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): September 10, 2010

 

 

EXCO RESOURCES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Texas   001-32743   74-1492779

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

12377 Merit Drive

Suite 1700, LB 82

Dallas, Texas

  75251
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (214) 368-2084

Not Applicable

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

 

 

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

 

 

 


Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

The Offering

On September 15, 2010, EXCO Resources, Inc., a Texas corporation (the “ Company ”), completed the public offering of $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 7.500% Senior Notes due 2018 (the “ Notes ”), which are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by the following subsidiaries of the Company (collectively, the “ Subsidiary Guarantors ”): EXCO Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation, EXCO Partners GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, EXCO GP Partners Old, LP, a Delaware limited partnership, EXCO Partners OLP GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, EXCO Operating Company, LP, a Delaware limited partnership, Vernon Gathering, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, EXCO Midcontinent MLP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, EXCO Equipment Leasing, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, EXCO Holding (PA), Inc., a Delaware corporation, EXCO Production Company (PA), LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, EXCO Production Company (WV), LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and EXCO Resources (XA), LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. The offering of the Notes was made pursuant to the Company’s automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-169253), which was automatically effective on September 7, 2010. The Notes were issued at 98.530% of par value.

The Company received proceeds of approximately $724.4 million from the offering, after deducting discounts to the underwriters and estimated offering fees and expenses. The Company used approximately $452.8 million of the net proceeds of the offering of the Notes to redeem all of its outstanding 7  1 / 4 % Senior Notes due 2011 (the “ 2011 Notes ”), including accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date. The remaining proceeds were used to pay a portion of the outstanding balance of the Company’s credit agreement, which amounts may be re-borrowed subject to the terms of the credit agreement.

Indenture

The terms of the Notes are governed by the Indenture (the “ Base Indenture ”), dated as of September 15, 2010, by and between the Company and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture (the “ Supplemental Indenture ,” and the Base Indenture as supplemented by the Supplemental Indenture, the “ Indenture ”), dated as of September 15, 2010, by and among the Company, the Trustee and the Subsidiary Guarantors. The Notes will mature on September 15, 2018. Interest will accrue on the Notes from September 15, 2010 and will be payable on March 15 and September 15 of each year, commencing on March 15, 2011. The Company may redeem some or all of the Notes at any time on or after September 15, 2014 at the redemption prices specified in the Indenture. The Company may also redeem up to 35% of the Notes using all or a portion of the net proceeds of certain public sales of equity interests completed before September 15, 2013. The Company may also redeem the notes prior to September 15, 2014 upon payment of the make-whole premium specified in the Indenture. If the Company sells certain of its assets or upon the occurrence of certain changes in control, the Company must offer to repurchase the Notes.

The Notes are unsecured, senior obligations of the Company, rank equally with all of the Company’s existing and future unsecured senior indebtedness that is not by its terms subordinated to the Notes and are effectively junior to the Company’s existing and future secured indebtedness to the extent of the collateral securing that debt. Other material terms of the Notes and the Indenture are described in prospectus, dated September 10, 2010, as filed by the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 13, 2010.


The Indenture contains covenants that limit the ability of the Company and the restricted subsidiaries under the Indenture to:

 

   

incur or guarantee additional debt and issue certain types of preferred stock;

 

   

pay dividends on capital stock or redeem, repurchase or retire capital stock or subordinated debt;

 

   

make investments;

 

   

create liens on our assets;

 

   

enter into sale/leaseback transactions;

 

   

create restrictions on the ability of the restricted subsidiaries to pay dividends or make other payments to the Company;

 

   

engage in transactions with affiliates;

 

   

transfer or issue shares of stock of subsidiaries;

 

   

transfer or sell assets; and

 

   

consolidate, merge or transfer all or substantially all of their assets and the assets of their subsidiaries.

The foregoing description of the Indenture is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Base Indenture and the Supplemental Indenture, copies of which are filed herewith as Exhibits 4.1 and 4.2, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference.

Underwriting Agreement

The Notes were sold pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement, dated September 10, 2010, by and among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, as representative of the several underwriters named therein (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”). The Underwriting Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and agreements by the Company and certain of its subsidiaries and customary conditions to closing, indemnification obligations of the Company, certain of its subsidiaries and the underwriters, including for liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, other obligations of the parties and termination provisions.

The underwriters or their affiliates have from time to time provided investment banking and commercial banking services to the Company and its affiliates, for which they have received customary compensation. The underwriters and their affiliates may provide similar services in the future. In particular, certain of the underwriters or their affiliates are lenders under the Company’s credit agreement and/or hold some of the Company’s 2011 Notes, and, in either case, will receive a portion of the proceeds from this offering.

The foregoing description of the Underwriting Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Underwriting Agreement. A copy of the Underwriting Agreement is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated by reference herein.

Credit Agreement Amendment

In addition, on September 15, 2010, the Company entered into that certain Second Amendment to Credit Agreement (the “ Amendment ”) by and among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and


JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent. The Amendment amends the Company’s Credit Agreement, dated as of April 30, 2010, as amended, by and among the Company, as borrower, certain of its subsidiaries, as guarantors, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent to provide for, and permit, the issuance of the Notes pursuant to the Indenture and the subsequent redemption of the 2011 Notes and the discharge of the indenture governing the 2011 Notes.

The foregoing description of the Amendment does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Amendment. A copy of the Amendment is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.2 and is incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 1.02 Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement.

On September 15, 2010, the Company (i) caused a portion of the net proceeds from the offering to be deposited with Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee under the indenture governing the 2011 Notes, to satisfy and discharge such indenture and to fund the redemption of all outstanding 2011 Notes and (ii) instructed Wilmington Trust Company to provide holders of the 2011 Notes with a notice of redemption in accordance with the terms of the indenture governing the 2011 Notes. The redemption date has been set for October 15, 2010 (the “ Redemption Date ”). As of September 15, 2010, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the 2011 Notes was approximately $444.7 million. Pursuant to the terms of the indenture governing the 2011 Notes, all 2011 Notes outstanding on the Redemption Date will be due and payable on the Redemption Date at the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the Redemption Date.

 

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

The information provided in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K concerning the Notes, the Indenture and the related guarantees is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.

 

Item 2.04. Triggering Events That Accelerate or Increase a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement.

The information provided in Item 1.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.04.

 

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

On September 15, 2010, the Company announced the closing of its public offering of the Notes. A copy of this press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

In accordance with General Instruction B.2 of Form 8-K, the information contained in Item 7.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, including the exhibit hereto, is being “furnished” and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section or Sections 11 and 12(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Such information shall not be incorporated by reference into any filing, whether made before or after the date hereof, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing, unless expressly incorporated by specific reference to this filing.


Item 9.01 Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description of Exhibit

4.1    Indenture, dated September 15, 2010, by and between EXCO Resources, Inc. and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee.
4.2    First Supplemental Indenture, dated September 15, 2010, by and among EXCO Resources, Inc., certain of its subsidiaries and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee, including the form of 7.500% Senior Notes due 2018.
10.1    Underwriting Agreement, dated September 10, 2010, by and among EXCO Resources, Inc., certain of its subsidiaries, and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, on behalf of itself and the other underwriters listed on Schedule 1 thereto.
10.2    Second Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of September 15, 2010, among EXCO Resources, Inc., as Borrower, certain subsidiaries of Borrower, as Guarantors, the lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and Bank of America, N.A. and BNP Paribas, as Co-Lead Arrangers and Co-Syndication Agents, Royal Bank of Canada, as Co-Lead Arranger and Co-Documentation Agent, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Co-Documentation Agent.
99.1    Press Release, dated September 15, 2010.


SIGNATURE

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

 

EXCO RESOURCES, INC.
By:  

/ S /    J. D OUGLAS R AMSEY        

Name:   J. Douglas Ramsey, Ph.D.
Title:   Vice President – Finance

Date: September 15, 2010


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description of Exhibit

4.1    Indenture, dated September 15, 2010, by and between EXCO Resources, Inc. and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee.
4.2    First Supplemental Indenture, dated September 15, 2010, by and among EXCO Resources, Inc., certain of its subsidiaries and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee, including the form of 7.500% Senior Notes due 2018.
10.1    Underwriting Agreement, dated September 10, 2010, by and among EXCO Resources, Inc., certain of its subsidiaries, and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, on behalf of itself and the other underwriters listed on Schedule 1 thereto.
10.2    Second Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of September 15, 2010, among EXCO Resources, Inc., as Borrower, certain subsidiaries of Borrower, as Guarantors, the lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and Bank of America, N.A. and BNP Paribas, as Co-Lead Arrangers and Co-Syndication Agents, Royal Bank of Canada, as Co-Lead Arranger and Co-Documentation Agent, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Co-Documentation Agent.
99.1    Press Release, dated September 15, 2010.

Exhibit 4.1

INDENTURE

Dated as of September 15, 2010

Between

EXCO RESOURCES, INC.,

as Issuer

and

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,

as Trustee


CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THIS INDENTURE

RELATING TO SECTIONS 310 THROUGH 318 INCLUSIVE,

OF THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939

 

Trust Indenture Act Section    Indenture Section

Section 310(a)(1)

  

Section 609

(a)(2)

  

Section 609

(a)(3)

  

Not Applicable

(a)(4)

  

Not Applicable

(b)

  

Section 608

  

Section 610

Section 311(a)

  

Section 613

(b)

  

Section 613

Section 312(a)

  

Section 701

  

Section 702

(b)

  

Section 702

(c)

  

Section 702

Section 313(a)

  

Section 703

(b)

  

Section 703

(c)

  

Section 703

(d)

  

Section 703

Section 314(a)

  

Section 704

(a)(4)

  

Section 1004

(b)

  

Not Applicable

(c)(1)

  

Section 102

(c)(2)

  

Section 102

(c)(3)

  

Not Applicable

(d)

  

Not Applicable

(e)

  

Section 102

Section 315(a)

  

Section 601

(b)

  

Section 602

(c)

  

Section 601

(d)

  

Section 601

(e)

  

Section 513

Section 316(a)

  

Section 101

(a)(1)(A)

  

Section 502

  

Section 511

(a)(1)(B)

  

Section 512

(a)(2)

  

Not Applicable

(b)

  

Section 508

(c)

  

Section 104

Section 317(a)(1)

  

Section 504

(a)(2)

  

Section 504

(b)

  

Section 1003

Section 318(a)

  

Section 107

 

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

 

- i -


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page

PARTIES

   1

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

   1

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

   1
  Definitions    1
  Compliance Certificates and Opinions    7
  Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee    8
  Acts of Holders; Record Dates    9
  Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company    11
  Notice to Holders; Waiver    11
  Conflict with Trust Indenture Act    12
  Effect of Headings and Table of Contents    12
  Successors and Assigns    12
  Separability Clause    12
  Benefits of Indenture    12
  Governing Law    12
  Legal Holidays    12
  No Recourse Against Others    13
  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL    13

ARTICLE II SECURITY FORMS

   13
 

Forms Generally

   13
 

Form of Legend for Global Securities

   14
 

Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication

   14

ARTICLE III THE SECURITIES

   15
 

Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series

   15
 

Denominations

   18
 

Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating

   18
 

Temporary Securities

   20
 

Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange

   20
 

Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities

   22
 

Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved

   23
 

Persons Deemed Owners

   24

 

- ii -


         Page
 

Cancellation

   24
 

Computation of Interest

   25
 

CUSIP Numbers

   25
 

Original Issue Discount

   25

ARTICLE IV SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

   25
 

Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture

   25
 

Application of Trust Money

   26

ARTICLE V REMEDIES

   27
 

Events of Default

   27
 

Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment

   28
 

Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee

   30
 

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

   30
 

Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities

   30
 

Application of Money Collected

   31
 

Limitation on Suits

   31
 

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

   32
 

Rights and Remedies Cumulative

   32
 

Delay or Omission Not Waiver

   32
 

Control by Holders

   32
 

Waiver of Past Defaults

   33
 

Undertaking for Costs

   33
 

Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws

   33
 

Restoration of Rights and Remedies

   34

ARTICLE VI THE TRUSTEE

   34
 

Certain Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee

   34
 

Notice of Defaults

   35
 

Certain Rights of Trustee

   35
 

Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities

   37
 

May Hold Securities

   37
 

Money Held in Trust

   37
 

Compensation and Reimbursement

   37
 

Conflicting Interests

   38
 

Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility

   39
 

Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor

   39

 

- iii -


          Page
  

Acceptance of Appointment by Successor

   40
  

Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business

   41
  

Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company

   42

ARTICLE VII HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

   42
  

Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders

   42
  

Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders

   42
  

Reports by Trustee

   42
  

Reports by Company

   43

ARTICLE VIII CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALE OF ASSETS

   43
  

Company May Merge or Transfer Assets Only on Certain Terms

   43
  

Successor Corporation Substituted

   43

ARTICLE IX SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

   44
  

Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders

   44
  

Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders

   45
  

Execution of Supplemental Indentures

   46
  

Effect of Supplemental Indentures

   47
  

Conformity with Trust Indenture Act

   47
  

Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures

   47

ARTICLE X COVENANTS

   47
  

Payment of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest

   47
  

Maintenance of Office or Agency

   48
  

Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust

   48
  

Statement by Officers as to Default

   49
  

Waiver of Certain Covenants

   49

ARTICLE XI REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

   50
  

Applicability of Article

   50
  

Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee

   50
  

Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed

   50
  

Notice of Redemption

   51
  

Deposit of Redemption Price

   52
  

Securities Payable on Redemption Date

   52
  

Securities Redeemed in Part

   53

 

- iv -


         Page

ARTICLE XII SINKING FUNDS

   53
 

Applicability of Article

   53
 

Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities

   53
 

Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund

   54

ARTICLE XIII DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

   54
 

Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance

   54
 

Defeasance and Discharge

   54
 

Covenant Defeasance

   55
 

Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance

   55
 

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

   57
 

Reinstatement

   58

REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF HOLDERS

   58
 

Applicability of Article

   58
 

Repayment of Securities

   58
 

Exercise of Option

   58
 

When Securities Presented for Repayment Become Due and Payable

   59
 

Securities Repaid in Part

   59

 

- v -


INDENTURE, dated as of September 15, 2010, between EXCO RESOURCES, INC., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Texas (herein called the “ Company ”), and WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, a Delaware banking corporation, as Trustee (herein called the “ Trustee ”).

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

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

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

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

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

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS

OF GENERAL APPLICATION

Section 101. Definitions .

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

  (6) “including” means including without limitation;


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

 

  (8) unless otherwise provided, references to agreements and other instruments shall be deemed to include all amendments and other modifications to such agreements and instruments, but only to the extent such amendments and other modifications are not prohibited by the terms of this Indenture.

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

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

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

Board of Directors ” means the Board of Directors of the Company or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such Board.

Board Resolution ” means a copy of one or more resolutions certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification and delivered to the Trustee.

Business Day ” means each day that is not a Legal Holiday.

Capital Stock ” of any Person means any and all shares, interests (including partnership interests), rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) equity of such Person, including any preferred stock, but excluding any debt securities convertible into such equity.

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

 

- 2 -


Company Request ” or “ Company Order ” means a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by an Officer of the Company (or any Person designated in writing as authorized to execute and deliver Company Requests and Company Orders), and delivered to the Trustee.

Corporate Trust Office ” means the principal office of the Trustee at which, at any particular time, its corporate trust business shall be conducted (which office is located as of the date of this Indenture at Wilmington Trust Company, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890, Attention: Corporate Capital Market Services, or at any other time at such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders).

Covenant Defeasance ” has the meaning specified in Section 1303.

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

Defaulted Interest ” has the meaning specified in Section 307.

Defeasance ” has the meaning specified in Section 1302.

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

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

Exchange Act ” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

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

Global Security ” means a Security that evidences all or part of the Securities of any series and bears the legend set forth in Section 202 (or such legend as may be specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities).

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

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

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

 

- 3 -


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

Internal Revenue Code ” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

Legal Holiday ” means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions are not required to be open in the State of New York.

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

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

Officer ” means the Chairman of the Board, any Vice Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Operating Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Accounting Officer, the General Counsel, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company.

Officer’s Certificate ” means a certificate signed by an Officer of the Company.

Opinion of Counsel ” means a written opinion of counsel (who may be counsel for the Company) and who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of the Company. Opinions of Counsel required to be delivered under this Indenture may have qualifications customary for opinions of the type required and counsel delivering such Opinions of Counsel may rely as to factual matters on certificates of the Company or governmental or other officials customary for opinions of the type required.

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

provided , however , that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given, made or taken any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action hereunder as of any date, (A) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof which would be due and payable as of such date upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof to such date pursuant to Section 502, (B) if, as of such date, the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of a Security is not determinable, the principal amount of such Security which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount as specified or determined as contemplated by Section 301, (C) the principal amount of a Security denominated in one or more foreign currencies, composite currencies or currency units which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined as of such date in the manner provided as contemplated by Section 301, of the principal amount of such Security (or, in the case of a Security described in clause (A) or (B) above, of the amount determined as provided in such clause), and (D) Securities owned by the Company 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, waiver or other action, only Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor.

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

Repayment Date ” means, with used with respect to a Security to be repaid at the option of a Holder, the date fixed for such repayment by or pursuant to this Indenture.

Responsible Officer ” means, when used with respect to the Trustee, any vice president, any assistant vice president, any assistant secretary, any assistant treasurer, any trust officer, or any other officer associated with the corporate capital markets services or the corporate trust department of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of such person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

SEC ” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

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

Securities Act ” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

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

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

 

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

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, association, partnership or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Voting Stock is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by:

 

  (1) such Person;

 

  (2) such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person; or

 

  (3) one or more Subsidiaries of such Person.

Successor ” has the meaning specified in Section 801.

Trust Indenture Act ” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the Issue Date.

Trustee ” means Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking corporation, until a successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor.

U.S. Government Obligation ” means direct obligations (or certificates representing an ownership interest in such obligations) of the United States of America (including any agency or instrumentality thereof) for the payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged and which are not callable at the issuer’s option.

U.S. Government Obligation ” has the meaning specified in Section 1304(1).

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

Voting Stock ” of a Person means all classes of Capital Stock of such Person then outstanding and normally entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof.

Section 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions .

Upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee, if requested by the Trustee, an Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or request as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating

 

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to such particular application or request, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished by the Company.

Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (except for certificates provided for in Section 1004) shall include:

 

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

 

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

 

  (3) a statement that, in the opinion of each such individual, he 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 complied with; and

 

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

Section 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee .

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

Any certificate or opinion of an Officer of the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, counsel, unless such Officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which such Officer’s certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such certificate or Opinion of Counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an Officer or Officers of the Company stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company, unless such counsel knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.

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

 

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Section 104. Acts of Holders; Record Dates .

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

The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved in any manner which the Trustee reasonably deems sufficient. Where such execution is by a Person acting in a capacity other than such Person’s individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of such Person’s authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

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

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee or the Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Security.

The Company may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to give, make or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given, made or taken by Holders of Securities of such series; provided that the Company may not set a record date for, and the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply with respect to, the giving or making of any notice, declaration, request or direction referred to in the next paragraph. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to take the relevant action, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Company from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be cancelled and of no effect), and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Company, at its own

 

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expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Trustee in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 106.

The Trustee may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to join in the giving or making of (i) any Notice of Default, (ii) any declaration of acceleration referred to in Section 502, (iii) any request to institute proceedings referred to in Section 507(2) or (iv) any direction referred to in Section 511, in each case with respect to Securities of such series. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to join in such notice, declaration, request or direction, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Trustee from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be cancelled and of no effect), and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Trustee, at the Company’s expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Company in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 106.

With respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section 104, the party hereto which sets such record dates may designate any day as the “ Expiration Date ” and from time to time may change the Expiration Date to any earlier or later day; provided that no such change shall be effective unless notice of the proposed new Expiration Date is given to the other party hereto in writing, and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 106, on or prior to the existing Expiration Date. If an Expiration Date is not designated with respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section 104, the party hereto which set such record date shall be deemed to have initially designated the 180th day after such record date as the Expiration Date with respect thereto, subject to its right to change the Expiration Date as provided in this paragraph.

Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Security may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Security or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such principal amount.

In addition to the foregoing, the Trustee agrees to accept and act upon notice, instructions or directions pursuant to this Indenture sent by unsecured e-mail, facsimile transmission or other similar unsecured electronic methods; provided , however , that (a) the party providing such written instructions, subsequent to such transmission of written instructions, shall provide the originally executed instructions or directions to the Trustee in a timely manner, and (b) such originally executed instructions or directions shall be signed by an authorized representative of

 

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the party providing such instructions or directions. 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.

Section 105. Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company .

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with,

 

  (1) the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing (which may be by facsimile) to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office at the location specified in Section 101 (provided, that notices to the Trustee shall be effective only upon receipt by the Trustee); or

 

  (2) the Company by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Company addressed to the attention of the Secretary of the Company at the address of the Company’s principal office specified in writing to the Trustee by the Company and, until further notice, at 12377 Merit Drive, Suite 1700, LB 82, Dallas, Texas 75251, fax number: 214-706-3409, Attention: Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary.

Section 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver .

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

In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail, then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.

Where this Indenture provides for notice of any event to a Holder of a Global Security, such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary for such Security (or its

 

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designee), pursuant to the Applicable Procedures of the 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 107. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act .

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

Section 108. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents .

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

Section 109. Successors and Assigns .

All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

Section 110. Separability Clause .

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

Section 111. Benefits of Indenture .

Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder and the Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

Section 112. Governing Law .

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

Section 113. Legal Holidays .

In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date or Stated Maturity of any Security, or any date on which a Holder has the right to convert such Holder’s Security, shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Securities (other than a provision of any Security which specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section 113)) payment of principal and premium, if any, or interest, or the Redemption Price or conversion of such Security, need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next

 

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succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Repayment Date, or at the Stated Maturity, or on such conversion date. In the case, however, of Securities of a series bearing interest at a floating rate based on the London interbank offered rate (LIBOR), if any Interest Payment Date (other than the Redemption Date, Repayment Date or Stated Maturity) would otherwise be a date that is not a Business Day, then the Interest Payment Date shall be postponed to the following date which is a Business Day, unless that Business Day falls in the next succeeding calendar month, in which case the Interest Payment Date will be the immediately preceding Business Day. No interest shall accrue for the period from and after any such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date, Stated Maturity or conversion date, as the case may be, to the date of such payment.

Section 114. No Recourse Against Others .

A director, officer, employee or stockholder as such of the Company shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Securities or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. By accepting a Security, each Holder shall waive and release all such liability. The waiver and release shall be part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.

Section 115. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL .

EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING AS BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE ONLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE OR THE SECURITIES.

ARTICLE II

SECURITY FORMS

Section 201. Forms Generally .

The Securities of each series shall be in substantially such form or forms as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or, subject to Section 303, set forth in, or determined in the manner provided in, an Officer’s Certificate pursuant to a Board Resolution, or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate 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 may be required to comply with applicable tax laws or the rules of any securities exchange or Depositary therefor or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the Officer executing such Securities, as evidenced by his or her execution thereof. If the form of Securities of any series is established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 303 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities. If all of the Securities of any series established by action taken pursuant to a Board

 

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Resolution are not to be issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver a record of such action at the time of issuance of each Security of such series, but an appropriate record of such action shall be delivered at or before the time of issuance of the first Security of such series.

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 Officer executing such Securities, as evidenced by his or her execution of such Securities.

Section 202. Form of Legend for Global Securities .

Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for the Securities evidenced thereby or as required by Applicable Procedures, every Global Security authenticated and delivered hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

[ Insert, if applicable — 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 IN 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.]

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

Section 203. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication .

The Trustee’s certificates of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

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

 

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Dated:

 

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,

    as Trustee

By:    
Authorized Signatory

ARTICLE III

THE SECURITIES

Section 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series .

The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

  (4) the date or dates on which the principal of any Securities of the series is payable or the method used to determine or extend those dates;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

  (9) if other than denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, the denominations in which any Securities of the series shall be issuable;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

  (14)

if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of any Securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to the Stated Maturity, the amount which shall be deemed to be the principal amount of such

 

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Securities as of any such date for any purpose thereunder or hereunder, including the principal amount thereof which shall be due and payable upon any Maturity other than the Stated Maturity or which shall be deemed to be Outstanding as of any date prior to the Stated Maturity (or, in any such case, the manner in which such amount deemed to be the principal amount shall be determined);

 

  (15) if other than by a Board Resolution, the manner in which any election by the Company to defease any Securities of the series pursuant to Section 1302 or Section 1303 shall be evidenced; whether any Securities of the series other than Securities denominated in U.S. dollars and bearing interest at a fixed rate are to be subject to Section 1302 or Section 1303; or, in the case of Securities denominated in U.S. dollars and bearing interest at a fixed rate, if applicable, that the Securities of the series, in whole or any specified part, shall not be defeasible pursuant to Section 1302 or Section 1303 or both such Sections;

 

  (16) if applicable, that any Securities of the series shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in such case, the respective Depositaries for such Global Securities, the form of any legend or legends which shall be borne by any such Global Security in addition to or in lieu of that set forth in Section 202 and any circumstances in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in clause (2) of the last paragraph of Section 305 in which any such Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and any transfer of such Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name or names of Persons other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof;

 

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

 

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

 

  (19) if the Securities of the series are to be convertible into or exchangeable for cash and/or any securities or other property of any Person (including the Company), the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so convertible or exchangeable;

 

  (20) whether the Securities of the series will be guaranteed by any Person or Persons and, if so, the identity of such Person or Persons, the terms and conditions upon which such Securities shall be guaranteed and, if applicable, the terms and conditions upon which such guarantees may be subordinated to other indebtedness of the respective guarantors;

 

  (21)

whether the Securities of the series will be secured by any collateral and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which such Securities shall be secured and, if

 

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applicable, upon which such liens may be subordinated to other liens securing other indebtedness of the Company or any guarantor; and

 

  (22) any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, except as permitted by Section 901(11)).

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to the Board Resolution referred to above or pursuant to authority granted by one or more Board Resolutions and, subject to Section 303, set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in the Officer’s Certificate referred to above or in any such indenture supplemental hereto. All Securities of any one series need not be issued at one time and, unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to the Board Resolution referred to above and, subject to Section 303, set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in the Officer’s Certificate referred to above or pursuant to authority granted by one or more Board Resolutions or in any such indenture supplemental hereto with respect to a series of Securities, additional Securities of a series may be issued, at the option of the Company, without the consent of any Holder, at any time and from time to time.

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

Section 302. Denominations .

The Securities of each series shall be issuable only in registered form without coupons and only in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 301. In the absence of any such specified denomination with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of such series shall be issuable in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

Section 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating .

The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, one of its Vice Chairmen, its Chief Executive Officer, its Chief Financial Officer, its Chief Accounting Officer, its Treasurer, one of its Corporate Vice Presidents or one of its Assistant Treasurers. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile.

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

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities. If the form or terms of the Securities of the series have been established by or

 

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pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions or pursuant to authority granted by one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by Sections Section 201 and Section 301, in authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and, subject to Section 601, shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating,

 

  (1) if the form of such Securities has been established by or pursuant to Board Resolution or pursuant to authority granted by one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by Section 201, that such form has been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

 

  (2) if the terms of such Securities have been established by or pursuant to Board Resolution or pursuant to authority granted by one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by Section 301, that such terms have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and

 

  (3) that such Securities, when authenticated by the Trustee and issued and delivered by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to (i) the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general equitable principles and (iii) an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

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

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 301 and of the preceding paragraph of this Section 303, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, including in the event that the aggregate principal amount of a series of Outstanding Securities is increased as contemplated by Section 301, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officer’s Certificate otherwise required pursuant to Section 301 or the Company Order and Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to this Section 303 at or prior to the authentication of each Security of such series if such documents are delivered at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such series to be issued.

Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by manual signature, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as

 

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provided in Section 309, for all purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

Section 304. Temporary Securities .

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

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

Section 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange .

The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee a register (the register maintained in such office and in any other office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment being herein sometimes collectively referred to as the “ Security Register ”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Securities and of transfers of Securities. The Trustee is hereby appointed “ Security Registrar ” for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities as herein provided.

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

The provisions of clauses (1), (2), (3) and (4) of this paragraph shall apply only to Global Securities:

 

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

 

  (2)

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, and subject to such applicable provisions, if any, as may be specified as contemplated by Section 301, no Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and no transfer of a Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name of any Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof unless (A) such Depositary has notified the Company that it is unwilling or unable or no longer permitted under applicable law to continue as Depositary for such Global Security, (B) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to such Global Security, (C) the Company so directs the Trustee by a Company Order or (D) there shall exist such

 

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circumstances, if any, in addition to or in lieu of the foregoing as have been specified for this purpose as contemplated by Section 301.

 

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

 

  (4) Every Security authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Security or any portion thereof, whether pursuant to this Section 305, Section 304, Section 306, Section 906 or Section 1107 or otherwise, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Security, unless such Security is registered in the name of a Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof.

Section 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities .

If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (1) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (2) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

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

Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section 306, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of counsel to the Company and the fees and expenses of the Trustee and its counsel) connected therewith.

Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section 306 in lieu of any mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of such series duly issued hereunder.

 

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The provisions of this Section 306 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.

Section 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved .

Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to any series of Securities, interest on any Security which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest.

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

 

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

 

  (2)

The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Securities of any series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of

 

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any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 307, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.

In the case of any Security which is converted after any Regular Record Date and on or prior to the next succeeding Interest Payment Date (other than any Security whose Maturity is prior to such Interest Payment Date), interest whose Stated Maturity is on such Interest Payment Date shall be payable on such Interest Payment Date notwithstanding such conversion, and such interest (whether or not punctually paid or made available for payment) shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on such Regular Record Date. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the immediately preceding sentence, in the case of any Security which is converted, interest whose Stated Maturity is after the date of conversion of such Security shall not be payable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the terms of any Security that may be converted may provide that the provisions of this paragraph do not apply, or apply with such additions, changes or omissions as may be provided thereby, to such Security.

Section 308. Persons Deemed Owners .

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

Section 309. Cancellation .

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

 

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The Trustee shall provide the Company a list of all Securities that have been cancelled from time to time as requested by the Company.

Section 310. Computation of Interest .

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

Section 311. CUSIP Numbers .

The Company in issuing any series of the Securities may use “CUSIP” or “ISIN” numbers and/or other similar numbers, if then generally in use, and thereafter with respect to such series, the Trustee may use such numbers in any notice of redemption with respect to such series; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities of such series or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities of such series, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.

Section 312. Original Issue Discount .

If any of the Securities is an Original Issue Discount Security, the Company shall file with the Trustee promptly at the end of each calendar year (1) a written notice specifying the amount of original issue discount (including daily rates and accrual periods) accrued on such Outstanding Original Issue Discount Securities as of the end of such year and (2) such other specific information relating to such original issue discount as may then be relevant under the Internal Revenue Code.

ARTICLE IV

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

Section 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture .

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

 

  (1) either

 

  (A)

all Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Securities which have been mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 306 and (ii) Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid

 

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to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 1003) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

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

 

  (i) have become due and payable, or

 

  (ii) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year of the date of deposit, or

 

  (iii) are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company,

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

 

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

 

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

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 607 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of clause (1) of this Section 401, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 402 and the last paragraph of Section 1003 shall survive.

Section 402. Application of Trust Money .

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the applicable series of 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 premium, if any, and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee. All money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 (and held by it or any Paying Agent) for the payment of Securities subsequently converted into other property shall be returned to the Company upon Company Request. The Company may direct by a Company Order the

 

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investment of any money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401, without distinction between principal and income, in (1) United States Treasury securities with a maturity of one year or less or (2) a money market fund that invests solely in short-term United States Treasury securities (including money market funds for which the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee serves as investment advisor, administrator, shareholder, servicing agent and/or custodian or sub-custodian, notwithstanding that (a) the Trustee charges and collects fees and expenses from such funds for services rendered and (b) the Trustee charges and collects fees and expenses for services rendered pursuant to this Indenture at any time) and from time to time the Company may direct the reinvestment of all or a portion of such money in other securities or funds meeting the criteria specified in clause (1) or (2) of this Section 402.

ARTICLE V

REMEDIES

Section 501. Events of Default .

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

(1) the Company defaults in the payment of any installment of interest on any Security of such series for 30 days after becoming due;

(2) the Company defaults in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on any Security of such series when the same becomes due and payable at its Stated Maturity, upon optional redemption, upon declaration or otherwise;

(3) the Company defaults in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due by the terms of a Security of such series;

(4) the Company defaults in the performance of, or breaches, any of its covenants and agreements in respect of any Security of such series contained in this Indenture or in the Securities of such series (other than those referred to in (1), (2) or (3) above), and such default or breach continues for a period of 90 days after the notice specified below;

(5) the Company, pursuant to or within the meaning of the Bankruptcy Law (as defined below):

(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;

 

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(C) consents to the appointment of a Custodian (as defined below) of it or for all or substantially all of its property;

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

(E) files a petition in bankruptcy or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief;

(F) consents to the filing of such petition or the appointment of or taking possession by a Custodian; or

(G) takes any comparable action under any foreign laws relating to insolvency;

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

(A) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case, or adjudicates the Company insolvent or bankrupt;

(B) appoints a Custodian of the Company or for all or substantially all of the property of the Company; or

(C) orders the winding-up or liquidation of the Company (or any similar relief is granted under any foreign laws),

and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 90 days; or

(7) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of such series occurs.

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

A Default with respect to Securities of any series under clause (4) of this Section 501 shall not be an Event of Default until the Trustee (by written notice to the Company) or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such series (by written notice to the Company and the Trustee) gives notice of the Default and the Company does not cure such Default within the time specified in clause (4) after receipt of such notice. Such notice must specify the Default, demand that it be remedied and state that such notice is a “ Notice of Default .”

Section 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment .

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 501(5) or (6) with respect to the Company) occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25%

 

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in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series may declare the principal amount of all the Securities of such series (or, if any Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified by the terms thereof), together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration, such principal amount (or specified amount), together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 501(5) or (6) with respect to the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs, the principal amount of all the Securities of such series (or, in the case of any Security of such series which specifies an amount to be due and payable thereon upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof, such amount as may be specified by the terms thereof), together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, shall automatically, and without any declaration or other action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder, become immediately due and payable. Upon payment of such amount, all obligations of the Company in respect of the payment of principal and interest of the Securities of such series shall terminate.

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

  (2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of such series, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of such series which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 512.

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

 

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Section 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee .

The Company covenants that if (1) default is made in the payment of any interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or (2) default is made in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on any Security at the Maturity thereof, the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and premium, if any, and interest and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal and premium and on any overdue interest, at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

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

Section 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim .

In case of any judicial proceeding relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), its property or its creditors, the Trustee shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise, to take any and all actions authorized under the Trust Indenture Act in order to have claims of the Holders and the Trustee allowed in any such proceeding. In particular, the Trustee shall be authorized to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it and any predecessor Trustee under Section 607.

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

Section 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities .

All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee

 

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shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, any predecessor Trustee under Section 607, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

Section 506. Application of Money Collected .

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

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

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

THIRD: To the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Company.

Section 507. Limitation on Suits .

No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator or sequestrator (or similar official) or for any other remedy hereunder, unless:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all of such Holders.

Section 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest and to Convert Securities .

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

Section 509. Rights and Remedies Cumulative .

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

Section 510. Delay or Omission Not Waiver .

No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article V or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.

Section 511. Control by Holders .

The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Securities of such series; provided that

 

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

 

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

Section 512. Waiver of Past Defaults .

The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series waive any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except a default

 

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

 

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

Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.

Section 513. Undertaking for Costs .

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, a court may require any party litigant in such suit to file an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and may assess reasonable costs against any such party litigant, in the manner and to the extent provided in the Trust Indenture Act; provided that neither this Section 513 nor the Trust Indenture Act shall be deemed to authorize any court to require such an undertaking or to make such an assessment in any suit instituted by the Company or the Trustee, a suit by a Holder under Section 508, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities.

Section 514. Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws .

The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any usury, stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

 

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Section 515. Restoration of Rights and Remedies .

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

ARTICLE VI

THE TRUSTEE

Section 601. Certain Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee .

 

  (1) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default with respect to any series of Securities,

 

  (A) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee with respect to such series; and

 

  (B) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may rely with respect to the Securities of such series, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).

 

  (2) In case an Event of Default with respect to any series of Securities has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.

 

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

 

  (A) this Section 601(3) shall not be construed to limit the effect of Section 601(1);

 

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

 

  (C) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, determined as provided in Sections Section 101, Section 104 and Section 511, relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series; and

 

  (D) no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

 

  (4) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 601.

Section 602. Notice of Defaults .

If a Default or an Event of Default occurs with respect to Securities of any series and is continuing and if it is actually known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to each Holder of Securities of such series notice of the Default within 90 days after it is known to a Responsible Officer or written notice of it is received by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee. Except in the case of a Default in payment of principal of or interest on any Security, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is not opposed to the interests of Holders of Securities of such series.

Section 603. Certain Rights of Trustee .

Subject to the provisions of Section 601:

 

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

 

  (2) if so requested by the Trustee, any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order, and any resolution of the Board of Directors shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

 

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  (3) before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel, or both;

 

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

 

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

 

  (6) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;

 

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

 

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

 

  (9) 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 to its agents;

 

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

 

  (11)

in no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited

 

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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;

 

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

 

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

Section 604. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities .

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

Section 605. May Hold Securities .

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

Section 606. Money Held in Trust .

Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed with the Company.

Section 607. Compensation and Reimbursement .

The Company agrees

 

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

 

  (2) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the reasonable expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith, and the Trustee shall provide the Company reasonable notice of any expenditure not in the ordinary course of business; and

 

  (3) to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the reasonable costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by any Holder, the Company or otherwise) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture (including this Section 607).

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 501(5) or (6), the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law.

The Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities as to all property and funds held by it hereunder for any amount owing it or any predecessor Trustee pursuant to this Section 607, except with respect to funds held in trust for the benefit of the Holders of Securities.

The provisions of this Section 607 shall survive the termination of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.

Section 608. Conflicting Interests .

If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture.

To the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have a conflicting interest by virtue of being a trustee under this Indenture with respect to Securities of more than one series.

 

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Section 609. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility .

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

Section 610. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor .

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

The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 611 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee, at the expense of the Company, may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

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

If at any time:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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then, in any such case, (A) the Company may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities or (B) subject to Section 513, Holders of 10% in aggregate principal amount of Securities of any series who have been bona fide Holders of such Securities for at least six months may, on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series) and shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 611. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 611, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 611, Holders of 10% in aggregate principal amount of Securities of any series who have been bona fide Holders of Securities of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

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

Section 611. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor .

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

 

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

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

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

Section 612. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business .

Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder; provided that such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article VI, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion, consolidation or sale to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities; and in case at that time any Securities shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Securities

 

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either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor to the Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Securities or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have.

Section 613. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company .

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

ARTICLE VII

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

Section 701. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders .

If the Trustee is not the Security Registrar, the Company shall cause the Security Registrar to 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 Securities of each series.

Section 702. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders .

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

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

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

Section 703. Reports by Trustee .

The Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto. The Trustee shall promptly deliver to the Company a copy of any report it delivers to Holders pursuant to this Section 703.

A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange and automated quotation system, if any, upon which any

 

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Securities are listed, with the SEC and with the Company. The Company will notify the Trustee when any Securities are listed on any stock exchange or automated quotation system or delisted therefrom.

Section 704. Reports by Company .

The Company shall comply with all the applicable provisions of the Trust Indenture Act. Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and shall not constitute a representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of the reports, information and documents. The Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates).

ARTICLE VIII

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALE OF ASSETS

Section 801. Company May Merge or Transfer Assets Only on Certain Terms .

The Company shall not consolidate with or merge with or into, or sell, transfer, lease or convey all or substantially all of its properties and assets to, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, any other Person, unless:

 

  (1) the Company shall be the continuing entity, or the resulting, surviving or transferee Person (the “ Successor ”) shall be a Person organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and the Successor (if not the Company) shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, all the obligations of the Company under the Securities and this Indenture and, for each Security that by its terms provides for conversion, shall have provided for the right to convert such Security in accordance with its terms;

 

  (2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and

 

  (3) if requested, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that such transaction and such supplemental indenture, if any, complies with this Indenture.

Section 802. Successor Corporation Substituted .

The Successor shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under the Indenture, with the same effect as if the Successor had been an original party to this Indenture, and the Company shall be released from all its liabilities and obligations under this Indenture and the Securities.

 

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ARTICLE IX

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

Section 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders .

Without the consent of any Holders, the Company and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:

 

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

 

  (2) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company, or successive successions, and the assumption by the successor corporation of the covenants, agreements and obligations of the Company pursuant to Article VIII;

 

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

 

  (4) to add one or more guarantees for the benefit of Holders of the Securities;

 

  (5) to secure the Securities;

 

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

 

  (7) to provide for the issuance of additional Securities of any series;

 

  (8) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections Section 201 and Section 301;

 

  (9) to comply with the rules of any applicable Depositary;

 

  (10) to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in uncertificated form;

 

  (11)

to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture in respect of one or more series of Securities; provided that any such addition, change or elimination (A) shall neither (i) apply to any Security of any series created prior to

 

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the execution of such supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provision nor (ii) modify the rights of the Holder of any such Security with respect to such provision or (B) shall become effective only when there is no Security described in clause (i) Outstanding;

 

  (12) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision of this Indenture which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein;

 

  (13) to comply with any requirements of the SEC in connection with the qualification of the Indenture under the Act; and

 

  (14) to change any other provision under this Indenture; provided that such action pursuant to this clause (14) shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect.

Section 902. Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders .

With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange for Securities), by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided , however , no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected thereby:

 

  (1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Security;

 

  (2) reduce the principal amount of any Security or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security or any other Security which would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 503, or reduce the rate of interest on any Security;

 

  (3) reduce any premium payable upon the redemption of or change the date on which any Security may or must be redeemed;

 

  (4) change the coin or currency in which the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Security is payable;

 

  (5) impair the right of any Holder to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date);

 

  (6)

reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver (of

 

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compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences) provided for in this Indenture;

 

  (7) modify any of the provisions of this Section 902, Section 512 or Section 1005, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby; provided , however , that this clause shall not be deemed to require the consent of any Holder with respect to changes in the references to “the Trustee” and concomitant changes in this Section 902 and Section 1005, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Section 611 and Section 901(6); or

 

  (8) if the Securities of any series are convertible into or for any other securities or property of the Company, make any change that adversely affects in any material respect the right to convert any Security of such series (except as permitted by Section 901) or decrease the conversion rate or increase the conversion price of any such Security of such series, unless such decrease or increase is permitted by the terms of such Security.

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

It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section 902 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.

After a supplemental indenture under this Section 902 becomes effective, the Company shall mail to the Trustee a notice briefly describing such supplemental indenture or a copy of such supplemental indenture and the Trustee shall mail such notice or supplemental indenture to Holders affected thereby. Any failure of the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, or any failure of the Company to mail such supplemental indenture, shall not in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.

Section 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures .

In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article IX or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and, subject to Section 601, shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that all conditions precedent in this Indenture to the execution of such supplemental indenture, if any, have been complied with and that the supplemental indenture is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions, and complies with Section 905; provided , however , that no such Opinion of Counsel shall be required in the case of

 

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any supplemental indenture executed and delivered concurrently with the original execution and delivery of this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

Section 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures .

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

Section 905. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act .

Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article IX shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act.

Section 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures .

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

ARTICLE X

COVENANTS

Section 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest .

The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of each series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of such series in accordance with the terms of the Securities and this Indenture. Principal and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if, on or before 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on such date, the Trustee or the Paying Agent (or, if the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is the Paying Agent, the segregated account or separate trust fund maintained by the Company or such Subsidiary pursuant to Section 1003) holds in accordance with this Indenture money sufficient to pay all principal and interest then due.

The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate specified therefor in the Securities, and it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful as provided in Section 307.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Indenture, the Company or the Paying Agent may, to the extent it is required to do so by law, deduct or withhold income or

 

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other similar taxes imposed by the United States of America or other domestic or foreign taxing authorities from principal or interest payments hereunder.

Section 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency .

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

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

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

Section 1003. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust .

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

Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it will, no later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on each due date for the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Securities of such series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such amount, such sum to be held in trust for the Holders of such

 

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Securities entitled to the same, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

The Company will cause each Paying Agent for any series of Securities other than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 1003, that such Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by such Paying Agent for the payment of principal of or interest on the Securities and shall notify the Trustee in writing of any default by the Company in making any such payment.

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

Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company 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 1004. Statement by Officers as to Default .

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date hereof an Officer’s Certificate signed by its principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer, stating whether or not, to the best knowledge of such officer, the Company is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder) and, if the Company shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which they may have knowledge.

Section 1005. Waiver of Certain Covenants .

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of such series, the Company may, with respect to the Securities of any series, omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in any covenant provided pursuant to Section 301(18), Section 901(1) or Section 901(8) for the benefit of the Holders of such series, if before the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall, by Act of such Holders,

 

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either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such term, provision or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

ARTICLE XI

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

Section 1101. Applicability of Article .

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

Section 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee .

The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution or an Officer’s Certificate or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of the Securities of any series (including any such redemption affecting only a single Security), the Company shall, at least 40 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date, of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed and, if applicable, of the tenor of the Securities to be redeemed. In the case of any redemption of Securities prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officer’s Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction.

Section 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed .

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

If any Security selected for partial redemption is converted in part before termination of the conversion right with respect to the portion of the Security so selected, the converted portion of such Security shall be deemed (so far as may be) to be the portion selected for redemption.

 

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Securities which have been converted during a selection of securities to be redeemed shall be treated by the Trustee as Outstanding for the purpose of such selection.

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

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

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

Section 1104. Notice of Redemption .

Notice of redemption shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date (or within such period as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of a series), to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, at such Holder’s address appearing in the Security Register.

All notices of redemption shall identify the Securities to be redeemed and state:

 

  (1) the Redemption Date;

 

  (2) the Redemption Price (or the method of calculating such price);

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

  (8) if applicable, the CUSIP numbers of the Securities of such series; provided , however , that no representation will be made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number, or any similar number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Securities.

Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request (which may be rescinded or revoked at any time prior to the time at which the Trustee shall have given such notice to the Holders), by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company. The notice, if mailed in the manner herein provided, shall be conclusively presumed to have been given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice by mail or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Security designated for redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Securities.

Section 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price .

By no later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1003) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date or the Securities of the series provide otherwise) accrued interest on, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date, other than Securities or portions of Securities called for redemption which are owned by the Company or a Subsidiary and have been delivered by the Company or such Subsidiary to the Trustee for cancellation. All money, if any, earned on funds held by the Paying Agent shall be remitted to the Company. In addition, the Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Company any money deposited with the Paying Agent by the Company in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the Redemption Price of, and accrued interest, if any, on, all Securities to be redeemed.

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

Section 1106. Securities Payable on Redemption Date .

Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together, if applicable, with accrued interest to the Redemption Date; provided , however , that, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by

 

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Section 301, installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 307; provided further that, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, if the Redemption Date is after a Regular Record Date and on or prior to the Interest Payment Date, the accrued and unpaid interest shall be payable to the Holder of the redeemed Securities registered on the relevant Regular Record Date.

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

Section 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part .

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

ARTICLE XII

SINKING FUNDS

Section 1201. Applicability of Article .

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

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of any series of Securities is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of such Securities is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.” If provided for by the terms of any series of Securities, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 1202. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of the series as provided for by the terms of such Securities.

Section 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities .

The Company (1) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series (other than any previously called for redemption) and (2) may apply as a credit Securities of a series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to any Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such

 

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Securities as and to the extent provided for by the terms of such Securities; provided that the Securities to be so credited have not been previously so credited. The Securities to be so credited shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price, as specified in the Securities so to be redeemed, for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.

Section 1203. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund .

Not less than 60 days (or such shorter period as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) prior to each sinking fund payment date for any Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for such Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities pursuant to Section 1202 and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than 30 days prior to each such sinking fund payment date, the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 1103 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 1104. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections Section 1106 and Section 1107.

ARTICLE XIII

DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

Section 1301. Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance .

Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301, Sections Section 1302 and Section 1303 shall apply to all Securities or each series of Securities, as the case may be, in either case, denominated in U.S. dollars and bearing interest at a fixed rate, in accordance with any applicable requirements provided pursuant to Section 301 and upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article XIII; and the Company may elect, at its option at any time, to have Sections Section 1302 and Section 1303 applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, designated pursuant to Section 301 as being defeasible pursuant to such Section Section 1302 or Section 1303, in accordance with any applicable requirements provided pursuant to Section 301 and upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article XIII. Any such election to have or not to have Sections Section 1302 and Section 1303 apply, as the case may be, shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities.

Section 1302. Defeasance and Discharge .

Upon the Company’s exercise of its option, if any, to have this Section 1302 applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, or if this Section 1302 shall otherwise apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to such Securities as provided in this Section 1302 on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 1304 are satisfied (hereinafter called “ Defeasance ”). For this purpose, such Defeasance means that the

 

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Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by such Securities and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture insofar as such Securities are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), subject to the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (1) the rights of Holders of such Securities to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 1304 and as more fully set forth in such Section 1305, payments in respect of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on such Securities when payments are due, (2) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities under Sections Section 304, Section 305, Section 306, Section 1002 and Section 1003, (3) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (4) this Article XIII. Subject to compliance with this Article XIII, the Company may exercise its option, if any, to have this Section 1302 applied to the Securities of any series notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option, if any, to have Section 1303 applied to such Securities.

Section 1303. Covenant Defeasance .

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

Section 1304. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance .

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

 

  (1)

The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee which satisfies the requirements contemplated by Section 609 and agrees to comply with the provisions of this Article XIII applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefits of the Holders of such Securities, (A) money in an amount, or (B) U.S. Government Obligations which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide money in an amount, or (C) a combination thereof, in each case sufficient, in the opinion of a

 

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nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or any such other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on such Securities on the respective Stated Maturities, in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and such Securities. As used herein, “ U.S. Government Obligation ” means (x) any security which is (i) a direct obligation of the United States of America for the payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged or (ii) an obligation of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in either case (i) or (ii), is not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and (y) any depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any U.S. Government Obligation which is specified in clause (x) above and held by such bank for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt, or with respect to any specific payment of principal of or interest on any U.S. Government Obligation which is so specified and held; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of principal or interest evidenced by such depositary receipt.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

  (5) No Default or Event of Default with respect to such Securities or any other Securities shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such deposit or, insofar as Sections 501(5) or 501(6) are concerned, at any time on or prior to the 90th day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until after such 90th day).

 

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

 

  (7) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent with respect to such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance have been complied with (in each case, subject to the satisfaction of the condition in clause (5)).

Before or after a deposit, the Company may make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of Securities at a future date in accordance with Article XI.

Section 1305. Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions .

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

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

Anything in this Article XIII to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 1304 with respect to any Securities which are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect the Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, with respect to such Securities.

 

- 57 -


Section 1306. Reinstatement .

If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money in accordance with this Article XIII with respect to any Securities by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the obligations under this Indenture and such Securities from which the Company has been discharged or released pursuant to Section 1302 or Section 1303 shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article XIII with respect to such Securities, until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all money held in trust pursuant to Section 1305 with respect to such Securities in accordance with this Article XIII; provided , however , that (a) if the Company makes any payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any such Security following such reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights, if any, of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money so held in trust and (b) unless otherwise required by any legal proceeding or any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority, the Trustee or Paying Agent shall return all such money and U.S. Government Obligations to the Company promptly after receiving a written request therefor at any time, if such reinstatement of the Company’s obligations has occurred and continues to be in effect.

ARTICLE XIV

REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF HOLDERS

Section 1401. Applicability of Article .

Repayment of Securities of any series before their Stated Maturity at the option of Holders thereof shall be made in accordance with the terms of such Securities and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article XIV.

Section 1402. Repayment of Securities .

Securities of any series subject to repayment in whole or in part at the option of the Holders thereof will, unless otherwise provided in the terms of such Securities, be repaid at a price equal to the principal amount thereof and premium, if any, thereon, together with interest thereon accrued to the Repayment Date specified in or pursuant to the terms of such Securities. The Company covenants that on or before the Repayment Date it will deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1003) an amount of money sufficient to pay the principal (or, if so provided by the terms of the Securities of any series, a percentage of the principal) of, the premium, if any, and (except if the Repayment Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on, all the Securities or portions thereof, as the case may be, to be repaid on such date.

Section 1403. Exercise of Option .

Securities of any series subject to repayment at the option of the Holders thereof will contain an “Option to Elect Repayment” form on the reverse of such Securities. To be repaid at the option of the Holder, any Security so providing for such repayment, with the “Option to Elect

 

- 58 -


Repayment” form on the reverse of such Security duly completed by the Holder (or by the Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing), must be received by the Company at the Place of Payment therefor specified in the terms of such Security (or at such other place or places of which the Company shall from time to time notify the Holders of such Securities) not earlier than 45 days nor later than 30 days prior to the Repayment Date. If less than the entire principal amount of such Security is to be repaid in accordance with the terms of such Security, the principal amount of such Security to be repaid, in increments of the minimum denomination for Securities of such series, and the denomination or denominations of the Security or Securities to be issued to the Holder for the portion of the principal amount of such Security surrendered that is not to be repaid, must be specified. The principal amount of any Security providing for repayment at the option of the Holder thereof may not be repaid in part if, following such repayment, the unpaid principal amount of such Security would be less than the minimum authorized denomination of Securities of the series of which such Security to be repaid is a part. Except as otherwise may be provided by the terms of any Security providing for repayment at the option of the Holder thereof, exercise of the repayment option by the Holder shall be irrevocable unless waived by the Company.

Section 1404. When Securities Presented for Repayment Become Due and Payable .

If Securities of any series providing for repayment at the option of the Holders thereof shall have been surrendered as provided in this Article XIV and as provided by or pursuant to the terms of such Securities, such Securities or the portions thereof, as the case may be, to be repaid shall become due and payable and shall be paid by the Company on the Repayment Date therein specified, and on and after such Repayment Date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of such Securities on such Repayment Date) such Securities shall, if the same were interest-bearing, cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for repayment in accordance with such provisions, the principal amount of such Security so to be repaid shall be paid by the Company, together with accrued interest and/or premium, if any, to (but excluding) the Repayment Date; provided , however , that, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, installments of interest, if any, whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Repayment Date shall be payable (but without interest thereon, unless the Company shall default in the payment thereof) to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 307.

If the principal amount of any Security surrendered for repayment shall not be so repaid upon surrender thereof, such principal amount (together with interest, if any, thereon accrued to such Repayment Date) and any premium shall, until paid, bear interest from the Repayment Date at the rate of interest or yield to maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities) set forth in such Security.

Section 1405. Securities Repaid in Part .

Upon surrender of any Security which is to be repaid in part only, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security, without service charge and at the expense of the Company, a new Security or Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination specified by the Holder, in a principal amount equal to

 

- 59 -


and in exchange for the portion of the principal of such Security so surrendered which is not to be repaid.

*            *             *

 

- 60 -


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

[Signature page follows]

 

- 61 -


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

 

EXCO RESOURCES, INC.

By:

  /s/ William L. Boeing
 

Name: William L. Boeing

Title: Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
as Trustee

By:

  /s/ W. Thomas Morris, II
 

Name: W. Thomas Morris, II

Title: Vice President

 

- 62 -

Exhibit 4.2

 

 

 

EXCO RESOURCES, INC.,

as Issuer

SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS,

as Guarantors

7.500% Senior Notes Due 2018

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

Dated as of September 15, 2010

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,

as Trustee

 

 

 


Table of Contents

 

     Page
Recitals of the Company   
ARTICLE 1   
Establishment of Series   

SECTION 1.01.     Establishment

   2

SECTION 1.02.     Rules of Construction

   3
ARTICLE 2   
Definitions and Incorporation by Reference   

SECTION 2.01.     Amendments to Definitions

   3

SECTION 2.02.     New Definitions

   4

SECTION 2.03.     Other Definitions

   42

SECTION 2.04.     Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act

   42
ARTICLE 3   
Redemption   

SECTION 3.01.     Original Indenture

   43

SECTION 3.02.     Optional Redemption

   43

SECTION 3.03.     Mandatory Redemption

   44

SECTION 3.04.     Notices to Trustee

   44

SECTION 3.05.     Selection of Securities to Be Redeemed

   44

SECTION 3.06.     Notice of Redemption

   44
ARTICLE 4   
Covenants   

SECTION 4.01.     Original Indenture

   45

SECTION 4.02.     Covenant Suspension

   45

SECTION 4.03.     Payment of Securities

   46

SECTION 4.04.     SEC Reports

   46

SECTION 4.05.     Limitation on Indebtedness

   47

SECTION 4.06.     Limitation on Restricted Payments

   51

 

i


SECTION 4.07.     Limitation on Restrictions on Distributions from Restricted Subsidiaries

   56

SECTION 4.08.     Limitation on Sales of Assets and Subsidiary Stock

   59

SECTION 4.09.     Limitation on Affiliate Transactions

   62

SECTION 4.10.     Limitation on Line of Business

   64

SECTION 4.11.     Change of Control

   65

SECTION 4.12.     Limitation on Liens

   66

SECTION 4.13.     Limitation on Sale/Leaseback Transactions

   66

SECTION 4.14.     Future Guarantors

   67

SECTION 4.15.     Further Instruments and Acts

   67
ARTICLE 5   
Successor Company   

SECTION 5.01.     Original Indenture

   67

SECTION 5.02.     When Company May Merge or Transfer Assets

   67
ARTICLE 6   
Defaults and Remedies   

SECTION 6.01.     Original Indenture

   69

SECTION 6.02.     Events of Default

   69

SECTION 6.03.     Acceleration

   71

SECTION 6.04.     Other Remedies

   72

SECTION 6.05.     Control by Majority

   72

SECTION 6.06.     Limitation on Suits

   72

SECTION 6.07.     Rights of Holders to Receive Payment

   73

SECTION 6.08.     Collection Suit by Trustee

   73

SECTION 6.09.     Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

   73

SECTION 6.10.     Undertaking for Costs

   74

SECTION 6.11.     Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws

   74

SECTION 6.12.     Notice of Defaults

   74
ARTICLE 7   
Discharge of Indenture; Defeasance   

SECTION 7.01.     Original Indenture

   74

SECTION 7.02.     Discharge of Liability on Securities; Defeasance

   74

 

ii


SECTION 7.03.     Conditions to Defeasance

   75

SECTION 7.04.     Application of Trust Money

   76

SECTION 7.05.     Repayment to Company

   77

SECTION 7.06.     Indemnity for Government Obligations

   77

SECTION 7.07.     Reinstatement

   77
ARTICLE 8   
Amendments and Waivers   

SECTION 8.01.     Original Indenture

   77

SECTION 8.02.     Without Consent of Holders

   77

SECTION 8.03.     With Consent of Holders

   78

SECTION 8.04.     Compliance with Trust Indenture Act

   79

SECTION 8.05.     Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers

   79

SECTION 8.06.     Notation on or Exchange of Securities

   80

SECTION 8.07.     Trustee To Sign Amendments

   80

SECTION 8.08.     Payment for Consent

   80
ARTICLE 9   
Subsidiary Guaranties   

SECTION 9.01.     Guaranties

   80

SECTION 9.02.     Limitation on Liability

   82

SECTION 9.03.     Successors and Assigns

   82

SECTION 9.04.     No Waiver

   82

SECTION 9.05.     Modification

   83

SECTION 9.06.     Release of Subsidiary Guarantor

   83

SECTION 9.07.     Contribution

   84
ARTICLE 10   
Miscellaneous   

SECTION 10.01.    Communication by Holders with Other Holders

   84

SECTION 10.02.    When Securities Disregarded

   84

SECTION 10.03.    No Recourse Against Others

   84

SECTION 10.04.    Effect of Headings and Table of Contents

   84

SECTION 10.05.    Successors and Assigns

   84

 

iii


SECTION 10.06 .     Separability Clause

   85

SECTION 10.07.     Governing Law

   85

SECTION 10.08.     Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar

   85

SECTION 10.09.     No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements

   85

SECTION 10.10.     Multiple Originals

   85

 

iv


FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE dated as of September 15, 2010, among EXCO RESOURCES, INC., a Texas corporation (the “Company”), the SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS (as defined below) from time to time party hereto and WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, a Delaware banking corporation, as trustee (the “Trustee”).

Recitals of the Company

WHEREAS, the Company and the Trustee executed and delivered an Indenture, dated as of September 15, 2010 (the “Original Indenture”) to provide for the issuance by the Company from time to time of its senior unsecured debt securities (herein called the “Debt Securities”), to be issued in one or more series as provided in the Original Indenture;

WHEREAS, the Original Indenture is incorporated herein by this reference, and the Original Indenture, as supplemented by this First Supplemental Indenture and any other supplemental indentures applicable to the Debt Securities created pursuant to this First Supplemental Indenture, is herein called the “Indenture”;

WHEREAS, under the Original Indenture, a new series of senior unsecured notes may at any time be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, an Officer’s Certificate or one or more indentures supplemental to the Original Indenture;

WHEREAS, the Company proposes to create under the Indenture a new series of senior unsecured notes and to add new provisions to, and change and eliminate certain existing provisions of, the Original Indenture in respect of such new series of senior unsecured notes;

WHEREAS, additional senior unsecured notes of other series hereafter established, except as may be limited in the Original Indenture as at the time supplemented and modified, may be issued from time to time pursuant to the Indenture as at the time supplemented and modified;

WHEREAS, no Debt Security of any series has been created prior to the date of execution of this First Supplemental Indenture; and

WHEREAS, all conditions necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this First Supplemental Indenture and make it a valid and binding obligation of the Company in accordance with its terms, have been done or performed.


NOW, THEREFORE, THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

For and in consideration of the premises set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, it is mutually agreed as follows:

ARTICLE 1

Establishment of Series

SECTION 1.01.  Establishment . There is hereby established a new series of senior notes to be issued under the Indenture, to be designated as the Company’s 7.500% Senior Notes due 2018 (the “Securities”).

There are to be authenticated and delivered Securities, initially limited in aggregate principal amount of $750,000,000 and no further Securities shall be authenticated and delivered except as provided by the terms of the Original Indenture and the terms of this First Supplemental Indenture; provided , however , that additional Securities having identical terms and conditions as the Securities other than issue date, the issue price, the date from which interest thereon shall accrue, legends, if any, to be included thereon and the first Interest Payment Date (the “Additional Securities”) may be issued from time to time in the future, without the consent of the Holders of the Securities, in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture. With respect to any Additional Securities, the Company shall set forth in a resolution of the Board of Directors or an Officers’ Certificate, the following information:

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

(b) the issue date, the issue price, the first Interest Payment Date of such Additional Securities, the date from which interest shall accrue and legends, if any, to be included thereon; and

(c) the CUSIP and ISIN numbers of the Additional Securities.

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

The Securities shall be issued in fully registered form without coupons, and only in denominations of $2,000 and larger integral multiples of $1,000. The Securities shall be issued in the form of one or more Global Securities in substantially the form set out in Exhibit A hereto. The initial Depositary with respect to the Securities shall be DTC. Payments in respect of 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 DTC.

Each Security shall be dated the date of authentication thereof and shall bear interest from the date of original issuance thereof or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for.

 

2


The Securities may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage or DTC rule or usage in addition to those set forth on Exhibit A . The Company and the Trustee shall approve the forms of the Securities and any notation, endorsement or legend on them, such approval to be evidenced by the execution or authentication, respectively, and delivery of the Securities by the Company or the Trustee, respectively. The terms of the Securities set forth in Exhibit A are part of the terms of the Indenture and, to the extent applicable, the Company and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this First Supplemental Indenture, expressly agree to be bound by such terms.

SECTION 1.02.  Rules of Construction . Unless the context otherwise requires:

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

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

(3) “or” is not exclusive;

(4) “including” means including without limitation;

(5) words in the singular include the plural and words in the plural include the singular;

(6) unsecured Indebtedness shall not be deemed to be subordinate or junior to secured Indebtedness merely by virtue of its nature as unsecured Indebtedness;

(7) secured Indebtedness shall not be deemed to be subordinate or junior to any other secured Indebtedness merely because it has a junior priority with respect to the same collateral;

(8) the principal amount of any noninterest bearing or other discount security at any date shall be the principal amount thereof that would be shown on a balance sheet of the issuer dated such date prepared in accordance with GAAP;

(9) the principal amount of any Preferred Stock shall be (A) the maximum liquidation value of such Preferred Stock or (B) the maximum mandatory redemption or mandatory repurchase price with respect to such Preferred Stock, whichever is greater; and

(10) all references to the date the Securities were originally issued shall refer to the Issue Date.

ARTICLE 2

Definitions and Incorporation by Reference

SECTION 2.01.  Amendments to Definitions . Each capitalized term used but not defined in this First Supplemental Indenture shall have the meaning given to it in the Original Indenture, except that with respect to the Securities (1) the definition of “Commission,” in the Original Indenture is hereby deleted in its entirety and (2) the definitions of “Affiliate,” “GAAP,” and “Stated Maturity,” in the Original Indenture are hereby deleted in their entirety and restated as follows (in alphabetical order):

 

3


“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person, directly or indirectly, controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing. For purposes of Sections 4.06, 4.08 and 4.09 of this First Supplemental Indenture only, “Affiliate” shall also mean any beneficial owner of Capital Stock representing 20% or more of the total voting power of the Voting Stock (on a fully diluted basis) of the Company or of rights or warrants to purchase such Capital Stock (whether or not currently exercisable) and any Person who would be an Affiliate of any such beneficial owner pursuant to the first sentence hereof.

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States as in effect as of the Issue Date, including those set forth in:

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

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

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

“Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any security, the date specified in such security as the fixed date on which the final payment of principal of such security is due and payable, including pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision (but excluding any provision providing for the repurchase of such security at the option of the holder thereof upon the happening of any contingency unless such contingency has occurred).

SECTION 2.02.  New Definitions . The following defined terms used herein with respect to the Securities shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meanings specified below.

“Additional Assets” means (1) any property, plant or equipment or other assets (including Capital Stock of a Person engaged in a Related Business) used in a Related Business; (2) the Capital Stock of a Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of the acquisition of such Capital Stock by the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary; or (3) Capital Stock constituting a minority interest in any Person that at such time is a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however , that any such Restricted Subsidiary described in clause (2) or (3) above is primarily engaged in a Related Business.

 

4


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

(a) the sum of:

(1) discounted future net revenue from proved crude oil and natural gas reserves of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines before any state or federal income taxes, as estimated in a reserve report prepared as of the end of the fiscal year ending at least 40 days prior to the date of determination, which reserve report is prepared or audited by independent petroleum engineers, as increased by, as of the date of determination, the discounted future net revenue calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in such year end reserve report) of:

(A) estimated proved crude oil and natural gas reserves of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries attributable to acquisitions consummated since the date of such reserve report, and

(B) estimated crude oil and natural gas reserves of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries attributable to extensions, discoveries and other additions and upward determinations of estimates of proved crude oil and natural 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 which reserves were not reflected in such reserve report which would, in accordance with standard industry practice, result in such determinations, in each case calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in such year end reserve report)

and decreased by , as of the date of determination, the discounted future net revenue attributable to:

(C) estimated proved crude oil and natural gas reserves of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries reflected in such reserve report produced or disposed of since the date of such reserve report, and

(D) reductions in the estimated oil and natural gas reserves of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries reflected in such reserve report since the date of such reserve report attributable to downward determinations of estimates of proved crude oil and natural gas reserves due to exploration, development or exploitation, production or other activities conducted or otherwise occurring since the date of such reserve report which would, in accordance with standard industry practice, result in such determinations, in each case calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in such reserve report);

provided, however , that, in the case of each of the determinations made pursuant to clauses (A) through (D) above, such increases and decreases shall be estimated by the Company’s engineers or by an independent petroleum engineer engaged by the Company for that purpose;

 

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(2) the capitalized costs that are attributable to crude oil and natural gas properties of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries to which no proved crude oil and natural gas reserves are attributed, based on the Company’s books and records as of a date no earlier than the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for which financial statements of the Company have been made publicly available prior to the date of determination;

(3) the Net Working Capital as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter ending at least 40 days prior to the date of determination; and

(4) the greater of (i) the net book value as of a date no earlier than the end of the most recent fiscal quarter ending at least 40 days prior to the date of determination and (ii) the appraised value, as estimated by independent appraisers (which may be a nationally recognized investment banking firm), of all other tangible assets, including mineral rights held under leases or other contractual arrangements, of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of a date no earlier than the most recent fiscal year ending at least 40 days prior to the date of determination ( provided, however , that the Company shall not be required to obtain such an appraisal of such assets solely for the purpose of determining this value); minus

(b) to the extent not otherwise taken into account in the immediately preceding clause (a), the sum of

(1) minority interests;

(2) any natural gas balancing liabilities of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries reflected in the Company’s latest audited consolidated financial statements;

(3) the discounted future net revenue, calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the same prices utilized in the Company’s year-end reserve report), attributable to reserves subject to participation interests, overriding royalty interests or other interests of third parties, pursuant to participation, partnership, vendor financing or other agreements then in effect, or which otherwise are required to be delivered to third parties;

(4) to the extent included in the immediately preceding clause (a) (1) above, the discounted future net revenue calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the same prices utilized in the Company’s year-end reserve report), attributable to reserves that are required to be delivered to third parties to fully satisfy the obligations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to Volumetric Production Payments on the schedules specified with respect thereto; and

(5) the discounted future net revenue, calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines, attributable to reserves subject to Dollar Denominated Production Payments that, based on the estimates of production included in determining the discounted future net revenue specified in the immediately preceding clause (a) (1) (utilizing the same prices utilized in the Company’s year-end reserve report), would be necessary to satisfy fully the obligations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to Dollar Denominated Production Payments on the schedules specified with respect thereto.

 

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Whether or not the Company uses the successful efforts method of accounting or the full cost (or similar method) method of accounting, ACNTA will be calculated as if the Company were using the full cost (or similar method) method of accounting.

“Adjusted Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, (i) the yield, under the heading which represents the average for the immediately preceding week, appearing in the most recently published statistical release designated “H.15(519)” or any successor publication which is published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System 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 September 15, 2014, 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) or (ii) if such release (or any successor release) is not published during the week preceding the calculation date or does not contain such yields, the rate per year equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such Redemption Date, in each case calculated on the third Business Day immediately preceding the Redemption Date, plus 0.50%.

“Applicable Premium” means, with respect to a Security at any Redemption Date, the greater of (i) 1.00% of the principal amount of such Security and (ii) the excess of (A) the present value at such Redemption Date of (1) the redemption price of such Security on September 15, 2014 (such redemption price being described in Section 3.02(c) of this First Supplemental Indenture) plus (2) all required remaining scheduled interest payments due on such Security through September 15, 2014, computed using a discount rate equal to the Adjusted Treasury Rate, over (B) the principal amount of such Security on such Redemption Date.

“Appalachian Area” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Marcellus Joint Development Agreement as in effect on the Marcellus JV Closing Date and as amended or restated thereafter.

“Asset Disposition” means any sale, lease, transfer or other disposition (or series of related sales, leases, transfers or dispositions) by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, including any disposition by means of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction (each referred to for the purposes of this definition as a “disposition”), of:

(1) any shares of Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary (other than directors’ qualifying shares or shares required by applicable law to be held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary);

(2) all or substantially all the assets of any division or line of business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; or

 

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(3) any other assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary outside of the ordinary course of business of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary (other than, in the case of clauses (1), (2) and (3) above,

(A) a disposition by a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to a Restricted Subsidiary;

(B) for purposes of Section 4.08 of this First Supplemental Indenture only, (i) a disposition that constitutes a Restricted Payment (or would constitute a Restricted Payment but for the exclusions from the definition thereof) and that is not prohibited by Section 4.06 of this First Supplemental Indenture and (ii) a disposition of all or substantially all the assets of the Company in accordance with Section 5.02 of this First Supplemental Indenture;

(C) a disposition of assets in a single transaction or a series of related transactions with a fair market value of less than $5.0 million;

(D) a disposition of oil, natural gas or other Hydrocarbons or other mineral products in the ordinary course of business of the oil and gas production operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries;

(E) the provision of services, equipment and other assets for the operation and development of the Company’s and its Restricted Subsidiaries’ oil and natural gas wells, in the ordinary course of the Company’s and its Restricted Subsidiaries Oil and Gas Business, notwithstanding that such transactions may be recorded as asset sales in accordance with full cost accounting guidelines;

(F) the sale or other disposition of cash or Temporary Cash Investments; Hedging Obligations or other financial instruments in the ordinary course of business;

(G) the trade or exchange by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of any oil or natural gas property or interest therein of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary for any oil or natural gas property or interest therein of another Person or for the Capital Stock of a Person engaged in the Oil and Gas Business, including any cash or cash equivalents necessary in order to achieve an exchange of equivalent value; provided, however , that the value of the oil or natural gas property or interest therein received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in such trade or exchange (including any cash or cash equivalents) is at least equal to the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, which determination shall be conclusive evidence of compliance with this provision) of the oil or natural gas property or interest therein or Capital Stock of a Person engaged in the Oil and Gas Business (including any cash or cash equivalents) so traded or exchanged; provided , further , that any Net Available Cash is applied pursuant to the requirements of Section 4.08 of this First Supplemental Indenture;

(H) the creation or perfection of a Lien permitted pursuant to this First Supplemental Indenture and the sale or other disposition of the property subject to such Lien upon foreclosure thereon;

 

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(I) the sale or transfer (whether or not in the ordinary course of business) of crude oil and natural gas properties or direct or indirect interests in real property; provided , however , that at the time of such sale or transfer such properties do not have associated with them any proved reserves;

(J) the abandonment, farm-out, lease or sublease of developed or undeveloped crude oil and natural gas properties in the ordinary course of business;

(K) the sale or transfer of surplus or obsolete equipment;

(L) any assignment of an overriding royalty or net profits interest to an employee or consultant of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business in connection with the generation of prospects or the development of oil and natural gas projects;

(M) dispositions of receivables in connection with the compromise, settlement or collection thereof in the ordinary course of business or in bankruptcy or similar proceedings and exclusive of factoring or similar arrangements;

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

(O) the surrender or waiver of contract rights or the settlement, release or surrender of contract, tort or other claims of any kind;

(P) any Production Payments and Reserve Sales;

(Q) any sale of Capital Stock in, or Indebtedness or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(R) the sale, transfer or assignment by the Company, EXCO PA, EXCO WV or any other Restricted Subsidiary of an undivided interest in Oil and Gas Interests acquired by the Company, EXCO PA, EXCO WV or any other Restricted Subsidiary in the Appalachian Area to the extent required pursuant to and in accordance with the right of first refusal provisions of the Marcellus JV Documents; and

(S) the sale, transfer or assignment by the Company, EOC or any other Restricted Subsidiary of an undivided interest in Oil and Gas Interests acquired by the Company, EOC or any other Restricted Subsidiary in the East Texas/North Louisiana Area to the extent required pursuant to and in accordance with the right of first refusal provisions of the BG Joint Development Agreement.

“Attributable Debt” in respect of a Sale/Leaseback Transaction means, as at the time of determination, the present value (discounted at the interest rate borne by the Securities, compounded annually) of the total obligations of the lessee for rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included in such Sale/Leaseback Transaction (including any period for which such lease has been extended); provided, however , that if such Sale/Leaseback Transaction results in a Capital Lease Obligation, the amount of Indebtedness represented thereby will be determined in accordance with the definition of “Capital Lease Obligation.”

 

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

“BGPA” means BG Production Company (PA), LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and its successors and assigns.

“BGWV” means BG Production Company (WV), LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and its successors and assigns.

“BG Development Costs” means the costs and expenses incurred in the conduct of development operations in the East Texas/North Louisiana Area pursuant to the BG JV Documents.

“BG Escrow Account” means that certain escrow account maintained at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and established by EOC and BG Production for the purpose of maintaining deposits from EOC representing, at any time, the estimated amount of EOC’s share of (x) development and capital costs, plus (y) operating expenses, in each case, as determined in accordance with the terms of the BG Joint Development Agreement.

“BG Gathering” means BG US Gathering Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and its successors and assigns.

“BG Joint Development Agreement” means that certain Joint Development Agreement, dated as of August 14, 2009, by and among BG Production, EOC and EXCO Production Company, LP, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, pursuant to which the parties thereto entered into a joint development agreement to develop and operate certain oil and gas properties located in the East Texas/North Louisiana Area.

“BG Operating Account” means that certain controlled disbursement operating account maintained at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and established by EOC and BG Production for the purpose of funding the costs and expenses associated with the development of the East Texas/North Louisiana Area in accordance with the terms of the BG Joint Development Agreement.

“BG Production” means BG US Production Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and its successors and assigns.

“BG JV Documents” means the BG Joint Development Agreement, the TGGT Holdings LLC Agreement, the TGGT Contribution Agreement and any other documents, instruments, agreements or certificates contemplated by or executed in connection therewith, in each case, as the same may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.

 

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“Capital Lease Obligation” means an obligation that is required to be classified and accounted for as a capital lease for financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP, and the amount of Indebtedness represented by such obligation shall be the capitalized amount of such obligation determined in accordance with GAAP; and the Stated Maturity thereof shall be the date of the last payment of rent or any other amount due under such lease prior to the first date upon which such lease may be terminated by the lessee without payment of a penalty. For purposes of Section 4.12 of this First Supplemental Indenture, a Capital Lease Obligation will be deemed to be secured by a Lien on the property being leased.

“Capital Stock” of any Person means any and all shares, interests (including partnership interests), rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) equity of such Person, including any Preferred Stock, but excluding any debt securities convertible into such equity.

“Cash Management Obligations” means any obligations of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor owed to any lender (or any affiliate of any such lender) as permitted under the Credit Agreement in respect of treasury management arrangements, depositary or other cash management services, including commercial credit card and merchant card services.

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

(1) any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), other than one or more Permitted Holders, 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 (1) such person shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all shares that any 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; provided, however , that the Permitted Holders beneficially own (as defined above), directly or indirectly, in the aggregate a lesser percentage of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company than such other person and do not have the right or ability by voting power, contract or otherwise to elect or designate for election a majority of the Board of Directors (for purposes of this clause (1), such other person shall be deemed to beneficially own any Voting Stock of a specified person held by a parent entity, if such other person is the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the voting power of the Voting Stock of such parent entity and the Permitted Holders beneficially own (as defined in this proviso), directly or indirectly, in the aggregate a lesser percentage of the voting power of the Voting Stock of such parent entity and do not have the right or ability by voting power, contract or otherwise to elect or designate for election a majority of the board of directors of such parent entity);

(2) individuals who on the Issue Date constituted the Board of Directors of the Company (together with any new directors whose election by such Board of Directors of the Company or whose nomination for election by the shareholders of the Company was approved by a vote of a majority of the directors of the Company then still in office who were either directors on the Issue Date or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved) cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company then in office;

 

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(3) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or

(4) 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 of all or substantially all the assets of the Company (determined on a consolidated basis) to another Person other than (A) a transaction in which the survivor or transferee is a Person that is controlled by the Permitted Holders or (B) a transaction following which (i) in the case of a merger or consolidation transaction, holders of securities that represented 100% of the Voting Stock of the Company immediately prior to such transaction (or other securities into which such securities are converted as part of such merger or consolidation transaction) own directly or indirectly at least a majority of the voting power of the Voting Stock of the surviving Person in such merger or consolidation transaction immediately after such transaction and (ii) in the case of a sale of assets transaction, each transferee becomes an obligor in respect of the Securities and a Subsidiary of the transferor of such assets.

“Change of Control Repurchase Event” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Rating Event.

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

“Company” means the party named as such in this First Supplemental Indenture until a successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor and, for purposes of any provision contained herein and required by the Trust Indenture Act, each other obligor on the Securities.

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by the Quotation Agent as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term from the Redemption Date to September 15, 2014, 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 September 15, 2014.

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, if clause (ii) of the Adjusted Treasury Rate is applicable, the average of three, or such lesser number as is obtained by the Trustee, Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such Redemption Date.

“Consolidated Coverage Ratio” as of any date of determination means the ratio of

(1) the aggregate amount of EBITDA for the period of the most recent four consecutive fiscal quarters ending at least 40 days prior to the date of such determination to

(2) Consolidated Interest Expense for such four fiscal quarters;

provided, however , that

 

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(A) if the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary has Incurred any Indebtedness since the beginning of such period that remains outstanding or if the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Coverage Ratio is an Incurrence of Indebtedness, or both, EBITDA and Consolidated Interest Expense for such period shall be calculated after giving effect on a pro forma basis to such Indebtedness as if such Indebtedness had been Incurred on the first day of such period;

(B) if the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary has repaid, repurchased, defeased or otherwise discharged any Indebtedness since the beginning of such period or if any Indebtedness is to be repaid, repurchased, defeased or otherwise discharged (in each case other than Indebtedness Incurred under any revolving credit facility unless such Indebtedness has been permanently repaid and has not been replaced) on the date of the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Coverage Ratio, EBITDA and Consolidated Interest Expense for such period shall be calculated on a pro forma basis as if such discharge had occurred on the first day of such period and as if the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary has not earned the interest income actually earned during such period in respect of cash or Temporary Cash Investments used to repay, repurchase, defease or otherwise discharge such Indebtedness;

(C) if since the beginning of such period the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary shall have made any Asset Disposition, EBITDA for such period shall be reduced by an amount equal to EBITDA (if positive) directly attributable to the assets which are the subject of such Asset Disposition for such period, or increased by an amount equal to EBITDA (if negative), directly attributable thereto for such period and Consolidated Interest Expense for such period shall be reduced by an amount equal to the Consolidated Interest Expense directly attributable to any Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary repaid, repurchased, defeased or otherwise discharged with respect to the Company and the continuing Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such Asset Disposition for such period (or, if the Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary is sold, the Consolidated Interest Expense for such period directly attributable to the Indebtedness of such Restricted Subsidiary to the extent the Company and the continuing Restricted Subsidiaries are no longer liable for such Indebtedness after such sale);

(D) if since the beginning of such period the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (by merger or otherwise) shall have made an Investment in any Restricted Subsidiary (or any Person which becomes a Restricted Subsidiary) or an acquisition, including any acquisition of assets occurring in connection with a transaction requiring a calculation to be made, which constitutes all or substantially all of an operating unit of a business, EBITDA and Consolidated Interest Expense for such period shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto (including the Incurrence of any Indebtedness) as if such Investment or acquisition occurred on the first day of such period;

(E) if since the beginning of such period any Person (that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such period) shall have made any Asset Disposition, any Investment or acquisition of assets that would have required an adjustment pursuant to clause (C) or (D) above if made by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary during such period, EBITDA and Consolidated Interest Expense for such period shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Asset Disposition, Investment or acquisition occurred on the first day of such period; and

 

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(F) interest income reasonably anticipated by such Person to be received during the applicable four-quarter period from cash or Temporary Cash Investments held by such Person or any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person, which cash or Temporary Cash Investments exist on the date of determination or will exist as a result of the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Coverage Ratio, will be included.

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to an acquisition of assets, the amount of income or earnings relating thereto and the amount of Consolidated Interest Expense associated with any Indebtedness Incurred in connection therewith, the pro forma calculations shall be determined in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting Officer of the Company. If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the date of determination had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Interest Rate Agreement applicable to such Indebtedness, but if the remaining term of such Interest Rate Agreement is less than 12 months, then such Interest Rate Agreement shall only be taken into account for that portion of the period equal to the remaining term thereof).

If any Indebtedness is incurred under a revolving credit facility and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated based on the average daily balance of such Indebtedness for the four fiscal quarters subject to the pro forma calculation to the extent that such Indebtedness was incurred solely for working capital purposes.

“Consolidated Interest Expense” means, for any period, the total interest expense of the Company and the consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries, plus, to the extent not included in such total interest expense, and to the extent incurred by the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries, without duplication,

(1) interest expense attributable to Capital Lease Obligations;

(2) amortization of debt discount and debt issuance cost;

(3) capitalized interest;

(4) non-cash interest expense;

(5) commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing;

(6) net payments pursuant to Currency Agreements and Interest Rate Agreements;

 

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(7) dividends accrued in respect of all Preferred Stock held by Persons other than the Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary (other than dividends payable solely in Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company);

(8) interest incurred in connection with Investments in discontinued operations;

(9) interest actually paid by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary under any Guarantee of Indebtedness or other obligation of any Person; and

(10) the cash contributions to any employee stock ownership plan or similar trust to the extent such contributions are used by such plan or trust to pay interest or fees to any Person (other than the Company) in connection with Indebtedness Incurred by such plan or trust.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, there shall be excluded from Consolidated Interest Expense (A) Consolidated Interest Expense with respect to any Production Payments to the extent such Production Payments are excluded from the definition of “Indebtedness” and (B) noncash interest expense Incurred in connection with interest rate caps and other interest rate and currency options that, at the time entered into, resulted in the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries being either neutral or net payors as to future payouts under such caps or options.

“Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, the net income of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries; provided, however , that there shall not be included in such Consolidated Net Income the following items, in each case adjusted for income taxes, using the Company’s estimated income tax rate for the applicable period, attributable to such items excluded from Consolidated Net Income:

(1) any net income of any Person (other than the Company) if such Person is not a Restricted Subsidiary, except that

(A) subject to the exclusion contained in clause (5) below, the Company’s equity in the net income of any such Person for such period shall be included in such Consolidated Net Income up to the aggregate amount of cash actually distributed by such Person during such period to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary as a dividend or other distribution (subject, in the case of a dividend or other distribution paid to a Restricted Subsidiary, to the limitations contained in clause (3) below); and

(B) the Company’s equity in a net loss of any such Person for such period shall be included in determining such Consolidated Net Income;

(2) any net income (or loss) of any Person acquired by the Company or a Subsidiary in a pooling of interests transaction (or any transaction accounted for in a manner similar to a pooling of interests) for any period prior to the date of such acquisition;

 

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(3) any net income of any Restricted Subsidiary if such Restricted Subsidiary is subject to restrictions, directly or indirectly, on the payment of dividends or the making of distributions by such Restricted Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, to the Company, except that

(A) subject to the exclusion contained in clause (5) below, the Company’s equity in the net income of any such Restricted Subsidiary for such period shall be included in such Consolidated Net Income up to the aggregate amount of cash actually distributed (or, if greater, for purposes of calculation of the Consolidated Coverage Ratio only, permitted at the date of determination to be distributed) by such Restricted Subsidiary during such period to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary as a dividend or other distribution (subject, in the case of a dividend or other distribution paid to another Restricted Subsidiary, to the limitation contained in this clause); and

(B) the Company’s equity in a net loss of any such Restricted Subsidiary for such period shall be included in determining such Consolidated Net Income;

(4) any gain (or loss) realized upon the sale or other disposition of any assets of the Company, its consolidated Subsidiaries or any other Person (including pursuant to any sale-and-leaseback arrangement) which are not sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business and any gain (or loss) realized upon the sale or other disposition of any Capital Stock of any Person;

(5) any impairment losses on oil and natural gas properties;

(6) extraordinary gains or losses;

(7) any unrealized non cash gains or losses or charges in respect of Hedging Obligations (including those resulting from the application of ASC815);

(8) any non cash compensation charge arising from any grant of stock, stock options or other equity based awards;

(9) any income from assets or businesses classified as discontinued operations;

(10) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles; and

(11) to the extent deducted in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income, any non-cash or nonrecurring charges relating to any premium or penalty paid, write-off of deferred financing costs or other financial recapitalization charges in connection with redeeming or retiring any Indebtedness prior to its Stated Maturity will be excluded;

in each case, for such period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the purpose of Section 4.06 of this First Supplemental Indenture only (but not the calculation of the Consolidated Coverage Ratio for purposes of determining compliance with such covenant), there shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income any repurchases, repayments or redemptions of Investments, proceeds realized on the sale of Investments or return of capital to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to the extent such repurchases, repayments, redemptions, proceeds or returns increase the amount of Restricted Payments permitted under such Section pursuant to Section 4.06(a)(3)(D) of this First Supplemental Indenture.

 

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“Consolidated Net Worth” means the total of the amounts shown on the balance sheet of the Company and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available prior to the taking of any action for the purpose of which the determination is being made, as the sum of:

(1) the par or stated value of all the Company’s outstanding Capital Stock, plus

(2) paid-in capital and capital surplus relating to such Capital Stock, plus

(3) any retained earrings or earned surplus less (A) any accumulated deficit, and (B) any amounts attributable to Disqualified Stock.

“Credit Agreement” means the Credit Agreement, dated as of April 30, 2010 by and among the Company, as borrower, certain of its subsidiaries, as guarantors, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, as sole bookrunner and co-lead arranger, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as co-lead arranger, Bank of America, N.A. and BNP Paribas, as co-lead arrangers and co-syndication agents, Royal Bank of Canada, as co-lead arranger and co-documentation agent, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as co-documentation agent, and the lenders named therein, together with the related documents thereto (including the term loans and revolving loans thereunder, any guarantees and security documents), as amended, extended, renewed, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified (in whole or in part, and without limitation as to amount, terms, conditions, covenants and other provisions, including increasing the amount of available borrowings thereunder or adding Subsidiaries of the Company as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder) from time to time, and any agreement (and related document) governing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance but without limitation as to borrowers or guarantors, in whole or in part, the borrowings and commitments then outstanding or permitted to be outstanding under such Credit Agreement or a successor Credit Agreement, whether by the same or any other lender or group of lenders.

“Credit Facilities” means with respect to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, one or more debt facilities (including the Credit Agreement), or commercial paper facilities with banks, investment banks, insurance companies, mutual or other institutional lenders or investors providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, production payments, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time.

“Currency Agreement” means any foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement or other similar agreement with respect to currency values.

 

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

“De Minimis Guaranteed Amount” means a principal amount of Indebtedness that does not exceed $5.0 million.

“Disqualified Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock which by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable at the option of the holder) or upon the happening of any event:

(1) matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than redeemable only for Capital Stock of such Person which is not itself Disqualified Stock) pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise;

(2) is convertible or exchangeable at the option of the holder for Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock; or

(3) is mandatorily redeemable or must be purchased upon the occurrence of certain events or otherwise, in whole or in part;

in each case on or prior to the 91st day after the Stated Maturity of the Securities; provided, however , that any Capital Stock that would not constitute Disqualified Stock but for provisions thereof giving holders thereof the right to require such Person to purchase or redeem such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of an “asset sale” or “change of control” occurring prior to the 91st day after the Stated Maturity of the Securities shall not constitute Disqualified Stock if (A) the “asset sale” or “change of control” provisions applicable to such Capital Stock are not more favorable to the holders of such Capital Stock than the terms applicable to the Securities in Sections 4.08 and 4.11 of this First Supplemental Indenture and (B) any such requirement only becomes operative after compliance with such terms applicable to the Securities, including the purchase of any Securities tendered pursuant thereto.

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

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

“DTC” means The Depository Trust Company, its nominees and their respective successors and assigns, or such other depository institution hereinafter appointed by the Company.

 

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“East Texas/North Louisiana Area” has the meaning assigned to such term in the BG Joint Development Agreement as in effect on the Issue Date and as amended or restated thereafter.

“EBITDA” for any period means the sum of Consolidated Net Income, plus the following to the extent deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income:

(1) all income tax expense of the Company and the consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries;

(2) Consolidated Interest Expense;

(3) depreciation, depletion, exploration and amortization expense of the Company and the consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding amortization of expenses attributable to a prepaid operating activity item that was paid in cash in a prior period);

(4) all other non-cash charges of the Company and the consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding any such non-cash charge to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash expenditures in any future period other than non-cash charges resulting from the application of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Subtopic 410-20 for Asset Retirement Obligations); and

(5) unrealized foreign exchange losses;

in each case for such period, and less, to the extent included in calculating such Consolidated Net Income and in excess of any costs or expenses attributable thereto and deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income, the sum of:

(A) the amount of deferred revenues that are amortized during such period and are attributable to reserves that are subject to Volumetric Production Payments; and

(B) amounts recorded in accordance with GAAP as repayments of principal and interest pursuant to Dollar Denominated Production Payments.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provision for taxes based on the income or profits of, and the depreciation and amortization and non-cash charges of, a Restricted Subsidiary shall be added to Consolidated Net Income to compute EBITDA only to the extent (and in the same proportion, including by reason of minority interests) that the net income or loss of such Restricted Subsidiary was included in calculating Consolidated Net Income and only if a corresponding amount would be permitted at the date of determination to be dividended to the Company by such Restricted Subsidiary without prior approval (that has not been obtained), pursuant to the terms of its charter and all agreements, instruments, judgments, decrees, orders, statutes, rules and governmental regulations applicable to such Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders.

 

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“EOC” means EXCO Operating Company, LP, a Delaware limited partnership and its successors and permitted assigns.

“Equity Offering” means a public or private sale of common stock of the Company (other than to the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company) or any contribution to the common equity capital of the Company.

“EXCO PA” means EXCO Production Company (PA), LLC, a Pennsylvanian limited liability company, and its successors and assigns.

“EXCO Water” means EXCO Water Resources, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and its successors and assigns.

“EXCO WV” means EXCO Production Company (WV), LLC, a West Virginian limited liability company, and its successors and assigns.

“Farm-In Agreement” means an agreement whereby a Person agrees to pay all or a share of the drilling, completion or other expenses of an exploratory or development well (which agreement may be subject to a maximum payment obligation, after which expenses are shared in accordance with the working or participation interest therein or in accordance with the agreement of the parties) or perform the drilling, completion or other operation on such well in exchange for an ownership interest in an oil or gas property.

“Farm-Out Agreement” means a Farm-In Agreement, viewed from the standpoint of the party that transfers an ownership interest to another.

“Foreign Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is not organized under the laws of the United States or any State thereof or the District of Columbia.

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

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

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

provided, however , that the term “Guarantee” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The term “Guarantee” used as a verb has a corresponding meaning. The term “Guarantor” shall mean any Person Guaranteeing any obligation.

 

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“Guaranty Agreement” means a supplemental indenture, in a form satisfactory to the Trustee, pursuant to which a Subsidiary Guarantor guarantees the Company’s obligations with respect to the Securities on the terms provided for in the Indenture.

“Hedging Obligations” of any Person means the obligations of such Person pursuant to any Oil and Natural Gas Hedging Contract, Interest Rate Agreement or Currency Agreement.

“Hydrocarbons” means all crude oil and condensate and Natural Gas produced from or attributable to the Oil and Gas Interests of the Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor.

“Incur” means issue, assume, Guarantee, incur or otherwise become liable for; provided, however , that any Indebtedness of a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (whether by merger, consolidation, acquisition or otherwise) shall be deemed to be Incurred by such Person at the time it becomes a Restricted Subsidiary. Notwithstanding the foregoing proviso, any Indebtedness that is extinguished, retired or repaid in connection with a Person merging with or becoming a Subsidiary of a Restricted Subsidiary will not be deemed to be the Incurrence of Indebtedness. The term “Incurrence” when used as a noun shall have a correlative meaning.

Solely for purposes of determining compliance with Section 4.05 of this First Supplemental Indenture:

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

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

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

(4) unrealized losses or charges in respect of Hedging Obligations (including those resulting from the application of ASC815);

will not be deemed to be the Incurrence of Indebtedness.

“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person on any date of determination (without duplication):

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

 

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(2) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person and all Attributable Debt in respect of Sale/Leaseback Transactions entered into by such Person;

(3) all obligations of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, all conditional sale obligations of such Person and all obligations of such Person under any title retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business);

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

(5) the amount of all obligations of such Person with respect to the redemption, repayment or other repurchase of any Disqualified Stock of such Person or, with respect to any Subsidiary of such Person, the amount of all obligations of such Subsidiary with respect to any Preferred Stock of such Subsidiary, the principal amount of such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock to be determined in accordance with this First Supplemental Indenture;

(6) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (1) through (5) above of other Persons and all dividends of other Persons for the payment of which, in either case, such Person is responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, including by means of any Guarantee;

(7) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (1) through (6) above of other Persons secured by any Lien on any property or asset of such Person (whether or not such obligation is assumed by such Person), the amount of such obligation being deemed to be the lesser of the value of such property or assets and the amount of the obligation so secured;

(8) to the extent not otherwise included in this definition, Hedging Obligations of such Person; and

(9) any Guarantee by such Person of production or payment with respect to a Production Payment.

Except as expressly provided in clause (9) above, Production Payments and Reserve Sales shall not constitute “Indebtedness.”

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in connection with the purchase by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of any business or assets, the term “Indebtedness” will exclude post-closing payment adjustments to which the seller may become entitled to the extent such payment is determined by a final closing balance sheet or such payment depends on the performance of such business or assets after the closing; provided, however , that, at the time of closing, the amount of any such payment is not determinable and, to the extent such payment thereafter becomes fixed and determined, the amount is paid within 30 days thereafter.

 

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The amount of Indebtedness of any Person at any date shall be the outstanding balance at such date of all obligations as described above; provided, however , that in the case of Indebtedness sold at a discount, the amount of such Indebtedness at any time will be the accreted value thereof at such time.

“Independent Qualified Party” means an investment banking firm, accounting firm or appraisal firm of national standing; provided, however , that such firm is not an Affiliate of the Company.

“Interest Rate Agreement” means any interest rate swap agreement, interest rate cap agreement or other financial agreement or arrangement with respect to exposure to interest rates.

“Investment” in any Person means any direct or indirect advance, loan (other than advances to customers in the ordinary course of business that are recorded as accounts receivable on the balance sheet of the lender) or other extensions of credit (including by way of Guarantee or similar arrangement) or capital contribution to (by means of any transfer of cash or other property to others or any payment for property or services for the account or use of others), or any purchase or acquisition of Capital Stock, Indebtedness or other similar instruments issued by such Person. If the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary issues, sells or otherwise disposes of any Capital Stock of a Person that is a Restricted Subsidiary such that, after giving effect thereto, such Person is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary shall be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of such issuance, sale or other disposition equal to the fair market value of the Capital Stock of such Restricted Subsidiary not sold or disposed of or, if less, the value of the Investment when made by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in the portion of such Person represented by such Capital Stock. The acquisition by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of a Person that holds an Investment in a third Person will be deemed to be an Investment by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in such third Person at such time. Except as otherwise provided for herein, the amount of an Investment shall be its fair market value at the time the Investment is made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value.

For purposes of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary”, the definition of “Restricted Payment” and Section 4.06 of this First Supplemental Indenture:

(1) “Investment” shall include the portion (proportionate to the Company’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the fair market value of the net assets of any Subsidiary of the Company at the time that such Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary; and

(2) any property transferred to or from an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be valued at its fair market value at the time of such transfer, in each case as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors.

“Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s, or BBB (or the equivalent) by Standard & Poor’s, or, if neither Moody’s nor Standard & Poor’s provide credit ratings of debt securities, the equivalent investment grade rate from any other Rating Agency.

 

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“IPC Water Supply Agreement” means that certain Agreement for Water Supply, dated effective as of March 1, 2010, between International Paper Company and EXCO Water, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

“Issue Date” means September 15, 2010.

“Legal Holiday” means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions are not required to be open in the State of New York.

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

“Marcellus Development Costs” means the costs and expenses incurred in the conduct of development operations in the Appalachian Area pursuant to the Marcellus JV Documents.

“Marcellus Holding Companies” BG Production Company (PA), LLC and BG Production Company (WV), LLC, each a wholly owned subsidiary of the Marcellus JV Partner and each formed in connection with the Marcellus Joint Development Agreement to facilitate the transfer of an undivided 49.75% interest in the Marcellus JV Oil and Gas Assets to the Marcellus JV Partner.

“Marcellus Joint Development Agreement” means that certain Joint Development Agreement dated as of June 1, 2010, among BGPA, BGWV, the Marcellus Holding Companies and the Marcellus JV Operator to develop and operate the Marcellus JV Oil and Gas Assets with respect to the Marcellus Joint Venture; as such Joint Development Agreement may thereafter be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

“Marcellus JV Closing Date” means June 1, 2010.

“Marcellus JV Documents” means the Marcellus Joint Development Agreement, the Marcellus Operator LLC Agreement, the Marcellus Midstream LLC Agreement, the Marcellus Transfer Agreement and any other documents, instruments, agreements or certificates contemplated by, or executed in connection with, the Marcellus Joint Development Agreement, in each case, as the same may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.

“Marcellus JV Oil and Gas Assets” has the meaning assigned to the term “Subject Oil and Gas Assets” in the Marcellus Joint Development Agreement.

“Marcellus JV Operator” means EXCO Resources (PA), LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and its successors and assigns, the operator of the Marcellus JV Oil and Gas Assets located in the Appalachian Area.

“Marcellus JV Partner” means BG US Production Company, LLC , a Delaware limited liability company.

 

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“Marcellus Midstream Assets” means the gas gathering and pipeline systems and related facilities associated with the Marcellus Shale portion of the Marcellus JV Oil and Gas Assets.

“Marcellus Midstream LLC Agreement” means that certain Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Marcellus Midstream Owner, dated as of June 1, 2010, as such Limited Liability Company Agreement may thereafter be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

“Marcellus Midstream Owner” means Appalachia Midstream, LLC, owner of the Marcellus Midstream Assets.

“Marcellus Operator LLC Agreement” means that certain Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Marcellus JV Operator; dated as of June 1, 2010, as such may thereafter be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

“Marcellus Shale” means (a) with respect to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, those subsurface depths that are below the base of (but excluding) the Haskill Sandstone Formation (Base of Elk Sequence) formation at a measured depth of 2,758’, as identified by the Litho Density Compensated Neutron Array Induction Temperature Log dated June 7, 2005 of the Seneca Resources operated Fee PGS SGL No. 44 (API 37-047-23649) located in Elk County, Pennsylvania, (b) with respect to the State of West Virginia, those subsurface depths that are below the base of (but excluding) the Brallier Formation (Base of Elk Sequence) formation at a measured depth of 6,612’, as identified by the Litho Density Compensated Neutron Array Induction Temperature Log dated October 8, 2008 of the EXCO—North Coast Energy, Inc. operated Wentz 4HS (API 47-001-02982) located in Barbour County, West Virginia, recognizing that actual depths may vary, and (c) with respect to the State of New York, those subsurface depths that are below the base of (but excluding) the Genesee Formation at a measured depth of 2,548’, as identified by the Density/Neutron, Gamma/Temperature Log dated May 6, 2005 of the Fortuna Energy, Inc. operated Cotton-Hanlon #1 well (API 31-107-23185) located in Tioga County, New York.

“Marcellus Transfer Agreement” means that certain Membership Interest Transfer Agreement dated as of May 9, 2010, by an between EXCO Holding (PA), Inc. and the Marcellus JV Partner pursuant to which EXCO Holding (PA), Inc. transferred to the Marcellus JV Partner (a) 100% of the equity interests of the Marcellus Holding Companies and (b) 50% of the equity interests of each of the Marcellus JV Operator and the Marcellus Midstream Owner.

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor to its rating agency business.

“Natural Gas” means all natural gas, distillate or sulphur, natural gas liquids and all products recovered in the processing of natural gas (other than condensate) including, without limitation, natural gasoline, coalbed methane gas, casinghead gas, iso-butane, normal butane, propane and ethane (including such methane allowable in commercial ethane).

 

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“Net Available Cash” from an Asset Disposition means cash payments received therefrom, including any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or otherwise and cash proceeds from the sale or other disposition of any non-cash consideration received as consideration, but only as and when received, but excluding any other consideration received in the form of assumption by the acquiring Person of Indebtedness or other obligations relating to such properties, in each case net of (without duplication):

(1) all legal, title and recording tax expenses, commissions and other fees and expenses incurred, including without limitation, all attorney’s fees, accountants’ fees, advisors’ or other consultants’ fees and other fees actually incurred in connection therewith, and all Federal, state, provincial, foreign and local taxes required to be accrued as a liability under GAAP, as a consequence of such Asset Disposition;

(2) all payments made on any Indebtedness which is secured by any assets subject to such Asset Disposition, in accordance with the terms of any Lien upon or other security agreement of any kind with respect to such assets, or which must by its terms, or in order to obtain a necessary consent to such Asset Disposition, or by applicable law, be repaid out of the proceeds from such Asset Disposition;

(3) all distributions and other payments required to be made to minority interest holders in Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such Asset Disposition;

(4) the deduction of appropriate amounts provided by the seller as a reserve, in accordance with GAAP, against any liabilities associated with the property or other assets disposed in such Asset Disposition and retained by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary after such Asset Disposition; and

(5) any portion of the purchase price from an Asset Disposition placed in escrow, whether as a reserve for adjustment of the purchase price, for satisfaction of indemnities in respect of such Asset Disposition or otherwise in connection with that Asset Disposition; provided, however , that upon the termination of that escrow, Net Available Cash will be increased by any portion of funds in the escrow that are released to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary.

“Net Cash Proceeds”, with respect to any issuance or sale of Capital Stock or Indebtedness, means the cash proceeds of such issuance or sale net of attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, underwriters’ or placement agents’ fees, discounts or commissions and brokerage, consultant and other fees actually incurred in connection with such issuance or sale and net of taxes paid or payable as a result thereof.

“Net Working Capital” of the Company means:

(1) all current assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, except current assets from commodity price risk management activities arising in the ordinary course of business; minus

(2) all current liabilities of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, except current liabilities included in Indebtedness and current liabilities from commodity price risk management activities arising in the ordinary course of business, determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

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“Non-Recourse Purchase Money Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (other than Capital Lease Obligations) of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor incurred in connection with the acquisition by the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor in the ordinary course of business of fixed assets used in the Oil and Gas Business (including office buildings and other real property used by the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor in conducting its operations) with respect to which:

(1) the holders of such Indebtedness agree that they will look solely to the fixed assets so acquired which secure such Indebtedness, and neither the Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary (a) is directly or indirectly liable for such Indebtedness or (b) provides credit support, including any undertaking, Guarantee, agreement or instrument that would constitute Indebtedness (other than the grant of a Lien on such acquired fixed assets); and

(2) no default or event of default with respect to such Indebtedness would cause, or permit (after notice or passage of time or otherwise), any holder of any other Indebtedness of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor to declare a default or event of default on such other Indebtedness or cause the payment, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value thereof to be accelerated or payable prior to any scheduled principal payment, scheduled sinking fund payment or maturity.

“Obligations” means, with respect to any Indebtedness, all obligations for principal, premium, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, and other amounts payable pursuant to the documentation governing such Indebtedness.

“Oil and Gas Business” means:

(1) the acquisition, exploration, exploitation, development, operation and disposition of interests in oil, natural gas, other hydrocarbon and mineral properties;

(2) the gathering, marketing, distribution, treating, processing, storage, refining, selling and transporting of any production from such interests or properties and the marketing of oil, natural gas, other hydrocarbons and minerals obtained from unrelated Persons;

(3) any business relating to or arising from exploration for or exploitation, development, production, treatment, processing, storage, refining, transportation, gathering or marketing of oil, natural gas, other hydrocarbons and minerals and products produced in association therewith;

(4) any other related energy business, including power generation and electrical transmission business where fuel required by such business is supplied, directly or indirectly, from oil, natural gas, other hydrocarbons and minerals produced substantially from properties in which the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, participate;

(5) any business relating to oil field sales and service; and

 

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(6) any activity necessary, appropriate or incidental to the activities described in the preceding clauses (1) through (5) of this definition.

“Oil and Gas Interest(s)” means: (a) direct and indirect interests in and rights with respect to oil, gas, mineral and related properties and assets of any kind and nature, direct or indirect, including, without limitation, wellbore interests, working, royalty and overriding royalty interests, mineral interests, leasehold interests, production payments, operating rights, net profits interests, other non-working interests, contractual interests, non-operating interests and rights in any pooled, unitized or communitized acreage by virtue of such interest being a part thereof; (b) interests in and rights with respect to Hydrocarbons other minerals or revenues therefrom and contracts and agreements in connection therewith and claims and rights thereto (including oil and gas leases, operating agreements, unitization, communitization and pooling agreements and orders, division orders, transfer orders, mineral deeds, royalty deeds, oil and gas sales, exchange and processing contracts and agreements and, in each case, interests thereunder), and surface interests, fee interests, reversionary interests, reservations and concessions related to any of the foregoing; (c) easements, rights-of-way, licenses, permits, leases, and other interests associated with, appurtenant to, or necessary for the operation of any of the foregoing; (d) interests in oil, gas, water, disposal and injection wells, equipment and machinery (including well equipment and machinery), oil and gas production, gathering, transmission, compression, treating, processing and storage facilities (including tanks, tank batteries, pipelines and gathering systems), pumps, water plants, electric plants, gasoline and gas processing plants, refineries and other tangible or intangible, movable or immovable, real or personal property and fixtures located on, associated with, appurtenant to, or necessary for the operation of any of the foregoing; and (e) all seismic, geological, geophysical and engineering records, data, information, maps, licenses and interpretations.

“Oil and Natural Gas Hedging Contract” means any oil and natural gas hedging agreement and other agreement or arrangement designed to protect the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary against fluctuations in oil and natural gas prices.

“Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness” means Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock was Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock Incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the cost of acquiring oil and gas properties or was Indebtedness of:

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

(2) a Person that was merged or amalgamated into the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;

provided that on the date such Indebtedness was incurred, the Subsidiary became a Restricted Subsidiary or the date such Person was merged and amalgamated into the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, after giving pro forma effect thereto, the Consolidated Coverage Ratio either (x) equals or exceeds 2.25 to 1.0 or (y) is greater than the Consolidated Coverage Ratio immediately prior to such transaction.

 

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“Permitted Business Investments” means Investments and 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 means of actively exploiting, exploring for, acquiring, developing, processing, gathering, marketing or transporting oil, natural gas, other hydrocarbons and minerals 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 the Oil and Gas Business jointly with third parties, including:

(1) ownership interests in oil, natural gas, other hydrocarbon and mineral properties or gathering, transportation, processing, storage or related systems; and

(2) entry into, and Investments and expenditures in the form of or pursuant to, operating agreements, joint venture agreements (including, without limitation, those relating to the Marcellus Midstream Owner and TGGT Holdings), partnership agreements, working interests, royalty interests, mineral leases, processing agreements, Farm-In Agreements, Farm-Out Agreements, contracts for the sale, transportation or exchange of oil, natural gas, other hydrocarbons and minerals, production sharing agreements, development agreements (including without limitation the BG Development Agreement and the Marcellus Joint Development Agreement), area of mutual interest agreements, unitization agreements, pooling arrangements, joint bidding agreements, service contracts and other similar agreements with third parties (including Unrestricted Subsidiaries).

“Permitted Holders” means (i) Douglas A. Miller and his spouse and lineal descendants, their respective estates or legal representatives and trusts created for the benefit of such Persons, provided that Douglas A. Miller shall be the chief executive officer or chairman of the board of directors of the Company (or comparable governing body); and (ii) any entity (A) in which Persons specified in clause (i) would beneficially own, directly or indirectly, after giving effect to any transaction or series of transactions that would be a Change of Control except for operation of this definition, more than 75% of the percentage of Voting Stock that such Persons together owned in the Company at any time during the six months preceding the beginning of such transaction or series of transactions; (B) in which Douglas A. Miller shall be chief executive officer or chairman of the board of directors (or comparable governing body); (C) that, after giving effect to any transaction or series of transactions that would be a Change of Control except for operation of this definition, does not have an outstanding class of equity securities registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act; and (D) that, prior to giving effect to any transaction or series of transactions that would be a Change of Control except for operation of this definition, does not have existing operations.

“Permitted Investment” means an Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in

(1) the Company, a Restricted Subsidiary or a Person that will, upon the making of such Investment, become a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however , that the primary business of such Restricted Subsidiary is a Related Business;

 

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(2) another Person (A) if, as a result of such Investment, such other Person is merged or consolidated with or into, or transfers or conveys all or substantially all its assets to, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or (B) for consideration consisting solely of Capital Stock of the Company; provided, however , that, in both cases, such Person’s primary business is a Related Business;

(3) cash and Temporary Cash Investments;

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

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

(6) loans or advances to employees made in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary;

(7) stock, obligations or securities received in settlement of debts created in the ordinary course of business and owing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or in satisfaction of judgments;

(8) any Person to the extent such Investment represents the non-cash portion of the consideration received for (A) an Asset Disposition as permitted pursuant to Section 4.08 of this First Supplemental Indenture or (B) a disposition of assets not constituting an Asset Disposition;

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

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

(11) any Person to the extent such Investments consist of Hedging Obligations otherwise permitted under Section 4.05 of this First Supplemental Indenture;

 

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(12) any Person to the extent such Investment (A) exists on the Issue Date or (B) is an extension, modification or renewal of any such Investments described under the immediately preceding clause (A) but only to the extent not involving additional advances, contributions or other Investments of cash or other assets or other increases thereof (other than as a result of the accrual or accretion of interest or original issue discount or the issuance of pay-in-kind securities, in each case, pursuant to the terms of such Investment as in effect on the Issue Date);

(13) Permitted Business Investments;

(14) repurchases of the Securities;

(15) Guarantees issued in accordance with Sections 4.05 and 4.14 of this First Supplemental Indenture;

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

(17) Investments intended to promote the Company’s strategic objectives in the Oil and Gas Business in an aggregate amount not to exceed 5.0% of ACNTA (determined as of the date of the making of any such Investment) at any one time outstanding (which Investments shall be deemed to be no longer outstanding only upon and to the extent of the return of capital thereof);

(18) any Investment consisting of purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, material and equipment, purchases of contract rights or licenses or leases of intellectual property, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;

(19) Persons to the extent such Investments, when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (19) outstanding on the date such Investment is made, do not exceed the greater of $20.0 million and 5% of ACNTA; and,

(20) or if none has been selected, in the U.S. Government Portfolio (Service Class shares) of the Wilmington family of mutual funds

provided that with respect to any Permitted Investment, at the time such Permitted Investment is made, the Company will be entitled to divide and classify such Investment in more than one of the clauses of the definition of “Permitted Investment.”

“Permitted Liens” means, with respect to any Person,

(1) pledges or deposits by such Person under workers’ compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws or similar legislation, or good faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to which such Person is a party, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of such Person or deposits of cash or United States government bonds to secure surety or appeal bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as security for contested taxes or import duties or for the payment of rent, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(2) Liens imposed by law, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s and mechanics’ Liens, in each case for sums not yet due or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or other Liens arising out of judgments or awards against such Person with respect to which such Person shall then be proceeding with an appeal or other proceedings for review and Liens arising solely by virtue of any statutory or common law provision relating to banker’s Liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies as to deposit accounts or other funds maintained with a creditor depository institution; provided, however , that (A) such deposit account is not a dedicated cash collateral account and is not subject to restrictions against access by the Company in excess of those set forth by regulations promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board and (B) such deposit account is not intended by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to provide collateral to the depository institution;

(3) Liens for property taxes not yet subject to penalties for non-payment or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

(4) Liens in favor of issuers of performance, bid or surety bonds, completion guarantees or letters of credit issued pursuant to the request of and for the account of such Person in the ordinary course of its business; provided, however , that such letters of credit do not constitute Indebtedness;

(5) survey exceptions, encumbrances, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights-of-way, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar purposes, or zoning or other restrictions as to the use of real property or Liens incidental to the conduct of the business of such Person or to the ownership of its properties which were not Incurred in connection with Indebtedness and which do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of said properties or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of such Person;

(6) Liens securing Indebtedness Incurred to finance the construction, purchase or lease of, or repairs, improvements or additions to, property, plant or equipment of such Person; provided, however , that the Lien may not extend to any other property owned by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries at the time the Lien is Incurred (other than assets and property affixed or appurtenant thereto), and the Indebtedness (other than any interest thereon) secured by the Lien may not be Incurred more than 180 days after the later of the acquisition, completion of construction, repair, improvement, addition or commencement of full operation of the property subject to the Lien;

(7) Liens securing Non-Recourse Purchase Money Indebtedness granted in connection with the acquisition by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business of fixed assets used in the Oil and Gas Business (including the office buildings and other real property used by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in conducting its operations); provided that (i) such Liens attach only to the fixed assets acquired with the proceeds of such Non-Recourse Purchase Money Indebtedness; and (ii) such Non-Recourse Purchase Money Indebtedness is not in excess of the purchase price of such fixed assets;

 

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(8) Liens to secure Indebtedness permitted under Section 4.05(b)(1) of this First Supplemental Indenture and Liens to secure Cash Management Obligations;

(9) Liens to secure the Securities, any Subsidiary Guarantee and other obligations arising under this First Supplemental Indenture;

(10) Liens existing on the Issue Date;

(11) Liens on property or shares of Capital Stock of another Person at the time such other Person becomes a Subsidiary of such Person (and not incurred in anticipation of or in connection with such transaction); provided, however , that the Liens may not extend to any other property owned by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than assets and property affixed or appurtenant thereto);

(12) Liens on property at the time such Person or any of its Subsidiaries acquires the property, including any acquisition by means of a merger or consolidation with or into such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person (and not incurred in anticipation of or in connection with such transaction); provided, however , that the Liens may not extend to any other property owned by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than assets and property affixed or appurtenant thereto);

(13) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations of a Subsidiary of such Person owing to such Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person;

(14) Liens securing Hedging Obligations of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that are permitted to be Incurred pursuant to this First Supplemental Indenture;

(15) Liens on, or related to, assets to secure all or part of the costs incurred in the ordinary course of a Related Business for the surveying, exploration, drilling, extraction, development, operation, production, construction, alteration, repair, improvement, processing, transportation, marketing, storage or operation thereof;

(16) Liens on pipeline or pipeline facilities that arise under operation of law;

(17) Liens arising in the ordinary course of business under operating agreements, joint venture agreements, partnership agreements, oil, natural gas, other hydrocarbon and mineral leases, Farm-Out Agreements or Farm-In Agreements, division orders, contracts for the sale, transportation or exchange of oil or natural gas, unitization and pooling declarations and agreements, area of mutual interest agreements, overriding royalty agreements, net profits agreements, production payment agreements, royalty trust agreements, 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 Restricted Subsidiary, master limited partnership agreements, development agreements, operating agreements, production sales contracts, gas balancing or deferred production agreements, injection, repressuring and recycling agreements, salt water or other disposal agreements, seismic or geophysical permits or agreements, and other agreements that are customary in the Oil and Gas Business provided , however , that in all instances such Liens are limited to the assets that are the subject of the relevant agreement, program, order or contract;

 

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(18) Liens securing Production Payments and Reserve Sales that are not prohibited by this First Supplemental Indenture; provided , however , that such Liens do not extend to any property other than the property that is the subject of such Production Payments and Reserve Sales;

(19) Liens reserved in oil, natural gas, other hydrocarbon and mineral leases for bonus or rental payments and for compliance with the terms of such leases;

(20) Liens to secure any Refinancing (or successive Refinancings) as a whole, or in part, of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien referred to in the foregoing clause (6), (9), (10), (11) or (12); provided, however , that (A) such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property and assets that secured or, under the written agreements pursuant to which the original Lien arose, could secure the original Lien (plus improvements and accessions to such property or proceeds or distributions thereof) and (B) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (i) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of the Indebtedness described under clause (6), (9), (10), (11) or (12) above at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien and (ii) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement.

(21) Liens securing Indebtedness of a Foreign Subsidiary permitted to be Incurred under Section 4.05(b)(15) of this First Supplemental Indenture; provided, however , that such Liens do not extend to any property not owned by such Foreign Subsidiary;

(22) Liens to secure Indebtedness permitted under Section 4.05(b)(23) of this First Supplemental Indenture;

(23) Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code financing statement filings regarding operating leases entered into by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(24) Liens on the Marcellus JV Oil and Gas Assets securing the obligations of the Company and certain Restricted Subsidiaries under the Marcellus JV Documents and Liens securing the obligations of the Company and certain Restricted Subsidiaries under the BG JV Documents;

(25) leases, licenses, subleases and sublicenses of real property and intellectual property rights that do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as whole; and

 

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(26) in addition to Liens permitted by clauses (1) through (25) above, Liens that are incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to Indebtedness and other obligations that do not exceed the greater of $25 million and 5% of ACNTA, as determined on the date of incurrence of such Indebtedness after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence and the application of the proceeds therefrom, at any time outstanding.

In each case set forth above, notwithstanding any stated limitation on the assets that may be subject to such Lien, a Permitted Lien on a specified asset or group or type of assets may include Liens on all improvements, additions and accessions thereto and all products and proceeds thereof.

For purposes of this definition, the term “Indebtedness” shall be deemed to include interest on such Indebtedness.

“Permitted Marketing Obligations” means Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary under letter of credit or borrowed money obligations, or in lieu of or in addition to such letters of credit or borrowed money, Guarantees of such Indebtedness or other obligation, of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary by any other Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, related to the purchase by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of hydrocarbons for which the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary has contracts to sell; provided , however , that in the event that such Indebtedness or obligations are guaranteed by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, then either: (1) the Person with which the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary has contracts to sell has an Investment Grade Rating or in lieu thereof, a Person guaranteeing the payment of such obligated Person has an Investment Grade Rating from; or (2) such Person posts, or has posted for it, a letter of credit in favor of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with respect to all such Person’s obligations to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary under such contracts.

“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” of a Security means the principal of the Security plus the premium, if any, payable on the Security which is due or overdue or is to become due at the relevant time.

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

“Production Payments and Reserve Sales” means the grant or transfer to any Person of a Production Payment, royalty, overriding royalty, net profits interest, master limited partnership interest or other interest in oil and natural gas properties, reserves or the right to receive all or a portion of the production or the proceeds from the sale of production attributable to such properties.

“Prospectus” means the Prospectus dated September 10, 2010 relating to the initial offering of the Securities.

 

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“Quotation Agent” means the Reference Treasury Dealer selected by the Trustee after consultation with the Company.

“Rating Agency” means each of Standard & Poor’s or Moody’s, or, if either Standard & Poor’s or Moody’s or both shall not make a rating on the Securities publicly available, a nationally recognized statistical rating organization registered under Section 15E of the Exchange Act selected by the Company (as certified by a resolution of the Board of Directors) which shall be substituted for Standard & Poor’s or Moody’s or both, as the case may be.

“Rating Event” means the rating of the Securities shall be decreased by one or more gradations by either Rating Agency, on any date from the date of the public notice of an arrangement that could result in a Change of Control until the end of the 30-day period following public notice of the occurrence of the Change of Control (which period shall be extended to 60 days from the date of the occurrence of the Change of Control if the rating of the Securities is under publicly announced consideration for possible downgrade by any Rating Agency).

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and its successors and assigns, Banc of America Securities LLC and its successors and assigns and one other nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Company that is a primary U.S. Government securities dealer.

“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by the Trustee, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue, expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount, quoted in writing to the Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third Business Day immediately preceding such Redemption Date.

“Refinance” means, in respect of any Indebtedness, to refinance, extend, renew, refund, repay, prepay, purchase, 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 Restricted Subsidiary existing on the Issue Date or Incurred in compliance with this First Supplemental Indenture, including Indebtedness that Refinances Refinancing Indebtedness; provided, however , that:

(1) if the final maturity of the Indebtedness being Refinanced is earlier than the Stated Maturity of the Securities, such Refinancing Indebtedness has a Stated Maturity no earlier than the Stated Maturity of the Indebtedness being Refinanced;

(2) if the final maturity date of the Indebtedness being Refinanced is later than the Stated Maturity of the Securities, such Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date at least 91 days later than the Stated Maturity of the Securities.

 

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(3) 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.

(4) such Refinancing Indebtedness has an aggregate principal amount (or if Incurred with original issue discount, an aggregate issue price) that is equal to or less than the aggregate principal amount (or if Incurred with original issue discount, the aggregate accreted value) then outstanding (plus fees and expenses, including any premium and defeasance costs) under the Indebtedness being Refinanced; and

(5) if the Indebtedness being Refinanced is subordinated in right of payment to the Securities, such Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Securities at least to the same extent as the Indebtedness being Refinanced;

provided further, however , that Refinancing Indebtedness shall not include (A) Indebtedness of a Subsidiary of the Company that Refinances Indebtedness of the Company ( provided , however , that a Restricted Subsidiary that is also a Subsidiary Guarantor may Guarantee Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred by the Company whether or not such Restricted Subsidiary was an obligor or guarantor of the Indebtedness being Refinanced, and provided, further, that if such Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated to the Securities, such Guarantees shall be subordinated to such Restricted Subsidiary Guaranty to at least the same extent) or (B) Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary that Refinances Indebtedness of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

“Related Business” means any Oil and Gas Business and any other business in which the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries was engaged on the Issue Date and any business related, ancillary or complementary to such business.

“Restricted Payment” with respect to any Person means:

(1) 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 (A) dividends or distributions payable solely in its Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock), (B) dividends or distributions payable solely to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary and (C) 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));

(2) the purchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Capital Stock of (A) the Company or (B) a Restricted Subsidiary held by any Affiliate of the Company (other than by a Restricted Subsidiary), including in connection with any merger or consolidation and including the exercise of any option to exchange any Capital Stock (other than into Capital Stock of the Company that is not Disqualified Stock);

 

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(3) 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 the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor (other than (A) from the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or (B) 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

(4) the making of any Investment (other than a Permitted Investment) in any Person.

“Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

“Sale/Leaseback Transaction” means an arrangement relating to property owned by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary on the Issue Date or thereafter acquired by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary whereby the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary transfers such property to a Person and the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary leases it from such Person.

“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Senior Indebtedness” means with respect to any Person:

(1) Indebtedness of such Person, whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter Incurred, including with respect to the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, all Indebtedness outstanding under the Credit Agreement and all Hedging Obligations and Cash Management Obligations with respect thereto; and

(2) all other Obligations of such Person (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to such Person whether or not post-filing interest is allowed in such proceeding) in respect of Indebtedness described in clause (1) above,

unless, in the case of clauses (1) and (2), in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding it is provided that such Indebtedness or other obligations are subordinate in right of payment to the Securities or the Subsidiary Guaranty of such Person, as the case may be; provided, however , that Senior Indebtedness shall not include:

(A) any obligation of such Person to the Company or any Subsidiary;

(B) any liability for Federal, state, local or other taxes owed or owing by such Person;

(C) any accounts payable or other liability to trade creditors arising in the ordinary course of business (including guarantees thereof or instruments evidencing such liabilities);

 

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(D) any Indebtedness or other Obligation of such Person which is subordinate or junior in any respect to any other Indebtedness or other Obligation of such Person; or

(E) that portion of any Indebtedness which at the time of Incurrence is Incurred in violation of this First Supplemental Indenture.

“Significant Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary that would be a “Significant Subsidiary” of the Company within the meaning of Rule 1-02 under Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC.

“Standard & Poor’s” means Standard & Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and any successor to its rating agency business.

“Subordinated Obligation” means, with respect to a 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 Subsidiary Guaranty of such Person, as the case may be, pursuant to a written agreement to that effect.

“Subsidiary Guarantor” means each Subsidiary of the Company that executes this First Supplemental Indenture as a guarantor on the Issue Date and each other Subsidiary of the Company that thereafter guarantees the Securities pursuant to the terms of this First Supplemental Indenture.

“Subsidiary Guaranty” means a Guarantee by a Subsidiary Guarantor of the Company’s obligations with respect to the Securities.

“Temporary Cash Investments” means any of the following:

(1) any investment in direct obligations of the United States of America or any agency thereof or obligations guaranteed by the United States of America or any agency thereof;

(2) investments in demand and time deposit accounts, certificates of deposit and money market deposits maturing within 270 days after the date of acquisition thereof issued by a bank or trust company which is organized under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or any foreign country recognized by the United States of America, and which bank or trust company has capital, surplus and undivided profits aggregating in excess of $50.0 million (or the foreign currency equivalent thereof) and has outstanding debt which is rated “A” (or such similar equivalent rating) or higher by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization (as defined in Rule 436 under the Securities Act) or any money-market fund sponsored by a registered broker dealer or mutual fund distributor;

(3) investments in deposits available for withdrawal on demand with any commercial bank that is organized under the laws of any country in which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary maintains an office or is engaged in the Oil and Gas Business; provided, however , that (i) all such deposits have been made in such accounts in the ordinary course of business and (ii) such deposits do not at any one time exceed $10.0 million in the aggregate;

 

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(4) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than 30 days for underlying securities of the types described in clause (1) above entered into with a bank meeting the qualifications described in clause (2) above;

(5) investments in commercial paper, maturing not more than 90 days after the date of acquisition, issued by a corporation (other than an Affiliate of the Company) organized and in existence under the laws of the United States of America or any foreign country recognized by the United States of America with a rating at the time as of which any investment therein is made of “P-1” (or higher) according to Moody’s or “A-1” (or higher) according to Standard and Poor’s;

(6) investments in securities with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition issued or fully guaranteed by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States of America, or by any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof, and rated at least “A” by Standard & Poor’s or “A” by Moody’s; and

(7) investments in money market funds that invest 95% or more of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (1) through (6) above.

“TGGT Contribution Agreement” means that certain Contribution Agreement, effective as of January 1, 2009, among EOC, Vaughan Holding Company, LLC and BG Gathering, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

“TGGT Holdings” means TGGT Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and its successors and assigns.

“TGGT Holdings LLC Agreement” means that certain Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement, dated as of August 14, 2009, among BG Gathering, EOC, TGGT Holdings, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the Administrative Agent under the Credit Agreement, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

“Trust Officer” means the Chairman of the Board, the President or any other officer or assistant officer of the Trustee assigned by the Trustee to administer its corporate trust matters.

“Uniform Commercial Code” means the New York Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time.

“Unrestricted Subsidiary” means:

(1) each of EXCO Caddo Acquisition, LLC, PCMWL, LLC and EXCO Water Resources, LLC;

(2) each of TGGT Holdings and its subsidiaries and the Marcellus Midstream Owner shall be deemed to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of this First Supplemental Indenture for so long as the Company, directly or indirectly, owns any (even if 50% or less) of the Capital Stock of such entity;

 

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(3) any Subsidiary of the Company that at the time of determination shall be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Board of Directors in the manner provided below; and

(4) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

The Board of Directors may designate any Subsidiary of the Company (including any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries owns any Capital Stock or Indebtedness of, or holds any Lien on any property of, the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated; provided, however , that either (A) the Subsidiary to be so designated has total assets of $1,000 or less or (B) if such Subsidiary has assets greater than $1,000, such designation would be permitted under Section 4.06 of this First Supplemental Indenture.

The Board of Directors may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however , that immediately after giving effect to such designation (A) the Company could Incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness under Section 4.05(a) of this First Supplemental Indenture and (B) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing. Any such designation by the Board of Directors shall be evidenced to the Trustee by promptly filing with the Trustee a copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors giving effect to such designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing provisions.

“U.S. Dollar Equivalent” means with respect to any monetary amount in a currency other than U.S. dollars, at any time for determination thereof, the amount of U.S. dollars obtained by converting such foreign currency involved in such computation into U.S. dollars at the spot rate for the purchase of U.S. dollars with the applicable foreign currency as published in The Wall Street Journal in the “Exchange Rates” column under the heading “Currency Trading” on the date two Business Days prior to such determination.

Except as described in Section 4.05 of this First Supplemental Indenture, whenever it is necessary to determine whether the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary has complied with any covenant in the Indenture or a Default has occurred and an amount is expressed in a currency other than U.S. dollars, such amount will be treated as the U.S. Dollar Equivalent determined as of the date such amount is initially determined in such currency.

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

“Voting Stock” of a Person means all classes of Capital Stock of such Person then outstanding and normally entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof.

 

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“Wholly Owned Subsidiary” means a Restricted Subsidiary all the Capital Stock of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares) is owned by the Company or one or more other Wholly Owned Subsidiaries.

SECTION 2.03.  Other Definitions .

 

Term

       

Defined in Section

“Additional Securities”           1.01
“Affiliate Transaction”           4.09(a)
“Bankruptcy Law”           6.02
“Change of Control Offer”           4.11(b)
“covenant defeasance option”           7.02(b)
“Custodian”           6.02
“Debt Securities”           Recitals
“Event of Default”           6.02
“Guaranteed Obligations”           9.01
“legal defeasance option”           7.02(b)
“Offer”           4.08(b)
“Offer Amount”           4.08(c)(2)
“Offer Period”           4.08(c)(2)
“Original Indenture”           Recitals
“Purchase Date”           4.08(c)(1)
“Reinstatement Date”           4.02
“Securities”           1.01
“Successor Company”           5.02(a)(1)
“Suspended Covenants”           4.02

“Suspension Period”

          4.02

Terms not defined herein but defined in the Appendix shall have the meaning set forth in the Appendix.

SECTION 2.04.  Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act . This First Supplemental Indenture is subject to the mandatory provisions of the Trust Indenture Act which are incorporated by reference in and made a part of this First Supplemental Indenture. The following Trust Indenture Act terms have the following meanings:

“Commission” means the SEC;

“indenture securities” means the Securities and the Subsidiary Guaranties;

“indenture security holder” means a Securityholder;

“indenture to be qualified” means this First Supplemental Indenture;

“indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee; and

“obligor” on the indenture securities means the Company, each Subsidiary Guarantor and any other obligor on the indenture securities.

 

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All other Trust Indenture Act terms used in this First Supplemental Indenture that are defined by the Trust Indenture Act, defined by Trust Indenture Act reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule have the meanings assigned to them by such definitions.

ARTICLE 3

Redemption

SECTION 3.01.  Original Indenture . Sections 1102, 1103 and 1104 and Article XII of the Original Indenture shall not apply to the Securities and hereafter shall be void and of no force and effect and any reference in the Original Indenture to Sections 1102, 1103 or 1104 thereof shall be deemed to refer to Sections 3.04, 3.05 or 3.06, respectively, of this First Supplemental Indenture.

SECTION 3.02.  Optional Redemption . (a) At any time prior to September 15, 2014, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice as provided for in Section 3.06 of this First Supplemental Indenture, the Company may at its option redeem all, but not less than all, of the Securities at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Securities redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest to, the date of redemption (the “ Redemption Date ”), subject to the right of Holders of Securities on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date.

(b) Prior to September 15, 2013, the Company may, at its option, on one or more occasions redeem Securities (which includes Additional Securities, if any) in aggregate principal amount not to exceed 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities (which includes Additional Securities, if any) originally issued at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount of 107.500%, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the Redemption Date, with the Net Cash Proceeds from one or more Equity Offerings; provided, however that:

(i) at least 65% of such aggregate principal amount of the Securities (which includes Additional Securities, if any) remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption (other than Securities held, directly or indirectly, by the Company or its Affiliates); and

(ii) each such redemption occurs within 90 days after the date of the related Equity Offering.

Notice of any redemption upon any Equity Offering may be given prior to the completion of such Equity Offering, and any such redemption or notice may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of the related Equity Offering.

(c) From and after September 15, 2014, the Company may, at its option, redeem all or a portion of the Securities upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice as provided for in Section 3.06 of this First Supplemental Indenture, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed), plus accrued interest 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 beginning on September 15 of each of the years set forth below:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2014

   103.750

2015

   101.875

2016 and thereafter

   100.000

 

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SECTION 3.03.  Mandatory Redemption . The Company shall not be required to make mandatory redemption payments or sinking fund payments with respect to the Securities.

SECTION 3.04.  Notices to Trustee . If the Company elects to redeem Securities pursuant to Section 3.02 of this First Supplemental Indenture, it shall notify the Trustee in writing of the Redemption Date, the principal amount of Securities to be redeemed and the paragraph of the Securities pursuant to which the redemption will occur.

If the Company elects to redeem Securities pursuant to Section 3.02 of this First Supplemental Indenture, it shall give each notice to the Trustee provided for in this Section at least 40 days before the Redemption Date unless the Trustee consents to a shorter period. Each such notice shall be accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel from the Company to the effect that such redemption will comply with the conditions herein.

SECTION 3.05.  Selection of Securities to Be Redeemed . If fewer than all the Securities are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed pro rata, to the extent practicable. The Trustee shall make the selection from outstanding Securities not previously called for redemption. The Trustee may select for redemption portions of the principal of Securities that have denominations larger than $2,000. Securities and portions of them the Trustee selects shall be in principal amounts of $2,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. Provisions of this First Supplemental 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 to be redeemed.

SECTION 3.06.  Notice of Redemption . At least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a date for redemption of Securities the Company shall mail a notice of redemption by first-class mail or otherwise deliver in accordance with the procedures of DTC to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed at such Holder’s registered address.

The notice shall identify the Securities to be redeemed and shall state:

(1) the Redemption Date;

(2) the redemption price;

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

(4) that Securities called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;

 

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(5) if fewer than all the outstanding Securities are to be redeemed, the identification and principal amounts of the particular Securities to be redeemed;

(6) that, unless the Company defaults in making such redemption payment, interest on Securities (or portion thereof) called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the Redemption Date;

(7) the paragraph of the Securities pursuant to which the Securities called for redemption are being redeemed; and

(8) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Securities.

At the Company’s request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at the Company’s expense. In such event, the Company shall provide the Trustee with the information required by this Section.

ARTICLE 4

Covenants

SECTION 4.01.  Original Indenture . Section 1001 of the Original Indenture shall not apply to the Securities and hereafter shall be void and of no force and effect and any reference in the Original Indenture to Section 1001 thereof shall be deemed to refer to Section 4.03 of this First Supplemental Indenture.

SECTION 4.02.  Covenant Suspension . During any period that the Securities have a rating equal to or higher than an Investment Grade Rating and no Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries shall not be subject to Section 4.05, 4.06, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.11, 4.14 and 5.02(a)(3) of this First Supplemental Indenture (collectively, the “Suspended Covenants”). In the event that the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries are not subject to the Suspended Covenants for any period of time as a result of the preceding sentence, and subsequently have a rating below an Investment Grade Rating, then the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries shall as of such date (the “Reinstatement Date”) again be subject to the Suspended Covenants (subject to subsequent suspension if the Securities again receive Investment Grade Ratings); provided that in the event of any such reinstatement, no action taken or omitted to be taken by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries prior to such reinstatement will give rise to a Default or Event of Default under this First Supplemental Indenture with respect to the Securities.

During any period that the foregoing covenants have been suspended, the Company may not designate any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries pursuant to this First Supplemental Indenture.

 

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On the Reinstatement Date, all Indebtedness Incurred during the Suspension Period (as defined below) will be classified to have been Incurred pursuant to Section 4.05(a) or one of the clauses set forth in Section 4.05(b) of this First Supplemental Indenture (to the extent such Indebtedness would be permitted to be Incurred thereunder as of the Reinstatement Date). To the extent such Indebtedness would not be so permitted to be Incurred pursuant Sections 4.05(a) or 4.05(b) of this First Supplemental Indenture, such Indebtedness will be deemed to have been outstanding on the Issue Date, so that it is classified under Section 4.05(b)(4) of this First Supplemental Indenture. Calculations made after the Reinstatement Date of the amount available to be made as Restricted Payments under Section 4.06 of this First Supplemental Indenture will be made as though the covenants described under Section 4.06 of this First Supplemental Indenture had been in effect since the Issue Date and throughout the Suspension Period. Accordingly, Restricted Payments made during the Suspension Period will reduce the amount available to be made as Restricted Payments under Section 4.06(a) of this First Supplemental Indenture.

The period of time between the date of suspension of the covenants and the Reinstatement Date is referred to as the “Suspension Period.”

The Company shall give the Trustee prompt written notice anytime that the Suspended Covenants do not apply. Otherwise, the Trustee shall assume that the Suspended Covenants apply.

SECTION 4.03.  Payment of Securities . The Company shall promptly pay the principal of and interest on the Securities on the dates and in the manner provided in the Securities and in the Indenture. Principal and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if on such date the Trustee or the Paying Agent holds in accordance with the Indenture money sufficient to pay all principal and interest then due.

The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate specified therefor in the Securities, and it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful.

SECTION 4.04.  SEC Reports . Whether or not the Company is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, so long as the Securities are outstanding, the Company shall file with the SEC (subject to the next sentence) and provide, within 15 days after such filing, the Trustee and Securityholders with the annual and other reports as are specified in Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act and applicable to a U.S. corporation subject to such Sections, and containing all the information, audit reports and exhibits required for such reports (but without exhibits in the case of Securityholders). If at any time, the Company is not subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act for any reason, the Company shall nevertheless continue filing the reports specified in the preceding sentence with the SEC unless the SEC will not accept such a filing. The Company agrees that it shall not take any action for the purpose of causing the SEC not to accept any such filings. If, notwithstanding the foregoing, the SEC will not accept such filings for any reason, the Company shall post the reports specified in the preceding sentence on its website. The Company will also comply with the other provisions of Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.

At any time that any of the Company’s Subsidiaries are Unrestricted Subsidiaries, then the quarterly and annual financial information required by the preceding paragraph will include a reasonably detailed presentation, either on the face of the financial statements or in the footnotes thereto, and in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” of the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition and results of operations of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the Company.

 

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The Company will be deemed to have furnished such reports to the trustees and the Holders of Securities if it has filed such reports with the SEC using the EDGAR filing system and such reports are publicly available.

In addition, the Company shall furnish to the Holders of the Securities and to prospective investors, upon the requests of such Holders, any information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act during any time that the Securities are not freely transferable under the Securities Act.

SECTION 4.05.  Limitation on Indebtedness . (a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, Incur, directly or indirectly, any Indebtedness; provided, however , that the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary shall be entitled to Incur Indebtedness if, on the date of such Incurrence and after giving effect thereto on a pro forma basis, the Consolidated Coverage Ratio exceeds 2.25 to 1.0, provided , further , that aggregate indebtedness pursuant to this Section 4.05(a) of all such Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Subsidiary Guarantors does not exceed an aggregate amount of $50,000,000.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing paragraph (a), the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries shall be entitled to Incur any or all of the following Indebtedness:

(1) Indebtedness Incurred by the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors pursuant to any Credit Facility; provided, however , that, immediately after giving effect to any such Incurrence, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness Incurred under this clause (b)(1) and then outstanding does not exceed an amount equal to the greater of (A) $1.2 billion less (x) the sum of all principal payments which result in a permanent reduction in borrowing capacity of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries and (B) 75% of ACNTA as of the date of such Incurrence;

(2) Indebtedness of the Company owing to and held by any Restricted Subsidiary or Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to and held by the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however , that (A) any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock which results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any subsequent transfer of such Indebtedness (other than to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute the Incurrence of such Indebtedness by the obligor thereon not permitted by this clause (2), (B) if the Company is the obligor on such Indebtedness, and a Subsidiary Guarantor is not the obligee, such Indebtedness is expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all obligations with respect to the Securities and (C) if a Subsidiary Guarantor is the obligor on such Indebtedness and the Company or another Subsidiary Guarantor is not the obligee, such Indebtedness is expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all obligations of such obligor with respect to its Subsidiary Guaranty;

 

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(3) the Securities (other than any Additional Securities) and the Subsidiary Guarantees related thereto;

(4) Indebtedness outstanding on the Issue Date (other than Indebtedness described in clause (1), (2) or (3) of this Section 4.05(b));

(5) Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness;

(6) Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to Section 4.05(a) of this First Supplemental Indenture or pursuant to clause (3), (4) or (5) of this Section 4.05(b) or this clause (6); provided, however , that to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness directly or indirectly Refinances Indebtedness of a Subsidiary Incurred pursuant to clause (5), such Refinancing Indebtedness shall be Incurred only by such Subsidiary;

(7) Hedging Obligations consisting of Interest Rate Agreements directly related to Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred by the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to this First Supplemental Indenture;

(8) Hedging Obligations consisting of Oil and Natural Gas Hedging Contracts and Currency Agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of limiting risks that arise in the ordinary course of business of the Company and its Subsidiaries;

(9) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness in respect of workers’ compensation claims, payment obligations in connection with health or other types of social security benefits, unemployment or other insurance or self-insurance obligations, reclamation, statutory obligations, banks’ acceptances and obligations in respect of performance, bid and surety bonds and completion guarantees provided by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

(10) (a) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business; provided, however , that such Indebtedness is extinguished within 15 Business Days of its Incurrence and (b) Indebtedness pursuant to Cash Management Obligations Incurred in the ordinary course of business; provided , however , that such Indebtedness is extinguished within 30 Business Days of its Incurrence;

(11) Indebtedness consisting of the Subsidiary Guaranty of a Subsidiary Guarantor and any Guarantee by the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor of Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to Section 4.05(a) of this First Supplemental Indenture or pursuant to clause (1), (3), (4), (5), (8), (9), (14), (15), (18) or (23) of this Section 4.05(b) or pursuant to clause (6) of this Section 4.05(b) to the extent the Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred thereunder directly or indirectly Refinances Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to Section 4.05(a) of this First Supplemental Indenture or pursuant to clause (1), (3), (4), (5), (8), (9), (14), (15), (18) or (23) of this Section 4.05(b);

 

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(12) in-kind obligations relating to net oil or natural gas balancing positions arising in the ordinary course of business;

(13) Non-Recourse Purchase Money Indebtedness;

(14) Indebtedness (including Capital Lease Obligations) Incurred by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to finance all or any part of the design, development, installation, construction, purchase or lease of, or repairs, improvements or additions to, property, plant or equipment of such Person not more than 180 days after the later of the acquisition, completion of construction, repair, improvement, addition or commencement of full operation of such property, plant or equipment, in an aggregate principal amount which, when added together with the amount of Indebtedness previously Incurred pursuant to this clause (14) and then outstanding, does not exceed the greater of (a) $10.0 million or (b) 2% of ACNTA, determined as of the Incurrence of such Indebtedness;

(15) Indebtedness of a Foreign Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount which, when added together with the amount of Indebtedness previously Incurred pursuant to this clause (15) and then outstanding, does not exceed $5.0 million;

(16) Indebtedness arising from Guarantees by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness incurred in connection with Permitted Business Investments at any time outstanding not to exceed the greater of $60.0 million and 5.0% of ACNTA determined as of the date of incurrence of such Indebtedness after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence and the application of proceeds thereof;

(17) Permitted Marketing Obligations;

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

(19) Guarantees by the Company of the obligations of EOC to pay (i) the BG Development Costs under Section 2.3 of the BG Joint Development Agreement with respect to Oil and Gas Interests owned by the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors or any of its Unrestricted Subsidiaries and (ii) additional contributions under Article 3 of the TGGT Holdings LLC Agreement;

(20) Guarantees by EOC of the obligations of EXCO Water to International Paper Company under the IPC Water Supply Agreement for water purchases in an aggregate amount not to exceed $5,000,000;

(21) Guarantees by the Company of the obligations of certain of its Subsidiaries to pay such Subsidiaries’ share of the Marcellus Development Costs with respect to the Marcellus JV Oil and Gas Assets in accordance with the terms of the Marcellus JV Documents;

 

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(22) Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case, Incurred or assumed in connection with the disposition of any business or assets of the Company or any business, assets or Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary, other than Guarantees of Indebtedness Incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or a Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition, provided that:

(a) the maximum aggregate liability in respect of all such Indebtedness shall at no time exceed the gross proceeds, including non-cash proceeds (the fair market value of such non-cash proceeds being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), actually received by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such disposition; and

(b) such Indebtedness is not reflected on the balance sheet of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (contingent obligations referred to in a footnote to financial statements and not otherwise reflected on the balance sheet will not be deemed to be reflected on such balance sheet for purposes of this clause (22)); and

(23) Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor in an aggregate principal amount which, when taken together with all other Indebtedness of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors outstanding on the date of such Incurrence (other than Indebtedness permitted by clauses (1) through (22) of this Section 4.05(b) or Section 4.05(a) of this First Supplemental Indenture), does not exceed the greater of (x) 2.5% of ACNTA determined as of the date of the incurrence of such Indebtedness and (y) $20.0 million.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary Guarantor shall Incur any Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.05(b) of this First Supplemental Indenture if the proceeds thereof are used, directly or indirectly, to Refinance any Subordinated Obligations of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor unless such Indebtedness shall be subordinated to the Securities or to the applicable Subsidiary Guaranty to at least the same extent as such Subordinated Obligations.

(d) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.05, (1) all Indebtedness outstanding on the date of this First Supplemental Indenture under the Credit Agreement shall be deemed initially Incurred on the Issue Date under Section 4.05(b)(1) and not Section 4.05(a) or Section 4.05(b)(4) of this First Supplemental Indenture; (2) in the event that an item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the types of Indebtedness described above, or is entitled to be Incurred pursuant to Section 4.05(a) of this First Supplemental Indenture, the Company, in its sole discretion, shall classify such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) at the time of Incurrence and may later reclassify such item of Indebtedness in any manner that complies with this Section 4.05 and shall only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness in one of the above clauses; (3) at the time of Incurrence, the Company shall be entitled to divide and classify (or later classify, reclassify or re-divide in whole or in part in its sole discretion) an item of Indebtedness in more than one of the types of Indebtedness described above; (4) Guarantees of or obligations in respect of letters or credit relating to Indebtedness which is otherwise included in the determination of a particular amount of Indebtedness shall not be included; (5) if obligations in respect of letters of credit are incurred pursuant to the Credit Agreement and are being treated as incurred pursuant to Section 4.05(b)(1) of this First Supplemental Indenture and the letters of credit relate to other Indebtedness, then such other Indebtedness shall not be included; (6) the amount of Indebtedness issued at a price that is less than the principal amount thereof shall be equal to the amount of the liability in respect thereof determined in accordance with GAAP; and (7) Indebtedness of any Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary shall be deemed to have been Incurred by the Company and the Restricted Subsidiary at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary.

 

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(e) For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar-denominated restriction on the Incurrence of Indebtedness where the Indebtedness Incurred is denominated in a different currency, the amount of such Indebtedness shall be the U.S. Dollar Equivalent determined on the date of the Incurrence of such Indebtedness; provided, however , that if any such Indebtedness denominated in a different currency is subject to a Currency Agreement with respect to U.S. dollars covering all principal, premium, if any, and interest payable on such Indebtedness, the amount of such Indebtedness expressed in U.S. dollars shall be as provided in such Currency Agreement. The principal amount of any Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred in the same currency as the Indebtedness being Refinanced shall be the U.S. Dollar Equivalent of the Indebtedness Refinanced, except to the extent that (1) such U.S. Dollar Equivalent was determined based on a Currency Agreement, in which case the Refinancing Indebtedness shall be determined in accordance with the preceding sentence, and (2) the principal amount of the Refinancing Indebtedness exceeds the principal amount of the Indebtedness being Refinanced, in which case the U.S. Dollar Equivalent of such excess shall be determined on the date such Refinancing Indebtedness is Incurred.

SECTION 4.06.  Limitation on Restricted Payments . (a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, to 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);

(2) the Company is not entitled to Incur an additional $1.00 of Indebtedness under Section 4.05(a) of this First Supplemental Indenture; or

(3) the aggregate amount of such Restricted Payment and all other Restricted Payments since June 30, 2010 would exceed the sum of (without duplication):

(A) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income accrued during the period (treated as one accounting period) from September 1, 2010 to the end of the most recent fiscal quarter ending at least 40 days prior to the date of such Restricted Payment (or, in case such Consolidated Net Income shall be a deficit, minus 100% of such deficit); plus

 

51


(B) 100% of the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds and 100% of the fair market value (as determined by the Board of Directors in good faith) of property other than cash received by the Company from the issuance or sale of its Capital Stock or of debt securities of the Company that have been converted into or exchanged for such Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) subsequent to June 30, 2010 (other than an issuance or sale to a Subsidiary of the Company and other than an issuance or sale financed directly or indirectly with Indebtedness to an employee stock ownership plan or to a trust established by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for the benefit of their employees) and 100% of any cash capital contribution received by the Company from its shareholders subsequent to June 30, 2010; plus

(C) the amount by which Indebtedness is reduced on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet upon the conversion or exchange (other than by a Subsidiary of the Company) subsequent to June 30, 2010 of any Indebtedness convertible or exchangeable for Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company (plus the amount of any accrued interest then outstanding on such Indebtedness to the extent the obligation to pay such interest is extinguished less the amount of any cash, or the fair value of any other property, distributed by the Company upon such conversion or exchange) provided, however , that the foregoing amount shall not exceed the Net Cash Proceeds received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from the sale of such Indebtedness (excluding Net Cash Proceeds from sales to a Subsidiary of the Company or, in the case of a sale financed directly or indirectly with Indebtedness, to an employee stock ownership plan or to a trust established by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for the benefit of their employees); plus

(D) an amount equal to the sum of (i) the net reduction in the Investments (other than Permitted Investments) made subsequent to June 30, 2010 by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in any Person resulting from repurchases, repayments or redemptions of such Investments by such Person, proceeds realized on the sale of such Investment and proceeds representing the return of capital (excluding dividends and distributions), in each case received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided , however , that such amount shall not exceed the amount of Investments (excluding Permitted Investments) previously made (and treated as a Restricted Payment) by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in such Person, and (ii) to the extent such Person is an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the portion (proportionate to the Company’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the fair market value of the net assets of such Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time such Unrestricted Subsidiary is designated a Restricted Subsidiary or is sold; provided, however , that such amount shall not exceed, in the case of any Unrestricted Subsidiary other than TGGT Holdings and its subsidiaries and the Marcellus Midstream Owner, the amount of Investments (excluding Permitted Investments) previously made (and treated as a Restricted Payment) by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in such Unrestricted Subsidiary; and provided , further , that in the case of TGGT Holdings and its subsidiaries and the Marcellus Midstream Owner, the amount of any Permitted Investments made since the Issue Date by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in any of TGGT Holdings and its subsidiaries and the Marcellus Midstream Owner shall be deducted from such amount; plus

 

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(E) $500 million.

(b) The provisions of Section 4.06(a) of this First Supplemental Indenture shall not prohibit:

(1) any Restricted Payment made, within 90 days of the sale or contribution, out of the Net Cash Proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, or made by exchange for, Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock and other than Capital Stock issued or sold to a Subsidiary of the Company or an employee stock ownership plan or to a trust established by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for the benefit of their employees) or a cash capital contribution received by the Company from its shareholders; provided, however , that (A) such Restricted Payment shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments and (B) the Net Cash Proceeds from such sale or such cash capital contribution (to the extent so used for such Restricted Payment) shall be excluded from the calculation of amounts under Section 4.06(a)(3)(B) of this First Supplemental Indenture;

(2) any purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of Subordinated Obligations of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor made, within 90 days of the sale, by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the sale of, Indebtedness of such Person which is permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Section 4.05 of this First Supplemental Indenture; 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) dividends paid on the consummation of any redemption of Subordinated Obligations within 60 days after the date of declaration of the dividend, or giving of the notice of redemption, as the case may be, if at such date of declaration or of notice such dividend or payment, would have complied with this Section 4.06; provided , however , that such dividends and payments shall be included in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;

(4) so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing, Restricted Payments to effect the repurchase or other acquisition of shares of Capital Stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from employees, former employees, directors or former directors of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or heirs, estates or other permitted transferees of such employees, former employees, directors or former directors), pursuant to the terms of the agreements (including employment agreements or management equity subscription agreements), stock options or plans (or amendments thereto) approved by the Board of Directors under which such individuals purchase or sell or are granted the option to purchase or sell, shares of such Capital Stock; provided, however , that the aggregate amount of such repurchases and other acquisitions (excluding amounts representing cancelation of Indebtedness) shall not exceed in any calendar year $2.0 million plus any unused amount permitted under this clause (4) for the immediately preceding year, but not to exceed $4.0 million in any single calendar year; provided further, however , that such repurchases and other acquisitions shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;

 

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(5) payments of dividends on Disqualified Stock issued pursuant to Section 4.05 of this First Supplemental Indenture; provided, however , that at the time of payment of such dividend, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing (or result therefrom); provided further, however , that such dividends shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;

(6) repurchases or other acquisitions of Capital Stock deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options, warrants or other convertible securities if such Capital Stock represents a portion of the exercise or exchange price thereof, and repurchases or other acquisitions of Capital Stock made in lieu of withholding taxes in connection with any such exercise or exchange; provided , however , that such Restricted Payments shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;

(7) cash payments in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares in connection with the exercise of warrants, options or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock of the Company; provided, however , that any such cash payment shall not be for the purpose of evading this Section 4.06 (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors); provided further, however , that such payments shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;

(8) in the event of a Change of Control Repurchase Event or an Asset Disposition, and if no Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the payment, purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Obligations of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (i) at a purchase price not greater than 101% of the principal amount of such Subordinated Obligations, plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon in the event of a Change of Control Repurchase Event and (ii) at a purchase price not greater than 100% of the principal amount of such Subordinated Obligations plus any accrued but unpaid interest thereon, in the case of an Asset Disposition; provided , however , that prior to such payment, purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement, the Company (or a third party to the extent permitted by this First Supplemental Indenture) has made a Change of Control Offer or Asset Disposition Offer with respect to the Securities as a result of such Change of Control Repurchase Event or Asset Disposition and has repurchased all Securities validly tendered and not withdrawn in connection with such offer; provided further , however , that such repurchase and other acquisitions shall be included in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;

(9) payments of intercompany Indebtedness that was permitted to be Incurred under this First Supplemental Indenture; provided, however , that no Default has occurred and is continuing or would otherwise result therefrom; provided further, however , that such payments shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;

 

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(10) the declaration or payment of dividends on such common stock of up to $50.0 million per annum; provided , however , that such dividends shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;

(11) (a) any transfer to an Unrestricted Subsidiary of any direct or indirect interest of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in real property so long as such interest at the time of such sale or transfer (i) does not include any material proved oil, natural gas, or other hydrocarbons and minerals and (ii) includes a surface interest, and (b) any disposition (by dividend or distribution in respect of Capital Stock of the Company or otherwise) of any such Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided , however , that such transfers and dispositions shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;

(12) payments to dissenting stockholders (a) pursuant to applicable law or (b) in connection with the settlement or other satisfaction of legal claims made pursuant to or in connection with a consolidation, merger or transfer of assets in connection with a transaction that is not prohibited by this First Supplemental Indenture; provided , however , that such payments shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;

(13) for the avoidance of doubt, payments made by any Person other than the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to the stockholders of the Company in connection with or as part of (a) a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person, of (b) a merger of a Subsidiary of such Person into the Company; provided , however , that such payments shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;

(14) repurchases of common stock of the Company pursuant to the Company’s existing stock repurchase program pursuant to Rule 10b-18 under the Securities Act; provided , however , that such payments shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments; or

(15) Restricted Payments in an amount which, when taken together with all Restricted Payments made pursuant to this clause (15), does not exceed the greater of (a) $40.0 million and (b) 2.5% of ACNTA; provided, however , that such payments shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments.

(c) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.06, at the time a Restricted Payment is made, the Company shall be entitled to divide and classify such Restricted Payment in more than one of the types of Restricted Payments described above. The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) shall be the fair market value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities proposed to be transferred by the Company or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment. The fair market value of any assets or securities that are required to be valued at the time of such Restricted Payment by this Section 4.06 shall be evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate which shall be delivered to the Trustee not later than ten Business Days following the date of the making of any Restricted Payment. Such Officers’ Certificate shall state that such Restricted Payment is permitted together with a copy of any related resolutions of the Board of Directors.

 

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The Company shall not permit any Unrestricted Subsidiary to become a Restricted Subsidiary except pursuant to the last paragraph of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary.” For purposes of designating any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, all outstanding Investments by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid) in the Subsidiary so designated shall be deemed to be Restricted Payments in an amount determined as set forth in the definition of “Investment.” Such designation shall be permitted only if a Restricted Payment in such amount would be permitted at such time and if such Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. Unrestricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to any of the restrictive covenants set forth in this First Supplemental Indenture.

SECTION 4.07.  Limitation on Restrictions on Distributions from Restricted Subsidiaries . The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, create or otherwise cause or permit to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to (a) pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or pay any Indebtedness owed to the Company; provided that the priority of any Preferred Stock in receiving dividends or liquidating distributions being paid on common stock shall not be deemed a restriction of the ability to make distributions of Capital Stock, (b) make any loans or advances to the Company; provided that the subordination of loans or advances made to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to other Indebtedness incurred by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary shall not be deemed a restriction of the ability to make loans or advances or (c) transfer any of its property or assets to the Company, except:

(1) with respect to clauses (a), (b) and (c) above,

(A) any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to an agreement in effect at or entered into on the Issue Date including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Credit Agreement;

(B) any encumbrance or restriction with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement relating to any Indebtedness Incurred by such Restricted Subsidiary, or otherwise binding on such Restricted Subsidiary, on or prior to the date on which such Restricted Subsidiary was acquired or was so designated by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than Indebtedness Incurred as consideration in, or to provide all or any portion of the funds or credit support utilized to consummate, and other than any encumbrance or restriction entered into in contemplation of, the transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which such Restricted Subsidiary became a Restricted Subsidiary or was acquired by the Company) and outstanding on such date;

 

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(C) any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to an agreement effecting a Refinancing of Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to an agreement referred to in Section 4.07(1)(A) or (B) of this First Supplemental Indenture or this clause (C) or contained in any amendment to an agreement referred to in Section 4.07(1)(A) or (B) of this First Supplemental Indenture or this clause (C); provided, however , that the encumbrances and restrictions with respect to such Restricted Subsidiary contained in any such refinancing agreement or amendment are no more restrictive than the encumbrances and restrictions with respect to such Restricted Subsidiary contained in such predecessor agreements;

(D) any encumbrance or restriction with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary (or any of its property or assets) imposed pursuant to an agreement entered into for the sale or disposition of all or substantially all the Capital Stock or assets of such Restricted Subsidiary (or the property or assets subject to such restrictions) pending the closing of such sale or disposition;

(E) customary encumbrances and restrictions contained in agreements of the type described in the definition of the term “Permitted Business Investments”;

(F) any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to an agreement relating to any Capital Lease Obligations, purchase money Indebtedness or Indebtedness owed by any Foreign Subsidiary, in each case not Incurred in violation of this First Supplemental Indenture; provided, however , that (1) with respect to purchase money Indebtedness or Capital Lease Obligations, such restrictions relate only to the property financed with such Indebtedness and (2) with respect to any Indebtedness owed by any such Foreign Subsidiary, such encumbrance or restriction relates only to property owned by such Foreign Subsidiary and is not materially more restrictive to such Foreign Subsidiary than is customary in comparable financings, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors;

(G) any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to provisions in agreements or instruments which prohibit the payment of dividends or the making of other distributions with respect to any Capital Stock of a Person other than on a pro rata basis;

(H) any encumbrance or restriction existing pursuant to applicable law, rule, regulation, order, approval, license, permit or similar restriction;

(I) any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to supermajority voting requirements under corporate charters, bylaws, stockholders agreements and similar documents and agreements; and

(J) any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to an instrument or agreement governing Indebtedness permitted by the terms of this First Supplemental Indenture to be Incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary to fund, in whole or in part, the acquisition of any property or assets; provided such Indebtedness is repaid or otherwise refinanced in full with Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness on or prior to the date 12 months after the date such Indebtedness was initially incurred; and

 

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(2) with respect to clause (c) only,

(A) any encumbrance or restriction consisting of customary nonassignment provisions (including provisions forbidding subletting) in leases governing leasehold interests or Farm-In Agreements or Farm-Out Agreements to the extent such provisions restrict the transfer of the lease or the property leased thereunder;

(B) any encumbrance or restriction contained in Capital Lease Obligations, security agreements, mortgages, purchase money agreements or similar instruments securing Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary to the extent such encumbrance or restriction restricts the transfer of the property (including Capital Stock) subject to such Capital Lease Obligations, security agreements, mortgages, purchase money agreements or similar instruments;

(C) Permitted Liens or Liens securing Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be Incurred pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.12 of this First Supplemental Indenture that limit the right of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to dispose of the assets subject to such Lien;

(D) customary restrictions contained in asset sale agreements limiting the transfer of such assets pending the closing of such sale;

(E) customary restrictions on the subletting, assignment or transfer of any property or asset that is subject to a lease, license, sub-license or similar contract, or the assignment or transfer of any such lease, license, sub-license or other contract;

(F) encumbrances and restrictions contained in contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business, not relating to any Indebtedness, and that do not, individually or in the aggregate, detract from the value of, or from the ability of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries to realize the value of, property or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in any manner material to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; and

(G) any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to provisions with respect to the disposition or distribution of assets or property in operating agreements, sale-leaseback agreements, joint venture agreements, development agreements, area of mutual interest agreements and other agreements that are customary in the Oil and Gas Business and entered into in the ordinary course of business.

 

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SECTION 4.08.  Limitation on Sales of Assets and Subsidiary Stock . (a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, consummate any Asset Disposition unless (1) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary receives consideration (including by way of relief from, or by any Person assuming responsibilities for any liabilities, contingent or otherwise) at the time of such Asset Disposition at least equal to the fair market value (including as to the value of all non-cash consideration), as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors or an executive officer of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with the responsibility for such transaction which determination shall be conclusive evidence of compliance with this provision, of the shares and assets subject to such Asset Disposition; (2) at least 75% of the consideration thereof received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary is in the form of cash or cash equivalents or Additional Assets or any combination thereof; and (3) an amount equal to 100% of the Net Available Cash from such Asset Disposition is applied by the Company (or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) (A) to the extent the Company elects (or is required by the terms of any Senior Indebtedness), to prepay, repay, redeem or purchase Indebtedness of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor (other than any Disqualified Stock), in each case other than Indebtedness owed to the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company, within 540 days from the later of the date of such Asset Disposition or the receipt of such Net Available Cash; (B) to the extent the Company elects, to acquire Additional Assets or to make capital expenditures in the Oil and Gas Business, in each case within 540 days from the later of the date of such Asset Disposition or the receipt of such Net Available Cash; and (C) to the extent of the balance of such Net Available Cash after any application in accordance with either or both of clauses (A) and (B), to make an Offer to the Holders of the Securities (and to holders of other Senior Indebtedness of the Company or of any Restricted Subsidiary designated by the Company) to purchase Securities (and such other Senior Indebtedness of the Company or of any Restricted Subsidiary) pursuant to and subject to the conditions of this First Supplemental Indenture.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the 75% limitation referred to in Section 4.08(a)(2) of this First Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed satisfied with respect to any Asset Disposition in which the cash or cash equivalents portion of the consideration received therefrom, determined in accordance with the foregoing provision on an after-tax basis, is equal to or greater than what the after-tax cash proceeds would have been had such Asset Disposition complied with such 75% limitation.

The requirement of Section 4.08(a)(3)(B) of this First Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed to be satisfied if an agreement (including a lease, whether a capital lease or an operating lease) committing to make the acquisitions or expenditures referred to therein is entered into by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary within the time period specified in such clause and such Net Available Cash is subsequently applied in accordance with such agreement within six months following such agreement.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.08, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries shall not be required to apply any Net Available Cash in accordance with this Section 4.08(a) except to the extent that the aggregate Net Available Cash from all Asset Dispositions which is not applied in accordance with this Section 4.08(a) exceeds $50.0 million. Pending application of Net Available Cash pursuant to this Section 4.08(a), such Net Available Cash may be invested in any manner that is not prohibited under this First Supplemental Indenture.

 

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For the purposes of this Section 4.08(a), the following are deemed to be cash or cash equivalents: (i) any liabilities (as shown on the Company’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet) of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than liabilities that are subordinated to the Securities or any Subsidiary Guaranty) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets pursuant to a customary novation agreement or similar agreement that releases the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from all further liability, (ii) securities received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from the transferee that are converted within 180 days by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash, to the extent of cash received in that conversion, and (iii) accounts receivable of a business retained by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, following the sale of such business, provided that such accounts receivable are not (A) past due more than 30 days and (B) do not have a payment greater than 90 days from the date of the invoice creating such accounts receivable.

(b) In the event of an Asset Disposition that requires the purchase of Securities (and other Senior Indebtedness of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor) pursuant to Section 4.08(a)(3)(C) of this First Supplemental Indenture, the Company shall purchase Securities tendered pursuant to an offer by the Company for the Securities (and such other Senior Indebtedness) (the “Offer”) made on or before the 541 st day after the later of the date of such Asset Disposition or the receipt of such Net Available Cash at a purchase price of 100% of their principal amount (or, in the event such other Senior Indebtedness of the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor was issued with original issue discount greater than 2.5%, 100% of the accreted value thereof), without premium, plus accrued but unpaid interest (or, in respect of such other Senior Indebtedness of the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor, such lesser price, if any, as may be provided for by the terms of such Senior Indebtedness in accordance with the procedures (including prorating in the event of oversubscription) set forth in Section 4.08(c) of this First Supplemental Indenture; provided, however , that the procedures for making an offer to holders of other Senior Indebtedness will be as provided for by the terms of such Senior Indebtedness. If the aggregate purchase price of the Indebtedness tendered pursuant to the Offer exceeds the Net Available Cash allotted to their purchase, the Company shall select the Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis but in round denominations, which in the case of the Securities will be denominations of $2,000 principal amount and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. The Company shall not be required to make an Offer to purchase Securities (and other Senior Indebtedness of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor) pursuant to this Section 4.08 if the Net Available Cash available therefor is less than $50.0 million (which lesser amount shall be carried forward for purposes of determining whether such an Offer is required with respect to the Net Available Cash from any subsequent Asset Disposition). Upon completion of such an Offer, Net Available Cash shall be deemed to be reduced by the aggregate amount of such Offer (whether or not accepted) and any then remaining Net Available Cash following such offer may be used for any purpose not prohibited by this First Supplemental Indenture.

 

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(c) (1) Promptly, and in any event within 10 days after the Company becomes obligated to make an Offer, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee and send, by first-class mail or otherwise deliver in accordance with the procedures of DTC to each Holder, a written notice stating that the Holder may elect to have his Securities purchased by the Company either in whole or in part (subject to prorating as described in Section 4.08(b) of this First Supplemental Indenture in the event the Offer is oversubscribed) in denominations of $2,000 principal amount and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, at the applicable purchase price. The notice shall specify a purchase date not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days after the date of such notice (the “Purchase Date”) and shall contain such information concerning the business of the Company which the Company in good faith believes will enable such Holders to make an informed decision (which at a minimum will include (A) the most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K (including audited consolidated financial statements) of the Company, the most recent subsequently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and any Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed subsequent to such Quarterly Report, other than Current Reports describing Asset Dispositions otherwise described in the offering materials (or corresponding successor reports), (B) a description of material developments in the Company’s business subsequent to the date of the latest of such Reports and (C) if material, appropriate pro forma financial information) and all instructions and materials necessary to tender Securities pursuant to the Offer, together with the information contained in clause (3).

(2) Not later than the date upon which written notice of an Offer is delivered to the Trustee as provided above, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate as to (A) the amount of the Offer (the “Offer Amount”), including information as to any other Senior Indebtedness included in the Offer, (B) the allocation of the Net Available Cash from the Asset Dispositions pursuant to which such Offer is being made and (C) the compliance of such allocation with the provisions of Section 4.08(a) and (b) of this First Supplemental Indenture. On such date, the Company shall also irrevocably deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust) in Temporary Cash Investments, maturing on the last day prior to the Purchase Date or on the Purchase Date if funds are immediately available by open of business, an amount equal to the Offer Amount to be held for payment in accordance with the provisions of this Section. If the Offer includes other Senior Indebtedness, the deposit described in the preceding sentence may be made with any other paying agent pursuant to arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee. Upon the expiration of the period for which the Offer remains open (the “Offer Period”), the Company shall deliver to the Trustee for cancellation the Securities or portions thereof which have been properly tendered to and are to be accepted by the Company. The Trustee shall, on the Purchase Date, mail or deliver payment (or cause the delivery of payment) to each tendering Holder in the amount of the purchase price. In the event that the aggregate purchase price of the Securities delivered by the Company to the Trustee is less than the Offer Amount applicable to the Securities, the Trustee shall deliver the excess to the Company immediately after the expiration of the Offer Period for application in accordance with this Section 4.08.

(3) Holders electing to have a Security purchased 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 if the Trustee or the Company receives not later than one Business Day prior to the Purchase Date, a 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. Holders whose Securities are purchased only in part shall be issued new Securities equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Securities surrendered.

 

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(4) At the time the Company delivers Securities to the Trustee which are to be accepted for purchase, the Company shall also deliver an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Securities are to be accepted by the Company pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of this Section. A Security shall be deemed to have been accepted for purchase at the time the Trustee, directly or through an agent, mails or delivers payment therefor to the surrendering Holder.

(d) The Company shall comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations in connection with the repurchase of Securities pursuant to this Section. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with provisions of this Section, the Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section by virtue of its compliance with such securities laws or regulations.

SECTION 4.09.  Limitation on Affiliate Transactions . (a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into or permit to exist any transaction (including the purchase, sale, lease or exchange of any property, employee compensation arrangements or the rendering of any service) with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of the Company involving aggregate consideration in excess of $5.0 million (an “Affiliate Transaction”) unless (1) the terms of the Affiliate Transaction are no less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that could be obtained at the time of the Affiliate Transaction in arm’s-length dealings with a Person who is not an Affiliate and if, in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors (whose determination shall be conclusive), no comparable transaction is available with which to compare such Affiliate Transaction, such Affiliate Transaction is otherwise fair to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view; (2) if such Affiliate Transaction involves an amount in excess of $25.0 million, the terms of the Affiliate Transaction are set forth in writing and a majority of the non-employee directors of the Company disinterested with respect to such Affiliate Transaction have determined in good faith that the criteria set forth in clause (1) are satisfied and have approved the relevant Affiliate Transaction as evidenced by a resolution of the Board of Directors; and (3) if such Affiliate Transaction involves an amount in excess of $50.0 million, the Board of Directors shall also have received a written opinion from an Independent Qualified Party to the effect that such Affiliate Transaction is fair, from a financial standpoint, to the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries or is not less favorable to the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries than could reasonably be expected to be obtained at the time in an arm’s-length transaction with a Person who was not an Affiliate.

(b) The provisions of Section 4.09(a) of this First Supplemental Indenture shall not prohibit:

(1) any Investment (other than an Investment described in clauses (2), (13) and (19) of the definition of “Permitted Investment”) or other Restricted Payment, in each case permitted to be made pursuant to Section 4.06 of this First Supplemental Indenture;

 

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(2) any issuance of securities, or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment arrangements, stock options and stock ownership plans approved by the Board of Directors;

(3) loans or advances to officers or employees in the ordinary course of business in accordance with the past practices of the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case only as permitted by Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 but in any event not to exceed $5.0 million in the aggregate outstanding at any one time;

(4) the payment of reasonable fees to directors of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries who are not employees of the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries, the reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by, directors of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries in attending meetings of such directors and indemnification payments made to officers, directors and employees of the Company or any Subsidiary pursuant to charter, bylaw, statutory or contractual provisions;

(5) any transaction between or among the Company and a Restricted Subsidiary or joint venture or similar entity which would constitute an Affiliate Transaction solely because the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary owns an equity interest in or otherwise controls such Restricted Subsidiary, joint venture or similar entity; (6) the issuance or sale of any Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company to, or the receipt by the Company of any capital contribution from, its stockholders or Affiliates;

(7) any agreement as in effect on the Issue Date and described in the Prospectus or any amendments or other modifications, renewals or extensions of any such agreement (so long as such amendments or other modifications, renewals or extensions are not materially less favorable to the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries) and the transactions evidenced thereby;

(8) any sale of oil, natural gas, or other hydrocarbons or other mineral products to an Affiliate of the Company or the entering into or performance of Oil and Natural Gas Hedging Contracts, gas gathering, transportation or processing contracts or oil or natural gas marketing or exchange contracts with an Affiliate of the Company, in each case, in the ordinary course of business, so long as the terms of any such transaction are approved by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors who are disinterested with respect to such transaction;

 

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(9) transactions contemplated by the Marcellus JV Documents or the BG JV Documents, in each case as in effect on the Issue Date, in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this First Supplemental Indenture, which are fair to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, in the reasonable determination of the Board of Directors of the Company, an executive officer of the Company or an executive officer of such Restricted Subsidiary with responsibility for such transaction (whose determination shall be conclusive evidence of compliance with this provision) and amendments, modifications, supplements, extensions or renewals of such agreements from time to time, so long as any such amendment, modification, supplement, extension or renewal is not more disadvantageous to the Holders in any material respect in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, when taken as a whole, than the terms of such agreements in effect on the Issue Date;

(10) transactions with Unrestricted Subsidiaries, customers, clients, suppliers, or purchasers or sellers of goods or services in each case in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with this First Supplemental Indenture, which are fair to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, in the reasonable determination of the Board of Directors of the Company, an executive officer of the Company or an executive officer of such Restricted Subsidiary with responsibility for such transaction (whose determination shall be conclusive evidence of compliance with this provision) or are on terms at least as favorable as might reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party;

(11) transactions between the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and any Person, a director of which is also a director of the Company and such director is the sole cause for such Person to be deemed an Affiliate of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, provided however that such director shall abstain from voting as a director of the Company on any matter involving such other Person;

(12) any transaction in which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as the case may be, deliver to the Trustee, a written opinion from an Independent Qualified Party to the effect that such Affiliate Transaction is fair, from a financial standpoint, to the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries or is not less favorable to the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries than could reasonably be expected to be obtained at the time in an arm’s-length transaction with a Person who was not an Affiliate;

(13) guarantees of performance by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company’s Unrestricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, except for guarantees of Indebtedness in respect of borrowed money; and

(14) if such Affiliate Transaction is with a Person in its capacity as a holder of Indebtedness or Capital Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary where such Person is treated no more favorably than the holders of Indebtedness or Capital Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary.

SECTION 4.10.  Limitation on Line of Business . The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary, to engage in any business other than a Related Business.

 

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SECTION 4.11.  Change of Control . (a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Repurchase Event, 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 due on the relevant Interest Payment Date), in accordance with the terms contemplated in Section 4.11(b) of this First Supplemental Indenture.

(b) Within 30 days following any Change of Control Repurchase Event, the Company shall mail or otherwise deliver in accordance with the procedures of DTC a notice to each Holder with a copy to the Trustee (the “Change of Control Offer”) stating:

(1) that a Change of Control Repurchase Event 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 on the date of purchase, 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) the circumstances and relevant facts regarding such Change of Control Repurchase Event (including information with respect to pro forma historical income, cash flow and capitalization, in each case after giving effect to such 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 delivered); and

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

(c) Holders electing to have a Security purchased will 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 will be entitled to withdraw their election 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 shall be delivered by the Company to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Company shall pay the purchase price plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Holders entitled thereto.

(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, the Company shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer following a Change of Control Repurchase Event if (a) a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Section applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and purchases all Securities validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer or (b) a notice of redemption has been given pursuant to Section 3.04 of this First Supplemental Indenture unless and until there is a default in payment of the applicable redemption price.

 

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(f) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, a Change of Control Offer by the Company or a third party may be made in advance of a Change of Control Repurchase Event, and conditioned upon the occurrence of such Change of Control Repurchase Event, if a definitive agreement is in place for a Change of Control at the time of making the Change of Control Offer.

(g) In the event that Holders of not less than 90% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Securities accept a Change of Control Offer and the Company purchases all of the Securities held by such Holders, the Company will have the right, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, to elect, within 30 days following the purchase pursuant to the Change of Control Offer described above, to redeem all of the Securities that remain outstanding following such purchase at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof on the date of purchase 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 due on the relevant interest payment date).

(h) The Company shall comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations in connection with the repurchase of Securities pursuant to this Section. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with provisions of this Section, the Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section by virtue of its compliance with such securities laws or regulations.

SECTION 4.12.  Limitation on Liens . The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, Incur or permit to exist any Lien of any nature whatsoever on any of its properties (including Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary), whether owned at the Issue Date or thereafter acquired, other than Permitted Liens, without effectively providing that the Securities or the Subsidiary Guaranty, as the case may be, shall be secured equally and ratably with the obligations so secured (or in the case of Subordinated Obligations, prior or senior thereto, with the same relative priority as the Securities shall have with respect to such Subordinated Obligations) for so long as such obligation is secured.

SECTION 4.13.  Limitation on Sale/Leaseback Transactions . The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any Sale/Leaseback Transaction with respect to any property unless (a) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary would be entitled to (1) Incur Indebtedness in an amount equal to the Attributable Debt with respect to such Sale/Leaseback Transaction pursuant to Section 4.05 of this First Supplemental Indenture and (2) create a Lien on such property securing such Attributable Debt without equally and ratably securing the Securities pursuant to Section 4.12 of this First Supplemental Indenture, (b) the net proceeds received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such Sale/Leaseback Transaction are at least equal to the fair market value (as determined by the Board of Directors) of such property and (c) the Company applies the proceeds of such transaction in compliance with Section 4.08 of this First Supplemental Indenture.

 

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SECTION 4.14.  Future Guarantors . The Company shall cause each domestic Restricted Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary and that Incurs any Indebtedness in an original principal amount greater than the De Minimis Guaranteed Amount to, and each Foreign Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary and that enters into a Guarantee of any Senior Indebtedness (other than a Foreign Subsidiary that Guarantees Senior Indebtedness Incurred by another Foreign Subsidiary), to, in each case, at the same time, execute and deliver to the Trustee a Guaranty Agreement pursuant to which such Restricted Subsidiary will Guarantee payment of the Securities on the same terms and conditions as those set forth in Article 9 of this First Supplemental Indenture.

SECTION 4.15.  Further Instruments and Acts . Upon request of the Trustee, the Company will execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more effectively the purpose of this First Supplemental Indenture.

ARTICLE 5

Successor Company

SECTION 5.01.  Original Indenture . Article VIII of the Original Indenture shall not apply to the Securities and hereafter shall be void and of no force and effect.

SECTION 5.02.  When Company May Merge or Transfer Assets . (a) The Company shall not consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease, in one transaction or a series of transactions, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all its assets to, any Person, unless:

(1) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person (the “Successor Company”) shall be a Person organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and the Successor Company (if not the Company) shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, all the obligations of the Company under the Securities and the Indenture;

(2) immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Successor Company or any Subsidiary as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor Company or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction), no Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

(3) immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction and any related financing transactions as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, the Successor Company would either (x) be able to Incur an additional $1.00 of Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.05(a) of this First Supplemental Indenture; (y) have a Consolidated Coverage Ratio that is not less than the Consolidated Coverage Ratio of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such transaction; or (z) have a Consolidated Net Worth that is not less than the Consolidated Net Worth of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such transaction; and

 

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(4) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with the Indenture;

provided, however , that clause (3) will not be applicable to (A) a Restricted Subsidiary consolidating with, merging into or transferring all or part of its properties and assets to the Company or another Subsidiary Guarantor or (B) the Company merging with an Affiliate of the Company solely for the purpose and with the sole effect of reincorporating the Company in another jurisdiction under the law of the United States or any political subdivision or State thereof.

For purposes of this Section 5.02, the sale, lease, conveyance, assignment, transfer or other disposition in a single transaction or series of related transactions of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of one or more Subsidiaries of the Company, which properties and assets, if held by the Company instead of such Subsidiaries, would constitute all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company on a consolidated basis, shall be deemed to be the transfer of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company.

The Successor Company shall be the successor to the Company and shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under the Indenture, and the predecessor Company, except in the case of a lease, shall be released from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest on the Securities.

(b) The Company shall not permit any Subsidiary Guarantor to consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease, in one transaction or series of transactions, all or substantially all of its assets to any Person unless:

(1) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person (if not such Subsidiary) shall be a Person organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction under which such Subsidiary was organized or under the laws of the United States, or any State thereof or the District of Columbia, and such Person shall expressly assume, by an amendment to the Indenture, in a form satisfactory to the Trustee, all the obligations of such Subsidiary, if any, under its Subsidiary Guaranty (except in the case of a Subsidiary Guarantor (x) that has been disposed of in its entirety to another Person (other than to the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company), whether through a merger, consolidation or sale of Capital Stock or assets, (y) that, as a result of the disposition of all or a portion of its Capital Stock, ceases to be a Subsidiary or (z) that has otherwise been released from its Subsidiary Guaranty in accordance with the terms thereof and the terms of this First Supplemental Indenture, in each case, if in connection therewith the Company provides an Officers’ Certificate to the Trustee to the effect that the Company will comply with its obligations under Section 4.08 of this First Supplemental Indenture in respect of such disposition);

 

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(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction or transactions on a pro forma basis (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the resulting, surviving or transferee Person as a result of such transaction as having been issued by such Person at the time of such transaction), no Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and

(3) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such Guaranty Agreement, if any, complies with the Indenture.

The successor Subsidiary Guarantor shall be the successor to the Subsidiary Guarantor and shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Subsidiary Guarantor under the Indenture, and the predecessor Subsidiary Guarantor, except in the case of a lease, shall be released from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest on the Securities.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Subsidiary Guarantor may merge with or into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to a Subsidiary Guarantor or the Company or merge with a Subsidiary Guarantor of the Company, as long as (1) immediately after giving effect to such transaction or transactions on a pro forma basis (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the resulting, surviving or transferee Person as a result of such transaction as having been issued by such Person at the time of such transaction), no Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (2) the amount of Indebtedness of such Subsidiary Guarantor and its Restricted Subsidiaries is not materially increased thereby.

ARTICLE 6

Defaults and Remedies

SECTION 6.01.  Original Indenture . Article V and 602 and 1004 of the Original Indenture shall not apply to the Securities and hereafter shall be void and of no force and effect and any reference in the Original Indenture to Article V shall be deemed to refer to Article VI of this First Supplemental Indenture and any reference in the Original Indenture to Sections 602 and 1004 thereof shall be deemed to refer to Section 6.05 of this First Supplemental Indenture.

SECTION 6.02.  Events of Default . An “Event of Default” occurs if:

(1) the Company defaults in any payment of interest on any Security when the same becomes due and payable, and such default continues for a period of 30 days;

(2) the Company (A) defaults in the payment of the principal of any Security when the same becomes due and payable at its Stated Maturity, upon optional redemption, upon declaration of acceleration or otherwise, or (B) fails to redeem or purchase Securities when required pursuant to this First Supplemental Indenture or the Securities;

 

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(3) the Company fails to comply with Section 5.02 of this First Supplemental Indenture above;

(4) the Company fails to comply with Section 4.04, 4.05, 4.06, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.14 or 4.15 of this First Supplemental Indenture (other than a failure to purchase Securities when required under Section 4.08 or 4.11) and such failure continues for 60 days after the notice specified below;

(5) the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor fails to comply with any of its agreements in the Indenture (other than those referred to in clause (1), (2), (3) or (4) above) and such failure continues for 90 days after the notice specified below;

(6) Indebtedness of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary is not paid within any applicable grace period after final maturity or is accelerated by the Holders thereof because of a default and the total amount of such Indebtedness unpaid or accelerated exceeds $25.0 million, or its foreign currency equivalent at the time, provided , that if any such default is cured or waived or any such acceleration rescinded, or such Indebtedness is repaid, within a period of 30 days from the continuation of such default beyond the applicable grace period or the occurrence of such acceleration, as the case may be, such Event of Default under the Indenture and any consequential acceleration of the Securities shall be automatically rescinded;

(7) the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

(A) commences a voluntary case;

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

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

(D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or takes any comparable action under any foreign laws relating to insolvency;

(8) 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, a Subsidiary Guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case;

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

 

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(C) orders the winding up or liquidation of the Company, a Subsidiary Guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary;

or any similar relief is granted under any foreign laws and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days;

(9) the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary fails to pay final, non-appealable judgments (to the extent not covered by insurance) aggregating in excess of $25.0 million or its foreign currency equivalent for a period of 60 consecutive days following such judgment; or

(10) any Subsidiary Guaranty ceases to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with the terms of such Subsidiary Guaranty) or any Subsidiary Guarantor denies or disaffirms its obligations under its Subsidiary Guaranty, as the case may be.

The foregoing will constitute Events of Default whatever the reason for any such Event of Default and whether it is voluntary or involuntary or is effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body.

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

A Default under clause (4) or (5) above is not an Event of Default until the Company receives from the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities a notice specifying the default, demanding that the default be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” and the Company does not cure such Default within the time specified above after receipt of such notice.

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 30 days after becoming aware of the occurrence thereof, written notice in the form of an Officers’ Certificate of any Event of Default under clause (6) or (10) above and any event which with the giving of notice or the lapse of time would become an Event of Default under clause (4), (5) or (9) above, its status and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

SECTION 6.03.  Acceleration . If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 6.02(7) or (8) of this First Supplemental Indenture with respect to the Company) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee by notice (as specified below) to the Company, or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities by notice (as specified below) to the Company and the Trustee, may declare the principal of and accrued but unpaid interest on all the Securities to be due and payable by notice in writing to the Company specifying such Event of Default and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Acceleration.” Upon such a declaration, such principal and interest shall be due and payable immediately. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.02(7) or (8) of this First Supplemental Indenture with respect to the Company occurs and is continuing, the principal of and interest on all the Securities shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Securityholders. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities by notice to the Trustee may waive an existing or past Event of Default and its consequences and may also rescind any such acceleration and its consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default have been cured or waived except nonpayment of principal or interest that has become due solely because of acceleration. No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereto.

 

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SECTION 6.04.  Other Remedies . If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal of or interest on the Securities or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Securities or the Indenture.

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 Securityholder 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 6.05.  Control by Majority . The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the Indenture or, subject to Section 601 of the Original Indenture, that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Securityholders or would involve the Trustee in personal liability; provided, however , that the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction. Subject to Section 601 of the Original Indenture, in case an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee will have no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers under the Indenture at the request or direction of the Securityholders unless prior to taking any action hereunder, such Securityholders have offered reasonable indemnification or security against all losses, liability and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.

SECTION 6.06.  Limitation on Suits . Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium (if any) or interest when due, no Securityholder may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Securities unless:

(1) the Holder gives to the Trustee written notice stating that an Event of Default is continuing;

(2) the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Securities make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

(3) such Holder or Holders offer to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against any loss, liability or expense;

(4) the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer of security or indemnity; and

 

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(5) the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request during such 60-day period.

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

SECTION 6.07.  Rights of Holders to Receive Payment . Notwithstanding any other provision of the Indenture, the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of and interest on the Securities held by such Holder, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Securities, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

SECTION 6.08.  Collection Suit by Trustee . If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.02(1) or (2) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount then due and owing (together with interest on any unpaid interest to the extent lawful) and the amounts provided for in Section 607 of the Original Indenture.

SECTION 6.09.  Trustee May File Proofs of Claim . The Trustee may file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and the Securityholders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company, its creditors or its property and, unless prohibited by law or applicable regulations, participate as a member of any official committee of creditors appointed in such matter and may vote on behalf of the Holders in any election of a trustee in bankruptcy or other Person performing similar functions, and any Custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and its counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 607 of the Original Indenture.

Priorities . If the Trustee collects any money or property pursuant to this Article 6, it shall pay out the money or property in the following order:

FIRST: to the Trustee for amounts due under Section 607 of the Original Indenture;

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

THIRD: to the Company.

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Securityholders pursuant to this Section. At least 15 days before such record date, the Company shall mail or otherwise deliver in accordance with the procedures of DTC to each Securityholder and the Trustee a notice that states the record date, the payment date and amount to be paid.

 

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SECTION 6.10.  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, 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 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.07 of this First Supplemental Indenture or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the Securities.

SECTION 6.11.  Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws . The Company (to the extent it may lawfully do so) shall not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and shall not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

SECTION 6.12.  Notice of Defaults . If a Default occurs, is continuing and is known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail or otherwise deliver in accordance with the procedures of DTC to each Holder of the Securities notice of the Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a Default in the payment of principal or of interest of or on any Securities, the Trustee may withhold notice if an so long as a committee of its Trust Officers determines that withholding notice is not opposed to the interest of the Holders of the Securities. In addition, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, a certificate signed by its principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer, stating whether or not, to the knowledge of such officer, the Company is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder) and, if the Company shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which they may have knowledge.

ARTICLE 7

Discharge of Indenture; Defeasance

SECTION 7.01.  Original Indenture . Articles IV and XIII of the Original Indenture shall not apply to the Securities and hereafter shall be void and of no force and effect.

SECTION 7.02.  Discharge of Liability on Securities; Defeasance . (a) When (1) the Company delivers to the Trustee all outstanding Securities (other than Securities replaced pursuant to Section 306 of the Original Indenture) for cancellation or (2) all outstanding Securities have become due and payable, whether at maturity or on a Redemption Date as a result of the mailing or delivery of a notice of redemption pursuant to Article 3 hereof (it being understood that all outstanding Securities will be deemed to be due and payable on such Redemption Date upon the mailing or delivery of such notice of redemption), and, in the case of clause (2), the Company irrevocably deposits with the Trustee funds sufficient to pay at maturity or upon redemption all outstanding Securities, including interest thereon to maturity or such Redemption Date (other than Securities replaced pursuant to Section 306 of the Original Indenture), and if in either case the Company pays all other sums payable hereunder by the Company, then this First Supplemental Indenture shall, subject to Section 7.02(c) of this First Supplemental Indenture, cease to be of further effect. The Trustee shall acknowledge satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture on demand of the Company accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel and at the cost and expense of the Company.

 

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(b) Subject to Sections 7.02(c) and 7.03 of this First Supplemental Indenture, the Company at any time may terminate (1) all its obligations under the Securities and the Indenture (“legal defeasance option”) or (2) its obligations under Sections 4.04, 4.05, 4.06, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13 and 4.14 of this First Supplemental Indenture and the operation of Sections 6.02(4), 6.02(6), 6.02(7), 6.02(8), 6.02(9) and 6.02(10) of this First Supplemental Indenture (but, in the case of Sections 6.02 (7) and (8), with respect only to Significant Subsidiaries and Subsidiary Guarantors) and the limitations contained in Section 5.02(a)(3) of this First Supplemental Indenture (“covenant defeasance option”). The Company may exercise its legal defeasance option notwithstanding its prior exercise of its covenant defeasance option.

If the Company exercises its legal defeasance option, payment of the Securities may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default with respect thereto. If the Company exercises its covenant defeasance option, payment of the Securities may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in Sections 6.02(4), 6.02(5), 6.02(6), 6.02(7), 6.02(8), 6.02(9), 6.02(10) of this First Supplemental Indenture (but, in the case of Sections 6.02(6) and (7), with respect only to Significant Subsidiaries and Subsidiary Guarantors) or because of the failure of the Company to comply with Section 5.02(a)(3) of this First Supplemental Indenture. If the Company exercises its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option, each Subsidiary Guarantor, if any, shall be released from all of its obligations with respect to its Subsidiary Guaranty.

Upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth herein and upon request of the Company, the Trustee shall acknowledge in writing the discharge of those obligations that the Company terminates.

(c) Notwithstanding clauses (a) and (b) above, the Company’s obligations in Sections 305, 306, 307, 607 and 610 of the Original Indenture and in this Article 7 shall survive until the Securities have been paid in full. Thereafter, the Company’s obligations in Sections 607 of the Original Indenture, 7.04 and 7.05 of this First Supplemental Indenture shall survive.

SECTION 7.03.  Conditions to Defeasance . The Company may exercise its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option only if:

(1) the Company irrevocably deposits in trust with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Obligations for the payment of principal of and interest on the Securities to maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

 

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(2) the Company delivers to the Trustee a certificate from a nationally recognized firm of independent accountants expressing their opinion that the payments of principal and interest when due and without reinvestment on the deposited U.S. Government Obligations plus any deposited money without investment will provide cash at such times and in such amounts as will be sufficient to pay principal and interest when due on all the Securities to maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

(3) 123 days pass after the deposit is made and during the 123-day period no Default specified in Sections 6.02(7) or (8) of this First Supplemental Indenture with respect to the Company occurs which is continuing at the end of the period;

(4) the deposit does not constitute a default under any other agreement binding on the Company is not prohibited by Article 9;

(5) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the trust resulting from the deposit does not constitute, or is qualified as, a regulated investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940;

(6) in the case of the legal defeasance option, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (B) since the date of this First Supplemental Indenture there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Securityholders will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such 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 defeasance had not occurred;

(7) in the case of the covenant defeasance option, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Securityholders 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; and

(8) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the defeasance and discharge of the Securities as contemplated by this Article 7 have been complied with.

Before or after a deposit, the Company may make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of Securities at a future date in accordance with Article 3.

SECTION 7.04.  Application of Trust Money . The Trustee shall hold in trust money or U.S. Government Obligations deposited with it pursuant to this Article 7. It shall apply the deposited money and the money from U.S. Government Obligations through the Paying Agent and in accordance with the Indenture to the payment of principal of and interest on the Securities.

 

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SECTION 7.05.  Repayment to Company . The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall promptly turn over to the Company upon request any excess money or securities held by them at any time.

Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, the Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal or interest that remains unclaimed for two years, and, thereafter, Securityholders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors.

SECTION 7.06.  Indemnity for Government Obligations . The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against deposited U.S. Government Obligations or the principal and interest received on such U.S. Government Obligations.

SECTION 7.07.  Reinstatement . If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article 7 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company’s obligations under the Indenture and the Securities shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article 7 until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article 7; provided, however , that, if the Company has made any payment of interest on or principal of any Securities because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money or U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

ARTICLE 8

Amendments and Waivers

SECTION 8.01.  Original Indenture . Article IX of the Original Indenture shall not apply to the Securities and hereafter shall be void and of no force and effect.

SECTION 8.02.  Without Consent of Holders . The Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee may amend this First Supplemental Indenture or the Securities without notice to or consent of any Securityholder:

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

(2) to comply with Article 5;

(3) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities; provided, however , that the uncertificated Securities are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Code or in a manner such that the uncertificated Securities are described in Section 163(f)(2)(B) of the Code;

 

77


(4) to add Guarantees with respect to the Securities, including any Subsidiary Guaranties, or to evidence the release of any Subsidiary Guarantor from its Subsidiary Guaranty as provided in this First Supplemental Indenture;

(5) to secure the Securities or the Subsidiary Guaranties, including pursuant to the requirements of Section 4.12 of this First Supplemental Indenture;

(6) to add to the covenants of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor for the benefit of the Holders or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor;

(7) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder;

(8) to conform the text of this First Supplemental Indenture, the Securities or the Guarantees to any provision of the section entitled “Description of the notes” in the Prospectus to the extent that such provision such section was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of this First Supplemental Indenture, the Securities or the Guaranties;

(9) to comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with qualifying, or maintaining the qualification of, this First Supplemental Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; or

(10) to make any amendment to the provisions of this First Supplemental Indenture relating to the form, authentication, transfer and legending of Securities; provided, however , that (a) compliance with this First Supplemental Indenture as so amended would not result in Securities being transferred in violation of the Securities Act or any other applicable securities law and (b) such amendment does not materially adversely affect the rights of Holders with respect to transfer of the Securities.

After an amendment under this Section becomes effective, the Company shall mail or otherwise deliver in accordance with the procedures of DTC to Securityholders a notice briefly describing such amendment. The failure to give such notice to all Securityholders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this Section.

SECTION 8.03.  With Consent of Holders . The Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee may amend this First Supplemental Indenture or the Securities with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Securities then outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Securities) and any past default or non-compliance with any provisions may also be waived with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Securities outstanding. However, without the consent of each Securityholder affected thereby, an amendment or waiver may not:

(1) reduce the amount of Securities whose Holders must consent to an amendment;

 

78


(2) reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest on any Security;

(3) reduce the principal of or change the Stated Maturity of any Security;

(4) change the provisions applicable to the redemption of any Security contained in Article 3 or Section 3.02 of this First Supplemental Indenture;

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

(6) impair the right of any Holder of the Securities to receive payment of principal of and interest on such Holder’s Securities on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Holder’s Securities.

(7) make any change in or waiver of the provisions of Sections 508 or 512 of the Original Indenture or Section 6.03 or this Section 8.03 of this First Supplemental Indenture;

(8) make any change in the ranking or priority of any Security that would adversely affect the Securityholders; or

(9) release, other than in accordance with this First Supplemental Indenture, any Subsidiary Guaranty that would adversely affect the Securityholders.

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

After an amendment under this Section becomes effective, the Company shall mail or otherwise deliver in accordance with the procedures of DTC to Securityholders a notice briefly describing such amendment. The failure to give such notice to all Securityholders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this Section.

SECTION 8.04.  Compliance with Trust Indenture Act . Every amendment to this First Supplemental Indenture or the Securities shall comply with the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.

SECTION 8.05.  Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers . A consent to an amendment or a waiver by a Holder of a Security shall bind the Holder and every subsequent Holder of that Security or portion of the Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if notation of the consent or waiver is not made on the Security. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent or waiver as to such Holder’s Security or portion of the Security if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date the amendment or waiver becomes effective. After an amendment or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every Securityholder. An amendment or waiver becomes effective upon the execution of such amendment or waiver by the Trustee.

 

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The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Securityholders entitled to give their consent or take any other action described above or required or permitted to be taken pursuant to this First Supplemental Indenture. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Securityholders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to give such consent or to revoke any consent previously given or to take any such action, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record date.

SECTION 8.06.  Notation on or Exchange of Securities . If an amendment 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 regarding 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 the appropriate notation or to issue a new Security shall not affect the validity of such amendment.

SECTION 8.07.  Trustee To Sign Amendments . The Trustee shall sign any amendment authorized pursuant to this Article 8 if the amendment does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. If it does, the Trustee may but need not sign it. In signing such amendment the Trustee shall be entitled to receive indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it and to receive, and (subject to Section 601 of the Original Indenture) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that such amendment is authorized or permitted by the Indenture and that such amendment is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions, and complies with the provisions hereof (including Section 8.04 of this First Supplemental Indenture).

SECTION 8.08.  Payment for Consent . Neither the Company nor any Affiliate of the Company shall, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration, whether by way of interest, fee or otherwise, to any Holder for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or provisions of this First Supplemental Indenture or the Securities unless such consideration is offered to be paid to all Holders that so consent, waive or agree to amend in the time frame set forth in solicitation documents relating to such consent, waiver or agreement.

ARTICLE 9

Subsidiary Guaranties

SECTION 9.01.  Guaranties . Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees, jointly and severally, to each Holder and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns (a) the full payment of principal of and interest on the Securities when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, and all other monetary obligations of the Company under this First Supplemental Indenture and the Securities and (b) the full performance within applicable grace periods of all other obligations of the Company under this First Supplemental Indenture and the Securities (all the foregoing being hereinafter collectively called the “Guaranteed Obligations”). Each Subsidiary Guarantor further agrees that the Guaranteed Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice or further assent from such Subsidiary Guarantor and that such Subsidiary Guarantor will remain bound under this Article 9 notwithstanding any extension or renewal of any Guaranteed Obligation.

 

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Each Subsidiary Guarantor waives presentation to, demand of, payment from and protest to the Company of any of the Guaranteed Obligations and also waives notice of protest for nonpayment. Each Subsidiary Guarantor waives notice of any default under the Securities or the Guaranteed Obligations. The obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder shall not be affected by (1) the failure of any Holder or the Trustee to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any right or remedy against the Company or any other Person (including any Subsidiary Guarantor) under the Indenture, the Securities or any other agreement or otherwise; (2) any extension or renewal of any thereof; (3) any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of any of the terms or provisions of the Indenture, the Securities or any other agreement; (4) the release of any security held by any Holder or the Trustee for the Guaranteed Obligations or any of them; (5) the failure of any Holder or the Trustee to exercise any right or remedy against any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations; or (6) except as set forth in Section 9.06 of this First Supplemental Indenture, any change in the ownership of such Subsidiary Guarantor.

Each Subsidiary Guarantor further agrees that its Subsidiary Guaranty herein constitutes a guarantee of payment, performance and compliance when due (and not a guarantee of collection) and waives any right to require that any resort be had by any Holder or the Trustee to any security held for payment of the Guaranteed Obligations.

Except as expressly set forth in Sections 7.02(b), 9.02 and 9.06 of this First Supplemental Indenture, the obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason, including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise, and shall not be subject to any defense of setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever or by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Obligations or otherwise. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor herein shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by the failure of any Holder or the Trustee to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy under the Indenture, the Securities or any other agreement, by any waiver or modification of any thereof, by any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of the obligations, or by any other act or thing or omission or delay to do any other act or thing which may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of such Subsidiary Guarantor or would otherwise operate as a discharge of such Subsidiary Guarantor as a matter of law or equity.

Each Subsidiary Guarantor further agrees that its Guarantee herein shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of principal of or interest on any Guaranteed Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by any Holder or the Trustee upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company or otherwise.

 

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In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right which any Holder or the Trustee has at law or in equity against any Subsidiary Guarantor by virtue hereof, upon the failure of the Company to pay the principal of or interest on any Guaranteed Obligation when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, or to perform or comply with any other Guaranteed Obligation, each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby promises to and shall, upon receipt of written demand by the Trustee, forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, in cash, to the Holders or the Trustee an amount equal to the sum of (A) the unpaid amount of such Guaranteed Obligations, (B) accrued and unpaid interest on such Guaranteed Obligations (but only to the extent not prohibited by law) and (C) all other monetary Guaranteed Obligations of the Company to the Holders and the Trustee.

Each Subsidiary Guarantor further agrees that, as between it, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (i) the maturity of the Guaranteed Obligations may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 for the purposes of such Subsidiary Guarantor’s Subsidiary Guaranty herein, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations, and (ii) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such Obligations as provided in Article 6, such Guaranteed Obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by such Subsidiary Guarantor for the purposes of this Section.

Each Subsidiary Guarantor also agrees to pay any and all costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred by the Trustee or any Holder in enforcing any rights under this Section.

SECTION 9.02.  Limitation on Liability . Any term or provision of the Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, the maximum aggregate amount of the Guaranteed Obligations by any Subsidiary Guarantor shall not exceed the maximum amount that can be hereby guaranteed without rendering the Indenture, as it relates to such Subsidiary Guarantor, voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally.

SECTION 9.03.  Successors and Assigns . This Article 9 shall be binding upon each Subsidiary Guarantor and its successors and assigns and shall enure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Trustee and the Holders and, in the event of any transfer or assignment of rights by any Holder or the Trustee, the rights and privileges conferred upon that party in the Indenture and in the Securities shall automatically extend to and be vested in such transferee or assignee, all subject to the terms and conditions of the Indenture.

SECTION 9.04.  No Waiver . Neither a failure nor a delay on the part of either the Trustee or the Holders in exercising any right, power or privilege under this Article 9 shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall a single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise of any right, power or privilege. The rights, remedies and benefits of the Trustee and the Holders herein expressly specified are cumulative and not exclusive of any other rights, remedies or benefits which either may have under this Article 9 at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise.

 

82


SECTION 9.05.  Modification . No modification, amendment or waiver of any provision of this Article 9, nor the consent to any departure by any Subsidiary Guarantor therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Trustee, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. No notice to or demand on any Subsidiary Guarantor in any case shall entitle such Subsidiary Guarantor to any other or further notice or demand in the same, similar or other circumstances.

SECTION 9.06.  Release of Subsidiary Guarantor . A Subsidiary Guarantor will be released from its obligations under this Article 9 (other than any obligation that may have arisen under Section 9.07 of this First Supplemental Indenture):

(1) upon the sale or other disposition (including by way of consolidation or merger) of such Subsidiary Guarantor or following which such Subsidiary Guarantor is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary;

(2) upon the sale or disposition of all or substantially all the assets of such Subsidiary Guarantor;

(3) upon the designation of such Subsidiary Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of this First Supplemental Indenture;

(4) at such time as such Subsidiary Guarantor does not have any Indebtedness outstanding that would have required such Subsidiary Guarantor to enter into a Guaranty Agreement pursuant to Section 4.14 of this First Supplemental Indenture and the Company provides an Officers’ Certificate to the Trustee certifying that no such Indebtedness is outstanding and that the Company elects to have such Subsidiary Guarantor released from this Article 9;

(5) upon defeasance of the Securities or discharge of this First Supplemental Indenture pursuant to Article 7 of this First Supplemental Indenture; or

(6) upon the liquidation or dissolution of any Subsidiary Guarantor, provided no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;

provided, however , that in the case of clauses (1) and (2) above, (i) such sale or other disposition is made to a Person other than the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company, (ii) such sale or disposition is otherwise permitted by this First Supplemental Indenture and (iii) the Company provides an Officers’ Certificate to the Trustee to the effect that the Company will comply with its obligations under Section 4.07 of this First Supplemental Indenture.

At the request of the Company, the Trustee shall execute and deliver an appropriate instrument evidencing such release.

 

83


SECTION 9.07.  Contribution . Each Subsidiary Guarantor that makes a payment under its Subsidiary Guaranty shall be entitled upon payment in full of all guarantied obligations under the Indenture to a contribution from each other Subsidiary Guarantor in an amount equal to such other Subsidiary Guarantor’s pro rata portion of such payment based on the respective net assets of all the Subsidiary Guarantors at the time of such payment determined in accordance with GAAP.

ARTICLE 10

Miscellaneous

SECTION 10.01.  Communication by Holders with Other Holders . Securityholders may communicate pursuant to Trust Indenture Act § 312(b) with other Securityholders with respect to their rights under the Indenture or the Securities. The Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of Trust Indenture Act § 312(c).

SECTION 10.02.  When Securities Disregarded . In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Securities have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Securities owned by the Company or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding, except that, for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Securities which the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Also, subject to the foregoing, only Securities outstanding at the time shall be considered in any such determination.

SECTION 10.03.  No Recourse Against Others . Section 114 of the Original Indenture shall not apply to the Securities and hereafter shall be void and of no force and effect and any reference in the Original Indenture to Section 114 thereof shall be deemed to refer to this Section 10.03 of this First Supplemental Indenture. No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder, of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor will have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor under the Securities, any Subsidiary Guaranty, or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Security shall waive and releases all such liability. The waiver and release shall be part of the consideration for issuance of the Securities.

SECTION 10.04.  Effect of Headings and Table of Contents . The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

SECTION 10.05.  Successors and Assigns . All covenants and agreements in the Indenture by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not. All agreements of the Trustee in the Indenture shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

 

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SECTION 10.06.  Separability Clause . In case any provision in this First Supplemental 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 10.07.  Governing Law . This First Supplemental Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

SECTION 10.08.  Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar . The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Securityholders. The Registrar and the Paying Agent may make reasonable rules for their functions.

SECTION 10.09.  No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements . This First Supplemental indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or its Subsidiaries or of any other Person, other than the Original Indenture. Other than the Original Indenture, no such indenture, loan or debt agreement may be used to interpret this First Supplemental Indenture

SECTION 10.10.  Multiple Originals . The parties may sign any number of copies of this First Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. One signed copy is enough to prove this First Supplemental Indenture.

 

85


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

 

EXCO RESOURCES, INC.,
By  

      /s/ William L. Boeing

Name:   William L. Boeing
Title:   Vice President, General
  Counsel and Secretary
EXCO SERVICES, INC.
By  

      /s/ William L. Boeing

Name:   William L. Boeing
Title:   Vice President, General
  Counsel and Secretary
EXCO PARTNERS GP, LLC
By  

      /s/ William L. Boeing

Name:   William L. Boeing
Title:   Vice President, General
  Counsel and Secretary
EXCO GP PARTNERS OLD, LP
By:  EXCO PARTNERS GP, LLC, its general partner
By  

      /s/ William L. Boeing

Name:   William L. Boeing
Title:  

Vice President, General

Counsel and Secretary

EXCO PARTNERS OLP GP, LLC
By  

      /s/ William L. Boeing

Name:   William L. Boeing
Title:  

Vice President, General

Counsel and Secretary


EXCO OPERATING COMPANY, LP
By:  EXCO PARTNERS OLP GP, LLC
its general partner
By  

      /s/ William L. Boeing

Name:   William L. Boeing
Title:  

Vice President, General

Counsel and Secretary

VERNON GATHERING, LLC
By  

      /s/ William L. Boeing

Name:   William L. Boeing
Title:  

Vice President, General

Counsel and Secretary

EXCO MIDCONTINENT MLP, LLC
By  

      /s/ William L. Boeing

Name:   William L. Boeing
Title:  

Vice President, General

Counsel and Secretary

EXCO HOLDING (PA), INC.
By  

      /s/ William L. Boeing

Name:   William L. Boeing
Title:   Vice President and Secretary
EXCO PRODUCTION COMPANY (PA), LLC
By  

      /s/ William L. Boeing

Name:   William L. Boeing
Title:   Vice President and Secretary

 

2


EXCO PRODUCTION COMPANY (WV), LLC
By  

      /s/ William L. Boeing

Name:   William L. Boeing
Title:   Vice President and Secretary
EXCO EQUIPMENT LEASING, LLC
By  

      /s/ William L. Boeing

Name:   William L. Boeing
Title:  

Vice President, General

Counsel and Secretary

EXCO RESOURCES (XA), LLC
By  

      /s/ William L. Boeing

Name:   William L. Boeing
Title:   Vice President and Secretary

 

3


WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee

By

 

/s/ W. Thomas Morris, II

Name:

  W. Thomas Morris, II

Title:

  Vice President

 

4


EXHIBIT A

[FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY]

[Global Securities Legend]

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

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


No.                $             

 

         CUSIP:    [             ] 1
         ISIN:    [             ] 2

7.500% Senior Notes Due 2018

EXCO Resources, Inc., a Texas corporation, promises to pay to “Cede & Co.”, or registered assigns, the principal sum of Dollars on September 15, 2018.

Interest Payment Dates: March 15 and September 15.

Record Dates: March 1 and September 1.

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

 

1

CUSIP: 269279AD7

2

ISIN: US269279AD75


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

Dated:                     , 20     

 

EXCO RESOURCES, INC.
By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

2


TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY

as Trustee, certifies that this is one of the Securities referred to in the Indenture.

Dated:

 

By  

 

  Authorized Signatory

 

3


[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF SECURITY]

7.500% Senior Note Due 2018

1. Interest

EXCO Resources, Inc., a Texas corporation (such corporation, and its successors and assigns under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, being herein called the “Company”), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Security at the rate per annum shown above. Interest on the Securities will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from September 15, 2010. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. The Company will pay interest on overdue principal at the rate borne by this Security plus 1.0% per annum, and it will pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful.

2. Method of Payment

The Company will pay interest on the Securities (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered holders of Securities at the close of business on the March 1 or September 1 next preceding the interest payment date even if Securities are canceled after the record date and on or before the interest payment date. Holders must surrender Securities to a Paying Agent to collect principal payments. The Company will pay principal and interest in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Payments in respect of the Securities represented by a Global Security (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by Global Security Holder. The Company will make all payments of principal, interest and premium, if any, with respect to certificated Securities 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) or, if no such account is specified, by mailing a check to each such Holder’s registered address.

3. Paying Agent and Registrar

Initially, Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking corporation (the “Trustee”), will act as Paying Agent and Security Registrar. The Company may appoint and change any Paying Agent, Security Registrar or co-registrar without notice. The Company or any of its domestically incorporated Wholly Owned Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent, Security Registrar or co-registrar.

4. Indenture

First Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 15, 2010, (the “First Supplemental Indenture”) among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee from time to time party hereto and the Trustee, and the Company and the Trustee executed and delivered an Indenture, dated as of September 15, 2010 (the “Original Indenture”, together with the First Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”). The terms of the Securities include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of the Indenture (the “Act”). Terms defined in the Indenture and not defined herein have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture. The Securities are subject to all such terms, and Securityholders are referred to the Indenture and the Act for a statement of those terms.

 

4


The Securities are senior obligations of the Company. The Company shall be entitled, subject to its compliance with Section 4.05 of the First Supplemental Indenture, to issue Additional Securities pursuant to Section 1.01 of the First Supplemental Indenture. The Securities issued on the Issue Date and any Additional Securities will be treated as a single class for all purposes under the Indenture. The Indenture contains covenants that limit the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to incur additional indebtedness; pay dividends or distributions on, or redeem or repurchase capital stock; make investments; engage in transactions with affiliates; create liens on assets; transfer or sell assets; guarantee indebtedness; restrict dividends or other payments of subsidiaries; consolidate, merge or transfer all or substantially all of its assets and the assets of its subsidiaries; and engage in sale/leaseback transactions. These covenants are subject to important exceptions and qualifications.

5. Optional Redemption

The Company shall be entitled to redeem the Securities as set forth in Section 3.02 of the First Supplemental Indenture.

6. [Reserved]

7. Put Provisions

Upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event, any Holder of Securities will have the right to cause the Company to repurchase all or any part of the Securities of such Holder at a repurchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount of the Securities to be repurchased plus accrued interest to the date of repurchase (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the related interest payment date) as provided in, and subject to the terms of, the Indenture.

The Company may be required to make an offer to purchase Securities in the event of an Asset Disposition as set forth in Section 4.8 of the Indenture.

8. Guaranty

The payment by the Company of the principal of, and premium and interest on, the Securities is fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several senior basis by each of the Subsidiary Guarantors to the extent set forth in the Indenture.

9. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange

The Securities are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 principal amount and whole multiples of $1,000. A Holder may transfer or exchange Securities in accordance with the Indenture. The Security 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 Security Registrar need not register the transfer of or exchange 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 days before a selection of Securities to be redeemed or 15 days before an interest payment date.

 

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10. Persons Deemed Owners

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

11. Unclaimed Money

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

12. Discharge and Defeasance

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

13. Amendment, Waiver

Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, (a) the Indenture and the Securities may be amended with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount outstanding of the Securities (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for Securities) and (b) any past default or noncompliance with any provision may be waived with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount outstanding of the Securities. Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, without the consent of any Securityholder, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee shall be entitled to amend the Indenture or the Securities to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency, or to comply with Article 5 of the First Supplemental Indenture, or to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities, or to add guarantees with respect to the Securities, including Subsidiary Guaranties, or to evidence the release of any Subsidiary Guarantor as provided in the First Supplemental Indenture or to secure the Securities or the Subsidiary Guaranties, or to add additional covenants of or surrender rights and powers conferred on the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors, or to conform the text of the First Supplemental Indenture, the Securities or the Guarantees to any provision of the section entitled “Description of the notes” in the Prospectus dated September 10, 2010 in certain cases, or to comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with qualifying or maintaining the qualifications of the Indenture under the Act, or to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder, or to make any amendment to the provisions of the First Supplemental Indenture relating to the form, authentication, transfer and legending of Securities in certain cases.

 

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14. Defaults and Remedies

Under the Indenture, Events of Default include (a) default for 30 days in payment of interest on the Securities; (b) default in payment of principal on the Securities at maturity, upon redemption pursuant to paragraph 5 of the Securities, upon acceleration or otherwise, or failure by the Company to redeem or purchase Securities when required; (c) failure by the Company, or any Subsidiary Guarantor to comply with other agreements in the Indenture or the Securities, in certain cases subject to notice and lapse of time; (d) certain accelerations (including failure to pay within any grace period after final maturity) of other Indebtedness of the Company if the amount accelerated (or so unpaid) exceeds $25.0 million (e) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company and the Significant Subsidiaries; (f) certain judgments or decrees for the payment of money in excess of $25.0 million; and (g) certain defaults with respect to Subsidiary Guaranties. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Securities may declare all the Securities to be due and payable immediately. Certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency are Events of Default which will result in the Securities being due and payable immediately upon the occurrence of such Events of Default.

Securityholders may not enforce the Indenture or the Securities except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee may refuse to enforce the Indenture or the Securities unless it receives indemnity or security satisfactory to it. 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 Trustee may withhold from Securityholders notice of any continuing Default (except a Default in payment of principal or interest) if and so long as it determines that withholding notice is in the interest of the Holders.

15. Trustee Dealings with the Company

Subject to certain limitations imposed by the Act, the Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with and collect obligations owed to it by the Company or its Affiliates and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.

16. No Recourse Against Others

No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder, of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor will have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor under the Securities, any Subsidiary Guaranty, or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of such obligations or their creation. By accepting a Security, each Securityholder waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.

 

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17. Authentication

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

18. Abbreviations

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

19. CUSIP Numbers

Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Securities and has directed the Trustee to use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Securityholders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

20. Governing Law .

THIS SECURITY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

The Company will furnish to any Securityholder upon written request and without charge to the Security holder a copy of the Indenture which has in it the text of this Security. Requests may be made to:

EXCO Resources, Inc.

12377 Merit Drive, Suite 1700

Dallas, TX 75251

Attention: General Counsel

 

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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.

 

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OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Security purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.08 or 4.11 of the First Supplemental Indenture, check the box:

If you want to elect to have only part of this Security purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.08 or 4.11 of the First Supplemental Indenture, state the amount in principal amount: $             

 

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 Security 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 Security Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.


SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY

The following increases or decreases in this Global

Security have been made:

 

Date of Exchange

 

Amount of

decrease in
principal amount

of this Global

Security

 

Amount of

Increase in

Principal Amount

of this Global

Security

 

Principal amount

of this Global

Security following

such decrease or

increase

 

Signature of
authorized officer

of Trustee or

Securities

Custodian

       
       
       
       
       

Exhibit 10.1

$750,000,000

EXCO Resources, Inc.

7.500% Senior Notes due 2018

Underwriting Agreement

September 10, 2010

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

As Representative of the

several Underwriters listed

in Schedule 1 hereto

c/o J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

383 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10179

Ladies and Gentlemen:

EXCO Resources, Inc., a Texas corporation (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to the several Underwriters listed in Schedule 1 hereto (the “Underwriters”), for whom you are acting as representative (the “Representative”), $750,000,000 principal amount of its 7.500% Senior Notes due 2018 (the “Securities”). The Securities will be issued pursuant to an Indenture and the Supplemental Indenture to be dated as of September 15, 2010 (collectively, the “Indenture”) among the Company, the guarantors listed in Schedule 2 hereto (the “Guarantors”) and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee (the “Trustee”), and will be guaranteed on an unsecured senior basis by each of the Guarantors (the “Guarantees”).

Each of the Company and the Guarantors hereby confirms its agreement with the several Underwriters concerning the purchase and sale of the Securities, as follows:

1. Registration Statement . The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Securities Act”), a automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-169253), including a prospectus, relating to the Securities. Such registration statement, as amended at the time it becomes effective, including the information, if any, deemed pursuant to Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the Securities Act to be part of the registration statement at the time of its effectiveness (“Rule 430 Information”), is referred to herein as the “Registration Statement”; and as used herein, the term “Preliminary Prospectus” means each prospectus included in such registration statement (and any amendments thereto) before it becomes effective, any prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(a) under the Securities Act and the prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the time of its effectiveness that omits Rule 430 Information, and the term “Prospectus” means the prospectus in the form first used (or made available upon request of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act) in connection with confirmation of sales of the Securities. If the Company has filed an abbreviated registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (the “Rule 462 Registration Statement”), then any reference herein to the term “Registration Statement” shall be deemed to include such Rule 462 Registration Statement. Any reference in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act, as of the effective date of the Registration Statement or the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be and any reference to “amend”, “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents filed after such date under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”) that are deemed to be incorporated by reference therein. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

 

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At or prior to the time when sales of the Securities were first made (the “Time of Sale”), the Company had prepared the following information (collectively, the “Time of Sale Information”): a Preliminary Prospectus dated September 7, 2010, and each “free-writing prospectus” (as defined pursuant to Rule 405 under the Securities Act) listed on Annex B hereto as constituting part of the Time of Sale Information.

2. Purchase of the Securities by the Underwriters . (a) The Company agrees to issue and sell the Securities to the several Underwriters as provided in this Agreement, and each Underwriter, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements set forth herein and subject to the conditions set forth herein, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company the respective principal amount of Securities set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name in Schedule 1 hereto at a price equal to 96.78% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest, if any, from September 15, 2010 to the Closing Date (as defined below). The Company will not be obligated to deliver any of the Securities except upon payment for all the Securities to be purchased as provided herein.

(b) Each of the Company and the Guarantors hereby understands that the Underwriters intend to make a public offering of the Securities as soon after the effectiveness of this Agreement as in the judgment of the Representative is advisable, and initially to offer the Securities on the terms set forth in the Prospectus. Each of the Company and the Guarantors acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters may offer and sell Securities to or through any affiliate of an Underwriter and that any such affiliate may offer and sell Securities purchased by it to or through any Underwriter.

 

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(c) Payment for and delivery of the Securities will be made at the offices of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, 425 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York, at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on September 15, 2010, or at such other time or place on the same or such other date, not later than the fifth business day thereafter, as the Representative and the Company may agree upon in writing. The time and date of such payment and delivery is referred to herein as the “Closing Date”.

(d) Payment for the Securities shall be made by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the account(s) specified by the Company to the Representative against delivery to the nominee of The Depository Trust Company, for the account of the Underwriters, of one or more global notes representing the Securities (collectively, the “Global Note”), with any transfer taxes payable in connection with the sale of the Securities duly paid by the Company. The Global Note will be made available for inspection by the Representative not later than 1:00 P.M., New York City time, on the business day prior to the Closing Date.

(e) Each of the Company and the Guarantors acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters are acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length contractual counterparty to the Company and the Guarantors with respect to the offering of Securities contemplated hereby (including in connection with determining the terms of the offering) and not as a financial advisor or a fiduciary to, or an agent of, the Company, the Guarantors or any other person. Additionally, neither the Representative nor any other Underwriter is advising the Company, the Guarantors or any other person as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting or regulatory matters in any jurisdiction. The Company and the Guarantors shall consult with their own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making their own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Underwriters shall have no responsibility or liability to the Company or the Guarantors with respect thereto. Any review by the Underwriters of the Company, the Guarantors, the transactions contemplated hereby or other matters relating to such transactions will be performed solely for the benefit of the Underwriters and shall not be on behalf of the Company or the Guarantors.

3. Representations and Warranties of the Company and the Guarantors . The Company and the Guarantors jointly and severally represent and warrant to each Underwriter that:

(a) Preliminary Prospectus. No stop order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and each Preliminary Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof, complied in all material respects with the Securities Act and did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that neither the Company nor any of the Guarantors make any representation and warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use in any Preliminary Prospectus.

 

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(b) Time of Sale Information . The Time of Sale Information, at the Time of Sale did not, and at the Closing Date will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that neither the Company nor any of the Guarantors make any representation and warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use in such Time of Sale Information. No statement of material fact included in the Prospectus has been omitted from the Time of Sale Information and no statement of material fact included in the Time of Sale Information that is required to be included in the Prospectus has been omitted therefrom.

(c) Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. The Company (including its agents and representatives, other than the Underwriters in their capacity as such) has not prepared, made, used, authorized, approved or referred to and will not prepare, make, use, authorize, approve or refer to any “written communication” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) that constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the Securities (each such communication by the Company or its agents and representatives (other than a communication referred to in clauses (i) (ii) and (iii) below) an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”) other than (i) any document not constituting a prospectus pursuant to Section 2(a)(10)(a) of the Securities Act or Rule 134 under the Securities Act, (ii) the Preliminary Prospectus, (iii) the Prospectus, (iv) the documents listed on Annex B hereto as constituting the Time of Sale Information and (v) any electronic road show or other written communications, in each case approved in writing in advance by the Representative. Each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus complied in all material respects with the Securities Act, has been or will be (within the time period specified in Rule 433) filed in accordance with the Securities Act (to the extent required thereby) and, when taken together with the Preliminary Prospectus filed prior to the first use of such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, did not, and at the Closing Date will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that neither the Company nor any of the Guarantors make any representation and warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use in any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.

 

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(d) Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement” as defined under Rule 405 of the Securities Act that has been filed with the Commission not earlier than three years prior to the date hereof; and no notice of objection of the Commission to the use of such registration statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act has been received by the Company. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued by the Commission and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act against the Company or related to the offering has been initiated or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission; as of the applicable effective date of the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto, the Registration Statement complied and will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Trust Indenture Act”), and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and as of the date of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto and as of the Closing Date, the Prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that neither the Company nor any of the Guarantors make any representation and warranty with respect to (i) that part of the Registration Statement that constitutes the Statement of Eligibility and Qualification (Form T-1) of the Trustee under the Trust Indenture Act or (ii) any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto.

(e) Incorporated Documents. The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Time of Sale Information, when they were filed with the Commission conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act, of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulation of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”) and none of such documents contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Time of Sale Information, when such documents become effective or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

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(f) Financial Statements. The financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, together with the related notes and schedules, comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable, and present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company as of the dates indicated and the consolidated results of operations and cash flows of the Company and its subsidiaries for the periods specified and have been prepared in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except, with respect to any unaudited financial statements, for the absence of customary year end adjustments) and the supporting schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement present fairly the information required to be stated therein. The other financial and accounting data included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, have been derived from the accounting records of the Company and present fairly the information shown therein, in all material respects; and the pro forma financial information and the related notes thereto included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus have been prepared in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the assumptions underlying such pro forma financial information are reasonable and are set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.

(g) No Material Adverse Change. Since the date of the most recent financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, and except as may be otherwise stated or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, there has not been (A) any change in the capital stock or material change in the long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, set aside for payment, paid or made by the Company on any class of capital stock, or any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, financial or otherwise, in or affecting in the business, properties, prospects, regulatory environment, results of operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except for (i) the exercise of outstanding stock options pursuant to equity incentive plans as such equity incentive plans are disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, (ii) the Company’s declaration of a $0.04 per share dividend on August 5, 2010 and the payment of such dividend, and (iii) any purchases of shares by the Company pursuant to the share repurchase program announced by the Company on July 19, 2010 as such share repurchase program is described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, (B) any transaction entered into by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, which is material to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (C) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, directly or indirectly, incurred by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, which is material to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and (D) except, as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect (defined below) on the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, none of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has sustained any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor disturbance or dispute or any action, order or decree of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority.

 

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(h) Organization and Good Standing. The Company, each of its subsidiaries and each of the entities in which the Company, directly or indirectly, owns fifty-percent (50%) or less (the “Joint Ventures”) have been duly organized and are validly existing and in good standing under the laws of their respective jurisdictions of organization, are duly qualified to do business and are in good standing in each jurisdiction in which their respective ownership or lease of property or the conduct of their respective businesses requires such qualification, and have all company power and authority necessary to own or hold their respective properties and to conduct the businesses in which they are engaged, except where the failure to be so qualified, in good standing or have such power or authority would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the business, properties, management, financial position, results of operations or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or on the performance by the Company or the Guarantors of their obligations under the Securities and the Guarantees, respectively (a “Material Adverse Effect”). The Company does not own an interest in or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than the subsidiaries and the Joint Ventures listed on Schedule 3 of this Agreement.

(i) Capitalization. The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus under the heading “Capitalization” and all the outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of each subsidiary of the Company and the Company’s interest in the Joint Ventures have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of any lien, charge, encumbrance, security interest, restriction on voting or transfer or any other claim of any third party, except in connection with the Company’s Credit Agreement, dated April 30, 2010 (as amended), among JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, as Sole Book runner and Lead Arranger, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as Co-Lead Arranger, Bank of America, N.A. and BNP Paribas, as Co-Lead Arrangers and Co-Syndication Agents, Royal Bank of Canada, as Co-Lead Arranger and Co-Documentation Agent, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Co-Documentation Agent and the other lenders thereto (the “Credit Agreement”).

(j) Due Authorization. Each of the Company and the Guarantors has full right, power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, the Securities and the Indenture (including the Guarantees set forth therein) (collectively, the “Transaction Documents”), to the extent it is a party thereto and to perform its respective obligations hereunder and thereunder; and all action required to be taken for the due and proper authorization, execution and delivery of each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and the consummation by each of them of the transactions contemplated thereby has been duly and validly taken.

 

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(k) The Indenture. The Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company and each of the Guarantors and upon effectiveness of the Registration Statement was, or will have been, duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and, when duly executed and delivered in accordance with its terms by each of the parties thereto, will constitute a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company and each of the Guarantors enforceable against the Company and each of the Guarantors in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability (collectively, the “Enforceability Exceptions”).

(l) The Securities and the Guarantees . The Securities have been duly authorized by the Company and, when duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered as provided in the Indenture and paid for as provided herein, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions, and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture; and the Guarantees have been duly authorized by each of the Guarantors and, when the Securities have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered as provided in the Indenture and paid for as provided herein, will be valid and legally binding obligations of each of the Guarantors, enforceable against each of the Guarantors in accordance with their terms, except that the enforceability is subject to the Enforceability Exceptions, and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.

(m) Underwriting Agreement . This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and each of the Guarantors.

(n) Descriptions of the Transaction Documents . Each Transaction Document conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.

(o) No Violation or Default. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents; (ii) in default, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, or (iii) in violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such default or violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect and, in the case of clause (ii), for defaults pursuant to the Credit Agreement, which will be amended or consented to prior to the Closing Date.

 

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(p) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company and each of the Guarantors of each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party, the issuance and sale of the Securities (including the Guarantees) and compliance by the Company and each of the Guarantors with the terms thereof and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or (iii) result in the violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) above, for any such conflict, breach, violation or default that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect and, in the case of clause (i), for defaults pursuant to the Credit Agreement, which will be amended or consented to prior to the Closing Date.

(q) No Consents Required . No approval, authorization, consent or order of or filing with any federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory, commission, board, body, authority or agency, or of or with the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, or approval of the shareholders of the Company or its subsidiaries, is required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Company and each of the Guarantors of each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party the issuance and sale by the Company of the Securities and the issuance of the Guarantees or the consummation of the transactions as contemplated hereby and by the Transaction Documents, except for the registration of the Securities under the Securities Act, the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders and registrations or qualifications as may be required under (i) applicable state securities laws in connection with the purchase, offer and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters and (ii) the Credit Agreement, which will be received prior to the Closing Date.

(r) Legal Proceedings. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, there are no legal, governmental or regulatory investigations, actions, suits or proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or may be a party or to which any property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or may be the subject that, individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; no such investigations, actions, suits or proceedings are, to the knowledge of the Company and each of the Guarantors, threatened or contemplated by any governmental or regulatory authority or other parties; and (i) there are no current or pending legal, governmental or regulatory actions, suits or proceedings that are required under the Securities Act to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus that are not so described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus and (ii) there are no statutes, regulations or contracts or other documents that are required under the Securities Act to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus that are not so filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.

 

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(s) Independent Accountants. KPMG, LLP, who has certified certain financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, was at the time of such certification an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries, as required by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and the applicable published rules and regulations thereunder.

(t) Title to Real and Personal Property. The Company and each of its subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all material property (real and personal), or has valid rights to lease or otherwise use, all material items of real and personal property that are material to the respective businesses of the Company and its subsidiaries described or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus as being owned by each of them, free and clear of all liens, claims, security interests or other encumbrances except those that (i) do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its subsidiaries, (ii) could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect or (iii) were placed on such property in connection with the Credit Agreement and the organizational documents of the Company’s 50% or less owned joint ventures.

(u) Title to Intellectual Property. The Company and its subsidiaries own or possess adequate rights to use all material patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service mark registrations, copyrights, licenses and know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures) necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses; and the conduct of their respective businesses will not conflict in any material respect with any such rights of others, and the Company and its subsidiaries have not received any notice of any claim of infringement or conflict with any such rights of others.

(v) Investment Company Act. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, none of them will be an “investment company” or an entity “controlled” by an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, “Investment Company Act”).

(w) Taxes. The Company and its subsidiaries have paid all federal, state, local and foreign taxes and filed all tax returns required to be paid or filed through the date hereof, except for any failure to pay such taxes or file such returns that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; and except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, there is no material tax deficiency that has been, or could reasonably be expected to be, asserted against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets.

 

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(x) Licenses and Permits. The Company and its subsidiaries possess all licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations issued by, and have made all filings with, the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory authorities that are necessary for the ownership or lease of their respective properties or the conduct of their respective businesses as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, except where the failure to possess or make the same would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; and except as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received notice of any revocation or modification of any such license, certificate, permit or authorization, except for any revocation or modification or failure to renew that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

(y) No Labor Disputes. Neither the Company nor its subsidiaries are involved in any labor dispute with their respective employees nor, to the knowledge of the Company, is any such dispute threatened except, in each case, for disputes which would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(z) Compliance With Environmental Laws. (i) The Company and its subsidiaries (x) are in compliance with any and all applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws, rules, regulations, requirements, decisions and orders relating to the protection of human health or safety, the environment, natural resources, hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (collectively, “Environmental Laws”); (y) have received and are in compliance with all permits, licenses, certificates or other authorizations or approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses; and (z) have not received notice of any actual or potential liability under or relating to any Environmental Laws, including for the investigation or remediation of any disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, and have no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in any such notice; and (ii) there are no costs or liabilities associated with Environmental Laws of or relating to the Company or its subsidiaries, except in the case of each of (i) and (ii) above, for any such failure to comply, or failure to receive required permits, licenses or approvals, or cost or liability, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; and (iii) except as described in each of the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, (x) there are no proceedings that are pending, or that are known to be contemplated, against the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any Environmental Laws in which a governmental entity is also a party, other than such proceedings regarding which it is reasonably believed no monetary sanctions of $100,000 or more will be imposed, and (y) the Company and its subsidiaries are not aware of any issues regarding compliance with Environmental Laws, or liabilities or other obligations under Environmental Laws or concerning hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, that could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position of the Company and its subsidiaries, and (z) none of the Company and its subsidiaries anticipates material capital expenditures relating to any Environmental Laws.

 

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(aa) Compliance With ERISA. (i) Each employee benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), for which the Company or any member of its “Controlled Group” (defined as any organization which is a member of a controlled group of companies within the meaning of Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”)) has or could have any liability (each, a “Plan”) has been maintained in compliance with its terms and the requirements of any applicable statutes, orders, rules and regulations, including but not limited to ERISA and the Code; (ii) no prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, has occurred with respect to any Plan excluding transactions effected pursuant to a statutory, administrative or other applicable exemption; (iii) no Plan that is subject to the funding rules of Sections 412 or 430 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA has failed to satisfy the minimum funding standards applicable to such Plan, whether or not waived, and no such Plan has been determined to be, or is reasonably expected to be, in “at risk” status (within the meaning of Section 430 of the Code or Section 303 of ERISA); (iv) the fair market value of the assets of each Plan equals or exceeds the present value of all benefits accrued under such Plan (determined based on those assumptions used to fund such Plan); (v) no “reportable event” (within the meaning of Section 4043(c) of ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; and (vi) neither the Company nor any member of its Controlled Group has incurred, nor reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA (other than contributions to the Plan or premiums to the PBGC, in the ordinary course and without default) in respect of a Plan (including a “multiemployer plan,” within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA).

(bb) Disclosure Controls . The Company maintains an effective system of “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act) that is designed to ensure that material information required to be disclosed by the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported as required under the Exchange Act within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company has carried out evaluations of the effectiveness of its disclosure controls and procedures as required by Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act.

 

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(cc) Accounting Controls. The Company and its subsidiaries maintain systems of “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act and have been designed by, or under the supervision of, their respective principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, including, but not limited to internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, there are no material weaknesses in the Company’s internal controls.

(dd) Insurance. The Company and its subsidiaries have insurance covering their respective properties, operations, personnel and businesses, including business interruption insurance, which insurance is in amounts and insures against such losses and risks as are adequate to protect the Company and its subsidiaries and their respective businesses; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has (i) received notice from any insurer or agent of such insurer that capital improvements or other expenditures are required or necessary to be made in order to continue such insurance or (ii) any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage at reasonable cost from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business.

(ee) No Unlawful Payments. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company and each of the Guarantors, any director, officer, agent, employee or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977; or (iv) made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment.

(ff) Compliance with Money Laundering Laws . The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and, to the knowledge of the Company, have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company and each of the Guarantors, threatened.

 

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(gg) Compliance with OFAC. None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company and each of the Guarantors, any director, officer, agent, employee or Affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of the Securities hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

(hh) Solvency. On and immediately after the Closing Date, none of the Company nor any of the Guarantors (after giving effect to the issuance of the Securities (including the Guarantees) and the other transactions related thereto as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus) will be “insolvent” as defined under the United States Bankruptcy Code.

(ii) No Restrictions on Subsidiaries . No subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, under any agreement or other instrument to which it is a party or is subject, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s capital stock, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s properties or assets to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company.

(jj) No Broker’s Fees. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to any contract, agreement or understanding with any person (other than this Agreement) that would give rise to a valid claim against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any Underwriter for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or like payment in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities.

(kk) No Registration Rights . No person has the right to require the Company or any of its subsidiaries to register any Securities for sale under the Securities Act by reason of the filing of the Registration Statement with the Commission or the issuance and sale of the Securities.

(ll) No Stabilization. Neither the Company nor any of the Guarantors has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Securities.

(mm) Sarbanes-Oxley Act . There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply in all material respects with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications.

 

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(nn) Status under the Securities Act . The Company is not an ineligible issuer and is a well-known seasoned issuer, in each case as defined under the Securities Act, in each case at the times specified in the Securities Act in connection with the offering of the Securities.

(oo) Reserve Report Data . Other than as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, the oil and gas reserve estimates of the Company and its subsidiaries for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2007 contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus are derived from reports that have been prepared by or have been audited by either (a) Lee Keeling and Associates, Inc. or (b) Haas Petroleum Engineering Services Inc., as set forth therein, and such reserves were prepared in accordance with the Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 69 and Rule 4-10 of Regulation S-X.

(pp) Independent Reserve Engineering Firm . Each of Lee Keeling and Associates, Inc. and Haas Petroleum Engineering Services Inc., who have certified the oil and gas reserve estimates of the Company and its subsidiaries, has represented to the Company that it is, and the Company believes each to be, an independent reserve engineering firm with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries for the periods set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.

(qq) Federal Power Act . None of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject to regulation as a “public utility company”, “public service company”, “holding company” (or similar designation) by any governmental or regulatory authority, including under the Federal Power Act, as amended (“FPA”) or any applicable state utility laws.

4. Further Agreements of the Company and the Guarantors . The Company and each of the Guarantors jointly and severally covenant and agree with each Underwriter that:

(a) Required Filings. The Company will file the final Prospectus with the Commission within the time periods specified by Rule 424(b) and Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the Securities Act, will file any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (including the Term Sheet in the form of Annex C hereto) to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act; and will file promptly all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of the Prospectus and for so long as the delivery of a prospectus is required in connection with the offering or sale of the Securities; and the Company will furnish copies of the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (to the extent not previously delivered) to the Underwriters in New York City prior to 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement in such quantities as the Representative may reasonably request. The Company will pay the registration fees for this offering within the time period required by Rule 456(b)(1)(i) under the Securities Act and in any event prior to the Closing Date.

 

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(b) Delivery of Copies. The Company will deliver, without charge, (i) to the Representative, two copies of the signed Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto, in each case including all exhibits and consents filed therewith and documents incorporated by reference therein, and (ii) make available to each Underwriter electronically through EDGAR (A) a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto, in each case including all exhibits and consents filed therewith and (B) deliver, without charge, during the Prospectus Delivery Period (as defined below), as many copies of the Prospectus (including all amendments and supplements thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein) and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as the Representative may reasonably request. As used herein, the term “Prospectus Delivery Period” means such period of time after the first date of the public offering of the Securities as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters a prospectus relating to the Securities is required by law to be delivered (or required to be delivered but for Rule 172 under the Securities Act) in connection with sales of the Securities by any Underwriter or dealer.

(c) Amendments or Supplements; Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. Prior to the later of (i) Closing or (ii) the expiration of the Prospectus Delivery Period, before preparing, using, authorizing, approving, referring to or filing any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and before filing any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, whether before or after the time that the Registration Statement becomes effective the Company will furnish to the Representative and counsel for the Underwriters a copy of the proposed Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, amendment or supplement for review and will not prepare, use, authorize, approve, refer to or file any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representative reasonably objects.

(d) Notice to the Representative. The Company will advise the Representative promptly, and confirm such advice in writing, (i) when any amendment to the Registration Statement filed prior to the later of (x) Closing or (y) the expiration of the Prospectus Delivery Period or otherwise relating to the Securities has been filed or becomes effective; (ii) when any supplement to the Prospectus or any amendment to the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus relating to the Securities has been filed; (iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or the receipt of any comments from the Commission relating to the Registration Statement or any other request by the Commission for any additional information as of the later of (x) Closing or (y) the expiration of the Prospectus Delivery Period; (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act; (v) of the occurrence of any event within the Prospectus Delivery Period as a result of which the Prospectus, the Time of Sale Information or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus, the Time of Sale Information or any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading; (vi) of the receipt by the Company of any notice of objection of the Commission to the use of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act; and (vii) of the receipt by the Company of any notice with respect to any suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offer and sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or suspending any such qualification of the Securities and, if any such order is issued, will use its reasonable best efforts to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.

 

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(e) Time of Sale Information. If at any time prior to the Closing Date (i) any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Time of Sale Information as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Information to comply with law, the Company will promptly notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (c) above, file with the Commission (to the extent required) and furnish to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representative may designate, such amendments or supplements to the Time of Sale Information as may be necessary so that the statements in the Time of Sale Information as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances, be misleading or so that the Time of Sale Information will comply with law.

(f) Ongoing Compliance . If during the Prospectus Delivery Period (i) any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with law, the Company will promptly notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (c) above, file with the Commission and furnish to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representative may designate, such amendments or supplements to the Prospectus as may be necessary so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus will comply with law

 

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(g) Blue Sky Compliance. The Company will qualify the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representative shall reasonably request and will continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for distribution of the Securities; provided that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (ii) file any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not otherwise so subject.

(h) Earning Statement. The Company will make generally available to its security holders and the Representative as soon as practicable an earning statement that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 of the Commission promulgated thereunder covering a period of at least twelve months beginning with the first fiscal quarter of the Company occurring after the “effective date” (as defined in Rule 158) of the Registration Statement.

(i) Clear Market. During the period from the date hereof through and including the date that is 90 days after the date hereof, the Company will not, without the prior written consent of the Representative, offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any debt securities issued or guaranteed by the Company and having a tenor of more than one year.

(j) Use of Proceeds. The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus under the heading “Use of proceeds”.

(k) No Stabilization. The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Securities.

(l) Record Retention . The Company will, pursuant to reasonable procedures developed in good faith, retain copies of each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 433 under the Securities Act.

5. Certain Agreements of the Underwriters . Each Underwriter hereby represents and agrees that

(a) It has not and will not use, authorize use of, refer to, or participate in the planning for use of, any “free writing prospectus”, as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act (which term includes use of any written information furnished to the Commission by the Company and not incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and any press release issued by the Company) other than (i) a free writing prospectus that, solely as a result of use by such underwriter, would not trigger an obligation to file such free writing prospectus with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433, (ii) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed on Annex B or prepared pursuant to Section 3(c) or Section 4(c) above (including any electronic road show); or (iii) any free writing prospectus prepared by such underwriter and approved by the Company in advance in writing (each such free writing prospectus referred to in clauses (i) or (iii), an “Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Underwriters may use a term sheet substantially in the form of Annex C hereto without the consent of the Company.

 

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(b) It is not subject to any pending proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act with respect to the offering (and will promptly notify the Company if any such proceeding against it is initiated during the Prospectus Delivery Period).

6. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations . The obligation of each Underwriter to purchase Securities on the Closing Date as provided herein is subject to the performance by the Company and each of the Guarantors of their respective covenants and other obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

(a) Registration Compliance; No Stop Order. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceeding for such purpose, pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) or pursuant to Section 8A under the Securities Act shall be pending before or threatened by the Commission; the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been timely filed with the Commission under the Securities Act (in the case of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act) and in accordance with Section 4(a) hereof; and all requests by the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Representative.

(b) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Company and each of the Guarantors contained herein shall be true and correct on the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date; and the statements of the Company and each of the Guarantors, and their respective officers made in any certificates delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date.

(c) No Downgrade. Between the earlier of (A) the Time of Sale and (B) the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Closing Date, (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded the Securities or any other debt securities or preferred stock of or guaranteed by the Company or any of the Guarantors by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization”, as such term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, or has changed its outlook with respect to, its rating of the Securities or of any other debt securities or preferred stock of or guaranteed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading).

 

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(d) No Material Adverse Change. No event or condition of a type described in Section 3(g) hereof shall have occurred or become known between the time of execution of this Agreement and the Closing Date, which event or condition is not described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the Prospectus (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the effect of which in the judgment of the Representative is so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.

(e) Officer’s Certificate. The Representative shall have received on and as of the Closing Date a certificate of an executive officer of the Company and each Guarantor who has specific knowledge of the Company’s or such Guarantor’s financial matters and is satisfactory to the Representative (i) confirming that such officer has carefully reviewed the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus and, to the knowledge of such officer, the representations set forth in Sections 3(b) and 3(d) hereof are true and correct as of the Closing Date, (ii) confirming that the other representations and warranties of the Company and the Guarantors in this Agreement are true and correct as of the Closing Date and that the Company and the Guarantors have complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on their part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date and (iii) to the effect set forth in paragraphs (a), (c) and (d) above.

(f) Comfort Letters. On the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date, KPMG, LLP shall have furnished to the Representative, at the request of the Company, letters, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, containing statements and information of the type customarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus; provided that the letter delivered on the Closing Date shall use a “cut-off” date no more than three business days prior to the Closing Date.

(g) Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of Counsel for the Company. (i) Haynes and Boone LLP, counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to the Representative, at the request of the Company, their written opinion and 10b-5 Statement, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, substantially to the effect set forth in Annex D hereto and (ii) William L. Boeing, general counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to the Representative, at the request of the Company, his written opinion, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, substantially to the effect set forth in Annex E hereto.

(h) Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of Counsel for the Underwriters. The Representative shall have received on and as of the Closing Date an opinion and 10b-5 Statement of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, with respect to such matters as the Representative may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such documents and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.

 

20


(i) No Legal Impediment to Issuance. No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any federal, state or foreign governmental or regulatory authority that would, as of the Closing Date, prevent the issuance or sale of the Securities or the issuance of the Guarantees; and no injunction or order of any federal, state or foreign court shall have been issued that would, as of the Closing Date, prevent the issuance or sale of the Securities or the issuance of the Guarantees.

(j) Good Standing . The Representative shall have received on and as of the Closing Date satisfactory evidence of the good standing of the Company and the Guarantors in their respective jurisdictions of organization and their good standing in such other jurisdictions as the Representative may reasonably request, in each case in writing or any standard form of telecommunication from the appropriate governmental authorities of such jurisdictions.

(k) Reserve Report Confirmation Letters . On the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date, Lee Keeling and Associates, Inc. and Haas Petroleum Engineering Services Inc. each shall have furnished to the Representative, at the request of the Company, letters, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, containing statements and information with respect to the estimated oil and gas reserves of the Company and its subsidiaries contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.

(l) Chief Financial Officer Certificate . The Representative shall have received on and as of the Closing Date a certificate of the chief financial officer of the Company confirming that (i) he is familiar with the books and records and internal accounting practices, policies, procedures and controls of the Company and has had responsibility for accounting matters with respect to the Company, (ii) he has reviewed the identified information, which is included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus and which has not been otherwise reviewed by KPMG, LLP, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, and (iii) attesting to the accuracy of the identified information in all material respects.

(m) Consents . On or prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have furnished to the Representative a copy of the consent to the issuance, offer and sale of the Securities executed by the administrative agent and lenders under the Credit Agreement dated as of April 30, 2010 among the Company, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the lenders parties thereto from time to time.

(n) Notice of Redemption. On or prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have duly issued an irrevocable notice of redemption pursuant to that certain Indenture, dated as of January 20, 2004, among the Company, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto and Wilmington Trust Company, as amended and supplemented.

 

21


(o) Additional Documents. On or prior to the Closing Date, the Company and the Guarantors shall have furnished to the Representative such further certificates and documents as the Representative may reasonably request.

All opinions, letters, certificates and evidence mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters.

7. Indemnification and Contribution .

(a) Indemnification of the Underwriters. The Company and each of the Guarantors jointly and severally agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, reasonable legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred), joint or several, that arise out of, or are based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, not misleading, (ii) or any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Time of Sale Information, or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in subsection (b) below:

(b) Indemnification of the Company and the Guarantors. Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of the Guarantors, and each of their respective directors, their respective officers who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company or any of the Guarantors within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Time of Sale Information, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the following: the second and third sentences concerning discounts and commissions under the third paragraph, the third sentence certain market making activities of the six paragraph, the seventh paragraph concerning certain stabilization transactions, and the eleventh paragraph regarding Lloyds TSB Bank plc under the heading “Underwriting”.

 

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(c) Notice and Procedures. If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any person in respect of which indemnification may be sought pursuant to either paragraph (a) or (b) above, such person (the “Indemnified Person”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnification may be sought (the “Indemnifying Person”) in writing; provided that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 7 except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided , further , that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise than under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 7. If any such proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, the Indemnifying Person shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person (who shall not, without the consent of the Indemnified Person, be counsel to the Indemnifying Person) to represent the Indemnified Person and any others entitled to indemnification pursuant to Section 7 that the Indemnifying Party may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and expenses of such proceeding and shall pay the fees and expenses of counsel related to such proceeding, as incurred. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; or (ii) the Indemnifying Person has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person; (iii) the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the Indemnifying Person and counsel appointed by the Indemnifying Person declines to raise such different or additional defenses on behalf of such Indemnified Person; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interest between them. It is understood and agreed that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm for any Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and any control persons of such Underwriter shall be designated in writing by J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and any such separate firm for the Company, the Guarantors, their respective directors, their respective officers who signed the Registration Statement and any control persons of the Company shall be designated in writing by the Company. The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an Indemnified Person shall have requested that an Indemnifying Person reimburse the Indemnified Person for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this paragraph, the Indemnifying Person shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by the Indemnifying Person of such request and (ii) the Indemnifying Person shall not have reimbursed the Indemnified Person in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (x) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (y) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.

 

23


(d) Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in paragraphs (a) and (b) above is unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Guarantors on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company and the Guarantors on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds (before deducting expenses) received by the Company from the sale of the Securities and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters in connection therewith, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate offering price of the Securities. The relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or any Guarantor or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

 

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(e) Limitation on Liability. The Company, the Guarantors and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, in no event shall an Underwriter be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter with respect to the offering of the Securities exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several in proportion to their respective purchase obligations hereunder and not joint.

(f) Non-Exclusive Remedies. The remedies provided for in this Section 7 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity.

8. Effectiveness of Agreement . This Agreement shall become effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto.

9. Termination . This Agreement may be terminated in the absolute discretion of the Representative, by notice to the Company, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date (i) trading of securities generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on the New York Stock Exchange or the over-the-counter market; (ii) trading of any securities issued or guaranteed by the Company or any of the Guarantors shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by federal or New York State authorities; or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis, either within or outside the United States, that, in the judgment of the Representative, is material and adverse and makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.

 

25


10. Defaulting Underwriter . (a) If, on the Closing Date, any Underwriter defaults on its obligation to purchase the Securities that it has agreed to purchase hereunder, the non-defaulting Underwriters may in their discretion arrange for the purchase of such Securities by other persons satisfactory to the Company on the terms contained in this Agreement. If, within 36 hours after any such default by any Underwriter, the non-defaulting Underwriters do not arrange for the purchase of such Securities, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of 36 hours within which to procure other persons satisfactory to the non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase such Securities on such terms. If other persons become obligated or agree to purchase the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter, either the non-defaulting Underwriters or the Company may postpone the Closing Date for up to five full business days in order to effect any changes that in the opinion of counsel for the Company or counsel for the Underwriters may be necessary in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or in any other document or arrangement, and the Company agrees to promptly prepare any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus that effects any such changes. As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” includes, for all purposes of this Agreement unless the context otherwise requires, any person not listed in Schedule 1 hereto that, pursuant to this Section 10, purchases Securities that a defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase.

(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters and the Company as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate principal amount of such Securities that remains unpurchased does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of all the Securities, then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the principal amount of Securities that such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder plus such Underwriter’s pro rata share (based on the principal amount of Securities that such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder) of the Securities of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made.

(c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters and the Company as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate principal amount of such Securities that remains unpurchased exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of all the Securities, or if the Company shall not exercise the right described in paragraph (b) above, then this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of the non-defaulting Underwriters. Any termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10 shall be without liability on the part of the Company, except that the Company will continue to be liable for the payment of expenses as set forth in Section 11 hereof and except that the provisions of Section 7 hereof shall not terminate and shall remain in effect.

 

26


(d) Nothing contained herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of any liability it may have to the Company or any non-defaulting Underwriter for damages caused by its default.

11. Payment of Expenses . (a) Whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company and each of the Guarantors jointly and severally agree to pay or cause to be paid all costs and expenses incident to the performance of their respective obligations hereunder, including without limitation, (i) the costs incident to the authorization, issuance, sale, preparation and delivery of the Securities and any taxes payable in that connection; (ii) the costs incident to the preparation, printing and filing under the Securities Act of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus (including all exhibits, amendments and supplements thereto) and the distribution thereof; (iii) the costs of reproducing and distributing each of the Transaction Documents; (iv) the fees and expenses of the Company’s and the Guarantors’ counsel and independent accountants; (v) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the registration or qualification and determination of eligibility for investment of the Securities under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representative may designate and the preparation, printing and distribution of a Blue Sky Memorandum (including the related fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters); (vi) any fees charged by rating agencies for rating the Securities; (vii) the fees and expenses of the Trustee and any paying agent (including related fees and expenses of any counsel to such parties); (viii) all expenses and application fees incurred in connection with any filing with, and clearance of the offering by, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.; and (ix) all expenses incurred by the Company in connection with any “road show” presentation to potential investors.

(b) If (i) this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 9, (ii) the Company for any reason fails to tender the Securities for delivery to the Underwriters or (iii) the Underwriters decline to purchase the Securities for any reason permitted under this Agreement, the Company and each of the Guarantors jointly and severally agree to reimburse the Underwriters for all out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of their counsel) reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in connection with this Agreement and the offering contemplated hereby.

12. Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement . This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers and directors and any controlling persons referred to herein, and the affiliates of each Underwriter referred to in Section 7 hereof. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any other person any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision contained herein. No purchaser of Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor merely by reason of such purchase.

 

27


13. Survival . The respective indemnities, rights of contribution, representations, warranties and agreements of the Company, the Guarantors and the Underwriters contained in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of the Company, the Guarantors or the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement or any certificate delivered pursuant hereto shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Securities and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination of this Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company or the Underwriters.

14. Certain Defined Terms . For purposes of this Agreement, (a) except where otherwise expressly provided, the term “affiliate” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act; (b) the term “business day” means any day other than a day on which banks are permitted or required to be closed in New York City; and (c) the term “subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act. For the avoidance of doubt, the term “subsidiary” shall exclude the Joint Ventures.

15. Miscellaneous . (a)  Authority of the Representative. Any action by the Underwriters hereunder may be taken by J.P. Morgan Securities LLC on behalf of the Underwriters, and any such action taken by J.P. Morgan Securities LLC shall be binding upon the Underwriters.

(b) Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted and confirmed by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be given to the Representative c/o J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, 383 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10179 (fax: (212)-270-1063); Attention: Lawrence Landry. Notices to the Company and Guarantors shall be given to it at 12377 Merit Drive, Suite 1700, Dallas, Texas 75251, (fax: (214) 706-3409); Attention: William L. Boeing. Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary.

(c) Governing Law. This Agreement and any claim, controversy, or dispute arising under or related to this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflicts of laws principles other than Sections 5-1401 and 5-1402 of the New York General Obligation Law that would require the application of the law of any other state.

Service of any process, summons, notice or document by mail to such party’s address set forth above shall be effective service of process for any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby that directly relate to the offering of the Securities brought in any court of competent jurisdiction.

The Company and the Guarantors further agree that nothing herein shall affect the Representative’s rights to effect service of process in any other manner permitted by law or to bring a suit, action or proceeding (including a proceeding for enforcement of a judgment) in any other court or jurisdiction in accordance with applicable law.

 

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(d) Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts (which may include counterparts delivered by any standard form of telecommunication), each of which shall be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

(e) Amendments or Waivers. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, nor any consent or approval to any departure therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

(f) Headings. The headings herein are included for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.

 

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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please indicate your acceptance of this Agreement by signing in the space provided below.

 

Very truly yours,
EXCO Resources, Inc.
By  

/s/ William L. Boeing

Name:   William L. Boeing
Title:   Vice President, General
  Counsel and Secretary
EXCO SERVICES, INC.
By  

/s/ William L. Boeing

Name:   William L. Boeing
Title:   Vice President, General
  Counsel and Secretary
EXCO PARTNERS GP, LLC
By  

/s/ William L. Boeing

Name:   William L. Boeing
Title:   Vice President, General
  Counsel and Secretary
EXCO GP PARTNERS OLD, LP
By: EXCO PARTNERS GP, LLC, its general partner
By  

/s/ William L. Boeing

Name:   William L. Boeing
Title:   Vice President, General
  Counsel and Secretary
EXCO PARTNERS OLP GP, LLC
By  

/s/ William L. Boeing

Name:   William L. Boeing
Title:   Vice President, General
  Counsel and Secretary

[Underwriting Agreement Signature Page]


EXCO OPERATING COMPANY, LP
By: EXCO PARTNERS OLP GP, LLC its general partner
By  

/s/ William L. Boeing

Name:   William L. Boeing
Title:   Vice President, General
  Counsel and Secretary
VERNON GATHERING, LLC
By  

/s/ William L. Boeing

Name:   William L. Boeing
Title:   Vice President, General
  Counsel and Secretary
EXCO MIDCONTINENT MLP, LLC
By  

/s/ William L. Boeing

Name:   William L. Boeing
Title:   Vice President, General
  Counsel and Secretary
EXCO HOLDING (PA), INC.
By  

/s/ William L. Boeing

Name:   William L. Boeing
Title:   Vice President and Secretary
EXCO PRODUCTION COMPANY (PA), LLC
By  

/s/ William L. Boeing

Name:   William L. Boeing
Title:   Vice President and Secretary

[Underwriting Agreement Signature Page]


EXCO PRODUCTION COMPANY (WV), LLC
By  

/s/ William L. Boeing

Name:   William L. Boeing
Title:   Vice President and Secretary
EXCO EQUIPMENT LEASING, LLC
By  

/s/ William L. Boeing

Name:   William L. Boeing
Title:   Vice President, General
  Counsel and Secretary
EXCO RESOURCES (XA), LLC
By  

/s/ William L. Boeing

Name:   William L. Boeing
Title:   Vice President and Secretary

[Underwriting Agreement Signature Page]


Accepted: September 10, 2010
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC
For itself and on behalf of the
several Underwriters listed
in Schedule 1 hereto.
By  

/s/ Lawrence S. Landry

  Authorized Signatory

[Underwriting Agreement Signature Page]


Schedule 1

 

Underwriter

        Principal
Amount

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

      $ 121,875,000

Banc of America Securities LLC

        112,125,000

BNP Paribas Securities Corp.

        84,500,000

RBC Capital Markets Corporation

        84,500,000

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

        84,500,000

Barclays Capital Inc.

        23,400,000

BMO Capital Markets Corp.

        23,400,000

Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc.

        23,400,000

Lloyds TSB Bank plc

        23,400,000

RBS Securities Inc.

        23,400,000

Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.

        23,400,000

UBS Securities LLC

        23,400,000

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

        11,700,000

Comerica Securities, Inc.

        11,700,000

Daiwa Capital Markets America Inc.

        11,700,000

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

        16,800,000

KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc.

        11,700,000

Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc.

        11,700,000

Natixis Bleichroeder LLC

        11,700,000

U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.

        11,700,000
         
   Total    $ 750,000,000

 


Schedule 2

Guarantors

EXCO Equipment Leasing, LLC

EXCO GP Partners Old, LP

EXCO Holding (PA), Inc.

EXCO Midcontinent MLP, LLC

EXCO Operating Company, LP

EXCO Partners GP, LLC

EXCO Partners OLP GP, LLC

EXCO Production Company (PA), LLC

EXCO Production Company (WV), LLC

EXCO Resources (XA), LLC

EXCO Services, Inc.

Vernon Gathering, LLC


Schedule 3

Subsidiaries

EXCO Services, Inc.

EXCO Equipment Leasing, LLC

EXCO Midcontinent MLP, LLC

EXCO Holding (PA), Inc.

Black Bear Gathering, LLC

EXCO Production Company (PA), LLC

EXCO Production Company (WV), LLC

EXCO Resources (XA), LLC

EXCO Partners GP, LLC

EXCO GP Partners Old, LP

EXCO Partners OLP GP, LLC

EXCO Operating Company, LP

EXCO Caddo Acquisition, LLC

PCMWL, LLC

EXCO Water Resources, LLC

Vernon Gathering, LLC

Joint Ventures

EBG Resources, LLC

EXCO Resources (PA), LLC

Appalachia Midstream, LLC

TGGT Holdings, LLC

TGGT GP Holdings, LLC

TGG Pipeline, Ltd.

Talco Midstream Assets, Ltd.

Bonchasse Land Company, LLC


Annex B

Time of Sale Information

Final pricing term sheet substantially in the form of Annex C attached hereto.


Annex C

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus

Pursuant to Rule 433 under the Securities Act of 1933

Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-169253)

Pricing Term Sheet

EXCO Resources, Inc.

$750,000,000

7.500% Senior Notes due 2018

This pricing term sheet supplements the preliminary prospectus dated September 7, 2010. This pricing term sheet is qualified in its entirety by reference to the preliminary prospectus dated September 7, 2010 (the “Preliminary Prospectus”). Terms used and not defined herein have the meanings assigned in the Preliminary Prospectus.

 

Issuer:

   EXCO Resources, Inc.

Security description:

   7.500% Senior Notes due 2018

Distribution:

   SEC Registered

Size:

   $750,000,000

Gross proceeds:

   $738,975,000

Maturity:

   September 15, 2018

Coupon:

   7.500%

Price:

   98.530% of principal amount

Yield to maturity:

   7.750%

Spread to Benchmark Treasury:

   +535 basis points

Benchmark Treasury:

   UST 4% due August 15, 2018

Interest Payment Dates:

   September 15 and March 15, beginning on March 15, 2011. Interest will accrue from September 15, 2010.

Equity Clawback:

   Up to 35% at 107.500% plus accrued and unpaid interest

Until:

   September 15, 2013
     


Optional redemption:

   On and after July 15, 2014, at the prices set forth below (expressed as percentages of the principal amount), plus accrued and unpaid interest:
    

Year

  

Percentage

   2014    103.750%
   2015    101.875%
   2016 and thereafter    100.000%

Make-whole:

   Make-whole call @ T+50 bps prior to September 15, 2014

Change of control:

   Putable at 101% of principal plus accrued and unpaid interest

Trade date:

   September 10, 2010

Settlement:

   T+ 3; September 15, 2010

CUSIP:

   269279AD7

ISIN:

   US269279AD75

Denominations/Multiple:

   $2,000 x $1,000

Ratings:

   [Intentionally Omitted]

Joint Book-Running Managers:

  

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

Banc of America Securities LLC

BNP Paribas Securities Corp.

RBC Capital Markets Corporation

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

Senior Co-Managers:

  

Barclays Capital Inc.

BMO Capital Markets Corp.

Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc.

Lloyds TSB Bank plc

RBS Securities Inc.

Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.

UBS Securities LLC

Co-Managers:

  

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

Comerica Securities, Inc.

Daiwa Capital Markets America Inc.

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc.

Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc.

Natixis Bleichroeder LLC

U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.


 

Other information presented in the Preliminary Prospectus is deemed to have changed to the extent affected by the changes described herein.

This material is confidential and is for your information only and is not intended to be used by anyone other than you. This information does not purport to be a complete description of these securities or the offering. Please refer to the offering memorandum for a complete description.

The issuer has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement, the prospectus and other documents the issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the issuer and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC Web site at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the issuer, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the prospectus if you request it by calling toll-free 1-800-245-8812.

Exhibit 10.2

EXECUTION VERSION

SECOND AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

SECOND AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (hereinafter referred to as the “ Amendment ”) is dated as of September 15, 2010, by and among EXCO RESOURCES, INC. (“ Borrower ”), CERTAIN SUBSIDIARIES OF BORROWER, as Guarantors (the “ Guarantors ”), the LENDERS party hereto (the “ Lenders ”), and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent (“ Administrative Agent ”). Unless the context otherwise requires or unless otherwise expressly defined herein, capitalized terms used but not defined in this Amendment have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement (as defined below).

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS , Borrower, Guarantors, Administrative Agent and Lenders have entered into that certain Credit Agreement dated as of April 30, 2010 (as the same has been and may hereafter be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”); and

WHEREAS , Administrative Agent, Lenders, Borrower and Guarantors desire to amend the Credit Agreement as provided herein upon the terms and conditions set forth herein.

NOW, THEREFORE , for and in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged and confessed, Borrower, Guarantors, Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereby agree as follows:

SECTION 1. Amendments to Credit Agreement . Subject to the satisfaction or waiver in writing of each condition precedent set forth in Section 2 hereof, and in reliance on the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this Amendment, the Credit Agreement shall be amended in the manner provided in this Section 1 .

1.1 Amended Definitions. The following definitions in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement shall be and they hereby are amended and restated in their respective entireties to read as follows:

Consolidated Current Liabilities ” means, as of any date of determination, the total of (a) consolidated current liabilities of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, as determined in accordance with GAAP as of such date, (b)  less current maturities of the Loans, (c)  less , for any period ending on or after March 31, 2010, the current maturities of the Original Senior Notes outstanding on the Effective Date (to the extent permitted under Section 7.01(h) and without giving effect to any Permitted Refinancing), and (d)  less any non-cash obligations required to be included in consolidated current liabilities of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of the application of FASB Statement 133 as of such date.

Indenture ” means, collectively, the Original Senior Notes Indenture and the New Senior Notes Indenture; provided that from and after the Original Senior Notes Discharge Date, “ Indenture ” shall mean the New Senior Notes Indenture.

 

Second Amendment to Credit Agreement – Page 1


Permitted Refinancing ” means any Indebtedness of any Credit Party, and Indebtedness constituting Guarantees thereof by any Credit Party, incurred or issued in exchange for, or the Net Cash Proceeds of which are used solely to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund, existing Senior Notes, in whole or in part, from time to time; provided that (a) the principal amount of such Permitted Refinancing (or if such Permitted Refinancing is issued at a discount, the initial issuance price of such Permitted Refinancing) does not exceed the principal amount of the Indebtedness so extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded (plus the amount of any premiums, accrued and unpaid interest, fees and expenses incurred in connection therewith), (b) such Permitted Refinancing does not provide for any scheduled repayment, mandatory redemption or payment of a sinking fund obligation prior to the date that is one year after the Maturity Date, (c) the covenant, default and remedy provisions of such Permitted Refinancing are not materially more onerous to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries than those imposed by the existing Senior Notes, (d) the mandatory prepayment, repurchase and redemption provisions of such Permitted Refinancing are not materially more onerous to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries than those imposed by the existing Senior Notes, (e) the non-default cash interest rate on the outstanding principal balance of such Permitted Refinancing does not exceed the prevailing market rate then in effect for similarly situated credits at the time such Permitted Refinancing is incurred, (f) such Permitted Refinancing is unsecured, (g) no Subsidiary of the Borrower is required to Guarantee such Permitted Refinancing unless such Subsidiary is (or concurrently with any such Guarantee becomes) a Guarantor hereunder, and (h) to the extent such Permitted Refinancing is or is intended to be expressly subordinate to the payment in full of all of the Obligations, the subordination provisions contained therein are either (x) at least as favorable to the Secured Parties as the subordination provisions contained in the existing Senior Notes or (y) reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders.

Senior Note Documents ” means the Senior Notes, the Indenture, the Senior Notes Guaranty, collectively, or each of such documents singularly, and any documents or instruments contemplated by or executed in connection with any of them, in each case, as amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time to the extent permitted under this Agreement.

Senior Notes ” means, collectively, the Original Senior Notes and the New Senior Notes; provided that from and after the Original Senior Notes Redemption Date, “ Senior Notes ” shall mean the New Senior Notes.

Senior Notes Guaranty ” means a supplemental indenture, in a form satisfactory to the Agent, pursuant to which a Subsidiary guarantees the Borrower’s obligations with respect to the Senior Notes on the terms provided for in the Senior Notes Indenture.

 

Second Amendment to Credit Agreement – Page 2


1.2 Additional Definitions. Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement shall be and it hereby is amended by adding each of the following definitions in the correct alphabetical order:

New Senior Notes ” means any senior or senior subordinated notes issued by the Borrower on or before October 1, 2010 pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the New Senior Notes Indenture, without waiver or amendment of any material terms thereof, and as thereafter amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time to the extent permitted under this Agreement; provided that (a) the terms of such New Senior Notes do not provide for any scheduled repayment, mandatory redemption (including any required offer to redeem) or payment of a sinking fund obligation prior to the date that is one year after the Maturity Date (except for any offer to redeem such senior notes required as a result of asset sales or the occurrence of a “Change of Control” under and as defined in the New Senior Notes Indenture), (b) such New Senior Notes are unsecured, (c) the non-default interest rate on the outstanding principal balance of such New Senior Notes does not exceed the prevailing market rate then in effect for similarly situated credits at the time such New Senior Notes are issued, (d) no Subsidiary of the Borrower is required to Guarantee the Indebtedness evidenced by such New Senior Notes unless such Subsidiary is (or concurrently with any such Guarantee becomes) a Guarantor hereunder, and (e) with respect to any senior subordinated notes, such notes are expressly subordinate to the payment in full of all of the Obligations on terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders.

New Senior Notes Base Indenture ” means that certain Indenture among the Borrower and the Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee, with respect to the issuance of the New Senior Notes; provided that the terms and conditions of such Indenture are substantially similar to, and no less favorable to the Lenders than, those set forth in the draft Indenture distributed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders on or about September 13, 2010.

New Senior Notes First Supplemental Indenture ” means that certain First Supplemental Indenture among the Borrower, certain Subsidiaries of the Borrower and the Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee, with respect to the issuance of the New Senior Notes; provided that the terms and conditions of such First Supplemental Indenture are substantially similar to, and no less favorable to the Lenders than, those set forth in the draft First Supplemental Indenture distributed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders on or about September 13, 2010.

New Senior Notes Indenture ” means the New Senior Notes Base Indenture, as supplemented by the New Senior Notes First Supplemental Indenture, and as further amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time to the extent permitted under this Agreement.

New Senior Notes Issuance Date ” means the date the New Senior Notes are initially issued pursuant to and in accordance with the New Senior Notes Indenture.

 

Second Amendment to Credit Agreement – Page 3


Original Senior Notes ” means the 7   1 / 4 % Senior Notes due 2011 of the Borrower issued pursuant to the Original Senior Notes Indenture, as amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time to the extent permitted under this Agreement.

Original Senior Notes Indenture ” means that certain Indenture dated as of January 20, 2004, by and among the Borrower, certain Subsidiaries of the Borrower and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee, as amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time to the extent permitted under this Agreement.

Original Senior Notes Indenture Discharge Date ” means the date that the Borrower discharges its Original Senior Notes Indenture by depositing with the Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee, a portion of the proceeds received from the issuance of the New Senior Notes in an amount equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Original Senior Notes, together with all accrued and unpaid interest, premiums and other fees owing through the Original Senior Notes Redemption Date.

Original Senior Notes Redemption Date ” means the date that the Original Senior Notes are redeemed using the proceeds deposited with the Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee, on the Original Senior Notes Indenture Discharge Date.

1.3 Deleted Definitions. Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement shall be and it hereby is amended by deleting the definition of “Trustee”.

1.4 Indebtedness. Clause (h) of Section 7.01 of the Credit Agreement shall be and it hereby is amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

(h) Indebtedness of the Borrower under the Senior Notes (and any Permitted Refinancing thereof) in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not to exceed (i) at any time prior to the New Senior Notes Issuance Date, $450,000,000, (ii) at any time during the thirty-five (35) day period following the New Senior Notes Issuance Date, $1,450,000,000, and (iii) at any time thereafter, the sum of $1,000,000,000 minus the aggregate principal amount of all repayments and prepayments (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, the redemption of the Original Senior Notes on the Original Senior Notes Redemption Date) of the Senior Notes to the extent permitted under the terms of this Agreement; provided that from and after the date that is thirty-five (35) days after the New Senior Notes Issuance Date, all of the Indebtedness and other obligations of the Borrower under the Original Senior Notes shall be paid in full;

1.5 Indebtedness. Section 7.01 of the Credit Agreement shall be and it hereby is amended by (a) deleting the “and” located at the end of clause (l) thereof, (b) relettering clause (m) as clause (n) and (c) adding a new clause (m) to read as follows:

(m) Guarantees by any Restricted Subsidiary of the Indebtedness permitted under clause (h) of this Section 7.01; and

 

Second Amendment to Credit Agreement – Page 4


1.6 Amendments of Organizational Documents; Certain Agreements and Senior Notes. Section 7.10 of the Credit Agreement shall be and it hereby is amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

Section 7.10. Amendments of Organizational Documents; Certain Agreements and Senior Notes . The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into or permit any material modification or amendment of, or waive any material right or obligation of any Person under its Organizational Documents. Except for the redemption of the Original Senior Notes on the Original Senior Notes Redemption Date, the Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, prepay, repay, redeem, defease, or purchase in any manner any Senior Notes (or any Permitted Refinancing thereof); provided that so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing or would be caused thereby, the Borrower may prepay, repay, redeem, defease or purchase Senior Notes (i) with the proceeds of any Permitted Refinancing permitted pursuant to Section 7.01(h) or (ii) at any other time that the Senior Notes are, by their terms, permitted or required to be retired, redeemed, defeased, repurchased, prepaid or repaid; provided that in the case of this clause (ii), after giving effect to any such prepayment, repayment, redemption, defeasance or purchase, the Aggregate Commitment exceeds Aggregate Credit Exposure by an amount equal to or greater than ten percent (10%) of the Aggregate Commitment. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into or permit any modification or amendment of the Senior Note Documents the effect of which is to (a) increase the maximum principal amount of the Senior Notes or the rate of interest on any of the Senior Notes (other than as a result of the imposition of a default rate of interest in accordance with the terms of the Senior Note Documents), (b) change or add any event of default or any covenant with respect to the Senior Note Documents if the effect of such change or addition is to cause any one or more of the Senior Note Documents to be more restrictive on the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries than such Senior Note Documents were prior to such change or addition, (c) change the dates upon which payments of principal or interest on the Senior Notes are due, (d) change any redemption or prepayment provisions of the Senior Notes, (e) alter the subordination provisions, if any, with respect to any of the Senior Note Documents, (f) change any of Sections 4.07(a), 10.06, 10.07 or 12.03 of the Original Senior Notes Indenture or the penultimate paragraphs of each of Sections 9.01 or 9.02 of the Original Senior Notes Indenture, (g) change any of Sections 4.08(a), 9.06 or 9.07 of the New Senior Notes First Supplemental Indenture, (h) grant any Liens in any assets of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (i) permit any Subsidiary to Guarantee the Senior Notes unless such Subsidiary is (or concurrently with any such Guarantee becomes) a Guarantor.

 

Second Amendment to Credit Agreement – Page 5


SECTION 2. Conditions . Provided that such conditions are satisfied on or before October 1, 2010, the amendments to the Credit Agreement contained in Section 1 of this Amendment shall be effective upon the satisfaction of each of the conditions set forth in this Section 2 .

2.1 Execution and Delivery. Each Credit Party, the Majority Lenders and the Administrative Agent shall have executed and delivered this Amendment.

2.2 New Senior Notes. The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence reasonably satisfactory to it that substantially contemporaneous with the effectiveness of this Amendment, the Borrower shall have issued New Senior Notes in an aggregate principal amount of at least $500,000,000.

2.3 No Default. No Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or shall result after giving effect to this Amendment.

2.4 Other Documents. The Administrative Agent shall have received such other instruments and documents incidental and appropriate to the transaction provided for herein as the Administrative Agent or its special counsel may reasonably request, and all such documents shall be in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

SECTION 3. Representations and Warranties of Borrower . To induce the Lenders to enter into this Amendment, each Credit Party hereby represents and warrants to the Lenders as follows:

3.1 Reaffirmation of Representations and Warranties/Further Assurances. After giving effect to the amendments herein, each representation and warranty of such Credit Party contained in the Credit Agreement or in any other Loan Document is true and correct in all material respects on the date hereof (except to the extent such representations and warranties relate solely to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall have been true and correct in all material respects as of such date).

3.2 Corporate Authority; No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by such Credit Party of this Amendment and all documents, instruments and agreements contemplated herein are within such Credit Party’s corporate or other organizational powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary action, require no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any court or agency of government and do not violate or constitute a default under any provision of any applicable law or other agreements binding upon such Credit Party or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any of the assets of such Credit Party except for Liens permitted under Section 7.02 of the Credit Agreement.

3.3 Enforceability. This Amendment has been duly executed and delivered by each Credit Party and constitutes the valid and binding obligation of such Credit Party enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as (i) the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditor’s rights generally, and (ii) the availability of equitable remedies may be limited by equitable principles of general application.

 

Second Amendment to Credit Agreement – Page 6


3.4 No Default. As of the date of this Amendment, both before and immediately after giving effect to this Amendment, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

SECTION 4. Miscellaneous .

4.1 Reaffirmation of Loan Documents and Liens. Except as amended and modified hereby, any and all of the terms and provisions of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall remain in full force and effect and are hereby in all respects ratified and confirmed by each Credit Party. Each Credit Party hereby agrees that the amendments and modifications herein contained shall in no manner affect or impair the liabilities, duties and obligations of any Credit Party under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents or the Liens securing the payment and performance thereof.

4.2 Parties in Interest. All of the terms and provisions of this Amendment shall bind and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

4.3 Legal Expenses. Each Credit Party hereby agrees to pay all reasonable fees and expenses of special counsel to the Administrative Agent incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Amendment and all related documents.

4.4 Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in one or more counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts together shall constitute but one and the same instrument; signature pages may be detached from multiple separate counterparts and attached to a single counterpart so that all signature pages are physically attached to the same document. Delivery of photocopies of the signature pages to this Amendment by facsimile or electronic mail shall be effective as delivery of manually executed counterparts of this Amendment.

4.5 Complete Agreement. THIS AMENDMENT, THE CREDIT AGREEMENT, AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS OR ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.

4.6 Headings. The headings, captions and arrangements used in this Amendment are, unless specified otherwise, for convenience only and shall not be deemed to limit, amplify or modify the terms of this Amendment, nor affect the meaning thereof.

4.7 Severability. Any provision of this Amendment 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.

 

Second Amendment to Credit Agreement – Page 7


4.8 Governing Law. This Amendment shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

Second Amendment to Credit Agreement – Page 8


EXECUTION VERSION

 

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

 

BORROWER :
EXCO RESOURCES, INC.

By:

 

/s/ J. Douglas Ramsey, Ph.D.

Name:

 

J. Douglas Ramsey, Ph.D.

Title:

 

Vice President – Finance

GUARANTORS :
EXCO HOLDING (PA), INC.
EXCO PRODUCTION COMPANY (PA), LLC
EXCO PRODUCTION COMPANY (WV), LLC
EXCO RESOURCES (XA), LLC
EXCO SERVICES, INC.
EXCO MIDCONTINENT MLP, LLC
EXCO PARTNERS GP, LLC
EXCO PARTNERS OLP GP, LLC
VERNON GATHERING, LLC

By:

 

/s/ J. Douglas Ramsey, Ph.D.

Name:

  J. Douglas Ramsey, Ph.D.

Title:

  Vice President – Finance
EXCO OPERATING COMPANY, LP
By:   EXCO Partners OLP GP, LLC,
  its general partner
  By:  

/s/ J. Douglas Ramsey, Ph.D.

  Name:   J. Douglas Ramsey, Ph.D.
  Title:   Vice President – Finance
EXCO GP PARTNERS OLD, LP
By:   EXCO Partners GP, LLC,
  its general partner
  By:  

/s/ J. Douglas Ramsey, Ph.D.

  Name:   J. Douglas Ramsey, Ph.D.
  Title:   Vice President – Finance

 

Second Amendment to Credit Agreement   Signature Page  


EXECUTION VERSION

 

EXCO EQUIPMENT LEASING, LLC
By:  

/s/ J. Douglas Ramsey, Ph.D.

Name:   J. Douglas Ramsey, Ph.D.
Title:   Vice President – Finance

 

Second Amendment to Credit Agreement   Signature Page  


EXECUTION VERSION

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as a Lender and as Administrative Agent and Issuing Bank
By:  

/s/ Kimberly A. Bourgeois

Name:   Kimberly A. Bourgeois
Title:   Senior Vice President

 

Second Amendment to Credit Agreement   Signature Page  


BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. , as a Lender and as Co-Lead Arranger and Co-Syndication Agent
By:  

/s/ Jeffrey H. Rathkamp

Name:   Jeffrey H. Rathkamp
Title:   Managing Director

 

Second Amendment to Credit Agreement   Signature Page  


EXECUTION VERSION

 

BNP PARIBAS , as a Lender and as Co-Lead Arranger and Co-Syndication Agent
By:  

/s/ David Dodd

Name:   David Dodd
Title:   Managing Director
By:  

/s/ Russell Otts

Name:   Russell Otts
Title:   Director

 

Second Amendment to Credit Agreement   Signature Page  


ROYAL BANK OF CANADA , as a Lender and as Co-Lead Arranger and Co-Documentation Agent
By:  

/s/ Don J. McKinnerney

Name:   Don J. McKinnerney
Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

Second Amendment to Credit Agreement   Signature Page  


WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL

ASSOCIATION, as a Lender and as Co-Documentation Agent

By:  

/s/ Tom K. Martin

Name:   Tom K. Martin
Title:   Director

 

Second Amendment to Credit Agreement   Signature Page  


EXECUTION VERSION

 

UBS LOAN FINANCE LLC, as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Irja R. Otsa

Name:   Irja R. Otsa
Title:   Associate Director
By:  

/s/ Mary E. Evans

Name:   Mary E. Evans
Title:   Associate Director

 

Second Amendment to Credit Agreement   Signature Page  


KEYBANK N.A., as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Todd Coker

Name:   Todd Coker
Title:   Vice President

 

Second Amendment to Credit Agreement   Signature Page  


NATIXIS, as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Donovan C. Broussard

Name:   Donovan C. Broussard
Title:   Managing Director
By:  

/s/ Liana Tchernysheva

Name:   Liana Tchernysheva
Title:   Director

 

Second Amendment to Credit Agreement   Signature Page  


EXECUTION VERSION

 

THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC, as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Phillip Ballard

Name:   Phillip Ballard
Title:   Managing Director

 

Second Amendment to Credit Agreement   Signature Page  


EXECUTION VERSION

 

UNION BANK, N.A., as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Douglas Gale

Name:   Douglas Gale
Title:   Union Bank, N.A.

 

Second Amendment to Credit Agreement   Signature Page  


BANK OF MONTREAL, as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Kevin Utsey

Name:   Kevin Utsey
Title:   Vice President

 

Second Amendment to Credit Agreement   Signature Page  


BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC, as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Julia R. Franklin

Name:   Julia R. Franklin
Title:   Assistant Vice President

 

Second Amendment to Credit Agreement   Signature Page  


CITIBANK, N.A., as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Ryan Watson

Name:   Ryan Watson
Title:   Vice President

 

Second Amendment to Credit Agreement   Signature Page  


EXECUTION VERSION

 

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY

AMERICAS, as a Lender

By:  

/s/ Paul O’Leary

Name:   Paul O’Leary
Title:   Director
By:  

/s/ Erin Morrissey

Name:   Erin Morrissey
Title:   Vice President

 

Second Amendment to Credit Agreement   Signature Page  


EXECUTION VERSION

 

CREDIT AGRICOLE CORPORATE AND

INVESTMENT BANK, as a Lender

By:  

/s/ Tom Byargeon

Name:   Tom Byargeon
Title:   Managing Director
By:  

/s/ Michael Willis

Name:   Michael Willis
Title:   Managing Director

 

Second Amendment to Credit Agreement   Signature Page  


EXECUTION VERSION

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a

Lender

By:  

/s/ Daria Mahoney

Name:   Daria Mahoney
Title:   Vice President

 

Second Amendment to Credit Agreement   Signature Page  


EXECUTION VERSION

 

COMERICA BANK, as a Lender
By:  

/s/ John S. Lesikar

Name:   John S. Lesikar
Title:   Corporate Banking Officer

 

Second Amendment to Credit Agreement   Signature Page  


EXECUTION VERSION

 

SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING

CORPORATION, as a Lender

By:  

/s/ Masakazu Hasegawa

Name:   Masakazu Hasegawa
Title:   General Manager

 

Second Amendment to Credit Agreement   Signature Page  


BARCLAYS BANK PLC, as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Ann E. Sutton

Name:   Ann E. Sutton
Title:   Director

 

Second Amendment to Credit Agreement   Signature Page  


THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA, as a Lender
By:  

/s/ David G. Mills

Name:   David G. Mills
Title:   Managing Director

 

Second Amendment to Credit Agreement   Signature Page  

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO   

EXCO Resources, Inc.

12377 Merit Drive·Suite 1700·Dallas, Texas 75251

Phone (214) 368-2084·Fax (972) 367-3559

EXCO RESOURCES, INC. ANNOUNCES CLOSING OF $750.0 MILLION

SENIOR NOTES OFFERING

DALLAS, TEXAS, September 15, 2010…EXCO RESOURCES, INC. (NYSE: XCO) (“EXCO”) today announced that it closed its underwritten offering of $750.0 million aggregate principal amount of 7.500% Senior Notes due 2018, which were issued at 98.530% of par value. EXCO received proceeds of approximately $724.4 million from the offering, after deducting discounts to the underwriters and estimated offering fees and expenses.

With a portion of the net proceeds from the offering, EXCO commenced the redemption of all $444.7 million in aggregate principal amount of its outstanding 7  1 / 4 % Senior Notes due 2011 in accordance with the terms of the indenture under which those notes were issued. EXCO issued the notice of redemption with respect to its 7  1 / 4 % Senior Notes due 2011 today and expects the redemption to be completed on October 15, 2010. EXCO used the remaining net proceeds to pay a portion of the outstanding balance under EXCO’s credit agreement.

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Banc of America Securities LLC, BNP Paribas Securities Corp., RBC Capital Markets Corporation and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC acted as joint book-running managers for the offering.

EXCO Resources, Inc. is an oil and natural gas exploration, exploitation, development and production company headquartered in Dallas, Texas with principal operations in East Texas, North Louisiana, Appalachia and West Texas.

Additional information about EXCO Resources, Inc. may be obtained by contacting EXCO’s Chairman, Douglas H. Miller, or its President, Stephen F. Smith, at EXCO’s headquarters, 12377 Merit Drive, Suite 1700, Dallas, TX 75251, telephone number (214) 368-2084.

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