will be fully protected if it does so, and any action taken, suffered or omitted pursuant to hereto or thereto shall be binding on the holders of Priority Obligations.

 

Section 3.16        Security or Indemnity in Favor of the Collateral Trustee. As to any matter not expressly provided for by this Agreement or the other Security Documents, the Collateral Trustee will act or refrain from acting as directed in writing by the Controlling Priority Debt Representative and will be fully protected if it does so.

 

Section 3.17        Rights of the Collateral Trustee. In the event of any conflict between any terms and provisions set forth in this Agreement and those set forth in any other Security Document, the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall supersede and control the terms and provisions of such other Security Document. In the event there is any bona fide, good faith disagreement between the other parties to this Agreement or any of the other Security Documents resulting in adverse claims being made in connection with Shared Collateral held by the Collateral Trustee and the terms of this Agreement or any of the other Security Documents do not unambiguously mandate the action the Collateral Trustee is to take or not to take in connection therewith under the circumstances then existing, or the Collateral Trustee is in doubt as to what action it is required to take or not to take hereunder or under the other Security Documents, it will be entitled to refrain from taking any action (and will incur no liability for doing so) until directed otherwise in writing by a request signed jointly by the parties hereto entitled to give such direction or by order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

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Section 3.18        Limitations on Duty of Collateral Trustee in Respect of Shared Collateral 

 

(a)               Beyond the exercise of reasonable care in the custody of Shared Collateral in its possession, the Collateral Trustee will have no duty as to any Shared Collateral in its possession or control or in the possession or control of any agent or bailee or any income thereon or as to preservation of rights against prior parties or any other rights pertaining thereto and the Collateral Trustee will not be responsible for filing any financing or continuation statements or recording any documents or instruments in any public office at any time or times or otherwise perfecting or maintaining the perfection of any Liens on the Shared Collateral; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Collateral Trustee will execute, file or record UCC-3 continuation statements and other documents and instruments to preserve, protect or perfect the security interests granted to the Collateral Trustee (subject to the priorities set forth herein) if it shall receive a specific written request to execute, file or record the particular continuation statement or other specific document or instrument by the appropriate Priority Debt Representative, it being understood that the Borrower and/or the applicable Grantor shall be responsible for all filings required in connection with any Security Document and the continuation, maintenance and/or perfection of any such filing or the lien and security interest granted in connection therewith (which request shall include an instruction to the Collateral Trustee to provide a copy of such request to each other Priority Debt Representative). The Collateral Trustee shall deliver to each other Priority Debt Representative a copy of any such written request. The Collateral Trustee will be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody of the Shared Collateral in its possession if the Shared Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which it accords its own property, and the Collateral Trustee will not be liable or responsible for any loss or diminution in the value of any of the Shared Collateral by reason of the act or omission of any carrier, forwarding agency or other agent or bailee selected by the Collateral Trustee in good faith.

 

 

(b)               Except as provided in Section 3.18(a), the Collateral Trustee will not be responsible for the existence, genuineness or value of any of the Shared Collateral or for the validity, perfection, priority or enforceability of the Liens in any of the Shared Collateral, for the validity or sufficiency of the Shared Collateral or any agreement or assignment contained therein, for the validity of the title of any Grantor to the Shared Collateral, for insuring the Shared Collateral or for the payment of taxes, charges, assessments or Liens upon the Shared Collateral or otherwise as to the maintenance of the Shared Collateral. The Collateral Trustee hereby disclaims any representation or warranty to the current and future holders of the Priority Obligations concerning the perfection of the security interests granted to it or in the value of any Shared Collateral. The Collateral Trustee shall not be under any obligation to any Priority Debt Representative or any holder of Priority Obligations to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this or any other Security Document or the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement or to inspect the properties, books or records of the Borrower or any Grantor.

 

Section 3.19        Assumptions of Rights, Not of Duties. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein:

 

(a)               each of the parties thereto will remain liable under each of the Security Documents (other than this Agreement) to the extent set forth therein to perform all of their respective duties and obligations thereunder to the same extent as if this Agreement had not been executed;

 

(b)               the exercise by the Collateral Trustee of any of its rights, remedies or powers hereunder will not release such parties from any of their respective duties or obligations under the other Security Documents; and

 

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(c)               the Collateral Trustee will not be obligated to perform any of the obligations or duties of the Borrower or any Grantor.

 

Section 3.20        No Liability for Clean Up of Hazardous Materials. In the event that the Collateral Trustee is required to acquire title to an asset for any reason, or take any managerial action of any kind in regard thereto, in order to carry out any trust obligation for the benefit of another, which in the Collateral Trustee’s sole discretion may cause the Collateral Trustee to be considered an “owner or operator” under any environmental laws or otherwise cause the Collateral Trustee to incur, or be exposed to, any environmental liability or any liability under any other federal, state or local law, the Collateral Trustee reserves the right, instead of taking such action, either to immediately resign as Collateral Trustee or to arrange for the transfer of the title or control of the asset to a court appointed receiver. The Collateral Trustee will not be liable to any Person for any environmental liability or any environmental claims or contribution actions under any federal, state or local law, rule or regulation by reason of the Collateral Trustee’s actions or inactions and conduct as authorized, empowered and directed hereunder or relating to any kind of discharge or release or threatened discharge or release of any hazardous materials into the environment.

 

Section 3.21        Other Relationships with the Borrower or Grantors. MUFG Union Bank, N.A. and its Affiliates (and any successor Collateral Trustee and its Affiliates) may make loans to, issue letters of credit for the account of, accept deposits from, acquire equity interests in and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust, financial advisory, underwriting or other business with the Borrower or any Grantor and their Affiliates as though it was not the Collateral Trustee hereunder and without notice to or consent of the Priority Secured Parties. The Priority Debt Representatives and the holders of the Priority Obligations acknowledge that, pursuant to such activities, MUFG Union Bank, N.A. or its Affiliates (and any successor Collateral Trustee and its Affiliates) may receive information regarding the Borrower or any Grantor or their Affiliates (including information that may be subject to confidentiality obligations in favor of the Borrower, such Grantor or such Affiliate) and acknowledge that the Collateral Trustee shall not be under any obligation to provide such information to the Priority Debt Representatives or the holders of the Priority Obligations. Nothing herein shall impose or imply any obligation on the part of MUFG Union Bank, N.A. (or any successor Collateral Trustee) to advance funds.

 

Section 3.22        Resignation or Removal of the Collateral Trustee. Subject to the appointment of a successor Collateral Trustee as provided in Section 3.23 and the acceptance of such appointment by the successor Collateral Trustee:

 

(a)               the Collateral Trustee may resign at any time by giving not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of resignation to each Priority Debt Representative and the Borrower; and

 

(b)               the Collateral Trustee may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the Controlling Priority Debt Representative (if the Controlling Priority Debt Representative is the Original Term Loan Agent, acting at the written direction of the Required Term Loan Lenders).

 

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Section 3.23        Appointment of Successor Collateral Trustee. Upon any such resignation or removal, a successor Collateral Trustee may be appointed by the Controlling Priority Debt Representative (if the Controlling Priority Debt Representative is the Original Term Loan Agent, acting at the written direction of the Required Term Loan Lenders). The Collateral Trustee will fulfill its obligations under this Agreement until a successor Collateral Trustee meeting the requirements of this Section 3.23 has accepted its appointment as Collateral Trustee and the provisions of Section 3.24 have been satisfied. If no successor Collateral Trustee has been so appointed and accepted such appointment within 30 days after the predecessor Collateral Trustee gave notice of resignation or was removed, the retiring Collateral Trustee may (at the expense of the Borrower), at its option, appoint a successor Collateral Trustee, or petition a court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a successor Collateral Trustee, which must be a bank or trust company:

 

(a)               authorized to exercise corporate trust powers;

 

(b)               having a combined capital and surplus of at least $250,000,000;

 

(c)               maintaining an office in New York, New York; and

 

(d)               that is not the Borrower or any of its Affiliates.

 

Section 3.24        Succession. When the Person appointed as successor Collateral Trustee accepts such appointment:

 

(a)               such Person will succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the predecessor Collateral Trustee, and the predecessor Collateral Trustee will be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder;

 

(b)               the predecessor Collateral Trustee will (at the expense of the Borrower) promptly transfer all Liens and collateral security and other property of the Trust Estate within its possession or control to the possession or control of the successor Collateral Trustee and will execute instruments and assignments as may be necessary or desirable or reasonably requested by the successor Collateral Trustee to transfer to the successor Collateral Trustee all Liens, interests, rights, powers and remedies of the predecessor Collateral Trustee in respect of the Security Documents or the Trust Estate; and

 

(c)               thereafter the predecessor Collateral Trustee will remain entitled to enforce the immunities granted to it in this Agreement and the provisions of Section 11.17 and Section 11.18, and said provisions will survive termination of this Agreement for the benefit of the predecessor of the Collateral Trustee. The predecessor Collateral Trustee shall have no liability whatsoever for the actions or inactions of the successor Collateral Trustee.

 

Section 3.25        Merger, Conversion or Consolidation of Collateral Trustee. Any Person into which the Collateral Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Collateral Trustee shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to the business of the Collateral Trustee shall be the successor of the Collateral Trustee pursuant to Section 3.24, provided that (a) without the execution or filing of any paper with any party hereto or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, except where an instrument of transfer or assignment is required by law to effect such succession, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, such Person satisfies the eligibility requirements specified in Section 3.23 and (b) prior to any such merger, conversion or consolidation, the Collateral Trustee shall have notified the Borrower and each Priority Debt Representative thereof in writing.

 

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Section 3.26        Concerning the Collateral Trustee and the Priority Debt Representatives.

 

(a)               Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, it is expressly understood and agreed by the parties hereto that this Agreement has been signed by each Priority Debt Representative not in its individual capacity or personally but solely in its capacity as trustee, representative or agent for the benefit of the related holders of the applicable Priority Obligations in the exercise of the powers and authority conferred and vested in it under the related Priority Debt Documents, and in no event shall such Priority Debt Representative, in its individual capacity, have any liability for the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements or other obligations of any other party under this Agreement, any Priority Debt Document or in any of the certificates, reports, documents, data notices or agreements delivered by such other party pursuant hereto or thereto. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, each Priority Debt Representative will be entitled to all of the rights, privileges, protections, immunities, benefits and indemnities set forth in the Priority Debt Documents governing the applicable Priority Obligations for which such Person is acting or will act as Priority Debt Representative, in each case as if specifically set forth herein.

 

(b)               Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, it is expressly understood and agreed by the parties hereto that this Agreement has been signed by MUFG Union Bank, N.A., not in its individual capacity or personally but in its capacity as Collateral Trustee, and in no event shall MUFG Union Bank, N.A., in its individual capacity, have any liability for the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements or other obligations of any other party under this Agreement, any Priority Debt Document or in any of the certificates, reports, documents, data notices or agreements delivered by such other party pursuant hereto or thereto.

 

(c)               In entering into this Agreement, the Collateral Trustee shall be entitled to the benefit of every provision of the Priority Debt Documents relating to the rights, exculpations or conduct of, affecting the liability of or otherwise affording protection to the “administrative Agent” or “Collateral Trustee” thereunder. In no event will the Collateral Trustee be liable for any act or omission on the part of the Grantors, any other Priority Debt Representative or any Priority Secured Party.

 

(d)               Except as otherwise set forth herein, neither the Collateral Trustee nor any Priority Debt Representative shall be required to exercise any discretion or take any action, but shall be required to act or refrain from acting (and shall be fully protected in so acting or refraining from acting) solely upon the written instructions of the applicable Priority Debt Representative as provided herein; provided that neither the Collateral Trustee nor any Priority Debt Representative shall be required to take any action that (i) it in good faith believes exposes it to personal liability unless it receives an indemnification satisfactory to it from the applicable holders of the Priority Obligations with respect to such action or (ii) is contrary to this Agreement, the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement or applicable law.

 

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ARTICLE IV

PARI PASSU LIENS

 

Section 4.01        Lien Priorities.

 

(a)               The grant of the Revolver Liens pursuant to the Revolver Documents and the grant of the FLLO Liens pursuant to the FLLO Documents create two separate and distinct Liens of equal priority on the Shared Collateral for the equal and ratable benefit of the holders of all previously existing and future Priority Obligations. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything else to the contrary in this Agreement, each FLLO Agent hereby acknowledges and agrees (on behalf of the applicable FLLO Secured Parties) that the FLLO Secured Parties (and not the Revolver Secured Parties) bear the risk of any determination by a court of competent jurisdiction that (w) the FLLO Obligations do not constitute “Priority Lien Obligations” under (and as defined in) the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement, (x) any of the FLLO Obligations are unenforceable under applicable law or are subordinated to any other obligations (including the Second Lien Obligations (as defined in the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement)), (y) any of the FLLO Obligations do not have an enforceable security interest in any of the Shared Collateral securing such FLLO Obligations and/or (z) any intervening security interest exists securing any other obligations (including the Second Lien Obligations (as defined in the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement)) on a basis ranking prior to the security interest of such FLLO Obligations or (any such condition referred to in the foregoing clauses (w), (x), (y) or (z) with respect to any FLLO Obligations, an “Impairment” of such FLLO Obligations). In the event of any Impairment with respect to any FLLO Obligations, the results of such Impairment shall be borne solely by the holders of such FLLO Obligations, and the rights of the holders of such FLLO Obligations (including the right to receive distributions in respect of such FLLO Obligations pursuant to Section 8.01 or the right to equal and ratable liens on the Shared Collateral to the extent the Impairment relates to the FLLO Liens) set forth herein shall be modified to the extent necessary so that the effects of such Impairment are borne solely by the holders of the FLLO Obligations subject to such Impairment. The Revolver Agent, on behalf of the Revolver Secured Parties, agrees the Revolver Secured Parties shall not commence or support any judicial proceeding seeking an Impairment.

 

(b)               Subject in all respects to Section 8.01, notwithstanding the date, time, method, manner or order of grant, attachment or perfection of any Liens securing any Priority Obligations granted on the Shared Collateral and notwithstanding any provision of the Uniform Commercial Code of any jurisdiction, or any other applicable law or the Priority Debt Documents or any defect or deficiencies in the Liens securing the Priority Obligations or any other circumstance whatsoever, each Priority Secured Party hereby agrees that the Liens securing each Priority Obligation on any Shared Collateral shall be of equal priority.

 

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(c)               It is acknowledged that (i) the aggregate amount of the Revolver Obligations may be increased from time to time pursuant to the terms of the Revolver Documents, (ii) a portion of the Revolver Obligations consists or may consist of indebtedness that is revolving in nature, and the amount thereof that may be outstanding at any time or from time to time may be increased or reduced and subsequently reborrowed or refinanced, and (iii) (A) the Revolver Documents may be replaced, restated, supplemented, restructured refinanced or otherwise amended or modified from time to time and (B) the Revolver Obligations may be increased, extended, renewed, replaced, restated, supplemented, restructured, repaid, refunded, refinanced or otherwise amended or modified from time to time, in the case of the foregoing (A) and (B) all without affecting the payment priorities of the FLLO Liens hereunder or the provisions of this Agreement defining the relative rights of the Revolver Secured Parties and the FLLO Secured Parties. The lien priorities provided for herein shall not be altered or otherwise affected by any amendment, modification, supplement, extension, increase, renewal, restatement or Replacement of either the Revolver Obligations (or any part thereof) or the FLLO Obligations (or any part thereof), by the release of any Shared Collateral or of any guarantees for any Revolver Obligations or by any action that any Priority Debt Representative or Priority Secured Party may take or fail to take in respect of any Shared Collateral.

 

Section 4.02        Prohibition on Marshalling, Etc. No FLLO Agent will assert any marshalling, appraisal, valuation, or other similar right in respect of the Shared Collateral.

 

Section 4.03        No New Liens. The parties hereto agree that, so long as the Discharge of Revolver Obligations has not occurred, none of the Grantors shall, nor shall any Grantor permit any of its Subsidiaries to, (a) grant or permit any additional Liens on any asset of a Grantor to secure any FLLO Obligation, or take any action to perfect any additional Liens, unless it has granted, or substantially concurrently therewith grants (or offers to grant), a Lien on such asset of such Grantor to secure the Revolver Obligations and has taken all actions required to perfect such Liens; or (b) grant or permit any additional Liens on any asset of a Grantor to secure any Revolver Obligation, or take any action to perfect any additional Liens, unless it has granted, or substantially concurrently therewith grants (or offers to grant), a Lien on such asset of such Grantor to secure the FLLO Obligations and has taken all actions required to perfect such Liens. Any liens granted in accordance with this Section 4.03 shall be granted in favor of the Collateral Trustee and subject to the terms of this Agreement. To the extent that the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence are not complied with for any reason, or should any Lien upon any Shared Collateral be released or become unperfected due to breach of this Agreement or due to inadvertence, neglect or error by any of the Priority Secured Parties, without limiting any other right or remedy available to the Collateral Trustee, the Revolver Agent or the other Revolver Secured Parties, each FLLO Agent, for itself and on behalf of the other FLLO Secured Parties, agrees that any amounts received by or distributed to any FLLO Secured Party pursuant to or as a result of any Lien granted in contravention of this Section 4.03 or any such release or lack of perfection shall be subject to Section 5.05(b).

 

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Section 4.04        Similar Collateral and Agreements.

 

(a)               Except as otherwise set forth herein, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that it is their intention that the Revolver Collateral and the FLLO Collateral be identical. In furtherance of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree (a) to cooperate in good faith in order to determine, upon any reasonable request by the Revolver Agent or any FLLO Agent, the specific assets included in the Revolver Collateral and the FLLO Collateral, the steps taken to perfect the Revolver Liens and the FLLO Liens thereon and the identity of the respective parties obligated under the Revolver Documents and the FLLO Documents in respect of the Revolver Obligations and the FLLO Obligations, respectively, (b) that the FLLO Security Documents creating Liens on the Shared Collateral shall be in all material respects the same forms of documents as the respective Revolver Security Documents creating Liens on the Shared Collateral other than (i) such modifications to such FLLO Security Documents which are less restrictive than the corresponding Revolver Security Documents and (ii) provisions in the FLLO Security Documents which are solely applicable to the rights and duties of the Collateral Trustee and (c) that at no time shall there be any Grantor that is an obligor in respect of the FLLO Obligations that is not also an obligor in respect of the Revolver Obligations or an obligor in respect of the Revolver Obligations that is not also an obligor in respect of the FLLO Obligations. The intention of the parties hereto that their interests in the Shared Collateral be identical may not be construed as a condition to the grant, attachment or perfection of any Lien held by any of the Priority Secured Parties, nor shall it be construed to confer on any third party any right, interest or priority superior to that which such party would hold in the absence of such intention. To the extent that, notwithstanding the intentions and obligations stated above, the interests of the parties hereto in the Shared Collateral are not identical, then the provisions of the last sentence of Section 4.03 above shall govern.

 

(b)               Notwithstanding anything herein or in any Security Document to the contrary, each of the parties hereto acknowledges and agrees that (i) funds deposited for the satisfaction, discharge, redemption or defeasance of any issue or series of Revolver Debt or FLLO Debt shall be solely for the benefit of the applicable Priority Secured Parties under such issue or series of Revolver Debt or FLLO Debt, (ii) cash collateral deposited with any Priority Debt Representative or Priority Secured Party or other credit support provided in respect of letters of credit in accordance with the terms of the Priority Debt Documents with respect to any applicable issue or series of Revolver Debt or FLLO Debt shall be solely for the benefit of the applicable Priority Secured Parties under such issue or series of Revolver Debt or FLLO Debt and (iii) cash collateral deposited with any Priority Debt Representative or Priority Secured Party or other support provided in respect of any Hedging Obligations or Banking Services Obligations which are secured under the applicable Priority Debt Documents shall be solely for the benefit of the applicable Priority Secured Parties under any related Hedging Obligations or Banking Services Obligations, as applicable.

 

Section 4.05        No Implied Duty of Collateral Trustee. The Collateral Trustee will not have any duties nor will it have responsibilities or obligations other than those expressly assumed by it in this Agreement, the other Security Documents and the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement. No implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Agreement, the other Priority Debt Documents or the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement, or otherwise exist against the Collateral Trustee. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentences, the use of the term “trustee” in this Agreement with reference to the Collateral Trustee is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law. Instead, such term is used merely as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between independent contracting parties. The Collateral Trustee will not be required to take any action that is contrary to applicable law or any provision of this Agreement, the other Security Documents or the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

 

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Section 4.06        No Duties of Revolver Agent or Collateral Trustee. Each FLLO Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other FLLO Secured Party, acknowledges and agrees that neither the Revolver Agent nor any other Revolver Secured Party shall have any duties or other obligations to any such FLLO Secured Party with respect to any Shared Collateral, other than to transfer to the Collateral Trustee for the benefit of the FLLO Agents any remaining Shared Collateral and any proceeds of the sale or other Disposition of any such Shared Collateral remaining in its possession following the associated Discharge of Revolver Obligations, in each case without representation or warranty on the part of the Revolver Agent or any Revolver Secured Party. In furtherance of the foregoing, each FLLO Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other FLLO Secured Party, acknowledges and agrees that until the Discharge of Revolver Obligations (subject to the terms of Section 5.02, including the rights of the FLLO Secured Parties following the expiration of the Standstill Period), the Collateral Trustee at the direction of the Revolver Agent shall be entitled, for the benefit of the Revolver Secured Parties, to sell, transfer or otherwise Dispose of or deal with such Shared Collateral, as provided herein and in the Revolver Documents, without regard to any FLLO Lien or any rights to which any FLLO Agent or any FLLO Secured Party would otherwise be entitled as a result of such FLLO Lien. Without limiting the foregoing, each FLLO Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other FLLO Secured Party, agrees that neither the Collateral Trustee, the Revolver Agent nor any other Revolver Secured Party shall have any duty or obligation first to marshal or realize upon any type of Shared Collateral, or to sell, Dispose of or otherwise liquidate all or any portion of such Shared Collateral, in any manner that would maximize the return to the FLLO Secured Parties, notwithstanding that the order and timing of any such realization, sale, Disposition or liquidation may affect the amount of proceeds actually received by the FLLO Secured Parties from such realization, sale, Disposition or liquidation. Each FLLO Agent, for itself and on behalf of each of the other FLLO Secured Parties waives any claim such FLLO Secured Party may now or hereafter have against the Collateral Trustee, the Revolver Agent or any other Revolver Secured Party arising out of any actions which the Collateral Trustee, the Revolver Agent or the Revolver Secured Parties take or omit to take (including actions with respect to the creation, perfection or continuation of Liens on any Shared Collateral, actions with respect to the foreclosure upon, sale, release or depreciation of, or failure to realize upon, any of the Shared Collateral, and actions with respect to the collection of any claim for all or any part of the Revolver Obligations from any account debtor, guarantor or any other party) in accordance with this Agreement and the Revolver Documents or the valuation, use, protection or release of any security for the Revolver Obligations.

 

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ARTICLE V

ENFORCEMENT RIGHTS

 

Section 5.01        Limitation on Enforcement Action; Prohibition on Contesting Liens. Prior to the Discharge of Revolver Obligations, each FLLO Agent, for itself and on behalf of each applicable FLLO Secured Party, hereby agrees that, subject to Section 5.02 and Section 5.05(b), none of the FLLO Agent or any other FLLO Secured Party shall commence or instruct the Collateral Trustee to commence any judicial or nonjudicial foreclosure proceedings with respect to, seek to have a trustee, receiver, liquidator or similar official appointed for or over, attempt any action to take possession of, exercise any right, remedy or power with respect to, or otherwise take any action to enforce its interest in or realize upon, or take any other action available to it in respect of, any Shared Collateral under any FLLO Document, applicable law or otherwise (including but not limited to any right of setoff or under the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement), it being agreed that only the Collateral Trustee, at the direction of the Revolver Agent, and acting in accordance with the applicable Revolver Documents, shall have the exclusive right (and whether or not any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding has been commenced), to take any such actions or exercise any such remedies, in each case, without any consultation with or the consent of the FLLO Agents or any other FLLO Secured Party. In exercising rights and remedies with respect to the Shared Collateral, the Collateral Trustee, at the direction of the Revolver Agent and the other Revolver Secured Parties may enforce the provisions of the Revolver Documents and exercise remedies thereunder, all in such order and in such manner as the Revolver Agent and the other Revolver Secured Parties may determine in their sole discretion and regardless of whether such exercise and enforcement is adverse to the interest of any FLLO Secured Party. Such exercise and enforcement shall include the rights of an agent appointed by them to Dispose of Shared Collateral upon foreclosure, to incur expenses in connection with any such Disposition or in connection with care or preservation of the Shared Collateral and to exercise all the rights and remedies of a secured creditor under the Uniform Commercial Code, the Bankruptcy Code (including the right to credit bid) or any other applicable law or Bankruptcy Law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Collateral Trustee, at the direction of the Revolver Agent, will have the exclusive right to deal with that portion of the Shared Collateral consisting of deposit accounts and securities accounts (collectively “Accounts”), including exercising rights under control agreements with respect to such Accounts. Each FLLO Agent, for itself and on behalf of the other FLLO Secured Parties, hereby acknowledges and agrees that no covenant, agreement or restriction contained in any FLLO Security Document, or any other FLLO Document shall be deemed to restrict in any way the rights and remedies of the Collateral Trustee on behalf of the Revolver Agent or the other Revolver Secured Parties with respect to the Shared Collateral as set forth in this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to Section 5.05, the Controlling FLLO Agent, on behalf of the FLLO Secured Parties, may, but will have no obligation to, and, if the Controlling FLLO Agent is the Original Term Loan Agent, acting at the written direction of the Required Term Loan Lenders, shall, direct the Collateral Trustee to take all such actions (not adverse to the Revolver Liens or the rights of the Revolver Agent and the Revolver Secured Parties) it deems necessary to perfect or continue the perfection of the FLLO Liens in the Shared Collateral or to create, preserve or protect (but not enforce) the FLLO Liens in the Shared Collateral. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall limit the right or ability of the FLLO Secured Parties to (a) purchase (by credit bid or otherwise) all or any portion of the Shared Collateral in connection with any enforcement of remedies by the Collateral Trustee at the direction of the Revolver Agent to the extent that, and so long as, the Discharge of Revolver Obligations occurs immediately after giving effect thereto, (b) direct the Collateral Trustee to file a proof of claim with respect to the FLLO Obligations, (c) direct the Collateral Trustee to take any action in order to create, prove, perfect, preserve or protect (but not enforce) its rights in, and perfection and priority of its Lien on, the Shared Collateral, or (d) direct the Collateral Trustee to file any responsive or defensive pleadings in opposition to any motion, claim, adversary proceeding or other pleading made by any person objecting to or otherwise seeking the disallowance of the claims of the FLLO Secured Parties or the avoidance of any Lien securing such FLLO Obligations. The Revolver Agent agrees to notify the FLLO Agents of any direction given by it to the Collateral Trustee to commence any Enforcement Action in respect of the Shared Collateral; provided, that failure to give such notice shall not impair the effectiveness of such Enforcement Action, nor create any claim or cause of action against the Revolver Agent or any Revolver Secured Party.

 

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Section 5.02        Standstill Period; Permitted Enforcement Action. Prior to the Discharge of Revolver Obligations and notwithstanding Section 5.01, both before and during an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, after a period of 180 days has elapsed (which period will be tolled during any period in which the Collateral Trustee is not entitled, on behalf of the Revolver Secured Parties, to enforce or exercise any rights or remedies with respect to any Shared Collateral as a result of (a) any injunction issued by a court of competent jurisdiction or (b) the automatic stay or any other stay in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding) since the date on which the Controlling FLLO Agent has delivered to the Collateral Trustee and the Revolver Agent written notice of the acceleration of any FLLO Debt (the “Standstill Period”), the Controlling FLLO Agent (on behalf of itself and the other FLLO Secured Parties) may, and if the Controlling FLLO Agent is the Original Term Loan Agent, acting at the written direction of the Required Term Loan Lenders, shall, direct the Collateral Trustee to enforce or exercise any rights or remedies with respect to any Shared Collateral; provided, however that notwithstanding the expiration of the Standstill Period or anything in the FLLO Documents to the contrary, in no event may the Controlling FLLO Agent or any other FLLO Secured Party direct the Collateral Trustee on their behalf to enforce or exercise any rights or remedies with respect to any Shared Collateral, or commence, join with any Person at any time in commencing, or petition for or vote in favor of any resolution for, any such action or proceeding, if the Collateral Trustee on behalf of the Revolver Secured Parties or any other Revolver Secured Party shall have commenced, and shall be diligently pursuing (or shall have sought or requested relief from, or modification of, the automatic stay or any other stay or other prohibition in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding to enable the commencement and pursuit thereof), the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to the Shared Collateral (prompt written notice thereof to be given to the Controlling FLLO Agent by the Collateral Trustee); provided, further, that, at any time after the expiration of the Standstill Period, if neither the Collateral Trustee, the Revolver Agent nor any other Revolver Secured Party shall have commenced and be diligently pursuing (or shall have sought, and requested relief from, or modification of, the automatic stay or any other stay or other prohibition in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding to enable the commencement and pursuit thereof) the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to any material portion of the Shared Collateral, and the Collateral Trustee at the direction of the Controlling FLLO Agent (on behalf of itself and each other FLLO Secured Party), if the Controlling FLLO Agent is the Original Term Loan Agent, acting at the written direction of the Required Term Loan Lenders, shall have commenced the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to any material portion of the Shared Collateral or any such action or proceeding in respect of such rights and remedies, then for so long as the Collateral Trustee on behalf of the Controlling FLLO Agent is diligently pursuing such rights and remedies, none of any Revolver Secured Party or the Revolver Agent shall take, or direct the Collateral Trustee on their behalf to take any action of a similar nature with respect to such Shared Collateral, or commence, join with any Person at any time in commencing, or petition for or vote in favor of any resolution for, any such action or proceeding (provided that during such period the Revolver Agent may direct the Collateral Trustee to take, on behalf of the Revolver Secured Parties, any of the actions the Controlling FLLO Agent is permitted to direct the Collateral Trustee to take on behalf of the FLLO Secured Parties during the Standstill Period). Nothing contained in this Section 5.02 shall relieve the FLLO Agents or any FLLO Secured party of its obligations under Section 5.05(b).

 

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Section 5.03        Insurance. Unless and until the Discharge of Revolver Obligations has occurred (subject to the terms of Section 5.02, including the rights of the FLLO Secured Parties following expiration of the Standstill Period), the Collateral Trustee, at the direction of the Revolver Agent, shall have the sole and exclusive right, subject to the rights of the Grantors under the Revolver Documents, to adjust and settle claims in respect of Shared Collateral under any insurance policy in the event of any loss thereunder and to approve any award granted in any condemnation or similar proceeding (or any deed in lieu of condemnation) affecting the Shared Collateral. Unless and until the Discharge of Revolver Obligations has occurred, and subject to the rights of the Grantors under the Revolver Documents, all proceeds of any such policy and any such award (or any payments with respect to a deed in lieu of condemnation) in respect to the Shared Collateral shall be paid to the Revolver Agent pursuant to the terms of the Revolver Documents (including for purposes of cash collateralization of commitments, letters of credit and Lender Hedging Obligations). If any FLLO Agent or any FLLO Secured Party shall, at any time prior to the Discharge of Revolver Obligations, receive any proceeds of any such insurance policy or any such award or payment in contravention of the foregoing, it shall pay such proceeds over to the Collateral Trustee. In addition, if by virtue of being named as an additional insured or loss payee of any insurance policy of any Grantor covering any of the Shared Collateral, any FLLO Agent or any other FLLO Secured Party shall have the right to adjust or settle any claim under any such insurance policy, then unless and until the Discharge of Revolver Obligations has occurred, such FLLO Agent and any such FLLO Secured Party shall follow the instructions of the Collateral Trustee, or of the Grantors under the Revolver Documents to the extent the Revolver Documents grant such Grantors the right to adjust or settle such claims, with respect to such adjustment or settlement (subject to the terms of Section 5.02, including the rights of the FLLO Secured Parties following expiration of the Standstill Period).

 

Section 5.04        Notification of Release of Collateral. Each Priority Debt Representative shall give the Collateral Trustee and the other Priority Debt Representative prompt written notice of instructions to the Collateral Trustee to Dispose, and release the Lien on, any Shared Collateral. Such notice shall describe in reasonable detail the subject Shared Collateral, the parties involved in such Disposition or release, the place, time manner and method thereof, and the consideration, if any, received therefor; provided, however, that the failure to give any such notice shall not in and of itself in any way impair the effectiveness of any such Disposition or Release.

 

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Section 5.05        No Interference; Payment Over.

 

(a)               No Interference. Subject to Section 5.01, Section 5.02 and Section 6.02, each FLLO Agent, for itself and on behalf of each FLLO Secured Party, agrees that each FLLO Secured Party (i) will not take or cause to be taken any action the purpose or effect of which is to give such FLLO Secured Party any preference or priority relative to, any Revolver Lien with respect to the Shared Collateral or any part thereof, (ii) will not challenge or question (or direct the Collateral Trustee to challenge or question) in any proceeding the validity or enforceability of any Revolver Obligations or Revolver Document, or the validity, attachment or perfection of any Revolver Lien, or the validity or enforceability of the priorities, rights or duties established by the provisions of this Agreement, (iii) will not take or cause to be taken any action the purpose or effect of which is, or could be, to interfere, hinder or delay, in any manner, whether by judicial proceedings or otherwise, any sale, transfer or other Disposition of the Shared Collateral by the Revolver Agent or the Collateral Trustee, at the direction of any Revolver Secured Party or the Revolver Agent, acting on their behalf, (iv) shall have no right to (A) direct the Collateral Trustee (except as provided in Section 5.02), the Revolver Agent or any other Revolver Secured Party to exercise any right, remedy or power with respect to any Shared Collateral or (B) consent to the exercise by the Collateral Trustee, the Revolver Agent or any other Revolver Secured Party of any right, remedy or power of the Revolver Secured Parties with respect to any Shared Collateral, (v) will not institute or cause to be instituted any suit or assert in any suit or Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding any claim against the Collateral Trustee, the Revolver Agent or other Revolver Secured Party seeking damages from or other relief by way of specific performance, instructions or otherwise with respect to, and neither the Collateral Trustee, the Revolver Agent nor any other Revolver Secured Party shall be liable to any of the FLLO Secured Parties for, any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Collateral Trustee, the Revolver Agent or other Revolver Secured Party with respect to any Shared Collateral, (vi) will not seek, and hereby waives any right, to have any Shared Collateral or any part thereof marshaled upon any foreclosure or other Disposition of such Shared Collateral, (vii) will not attempt, directly or indirectly, whether by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to challenge the enforceability of any provision of this Agreement, (viii) will not object to forbearance by the Revolver Agent or the Collateral Trustee at the direction of the Revolver Agent or any Revolver Secured Party, and (ix) will not assert, and hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any right to demand, request, plead or otherwise assert or claim the benefit of any marshalling, appraisal, valuation or other similar right that may be available under applicable law with respect to the Shared Collateral or any similar rights a junior secured creditor may have under applicable law; provided that nothing herein shall limit the rights of any FLLO Secured Party to enforce the terms of this Agreement. The Revolver Agent, for itself and on behalf of each Revolver Secured Party, agrees that each Revolver Secured Party (i) will not challenge or question in any proceeding the validity or enforceability of any FLLO Obligations or FLLO Document, or the validity, attachment or perfection of any FLLO Lien, or the validity or enforceability of the priorities, rights or duties established by the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) will not take or cause to be taken any action the purpose or effect of which is, or could be, to interfere, hinder or delay, in any manner, whether by judicial proceedings or otherwise, any sale, transfer or other Disposition of the Shared Collateral by the Collateral Trustee, any FLLO Secured Party or the FLLO Agent acting on their behalf to the extent such sale, transfer or other Disposition is permitted by the terms of this Agreement.

 

(b)               Payment Over. Each FLLO Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other FLLO Secured Party, hereby agrees that if any FLLO Secured Party shall obtain possession of any Shared Collateral or shall realize any Proceeds or payment in respect of any Shared Collateral, pursuant to any rights or remedies with respect to the Shared Collateral under any FLLO Security Document or on account of any rights available to it under applicable law or in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, to the extent permitted hereunder, at any time prior to the Discharge of Revolver Obligations secured, or intended to be secured, by such Shared Collateral, then it shall hold such Shared Collateral, Proceeds or payment in trust for the Revolver Agent and the other Revolver Secured Parties and transfer such Shared Collateral, Proceeds or payment, as the case may be, to the Collateral Trustee as promptly as practicable; provided that nothing herein shall limit the rights of the FLLO Secured Parties to receive the payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts under the FLLO Documents so long as such payment is not the result of any exercise of remedies by any FLLO Secured Party with respect to the Shared Collateral or a payment in respect of Shared Collateral or the FLLO Secured Parties realizing any Proceeds in respect of Shared Collateral. Furthermore, each FLLO Agent shall, at the Grantors’ expense, promptly send written notice to the Collateral Trustee and the Revolver Agent upon receipt of such Shared Collateral, Proceeds or payment not permitted hereunder by any FLLO Secured Party and if directed by the Collateral Trustee, at the direction of the Revolver Agent, within five (5) days after receipt by the Collateral Trustee of such written notice, shall deliver such Shared Collateral, Proceeds or payment to the Revolver Agent in the same form as received, with any necessary endorsements, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct. The Revolver Agent is hereby authorized to make any such endorsements as agent for any FLLO Agent or any other FLLO Secured Party. Each FLLO Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other FLLO Secured Party agrees that if, at any time, it obtains written notice that all or part of any payment with respect to any Revolver Obligations previously made shall be rescinded for any reason whatsoever, it will promptly pay over to the Collateral Trustee for payment to the Revolver Agent any such Shared Collateral, Proceeds or payment not permitted hereunder received by it and then in its or the Collateral Trustee’s possession or under its or the Collateral Trustee’s direct control in respect of any such Revolver Collateral and shall promptly turn any such Shared Collateral then held by it over to the Collateral Trustee for the Revolver Agent, and the provisions set forth in this Agreement will be reinstated as if such payment had not been made, until the Discharge of Revolver Obligations. All FLLO Liens will remain attached to, and enforceable against all Proceeds so held or remitted, subject to the priorities set forth in this Agreement. At any time prior to the commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, this Section 5.05(b) shall not apply to any Proceeds of Shared Collateral realized in a transaction not prohibited by the Revolver Documents and as to which the possession or receipt thereof by any FLLO Agent or any other FLLO Secured Party is otherwise permitted by the Revolver Documents.

 

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ARTICLE VI

OTHER AGREEMENTS

 

Section 6.01        Release of Liens. (a) Prior to the Discharge of Revolver Obligations, each FLLO Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other FLLO Secured Party agrees that, in the event the Collateral Trustee at the direction of the Revolver Secured Parties releases the Revolver Lien on any Shared Collateral, the FLLO Lien on such Shared Collateral shall terminate and be released automatically and without further action if (i) such release is permitted under the Revolver Documents and the FLLO Documents, (ii) such release is effected in connection with the Collateral Trustee’s foreclosure upon, or other exercise of rights or remedies with respect to, such Shared Collateral at the direction of the Revolver Agent (including a Disposition of Shared Collateral to which the Borrower or Grantor consents or assists), or (iii) such release is effected in connection with a sale or other Disposition of any Shared Collateral (or any portion thereof) under Section 363 or any other provision of the Bankruptcy Code if the Revolver Secured Parties shall have consented to such sale or Disposition of such Shared Collateral; provided that, in the case of each of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), the FLLO Liens on such Shared Collateral shall attach to (and shall remain subject to the terms of this Agreement) any Proceeds of a sale, transfer or other Disposition of Shared Collateral not paid to the Revolver Secured Parties or that remain after the Discharge of Revolver Obligations.

 

(b)               Each FLLO Agent agrees to direct the Collateral Trustee to execute and deliver (at the sole cost and expense of the Grantors) all such releases and other instruments as shall reasonably be requested by the Revolver Agent to evidence and confirm any release of Shared Collateral provided for in this Section 6.01.

 

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Section 6.02        Certain Agreements With Respect to Insolvency or Liquidation Proceedings.

 

(a)               Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that this Agreement is a “subordination agreement” under New York law, New York UCC 9-339 and Section 510(a) of the Bankruptcy Code and shall continue in full force and effect, notwithstanding the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding by or against the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower. All references in this Agreement to the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower or any other Grantor will include such Person or Persons as a debtor-in-possession and any receiver or trustee for such Person or Persons in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

 

(b)               If the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall become subject to any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding and shall, as debtor(s)-in-possession, or if any receiver or trustee for such Person or Persons shall, move for approval of financing (“DIP Financing”) to be provided by one or more lenders (the “DIP Lenders”) under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code or the use of cash collateral under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code, each FLLO Agent, for itself and on behalf of each FLLO Secured Party, agrees that neither it nor any other FLLO Secured Party will raise any objection to, contest or oppose (and shall not direct the Collateral Trustee to raise any objection to, contest or oppose), and each FLLO Secured Party will waive any claim such Person may now or hereafter have and shall be deemed to consent to, any such DIP Financing or the Liens on the Shared Collateral securing the same (“DIP Financing Liens”), or any use, sale or lease of cash collateral that constitutes Shared Collateral or any grant of administrative expense priority under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code, unless the Revolver Agent opposes or objects to such DIP Financing or such DIP Financing Liens or such use of cash collateral. Each FLLO Agent will instruct the Collateral Trustee to, for itself and on behalf of the other FLLO Secured Parties, (i) subordinate the FLLO Liens including any replacement Liens granted as adequate protection Liens to the FLLO Secured Parties on the Shared Collateral to any such DIP Financing Liens on the same terms as the Revolver Liens of the Revolver Secured Parties are subordinated thereto (ii) deem any replacement Liens granted as adequate protection Liens to the FLLO Secured Parties on the Shared Collateral as Liens subject to the terms hereof (including 4.01) and (iii) agree to the terms and priority of any “carve-outs”.

 

(c)               Prior to the Discharge of Revolver Obligations, without the consent of the Revolver Agent, in its sole discretion, each FLLO Agent, for itself and on behalf of each FLLO Secured Party agrees not to propose, support or enter into any DIP Financing.

 

(d)               Each FLLO Agent, for itself and on behalf of each FLLO Secured Party, agrees that it will not (and will not direct to the Collateral Trustee to) object to, oppose or contest (or join with or support any third party objecting to, opposing or contesting) and if requested, will consent (and will direct the Collateral Trustee to consent on behalf of the FLLO Secured Parties) to a sale or other Disposition, a motion to sell or Dispose or the bidding procedure for such sale or Disposition of any Shared Collateral (or any portion thereof) under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code or any other provision of the Bankruptcy Code (including any credit bidding under Section 363(k) of the Bankruptcy Code), if the Revolver Secured Parties shall have consented to such sale or Disposition, such motion to sell or Dispose or such bidding procedures for such sale or Disposition of such Shared Collateral.

 

(e)               Each FLLO Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other FLLO Secured Party waives any claim that may be had against the Collateral Trustee, the Revolver Agent or any other Revolver Secured Party arising out of any DIP Financing Liens or administrative expense priority under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code (in each case that is granted in a manner that is consistent with this Agreement).

 

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(f)                Each FLLO Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other FLLO Secured Party, agrees that neither such FLLO Agent nor any other FLLO Secured Party will (nor will they instruct the Collateral Trustee on their behalf to) file or prosecute in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, any motion for adequate protection (or any comparable request for relief), including for payment of Post-Petition Interest, based upon their interest in the Shared Collateral, nor object to, oppose or contest (or join with or support any third party objecting to, opposing or contesting) (i) any request by the Revolver Agent or the Collateral Trustee on behalf of the Revolver Agent or any other Revolver Secured Party for adequate protection, including for payment of Post-Petition Interest, or (ii) any objection by the Revolver Agent or the Collateral Trustee on behalf of the Revolver Agent or any other Revolver Secured Party to any motion, relief, action or proceeding based on the Revolver Agent or Revolver Secured Parties claiming a lack of adequate protection, except that the FLLO Secured Parties may, or may instruct the Collateral Trustee on behalf of the FLLO Secured Parties to:

 

(i)                 freely seek and obtain relief granting adequate protection in the form of a replacement lien or additional collateral co-extensive in all respects with, but with the same relative priority to the Revolver Liens as existed prior to the commencement of the Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, all Liens or additional collateral granted in the Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding to, or for the benefit of, the Revolver Secured Parties (with any such resulting collateral constituting Shared Collateral hereunder and subject to the terms of this Agreement, including Section 8.01);

 

(ii)              freely seek and obtain relief granting adequate protection in the form of superpriority claims to the same extent granted to the Revolver Secured Parties, provided payments made on account of such superpriority claims shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement, including Section 8.01; and

 

(iii)            freely seek and obtain any relief upon a motion for adequate protection (or any comparable relief), without any condition or restriction whatsoever, at any time after the Discharge of Revolver Obligations.

 

(g)               To the extent the FLLO Obligations and the Revolver Obligations are classified in the same class under a plan of reorganization, (i) the Revolver Agent may direct any election under Section 1111(b) of the Bankruptcy Code with respect to such class and (ii) the Collateral Trustee on behalf of each of the FLLO Secured Parties waives any claim it or any such FLLO Secured Party may now or hereafter have against the Revolver Agent or any other Revolver Secured Party (or their representatives) arising out of any election by the Revolver Agent or any Revolver Secured Parties, in any proceeding instituted under the Bankruptcy Code, of the application of Section 1111(b) of the Bankruptcy Code.

 

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(h)               Each FLLO Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other FLLO Secured Party, agrees that in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, neither such FLLO Agent nor any other FLLO Secured Party shall (nor shall they direct the Collateral Trustee to) support or vote to accept any plan of reorganization of the Borrower or any other Grantor unless (i) such plan is accepted by the Revolver Secured Parties in accordance with Section 1126(c) of the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise provides for the Discharge of Revolver Obligations on the effective date of such plan of reorganization, (ii) such plan provides for the Discharge of Revolver Obligations, or (iii) such plan provides on account of the Revolver Obligations for the retention by the Collateral Trustee, for the benefit of the Revolver Secured Parties, of the Liens on the Shared Collateral securing the Revolver Obligations, and on all Proceeds thereof whenever received, and such plan also provides that any Liens retained by, or granted to, the Collateral Trustee for the FLLO Secured Parties are only on property securing the Revolver Obligations and shall have the same relative priority with respect to the Shared Collateral or other property (including the same relative priority with respect to proceeds of such Shared Collateral or other property), respectively, as provided in this Agreement with respect to the Shared Collateral. Except as provided herein, the FLLO Secured Parties shall remain entitled to vote their claims in any such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

 

(i)                 Each FLLO Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other FLLO Secured Party, agrees that neither such FLLO Agent nor any other FLLO Secured Party shall (nor shall they direct the Collateral Trustee to) seek relief (or support any other party seeking relief), pursuant to Section 362(d) of the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise, from the automatic stay of Section 362(a) of the Bankruptcy Code or from any other stay in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding in respect of the Shared Collateral without the prior written consent of the Revolver Agent.

 

(j)                 Each FLLO Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other FLLO Secured Party, agrees that neither such FLLO Agent nor any other FLLO Secured Party shall (nor shall they direct the Collateral Trustee to) oppose or seek to challenge any claim by the Collateral Trustee, the Revolver Agent or any other Revolver Secured Party for allowance or payment in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding of Revolver Obligations consisting of Post-Petition Interest or cash collateralization of all letters of credit to the extent of the value of the Revolver Liens (it being understood that such value will be determined without regard to the existence of the FLLO Liens on the Shared Collateral). Neither the Revolver Agent nor any other Revolver Secured Party shall (nor shall they direct the Collateral Trustee to) oppose or seek to challenge any claim by the Collateral Trustee, any FLLO Agent or any other FLLO Secured Party for allowance or payment in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding of FLLO Obligations consisting of post-petition interest, fees or expenses to the extent of the value of the FLLO Liens on the Shared Collateral; provided that if the Collateral Trustee, the Revolver Agent or any other Revolver Secured Party shall have made any claim for post-petition interest, fees or expenses in respect of the Revolver Obligations, such claim (i) shall have been approved or (ii) will be approved contemporaneously with the approval of any such claim by the Collateral Trustee, any FLLO Agent or any FLLO Secured Party and, to the extent the FLLO Secured Parties receive any payment on account of such claims for post-petition interest in respect of the FLLO Obligations and the Revolver Secured Parties are not entitled to or do not receive payment on account of their claims for post-petition interest, the amounts received by the FLLO Secured Parties on account of post-petition interest shall be delivered to the Revolver Agent for application pursuant to Section 8.01 unless otherwise consented to the by the Revolver Agent.

 

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(k)               Without the express written consent of the Revolver Agent, none of the Collateral Trustee, any FLLO Agent or any other FLLO Secured Party shall (or shall join with or support any third party in opposing, objecting to or contesting, as the case may be), in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding involving any Grantor, (i) oppose, object to or contest the determination of the extent of any Liens held by the Collateral Trustee on behalf of any Revolver Secured Party or the value of any claims of any such holder under Section 506(a) of the Bankruptcy Code or (ii) oppose, object to or contest the payment to the Collateral Trustee on behalf of the Revolver Secured Parties of interest, fees or expenses under Section 506(b) of the Bankruptcy Code. Without the express written consent of each FLLO Agent, none of the Collateral Trustee, the Revolver Agent or any other Revolver Secured Party shall (or shall join with or support any third party in opposing, objecting to or contesting, as the case may be), in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding involving any Grantor, oppose, object to or contest the determination of the extent of any Liens held by the Collateral Trustee on behalf of any FLLO Secured Party or the value of any claims of any such holder under Section 506(a) of the Bankruptcy Code.

 

 

(l)                 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding a determination is made that any Lien encumbering any Shared Collateral is not enforceable for any reason, then each FLLO Agent for itself and on behalf of each other FLLO Secured Party agrees that, any distribution or recovery they may receive in respect of any Shared Collateral (including assets that would constitute Shared Collateral but for such determination) shall be segregated and held in trust and forthwith paid over to the Collateral Trustee for the benefit of the Revolver Secured Parties in the same form as received without recourse, representation or warranty (other than a representation of such FLLO Agent that it has not otherwise sold, assigned, transferred or pledged any right, title or interest in and to such distribution or recovery) but with any necessary endorsements or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct. Each FLLO Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other FLLO Secured Party hereby appoints the Collateral Trustee, and any officer or agent of the Collateral Trustee, with full power of substitution, the attorney-in-fact of each FLLO Secured Party for the limited purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Section 6.02(l) and taking any action and executing any instrument that the Collateral Trustee may deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes of this Section 6.02(l), which appointment is irrevocable and coupled with an interest.

 

(m)             Each FLLO Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other FLLO Secured Party, hereby agrees that the Revolver Agent shall have the right to (or to instruct the Collateral Trustee on its behalf) credit bid the Revolver Obligations and further that none of the Collateral Trustee, any FLLO Agent or any other FLLO Secured Party shall (or shall join with or support any third party in opposing, objecting to or contesting, as the case may be) oppose, object to or contest such credit bid by the Revolver Agent. The FLLO Secured Parties may credit bid, or instruct the Collateral Trustee to credit bid the FLLO Obligations in accordance with Sections 363(k) or 1129 of the Bankruptcy Code or any other applicable law, only if such bid includes a cash payment sufficient to provide for the Discharge of Revolver Obligations and the Discharge of Revolver Obligations occurs immediately after giving effect to such credit bid, or if the Revolver Agent otherwise consents in writing.

 

(n)               Each FLLO Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other FLLO Secured Party waives any right to assert or enforce any claim under Section 506(c) or 552 of the Bankruptcy Code as against the Collateral Trustee, any Revolver Secured Party or any of the Shared Collateral.

 

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(o)               The Borrower, each Grantor, the Collateral Trustee, the Revolver Agent (on behalf of each Revolver Secured Party) and each FLLO Agent (on behalf of each FLLO Secured Party) acknowledges and intends that the grants of Liens pursuant to the Revolver Documents, on the one hand, and the FLLO Documents, on the other hand, constitute separate and distinct grants of Liens, and because of, among other things, their differing priority in right of recovery on the Shared Collateral with respect to the Proceeds of the Shared Collateral under Section 8.01, each of the Revolver Obligations, on the one hand, and the FLLO Obligations, on the other hand, are fundamentally different from one another and must be separately classified in any plan of reorganization or similar dispositive restructuring plan proposed or confirmed (or approved) in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding. To further effectuate the intent of the parties as provided in the immediately preceding sentence, if it is held that the claims of any of the Revolver Secured Parties, on the one hand, and the FLLO Secured Parties, on the other hand, constitute claims in the same class (rather than separate classes of secured claims), then the FLLO Secured Parties hereby acknowledge and agree (i) to vote to reject such plan of reorganization or similar dispositive restructuring plan unless the Revolver Secured Parties holding greater than half in number and two-thirds in amount of the Revolver Obligations agree to accept such plan or such plan provides for the Discharge of Revolver Obligations, (ii) that all distributions from the Shared Collateral shall be made as if there were separate classes of Revolver Obligations and FLLO Obligations against the Grantors, with the effect being that, to the extent that the aggregate value of the Shared Collateral is sufficient (for this purpose ignoring all claims held by the other secured parties), the Revolver Secured Parties, shall be entitled to receive, in addition to amounts distributed to them in respect of principal, prepetition interest and other claims, Post-Petition Interest, before any distribution is made in respect of the FLLO Obligations (or any claims, including in respect of post-petition interest, fees or expenses, related thereto) from, or with respect to, such Shared Collateral, with each holder of the FLLO Obligations (and/or any claim, post-petition interest, fees or expenses, related thereto) hereby acknowledging and agreeing to turn over to the Revolver Secured Parties amounts otherwise received or receivable by them from, or with respect to, such Shared Collateral to the extent necessary to effectuate the intent of this sentence, even if such turnover has the effect of reducing their aggregate recoveries. The Revolver Agent (on behalf of all Revolver Secured Parties) and each FLLO Agent (on behalf of all FLLO Secured Parties) each hereby agree it shall not object to or contest (or support any other party in objection or contesting) a plan of reorganization or other dispositive restructuring plan on the grounds that the Revolver Obligations and FLLO Obligations are classified separately.

 

Section 6.03        Reinstatement. If any Revolver Secured Party is required in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or otherwise to turn over or otherwise pay to the estate of any Grantor any amount (a “Recovery”) for any reason whatsoever, then the Revolver Obligations shall be reinstated to the extent of such Recovery and the Revolver Secured Parties shall be entitled to a reinstatement of Revolver Obligations with respect to all such recovered amounts. The Collateral Trustee and each FLLO Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other FLLO Secured Party agree that if, at any time, a FLLO Secured Party receives notice of any Recovery, the Collateral Trustee, each FLLO Agent and each other FLLO Secured Party, shall promptly pay over to the Revolver Agent any payment that is not permitted hereunder to be received by the FLLO Secured Parties received by it and then in its possession or under its control in respect of any Shared Collateral and shall promptly turn any Shared Collateral then held by it over to the Revolver Agent (or in the instance of the Collateral Trustee any such Shared Collateral held by it for the FLLO Secured Parties shall thereafter be held for the Revolver Secured Parties for distribution in accordance with Section 8.01), and the provisions set forth in this Agreement shall be reinstated as if such payment had not been made. If this Agreement shall have been terminated prior to any such Recovery, this Agreement shall be reinstated in full force and effect, and such prior termination shall not diminish, release, discharge, impair or otherwise affect the obligations of the parties hereto from such date of reinstatement. Any Shared Collateral or Proceeds thereof that is not permitted hereunder to be received by the FLLO Secured Parties (or the Collateral Trustee for the FLLO Secured Parties) received by each FLLO Agent or any other FLLO Secured Party (or the Collateral Trustee) and then in its possession or under its control on account of the FLLO Obligations after the termination of this Agreement shall, in the event of a reinstatement of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 6.03, be held in trust for and paid over to the Collateral Trustee for the benefit of the Revolver Secured Parties for application to the reinstated Revolver Obligations until the discharge thereof. This Section 6.03 shall survive termination of this Agreement.

 

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Section 6.04        Refinancings; Additional FLLO Obligations.

 

(a)               The Revolver Obligations and the FLLO Obligations may be Replaced, by any Revolver Substitute Credit Facility or Substitute FLLO Facility, respectively, in each case, without notice to, or the consent of any Priority Secured Party, all without affecting the Lien priorities provided for herein or the other provisions hereof; provided, that (i) the Collateral Trustee, the Revolver Agent and each FLLO Agent shall receive on or prior to incurrence of a Revolver Substitute Credit Facility or Substitute FLLO Facility (A) an Officers’ Certificate from the Borrower stating that (I) the incurrence thereof is permitted by each applicable Priority Debt Document and (II) the applicable requirements of this Section 6.04, have been satisfied, and (B) a Priority Confirmation Joinder executed by the holders or lenders of any indebtedness that Replaces the applicable Revolver Obligations or the applicable FLLO Obligations (or an authorized agent, trustee or other representative on their behalf) and (ii) on or before the date of such incurrence, such Revolver Substitute Credit Facility or Substitute FLLO Facility is designated by the Borrower, in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Collateral Trustee, the Revolver Agent and each FLLO Agent, as “Revolver Debt” or “FLLO Debt”, as applicable, for the purposes of the Priority Debt Documents and this Agreement; provided that no series of Priority Obligations may be designated as more than one of Revolver Debt or FLLO Debt.

 

(b)               The Borrower will be permitted to designate as an additional holder of FLLO Obligations hereunder each Person who is, or who becomes, the registered holder of FLLO Debt, incurred by the Borrower after the date of this Agreement to the extent, but only to the extent, permitted and otherwise in accordance with the terms of all applicable Priority Debt Documents. The Borrower may effect such designation by delivering to the Collateral Trustee, the Revolver Agent and each FLLO Agent each of the following:

 

(i)                 an Officers’ Certificate stating that the Borrower intends to incur Additional FLLO Obligations which will be FLLO Debt permitted to be incurred by each applicable Priority Debt Document and secured by a FLLO Lien, equally and ratably with all previously existing and future FLLO Debt;

 

(ii)              an authorized agent, trustee or other representative on behalf of the holders or lenders of any Additional FLLO Obligations must be designated as an additional holder of Priority Obligations hereunder and must, prior to such designation, sign and deliver on behalf of the holders or lenders of such Additional FLLO Obligations a Priority Confirmation Joinder, and, to the extent necessary or appropriate to facilitate such transaction, a new collateral trust agreement substantially similar to this Agreement, as in effect on the date hereof.

 

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(iii)            evidence that the Borrower has duly authorized, executed (if applicable) and recorded (or caused to be recorded) in each appropriate governmental office all relevant filings and recordations deemed necessary by the Borrower and the holder of such Additional FLLO Obligations, or its Priority Debt Representative, to ensure that the Additional FLLO Obligations are secured by the Shared Collateral in accordance with the FLLO Security Documents (provided that such filings and recordings may be authorized, executed and recorded following any incurrence on a post-closing basis if permitted by the FLLO Agent for such Additional FLLO Obligations).

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement will be construed to allow the Borrower or any other Grantor to incur additional indebtedness unless otherwise permitted by the terms of each applicable Priority Debt Document.

 

(c)               Each of the then-existing Collateral Trustee, Revolver Agent and each FLLO Agent shall be authorized to execute and deliver such documents and agreements (including amendments or supplements to this Agreement) as such holders, lenders, agent, trustee or other representative may reasonably request to give effect to any such Replacement or any incurrence of Additional FLLO Obligations, it being understood that the Collateral Trustee, the Revolver Agent and each FLLO Agent or (if permitted by the terms of the applicable Priority Debt Documents) the Grantors, without the consent of any other Priority Secured Party or (in the case of the Grantors) one or more Priority Debt Representatives, may amend, supplement, modify or restate this Agreement to the extent necessary or appropriate to facilitate such amendments or supplements to effect such Replacement or incurrence all at the expense of the Grantors. Upon the consummation of such Replacement or incurrence and the execution and delivery of the documents and agreements contemplated in the preceding sentence, the holders or lenders of such indebtedness and any authorized agent, trustee or other representative thereof shall be entitled to the benefits of this Agreement.

 

Section 6.05        Amendments to Priority Debt Documents. (a) Prior to the Discharge of Revolver Obligations, and except as permitted by the Revolver Documents, without the prior written consent of the Revolver Agent, no FLLO Document may be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified and/or refinanced or entered into to the extent such amendment, supplement, restatement or modification and/or refinancing, or the terms of any new FLLO Document would (i) adversely affect the payment priority rights of the Revolver Secured Parties or the rights of the Revolver Secured Parties to receive payments owing pursuant to the Revolver Documents, (ii) modify any existing rights or confer any additional rights on any FLLO Agent or any other FLLO Secured Party in a manner adverse to the Revolver Secured Parties (including by (A) increasing the interest rate or yields therein by more than 3% per annum, (B) adding mandatory prepayments or shortening the maturity date therein, in each case in contravention of the Revolver Credit Agreement), or (iii) contravene the provisions of this Agreement or the Revolver Credit Agreement (including such that the FLLO Obligations would no longer qualify as permitted indebtedness under Section 10.1(r) of the Revolver Credit Agreement (or any successor provision thereto)).

 

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(b)               The FLLO Secured Parties agree to amend the FLLO Documents as directed by the Revolver Agent, provided such amendment shall only amend the FLLO Documents to correspond to any revisions made to the Revolver Documents relating to the Shared Collateral; provided however, any amendment or modification that requires the consent of all affected FLLO Secured Parties shall require the consent of all affected FLLO Secured Parties.

 

(c)               Nothing in this Agreement shall supersede the provisions set forth in Section 10.1(r) of the Revolver Credit Agreement (or any successor provision thereto).

 

(d)               To the extent the consent of the Priority Lien Agent is required to an amendment, supplement, restatement or other modification to the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement, such consent shall only be provided if both the Revolver Agent and the FLLO Agents agree in writing to such amendment, supplement, restatement or other modifications.

 

Section 6.06        Legends. Each FLLO Agent acknowledges with respect to the FLLO Security Documents, that the FLLO Documents (other than control agreements to which the Collateral Trustee or the Revolver Agent is a party), and each associated FLLO Security Document (other than control agreements to which the Collateral Trustee or the Revolver Agent is a party) granting any security interest in the Shared Collateral will contain the appropriate legend set forth on Annex I or a legend in such other form acceptable to the Revolver Agent.

 

Section 6.07        FLLO Secured Parties Rights as Unsecured Creditors; Judgment Lien Creditor. Both before and during an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, any of the FLLO Secured Parties may take, or instruct the Collateral Trustee, on their behalf, to take any actions and exercise any and all rights that would be available to a holder of unsecured claims; provided, however, that the FLLO Secured Parties may not instruct the Collateral Trustee to take, nor shall they take any of the actions prohibited by Section 5.01, Section 5.05(a), Section 6.01 or Section 6.02 or any other provisions of this Agreement; provided, further that in the event that any of the Collateral Trustee or FLLO Secured Parties becomes a judgment lien creditor in respect of any Shared Collateral as a result of its enforcement of the FLLO Secured Parties’ rights as an unsecured creditor with respect to the FLLO Obligations, such judgment lien shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement for all purposes (including in relation to the Revolver Obligations) as the FLLO Liens are subject to this Agreement.

 

Section 6.08        Postponement of Subrogation. Each FLLO Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other FLLO Secured Party, hereby agrees that no payment or distribution to any Revolver Secured Party pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement shall entitle any FLLO Secured Party to exercise any rights of subrogation in respect thereof until the Discharge of Revolver Obligations shall have occurred. Following the Discharge of Revolver Obligations, but subject to the reinstatement as provided in Section 6.03, each Revolver Secured Party will execute such documents, agreements, and instruments as any FLLO Secured Party may reasonably request to evidence the transfer by subrogation to any such Person of an interest in the Revolver Obligations resulting from payments or distributions to such Revolver Secured Party by such Person, so long as all costs and expenses (including all reasonable legal fees and disbursements) incurred in connection therewith by such Revolver Secured Party are paid by such Person upon request for payment thereof.

 

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Section 6.09        Acknowledgment by the Secured Debt Representatives. Each of the Revolver Agent, for itself and on behalf of the other Revolver Secured Parties and each FLLO Agent, for itself and on behalf of the other FLLO Secured Parties, hereby acknowledges that this Agreement is a material inducement to enter into a business relationship, that each has relied on this Agreement to amend the Original Revolver Credit Agreement, to permit the incurrence of the FLLO Debt and to enter into the Original Term Loan Credit Agreement and all documentation related thereto, and that each will continue to rely on this Agreement in their related future dealings.

 

ARTICLE VII

GRATUITOUS BAILMENT FOR PERFECTION OF CERTAIN SECURITY INTERESTS

 

Section 7.01        General. Each of the Collateral Trustee and the Revolver Agent agrees that if it shall at any time hold a Lien on any Shared Collateral that can be perfected by the possession or control of such Collateral or of any Account in which such Shared Collateral is held, and if such Shared Collateral or any such Account is in fact in the possession or under the control of the Collateral Trustee or the Revolver Agent, the Collateral Trustee or the Revolver Agent, as the case may be, will serve as gratuitous bailee (a) in the case of the Collateral Trustee, for the Revolver Agent and the FLLO Agents and (b) (a) in the case of the Revolver Agent, for the Collateral Trustee, for the sole purpose of perfecting the Revolver Lien and the FLLO Lien on such Shared Collateral. It is agreed that the obligations of the Collateral Trustee and the Revolver Agent and the rights of the Revolver Agent, the other Revolver Secured Parties, the FLLO Agents and the other FLLO Secured Parties in connection with any such bailment arrangement will be in all respects subject to the provisions of Article IV. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Collateral Trustee and the Revolver Agent will be deemed to make no representation as to the adequacy of the steps taken by it to perfect the Revolver Liens or the FLLO Lien on any such Shared Collateral and shall have no responsibility, duty, obligation or liability to the Revolver Agent, the other Revolver Secured Parties, the FLLO Agents or any other FLLO Secured Party or any other Person for such perfection or failure to perfect, it being understood that the sole purpose of this Article is to enable the Collateral Trustee to obtain a perfected Lien in such Shared Collateral to the extent, if any, that such perfection results from the possession or control of such Shared Collateral or any such Account by the Collateral Trustee or the Revolver Agent. The Collateral Trustee or the Revolver Agent acting pursuant to this Section 7.01 shall not have by reason of the Revolver Security Documents, the FLLO Security Documents, this Agreement or any other document or theory, a fiduciary relationship in respect of any Revolver Agent, Revolver Secured Party, the FLLO Agents or any FLLO Secured Party. Subject to Section 6.03, from and after the Discharge of Revolver Obligations, the Collateral Trustee and the Revolver Agent shall take all such actions in its power as shall reasonably be requested by the Controlling FLLO Agent (if the Controlling FLLO Agent is the Original Term Loan Agent, acting at the written direction of the Required Term Loan Lenders), (at the sole cost and expense of the Grantors) to transfer possession or control of such Shared Collateral or any such Account (in each case to the extent any FLLO Agent has a Lien on such Shared Collateral or Account after giving effect to any prior or concurrent releases of Liens) to the Controlling FLLO Agent for the benefit of all FLLO Secured Parties.

 

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Section 7.02        Deposit Accounts. Each of the Collateral Trustee and the Revolver Agent will act as gratuitous bailee on behalf of (a) in the case of the Collateral Trustee, the Revolver Agent and the FLLO Agents and (b) in the case of the Revolver Agent, the Collateral Trustee, for the purpose of perfecting the Liens of the Revolver Secured Parties and the FLLO Secured Parties, respectively, in such Accounts and the cash and other assets therein as provided in Section 7.01 (but will have no duty, responsibility or obligation to the Revolver Secured Parties or the FLLO Secured Parties (including any duty, responsibility or obligation as to the maintenance of such control, the effect of such arrangement or the establishment of such perfection) except as set forth in the last sentence of this Section 7.02). Unless the FLLO Liens on such Shared Collateral shall have been or concurrently are released, after the occurrence of Discharge of Revolver Obligations, the Collateral Trustee and the Revolver Agent shall, at the request of the FLLO Agents, cooperate with the Grantors and the FLLO Agents (at the expense of the Grantors) in permitting control of any other Accounts to be transferred to the Controlling FLLO Agent (or for other arrangements with respect to each such Accounts satisfactory to the Controlling FLLO Agent to be made).

 

ARTICLE VIII

APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS; DETERMINATION OF AMOUNTS

 

Section 8.01        Application of Proceeds. Prior to the Discharge of Revolver Obligations, and regardless of whether an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding has been commenced, Shared Collateral or Proceeds received or payable (x) in connection with the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to any portion of the Shared Collateral or (y) pursuant to a plan of reorganization or similar dispositive restructuring plan, will be applied:

 

(a)               first, to the payment of all amounts payable under this Agreement on account of the Collateral Trustee’s fees and expenses and any reasonable legal fees, costs and expenses or other liabilities of any kind incurred by the Collateral Trustee or any co-trustee or agent of the Collateral Trustee in connection with any Security Document, including but not limited to amounts necessary to provide for the expenses of the Collateral Trustee in maintaining and disposing of the Collateral (including, but not limited to, indemnification payments and reimbursements);

 

(b)               second, to the Revolver Agent for application to the Revolver Obligations in accordance with the Revolver Documents, until the Discharge of Revolver Obligations has occurred,

 

(c)               third,; to the respective FLLO Agents equally and ratably for application to the payment of all outstanding FLLO Debt and any other FLLO Obligations that are then due and payable in such order as may be provided in the FLLO Documents in an amount sufficient to pay in full in cash all outstanding FLLO Debt and all other FLLO Obligations that are then due and payable (including, to the extent legally permitted, all interest accrued thereon after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding at the rate, including any applicable post-default rate, specified in the FLLO Documents, even if such interest is not enforceable, allowable or allowed as a claim in such proceeding but excluding contingent indemnity obligations for which no claim has been made), and

 

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(d)               fourth, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement or by applicable law.

 

Section 8.02        Determination of Amounts. Whenever a Priority Debt Representative (other than the Collateral Trustee) shall be required, in connection with the exercise of its (or the Collateral Trustee’s) rights or the performance of its (or the Collateral Trustee’s) obligations hereunder, to determine the existence or amount of any Revolver Obligations (or the existence of any commitment to extend credit that would constitute Revolver Obligations), or FLLO Obligations, or the existence of any Lien securing any such obligations, or the Shared Collateral subject to any such Lien, it may request that such information be furnished to it in writing by the other Priority Debt Representative (other than the Collateral Trustee) and shall be entitled to make such determination on the basis of the information so furnished; provided, however, that if such Priority Debt Representative shall fail or refuse reasonably promptly to provide the requested information, the requesting Priority Debt Representative shall be entitled to make any such determination by such method as it may, in the exercise of its good faith judgment, determine, including by reliance upon a certificate of the Borrower. Each Priority Debt Representative may rely conclusively, and shall be fully protected in so relying, on any determination made by it in accordance with the provisions of the preceding sentence (or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction) and shall have no liability to the Borrower or any Subsidiary, any Priority Secured Party or any other Person as a result of such determination.

 

ARTICLE IX

NO RELIANCE; NO LIABILITY; OBLIGATIONS ABSOLUTE; CONSENT OF GRANTORS; ETC.

 

Section 9.01        No Reliance; Information. The Revolver Secured Parties and the FLLO Secured Parties shall have no duty to disclose to any FLLO Secured Party or to any Revolver Secured Party, respectively, any information relating to the Borrower or any of the other Grantors, or any other circumstance bearing upon the risk of non-payment of any of the Revolver Obligations or the FLLO Obligations, respectively, that is known or becomes known to any of them or any of their Affiliates. In the event any Revolver Secured Party or any FLLO Secured Party, in its sole discretion, undertakes at any time or from time to time to provide any such information to, any FLLO Secured Party or any Revolver Secured Party, respectively, it shall be under no obligation (a) to make, and shall not make or be deemed to have made, any express or implied representation or warranty, including with respect to the accuracy, completeness, truthfulness or validity of the information so provided, (b) to provide any additional information or to provide any such information on any subsequent occasion or (c) to undertake any investigation.

 

Section 9.02        No Warranties or Liability.

 

(a)               The Revolver Agent, for itself and on behalf of the other Revolver Secured Parties, acknowledges and agrees that, except for the representations and warranties set forth in Article X, neither the FLLO Agents nor any other FLLO Secured Party has made any express or implied representation or warranty, including with respect to the execution, validity, legality, completeness, collectability or enforceability of any of the FLLO Documents, the ownership of any Shared Collateral or the perfection or priority of any Liens thereon.

 

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(b)               Each FLLO Agent, for itself and on behalf of the other FLLO Secured Parties, acknowledges and agrees that, except for the representations and warranties set forth in Article X, neither the Revolver Agent nor any other Revolver Secured Party has made any express or implied representation or warranty, including with respect to the execution, validity, legality, completeness, collectability or enforceability of any of the Revolver Documents, the ownership of any Shared Collateral or the perfection or priority of any Liens thereon.

 

(c)               The Revolver Agent and the other Revolver Secured Parties shall have no express or implied duty to the FLLO Agents or any other FLLO Secured Party and the FLLO Agents and the other FLLO Secured Parties shall have no express or implied duty to the Revolver Agent or any other Revolver Secured Party to act or refrain from acting in a manner which allows, or results in, the occurrence or continuance of a default or an event of default under any Revolver Document and any FLLO Document (other than, in each case, this Agreement), regardless of any knowledge thereof which they may have or be charged with.

 

(d)               Each FLLO Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other FLLO Secured Party hereby waives any claim that may be had against the Collateral Trustee, the Revolver Agent or any other Revolver Secured Party arising out of any actions which the Collateral Trustee, the Revolver Agent or such Revolver Secured Party takes or omits to take (including actions with respect to the creation, perfection or continuation of Liens on any Shared Collateral, actions with respect to the foreclosure upon, sale, release or depreciation of, or failure to realize upon, any Shared Collateral, and actions with respect to the collection of any claim for all or only part of the Revolver Obligations from any account debtor, guarantor or any other party) in accordance with this Agreement and the Revolver Documents and the transactions contemplated hereunder and thereunder or the valuation, use, protection or release of any security for such Revolver Obligations.

 

Section 9.03        Obligations Absolute. Subject in all respects to Section 4.01(c) and Section 8.02, the payment priorities provided for herein and the respective rights, interests, agreements and obligations hereunder of the Collateral Trustee, the Revolver Agent and the other Revolver Secured Parties and the FLLO Agents and the other FLLO Secured Parties shall remain in full force and effect irrespective of:

 

(a)               any lack of validity or enforceability of any Priority Debt Document;

 

(b)               any change in the time, place or manner of payment of, or in any other term of (including the Replacing of), all or any portion of the Revolver Obligations, it being specifically acknowledged that a portion of the Revolver Obligations consists or may consist of Indebtedness that is revolving in nature, and the amount thereof that may be outstanding at any time or from time to time may be increased or reduced and subsequently reborrowed;

 

(c)               any amendment, waiver or other modification, whether by course of conduct or otherwise, of any Priority Debt Document;

 

(d)               the securing of any Revolver Obligations or FLLO Obligations with any additional collateral or guarantees, or any exchange, release, voiding, avoidance or non-perfection of any security interest in any Shared Collateral or any other collateral or any release of any guarantee securing any Revolver Obligations or FLLO Obligations;

 

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(e)               the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding in respect of the Borrower or any other Grantor; or

 

(f)                any other circumstances that otherwise might constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, the Borrower or any other Grantor in respect of the Revolver Obligations or the FLLO Obligations.

 

Section 9.04        Grantors Consent. Each Grantor hereby consents to the provisions of this Agreement and the intercreditor arrangements provided for herein and agrees that the obligations of the Grantors under the Priority Debt Documents will in no way be diminished or otherwise affected by such provisions or arrangements (except as expressly provided herein).

 

ARTICLE X

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

Section 10.01    Representations and Warranties of Each Party. Each party hereto represents and warrants to the other parties hereto as follows:

 

(a)               Such party is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and has all requisite power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement.

 

(b)               This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such party.

 

(c)               The execution, delivery and performance by such party of this Agreement (i) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with or any other action by any Governmental Authority of which the failure to obtain could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the rights and remedies of the parties hereto under this Agreement, (ii) will not violate any applicable law or regulation or any order of any Governmental Authority or any indenture, agreement or other instrument binding upon such party which could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the rights and remedies of the parties hereto under this Agreement and (iii) will not violate the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of such party.

 

Section 10.02    Representations and Warranties of Each Representative. Each of the Revolver Agent and each FLLO Agent represents and warrants to the other parties hereto that it is authorized under the Original Revolver Credit Agreement, the Original Term Loan Credit Agreement and any Additional FLLO Facility or Substitute FLLO Facility, as the case may be, to enter into this Agreement.

 

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ARTICLE XI

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 11.01    Notices. All notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopy, as follows:

 

(a)          If to the Collateral Trustee, to it at:

 

MUFG Union Bank, N.A.

1100 Louisiana Street, Suite 4850

Houston, TX 77002-5216

Attention: Stephen Warfel

Email: swarfel@us.mufg.jp

 

 

(b)         if to the Revolver Agent, to it at:

 

MUFG Union Bank, N.A.

1100 Louisiana Street, Suite 4850

Houston, TX 77002-5216

Attention: Stephen Warfel

Email: swarfel@us.mufg.jp

 

 

(c)          if to the Original Term Loan Agent, to it at:

 

GLAS USA LLC

3 Second Street, Suite 206

Jersey City, NJ 07311

Attn: ClientServices.Americas@glas.agency

 

(d)          if to any other Priority Debt Representative, to such address as specified in the Priority Confirmation Joinder.

 

Any party hereto may change its address or facsimile number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. All notices and other communications given to any party hereto in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given on the date of receipt (if a Business Day) and on the next Business Day thereafter (in all other cases) if delivered by hand or overnight courier service or sent by telecopy or on the date five Business Days after dispatch by certified or registered mail if mailed, in each case delivered, sent or mailed (properly addressed) to such party as provided in this Section 11.01 or in accordance with the latest unrevoked direction from such party given in accordance with this Section 11.01. As agreed to in writing among the Borrower, the Collateral Trustee, the Revolver Agent and each FLLO Agent from time to time, notices and other communications may also be delivered by e-mail to the e-mail address of a representative of the applicable person provided from time to time by such person.

 

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Section 11.02    Waivers; Amendment. (a) No failure or delay on the part of any party hereto in exercising any right or power hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the parties hereto are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by any party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section 11.02, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. No notice or demand on any party hereto in any case shall entitle such party to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.

 

(b)               Except as provided in Section 6.04, no amendment or supplement to the provisions of any Security Document will be effective without the approval of the Collateral Trustee, the Required Priority Lenders, and the Borrower or any other applicable Grantor party thereto, except that:

 

(i)                 any amendment or supplement that has the effect solely of:

 

(A)             adding or maintaining Shared Collateral, securing Priority Obligations that were otherwise permitted by the terms of the Priority Debt Documents to be secured by the Shared Collateral or preserving, perfecting or establishing the Liens thereon or the rights of the Collateral Trustee or any other Priority Debt Representative therein;

 

(B)              curing any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency;

 

(C)              providing for the assumption of the Borrower’s or any Grantor’s obligations under any Priority Debt Document in the case of a merger or consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Borrower or such Grantor to the extent permitted by the terms of the Priority Debt Documents;

 

(D)             making any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the holders of Priority Obligations or the Collateral Trustee or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the Priority Debt Document of any holder of Priority Obligations or the Collateral Trustee; or

 

(E)              effecting any release of Shared Collateral otherwise permitted under the Priority Debt Documents;

 

will become effective when executed and delivered by the Borrower or any other applicable Grantor party thereto and the Collateral Trustee;

 

(ii)              no amendment or supplement that amends the provisions of this Section 11.02(b)(ii) or reduces, impairs or adversely affects the right of any holder of Priority Obligations:

 

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(A)             to vote its outstanding Revolver Obligations as to any matter described as subject to a direction by, or the agreement of, the Controlling Priority Debt Representative or amends the definition of “Controlling Priority Debt Representative,” “Discharge of Revolver Obligations”, “Revolver Debt,” “Revolver Obligations,” “Required Revolver Lenders,” any other definition containing the words “Revolver” therein or any other defined terms to the extent referenced or implicated therein;

 

(B)              to vote its outstanding FLLO Debt as to any matter described as subject to a direction by, or the agreement of, the Controlling Priority Debt Representative or amends the definition of “Controlling Priority Debt Representative”, “Discharge of FLLO Obligations,” “FLLO Debt,” “FLLO Obligations,” any other definition containing the words “FLLO” therein or any other defined terms to the extent referenced or implicated therein;

 

(C)              amends the definition of “Required Term Loan Lenders,” any other definition containing the words “Term Loan” therein or any other defined terms to the extent referenced or implicated therein;

 

(D)             amends the definition of “Required Additional FLLO Lenders,” any other definition containing the words “Additional FLLO” therein or any other defined terms to the extent referenced or implicated therein;

 

(E)              to share in the order of application described in Section 8.01 in the proceeds of an Enforcement Action that has not been released in accordance with the provisions described in Section 3.02 or Section 6.01; or

 

(F)              to require that Liens securing Priority Obligations be released only as set forth in the provisions described in Sections 3.02 or Section 6.01;

 

will become effective without the consent of (I) with respect to clause (A), the Required Revolver Lenders, (II) with respect to clause (B), the Required Term Loan Lenders, (III) with respect to clause (C), the Required Term Loan Lenders, (IV) with respect to clause (D), the Required Additional FLLO Lenders for any applicable Additional FLLO Facility and (V) with respect to clauses (E) and (F), the Required Priority Lenders; and

 

(iii)            no amendment or supplement that imposes any obligation upon the Collateral Trustee or any other Priority Debt Representative or adversely affects the rights of the Collateral Trustee or any other Priority Debt Representative, respectively, in its individual capacity as such will become effective without the consent of the Collateral Trustee or such other Priority Debt Representative, respectively.

 

(c)               Notwithstanding Section 11.02(b) but subject to Section 11.02(b)(ii) and Section 11.02(b)(iii):

 

(i)                 any mortgage or other Security Document may be amended or supplemented with the approval of the applicable Grantor (if otherwise required) and the Collateral Trustee (acting at the written direction of the Controlling Priority Debt Representative (and, if the Controlling Priority Debt Representative is the Original Term Loan Agent, acting at the written direction of the Required Term Loan Lenders), unless such amendment or supplement would not be permitted under the terms of this Agreement, the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any Priority Debt Document;

 

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(ii)              any amendment or waiver of, or any consent under, any provision of any Security Document that secures Priority Obligations will apply automatically to any comparable provision of any comparable Security Document without the consent of or notice to any holder of Priority Obligations and without any action by the Borrower, any Grantor or any holder of Priority Obligations; and

 

(iii)            any mortgage or other Security Document may be amended or supplemented with the approval of the applicable Grantor (if otherwise required) and the Collateral Trustee (but without the consent of or notice to any holder of Priority Obligations and without any action by any holder of Priority Obligations) (A) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, or (B) to make other changes that do not have an adverse effect on the validity of the Lien created thereby or the rights or interests of the Persons secured thereby.

 

Section 11.03    Actions Upon Breach; Specific Performance. (a) Prior to the Discharge of Revolver Obligations, if any FLLO Secured Party, contrary to this Agreement, commences or participates in any action or proceeding against any Grantor or the Shared Collateral, such Grantor, with the prior written consent of the Revolver Agent, may interpose as a defense or dilatory plea the making of this Agreement, and the Collateral Trustee and any Revolver Secured Party may intervene and interpose such defense or plea in its or their name or in the name of such Grantor.

 

(b)               Prior to the Discharge of Revolver Obligations, should any FLLO Secured Party, contrary to this Agreement, in any way take, attempt to or threaten to take any action with respect to the Shared Collateral (including any attempt to realize upon or enforce any remedy with respect to this Agreement), or take any other action in violation of this Agreement or fail to take any action required by this Agreement, the Collateral Trustee, the Revolver Agent or any other Revolver Secured Party (in its own name or in the name of the relevant Grantor) or the relevant Grantor, with the prior written consent of the Revolver Agent, (A) may obtain relief against such FLLO Secured Party by injunction, specific performance and/or other appropriate equitable relief, it being understood and agreed by each FLLO Agent on behalf of each FLLO Secured Party that (I) the Revolver Secured Parties’ damages from its actions may at that time be difficult to ascertain and may be irreparable, and (II) each FLLO Secured Party waives any defense that the Grantors and/or the Revolver Secured Parties cannot demonstrate damage and/or be made whole by the awarding of damages, and (B) shall be entitled to damages, as well as reimbursement for all reasonable and documented costs and expenses incurred in connection with any action to enforce the provisions of this Agreement.

 

Section 11.04    Parties in Interest. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, as well as the other Priority Secured Parties, all of whom are intended to be bound by, and to be third party beneficiaries of, this Agreement.

 

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Section 11.05    Survival of Agreement. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by any party in this Agreement shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

 

Section 11.06    Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

Section 11.07    Severability. Any provision of this Agreement held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction. The parties shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

 

Section 11.08    Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process. (a) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES (BUT GIVING EFFECT TO SECTION 5-1401 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATION LAW).

 

(b)               Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State court or, to the extent permitted by law, in such federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that any party hereto may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement in the courts of any jurisdiction.

 

(c)               Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section 11.08. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

 

(d)               Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 11.01. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

 

53

 

 

Section 11.09    WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

 

Section 11.10    Headings. Article, Section and Annex headings used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and are not to affect the construction of, or to be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

 

Section 11.11    Conflicts. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of this Agreement and the provisions of any Priority Debt Documents, the provisions of this Agreement shall control.

 

Section 11.12    Provisions Solely to Define Relative Rights. The provisions of this Agreement are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the distinct and separate relative rights of the Collateral Trustee, the Revolver Secured Parties and the FLLO Secured Parties. None of the Borrower, any other Grantor or any other creditor thereof shall have any rights hereunder, except as expressly provided in this Agreement (provided that nothing in this Agreement (other than Section 6.01, Section 6.02, or Section 6.05) is intended to or will amend, waive or otherwise modify the provisions of the Original Revolver Credit Agreement or the Original Term Loan Credit Agreement, as applicable), and except as expressly provided in this Agreement neither the Borrower nor any other Grantor may rely on the terms hereof (other than Section 6.01, Section 6.02, Section 6.04, or Section 6.05, ARTICLE VII, ARTICLE IX and ARTICLE XI). Nothing in this Agreement is intended to or shall impair the obligations of the Borrower or any other Grantor, which are absolute and unconditional, to pay the Obligations under the Priority Debt Documents as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any Priority Debt Document, the Grantors shall not be required to act or refrain from acting pursuant to this Agreement, any Revolver Document or any FLLO Document with respect to any Shared Collateral in any manner that would cause a default under any Revolver Document.

 

Section 11.13    Certain Terms Concerning the Revolver Agent and the FLLO Agent. Neither the Revolver Agent nor any FLLO Agent shall have any liability or responsibility for the actions or omissions of any other Priority Secured Party, or for any other Priority Secured Party’s compliance with (or failure to comply with) the terms of this Agreement. Neither the Revolver Agent or any FLLO Agent shall have individual liability to any Person if it shall mistakenly pay over or distribute to any Priority Secured Party (or the Borrower) any amounts in violation of the terms of this Agreement, so long as the Revolver Agent or any FLLO Agent, as the case may be, is acting in good faith. Each party hereto hereby acknowledges and agrees that each of the Revolver Agent and each FLLO Agent is entering into this Agreement solely in its capacity under the Revolver Documents and the FLLO Documents, respectively, and not in its individual capacity. The Revolver Agent shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to any FLLO Agent or any other FLLO Secured Party and no FLLO Agent shall be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the Revolver Agent or any other Revolver Secured Party. Nothing herein shall be deemed to modify the terms of the Revolver Documents or FLLO Documents, as applicable, governing the standard of care as between the Revolver Agent and the other Revolver Secured Parties and any FLLO Agent and the other FLLO Secured Parties, respectively.

 

54

 

 

Section 11.14    Authorization of Secured Agents. By accepting the benefits of this Agreement and the other Revolver Security Documents, each Revolver Secured Party authorizes the Revolver Agent to enter into this Agreement and to act on its behalf hereunder and in connection herewith. By accepting the benefits of this Agreement and the other FLLO Security Documents, each FLLO Secured Party authorizes the applicable FLLO Agent to enter into this Agreement and to act on its behalf hereunder and in connection herewith.

 

Section 11.15    Further Assurances. Each of the Collateral Trustee, for itself, the Revolver Agent, for itself and on behalf of the other Revolver Secured Party and each FLLO Agent, for itself and on behalf of the other FLLO Secured Parties, and each Grantor party hereto, for itself and on behalf of its Subsidiaries, agrees that it will execute, or will cause to be executed, any and all further documents, agreements and instruments, and take all such further actions, as may be required under any applicable law, or which the Collateral Trustee, the Revolver Agent or any FLLO Agent may reasonably request, to effectuate the terms of this Agreement, including the relative Lien priorities provided for herein.

 

Section 11.16    Relationship of Secured Parties. Nothing set forth herein shall create or evidence a joint venture, partnership or an agency or fiduciary relationship among the Priority Secured Parties. None of the Priority Secured Parties nor any of their respective directors, officers, agents or employees shall be responsible to any other Priority Secured Party or to any other Person for any Grantor’s solvency, financial condition or ability to repay the Revolver Obligations or the FLLO Obligations, or for statements of any Grantor, oral or written, or for the validity, sufficiency or enforceability of the Revolver Documents or the FLLO Documents, or any security interests granted by any Grantor to any Priority Secured Party in connection therewith. Each Priority Secured Party, as applicable, has entered into its respective financing agreements with the Grantors based upon its own independent investigation, and neither of the Revolver Agent nor any FLLO Agent makes any warranty or representation to the other Priority Debt Representatives or the Priority Secured Parties for which it acts as agent nor does it rely upon any representation of the other agents or the Priority Secured Parties for which it acts as agent with respect to matters identified or referred to in this Agreement.

 

Section 11.17    Grantors and Additional Grantors. Each Grantor represents and warrants that it has duly executed and delivered this Agreement. The Borrower will cause each Subsidiary of the Borrower that hereafter becomes a Grantor or is required by any Priority Debt Document to become a party to this Agreement to become a party to this Agreement, for all purposes of this Agreement, by causing such Person to execute and deliver to the Collateral Trustee a Collateral Trust Joinder, whereupon such Person will be bound by the terms hereof to the same extent as if it had executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date hereof. The Borrower shall promptly provide each Priority Debt Representative with a copy of each Collateral Trust Joinder executed and delivered pursuant to this Section 11.17; provided that the failure to so deliver a copy of the Collateral Trust Joinder to any then-existing Priority Debt Representative shall not affect the inclusion of such Person as a Grantor if the other requirements of this Section 11.17 are complied with.

 

55

 

 

Section 11.18    Compensation; Expenses. The Grantors jointly and severally agree to pay, promptly upon demand:

 

(a)               such compensation to the Collateral Trustee and its agents including attorneys as the Borrower and the Collateral Trustee may agree in writing from time to time;

 

(b)               all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Collateral Trustee and its agents including attorneys in the preparation, execution, delivery, filing, recordation, administration or enforcement of this Agreement or any other Security Document or any consent, amendment, waiver or other modification relating hereto or thereto;

 

(c)               all reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of legal counsel and any auditors, accountants, consultants or appraisers or other professional advisors and agents engaged by the Collateral Trustee or any Priority Debt Representative incurred in connection with the negotiation, preparation, closing, administration, performance or enforcement of this Agreement and the other Security Documents or any consent, amendment, waiver or other modification relating hereto or thereto and any other document or matter requested by the Borrower or any Grantor;

 

(d)               all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Collateral Trustee and its agents in creating, perfecting, preserving, releasing or enforcing the Collateral Trustee’s Liens on the Collateral, including filing and recording fees, expenses and taxes, stamp or documentary taxes, search fees, and title insurance premiums;

 

(e)               all other reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Collateral Trustee and its agents in connection with the negotiation, preparation and execution of the Security Documents and any consents, amendments, waivers or other modifications thereto and the transactions contemplated thereby or the exercise of rights or performance of obligations by the Collateral Trustee thereunder; and

 

(f)                after the occurrence of any default under a Priority Debt Document, all costs and expenses incurred by the Collateral Trustee, its agents and any Priority Debt Representative in connection with any Enforcement Action subject to the Security Documents or any interest, right, power or remedy of the Collateral Trustee or in connection with any Enforcement Action or the proof, protection, administration or resolution of any claim based upon the Priority Obligations in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, including all fees and disbursements of attorneys, accountants, auditors, consultants, appraisers and other professionals engaged by the Collateral Trustee, its agents or the Priority Debt Representatives.

 

The agreements in this Section 11.18 will survive repayment of all other Priority Obligations and the removal or resignation of the Collateral Trustee and termination of this Agreement.

 

56

 

 

Section 11.19    Indemnity.

 

(a)               The Grantors jointly and severally agree to defend, indemnify, pay and hold harmless the Collateral Trustee, each Priority Debt Representative, each Priority Secured Party and each of their respective Affiliates and each and all of the directors, officers, partners, trustees, employees, attorneys and agents, and (in each case) their respective heirs, representatives, successors and assigns (each of the foregoing, an “Indemnitee”) from and against any and all Indemnified Liabilities; provided that no Indemnitee will be entitled to indemnification hereunder with respect to any Indemnified Liability to the extent such Indemnified Liability is found by a final and nonappealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee. THIS INDEMNITY COVERS ORDINARY NEGLIGENCE OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING PARTIES.

 

(b)               All amounts due under this Section 11.19 will be payable within 10 days upon written demand.

 

(c)               To the extent that the undertakings to defend, indemnify, pay and hold harmless set forth in Section 11.19(a) may be unenforceable in whole or in part because they violate any law or public policy, each of the Grantors will contribute the maximum portion that it is permitted to pay and satisfy under applicable law to the payment and satisfaction of all Indemnified Liabilities incurred by Indemnitees or any of them.

 

(d)               Each Grantor agrees not to assert any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for any lost profits or special, indirect or consequential damages or (to the fullest extent a claim for punitive damages may lawfully be waived) any punitive damages arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement or any other Priority Debt Document or any agreement or instrument or transaction contemplated hereby or relating in any respect to any Indemnified Liability, and each of the Grantors hereby forever waives, releases and agrees not to sue upon any claim for any such lost profits or special, indirect, consequential or (to the fullest extent lawful) punitive damages, whether or not accrued and whether or not known or suspected to exist in its favor.

 

(e)               The agreements in this Section 11.19 will survive repayment of all other Priority Obligations and the removal or resignation of the Collateral Trustee and termination of this Agreement.

 

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

57

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

  MUFG UNION BANK, N.A., as Collateral Trustee
   
  By:   /s/ Kevin Sparks
    Name:   Kevin Sparks
    Title: Director

 

Signature Page to Collateral Trust Agreement

 

 

 

  MUFG UNION BANK, N.A., as Revolver Agent for the Revolver Secured Parties
   
  By:   /s/ Kevin Sparks
    Name:   Kevin Sparks
    Title: Director

 

Signature Page to Collateral Trust Agreement

 

 

 

  GLAS USA LLC, as Original Term Loan Agent
   
  By:   /s/ Yana Kislenko
    Name:   Yana Kislenko
    Title: Vice President

 

Signature Page to Collateral Trust Agreement

 

 

 

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

 

  CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION
   
  By:   /s/ Bryan J. Lemmerman
    Name:   Bryan J. Lemmerman
    Title: Vice President – Business Development and Treasurer
   
  THE GRANTORS LISTED ON SCHEDULE I HERETO
   
  By:   /s/ Bryan J. Lemmerman
    Name:   Bryan J. Lemmerman
    Title: Vice President – Business Development and Treasurer

 

Signature Page to Collateral Trust Agreement

 

 

 

SCHEDULE I

 

Grantors

 

CHESAPEAKE AEZ EXPLORATION, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE APPALACHIA, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE E&P HOLDING, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY LOUISIANA, LLC

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY MARKETING, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE EXPLORATION, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE LAND DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE MIDSTREAM DEVELOPMENT, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE NG VENTURES CORPORATION

CHESAPEAKE OPERATING, L.L.C., on behalf of itself and as

the general partner of CHESAPEAKE LOUISIANA, L.P.

CHESAPEAKE PLAINS, LLC

CHESAPEAKE ROYALTY, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE VRT, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE-CLEMENTS ACQUISITION, L.L.C.

CHK ENERGY HOLDINGS, INC.

CHK UTICA, L.L.C.

COMPASS MANUFACTURING, L.L.C.

EMLP, L.L.C., on behalf of itself and as general partner of

EMPRESS LOUISIANA PROPERTIES, L.P.

EMPRESS, L.L.C.

GSF, L.L.C.

MC LOUISIANA MINERALS, L.L.C.

MC MINERAL COMPANY, L.L.C.

MIDCON COMPRESSION, L.L.C.

NOMAC SERVICES, L.L.C.

NORTHERN MICHIGAN EXPLORATION COMPANY, L.L.C.

SPARKS DRIVE SWD, INC.

WINTER MOON ENERGY CORPORATION

 

Schedule I - 1

 

 

EXHIBIT A

to Collateral Trust Agreement

 

[FORM OF]

PRIORITY CONFIRMATION JOINDER

 

Reference is made to the Collateral Trust Agreement, dated as of December 19, 2019 (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the “Collateral Trust Agreement”) among MUFG UNION BANK, N.A., as the Collateral Trustee (as defined therein), MUFG UNION BANK, N.A., as Revolver Agent for the Revolver Secured Parties (as defined therein), and GLAS USA LLC, as Original Term Loan Agent for the Original Term Loan Secured Parties (as defined therein) and acknowledged and agreed by Chesapeake Energy Corporation, an Oklahoma corporation (the “Borrower”), and the other Grantors party hereto. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Collateral Trust Agreement.

 

Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Collateral Trust Agreement. This Priority Confirmation Joinder is being executed and delivered pursuant to Section 6.04[(a)][(b)] of the Collateral Trust Agreement as a condition precedent to the debt for which the undersigned is acting as representative being entitled to the rights and obligations of being [Revolver/FLLO/Additional FLLO] Obligations under the Collateral Trust Agreement.

 

1.                  Joinder. The undersigned, [_______________], a [_______________], (the “New Representative”) as [trustee] [collateral trustee] [administrative agent] [collateral agent] under that certain [describe applicable indenture, credit agreement or other document governing the Revolver Substitute Credit Facility, Substitute FLLO Facility or Additional FLLO Facility] hereby:

 

(a)               represents that the New Representative has been authorized to become a party to the Collateral Trust Agreement on behalf of the [Revolver Secured Parties under a Revolver Substitute Credit Facility] [FLLO Secured Parties under the Substitute FLLO Facility] [Additional FLLO Secured Parties under the Additional FLLO Facility] as [a Revolver Agent under a Revolver Substitute Credit Facility] [a FLLO Agent under a Substitute FLLO Facility or Additional FLLO Facility] under the Collateral Trust Agreement for all purposes thereof on the terms set forth therein, and to be bound by the terms of the Collateral Trust Agreement as fully as if the undersigned had executed and delivered the Collateral Trust Agreement as of the date thereof; and

 

(b)               agrees that its address for receiving notices pursuant to the Collateral Trust Agreement shall be as follows:

 

[Address];

 

Exhibit A - 1

 

 

2.                  Priority Confirmation.

 

[Option A: to be used if additional debt constitutes replacement Priority Obligations] The undersigned New Representative, on behalf of itself and each Priority Secured Party for which the undersigned is acting as Priority Debt Representative hereby agrees, for the benefit of all Priority Secured Parties and each future Priority Debt Representative, and as a condition to being treated as Priority Obligations under the Collateral Trust Agreement, that the New Representative is bound by the provisions of the Collateral Trust Agreement including the provisions relating to the order of application of proceeds from enforcement of Revolver Liens and FLLO Liens. [or]

 

[Option B: to be used if additional debt constitutes Substitute FLLO Facility or Additional FLLO Facility] The undersigned New Representative, on behalf of itself and each holder of Obligations in respect of the Series of FLLO Debt that constitutes a [Substitute FLLO Facility][Additional FLLO Facility] for which the undersigned is acting as a FLLO Agent hereby agrees, for the benefit of all Priority Secured Parties and each future Priority Debt Representative, and as a condition to being treated as Priority Obligations under the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement, that:

 

(a)               all FLLO Obligations will be and are secured equally and ratably by all FLLO Liens at any time granted by the Borrower or any other Grantor to secure any Obligations in respect of such FLLO Debt, whether or not upon property otherwise constituting Shared Collateral for such FLLO Debt, and that all such FLLO Liens will be enforceable by the Collateral Trustee, on behalf of the FLLO Agents, with respect to such FLLO Debt for the benefit of all FLLO Secured Parties equally and ratably;

 

(b)               the New Representative and each holder of Obligations in respect of the Series of FLLO Debt for which the undersigned is acting as a FLLO Agent are bound by the provisions of the Collateral Trust Agreement, including the provisions relating to the order of application of proceeds from enforcement of Revolver Liens and FLLO Liens; and

 

(c)               the New Representative and each holder of Obligations in respect of the Series of FLLO Debt for which the undersigned is acting as a FLLO Agent appoints the Collateral Trustee and consents to the terms of the Collateral Trust Agreement and the performance by the Collateral Trustee of, and directs the Collateral Trustee to perform, its obligations under the Collateral Trust Agreement, together with all such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.

 

3.                  The New Representative

 

4.                  Full Force and Effect of Collateral Trust Agreement. Except as expressly supplemented hereby, the Collateral Trust Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

 

5.                  Governing Law and Miscellaneous Provisions. The provisions of Article XI of the Collateral Trust Agreement will apply with like effect to this Priority Confirmation Joinder.

 

6.                  Expenses. The Borrower agrees to reimburse each Priority Debt Representative for its reasonable out of pocket expenses in connection with this Priority Confirmation Joinder, including the reasonable fees, other charges and disbursements of counsel.

 

Exhibit A - 2

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Priority Confirmation Joinder to be executed by their respective officers or representatives as of [______________], 20[_].

 

  [insert name of New Representative]

 

  By:  
  Name:    
  Title:  

 

The Revolver Agent hereby acknowledges receipt of this Priority Confirmation Joinder:

 

  [                        ]
  as Revolver Agent

 

  By:  
  Name:    
  Title:  

 

Each FLLO Agent hereby acknowledges receipt of this Priority Confirmation Joinder:

 

  [                         ]
  as a FLLO Agent

 

  By:  
  Name:    
  Title:  

 

The Collateral Trustee hereby acknowledges receipt of this Priority Confirmation Joinder:

 

  [                       ]
  as Collateral Trustee

 

  By:  
  Name:    
  Title:  

 

Exhibit A - 3

 

 

  Acknowledged and Agreed to by:
   
  CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION,
  as Borrower

 

  By:  
  Name:    
  Title:  

 

Exhibit A - 4

 

 

Acknowledged by:

 

THE OTHER GRANTORS

LISTED ON SCHEDULE I HERETO

 

By:    
Name:      
Title:    

 

Exhibit A - 5

 

 

Schedule I to the

Supplement to the

Collateral Trust Agreement

 

Grantors

 

Exhibit A - 6

 

 

EXHIBIT B

to Collateral Trust Agreement

 

[FORM OF]

COLLATERAL TRUST JOINDER

 

Reference is made to the Collateral Trust Agreement, dated as of December 19, 2019 (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the “Collateral Trust Agreement”), among MUFG UNION BANK, N.A., as the Collateral Trustee (as defined therein), MUFG UNION BANK, N.A., as Revolver Agent for the Revolver Secured Parties (as defined therein) and GLAS USA LLC, as Original Term Loan Agent for the Original Term Loan Secured Parties (as defined therein), and acknowledged and agreed by Chesapeake Energy Corporation, an Oklahoma corporation (the “Borrower”), and the other Grantors party hereto. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Collateral Trust Agreement. This Collateral Trust Joinder is being executed and delivered pursuant to Section 11.17 of the Collateral Trust Agreement.

 

1.             Joinder. The undersigned, ___________________, a ___________________, hereby agrees to become party as a Grantor under the Collateral Trust Agreement for all purposes thereof on the terms set forth therein, and to be bound by the terms of the Collateral Trust Agreement as fully as if the undersigned had executed and delivered the Collateral Trust Agreement as of the date thereof.

 

2.             Governing Law and Miscellaneous Provisions. The provisions of Article XI of the Collateral Trust Agreement will apply with like effect to this Collateral Trust Joinder.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Collateral Trust Joinder to be executed by their respective officers or representatives as of _________________, 20____.

 

  [___________________________________]

 

  By:  
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

The Collateral Trustee hereby acknowledges receipt of this Collateral Trust Joinder and agrees to act as Collateral Trustee with respect to the Shared Collateral pledged by the new Grantor:

 

  [________________________________]

 

  By:  
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

Exhibit B - 1

 

 

EXHIBIT C

to Collateral Trust Agreement

 

Part A: Revolver Security Documents

 

Mortgages:

 

a. Amended and Restated Mortgage, Open-End Mortgage, Multiple Indebtedness Mortgage, Line of Credit Mortgage, Deed of Trust, Assignment of As-Extracted Collateral, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated as of April 2, 2019 from Chesapeake AEZ Exploration, L.L.C.; Chesapeake-Clements Acquisition, L.L.C.; Chesapeake Appalachia, L.L.C.; Chesapeake Exploration, L.L.C.; Chesapeake Land Development Company, L.L.C., Chesapeake Plains, LLC, Chesapeake Royalty, L.L.C., Empress, L.L.C.; GSF, L.L.C.; MC Louisiana Minerals, L.L.C., Chesapeake Louisiana, L.P., and Empress Louisiana Properties, L.P., to Stephen Warfel, as trustee, for the benefit of the Original Priority Lien Agent, as administrative agent and mortgagee.

 

Collateral Agreements:

 

b. Amended and Restated Collateral Agreement, dated as of September 12, 2018, by and among Chesapeake Energy Corporation, each of the Grantors party thereto from time to time, in favor of MUFG Union Bank, N.A., as collateral trustee in its capacity as administrative agent.

 

Deposit Account Control Agreements:

 

a. Deposit Account Control Agreement by and among Chesapeake Operating, L.L.C., the Original Priority Lien Agent, as the secured party and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the bank, dated as of February 13, 2019.

 

b. Blocked Account Control Agreement by and among Chesapeake Energy Marketing, LLC, the Original Priority Lien Agent, as the lender and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the bank, dated as of February 20, 2019.

 

c. Blocked Account Control Agreement by and among Chesapeake Energy Corporation, the Original Priority Lien Agent, as the lender and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the bank, dated as of September 22, 2016.

 

d. Blocked Account Control Agreement by and among Chesapeake Appalachia, L.L.C., the Original Priority Lien Agent, as the lender and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the bank, dated as of September 22, 2016.

 

e. Blocked Account Control Agreement by and among Midcon Compression, L.L.C., the Original Priority Lien Agent, as the lender and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the bank, dated as of September 22, 2016.

 

Exhibit C - 1

 

 

f. Blocked Account Control Agreement by and among Mid-Atlantic Gas Services, LLC, the Original Priority Lien Agent, as the lender and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the bank, dated as of September 22, 2016.

 

g. Blocked Account Control Agreement by and among MC Mineral Company, the Original Priority Lien Agent, as the lender and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the bank, dated as of September 22, 2016.

 

h. Blocked Account Control Agreement by and among Compass Manufacturing, L.L.C., the Original Priority Lien Agent, as the lender and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the bank, dated as of September 22, 2016.

 

i. Blocked Account Control Agreement by and among Chesapeake Operating, L.L.C., the Original Priority Lien Agent, as the lender and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the bank, dated as of September 22, 2016.

 

j. Blocked Account Control Agreement by and among Chesapeake NG Ventures Corporation, the Original Priority Lien Agent, as the lender and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the bank, dated as of September 22, 2016.

 

k. Blocked Account Control Agreement by and among Chesapeake Midstream Development, L.L.C., the Original Priority Lien Agent, as the lender and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the bank, dated as of September 22, 2016.

 

l. Blocked Account Control Agreement by and among Chesapeake Land Development Company, L.L.C., the Original Priority Lien Agent, as the lender and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the bank, dated as of September 22, 2016.

 

m. Blocked Account Control Agreement by and among Chesapeake Exploration, L.L.C., the Original Priority Lien Agent, as the lender and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the bank, dated as of September 22, 2016.

 

n. Blocked Account Control Agreement by and among Chesapeake Energy Marketing, L.L.C., the Original Priority Lien Agent, as the lender and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the bank, dated as of September 22, 2016.

 

o. Deposit Account Control Agreement by and among Chesapeake Energy Corporation, Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC, Chesapeake Operating, Inc, Chesapeake Energy Marketing, LLC, CHK Utica LLC, Midcon Compression LLC, Compass Manufacturing LLC, Chesapeake Operating, L.L.C., Chesapeake Operating, Inc., Chesapeake Energy Marketing, LLC, the Original Priority Lien Agent, as the secured party and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the bank, dated as of May 4, 2016.

 

Exhibit C - 2

 

 

2. Securities Account Control Agreements:

 

a. Control Agreement by and among Chesapeake Energy Corporation, as the shareholder, the Original Priority Lien Agent, as the collateral trustee, Deutsch AM Service Company, as the agent, dated as of September 22, 2016.

 

b. Securities Account Control Agreement by and among Chesapeake Energy Corporation, the Original Priority Lien Agent, as the secured party, Wells Fargo Funds Trust, as the issuer and Boston Financial Data Services, Inc., as the intermediary, dated as of May 24, 2016.

 

c. Uncertificated Securities Control Agreement by and among Chesapeake Energy Corporation, the Original Priority Lien Agent, as the collateral agent, Goldman Sachs Trust, as the issuer and Goldman, Sachs & Co., as the transfer agent, dated as of May 6, 2016.

 

Exhibit C - 3

 

 

Part B: Original FLLO Security Documents

 

1. Collateral Agreement, dated as of December 19, 2019, by the Borrower and certain Subsidiaries from time to time party thereto in favor of the Collateral Trustee for the benefit of the FLLO Secured Parties.

 

Exhibit C - 4