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) June 6, 2013

 

 

APPROACH RESOURCES INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-33801   51-0424817

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

One Ridgmar Centre

6500 West Freeway, Suite 800

Fort Worth, Texas

  76116
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(817) 989-9000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

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

 

 

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

Underwriting Agreement

On June 6, 2013, Approach Resources Inc. (the “Company”), and certain subsidiary guarantors of the Company (the “Subsidiary Guarantors”) entered into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, as representative of the several underwriters named therein, with respect to the public offering by the Company of $250,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of 7.00% Senior Notes due 2021 (the “Notes”). The Notes have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), pursuant to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3ASR (File No. 333-174318), which became effective upon filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on May 18, 2011 (the “Registration Statement”), and as supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement relating to the Notes dated June 6, 2013 and filed with the Commission on June 7, 2013.

The Underwriting Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and agreements by the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, as applicable, including obligations of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, as applicable, to indemnify the underwriters for certain liabilities under the Securities Act. 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, which is filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

Completion of the Public Offering of the Notes and Entry into the Indenture

On June 11, 2013, the Company completed the public offering of the Notes. The Company expects to use the net proceeds from the offering of approximately $243 million, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses, to repay the outstanding indebtedness under the Company’s revolving credit facility, to fund the Company’s capital expenditures and for general working capital needs.

The terms of the Notes are governed by the Senior Indenture, dated as of June 11, 2013 (the “Base Indenture”), by and among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the first supplemental indenture, dated as of June 11, 2013 (the “First Supplemental Indenture”), by and among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee, setting forth the specific terms applicable to the Notes. The Base Indenture, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, is referred to herein as the “Indenture.” Interest on the Notes will accrue from June 11, 2013 and will be payable semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing on December 15, 2013. The Notes rank equally in right of payment with all of the Company’s existing and future senior indebtedness and senior to any subordinated debt that the Company may incur. The guarantees rank equally in right of payment to all of the Subsidiary Guarantors’ existing and future senior indebtedness and senior in right of payment of all of the Subsidiary Guarantors’ existing and future subordinated debt.

The Notes are redeemable at the Company’s option, in whole or in part, at any time before June 15, 2016, at the make-whole price set forth in the Indenture, and on or after such date at fixed redemption prices, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption. At any time prior to June 15, 2016, the Company may redeem up to 35% of the Notes with an amount of cash not greater than the cash proceeds that the Company raises in one or more equity offerings at a redemption price of 107.00% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption so long as (i) at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes issued remains outstanding after the redemption and (ii) such redemption occurs within 180 days of closing the related equity offering.

 

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The Indenture contains covenants that will, subject to certain exceptions, limit the ability of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors to create liens on their properties or assets, engage in sale and leaseback transactions, merge or consolidate with another entity and sell, lease or transfer substantially all of their properties or assets to another entity. Further, the Indenture provides that the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors will no longer be subject to certain covenants when the Notes receive investment grade ratings from Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services and Moody’s Investors Services, Inc.

The Indenture also contains customary events of default, including (i) default in the payment of any interest upon any Note when it becomes due and payable for a period of 30 days; (ii) default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, on any Note when due at its stated maturity, upon redemption or otherwise; and (iii) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company or a significant subsidiary or a group of restricted subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a significant subsidiary or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors. If an event of default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Notes, the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may declare the principal amount and all accrued and unpaid interest to be due and payable. Upon such a declaration, the principal amount and all accrued and unpaid interest will become due and payable immediately. If an event of default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization described above is continuing, the principal amount of the Notes outstanding will become immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any holders of the Notes.

Other material terms of the Notes and the Indenture are described in the prospectus supplement dated June 6, 2013, as filed by the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors with the Commission on June 7, 2013. The foregoing descriptions of the Base Indenture and the First Supplemental Indenture are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Base Indenture and the First Supplemental Indenture, copies of which are filed herewith as Exhibits 4.1 and 4.2, respectively.

Relationships

Certain of the Underwriters and their respective affiliates have performed, and may in the future perform, certain commercial banking, financial advisory, investment banking and other services for the Company, for which they received or will receive customary fees and expenses. Affiliates of certain of the Underwriters are lenders under the Company’s revolving credit facility, and, in such capacity, will receive a portion of the net proceeds from this offering. Additionally, an affiliate of one of the Underwriters will serve as trustee for the Notes.

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

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

 

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Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description

1.1    Underwriting Agreement dated as of June 6, 2013 among Approach Resources Inc., certain subsidiary guarantors of Approach Resources Inc. party thereto and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, as representative of the several underwriters.
4.1    Senior Indenture, dated as of June 11, 2013, among Approach Resources Inc., as Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors named therein, as Guarantors, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee.
4.2    First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 11, 2013, among Approach Resources Inc., as Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors named therein, as Guarantors, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee.
5.1    Opinion of Thompson & Knight LLP regarding legality of the Notes.
23.1    Consent of Thompson & Knight LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1 hereto).

 

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SIGNATURES

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

 

APPROACH RESOURCES INC.
By:    /s/ J. Curtis Henderson
  J. Curtis Henderson
  Executive Vice President and General Counsel

Date: June 11, 2013

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description

1.1    Underwriting Agreement dated as of June 6, 2013 among Approach Resources Inc., certain subsidiary guarantors of Approach Resources Inc. party thereto and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, as representative of the several underwriters.
4.1    Senior Indenture, dated as of June 11, 2013, among Approach Resources Inc., as Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors named therein, as Guarantors, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee.
4.2    First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 11, 2013, among Approach Resources Inc., as Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors named therein, as Guarantors, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee.
5.1    Opinion of Thompson & Knight LLP regarding legality of the Notes.
23.1    Consent of Thompson & Knight LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1 hereto).

 

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Exhibit 1.1

Execution Version

$250,000,000

Approach Resources Inc.

7.00% Senior Notes due 2021

Underwriting Agreement

June 6, 2013

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:

Approach Resources Inc., a Delaware 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 ”), $250,000,000 principal amount of its 7.00% Senior Notes due 2021 (the “ Securities ”). The Securities will be issued pursuant to an Indenture to be dated as of June 11, 2013 (the “ Base Indenture ”) among the Company, the guarantors listed in Schedule 2 hereto (the “ Guarantors ”) and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”), and will be guaranteed on an unsecured senior basis by each of the Guarantors (the “ Guarantees ”). Certain terms of the Securities will be established pursuant to a supplemental indenture (the “ Supplemental Indenture ” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “ Indenture ”) The Securities will be issued only in book-entry form in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of The Depository Trust Company (the “ DTC ”).

The Company hereby confirms its engagement of Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. Securities, Inc. (“ Tudor Pickering ” or the “ QIU ”) as, and Tudor Pickering hereby confirms its agreement with the Company to render services as, the “qualified independent underwriter,” within the meaning of NASD Conduct Rule 2720(f)(12) of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“ FINRA ”) with respect to the offering and sale of the Notes. Tudor Pickering, solely in its capacity as the qualified independent underwriter and not otherwise, is referred to herein as the “QIU.” The QIU will not receive any additional compensation for its services as the QIU hereunder.

The Company and the Guarantors hereby confirm their 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 registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-174318) including a prospectus, relating to the Securities. Such registration statement, as amended as of


the date of this Agreement, including the information, if any, deemed pursuant to Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the Securities Act to be part of the registration statement (“ Rule 430 Information ”), is referred to herein as the “ Registration Statement .” As used herein, the term “ Preliminary Prospectus ” means each prospectus included in the Registration Statement, any prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(a) under the Securities Act, 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. Any reference in this underwriting agreement (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.

References herein to the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the preliminary Canadian prospectus dated June 3, 2013 and the final Canadian prospectus dated the date hereof, respectively.

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 ”): the Preliminary Prospectus, as supplemented and amended by the “free-writing prospectus” (as defined pursuant to Rule 405 under the Securities Act) listed on Annex A hereto.

2. Purchase and Sale of the Securities .

(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 97.75% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest, if any, from June 11, 2013 to the Closing Date (as defined in Section 3 hereof). 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) The Company 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. The Company 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.

(c) The Company and the Guarantors acknowledge and agree that each Underwriter is 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 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

 

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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 neither the Representative nor any other Underwriter shall have any responsibility or liability to the Company or the Guarantors with respect thereto. Any review by the Representative or any Underwriter of the Company, the Guarantors, and the transactions contemplated hereby or other matters relating to such transactions will be performed solely for the benefit of the Representative or such Underwriter, as the case may be, and shall not be on behalf of the Company, the Guarantors or any other person.

3. Payment and Delivery .

(a) Payment for and delivery of the Securities will be made at the offices of Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on June 11, 2013 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 ”.

(b) 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 DTC, 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.

4. 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, Time of Sale Information and Prospectus . No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and each Preliminary Prospectus included in the Time of Sale Information, at the time of filing thereof, complied in all material respects with the Securities Act. The Preliminary Prospectus, as of its date, did not, the Time of Sale Information, at the Time of Sale, did not, and at the Closing Date, will not, and the Prospectus, in the form first used by the Underwriters to confirm sales of the Securities and as of 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 the Company and the Guarantors make no representation or 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 the Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Information or the Prospectus, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b).

(b) Issuer Free Writing Prospectus . The Company and the Guarantors (including their agents and representatives, other than the Underwriters in their capacity as such) have 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 and the Guarantors or their 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

 

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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 A hereto, including a term sheet substantially in the form of Annex B hereto, which constitute part of the Time of Sale Information, and (v) each electronic road show and any other written communications, in each case used in accordance with Section 5(c). 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 the Company and the Guarantors make no representation or 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, it being understood and agreed that only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof. Each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the public offer and sale of the Securities or until any earlier date that the issuer notified or notifies the Representative as described in Section 5(d), did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, including any document incorporated by reference therein and any Preliminary Prospectus deemed to be a part thereof that has been superseded or modified.

(c) 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 other 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 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 of the Securities has been initiated or, to knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission; as of the date of this Agreement or any other 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 regulation 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, as the case may be, the Prospectus does 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, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company and the Guarantors make no representation or 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 or the Guarantors in writing by such Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.

 

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(d) Incorporated Documents . The documents (or portions thereof) incorporated by reference in each of the Registration Statement, Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, when they were filed with the Commission, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and none of such documents (or portions thereof) contained any untrue statement of material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information or the Prospectus, when such documents are filed with the Commission, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act and will not contain an untrue statement of 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.

(e) Financial Statements . The financial statements and the related notes thereto of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus 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 financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the results of their operations and the changes in their cash flows for the periods specified; such financial statements have been prepared in all material respects in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“ U.S. GAAP ”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby, and the supporting schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement present fairly the information required to be stated therein; and the other financial information included or incorporated by reference in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus has been derived from the accounting records of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and presents fairly in all material respects the information shown thereby. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and is prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

(f) No Material Adverse Change . Since the date of the most recent financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, except in each case as otherwise disclosed in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, (i) there has not been any change in the capital stock (other than the issuance of shares of common stock upon exercise of stock options described as outstanding in, and the grant or cancellation of options and awards under the Company’s existing stock incentive plan described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus) or material changes 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, in or affecting the business, properties, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity, results of operations or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; (ii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has entered into any transaction or agreement that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, that is material to the Company and its

 

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subsidiaries taken as a whole; and (iii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained any material loss or interference with its business, including from fire, explosion, flood, tornado 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.

(g) Organization and Good Standing; Ownership . The Company and each of its subsidiaries 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 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 or 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, stockholders’ equity, results of operations or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or on the performance by the Company and the Guarantors of their obligations under this Agreement, the Securities and the Guarantees (a “ Material Adverse Effect ”). The subsidiaries listed in Schedule 3 to this Agreement are the only direct or indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company. The Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, equity securities in any corporation, association or other entity other than (i) 100% equity interests in the subsidiaries listed in Schedule 3 to this Agreement and (ii) a 50% equity interest in Wildcat Permian Services, LLC, a Texas limited liability company.

(h) Capitalization . The Company has the capitalization as set forth in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus under the heading “Capitalization” under the heading “Historical”; and all the outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of each subsidiary owned directly or indirectly by the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable (except as otherwise described in the Registration Statement, Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus) 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 other than those arising under the Company’s Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of January 18, 2008, by and among the Company, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and the institutions named therein and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Agent (as amended and in effect on the date hereof, the “ Credit Agreement ”).

(i) Due Authorization . The Company and each of the Guarantors have full corporate and limited liability company power and authority, as applicable, to execute and deliver this Agreement, the Securities and the Indenture (including each Guarantee set forth therein) (collectively, the “ Transaction Documents ”), to the extent it is a party thereto, and to perform their respective obligations hereunder and thereunder; and all corporate or limited liability company 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.

(j) The Indenture . The Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company and each of the Guarantors and on the Closing Date will be duly executed and delivered in accordance with its terms by the Company and each of the Guarantors 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

 

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and each of the Guarantors in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or by equitable principles (whether in a proceeding at law or in equity) relating to enforceability (collectively, the “ Enforceability Exceptions ”); and on the Closing Date, the Indenture will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act, and the rules and regulations of the Commission applicable to an indenture that is qualified thereunder.

(k) 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 be duly and validly issued and outstanding and 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, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions, and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.

(l) Underwriting Agreement . This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and each of the Guarantors.

(m) Descriptions of the Transaction Documents . Each Transaction Document conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.

(n) 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.

(o) No Conflicts . The execution, delivery and performance by the Company and each of the Guarantors of each of the Transaction Documents to which each is a party, the issuance and sale of the Securities and the issuance of the Guarantees 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

 

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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, default, lien, charge or encumbrance that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

(p) No Consents Required . No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority is required for the execution, delivery and performance by the Company and each of the Guarantors of each of the Transaction Documents to which each is a party, the issuance and sale of the Securities and the issuance of the Guarantees and the consummation of the transactions contemplated 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 applicable state securities laws in connection with the purchase and sale of the Securities by the Underwriters, and applicable state securities laws as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, and any consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification that either has been, or prior to the Closing Date will have been, obtained or made, or which if not obtained or made, would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect and would not adversely affect the Company’s and the Guarantors’ ability to fulfill their respective obligations under this Agreement or under the Securities and the Guarantees, respectively.

(q) Legal Proceedings . Except as described in each of 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 a party (or with respect to any of the foregoing in existence on the date hereof, to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries could reasonably be expected to become a party) or to which any property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject (or with respect to any of the foregoing in existence on the date hereof, to which any such property could reasonably be expected to become 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 or materially and adversely affect the Company’s and the Guarantors’ ability to fulfill their respective obligations under this Agreement; to the knowledge of the Company and each of the Guarantors, no such investigations, actions, suits or proceedings are threatened or contemplated by any governmental or regulatory authority or by others; 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 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, the Time of Sale Information 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.

(r) Independent Accountants . Hein & Associates LLP, who has audited certain financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries within the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and as required by the Securities Act.

(s) Title to Real and Personal Property . The Company and its subsidiaries have (1) good and defensible title to all oil and gas properties owned by the Company and its subsidiaries,

 

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(2) good and indefeasible title in fee simple to all other real property they own and (3) good title to all items of personal property owned by the Company and its subsidiaries, in each case that are material to the respective businesses of the Company and its subsidiaries, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, and defects and imperfections of title, except (i) those that are described in the Registration Statement, Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, (ii) those permitted under the Credit Agreement, (iii) those under oil and gas leases, options to lease, operating agreements, unitization and pooling agreements, participation and drilling agreements and oil and gas sales contracts, securing payment of amounts not yet due and payable and of a scope and nature customary in the oil and gas industry or (iv) that could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as described in the Registration Statement, Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, all items of real and other property leased by the Company and its subsidiaries are leased under valid and enforceable leases, except as could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(t) Title to Intellectual Property . The Company and its subsidiaries own, possess or are licensed to use 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 Company and its subsidiaries have not received any notice of any claim of infringement of or conflict with any such rights of others.

(u) No Undisclosed Relationships . No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders, customers or suppliers of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on the other, that would be required by the Securities Act to be described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and that is not so described in such documents and in the Time of Sale Information.

(v) Investment Company Act . Neither the Company nor any of the Guarantors is, and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus none of them will be required to register as, 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, the “ 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, subject to permitted extensions; and except as otherwise disclosed in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus or as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, there is no 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.

(x) Licenses and Permits . The Company and its subsidiaries possess all licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations issued by, and have made all declarations and 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 each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, except where the failure to possess or make the same would not,

 

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individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; and except as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus or as would not individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received written notice of any revocation or modification of any such license, certificate, permit or authorization or has any reason to believe that any such license, certificate, permit or authorization will not be renewed in the ordinary course.

(y) No Labor Disputes . No labor disturbance by or dispute with employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company and each of the Guarantors, is contemplated or threatened and neither the Company nor any Guarantor is aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by, or dispute with, the employees of any of the Company’s or any of the Company’s subsidiaries’ principal suppliers, contractors or customers, except as would not 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 and safety, the environment or 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) except as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, have not received notice of any actual or potential liability for the investigation or remediation of any disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, 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.

(aa) Hazardous Substances . There has been no storage, generation, transportation, handling, treatment, disposal, discharge, emission, or other release of any kind of toxic wastes or hazardous substances, including, but not limited to, any naturally occurring radioactive materials, brine, drilling mud, crude oil, natural gas liquids and other petroleum materials, by, due to or caused by the Company or any of its subsidiaries upon any of the property now owned or leased by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, in violation of any Environmental Laws, except for any violation or liability which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

(bb) Compliance with ERISA . Each employee benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ ERISA ”), that is maintained, administered or contributed to by the Company or any of its affiliates for employees or former employees of the Company and its affiliates has been maintained in compliance, in all material respects, with its terms and the requirements of any applicable statutes, orders, rules and regulations, including but not limited to ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”); no prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, has occurred with respect to any such plan excluding transactions effected pursuant to a statutory or administrative exemption, and transactions which, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect, and no such plan is subject to the funding rules of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA.

 

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(cc) Disclosure Controls . The Company and its subsidiaries maintain an effective system of “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act) that complies with the requirements of the Exchange Act and that has been designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported 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 and its subsidiaries have carried out evaluations of the effectiveness of their disclosure controls and procedures as required by Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act.

(dd) Accounting Controls . The Company and its subsidiaries maintain a system of “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that complies with the requirements of the Exchange Act and have been designed by, or under the supervision of, the Company’s 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 U.S. GAAP, including those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made in accordance with and authorizations of management and directors of the Company; (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements; and (iv) provide reasonable assurance that the interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference in each of the Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus is prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto. 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 control over financial reporting. The Company’s auditors and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company have been advised of all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information.

(ee) Insurance . The Company and its subsidiaries maintain insurance covering their respective properties, operations, personnel and businesses, which insurance is in amounts and insures against such losses and risks as the Company considers adequate to protect the Company and its subsidiaries and their respective businesses and is reasonably customary for companies engaged in similar businesses in similar industries; 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.

(ff) No Unlawful Payments . Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the best 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

 

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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; (iv) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Bribery Act 2010 of the United Kingdom; or (v) made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment.

(gg) Compliance with Money Laundering Laws . The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and 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 best knowledge of the Company or any of the Guarantors, threatened.

(hh) No Conflicts with Sanctions Laws . None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company or any of the Guarantors, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently the subject or the target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Government, (including, without limitation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“ OFAC ”)), the United Nations Security Council (“ UNSC ”), the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury (“ HMT ”), or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor is the Company or any of its subsidiaries located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions; 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 (i) to fund any activities of or business with any person, or in any country or territory, that, at the time of such funding, is the subject of Sanctions or (ii) in any other manner that will result in a violation by any person (including any person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions.

(ii) Solvency . On and immediately after the Closing Date, the Company and the Guarantors (taken together on a consolidated basis after giving effect to the issuance and sale of the Securities, the issuance of the Guarantees and the other transactions related thereto as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus) will be Solvent. As used in this paragraph, the term “Solvent” means, with respect to a particular date, that on such date (i) the present fair market value (or present fair saleable value) of the assets of the Company and the Guarantors is not less than the total amount required to pay the liabilities of the Company and the Guarantors on their total existing debts and liabilities (including contingent liabilities) as they become absolute and matured; (ii) the Company and the Guarantors are able to realize upon their assets and pay their debts and other liabilities, contingent obligations and commitments as they mature and become due in the normal course of business; (iii) assuming consummation of the issuance and sale of the Securities and the issuance of the Guarantees as contemplated by this Agreement, the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, the Company and the Guarantors are not incurring debts or liabilities beyond their ability to pay as such debts and liabilities mature; (iv) the Company and the Guarantors are not engaged in any business or transaction, and do not propose to engage in any business or transaction, for which their property would constitute unreasonably small capital after giving due consideration of the prevailing practice in the industry in which the Company

 

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and the Guarantors are engaged; and (v) is the Company and the Guarantors are not defendants in any civil action that would result in a judgment that the Company and the Guarantors are or would become unable to satisfy.

(jj) No Restrictions on Subsidiaries . Other than (i) pursuant to the Credit Agreement or (ii) under the provisions of the Amended and Restated Company Agreement of Wildcat Permian Services LLC dated September 12, 2012, 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.

(kk) 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.

(ll) No Registration Rights. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, 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.

(mm) 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.

(nn) Margin Rules . Neither the issuance, sale and delivery of the Securities pursuant to the Transaction Documents nor the application of the proceeds thereof by the Company as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus will violate Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or any other regulation of such Board of Governors.

(oo) Forward-Looking Statements . No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) included or incorporated by reference in any of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information or the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.

(pp) Industry Statistical and Market Data . Nothing has come to the attention of the Company or any Guarantor that has caused the Company or such Guarantor to believe that the industry statistical and market-related data included or incorporated by reference in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus is not based on or derived from sources that are reliable and accurate in all material respects.

(qq) Sarbanes-Oxley Act . There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or, to the knowledge of the Company, any of its directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with any applicable provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended and any applicable rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith (the “ Sarbanes-Oxley Act ”) including Section 402 related to loans.

 

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(rr) 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, at the times specified in the Securities Act in connection with the offering of the Securities.

(ss) Reserve Data . (i) (A) The oil and natural gas reserve estimates of the Company and its subsidiaries contained or incorporated by reference 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, DeGolyer & MacNaughton, as set forth and to the extent indicated therein, and (B) such estimates fairly reflect the oil and natural gas reserves of the Company and its subsidiaries, as applicable, at the dates indicated therein and are in accordance, in all material respects, with Commission guidelines for each applicable period applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved.

(tt) Independent Petroleum Engineers . DeGolyer & MacNaughton has represented to the Company that they are, and the Company believes them to be, independent petroleum engineers with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries and for the periods set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.

5. Further Agreements of the Company and the Guarantors . The Company and the Guarantors jointly and severally covenant and agree with each Underwriter that:

(a) Required Filings. The Company will file the 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 (to the extent not previously delivered) to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act; 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 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.

(b) Delivery of Copies . The Company will deliver, without charge, (i) to the Representative, three signed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto, in each case including all exhibits and consents filed therewith; and (ii) to each Underwriter (A) a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (without exhibits) and (B) during the Prospectus Delivery Period (as defined below), as many copies of the Prospectus (including all amendments and supplements thereto) 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. The Company will pay the registration fee for this offering within the time period required by Rule 456(b)(1) under the Securities Act (without giving effect to the proviso therein) and in any event prior to the Closing Date.

 

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(c) Amendments or Supplements, Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. 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, 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 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 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; (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, any of the Time of Sale Information 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; and (vi) 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, any of the Time of Sale Information or the Prospectus or suspending any such qualification of the Securities and, if any such order is issued, will obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.

(e) Ongoing Compliance . (1) 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 immediately notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to Section 5(c) hereof, 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 and (2) 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 existing when the Time of Sale Information is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Information to comply with law, the Company will immediately notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare

 

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and, subject to Section 5(c) hereof, 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 existing when the Time of Sale Information is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Time of Sale Information will comply with law.

(f) 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 the offering and sale of the Securities; provided that neither the Company nor any of the Guarantors shall 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.

(g) 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.

(h) Clear Market . During the period from the date hereof through and including the date that is 90 days after the date hereof, the Company and each of the Guarantors 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 or any of the Guarantors and having a tenor of more than one year.

(i) Use of Proceeds . The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus under the heading “Use of proceeds.”

(j) DTC . The Company will assist the Underwriters in arranging for the Securities to be eligible for clearance and settlement through DTC.

(k) No Stabilization . Neither the Company nor any of the Guarantors will 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) Reports. So long as the Securities are outstanding, the Company will furnish to the Representative, as soon as they are available, copies of all reports or other communications (financial or other) furnished to holders of the Securities, and copies of any reports and financial statements furnished to or filed with the Commission or any national securities exchange or automatic quotation system; provided the Company will be deemed to have furnished such reports and financial statements to the Representative to the extent they are filed on the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system.

(m) 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.

 

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(n) Filings. The Company will file with the Commission such reports as may be required by Rule 463 under the Securities Act.

6. 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 A or prepared pursuant to Section 4(b) or Section 5(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 A hereto without the consent of the Company.

(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).

7. 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 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 5(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 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, 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 . Subsequent to the earlier of (A) the Time of Sale and (B) the execution and delivery of this Agreement, (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded the Securities or any other debt securities or preferred stock issued or guaranteed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization”, as such term is defined under Section 3(a)(62) under the Exchange 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 issued 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 4(f) hereof shall have occurred or shall exist, which event or condition is not described in each of the Time of Sale Information (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the Prospectus (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) the effect of which in the judgment of the Representative 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.

(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 of 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 best knowledge of such officer, the representations set forth in Sections 4(a) and 4(b) hereof are true and correct, (ii) confirming that the other representations and warranties of the Company and the Guarantors in this Agreement are true and correct 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 (c) and (d) above.

(f) Comfort Letters . On the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date, Hein & Associates 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 each of 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 of Counsel for the Company . The Representative shall have received the written opinion, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Underwriters, from each of (i) Thompson & Knight LLP, counsel for the Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative (including a 10b-5 statement), to the effect set forth in Annex D-1 hereto and (ii) J. Curtis Henderson, Executive Vice President and General Counsel of the Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, to the effect set forth in Annex D-2 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, addressed to the Underwriters, of Cahill Gordon & Reindel 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.

(i) Reserve Letters . On the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date, DeGolyer & MacNaughton shall have furnished to the Representative, at the request of the Company, reserve report confirmation letters, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the

 

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Representative, containing statements and information of the type customarily included in such letters to underwriters with respect to the reserve and other operational information contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.

(j) 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.

(k) Good Standing . The Representative shall have received on and as of the Closing Date satisfactory evidence of the good standing of the Company and its subsidiaries 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.

(l) DTC . The Securities shall be eligible for clearance and settlement through DTC.

(m) Indenture and Securities . The Indenture shall have been duly executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of the Company, each of the Guarantors and the Trustee, and the Securities shall have been duly executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of the Company and duly authenticated by the Trustee.

(n) 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.

8. Indemnification and Contribution .

(a) Indemnification of the Underwriters . The Company and each of the Guarantors jointly and severally agrees 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, 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, or (ii) 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 (including any Time of Sale Information that has been subsequently amended), 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, 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 Section 8(b) hereof.

 

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(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, each of their respective directors, each of 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, Preliminary Prospectus, any of the other Time of Sale Information, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), it being understood and agreed that the only such information consists of the following in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus: the third sentence of the fifth paragraph and the tenth paragraph under the heading “Underwriting; Conflicts of interest.”

(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) above except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided , further , that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise than under paragraph (a) or (b) above. If any such proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, the Indemnifying Person shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person (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 this Section 8 that the Indemnifying Person may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and expenses of such proceeding and shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel related to such proceeding, as incurred. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; (ii) the Indemnifying Person has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person; (iii) the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the Indemnifying Person; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood and agreed that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the 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 paid or reimbursed as they are incurred; provided , however that if indemnity may be sought pursuant to paragraph (a) above in respect of such proceeding, then in addition to such separate firm of the Underwriters, their affiliates and such control persons of the Underwriters the indemnifying party shall be liable for the fees and expenses of not more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for Tudor Pickering in its capacity as a “qualified

 

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independent underwriter”, its affiliates, directors, officers and all persons, if any, who control Tudor Pickering within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act. 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 and the Guarantors 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.

(d) Contribution . If the indemnification provided for in paragraph (a) or (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 or Tudor Pickering in its capacity as a “qualified independent underwriter”, as the case may be, 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 or Tudor Pickering in its capacity as a “qualified independent underwriter”, as the case may be, 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 or Tudor Pickering in its capacity as a “qualified independent underwriter”, as the case may be, 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 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, or the fee to be received by Tudor Pickering in its capacity as a “qualified independent underwriter”, as the case may be, 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 or Tudor Pickering in its capacity as a “qualified independent underwriter”, as the case may be, 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 or Tudor Pickering in its capacity as a “qualified independent underwriter”, as the case may be, 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 8 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 8, in no event shall an Underwriter be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total 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 8 are several in proportion to their respective purchase obligations hereunder and not joint.

(f) Non-Exclusive Remedies . The remedies provided for in this Section 8 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies that may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity.

(g) Indemnification of the QIU . Without limitation and in addition to its obligation under the other sub-sections of this Section 8, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the QIU, its officers and employees and each person, if any, who controls the QIU within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act from and against any loss, claim, damage, liabilities or expense, as incurred, arising out of or based upon the QIU’s acting as a “qualified independent underwriter” (within the meaning of NASD Conduct Rule 2720(f)(12) of FINRA) in connection with the offering contemplated by this Agreement, and agrees to reimburse each such indemnified person for any legal or other expense reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action; provided , however , that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense results from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the QIU.

(h) 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 on or prior to the Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on or by any of the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Global 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 Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.

 

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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, the Time of Sale Information, the Prospectus or in any other document or arrangement, and the Company agrees to promptly prepare any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information or 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 or the Guarantors, except that the Company and each of the Guarantors will continue to be liable for the payment of expenses as set forth in Section 11 hereof and except that the provisions of Section 8 hereof shall not terminate and shall remain in effect.

(d) Nothing contained herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of any liability it may have to the Company, the Guarantors 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 of the Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectus, any other Time of Sale Information, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus (including all exhibits, amendments or supplements thereto) and the distribution thereof (which, for the avoidance of doubt, do

 

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not include fees and expenses of underwriters’ counsel); (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 the approval of the Securities for book-entry transfer by DTC; (ix) any filing with, and clearance of the offering by, FINRA; (x) the fees and expenses of the QIU; and (xi) 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 (other than by termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 9(i), (iii) or (iv)), 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 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, the affiliates of each Underwriter referred to in Section 8 hereof and the QIU, the QIU’s officers, directors, employees and agents, and each person, if any, who controls the QIU within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act. 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.

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, the Guarantors, the Underwriters or the QIU.

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.

15. Compliance with USA Patriot Act . In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.

 

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16. 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: Geoff Benson. Notices to the Company and the Guarantors shall be given to them at Approach Resources Inc., One Ridgmar Centre, 6500 West Freeway, Suite 800, Fort Worth, Texas, 76116 (fax: 817 989-9001); Attention: J. Curtis Henderson, Executive Vice President and General Counsel.

(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.

(d) Submission to Jurisdiction . The Company and each of the Guarantors hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the U.S. federal and New York state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. The Company and each of the Guarantors waive any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such suit or proceeding in such courts. Each of the Company and each of the Guarantors agrees that final judgment in any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such court shall be conclusive and binding upon the Company and each Guarantor, as applicable, and may be enforced in any court to the jurisdiction of which Company and each Guarantor, as applicable, is subject by a suit upon such judgment.

(e) Waiver of Jury Trial . Each of the parties hereto hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any right to trial by jury in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

(f) 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.

(g) 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.

(h) 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,

 

APPROACH RESOURCES INC.

By:    J. Ross Craft
 

Name: J. Ross Craft

Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

 

APPROACH OIL & GAS INC.

APPROACH OPERATING, LLC

APPROACH DELAWARE, LLC

APPROACH SERVICES, LLC

APPROACH MIDSTREAM HOLDINGS LLC

 

By:    J. Ross Craft
 

Name: J. Ross Craft

Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

 

APPROACH RESOURCES I, LP
By:    Approach Operating, LLC, its general partner
By:    J. Ross Craft
 

Name: J. Ross Craft

Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

Accepted: June 6, 2013

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC

For itself and on behalf of the

several Underwriters listed

in Schedule 1 hereto.

 

By:    /s/ Geoff Benson
  Authorized Signatory

 

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Schedule 1

 

Underwriter

   Principal Amount  

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

   $ 100,000,000   

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

     50,000,000   

KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc.

     37,500,000   

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

     25,000,000   

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

                     Incorporated

     12,500,000   

Scotia Bank (USA) Inc.

     12,500,000   

Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. Securities, Inc.

     12,500,000  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 250,000,000   

 

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Schedule 2

Guarantors

Approach Oil & Gas Inc.

Approach Resources I, LP

Approach Services, LLC

Approach Midstream Holdings LLC

Approach Operating, LLC

Approach Delaware, LLC


Schedule 3

Entities Owned

Approach Oil & Gas Inc.

Approach Operating, LLC

Approach Resources I, LP

Approach Delaware, LLC

Approach Services, LLC

Approach Midstream Holdings LLC


ANNEX A

 

a. Additional Time of Sale Information

 

  1. Term sheet containing the terms of the Securities, substantially in the form of Annex B.


ANNEX B

Pricing Term Sheet

 

LOGO

7.00% Senior Notes due 2021

The information in this pricing term sheet supplements the information in the preliminary prospectus supplement dated June 3, 2013, including the documents incorporated by reference therein (the “Prospectus Supplement”), and the related base prospectus dated May 18, 2011. Other information presented in the Prospectus Supplement is deemed to have changed to the extent affected by the changes described herein. Capitalized terms not defined herein have the meaning ascribed to them in the Prospectus Supplement.

 

Issuer:    Approach Resources Inc.
Title of Securities:    7.00% Senior Notes due 2021
Aggregate Principal Amount:    $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount
Net Proceeds to Issuer (before expenses):    $244,375,000
Distribution:    SEC Registered
Final Maturity Date:    June 15, 2021
Public Offering Price:    100.00% plus accrued interest, if any, from June 11, 2013
Coupon:    7.00%
Yield to Maturity:    7.00%
Spread to Benchmark Treasury:    +532 bps
Benchmark Treasury:    UST 3.125% due May 15, 2021
Interest Payment Dates:    June 15 and December 15
Record Dates:    June 1 and December 1
First Interest Payment Date:    December 15, 2013
Optional Redemption:   

Make-whole call at T+50 until June 15, 2016.

From and after June 15, 2016, in whole or in part, at the prices set forth below (expressed as percentages of the principal amount), plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption, on June 15 of the years set forth below:

   Date    Price
   2016    105.250%
   2017    103.500%
   2018    101.750%
   2019 and thereafter    100.000%
Optional Redemption with Equity Proceeds:    Prior to June 15, 2016, up to 35% at a redemption price equal to 107.000% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the date of redemption.


Special Optional Redemption upon a Change of Control within the First Year:    None
Change of Control:    Putable at 101% of principal, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase.
CUSIP/ISIN Numbers:   

CUSIP: 03834A AA1

 

ISIN: US03834AAA16

Joint Book-Running Managers:   

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc.

Co-Managers:   

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

                       Incorporated

Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.

Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. Securities, Inc.

Trade Date:    June 6, 2013
Expected Settlement Date:    June 11, 2013 (T+3)

 

 

This information does not purport to be a complete description of the notes. This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any notes in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction.

The Issuer has filed a registration statement (including the Prospectus Supplement) with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the Prospectus Supplement, the registration statement 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, copies of the Prospectus Supplement may be obtained from your sales representative: J.P. Morgan Securities LLC at 383 Madison Avenue, 3rd Floor, New York, New York 10179, Attention: Syndicate Desk, or by calling (800) 245-8812.

ANY DISCLAIMERS OR OTHER NOTICES THAT MAY APPEAR BELOW ARE NOT APPLICABLE TO THIS COMMUNICATION AND SHOULD BE DISREGARDED. SUCH DISCLAIMERS OR OTHER NOTICES WERE AUTOMATICALLY GENERATED AS A RESULT OF THIS COMMUNICATION BEING SENT VIA BLOOMBERG OR ANOTHER EMAIL SYSTEM.


ANNEX C

[Reserved]


ANNEX D-1

Form of Opinion of Counsel for the Company and the Guarantors

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc.

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

                      Incorporated

Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.

Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. Securities, Inc.

c/o J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

383 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10179

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special counsel for Approach Resources Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement dated as of June 6, 2013 (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”) between the Company and the other Relevant Parties (as defined below) and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, as your representative. This opinion letter is furnished to you solely for purposes of complying with the requirements of Section 7(g)(i) of the Underwriting Agreement.

In this opinion letter:

(a) Each of the Company and Approach Oil & Gas Inc., a Delaware corporation, is referred to as an “ Approach Corporation ”.

(b) Each of Approach Delaware, LLC, Approach Operating, LLC, Approach Services, LLC and Approach Midstream Holdings LLC, each a Delaware limited liability company, is referred to as an “ Approach LLC ”.

(c) Approach Resources I, LP, a Texas limited partnership, is referred to as the “ Approach Partnership ”.

(d) The Approach Corporations (other than the Company), the Approach LLCs and the Approach Partnership are referred to as the “ Guarantors ”.

(f) The Approach Corporations, the Approach LLCs and the Approach Partnership are referred to herein as the “ Relevant Parties ”.

In connection with this opinion letter, we have examined original counterparts or copies of original counterparts of the following documents:

(a) The Underwriting Agreement.


(b) The Senior Indenture dated as of June 11, 2013 (the “ Base Indenture ”) among the Company, the Guarantors and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (the “ Bank ”), as trustee (the “ Trustee ”).

(c) The First Supplemental Indenture dated as of the date hereof (the “ First Supplemental Indenture ”) and, together with the Base Indenture, the “ Indenture ”) among the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee with respect to the Base Indenture.

(d) The 7.00% Senior Notes due 2021 issued today by the Company (the “ Notes ”), together with the notations of guarantee (the “ Guarantees ”) of the Guarantors attached thereto.

(e) The Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-174318) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) on May 18, 2011, as amended as of June 3, 2013 (the “ Registration Statement ”), including the form of prospectus therein (including the documents incorporated by reference therein, the “ Base Prospectus ”).

(f) The Preliminary Prospectus Supplement dated June 3, 2013 (including the documents incorporated therein by reference, the “ Preliminary Prospectus Supplement ” and together with the Base Prospectus and the information (the “ Free Writing Prospectus ”) identified on Schedule D to the Underwriting Agreement, the “ Time of Sale Information ”) relating to the offering of the Notes.

(g) The Final Prospectus Supplement dated June 6, 2013 (including the documents incorporated therein by reference and the Base Prospectus, the “ Final Prospectus Supplement ”).

The documents listed in items (a), (b), (c) and (d) above are referred to collectively herein as the “ Transaction Documents ”. We have also examined originals or copies of such other records of the Relevant Parties, certificates of public officials and of officers of the Relevant Parties and agreements and other documents as we have deemed necessary, subject to the assumptions set forth below, as a basis for the opinions expressed below.

In rendering the opinions expressed below, we have assumed:

(i) The genuineness of all signatures.

(ii) The authenticity of the originals of the documents submitted to us.

(iii) The conformity to authentic originals of any documents submitted to us as copies.

(iv) As to matters of fact, the truthfulness of the representations made or otherwise incorporated in the Underwriting Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and representations and statements made in certificates of public officials and officers of the Relevant Parties.


(v) That the Transaction Documents constitute valid, binding and enforceable obligations of each party thereto (other than the Relevant Parties party thereto).

(vi) That:

(A) The execution, delivery and performance by each Relevant Party of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party do not, except with respect to Applicable Laws (and (I) the laws, rules and regulations referred to in qualification (a)(i), insofar as they relate to our opinion in paragraph 2 and (II) the laws, rules and regulations referred to in paragraphs 6, 7(c), 8, 9, 10, 12 and 15, insofar as they relate to the matters referred to therein):

(1) violate any law, rule or regulation applicable to it, or

(2) result in any conflict with or breach of any agreement or document binding on it (other than any Applicable Contract (as defined below), to the extent we opine thereon in paragraph 7(b)) of which you or any other Underwriter has knowledge, has received notice or has reason to know.

(B) Except as required by Applicable Laws (and (I) the laws, rules and regulations referred to in qualification (a)(i), insofar as they relate to our opinion in paragraph 2 and (II) the laws, rules and regulations referred to in paragraphs 6, 7(c), 8, 9, 10, 12 and 15, insofar as they relate to the matters referred to therein), no authorization, approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory body or (to the extent the same is required under any agreement or document binding on it of which you or any other Underwriter has knowledge, has received notice or has reason to know, other than any Applicable Contract, to the extent we opine thereon in paragraph 7(b)) is required for the due execution, delivery or performance by any Relevant Party of any Transaction Document to which it is a party or, if any such authorization, approval, action, notice or filing is required, it has been duly obtained, taken, given or made and is in full force and effect.

We have not independently established the validity of the foregoing assumptions.

Applicable Laws ” means:

(a) the laws, rules and regulations of the State New York and the federal laws, rules and regulations of the United States of America, in each case that in our experience are normally applicable to the Relevant Parties, the Underwriting Agreement or transactions of the type contemplated in the Underwriting Agreement;

(b) in the case of our opinions in paragraphs 1(a) and (b), 3, 7(a), 7(c) and 8, the Delaware General Corporation Law and the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, but in each case only to the extent based on our review thereof, without consideration of any judicial or administrative interpretation thereof; and


(c) in the case of our opinions in paragraphs 1(c), 3, 7(a), 7(c) and 8, the Texas Business Organizations Code.

However, the term “Applicable Laws” does not include:

(i) Any state or federal laws, rules or regulations relating to: (A) pollution or protection of the environment; (B) zoning, land use, building or construction; (C) occupational safety and health or other similar matters; (D) labor, employee rights and benefits, including without limitation the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended; (E) the regulation of utilities; (F) antitrust and trade regulation; (G) tax; (H) securities, including without limitation federal and state securities laws, rules, or regulations, including state anti-fraud laws, rules, or regulations, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “ Investment Company Act ”); (I) corrupt practices, including without limitation the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977; (J) insurance; and (K) copyrights, patents, service marks and trademarks.

(ii) Any laws, rules or regulations of any county, municipality or similar political subdivision or any agency or instrumentality thereof.

(iii) Any laws, rules or regulations that are applicable to the Relevant Parties, the Transaction Documents or such transactions solely because such laws, rules or regulations are part of a regulatory regime applicable to any party to the Underwriting Agreement or any of its affiliates because of the specific assets or business of such other party or such affiliate.

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications and limitations herein set forth, we are of the opinion that:

1.     (a) Each Approach Corporation is a corporation validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.

(b) Each Approach LLC is a limited liability company validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.

(c) The Approach Partnership is a limited partnership validly existing and its authority to transact business is active under the laws of the State of Texas.

2. Based solely on certificates of public officials, each Relevant Party was duly qualified or licensed to do business and is in good standing (or, with respect any Relevant Party so qualifying or licensed in the State of Texas, its authority to transact business is active) as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction listed in Schedule I.B with respect to it as of the respective dates specified in such Schedule.

3. Each of each Approach Corporation, each Approach LLC and the Approach Partnership:

(a) has the corporate, limited liability company or partnership power and authority, as applicable, to carry on its business and to own, lease and operate its properties and assets, in each case as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus Supplement, and to execute, deliver and perform the Transaction Documents to which it is a party;


(b) has taken all corporate, limited liability company or partnership action, as applicable, necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of such Transaction Documents; and

(c) has duly executed and delivered such Transaction Documents.

4. Assuming the due authentication of the Notes by the Trustee in accordance with the Indenture and payment for the Notes by you in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement:

(a) the Notes will be the valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms and entitled to the benefits of the Indenture, and

(b) the Guarantees will be the valid and binding obligations of the Guarantors, enforceable against the Guarantors in accordance with their terms.

5. The Indenture constitutes the valid and binding obligation of each Relevant Party, enforceable against such Relevant Party in accordance with its terms.

6. The form of the Indenture complies with the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “ TIA ”).

7. The application of the proceeds from the Notes by the Company as described under “ Use of proceeds ” in the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus Supplement and the execution and delivery by each Relevant Party of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party do not, and the performance by each Relevant Party of its obligations under the Transaction Documents to which it is a party will not:

(a) in the case of any Relevant Party, violate its certificate of incorporation or bylaws, certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement or limited partnership agreement, as applicable;

(b) breach or result in a default or the creation of any lien under any agreement or instrument listed in Schedule I.C (the “ Applicable Contracts ”) (except that we express no opinion with respect to financial maintenance covenants and other similar provisions in any Applicable Contract requiring financial maintenance calculations or determinations to ascertain compliance) or any order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, determination or award listed in Schedule I.D; or

(c) result in a violation by any Relevant Party of any Applicable Laws or Regulation X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.


8. No authorization, approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any United States federal or New York governmental authority or regulatory body, any Delaware governmental authority or regulatory body acting pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law or the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, any Texas governmental authority or regulatory body acting pursuant to the Texas Business Organizations Code or any third party that is a party to an Applicable Contract, is required for: (a) the due execution, delivery or performance by a Relevant Party of any Transaction Document to which it is a party, or (b) the application of the proceeds from the Notes by the Company as described under “ Use of proceeds ” in the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus Supplement, except as have been obtained under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), or the TIA, and except that we express no opinion with respect to authorizations, approvals, actions, notices and filings that may be required in connection with financial maintenance covenants and other similar provisions in any Applicable Contract requiring financial calculations or determinations to ascertain compliance.

9. No Relevant Party is, or as a result of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents (including the application of the proceeds of the issue and sale of the Noted as described in the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus Supplement) will be, required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act.

10. The Registration Statement, as of its effective date, the Time of Sale Information, as of its date and the Applicable Time (as defined below), and the Final Prospectus Supplement as of the date thereof and the date hereof, complied and comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of Form S-3 under the Securities Act.

11. The Registration Statement became effective under the Securities Act as of the date it was filed with the SEC, the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement was filed with the SEC pursuant to pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5) on June 3, 2013 and the Final Prospectus Supplement was filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5) on June 7, 2013. The SEC stated to us at approximately 8:50 a.m. today in a telephone conversation that no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof has been issued by it.

12. Any required filing of the Free Writing Prospectus pursuant to Rule 433 under the Securities Act has been made within the time period required by subsection (d) of such Rule and any required filing of the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act has been made within the time required under such Rule.

13. The statements set forth under the heading “ Description of notes ” in the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus Supplement, insofar as such statements purport to summarize the terms of the Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees, accurately summarize such documents in all material respects.

14. The statements set forth under the headings “Description of other indebtedness” and “Material U.S. federal income tax considerations” in the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus Supplement, in each case insofar as such statements purport to constitute summaries of the terms of statutes, rules, regulations or documents, accurately summarize such statutes, rules, regulations and documents in all material respects.


15. The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus Supplement, when they were filed with the SEC, complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder.

The opinions set forth above are subject to the following qualifications and exceptions:

(a) Our opinions are limited to Applicable Laws and also include:

(i) in the case of our opinion in paragraph 2, to the limited extent set forth therein, the law of the states referred to in Schedule I.B;

(ii) in the case of our opinions in paragraphs 6 and 8, the TIA;

(iii) in the case of our opinion in paragraph 7(c), Regulation X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

(iv) in the case of our opinion in paragraph 9, the Investment Company Act;

(vi) in the case of our opinions in paragraphs 8, 10, 11 and 12, the Securities Act;

(vii) in the case of our opinion in paragraph 14, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, Treasury regulations, rulings and pronouncements of the Internal Revenue Service and judicial decisions interpreting the foregoing; and

(viii) in the case of our opinion in paragraph 15, the Exchange Act.

and we do not express any opinion herein concerning any other laws. Without derogating from the limitation on the scope of our opinion in this qualification (a), we note that we express no opinion in paragraph 7(c) or 8 with respect to the blue-sky laws of any jurisdiction in the United States or the rules or regulations of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.

(b) Our opinions are subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, receivership, moratorium or similar laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors generally.

(c) Our opinions are subject to general principles of equity exercisable in the discretion of a court (including without limitation obligations and standards of good faith, fair dealing, materiality and reasonableness and defenses relating to unconscionability or to impracticability or impossibility of performance).

(d) We express no opinion in paragraph 4 or 5 with respect to

(i) The enforceability of indemnification provisions, or of waiver, release or exculpation provisions, contained in the Transaction Documents referred to therein to the extent that enforcement thereof is contrary to public policy regarding the indemnification against or release or exculpation of criminal violations, intentional harm, violations of securities laws or acts of gross negligence or willful misconduct or to the extent that the same relate to punitive damages.


(ii) Any waiver of defenses by a Guarantor in Article Sixteen of the First Supplemental Indenture.

(e) We express no opinion in paragraph 10 with respect to (i) the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the matters discussed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information or the Prospectus; (ii) the financial statements and related notes and schedules and other financial data, oil and gas reserves, prospects or production data, or statistical data derived from such financial, oil and gas reserves, prospects or production data included therein or omitted therefrom; or (iii) the Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 of the Trustee.

(f) We express no opinion in paragraph 15 with respect to (i) the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the matters discussed in the filings referred to therein, or (ii) any financial statements and related notes and schedules and other financial data, oil and gas reserves, prospects or production data, or statistical data derived from such financial, oil and gas reserves, prospects or production data included therein or omitted therefrom.

(g) With respect to our opinion in paragraph 1, we have relied exclusively upon the certificates of public officials described in Schedule I.A hereto.

In the course of our acting as counsel to the Company in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus Supplement relating to the offering and sale of the Notes, we reviewed the Registration Statement the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus Supplement and participated in conferences with officers and other representatives of the Relevant Parties, your representatives and your counsel, and representatives of the independent public accountants for the Company, at which the contents of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus Supplement related matters were discussed. We did not generally participate in the preparation of the documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus. The purpose of our professional engagement was not to establish or confirm factual matters set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information or the Final Prospectus Supplement, and we have not undertaken to verify independently any of such factual matters. Moreover, many of the determinations required to be made in the preparation of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus Supplement involve matters of a non-legal nature. Subject to the foregoing, we confirm to you that, on the basis of the information we gained in the course of performing the services referred to above, nothing came to our attention that caused us to believe that:

(a) the Registration Statement, as of its most recent effective date, contained an 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 not misleading;

(b) the Time of Sale Information, as of 4:30 p.m. (eastern time) on June 6, 2013 (the “ Applicable Time ”) contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; or


(c) the Final Prospectus Supplement, as of the date thereof and as of the date hereof contained or contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state any 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 we do not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information or the Final Prospectus Supplement (except as otherwise specifically stated in paragraphs 13 and 14), and we do not express any belief with respect to, the financial statements, related notes and schedules and other financial data, data related to oil and gas reserves and prospects or production data or related geological data or statistical data derived therefrom or accounting data contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or the Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 of the Trustee.

Any discussion of U.S. federal income tax issues in this opinion letter or the Final Prospectus Supplement is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for purposes of avoiding penalties that may be imposed under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Any discussion of U.S. federal income tax issues in this opinion letter or the Final Prospectus Supplement is written to support the promotion or marketing of the transactions or matters addressed therein.

This opinion letter is rendered to you in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. Without our prior written consent, this opinion letter may not be relied upon by any person other than you (except that the Bank, in its individual capacity and not as the Trustee, also may rely on paragraphs 1 through 9 of this opinion, subject to the same limitations and qualifications contained herein as are applicable to you) or by you or the Bank for any other purpose.

This opinion letter has been prepared, and is to be understood, in accordance with customary practice of lawyers who regularly give and lawyers who regularly advise recipients regarding opinions of this kind, is limited to the matters expressly stated herein and is provided solely for purposes of complying with the requirements of the Underwriting Agreement, and no opinions may be inferred or implied beyond the matters expressly stated herein. The opinions expressed herein are rendered and speak only as of the date hereof and we specifically disclaim any responsibility to update such opinions subsequent to the date hereof or to advise you of subsequent developments affecting such opinions. We note that we only represent the Relevant Parties and their affiliates with respect to specific transactions, including the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, and we are not general outside counsel for the Relevant Parties and their affiliates.


ANNEX D-2

Form of Opinion of General Counsel for the Company and the Guarantors

To the knowledge of such counsel, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information or the Final Prospectus Supplement, or in the public filings incorporated therein, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or overtly threatened in writing to be commenced against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or of which any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject that (a) would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement); (b) challenge the validity or enforceability of the Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees; or (c) seek to enjoin (i) the performance of the Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees, or (ii) the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated therein.

Exhibit 4.1

 

 

 

APPROACH RESOURCES INC.,

AS ISSUER

AND

ANY SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS PARTIES HERETO,

AS SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS

TO

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

AS TRUSTEE

 

 

SENIOR INDENTURE

DATED AS OF JUNE 11, 2013

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

     Page  

ARTICLE ONE DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

     1   

SECTION 101 Definitions

     1   

SECTION 102 Compliance Certificates and Opinions

     5   

SECTION 103 Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee

     6   

SECTION 104 Acts of Holders; Record Dates

     6   

SECTION 105 Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company

     7   

SECTION 106 Notice to Holders; Waiver

     8   

SECTION 107 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act

     8   

SECTION 108 Effect of Headings and Table of Contents

     8   

SECTION 109 Successors and Assigns

     8   

SECTION 110 Separability Clause

     8   

SECTION 111 Benefits of Indenture

     8   

SECTION 112 Governing Law

     8   

SECTION 113 Legal Holidays

     9   

SECTION 114 No Recourse Against Others

     9   

ARTICLE TWO SECURITY FORMS

     9   

SECTION 201 Forms Generally

     9   

SECTION 202 Form of Face of Security

     9   

SECTION 203 Form of Reverse of Security

     10   

SECTION 204 Form of Notation of Subsidiary Guarantee

     13   

SECTION 205 Form of Legend for Global Securities

     14   

SECTION 206 Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication

     15   

SECTION 207 Form of Conversion Notice

     15   

ARTICLE THREE THE SECURITIES

     16   

SECTION 301 Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series

     16   

SECTION 302 Denominations

     17   

SECTION 303 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating

     17   

SECTION 304 Temporary Securities

     18   

SECTION 305 Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange

     19   

SECTION 306 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities

     20   

SECTION 307 Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved

     21   

SECTION 308 Persons Deemed Owners

     21   

SECTION 309 Cancellation

     21   

SECTION 310 Computation of Interest

     22   

ARTICLE FOUR SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

     22   

SECTION 401 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture

     22   

SECTION 402 Application of Trust Money

     23   

ARTICLE FIVE REMEDIES

     23   

SECTION 501 Events of Default

     23   

SECTION 502 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment

     24   

SECTION 503 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee

     25   

 

i


SECTION 504 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

     25   

SECTION 505 Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities

     25   

SECTION 506 Application of Money Collected

     26   

SECTION 507 Limitation on Suits

     26   

SECTION 508 Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest

     26   

SECTION 509 Restoration of Rights and Remedies

     27   

SECTION 510 Rights and Remedies Cumulative

     27   

SECTION 511 Delay or Omission Not Waiver

     27   

SECTION 512 Control by Holders

     27   

SECTION 513 Waiver of Past Defaults

     27   

SECTION 514 Undertaking for Costs

     27   

SECTION 515 Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws

     28   

ARTICLE SIX THE TRUSTEE

     28   

SECTION 601 Certain Duties and Responsibilities

     28   

SECTION 602 Notice of Defaults

     28   

SECTION 603 Certain Rights of Trustee

     28   

SECTION 604 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities

     29   

SECTION 605 May Hold Securities

     29   

SECTION 606 Money Held in Trust

     29   

SECTION 607 Compensation and Reimbursement

     29   

SECTION 608 Conflicting Interests

     29   

SECTION 609 Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility

     30   

SECTION 610 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor

     30   

SECTION 611 Acceptance of Appointment by Successor

     31   

SECTION 612 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business

     31   

SECTION 613 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company and Subsidiary Guarantors

     32   

SECTION 614 Appointment of Authenticating Agent

     32   

ARTICLE SEVEN HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

     33   

SECTION 701 Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders

     33   

SECTION 702 Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders

     33   

SECTION 703 Reports by Trustee

     33   

SECTION 704 Reports by Company and Subsidiary Guarantors

     33   

ARTICLE EIGHT CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

     34   

SECTION 801 Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms

     34   

SECTION 802 Subsidiary Guarantors May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms

     34   

SECTION 803 Successor Substituted

     35   

ARTICLE NINE SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

     35   

SECTION 901 Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders

     35   

SECTION 902 Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders

     36   

SECTION 903 Execution of Supplemental Indentures

     37   

SECTION 904 Effect of Supplemental Indentures

     37   

SECTION 905 Conformity with Trust Indenture Act

     37   

SECTION 906 Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures

     37   

 

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ARTICLE TEN COVENANTS

     37   

SECTION 1001 Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest

     37   

SECTION 1002 Maintenance of Office or Agency

     37   

SECTION 1003 Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust

     38   

SECTION 1004 Statement by Officers as to Default

     38   

SECTION 1005 Existence

     39   

SECTION 1006 Maintenance of Properties

     39   

SECTION 1007 Payment of Taxes and Other Claims

     39   

SECTION 1008 Maintenance of Insurance

     39   

SECTION 1009 Waiver of Certain Covenants

     39   

ARTICLE ELEVEN REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

     39   

SECTION 1101 Applicability of Article

     39   

SECTION 1102 Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee

     40   

SECTION 1103 Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed

     40   

SECTION 1104 Notice of Redemption

     40   

SECTION 1105 Deposit of Redemption Price

     41   

SECTION 1106 Securities Payable on Redemption Date

     41   

SECTION 1107 Securities Redeemed in Part

     42   

ARTICLE TWELVE [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]

     42   

ARTICLE THIRTEEN SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES

     42   

SECTION 1301 Applicability of Article

     42   

SECTION 1302 Subsidiary Guarantees

     42   

SECTION 1303 Execution and Delivery of Notations of Subsidiary Guarantees

     43   

SECTION 1304 Release of Subsidiary Guarantors

     43   

SECTION 1305 Additional Subsidiary Guarantors

     44   

SECTION 1306 Limitation on Liability

     44   

ARTICLE FOURTEEN [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]

     44   

ARTICLE FIFTEEN DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

     44   

SECTION 1501 Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance

     44   

SECTION 1502 Defeasance and Discharge

     44   

SECTION 1503 Covenant Defeasance

     45   

SECTION 1504 Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance

     45   

SECTION 1505 Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions

     46   

SECTION 1506 Reinstatement

     47   

ARTICLE SIXTEEN SINKING FUNDS

     47   

SECTION 1601 Applicability of Article

     47   

SECTION 1602 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities

     47   

SECTION 1603 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund

     47   

Schedule I Subsidiary Guarantors

 

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APPROACH RESOURCES INC.

RECONCILIATION AND TIE OF CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THIS INDENTURE RELATING TO SECTIONS 310 THROUGH 318, INCLUSIVE, OF THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939:

 

TRUST INDENTURE ACT SECTION

  

INDENTURE

SECTION

Section 310(a)(1)

   609

(a)(2)

   609

(a)(3)

   Not Applicable

(a)(4)

   Not Applicable

(b)

   608, 610

Section 311(a)

   613

(b)

   613

Section 312(a)

   701, 702

(b)

   702

(c)

   702

Section 313(a)

   703

(b)

   703

(c)

   703

(d)

   703

Section 314(a)

   704

(a)(4)

   101, 1004

(b)

   Not Applicable

(c)(1)

   102

(c)(2)

   102

(c)(3)

   Not Applicable

(d)

   Not Applicable

(e)

   102

Section 315(a)

   601

(b)

   602

(c)

   601

(d)

   601

(e)

   514

Section 316(a)

   101

(a)(1)(A)

   502, 512

(a)(1)(B)

   513

(a)(2)

   Not Applicable

(b)

   508

(c)

   104

Section 317(a)(1)

   503

(a)(2)

   504

(b)

   1003

Section 318(a)

   107

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

 

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INDENTURE , dated as of June 11, 2013, among Approach Resources Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the “ Company ”), having its principal office at One Ridgmar Centre, 6500 West Freeway, Suite 800, Fort Worth, Texas 76116, each of the Subsidiary Guarantors (as hereinafter defined) parties hereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, a national banking association duly organized and existing under the laws of the United States, as Trustee (herein called the “ Trustee ”).

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY AND THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS

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

The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors are members of the same consolidated group of companies. The Subsidiary Guarantors will derive direct and indirect economic benefit from the issuance of the Securities. Accordingly, each Subsidiary Guarantor has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for its full, unconditional and joint and several guarantee of the Securities to the extent provided in or pursuant this Indenture.

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 series thereof, as follows:

ARTICLE ONE

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS

OF GENERAL APPLICATION

SECTION 101 Definitions.

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

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

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

(3) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and, except as otherwise herein expressly provided, the term “generally accepted accounting principles” with respect to any computation required or permitted hereunder shall mean such accounting principles as are generally accepted at the date of this instrument;

(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; and

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

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

Affiliate ” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing; provided that direct or indirect beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the Voting Stock of a Person shall be deemed to be control.

 

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Authenticating Agent ” means any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant to Section 614 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of one or more series.

Board of Directors ” means, with respect to the Company, either the board of directors of the Company or any committee of that board duly authorized to act for it in respect hereof, and with respect to any Subsidiary Guarantor, either the board of directors of such Subsidiary Guarantor or any committee of that board duly authorized to act for it in respect hereof.

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

Business Day ”, when used with respect to any Place of Payment, means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in that Place of Payment are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

Capital Stock ” of any Person means any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock or other equity participations, including partnership interests, whether general or limited, of such Person.

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

Common Stock ” means the common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Company as the same exists at the date of execution and delivery of this Indenture or other Capital Stock of the Company into which such common stock is converted, reclassified or changed from time to time.

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

Company Request ” or “ Company Order ” means a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by its Chairman of the Board of Directors, its Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, its President or a Vice President, and by its Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, and delivered to the Trustee.

Conversion Agent ” means any Person authorized by the Company to convert any Securities on behalf of the Company.

Corporate Trust Office ” means the principal office of the Trustee in Texas, at which at any particular time its corporate trust business in relation to this Indenture shall be administered, such office being located at 750 N. Saint Paul Place, Suite 1750, MAC T9263-170, Dallas, Texas 75201.

Corporation ” means a corporation, association, limited liability company, joint-stock company or business trust.

Covenant Defeasance ” has the meaning specified in Section 1503.

Debt ” of any Person at any date means any obligation created, assumed or guaranteed by such Person for the repayment of borrowed money.

Defaulted Interest ” has the meaning specified in Section 307.

Defeasance ” has the meaning specified in Section 1502.

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.

 

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

Expiration Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 104.

Global Security ” means a Security that evidences all or part of the Securities of any series and bears the legend set forth in Section 205 (or such legend as may be specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities).

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

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

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

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

Investment Company Act ” means the Investment Company Act of 1940 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

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

Notice of Default ” means a written notice of the kind specified in Section 501(5).

Officers’ Certificate ” means a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, a Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President or a Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be, and delivered to the Trustee. One of the officers signing an Officers’ Certificate given pursuant to Section 1004 shall be the principal executive, financial or accounting officer of the Company.

Opinion of Counsel ” means, as to the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor, a written opinion of counsel, who may be counsel for the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be, and who shall be acceptable to the Trustee.

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

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

(1) Securities theretofore 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;

(3) Securities as to which Defeasance has been effected pursuant to Section 1502; and

(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; provided, however,

 

3


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 or currency units which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined as of such date in the manner provided as contemplated by Section 301, of the principal amount of such Security (or, in the case of a Security described in clause (A) or (B) above, of the amount determined as provided in such clause), and (D) Securities owned by the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, only Securities which 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, a Subsidiary Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company, a Subsidiary Guarantor or of such other obligor.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Significant Subsidiary ” means, at any date of determination, any Subsidiary that represents 10% or more of the Company’s consolidated total assets at the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for which financial information is available or 10% or more of the Company’s consolidated net revenues or consolidated operating income for the most recent four quarters for which financial information is available.

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

 

4


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

Subsidiary ” of any Person means (1) a corporation more than 50% of the combined voting power of the outstanding Voting Stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more other Subsidiaries of such Person or by such Person and one or more Subsidiaries thereof or (2) any other Person (other than a corporation) in which such Person, or one or more other Subsidiaries of such Person or such Person and one or more other Subsidiaries thereof, directly or indirectly, has at least a majority ownership and power to direct the policies, management and affairs thereof.

Subsidiary Guarantees ” means the guarantees of each Subsidiary Guarantor as provided in Article Thirteen.

Subsidiary Guarantors ” means (i) the subsidiaries listed in Schedule I hereto; (ii) each other Subsidiary of the Company that becomes a Subsidiary Guarantor in accordance with Section 1305 hereof; and (iii) any successor of the foregoing, in each case (i), (ii) and (iii) until such Subsidiary Guarantor ceases to be such in accordance with Section 1304 hereof.

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

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

U.S. Government Obligation ” has the meaning specified in Section 1504.

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

Voting Stock ” of any Person means Capital Stock of such Person which ordinarily has voting power for the election of directors (or persons performing similar functions) of such Person, whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of securities has such voting power by reason of any contingency.

Wholly Owned Subsidiary ” of any Person means a Subsidiary of such Person all of the outstanding Capital Stock of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares) shall at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person or by such Person and one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

SECTION 102 Compliance Certificates and Opinions.

Upon any application or request by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company and/or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as appropriate, shall furnish to the Trustee such certificates and opinions as may be required under the Trust Indenture Act. Each such certificate or opinion shall be given in the form of an Officers’ Certificate, if to be given by an officer of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor, or an Opinion of Counsel, if to be given by counsel, and shall comply with the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and any other requirements set forth in this Indenture.

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

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

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

 

5


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

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

SECTION 103 Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.

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

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

SECTION 104 Acts of Holders; Record Dates.

Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the Holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any or all series may take action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any direction, notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action) the fact that at the time of taking any such action the Holders of such specified percentage have joined therein may be evidenced (a) by any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by Holders in person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing, (b) by the record of the Holders voting in favor thereof at any meeting of Holders duly called and held in accordance with procedures approved by the Trustee, (c) by a combination of such instrument or instruments and any such record of such a meeting of Holders or (d) in the case of Securities evidenced by a Global Security, by any electronic transmission or other message, whether or not in written format, that complies with the Depositary’s applicable procedures. Such evidence (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “ Act ” of the relevant Holders. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent or proxy 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.

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

 

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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 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 512, in each case with respect to Securities of such series. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to 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, 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, 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Expiration Date shall be later than the 180th day after the applicable record date.

Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to 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.

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 or any Subsidiary Guarantor shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing in the English language to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, Attention: Corporate Trust Department; or

 

7


(2) the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing in the English language and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, in the case of the Company addressed to it at the address of its principal office specified in the first paragraph of this instrument or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company and, in the case of any Subsidiary Guarantor, to it at the address of the Company’s principal office specified in the first paragraph of this instrument, Attention: Chief Financial Officer, or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by such Subsidiary Guarantor.

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

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

SECTION 107 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.

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

SECTION 108 Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.

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

SECTION 109 Successors and Assigns.

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

SECTION 110 Separability Clause.

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

SECTION 111 Benefits of Indenture.

Nothing in this Indenture, the Securities or the Subsidiary Guarantees, 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, the Securities and the Subsidiary Guarantees shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York.

 

8


SECTION 113 Legal Holidays.

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

SECTION 114 No Recourse Against Others.

No director, officer, employee, incorporator, stockholder, member, partner or trustee of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor under the Securities, this Indenture or any Subsidiary Guarantees 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 be deemed to have waived and released all such liability. The waiver and release shall be a part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.

ARTICLE TWO

SECURITY FORMS

SECTION 201 Forms Generally.

The Securities of each series and, if applicable, the notations of Subsidiary Guarantees to be endorsed thereon shall be in substantially the form set forth in this Article, or in such other form as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, 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 the rules of any securities exchange or Depositary therefor or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Securities or notations of Subsidiary Guarantees, as the case may be, as evidenced by their execution thereof. If the form of Securities of any series is established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 303 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities.

The definitive Securities shall be printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

SECTION 202 Form of Face of Security.

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

Approach Resources Inc.

 

No.                     

   $                     

Approach Resources Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of Delaware (herein called the “Company,” which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to                              , or registered assigns, the principal sum of                              Dollars on                              [if the Security is to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert — , and to pay interest thereon from                              or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually on                              and                              in each year, commencing                              , at the rate of % per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment, provided that any principal and premium, and any such installment of interest, which is overdue shall bear interest at the rate of                  % per annum (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), from the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made available for payment, and such interest shall be payable on demand. The interest so payable, and

 

9


punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the              or              (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture].

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

Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and [if applicable, insert — any such] interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in              , in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register.

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

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

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

 

Dated:          APPROACH RESOURCES INC.
       
       
      By:     
       

[ Attest:                                                                                                 ]

     

SECTION 203 Form of Reverse of Security.

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of          , 20          (herein called the “Indenture”, which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such instrument), among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”, which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof [if applicable, insert — , limited in aggregate principal amount to $          ].

[If applicable, insert — The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice by mail, [if applicable, insert — (1) on          in any year commencing with the year         

 

10


and ending with the year          through operation of the sinking fund for this series at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount, and (2)] at any time [if applicable, insert — on or after          , 20          ], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the following Redemption Prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount): If redeemed [if applicable, insert — on or before                                  ,          %, and if redeemed] during the 12-month period beginning                  of the years indicated,

 

Redemption

 

Redemption

Year

 

Price

 

Year

 

Price

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

[If applicable, insert — The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice by mail, (1)                                   on in any year commencing with the year          and ending with the year          through operation of the sinking fund for this series at the Redemption Prices for redemption through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below, and (2) at any time [if applicable, insert — on or after                                      ], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the Redemption Prices for redemption otherwise than through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below: If redeemed during the 12-month period beginning                                      of the years indicated,

 

Year

 

Redemption Price For Redemption
Through Operation of the Sinking
Fund

 

Redemption Price For Redemption
Otherwise Than Through
Operation of the Sinking Fund

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

[If applicable, insert — Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may not, prior to                      , redeem any Securities of this series as contemplated by [if applicable, insert — clause (2) of] the preceding paragraph as a part of, or in anticipation of, any refunding operation by the application, directly or indirectly, of moneys borrowed having an interest cost to the Company (calculated in accordance with generally accepted financial practice) of less than                  % per annum.]

[If applicable, insert — The sinking fund for this series provides for the redemption on                                      in each year beginning with the year                          and ending with the year                          of [if applicable, insert — not less than $              (“mandatory sinking fund”) and not more than] $          aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series. Securities of this series acquired or redeemed by the Company otherwise than through [if applicable, insert — mandatory] sinking fund payments may be credited against subsequent [if applicable, insert — mandatory] sinking fund payments otherwise required to be made [if applicable, insert — , in the inverse order in which they become due].]

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

[If the Security is subject to conversion, insert — Subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder has the right to convert the principal amount of this Security into fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock of the Company at the initial conversion price per share of Common Stock of $          (or $          in principal amount of Securities for each such share of Common Stock), or at the adjusted conversion price then in effect, if adjustment has been made as provided in the Indenture, upon surrender of the Security to the Conversion Agent, together with a fully executed notice in substantially the form attached hereto and, if required by the Indenture, an amount equal to accrued interest payable on this Security.]

 

11


[If applicable, insert — As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the obligations of the Company under this Security are guaranteed pursuant to the Indenture as indicated in the notation of Subsidiary Guarantee endorsed hereon. The Indenture provides that a Subsidiary Guarantor shall be released from its Subsidiary Guarantee upon compliance with certain conditions.]

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

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

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

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

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

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

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

 

12


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

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

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

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

SECTION 204 Form of Notation of Subsidiary Guarantee.

NOTATION OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEE

Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors (which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture) has fully, unconditionally and absolutely guaranteed, to the extent set forth in the Indenture and subject to the provisions in the Indenture, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities and all other amounts due and payable under the Indenture and the Securities by the Company.

The obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors to the Holders of Securities and to the Trustee pursuant to the Subsidiary Guarantee and the Indenture are expressly set forth in Article Thirteen of the Indenture and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for the precise terms of the Subsidiary Guarantee.

 

Approach Oil & Gas, Inc.
By:    
Title:     

 

Approach Resources I, LP
By:  

Approach Operating, LLC,

its general partner

By:  

Approach Resources Inc.,

its sole member

 

By:    
Title:     

 

13


Approach Operating, LLC
By:  

Approach Resources Inc.

its sole member

 

By:    
Title:     

 

Approach Delaware, LLC
By:  

Approach Resources Inc.

its sole member

 

By:    
Title:     

 

Approach Services, LLC
By:  

Approach Resources Inc.

its sole member

 

By:    
Title:     

 

Approach Midstream Holdings LLC
By:  

Approach Resources Inc.

its sole member

 

By:    
Title:     

SECTION 205 Form of Legend for Global Securities.

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

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

 

14


SECTION 206 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.

 

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association,

As Trustee

By:     
  Authorized Officer

SECTION 207 Form of Conversion Notice.

Each convertible Security shall have attached thereto, or set forth on the reverse of the Security, a notice of conversion in substantially the following form:

Conversion Notice

To: Approach Resources Inc.

The undersigned owner of this Security hereby: (i) irrevocably exercises the option to convert this Security, or the portion hereof below designated, for shares of Common Stock of Approach Resources Inc. in accordance with the terms of the Indenture referred to in this Security and (ii) directs that such shares of Common Stock deliverable upon the conversion, together with any check in payment for fractional shares and any Security(ies) representing any unconverted principal amount hereof, be issued and delivered to the registered holder hereof unless a different name has been indicated below. If shares are to be delivered registered in the name of a Person other than the undersigned, the undersigned will pay all transfer taxes payable with respect thereto. Any amount required to be paid by the undersigned on account of interest accompanies this Security.

 

Dated:

   

 

    Signature

Fill in for registration of shares if to be delivered, and of Securities if to be issued, otherwise than to and in the name of the registered holder.

 

     

 

    Social Security or other Taxpayer Identification Number
   

 

 

(Name)

     
   

 

(Please print name and address)

 

Principal amount to be converted: (if less than all)

     
$                                                                                                             

 

Signature Guarantee*

 

     

 

     

 

* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature acceptable to the Trustee).

 

15


ARTICLE THREE

THE SECURITIES

SECTION 301 Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.

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

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

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

(2) if the Securities of the series will not have the benefit of the Subsidiary Guarantees of the Subsidiary Guarantors;

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

(4) 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;

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

(6) 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;

(7) the place or places where the principal of and any premium and interest on any Securities of the series shall be payable;

(8) 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;

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

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

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

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

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

 

16


(14) 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;

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

(16) if applicable, that the Securities of the series, in whole or any specified part, shall be defeasible pursuant to Section 1502 or Section 1503 or both such Sections and, if other than by a Board Resolution, the manner in which any election by the Company to defease such Securities shall be evidenced;

(17) 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 Depositories 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 205 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;

(18) any addition to 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;

(19) any addition to or change in the covenants set forth in Article Ten which applies to Securities of the series;

(20) whether the Securities of the series will be convertible into Common Stock (or cash in lieu thereof) and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which such conversion will be effected; and

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

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to the Board Resolution referred to above and (subject to Section 303) set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in the Officers’ Certificate referred to above or in any such indenture supplemental hereto.

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

The Securities of each series shall have the benefit of the Subsidiary Guarantees unless the Company elects otherwise upon the establishment of a series pursuant to this Section 301.

SECTION 302 Denominations.

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

SECTION 303 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.

The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board of Directors, its Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, its President or one of its Vice Presidents. If its corporate seal is reproduced thereon, then it shall be attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile.

 

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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 and, if applicable, having endorsed thereon the notations of Subsidiary Guarantees executed as provided in Section 1303 by the Subsidiary Guarantors 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 pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by Sections 201 and 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 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 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 and delivered by the Trustee and issued 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, and, if applicable, the notations of Subsidiary Guarantees endorsed thereon will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.

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 affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

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

Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

No Security or Subsidiary Guarantee 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 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 and, if applicable, having endorsed thereon the notations of Subsidiary Guarantees in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities and, if applicable, notations of Subsidiary Guarantees may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities and notations of Subsidiary Guarantees.

 

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If temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Securities of that series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities of such series, the temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor one or more definitive Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount and, if applicable, having endorsed thereon notations of Subsidiary Guarantees executed by the Subsidiary Guarantors. 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 that series, the Company shall execute, if applicable the Subsidiary Guarantors shall execute the notations of Subsidiary Guarantees endorsed thereon and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.

At the option of the Holder, Securities of any series may be exchanged for other Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, if applicable the Subsidiary Guarantors shall execute the notations of Subsidiary Guarantees endorsed thereon and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

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

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

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 304, 906, 1107 or otherwise 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 that series (or of that series and specified tenor, as the case may be) during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of 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.

 

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

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

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, 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 (i) has notified the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or (ii) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and in either case the Company fails to appoint a successor Depositary within 90 days, (B) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to such Global Security and the Depositary shall have notified the Trustee of its decision to exchange such Global Security for Securities in certificated form, (C) subject to the rules of the Depositary, the Company shall have elected to terminate the book-entry system through the Depositary or (D) there shall exist such 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, any exchange of a Global Security for other Securities may be made in whole or in part, and all Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security or any portion thereof shall be registered in such names as the Depositary for such Global Security shall direct.

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

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, and, if applicable, the Subsidiary Guarantors shall execute the notation of Subsidiary Guarantee endorsed thereon.

If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Security is replaced, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a protected 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, and, if applicable, the Subsidiary Guarantors shall execute the notation of Subsidiary Guarantee endorsed thereon. In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable or is to be converted, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay or authorize the conversion of such Security (without surrender thereof save in the case of a mutilated Security).

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

Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the 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 that series duly issued hereunder.

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

 

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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 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 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, 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.

SECTION 308 Persons Deemed Owners.

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

SECTION 309 Cancellation.

All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, purchase, registration of transfer or exchange 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

 

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in exchange for any Securities cancelled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All cancelled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of in accordance with its standard procedures, unless as directed by a Company Order.

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.

ARTICLE FOUR

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

SECTION 401 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

This Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect with respect to the Securities of any series, and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when

(1) either

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

(B) all such Securities 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, 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 or, if applicable, a Subsidiary Guarantor, in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose money in an amount sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal and any premium and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;

(2) the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors with respect to the Securities of such series; and

(3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Securities of 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, the obligations of the Company with respect to the Securities of such series under Sections 304, 305, 306, 1002 and 1003, any surviving rights of conversion, the obligations of the Trustee to any Authenticating Agent under Section 614 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of clause (1) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 402 and the last paragraph of Section 1003 shall survive.

 

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SECTION 402 Application of Trust Money.

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal and any premium and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee.

ARTICLE FIVE

REMEDIES

SECTION 501 Events of Default.

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

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

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

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

(4) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant of the Company or, if the Subsidiary Guarantors have issued Subsidiary Guarantees with respect to the Securities of such series, any Subsidiary Guarantor in Article Eight of this Indenture; or

(5) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of the Company or, if the Subsidiary Guarantors have issued Subsidiary Guarantees with respect to the Securities of such series, any Subsidiary Guarantor in this Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with or which has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of series of Securities other than that series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “ Notice of Default ” hereunder; or

(6) any Debt of the Company, any Significant Subsidiary or, if the Subsidiary Guarantors have issued Subsidiary Guarantees with respect to the Securities of such series, any Subsidiary Guarantor 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 Debt unpaid or accelerated exceeds $20.0 million, or its foreign currency equivalent at the time; or

(7) any judgment or decree for the payment of money in excess of $20.0 million or its foreign currency equivalent at the time it is entered against the Company, any Significant Subsidiary or, if the Subsidiary Guarantors have issued Subsidiary Guarantees with respect to the Securities of such series, any Subsidiary Guarantor, remains outstanding for a period of 60 consecutive days following the entry of such judgment or decree and is not discharged, waived or the execution thereof stayed; or

(8) the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of (A) a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company, any Significant Subsidiary or, if the Subsidiary Guarantors have issued Subsidiary Guarantees with respect to the Securities of such series, any Subsidiary Guarantor in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or (B) a decree or order adjudging the Company, any Significant Subsidiary or any such Subsidiary Guarantor a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company, any Significant Subsidiary or any such Subsidiary Guarantor under any applicable Federal or State law, or appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official

 

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of the Company, any Significant Subsidiary or any such Subsidiary Guarantor or of any substantial part of its or their property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its or their affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order for relief or any such other decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or

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

(10) in the event the Subsidiary Guarantors have issued Subsidiary Guarantees with respect to the Securities of such series, the Subsidiary Guarantee of any Subsidiary Guarantor is held by a final non-appealable order or judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable or invalid or ceases for any reason to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with the terms of this Indenture) or any Subsidiary Guarantor or any Person acting on behalf of any Subsidiary Guarantor denies or disaffirms such Subsidiary Guarantor’s obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee (other than by reason of a release of such Subsidiary Guarantor from its Subsidiary Guarantee in accordance with the terms of this Indenture); or

(11) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that series.

SECTION 502 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default with respect to the Company specified in Section 501(8) or 501(9)) with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series may declare the principal amount of all the Securities of that series (or, 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) 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 with respect to the Company specified in Section 501(8) or 501 (9) with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs, the principal amount of all the Securities of that 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, shall automatically, and without any declaration or other action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder, become immediately due and payable.

At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to 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 provided, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if

(1) the Company or, if applicable, any Subsidiary Guarantor has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

The Company covenants that if

(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 any premium and interest and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal and premium and on any overdue interest, at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

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

SECTION 504 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

In case of any judicial proceeding relative to the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Securities, or the property or creditors of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Securities, 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 for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 607.

No provision of this Indenture shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or any Subsidiary Guarantee 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 or any Subsidiary Guarantee may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name

 

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

SECTION 506 Application of Money Collected.

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

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

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

THIRD: The balance, if any, to the Company or to such other Person as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct.

SECTION 507 Limitation on Suits.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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SECTION 509 Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

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

SECTION 510 Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or 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 511 Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

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

SECTION 512 Control by Holders.

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

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

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

SECTION 513 Waiver of Past Defaults.

The Holders of not less than a majority in 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 any premium or interest on any Security of such series (including any Security which is required to have been purchased by the Company pursuant to an offer to purchase by the Company made pursuant to the terms of this Indenture), or

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

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 514 Undertaking for Costs.

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, a court may require any party litigant in such suit to file an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and may assess costs against any such party litigant, in the manner and to the extent provided in the Trust Indenture Act; provided, however, that neither this Section nor the Trust Indenture Act shall be deemed to authorize any court to require such an undertaking or to make such an assessment in any suit instituted by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

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SECTION 515 Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws.

Each of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors 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 each of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors (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.

ARTICLE SIX

THE TRUSTEE

SECTION 601 Certain Duties and Responsibilities.

The duties and responsibilities of the Trustee shall be as expressly set forth in this Indenture and as provided by the Trust Indenture Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, 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. Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.

SECTION 602 Notice of Defaults.

If a default occurs hereunder with respect to Securities of any series, the Trustee shall give the Holders of Securities of such series notice of such default as and to the extent provided by the Trust Indenture Act; provided, however, that in the case of any default of the character specified in Section 501(5) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section, the term “default” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series.

SECTION 603 Certain Rights of Trustee.

Subject to the provisions of Section 601:

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

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

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

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

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

 

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(6) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney; and

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

SECTION 604 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.

The recitals contained herein and in the Securities and the notations of Subsidiary Guarantees, except the Trustee’s certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors, as the case may be, and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities or the Subsidiary Guarantees. Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.

SECTION 605  May Hold Securities.

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

SECTION 606 Money Held in Trust.

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

SECTION 607 Compensation and Reimbursement.

The Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor jointly and severally agree

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

(2) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence or bad faith; 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 costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder.

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 such 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, and 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 and to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

SECTION 610 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

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

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

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 a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation, then, in any such case, (A) the Company by a Board Resolution may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (B) subject to Section 514, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series) and shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 611. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 611, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of

 

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any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 611, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

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

SECTION 611 Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.

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

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

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

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

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

Any Person into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided such Person shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. As soon as practicable, the successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to the Company and the Holders of the Securities then

 

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Outstanding. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.

SECTION 613 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company and Subsidiary Guarantors.

If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor 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, such Subsidiary Guarantor or any such other obligor.

SECTION 614 Appointment of Authenticating Agent.

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

 

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association,

As Trustee and Authentication Agent

By: 

   
  Authorized Officer

ARTICLE SEVEN

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

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

The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee with respect to the Securities of each series:

(1) not more than 10 days after each record date with respect to the payment of interest, if any, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities of such series as of such record date, and

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

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

SECTION 702 Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.

The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 701 and the names and addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 701 upon receipt of a new list so furnished. The rights of Holders to communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and the corresponding rights and privileges of the Trustee, shall be as provided by the Trust Indenture Act.

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

SECTION 703 Reports by Trustee.

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

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

SECTION 704 Reports by Company and Subsidiary Guarantors.

The Company and each of the Subsidiary Guarantors shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, and transmit to Holders, such information, documents and other reports, and such summaries thereof, as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant to such Act; provided that any such information, documents or reports required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act shall be filed with the Trustee within 15 days after the same is filed with the Commission.

 

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ARTICLE EIGHT

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

SECTION 801 Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.

The Company shall not, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, consolidate with or merge into any other Person or permit any other Person to consolidate with or merge into the Company or, directly or indirectly, transfer, convey, sell, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets, unless:

(1) in a transaction in which the Company does not survive or in which the Company transfers, conveys, sells, leases or otherwise disposes of all or substantially all of its assets, the successor entity (for purposes of this Article Eight, a “ Successor Company ”) shall be a corporation, partnership, trust or other entity organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, and shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on all the Securities and the performance or observance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;

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

(3) if, as a result of any such consolidation or merger or such transfer, conveyance, sale, lease or other disposition, properties or assets of the Company would become subject to a mortgage, pledge, lien, security interest or other encumbrance which would not be permitted by this Indenture, the Company or the Successor Company, as the case may be, shall take such steps as shall be necessary effectively to secure the Securities equally and ratably with (or prior to) all indebtedness secured thereby;

(4) any other conditions provided pursuant to Section 301 with respect to the Securities of a series are satisfied; and

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

SECTION 802 Subsidiary Guarantors May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.

Except in a transaction resulting in the release of a Subsidiary Guarantor in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, each Subsidiary Guarantor shall not, and the Company shall not permit any Subsidiary Guarantor to, in a single or a series of related transactions, consolidate or merge with or into any Person (other than the Company or another Subsidiary Guarantor) or permit any Person (other than another Subsidiary Guarantor) to consolidate or merge with or into such Subsidiary Guarantor or, directly or indirectly, transfer, convey, sell, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets unless, in each case:

(1) in a transaction in which such Subsidiary Guarantor does not survive or in which all or substantially all of the assets of such Subsidiary Guarantor are transferred, conveyed, sold, leased or otherwise disposed of, the successor entity (the “ Successor Subsidiary Guarantor ”) shall be a corporation, partnership, trust or other entity organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, and shall expressly assume by an indenture supplemental hereto executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of all obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee and this Indenture and the performance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of such Subsidiary Guarantor to be performed or observed; and

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

 

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SECTION 803 Successor Substituted.

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

(b) Upon any consolidation of a Subsidiary Guarantor with, or merger of such Subsidiary Guarantor into, any other Person or any transfer, conveyance, sale, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of such Subsidiary Guarantor in accordance with Section 802, the Successor Subsidiary Guarantor shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, such Subsidiary Guarantor under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as a Subsidiary Guarantor herein, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Person shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and its Subsidiary Guarantee.

ARTICLE NINE

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

SECTION 901 Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.

Without the consent of any Holders, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, the Subsidiary Guarantors, when authorized by their respective Board Resolutions, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:

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

(2) to add to the covenants of the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors 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 or the Subsidiary Guarantors; or

(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); or

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

(5) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture in respect of 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 the execution of such supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provision nor (ii) modify the rights of the Holder of any such Security with respect to such provision or (B) shall become effective only when there is no such Security Outstanding; or

(6) to secure the Securities; or

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

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

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

 

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(10) to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture, provided that such action pursuant to this clause (10) shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect; or

(11) to add new Subsidiary Guarantors.

SECTION 902 Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders.

With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, the Subsidiary Guarantors, when authorized by their respective Board Resolutions 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, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby:

(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security or any other Security which would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502, or change any Place of Payment where, or the coin or currency in which, any Security or any premium or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of (a) any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date or in the case of an offer to purchase Securities which has been made pursuant to a covenant contained in this Indenture, on or after the applicable purchase date) or (b) any conversion right with respect to any Security, or modify the provisions of this Indenture with respect to the conversion of the Securities, in a manner adverse to the Holders, or release any Subsidiary Guarantee other than as provided in this Indenture; or

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

(3) modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 513 or Section 1009, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby; provided, however, that this clause shall not be deemed to require the consent of any Holder with respect to changes in the references to “the Trustee” and concomitant changes in this Section and Section 1009, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 611 and 901(8); or

(4) following the making of an offer to purchase Securities from any Holder which has been made pursuant to a covenant contained in this Indenture, modify the provisions of this Indenture with respect to such offer to purchase in a manner adverse to such Holder.

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 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 requiring the consent of the Holders of any series of Debt Securities is approved, the Company shall mail to Holders of that series of Debt Securities a notice briefly describing any amendment or supplement hereto effected by such supplemental indenture. The failure to give such notice to any such Holders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of any amendment or supplement hereto effected by such supplemental indenture with respect to other Holders.

 

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SECTION 903 Execution of Supplemental Indentures.

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

SECTION 904 Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

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

SECTION 905 Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.

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

SECTION 906 Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.

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

ARTICLE TEN

COVENANTS

SECTION 1001 Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.

The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of each series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of the Securities and this Indenture. Principal, premium, if any, and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Company or a Subsidiary thereof, holds as of 11:00 A.M., New York City time, on the due date money deposited with it in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest then due.

SECTION 1002 Maintenance of Office or Agency.

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

 

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

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

Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it will, prior to 11:00 A.M., New York City time, on each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such amount, such sum to be held as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

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

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

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

SECTION 1004 Statement by Officers as to Default.

(a) The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors will deliver to the Trustee, within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date hereof, an Officers’ Certificate, stating whether or not to the best knowledge of the signers thereof the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be, 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 or any Subsidiary Guarantor shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which they may have knowledge.

(b) The Company shall, so long as any series of Securities is Outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, as soon as possible and in any event within five days after the Company becomes aware of the occurrence of an Event of Default or an event which, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default, an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the details of such Event of Default or default, and the action which the Company proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

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SECTION 1005 Existence.

Subject to Article Eight, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect the existence, rights (charter and statutory) and franchises of the Company; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right or franchise if it shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and that the loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders.

SECTION 1006 Maintenance of Properties.

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

SECTION 1007 Payment of Taxes and Other Claims.

The Company will pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent, (1) all taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or imposed upon the Company or any Subsidiary or upon the income, profits or property of the Company or any Subsidiary, and (2) all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies which, if unpaid, might by law become a lien upon the property of the Company or any Subsidiary; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, charge or claim whose amount, applicability or validity is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings.

SECTION 1008 Maintenance of Insurance.

The Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, keep at all times all of their properties which are of an insurable nature insured against loss or damage with insurers believed by the Company to be responsible to the extent that property of similar character is usually so insured by corporations similarly situated and owning like properties in accordance with good business practice.

SECTION 1009 Waiver of Certain Covenants.

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of such series, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors 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 of Sections 1005 through 1008 or in any covenant provided pursuant to Section 301(21), 901(2) or 901(7) for the benefit of the Holders of such series if before the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such term, provision or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

ARTICLE ELEVEN

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.

 

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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 in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of less than all the Securities of any series (including any such redemption affecting only a single Security), the Company shall, at least five Business Days prior to giving notice of such redemption (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 Officers’ 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 by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, (i) in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange on which such Securities are listed, if such Securities are listed on any national securities exchange, and (ii) if such Securities are not so listed, on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such other 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 by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series and specified tenor not previously called for redemption in accordance with the preceding sentence.

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. If any Security selected for partial redemption is surrendered for conversion after such selection, the converted portion of such Security shall be deemed (so far as may be) to be the portion selected for redemption. Upon any redemption of less than all the Securities of a series, for purposes of selection for redemption the Company and the Trustee may treat as Outstanding Securities surrendered for conversion during the period of 15 days next preceding the mailing of a notice of redemption, and need not treat as Outstanding any Security authenticated and delivered during such period in exchange for the unconverted portion of any Security converted in part during such period.

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, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, at his address appearing in the Security Register; provided, however, notice of redemption may be given more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date if the notice is issued in connection with a satisfaction and discharge pursuant to Article Four.

All notices of redemption shall state:

(1) the Redemption Date,

(2) the Redemption Price, if then determinable and otherwise the method of its determination,

 

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

(7) if applicable, the conversion price then in effect and the date on which the right to convert such Securities will expire.

Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company and shall be irrevocable. If any Security called for redemption is converted pursuant hereto, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent or so segregated and held in trust for the redemption of such Security shall be paid to the Company upon delivery of a Company Request to the Trustee or such Paying Agent, or, if then held by the Company, shall be discharged from such trust.

SECTION 1105 Deposit of Redemption Price.

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

SECTION 1106 Securities Payable on Redemption Date.

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

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

 

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SECTION 1107 Securities Redeemed in Part.

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

ARTICLE TWELVE

[INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]

ARTICLE THIRTEEN

SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES

SECTION 1301 Applicability of Article.

Unless the Company elects to issue any series of Securities without the benefit of the Subsidiary Guarantees, which election shall be evidenced in or pursuant to the Board Resolution or supplemental indenture establishing such series of Securities pursuant to Section 301, the provisions of this Article shall be applicable to each series of Securities except as otherwise specified in or pursuant to the Board Resolution or supplemental indenture establishing such series pursuant to Section 301.

SECTION 1302 Subsidiary Guarantees.

Subject to Section 1301, each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby, jointly and severally, fully and unconditionally guarantees to each Holder of a Security authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such Security when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the Stated Maturity, by acceleration, call for redemption, offer to purchase or otherwise, in accordance with the terms of such Security and of this Indenture, and each Subsidiary Guarantor similarly guarantees to the Trustee the payment of all amounts owing to the Trustee in accordance with the terms of this Indenture. In case of the failure of the Company punctually to make any such payment, each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby, jointly and severally, agrees to cause such payment to be made punctually when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the Stated Maturity or by acceleration, call for redemption, offer to purchase or otherwise, and as if such payment were made by the Company.

Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby jointly and severally agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be absolute, unconditional, irrespective of, and shall be unaffected by, the validity, regularity or enforceability of such Security or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same or any release, amendment, waiver or indulgence granted to the Company or any other guarantor or any consent to departure from any requirement of any other guarantee of all or any of the Securities of such series or any other circumstances which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety or guarantor; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, no such release, amendment, waiver or indulgence shall, without the consent of such Subsidiary Guarantor, increase the principal amount of such Security, or increase the interest rate thereon, or alter the Stated Maturity thereof. Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby waives the benefits of diligence, presentment, demand for payment, any requirement that the Trustee or any of the Holders protect, secure, perfect or insure any security interest in or other lien on any property subject thereto or exhaust any right or take any action against the Company or any other Person or any collateral, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest or notice with respect to such Security or the indebtedness evidenced thereby and all demands whatsoever, and covenants that this Subsidiary Guarantee will not be discharged in respect of such Security except by complete performance of the obligations contained in such Security and in such Subsidiary Guarantee. Each Subsidiary Guarantor agrees that if, after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Trustee or any of the Holders are prevented by applicable law from exercising their respective rights to accelerate the maturity of the Securities of a series, to collect interest on the Securities of a series, or to enforce or exercise any other right or remedy with respect to the Securities of a series, such Subsidiary Guarantor agrees to pay to the Trustee for the account of the Holders, upon demand therefor, the amount that would otherwise have been due and payable had such rights and remedies been permitted to be exercised by the Trustee or any of the Holders.

 

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Each Subsidiary Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of the Holders of the Securities upon which its Subsidiary Guarantee is endorsed against the Company in respect of any amounts paid by such Subsidiary Guarantor on account of such Security pursuant to the provisions of its Subsidiary Guarantee or this Indenture; provided, however, that no Subsidiary Guarantor shall be entitled to enforce or to receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all Securities of the relevant series issued hereunder shall have been paid in full.

Each Subsidiary Guarantor that makes or is required to make any payment in respect of its Subsidiary Guarantee shall be entitled to seek contribution from the other Subsidiary Guarantors to the extent permitted by applicable law; provided, however, that no Subsidiary Guarantor shall be entitled to enforce or receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of contribution until the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all Securities of the relevant series issued hereunder shall have been paid in full.

Each Subsidiary Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective should any petition be filed by or against the Company for liquidation or reorganization, should the Company become insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of creditors or should a receiver or trustee be appointed for all or any part of the Company’s assets, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment and performance of the Securities of a series, is, pursuant to applicable law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any Holder of the Securities, whether as a “voidable preference,” “fraudulent transfer,” or otherwise, all as though such payment or performance had not been made. In the event that any payment, or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned, the Securities shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.

SECTION 1303 Execution and Delivery of Notations of Subsidiary Guarantees.

To further evidence the Subsidiary Guarantee set forth in Section 1302, each of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby agrees that a notation relating to such Subsidiary Guarantee, substantially in the form set forth in Section 204, shall be endorsed on each Security entitled to the benefits of the Subsidiary Guarantee authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and executed by either manual or facsimile signature of an officer of such Subsidiary Guarantor, or in the case of a Subsidiary Guarantor that is a limited partnership, an officer of the general partner of each Subsidiary Guarantor. Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby agrees that the Subsidiary Guarantee set forth in Section 1302 shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Security a notation relating to the Subsidiary Guarantee. If any officer of the Subsidiary Guarantor, or in the case of a Subsidiary Guarantor that is a limited partnership, any officer of the general partner of the Subsidiary Guarantor, whose signature is on this Indenture or a Security no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates such Security or at any time thereafter, the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Security shall be valid nevertheless. The delivery of any Security by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the Subsidiary Guarantee set forth in this Indenture on behalf of the Subsidiary Guarantors.

SECTION 1304 Release of Subsidiary Guarantors.

Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 with respect to a series of Securities, each Subsidiary Guarantee will remain in effect with respect to the respective Subsidiary Guarantor until the entire principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities to which such Subsidiary Guarantee relates shall have been paid in full or otherwise satisfied and discharged in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture and all amounts owing to the Trustee hereunder have been paid; provided, however, that if (i) such Subsidiary Guarantor ceases to be a Subsidiary in compliance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture, (ii) either Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance occurs with respect to such Securities pursuant to Article Fifteen or (iii) all or substantially all of the assets of such Subsidiary Guarantor or all of the Capital Stock of such Subsidiary Guarantor is sold (including by sale, merger, consolidation or otherwise) by the Company or any Subsidiary in a transaction complying with the requirements of this Indenture, then, in each case of (i), (ii) or (iii), upon delivery by the Company of an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the release of such Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee and this Article Thirteen have been complied with, such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be released and discharged of its obligations under its Subsidiary

 

43


Guarantee and under this Article Thirteen without any action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder, and the Trustee shall execute any documents reasonably required in order to acknowledge the release of such Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee endorsed on the Securities of such series and under this Article Thirteen.

SECTION 1305 Additional Subsidiary Guarantors.

Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 with respect to a series of Securities, the Company will cause any domestic Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company that becomes a Subsidiary after the date the Securities of a series are first issued hereunder to become a Subsidiary Guarantor as soon as practicable after such Subsidiary becomes a Subsidiary. The Company shall cause any such Wholly Owned Subsidiary to become a Subsidiary Guarantor with respect to the Securities by executing and delivering to the Trustee (a) a supplemental indenture, in form and substance satisfactory to the Trustee, which subjects such Person to the provisions (including the representations and warranties) of this Indenture as a Subsidiary Guarantor and (b) an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such supplemental indenture has been duly authorized and executed by such Person and such supplemental indenture and such Person’s obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee and this Indenture constitute the legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligations of such Person (subject to such customary exceptions concerning creditors’ rights and equitable principles as may be acceptable to the Trustee in its discretion).

SECTION 1306 Limitation on Liability.

Any term or provision of this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, the maximum amount of the Subsidiary Guarantee of any Subsidiary Guarantor shall not exceed the maximum amount that can be hereby guaranteed by such Subsidiary Guarantor without rendering such Subsidiary Guarantee voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally.

ARTICLE FOURTEEN

[INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]

ARTICLE FIFTEEN

DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

SECTION 1501 Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

The Company may elect, at its option at any time, to have Section 1502 or Section 1503 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 1502 or 1503, in accordance with any applicable requirements provided pursuant to Section 301 and upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article. Any such election shall be evidenced in or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities.

SECTION 1502 Defeasance and Discharge.

Upon the Company’s exercise of its option (if any) to have this Section applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations, and each Subsidiary Guarantor shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to its Subsidiary Guarantee of such Securities, as provided in this Section on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 1504 are satisfied (herein called “ Defeasance ”). For this purpose, such Defeasance means that the 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 1504 and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of and any premium and interest on such Securities when payments are due, or, if applicable, to convert such Securities in accordance with their terms, (2) the Company’s and each Subsidiary Guarantor’s obligations with respect to such Securities under Sections 304, 305, 306, 1002 and 1003, and, if applicable, their obligations with respect to the conversion of such Securities, (3) the rights, powers, trusts,

 

44


duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (4) this Article. Subject to compliance with this Article, the Company may exercise its option (if any) to have this Section applied to any Securities notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option (if any) to have Section 1503 applied to such Securities.

SECTION 1503 Covenant Defeasance.

Upon the Company’s exercise of its option (if any) to have this Section applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, (1) the Company shall be released from its obligations under Section 801(3), Sections 1005 through 1008, inclusive, and any covenants provided pursuant to Section 301(21), 901(2) or 901(7) for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, and (2) the occurrence of any event specified in Sections 501(5) (with respect to any of Section 801(3), Sections 1006 through 1008, inclusive, and any such covenants provided pursuant to Section 301(21), 901(2) or 901(7)), 501(6), 501(7)), 501(10) and 501(11) shall be deemed not to be or result in an Event of Default and (3) the provisions of Article Thirteen shall cease to be effective, in each case with respect to such Securities and Subsidiary Guarantees as provided in this Section on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 1504 are satisfied (herein called “ Covenant Defeasance ”). For this purpose, such Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to such Securities, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, as applicable, may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such specified Section (to the extent so specified in the case of Section 501(5)) or Article Thirteen, whether directly or indirectly by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or Article or by reason of any reference in any such Section or Article to any other provision herein or in any other document, but the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby.

SECTION 1504 Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

The following shall be the conditions to the application of Section 1502 or Section 1503 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 applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefits of the Holders of such Securities, (A) money in an amount, or (B) U.S. Government Obligations which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or (C) a combination thereof, in each case sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or any such other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, the principal of and any premium and interest on such Securities on the respective Stated Maturities, in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and such Securities. As used herein, “ U.S. Government Obligation ” means (x) any security which is (i) a direct obligation of the United States of America for the payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged or (ii) an obligation of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in either case (i) or (ii), is not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and (y) any depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any U.S. Government Obligation which is specified in clause (x) above and held by such bank for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt, or with respect to any specific payment of principal of or interest on any U.S. Government Obligation which is so specified and held, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of principal or interest evidenced by such depositary receipt.

(2) In the event of an election to have Section 1502 apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the date of this instrument, there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case (A) or (B) to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of such Securities will not recognize gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, Defeasance and discharge to be effected with respect to such Securities and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would be the case if such deposit and Defeasance were not to occur.

 

45


(3) In the event of an election to have Section 1503 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.

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

(5) No event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to such Securities shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such deposit or, with regard to any such event specified in Sections 501(7) and (8), at any time on or prior to the 121st day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until after such 121st day).

(6) Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not cause the Trustee to have a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act (assuming all Securities are in default within the meaning of such Act).

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

(8) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such deposit shall not cause either the Trustee or the trust so created to be subject to the Investment Company Act of 1940.

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

SECTION 1505 Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions.

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money and U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee or other qualifying trustee (solely for purposes of this Section and Section 1506, the Trustee and any such other trustee are referred to collectively as the “ Trustee ”) pursuant to Section 1504 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 any premium 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 1504 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of Outstanding Securities.

Anything in this Article to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 1504 with respect to any Securities which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof 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.

 

46


SECTION 1506 Reinstatement.

If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money in accordance with this Article with respect to any Securities by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the obligations under this Indenture and such Securities from which the Company has been discharged or released pursuant to Section 1502 or 1503 shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article with respect to such Securities, until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all money held in trust pursuant to Section 1505 with respect to such Securities in accordance with this Article; provided, however, that if the Company makes any payment of principal of or any premium 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.

ARTICLE SIXTEEN

SINKING FUNDS

SECTION 1601 Applicability of Article.

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

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of any Securities is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment”, and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of such Securities is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.” If provided for by the terms of any Securities, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 1602. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities as provided for by the terms of such Securities.

SECTION 1602 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 (x) converted or (y) redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to any Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities as and to the extent provided for by the terms of such Securities; provided, however, 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 1603 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.

Not less than 35 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for such Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities pursuant to Section 1602 and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than 32 days prior to each such sinking fund payment date, the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 1103 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 1104. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 1106 and 1107. This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

47


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

 

ISSUER :

 

APPROACH RESOURCES INC.

By:   /s/ J. Ross Craft
Name:   J. Ross Craft
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS :

 

APPROACH OIL & GAS INC.

By:   /s/ J. Ross Craft
Name:   J. Ross Craft
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer
APPROACH RESOURCES I, LP
By:  

Approach Operating, LLC,

its general partner

By:  

Approach Resources Inc.,

its sole member

By:   /s/ J. Ross Craft
Name:   J. Ross Craft
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer
APPROACH OPERATING, LLC
By:   Approach Resources Inc., its sole member
By:   /s/ J. Ross Craft
Name:   J. Ross Craft
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

Signature Page to Senior Indenture


 

APPROACH DELAWARE, LLC
By:  

Approach Resources Inc.

its sole member

By:   /s/ J. Ross Craft
Name:   J. Ross Craft
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer
APPROACH SERVICES, LLC
By:  

Approach Resources Inc.

its sole member

By:   /s/ J. Ross Craft
Name:   J. Ross Craft
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer
APPROACH MIDSTREAM HOLDINGS LLC
By:  

Approach Resources Inc.

its sole member

By:   /s/ J. Ross Craft
Name:   J. Ross Craft
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

TRUSTEE

 

WELLS FARGO, NATIONAL BANK,

as Trustee

By:   /s/ Patrick T. Giordano
Name:   Patrick T. Giordano
Title:   Vice President

Signature Page to Senior Indenture


SCHEDULE I

SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS

 

SUBSIDIARY

  

STATE OF ORGANIZATION

Approach Resources I, LP

   Texas

Approach Oil & Gas Inc.

   Delaware

Approach Operating, LLC

   Delaware

Approach Delaware, LLC

   Delaware

Approach Services, LLC

   Delaware

Approach Midstream Holdings LLC

   Delaware

Exhibit 4.2

 

 

 

APPROACH RESOURCES INC.,

as Issuer,

THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO,

and

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

dated as of June 11, 2013

to Senior Indenture

dated as of June 11, 2013

$250,000,000 7.00% Senior Notes due 2021

 

 

 


CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE

 

TIA

Section

           Indenture
Section
 
  310(a)(1)                 709   
  (a)(2)                 709   
  (a)(3)                 N.A.   
  (a)(4)                 N.A.   
  (b)                     708   
       710   
  311(a)                     713   
  (b)                     713   
  312(a)                     801   
       802   
  (b)                     802   
  (c)                     802   
  313(a)                     803   
  (b)                     803   
  (c)                     803   
  (d)                     803   
  314(a)                     804   
  (a)(4)                 201   
       1104   
  (b)                     N.A.   
  (c)(1)                 202   
  (c)(2)                 202   
  (c)(3)                 N.A.   
  (d)                     N.A.   
  (e)                     202   
       701   
  315(a)                     703   
  (b)                     702   
  (c)                     701   
  (d)                     701   
  (e)                     614   
  316(a)                     201   
  316(a)(1)(A)           602   
       612   
  (a)(1)(B)                 613   
  (a)(2)                 N.A.   
  (b)                     608   
  (c)                     204   
  317(a)(1)                 603   
  (a)(2)                 604   
  (b)                     1103   
  318(a)                     207   

N.A. means Not Applicable

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


TABLE OF CONTENTS

ARTICLE ONE

APPLICATION OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

AND CREATION OF THE INITIAL NOTES

 

          Page  
Section 101.    Application of This Supplemental Indenture      2   
Section 102.    Effect of Supplemental Indenture      2   
ARTICLE TWO   

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

  

Section 201.    Definitions      3   
Section 202.    Compliance Certificates and Opinions      31   
Section 203.    Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee      31   
Section 204.    Acts of Holders; Record Dates      32   
Section 205.    Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company      33   
Section 206.    Notice to Holders; Waiver      33   
Section 207.    Conflict with Trust Indenture Act      34   
Section 208.    Effect of Headings and Table of Contents      34   
Section 209.    Successors and Assigns      34   
Section 210.    Separability Clause      34   
Section 211.    Benefits of Indenture      34   
Section 212.    Governing Law      34   
Section 213.    Legal Holidays      34   
Section 214.    No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders      34   
Section 215.    No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements      35   
Section 216.    U.S.A. Patriot Act      35   
Section 217.    Force Majeure      35   
Section 218.    [Intentionally Deleted]      35   
Section 219.    Counterpart Originals      35   

ARTICLE THREE

  
NOTE FORMS   
Section 301.    Forms Generally      35   
Section 302.    Form of Legend for Global Notes      36   
ARTICLE FOUR   
THE NOTES   
Section 401.    Title and Terms      36   
Section 402.    Denominations      36   
Section 403.    Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating      37   
Section 404.    Temporary Securities      37   
Section 405.    Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange      37   
Section 406.    Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Notes      39   
Section 407.    Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved      40   
Section 408.    Persons Deemed Owners      40   
Section 409.    Cancellation      41   
Section 410.    Computation of Interest      41   
Section 411.    CUSIP or CINS Numbers      41   

 

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          Page  
ARTICLE FIVE

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

  

  

Section 501.    Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture      41   
Section 502.    Application of Trust Money      42   
ARTICLE SIX

REMEDIES

  

  

Section 601.    Events of Default      43   
Section 602.    Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment      44   
Section 603.    Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee      45   
Section 604.    Trustee May File Proofs of Claim      45   
Section 605.    Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Notes      46   
Section 606.    Application of Money Collected      46   
Section 607.    Limitation on Suits      46   
Section 608.    Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest      47   
Section 609.    Restoration of Rights and Remedies      47   
Section 610.    Rights and Remedies Cumulative      47   
Section 611.    Delay or Omission Not Waiver      47   
Section 612.    Control by Holders      47   
Section 613.    Waiver of Past Defaults      48   
Section 614.    Undertaking for Costs      48   
Section 615.    Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws      48   
ARTICLE SEVEN

THE TRUSTEE

  

  

Section 701.    Certain Duties and Responsibilities      48   
Section 702.    Notice of Defaults      48   
Section 703.    Certain Rights of Trustee      49   
Section 704.    Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Notes      50   
Section 705.    May Hold Notes      50   
Section 706.    Money Held in Trust      50   
Section 707.    Compensation and Reimbursement      50   
Section 708.    Conflicting Interests      51   
Section 709.    Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility      51   
Section 710.    Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor      51   
Section 711.    Acceptance of Appointment by Successor      52   
Section 712.    Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business      52   
Section 713.    Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company      53   
Section 714.    Appointment of Authenticating Agent      53   
ARTICLE EIGHT

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

  
Section 801.    Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders      54   
Section 802.    Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders      54   
Section 803.    Reports by Trustee      54   
Section 804.    Reports by Company      55   
ARTICLE NINE   
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE   
Section 901.    Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms      55   
Section 902.    Successor Substituted      56   

 

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          Page  
ARTICLE TEN

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

  
Section 1001.    Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders      56   
Section 1002.    Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders      58   
Section 1003.    Execution of Supplemental Indentures      59   
Section 1004.    Effect of Supplemental Indentures      59   
Section 1005.    Conformity with Trust Indenture Act      59   
Section 1006.    Reference in Notes to Supplemental Indentures      59   
Section 1007.    Effect of Consents      59   
ARTICLE ELEVEN

COVENANTS

  
Section 1101.    Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest      59   
Section 1102.    Maintenance of Office or Agency      60   
Section 1103.    Money for Notes Payments to Be Held in Trust      60   
Section 1104.    Annual Compliance Certificate; Statement by Officers as to Default      61   
Section 1105.    Existence      61   
Section 1106.    Reports      61   
Section 1107.    Payment of Taxes      62   
Section 1108.    [Reserved]      62   
Section 1109.    [Reserved]      62   
Section 1110.    Repurchase of Notes Upon a Change of Control      62   
Section 1111.    Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock      64   
Section 1112.    Restricted Payments      67   
Section 1113.    Limitation on Liens      71   
Section 1114.    Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries      71   
Section 1115.    Asset Sales      73   
Section 1116.    Transactions with Affiliates      76   
Section 1117.    Future Subsidiary Guarantees      78   
Section 1118.    Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries      78   
Section 1119.    Termination of Certain Covenants      79   
ARTICLE TWELVE

REDEMPTION OF NOTES

  
Section 1201.    Applicability of Article      79   
Section 1202.    Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee      79   
Section 1203.    Optional Redemption      79   
Section 1204.    Selection by Trustee of Notes to Be Redeemed      79   
Section 1205.    Notice of Redemption      80   
Section 1206.    Deposit of Redemption Price      80   
Section 1207.    Notes Payable on Redemption Date      81   
Section 1208.    Notes Redeemed in Part      81   
ARTICLE THIRTEEN

[INTENTIONALLY DELETED]

  

 

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          Page
ARTICLE FOURTEEN

DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

  
Section 1401.    Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance    81
Section 1402.    Defeasance and Discharge    81
Section 1403.    Covenant Defeasance    82
Section 1404.    Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance    82
Section 1405.    Deposited Money and Government Securities to Be Held in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions    83
Section 1406.    Reinstatement    83
ARTICLE FIFTEEN

[INTENTIONALLY DELETED]

ARTICLE SIXTEEN

SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES

  
Section 1601.    Unconditional Guarantee    84
Section 1602.    Execution and Delivery of Notation of Subsidiary Guarantee    85
Section 1603.    Limitation on Subsidiary Guarantors’ Liability    85
Section 1604.    Release of Subsidiary Guarantors from Guarantee    85
Section 1605.    Subsidiary Guarantor Contribution    86
Section 1606.    Subsidiary Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms    86

 

ANNEX A  
FORM OF NOTE      A-1   
ANNEX B   
NOTATION OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY      B-1   
ANNEX C   
FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE      C-1   

 

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THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “ Supplemental Indenture ”), dated as of June 11, 2013, is among APPROACH RESOURCES INC., a Delaware corporation (herein called the “ Company ”), having its principal office in One Ridgmar Centre, 6500 West Freeway, Suite 800, Ft. Worth, Texas 76116 and the Subsidiary Guarantors (as hereafter defined) (together, the “ Subsidiary Guarantors ”), and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee (herein called the “ Trustee ”) under the indenture, dated as of June 11, 2013, among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee (the “ Base Indenture ” and, as amended and supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture and as further amended and supplemented as permitted under the Base Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture, the “ Indenture ”).

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY AND THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS

The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors have duly authorized, executed and delivered the Base Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of the Company’s unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (herein called the “ Securities ”), to be issued in one or more series, and the Guarantee by each of the Subsidiary Guarantors of the Securities, as the Base Indenture provides.

Section 901(7) of the Base Indenture provides, among other things, that the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee may enter into indentures supplemental to the Base Indenture, without the consent of any Holders of Securities (as defined in the Base Indenture), to establish the form or terms of any Security as permitted by Sections 201 and 301 of the Base Indenture.

Pursuant to Sections 201 and 301 of the Base Indenture, the Company desires to execute this Supplemental Indenture to establish the form and terms, and to provide for the issuance, of a series of senior notes designated as 7.00% Senior Notes due 2021 in an aggregate principal amount of $250,000,000 (the “ Initial Notes ”).

From time to time subsequent to the Issue Date, the Company may, if permitted to do so pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, the Initial Notes and the terms of its other indebtedness existing on such future date, issue additional senior notes of the same series as the Initial Notes in accordance with this Supplemental Indenture (the “ Additional Notes ” and, together with the Initial Notes, the “ Notes ”), pursuant to this Supplemental Indenture.

The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors are members of the same consolidated group of companies. The Subsidiary Guarantors will derive direct and indirect economic benefit from the issuance of the Securities. Accordingly, each Subsidiary Guarantor has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture to provide for its full, unconditional and joint and several Guarantee of the Notes to the extent provided in or pursuant to the Indenture.

This Supplemental Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, that are required to be a part of this Supplemental Indenture and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.

All things necessary have been done to make the Notes, when executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered hereunder and duly issued by the Company, the valid obligations of the Company, and all things necessary have been done to make the Subsidiary Guarantees thereof, when the Notes have been executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered hereunder and duly issued by the Company, the valid obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors. All things necessary to make this Supplemental Indenture a valid agreement of each of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, in accordance with its terms, have been done.


NOW, THEREFORE, THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

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

ARTICLE ONE

APPLICATION OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

AND CREATION OF THE INITIAL NOTES

Section 101. Application of This Supplemental Indenture .

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Supplemental Indenture, the provisions of this Supplemental Indenture, including as provided in Section 102 below, are expressly and solely for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees and shall not apply to any other series of Securities that may be issued hereafter under the Base Indenture. The Notes constitute a series of Securities (as defined in the Base Indenture) as provided in Section 301 of the Base Indenture. Unless otherwise expressly specified, references in this Supplemental Indenture to specific Article numbers or Section numbers refer to Articles and Sections contained in this Supplemental Indenture, and not the Base Indenture or any other document.

Section 102. Effect of Supplemental Indenture .

With respect to the Notes (and any notation of Subsidiary Guarantee endorsed thereon) only, the Base Indenture shall be supplemented and amended pursuant to Section 901 thereof to establish the form and terms of the Notes (and any notation of Subsidiary Guarantee endorsed thereon) as set forth in this Supplemental Indenture, including as follows:

(a) Definitions and Other Provisions of General Application. The definitions and other provisions of general application set forth in Article One of the Base Indenture are deleted and replaced in their entirety by the provisions of Article Two of this Supplemental Indenture;

(b) Security Forms. Article Two of the Base Indenture is deleted and replaced in its entirety by the provisions of Article Three of this Supplemental Indenture;

(c) The Securities. The provisions of Article Three of the Base Indenture are deleted and replaced in their entirety by the provisions of Article Four of this Supplemental Indenture;

(d) Satisfaction and Discharge. The provisions of Article Four of the Base Indenture are deleted and replaced in their entirety by the provisions of Article Five of this Supplemental Indenture;

(e) Remedies. The provisions of Article Five of the Base Indenture are deleted and replaced in their entirety by the provisions of Article Six of this Supplemental Indenture;

(f) The Trustee. The provisions of Article Six of the Base Indenture are deleted and replaced in their entirety by the provisions of Article Seven of this Supplemental Indenture;

(g) Holders’ Lists and Reports by Trustee and Company. The provisions of Article Seven of the Base Indenture are deleted and replaced in their entirety by Article Eight of this Supplemental Indenture;

(h) Consolidation , Merger , Sale of Assets. The provisions of Article Eight of the Base Indenture are deleted and replaced in their entirety by the provisions of Article Nine of this Supplemental Indenture;

(i) Supplemental Indentures. The provisions of Article Nine of the Base Indenture are deleted and replaced in their entirety by the provisions of Article Ten of this Supplemental Indenture;

(j) Covenants. The provisions of Article Ten of the Base Indenture are deleted and replaced in their entirety by the provisions of Article Eleven of this Supplemental Indenture;

 

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(k) Redemption. The provisions of Article Eleven of the Base Indenture are deleted and replaced in their entirety by the provisions of Article Twelve of this Supplemental Indenture;

(l) Subsidiary Guarantee. The provisions of Article Thirteen of the Base Indenture are deleted and replaced in their entirety by the provisions of Article Sixteen of this Supplemental Indenture;

(m) Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance. The provisions of Article Fifteen of the Base Indenture are deleted and replaced in their entirety by the provisions of Article Fourteen of this Supplemental Indenture; and

(n) Sinking Fund. The provisions of Article Sixteen of the Base Indenture are deleted in their entirety.

Articles Thirteen and Fifteen of this Supplemental Indenture are intentionally omitted.

To the extent that the provisions of this Supplemental Indenture (including those referred to in clauses (a) through (n) above) conflict with any provision of the Base Indenture, the provisions of this Supplemental Indenture shall govern and be controlling, but solely with respect to the Notes.

ARTICLE TWO

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

Section 201. Definitions .

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

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

(2) all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, or the Securities Act of 1933, 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, and references to any Statement of Financial Accounting Standards shall be deemed to include the successor statement or rule adopted by the Financial Accounting Standards Board as part of its Accounting Standards Codification;

(4) “ or ” is not exclusive;

(5) “ will ” shall be interpreted to express a command;

(6) provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

(7) references to sections of or rules under the Securities Act will be deemed to include substitute, replacement of successor sections or rules adopted by the SEC from time to time;

(8) the word “ includes ” and its derivatives means “includes, but is not limited to” and corresponding derivative definitions;

(9) 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 Supplemental Indenture; and

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

 

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

indenture securities ” means the Notes;

indenture security holder ” means a Holder;

indenture to be qualified ” means the Indenture;

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

obligor ” on the Notes means the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other obligor on the Securities; and

The following additional terms used in this Supplemental Indenture have the following meanings:

2007 Plan ” means the Approach Resources Inc. 2007 Stock Incentive Plan, effective as of June 28, 2007, as amended, restated, modified, supplemented, renewed, replaced, supplemented or restructured or refinanced in whole or in part.

Acquired Debt ” means, with respect to any specified Person:

(1) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged with or into or became a Subsidiary of such specified Person, regardless of whether such Indebtedness is incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person merging with or into, or becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of, such specified Person, but excluding Indebtedness which is extinguished, retired or repaid in connection with such Person merging with or becoming a Subsidiary of such specified Person; and

(2) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person.

“Act,” when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 204.

Additional Assets ” means:

(1) any property or assets (other than Indebtedness and Capital Stock) to be used by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary 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;

(3) Capital Stock constituting a minority interest in any Person that at such time is a Restricted Subsidiary; or

(4) Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that all the Capital Stock of such Subsidiary held by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary shall entitle the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary to not less than a pro rata portion of all dividends or other distributions made by such Subsidiary upon any of such Capital Stock;

provided , however , that in the case of clauses (2), (3) and (4), such Subsidiary is primarily engaged in a Related Business.

Additional Notes ” has the meaning indicated in the recitals to this Supplemental Indenture.

 

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Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets ” means, with respect to any specified Person or Persons (all of such specified Persons, whether one or more, being referred to in this definition as the “ Referent Person ”), as of the date of determination (without duplication), the remainder of:

(1) the sum of:

(a) discounted future net revenues from proved oil and gas reserves of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines before any provincial, territorial, state, federal or foreign income taxes, as estimated by the Company in a reserve report prepared as of the end of the Company’s most recently completed fiscal year for which audited financial statements are available and giving effect to applicable Oil and Natural Gas Hedging Contracts,

(A) as increased by, as of the date of determination, the estimated discounted future net revenues from:

(i) estimated proved oil and gas reserves acquired or classified as proved since such year end, which reserves were not reflected in such year-end reserve report; and

(ii) estimated oil and gas reserves attributable to upward revisions of estimates of proved oil and gas reserves (including previously estimated development costs incurred during the period and the accretion of discount since the prior period end) since such year end due to exploration, development, exploitation or other activities; and

(B) decreased by, as of the date of determination, the estimated discounted future net revenues from:

(i) estimated proved oil and gas reserves reflected in such reserve report produced or disposed of since such year end; and

(ii) estimated oil and gas reserves attributable to downward revisions of estimates of proved oil and gas reserves reflected in such reserve report since such year end due to changes in geological conditions or other factors that would, in accordance with standard industry practice, cause such revisions,

in each case described in this clause (a) calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines and estimated by the Company’s petroleum engineers or any independent petroleum engineers engaged by the Company for that purpose;

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

(c) the Net Working Capital of the Referent Person on a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest annual or quarterly financial statements; and

(d) the greater of:

(i) the net book value of other tangible assets of the Referent Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, as of a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest annual or quarterly financial statements, and

 

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(ii) the appraised value, as estimated by independent appraisers, of other tangible assets of the Referent Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, as of a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest audited financial statements ( provided that the Company shall not be required to obtain such appraisal solely for the purpose of determining this value); minus

(2) the sum of:

(a) the net book value of any Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Referent Person that is not owned by the Referent Person or another Restricted Subsidiary of the Referent Person;

(b) to the extent not otherwise taken into account in determining Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Referent Person, any net gas-balancing liabilities of the Referent Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries reflected in the Company’s latest audited financial statements;

(c) to the extent included in (1)(a) above, the discounted future net revenues, calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in the Company’s year-end reserve report), attributable to reserves that are required to be delivered by the Referent Person to third parties to fully satisfy the obligations of the Referent Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to Volumetric Production Payments (determined, if applicable, using the schedules specified with respect thereto); and

(d) the discounted future net revenues, calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines, attributable to reserves subject to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments that, based on the estimates of production and price assumptions included in determining the discounted future net revenues specified in (1)(a) above, would be necessary to fully satisfy the payment obligations of the Referent Person and its Subsidiaries with respect to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments (determined, if applicable, using the schedules specified with respect thereto).

If the Company changes its method of accounting from the successful efforts or a similar method to the full cost method of accounting, “Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” of the Referent Person will continue to be calculated as if the Company were still using the successful efforts or a similar method of accounting.

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

Affiliate Transaction ” has the meaning specified in Section 1116 of this Supplemental Indenture.

Asset Sale ” means:

(1) the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of any assets or rights (including by way of a Production Payment or a sale and leaseback transaction); provided that the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole will be governed by the provisions of Article Nine and/or Section 1110 of this Supplemental Indenture and not by the provisions of the Asset Sale covenant set forth in Section 1115 of this Supplemental Indenture; and

 

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(2) the issuance of Equity Interests in any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries (other than directors’ qualifying shares) or the sale of Equity Interests held by the Company or its Subsidiaries in any of its Subsidiaries.

Notwithstanding the preceding, none of the following items will be deemed to be an Asset Sale:

(1) any single transaction or series of related transactions that involves assets having a Fair Market Value of less than $10.0 million;

(2) a transfer of assets between or among the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(3) an issuance of Equity Interests by a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or to a Restricted Subsidiary;

(4) the sale, lease or other disposition of equipment, inventory, products, services, accounts receivable or other assets in the ordinary course of business, including in connection with any compromise, settlement or collection of accounts receivable, and any sale or other disposition of damaged, worn-out or obsolete assets or assets that are no longer useful in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(5) the sale or other disposition of cash or Cash Equivalents;

(6) a Restricted Payment that does not violate Section 1112 of this Supplemental Indenture, including the issuance or sale of Equity Interests or the sale, lease or other disposition of products, services, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable or other assets pursuant to any such Restricted Payment;

(7) a Permitted Investment, including, without limitation, unwinding any Hedging Obligations, and including the issuance or sale of Equity Interests or the sale, lease or other disposition of products, services, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable or other assets pursuant to any such Permitted Investment;

(8) a disposition of Hydrocarbons or mineral products inventory in the ordinary course of business;

(9) (a) the farm-out, lease or sublease of developed or undeveloped crude oil or natural gas properties owned or held by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in exchange for crude oil and natural gas properties owned or held by another Person, and (b) any abandonment, relinquishment, farm-in, farm-out, lease and sub-lease of developed and/or undeveloped properties made or entered into in the ordinary course of business or that is usual and customary in the oil and gas business, but excluding in the case of this clause (b) any disposition as a result of the creation of a Production Payments and Reserve Sale;

(10) the creation or perfection of a Lien (but not, except as contemplated in clause (11) below, the sale or other disposition of the properties or assets subject to such Lien);

(11) (a) the creation or perfection of a Permitted Lien and (b) solely for purposes of clauses (1) and (2) of first paragraph of the covenant described under Section 1115, the enforcement of such Lien;

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

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

 

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(14) any Production Payments and Reserve Sales; provided that all such Production Payments and Reserve Sales (other than incentive compensation programs on terms that are reasonably customary in the oil and gas business for geologists, geophysicists and other providers of technical services to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) shall have been created, incurred, issued, assumed or Guaranteed no later than 60 days after the acquisition of, the oil and gas properties that are subject thereto;

(15) the sale or other disposition (regardless of whether in the ordinary course of business) of oil and gas properties; provided that, at the time of such sale or other disposition, such properties do not have attributed to them any proved reserves;

(16) any trade or exchange by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of properties or assets used or useful in a Related Business for other properties or assets used or useful in a Related Business owned or held by another Person (including Capital Stock of a Person engaged in a Related Business that is or becomes a Restricted Subsidiary), including any cash or Cash Equivalents necessary in order to achieve and exchange equivalent value, provided that the Fair Market Value of the properties or assets traded or exchanged by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary (including any cash or Cash Equivalents to be delivered by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary) is reasonably equivalent to the Fair Market Value of the properties or assets (together with any cash or Cash Equivalents) to be received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, and provided , further , that any cash received in the transaction must be applied in accordance with Section 1115 as if such transaction were an Asset Sale;

(17) any assignment of an overriding royalty or net profit interest in oil and gas properties granted to vendors (including consultants) in exchange for oil and gas property development services related to such oil and gas properties; and

(18) any sale of Equity Interests in, or Indebtedness or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

Asset Sale Offer ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1115 of this Supplemental Indenture.

Authenticating Agent ” means any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant to Section 714 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Notes.

Bankruptcy Law ” means any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law.

Base Indenture ” has the meaning specified in the initial paragraph of this Supplemental Indenture.

Beneficial Owner ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that in calculating the beneficial ownership of any particular “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), such “person” will be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such “person” has the right to acquire by conversion or exercise of other securities, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only after the passage of time or upon the occurrence of a subsequent condition. The terms “ Beneficially Owns ,” “ Beneficially Owned ” and “ Beneficially Owning ” will have a corresponding meaning.

Board of Directors ” means:

(1) with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of the corporation or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such board;

(2) with respect to a partnership, the board of directors of the general partner of the partnership;

 

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(3) with respect to a limited liability company, the managers or managing member or members of such limited liability company (as applicable) or any duly authorized committee of managers or managing members (as applicable) thereof; and

(4) with respect to any other Person, the board of directors or duly authorized committee of such Person serving a similar function.

Board Resolution ” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor, the principal financial officer of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor, any other authorized officer of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor, or a person duly authorized by any of them, in each case as applicable, to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee. Where any provision of the Indenture refers to action to be taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, such action may be taken by any committee, officer or employee of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, authorized to take such action by the Board of Directors as evidenced by a Board Resolution.

Business Day ” means any day other than a Legal Holiday.

“Calculation Date” has the meaning set forth below in the definition of “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.”

Capital Lease Obligation ” means, at the time any determination is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at that time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet 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 prepaid by the lessee without payment of a penalty.

Capital Stock ” means:

(1) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock;

(2) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;

(3) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership interests (whether general or limited) or membership interests; and

(4) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person, but excluding from all of the foregoing any debt securities convertible into Capital Stock, regardless of whether such debt securities include any right of participation with Capital Stock.

Cash Equivalents ” means:

(1) United States dollars;

(2) Government Securities having maturities of not more than one year from the date of acquisition;

(3) marketable general obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision of any such state or any public instrumentality thereof maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof and, at the time of acquisition thereof, having a credit rating of “A” or better from either S&P or Moody’s;

(4) certificates of deposit, demand deposit accounts and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits, in each case, with any domestic commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $500.0 million and a Thomson Bank Watch Rating of “B” or better;

 

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(5) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than seven days for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (2), (3) and (4) above entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (4) above;

(6) commercial paper having one of the two highest ratings obtainable from Moody’s or S&P and, in each case, maturing within one year after the date of acquisition;

(7) money market funds at least 95% of the assets of which constitute Cash Equivalents of the kinds described in clauses (1) through (6) of this definition; and

(8) deposits in any currency 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 its chief executive office or is engaged in the Related Business; provided that all such deposits are made in such accounts in the ordinary course of business.

Change of Control ” means:

(1) any “person” or “group” of related persons (as such terms are used in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes a Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company (or its successor by merger, consolidation or purchase of all or substantially all of its properties or assets) (for the purposes of this clause, such person or group shall be deemed to Beneficially Own any Voting Stock of the Company held by an entity, if such person or group Beneficially Owns, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the voting power of the Voting Stock of such entity);

(2) the first day on which a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company are not Continuing Directors;

(3) the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any “person” (as such term is used in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act); or

(4) the adoption or approval by the stockholders of the Company of a plan for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

Change of Control Offer ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1110 of this Supplemental Indenture.

Change of Control Payment ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1110 of this Supplemental Indenture.

Change of Control Payment Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1110 of this Supplemental Indenture.

CINS ” means CUSIP International Numbering System.

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

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

 

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Company Request ” or “ Company Order ” means, in the case of the Company, a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its President, any of its Vice Presidents or any other duly authorized officer of the Company or any person duly authorized by any of them, and delivered to the Trustee and, in the case of a Subsidiary Guarantor, a written request or order signed in the name of such Subsidiary Guarantor by its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its President, any of its Vice Presidents or any other duly authorized officer of such Subsidiary Guarantor or any person duly authorized by any of them, and delivered to the Trustee.

Consolidated Cash Flow ” means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period plus, without duplication:

(1) provision for taxes based on income or profits of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that such provision for taxes was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

(2) the Fixed Charges of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that such Fixed Charges were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

(3) exploration and abandonment expense to the extent deducted in calculating Consolidated Net Income; plus

(4) depreciation, depletion, amortization (including amortization of intangibles but excluding amortization of prepaid cash expenses that were paid in a prior period), impairment, other non-cash expenses and other non-cash items (excluding any such non-cash expense to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash expenses in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense that was paid in a prior period) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period to the extent that such depreciation, depletion, amortization, impairment and other non-cash expenses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

(5) any interest expense attributable to any Oil and Natural Gas Hedging Contract, to the extent that such interest expense was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; minus

(6) non-cash items increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period, other than items that were accrued in the ordinary course of business; and minus

(7) 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;

in each case, on a consolidated basis and determined in accordance with GAAP.

Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, clauses (1) through (5) relating to amounts of a Restricted Subsidiary of the referent Person will be added to Consolidated Net Income to compute Consolidated Cash Flow of such Person only to the extent (and in the same proportion) that the Net Income of such Restricted Subsidiary was included in calculating the Consolidated Net Income of such Person and, to the extent the amounts set forth in clauses (1) through (5) are in excess of those necessary to offset a net loss of such Restricted Subsidiary or if such Restricted Subsidiary has net income for such period included in Consolidated Net Income, only if a corresponding amount would be permitted at the date of determination to be dividended to the referent Person by such Restricted Subsidiary without prior governmental 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 that Restricted Subsidiary or the holders of its Capital Stock.

 

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Consolidated Net Income ” means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that:

(1) the Net Income (but not loss) of any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting will be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends or similar distributions paid in cash to the specified Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Person;

(2) the Net Income of any Restricted Subsidiary will be excluded to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of that Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (that has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders, members or partners;

(3) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles will be excluded;

(4) any after tax effect of gains (losses) realized upon the sale or other disposition of any property, plant or equipment of such Person or its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries (including pursuant to any sale or leaseback transaction) that is not sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business and any gain (loss) realized upon the sale or other disposition of any Capital Stock of any Person will be excluded;

(5) any asset impairment writedowns on oil and gas properties under GAAP or SEC guidelines will be excluded;

(6) any non-cash mark-to-market adjustments to assets or liabilities resulting in unrealized gains or losses in respect of Hedging Obligations (including those resulting from the application of ASC 815) shall be excluded;

(7) to the extent deducted in the calculation of Net Income, any non-cash or other charges associated with any premium or penalty paid, write-off of deferred financing costs or other financial recapitalization charges in connection with redeeming or retiring any Indebtedness will be excluded;

(8) any after-tax effect of extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual gains, losses or charges (including fees and expenses reacting thereto) or expenses shall be excluded; and

(9) any (i) non-cash compensation expense recorded from grants of stock appreciation or similar rights, phantom equity, stock options, restricted stock or other rights to officers, directors, managers or employees and (ii) non-cash income (loss) attributable to deferred compensation plans or trusts, shall be excluded.

Continuing Directors ” means, as of any date of determination, any member of the Board of Directors of the Company who:

(1) was a member of such Board of Directors on the Issue Date; or

(2) was nominated for election or elected to such Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such Board of Directors at the time of such nomination or election.

Corporate Trust Office ” means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business in relation to the Indenture shall be principally administered, which office at the date of the execution of this instrument is located at 5555 San Felipe, Suite 1150, Houston, Texas 77056, Attention: Corporate Trust Services, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Company, or the principal corporate trust office of any successor Trustee (or such other address as such successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Company).

 

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Covenant Defeasance ” has the meaning specified in Section 1403.

Credit Facilities ” means, with respect to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, one or more debt facilities (including, without limitation, the Senior Credit Agreement), commercial paper facilities or Debt Issuances providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to any lenders, other financiers or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from (or sell such receivables to) any lenders or other financiers against such receivables), letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances, other borrowings or Debt Issuances, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, extended, refunded, replaced or refinanced (in each case, without limitation as to amount), in whole or in part, from time to time (including through one or more Debt Issuances).

Currency Agreement ” means in respect of a Person any foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement or other similar agreement as to which such Person is a party or a beneficiary.

CUSIP ” means the Committee on Uniform Securities Identification Procedures.

Custodian ” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

Debt Issuances ” means, with respect to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, one or more issuances after the Issue Date of Indebtedness evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or other similar securities or instruments.

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

De Minimis Amount ” means a principal amount of Indebtedness that does not exceed $1.0 million.

Defaulted Interest ” has the meaning specified in Section 407.

Defeasance ” has the meaning specified in Section 1402.

Depositary ” means, with respect to Notes issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Notes, The Depository Trust Company or any other clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act that is designated to act as successor Depositary for such Notes.

Disinterested Member ” means, with respect to any transaction, a member of the Company’s Board of Directors who does not have any material direct or indirect financial interest (other than as an owner of Equity Interests in the Company or as an officer, manager or employee of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary) in or with respect to such transaction and is not an Affiliate, or an officer, director, member of a supervisory, executive or management board or employee of any Person (other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary), who has any direct or indirect financial interest in or with respect to such transaction.

Disqualified Stock ” means any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible, or for which it is exchangeable, in each case at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the date on which the Notes mature. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because the holders of the Capital Stock have the right to require the Company to repurchase or redeem such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a Change of Control or an Asset Sale will not constitute Disqualified Stock if the terms of such Capital Stock provide that the Company may not repurchase or redeem any such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions unless such repurchase or redemption complies with Section 1112 of this Supplemental Indenture. The amount of Disqualified Stock deemed to be outstanding at any time for purposes of the Indenture will be the maximum amount that the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries may become obligated to pay upon the maturity of, or pursuant to any mandatory redemption provisions of, such Disqualified Stock, exclusive of accrued dividends.

 

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Dollar ” or “ $ ” means the coin or currency of the United States of America, which at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

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

Domestic Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary that was formed under the laws of the United States or any state of the United States or the District of Columbia.

Equity Interests ” means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).

Equity Offering ” means (1) an offering for cash by the Company of its Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock), or options, warrants or rights with respect to its Capital Stock or (2) a cash contribution to the Company’s common equity capital from any Person.

Event of Default ” has the meaning specified in Section 601 of this Supplemental Indenture.

Excess Proceeds ” has the meaning specified in Section 1115 of this Supplemental Indenture.

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

Existing Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under the Senior Credit Agreement, the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees) in existence on the Issue Date, until such amounts are repaid.

Expiration Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 204 of this Supplemental Indenture.

Fair Market Value ” means the value that would be paid by a willing buyer to an unaffiliated willing seller in a transaction not involving distress or necessity of either party. Fair Market Value of an asset or property in excess of $5.0 million shall be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company acting in good faith, whose determination shall be conclusive and evidenced by a resolution of such Board of Directors, and any lesser Fair Market Value may be determined by an officer of the Company acting in good faith.

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 interests 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.

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio ” means with respect to any specified Person for any four-quarter reference period, the ratio of the Consolidated Cash Flow of such Person for such period to the Fixed Charges of such Person for such period. In the event that the specified Person or any Restricted Subsidiary incurs, assumes, Guarantees, repays, repurchases, redeems, defeases or otherwise discharges any Indebtedness (other than ordinary working capital borrowings) or issues, repurchases or redeems preferred stock subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated and on or prior to the date on which the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the “ Calculation Date ”), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio will be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, Guarantee, repayment, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other discharge of Indebtedness, or such issuance, repurchase or redemption of preferred stock, and the use of the proceeds therefrom, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter reference period.

 

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In addition, for purposes of calculating the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio:

(1) acquisitions that have been made by the specified Person or any Restricted Subsidiary, including through mergers, consolidations or otherwise (including acquisitions of assets used or useful in a Related Business), or any Person or any Restricted Subsidiary acquired by the specified Person or any Restricted Subsidiary, and including in each case any related financing transactions and increases in ownership of Restricted Subsidiaries, during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to the Calculation Date will be given pro forma effect as if they had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period, and any Consolidated Cash Flow for such period will be calculated giving pro forma effect to any operating improvements or cost savings that have occurred or are reasonably expected to occur in the reasonable judgment of the principal accounting officer or Chief Financial Officer of the Company (regardless of whether those operating improvements or cost savings could then be reflected in pro forma financial statements prepared in accordance with Regulation S-X under the Securities Act or any other regulation or policy of the SEC related thereto);

(2) the Consolidated Cash Flow attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses (and ownership interests therein) disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, will be excluded;

(3) the Fixed Charges attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses (and ownership interests therein) disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, will be excluded, but only to the extent that the obligations giving rise to such Fixed Charges will not be obligations of the specified Person or any Restricted Subsidiary following the Calculation Date;

(4) any Person that is a Restricted Subsidiary on the Calculation Date will be deemed to have been a Restricted Subsidiary at all times during such four-quarter period;

(5) any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary on the Calculation Date will be deemed not to have been a Restricted Subsidiary at any time during such four-quarter period;

(6) if any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest, the interest expense on such Indebtedness will be calculated as if the rate in effect on the Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Hedging Obligation applicable to such Indebtedness, but if the remaining term of such Hedging Obligation is less than 12 months, then such Hedging Obligation shall only be taken into account for that portion of the period equal to the remaining term thereof); and

(7) (i) the Company shall use audited financial statements for the portions of the relevant period for which audited financial statements are available on the date of determination and unaudited financial statements and other current financial data based on the books and records of the Company for the remaining portion of such period and (ii) the Company shall be permitted to rely in good faith on the financial statements and other financial data derived from the books and records of the Company that are available on the date of determination.

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

(1) the consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued (excluding (i) any interest attributable to Production Payments and Reserve Sales, (ii) write-off of deferred financing costs and (iii) accretion of interest charges on future plugging and abandonment obligations, future retirement benefits and other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness, but including, without limitation, amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount, noncash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred payment obligations other than that

 

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attributeable to any Oil and Natural Gas Hedging Contract, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers’ acceptance financings), and net of the effect of all payments made or received pursuant to Interest Rate Agreements; plus

(2) the consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries that was capitalized during such period; plus

(3) any interest on Indebtedness of another Person that is Guaranteed by the specified Person or one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries or secured by a Lien on assets of such specified Person or one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries, regardless of whether such Guarantee or Lien is called upon; plus

(4) all dividends, whether paid or accrued and regardless of whether in cash, on any series of preferred stock of such Person or any Restricted Subsidiary, other than dividends on Equity Interests payable solely in Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary,

in each case, on a consolidated basis and determined in accordance with GAAP.

Foreign Subsidiary ” means any Restricted Subsidiary other than a Domestic Subsidiary.

Funding Guarantor ” has the meaning specified in Section 1605 of this Supplemental Indenture.

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, as in effect from time to time. All ratios and computations based on GAAP contained in the Indenture will be computed in conformity with GAAP. At any time after the Issue Date, the Company may elect to apply International Financial Reporting Standards (“ IFRS ”), accounting principles in lieu of GAAP and, upon any such election, references herein to GAAP shall thereafter be construed to mean IFRS (except as otherwise provided in the Indenture); provided that any such election, once made, shall be irrevocable; provided , further , that any calculation or determination in the Indenture that requires the application of GAAP for periods that include fiscal quarters ended prior to the Company’s election to apply IFRS shall remain as previously calculated or determined in accordance with GAAP. The Company shall give notice of any such election made in accordance with this definition to the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes.

Global Note ” means a Note that evidences all or part of the Notes and bears the legend set forth in Section 302.

Government Securities ” means direct obligations of, or obligations Guaranteed by, the United States of America, and the payment for which the United States pledges its full faith and credit.

Guarantee ” means a guarantee other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business, direct or indirect, in any manner including, without limitation, by way of a pledge of assets or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof, of all or any part of any Indebtedness (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreements to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services or to take or pay or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise), or entered into for purposes 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). “ Guarantee ” used as a verb has a correlative meaning.

Hedging Obligations ” of any Person means the obligations of such Person pursuant to any Interest Rate and Currency Hedges and any Oil and Natural Gas Hedging Contracts.

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

 

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

Indebtedness ” means, with respect to any specified Person, without duplication, any indebtedness of such Person, regardless of whether contingent:

(1) in respect of borrowed money;

(2) evidenced by bonds, notes, credit agreements, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit (or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof);

(3) in respect of bankers’ acceptances;

(4) representing Capital Lease Obligations;

(5) in respect of any Guarantee by such Person of production or payment with respect to a Production Payment (but not any other contractual obligation in respect of such Production Payment);

(6) representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property or services due more than six months after such property is acquired or such services are completed, except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or a trade payable; or

(7) representing net obligations under Interest Rate and Currency Hedges,

if and to the extent any of the preceding items (other than letters of credit and Interest Rate and Currency Hedges) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of the specified Person prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, the term “Indebtedness” includes (a) all Indebtedness of any other Person, of the types described in clauses (1) through (7) above, secured by a Lien on any asset of the specified Person (regardless of whether such Indebtedness is assumed by the specified Person), provided that the amount of such Indebtedness will be the lesser of (i) the Fair Market Value of such asset at such date of determination and (ii) the amount of such Indebtedness of such other Person, and (b) to the extent not otherwise included, the Guarantee by the specified Person of any Indebtedness of any other Person, of the types described above in clauses (1) through (7) above. Furthermore, the amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date will be the accreted value thereof, in the case of any Indebtedness issued with original issue discount; and the principal amount thereof, together with any interest thereon that is more than 30 days past due, in the case of any other Indebtedness.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following shall not constitute “Indebtedness”:

(1) accrued expenses, royalties and trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business;

(2) except as provided in clause (5) of the first paragraph of this definition, any obligation in respect of any Production Payments and Reserve Sales;

(3) any obligation in respect of any Farm-In Agreement;

(4) any indebtedness which has been defeased in accordance with GAAP or defeased pursuant to the deposit of cash or Government Securities (in an amount sufficient to satisfy all such indebtedness obligations at maturity or redemption, as applicable, and all payments of interest and premium, if any) in a trust or account created or pledged for the sole benefit of the holders of such indebtedness, and subject to no other Liens, and the other applicable terms of the instrument governing such indebtedness;

(5) oil or natural gas balancing liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice;

 

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(6) any obligation in respect of any Oil and Natural Gas Hedging Contract;

(7) any unrealized losses or charges in respect of Hedging Obligations (including those resulting from the application of the Financial Standards Accounting Board’s Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 815);

(8) any obligations in respect of (a) bid, performance, completion, surety, appeal and similar bonds, (b) obligations in respect of bankers acceptances, (c) insurance obligations or bonds and other similar bonds and obligations and (d) any Guarantees or letters of credit functioning as or supporting any of the foregoing bonds or obligations; provided , however , that such bonds or obligations mentioned in subclause (a), (b), (c) or (d) of this clause (8), are incurred in the ordinary course of the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and do not relate to obligations for borrowed money;

(9) any Disqualified Stock of the Company or preferred stock of a Restricted Subsidiary;

(10) any obligation arising from any agreement providing for indemnities, guarantees, purchase price adjustments, holdbacks, contingency payment obligations based on the performance of the acquired or disposed assets or similar obligations (other than Guarantees of Indebtedness) incurred by any Person in connection with the acquisition or disposition of assets;

(11) all contracts and other obligations, agreements, instruments or arrangements described in clauses (20), (21), (22) and (23) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”;

(12) contingent obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business; or

(13) any indebtedness that has been defeased in accordance with GAAP or defeased pursuant to the deposit of cash, U.S. government obligations and Cash Equivalents (sufficient to satisfy all obligations relating thereto at maturity or redemption, as applicable) in a trust or account created or pledged for the sole benefit of the holders of such indebtedness, in accordance with the terms of the instruments governing such indebtedness.

Indenture ” has the meaning specified in the first paragraph of this Supplemental Indenture.

Initial Lien ” has the meaning specified in Section 1113 of this Supplemental Indenture.

Initial Notes ” has the meaning specified in the recitals to this Supplemental Indenture.

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

Interest Rate Agreement ” means with respect to any Person any interest rate protection agreement, interest rate future agreement, interest rate option agreement, interest rate swap agreement, interest rate cap agreement, interest rate collar agreement, interest rate hedge agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement as to which such Person is party or a beneficiary.

Interest Rate and Currency Hedges ” of any Person means the obligations of such Person pursuant to any Interest Rate Agreement or Currency Agreement.

Investment Grade Rating ” means a rating equal to or higher than: (1) Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s; or (2) BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, or, if either such entity ceases to rate the Notes for reasons outside of the control of the Company, the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any other Rating Agency.

Investments ” means, with respect to any Person, all direct or indirect investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the forms of loans (including Guarantees or other obligations, advances or capital contributions (excluding endorsements of negotiable instruments and documents in the ordinary course of business,

 

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and commission, travel and similar advances to officers, employees and consultants made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities, together with all items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP. If the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary sells or otherwise disposes of any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary such that, after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, such Person is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary, the Company will be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale or disposition equal to the Fair Market Value of the Company’s Investments in such Restricted Subsidiary that were not sold or disposed of in an amount determined as provided in the final paragraph of Section 1112 of this Supplemental Indenture. The acquisition by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company of a Person that holds an Investment in a third Person will be deemed to be an Investment by the Company or such Subsidiary in such third Person in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the Investments held by the acquired Person in such third Person in an amount determined as provided in the final paragraph of Section 1112 of this Supplemental Indenture. Except as otherwise provided in the Indenture, the amount of an Investment will be determined at the time the Investment is made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value.

Issue Date ” means the first date on which Notes are issued under the Indenture.

Legal Holiday ” means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the City of New York or at a place of payment are authorized by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed.

Lien ” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, regardless of whether filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law, including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction other than a precautionary financing statement respecting a lease not intended as a security agreement.

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

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

Net Income ” means, with respect to any specified Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of non-cash preferred stock dividends, excluding, however:

(1) any gain or loss, together with any related provision for taxes on such gain or loss, realized in connection with:

(a) any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, any cash received pursuant to any sale and leaseback transaction) or

(b) the disposition of any securities by such Person or the extinguishment of any Indebtedness of such Person; and

(2) any extraordinary gain or loss, together with any related provision for taxes on such extraordinary gain or loss.

Net Proceeds ” means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, any cash received upon the sale or other disposition of any non-cash consideration received in any Asset Sale), net of:

(1) all legal, accounting, investment banking, title and recording tax expenses, commissions and other fees and expense incurred, and all federal, state, provincial, foreign and local taxes required to be paid or accrued as a liability under GAAP (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing agreements), as a consequence of such Asset Sale;

 

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

(3) all distributions and other payments required to be made to holders of minority interests in Subsidiaries or joint ventures as a result of such Asset Sale; and

(4) the deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the seller as a reserve, in accordance with GAAP, or held in escrow, in either case for adjustment in respect of the sale price or for any liabilities associated with the assets disposed of in such Asset Sale and retained by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary after such Asset Sale.

Net Working Capital ” means (1) all current assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries except current assets from Oil and Natural Gas Hedging Contracts, less (2) all current liabilities of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, except (a) current liabilities included in Indebtedness, (b) current liabilities associated with asset retirement obligations relating to oil and gas properties and (c) any current liabilities from Oil and Natural Gas Hedging Contracts, in each case as set forth in the consolidated financial statements of the Company prepared in accordance with GAAP (excluding any adjustments made pursuant to the Financial Standards Accounting Board’s Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 815).

Non-Recourse Debt ” means Indebtedness:

(1) as to which neither the Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary (a) provides any Guarantee or credit support of any kind (including any undertaking, Guarantee, indemnity, agreement or instrument that would constitute Indebtedness) or (b) is directly or indirectly liable (as a guarantor or otherwise), in each case other than Liens on and pledges of the Equity Interests of any Unrestricted Subsidiary or any joint venture owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to the extent securing otherwise Non-Recourse Debt of such Unrestricted Subsidiary or joint ventures;

(2) no default with respect to which (including any rights that the holders thereof may have to take enforcement action against an Unrestricted Subsidiary) would permit (upon notice, lapse of time or both) any holder of any other Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to declare a default under such other Indebtedness or cause the payment thereof to be accelerated or payable prior to its Stated Maturity; and

(3) the explicit terms of which provide there is no recourse against any of the assets of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries, except for any Equity Interests referred to in clause (1) of this definition.

Notes ” has the meaning specified in the recitals of this Supplemental Indenture.

Notice of Default ” means a written notice of the kind specified in Section 601(4) or (5).

Obligations ” means any principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness, as set forth in Section 1601 of this Supplemental Indenture.

Offer Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1110 of this Supplemental Indenture.

Offer Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1110 of this Supplemental Indenture.

 

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Officer ” means, in the case of the Company, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, any Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Company and, in the case of any Subsidiary Guarantor, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, any Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of such Subsidiary Guarantor.

Officers’ Certificate ” means, in the case of the Company, a certificate signed by two Officers or by an Officer and either an Assistant Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and, in the case of any Subsidiary Guarantor, a certificate signed by two Officers or by an Officer and either an Assistant Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary of such Subsidiary Guarantor.

Oil and Natural Gas Hedging Contract ” means any Hydrocarbon hedging agreements and other agreements or arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business in the oil and gas industry for the purpose of protecting against fluctuations in Hydrocarbon prices.

Opinion of Counsel ” means a written opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee and that meets the requirements of Section 202. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company, a Subsidiary Guarantor or the Trustee.

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.

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

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

(2) Notes 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 or an Affiliate of the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company or an Affiliate of the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Notes; provided that, if such Notes are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to the Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made;

(3) Notes as to which Defeasance has been effected pursuant to Section 1402; and

(4) Notes which have been paid pursuant to Section 406 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Notes have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the Indenture, other than any such Notes in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Notes are held by a protected purchaser in whose hands such Notes are valid obligations of the Company;

provided , however , that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Notes have given, made or taken any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act hereunder as of any date, Notes owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Notes or any Affiliate of the Company or 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 Notes which the Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Notes 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 Notes and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Notes 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 any premium or interest on any Notes on behalf of the Company.

Payment Default ” has the meaning specified in Section 601(6)(a) of this Supplemental Indenture.

 

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Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company or any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock was Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of:

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

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

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

(a) the Restricted Subsidiary or the Company, as applicable, would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of Section 1111 of this Supplemental Indenture, or

(b) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company would be greater than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company immediately prior to such transaction.

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, a Related Business as means of actively exploiting, exploring for, acquiring, developing, processing, gathering, marketing or transporting oil, natural gas, other Hydrocarbons and minerals (including with respect to disposal of water, by-products or waste, remediation and plugging and abandonment) through agreements, transactions, interests or arrangements that permit one to share risks or costs of such activities or comply with regulatory requirements regarding local ownership, including without limitation:

(1) ownership interests in oil, natural gas, other Hydrocarbons and minerals properties, liquefied natural gas facilities, processing facilities, gathering systems, pipelines, disposal facilities, storage facilities or related systems or ancillary real property interests and ancillary property, plant and equipment;

(2) Investments in the form of or pursuant to operating 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 and other Hydrocarbons and minerals, production sharing agreements, participation agreements, development agreements, area of mutual interest agreements, unitization agreements, pooling agreements, joint bidding agreements, service contracts, disposal and remediation agreements, joint venture agreements, partnership agreements (whether general or limited), subscription agreements, stock purchase agreements, stockholder agreements and other similar agreements (including for limited liability companies) with third parties; and

(3) direct or indirect ownership interests in drilling rigs, transportation equipment and other equipment related to such drilling rigs or transportation equipment.

Permitted Debt ” has the meaning specified in Section 1111, clauses (5) and (7) of this Supplemental Indenture.

Permitted Investments means :

(1) any Investment in the Company or in a Restricted Subsidiary;

(2) any Investment in Cash Equivalents;

(3) any Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in a Person, if as a result of such Investment:

(a) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary; or

 

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(b) such Person is merged or consolidated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its properties or assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;

(4) any Investment made as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from an Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in compliance with Section 1115 of this Supplemental Indenture;

(5) any Investments received in compromise or resolution of (a) obligations of trade creditors or customers that were incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, including pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of any trade creditor or customer, or (b) litigation, arbitration or other disputes with Persons that are not Affiliates;

(6) Investments represented by Hedging Obligations;

(7) advances to or reimbursements of employees for moving, entertainment and travel expenses, drawing accounts and similar expenditures in the ordinary course of business, in each case to the extent they constitute Investments;

(8) loans or advances to employees in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice, in each case to the extent they constitute Investments;

(9) advances and prepayments for asset purchases in the ordinary course of business in a Related Business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(10) receivables owing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary 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;

(11) surety and performance bonds and workers’ compensation, utility, lease, tax, performance and similar deposits, negotiable instruments held for collection, endorsements for collection or deposit and prepaid expenses, in each case, arising in the ordinary course of business;

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

(13) Investments of a Restricted Subsidiary acquired after the Issue Date or of any entity merged into the Company or merged into or consolidated with a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with Article Nine or Section 1604 (as applicable) of this Supplemental Indenture to the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition, merger or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger or consolidation;

(14) Permitted Business Investments;

(15) Investments received as a result of a foreclosure by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to any secured Investment in default;

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

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

 

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

(19) any acquisition of assets solely in exchange for the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company;

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

(21) Guarantees received from any Person with respect to any Permitted Investment; and

(22) other Investments in any Person having an aggregate Fair Market Value (measured on the date each such Investment was made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (22) that are at the time outstanding not to exceed the greater of (a) 4% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets or (b) $35.0 million.

With respect to any Investment, the Company may, in its sole discretion, allocate or re-allocate all or any portion of any Investment to one or more of the above clauses so that the entire Investment is a Permitted Investment.

Permitted Liens means , with respect to any Person:

(1) Liens securing Indebtedness incurred under Credit Facilities pursuant to clause (1) of the second paragraph of Section 1111 of this Supplemental Indenture; provided that the aggregate amount of such indebtedness does not exceed the aggregate amount that would be allowed under clause (1) of the second paragraph of Section 1111 of this Supplemental Indenture;

(2) Liens to secure Indebtedness (including Capital Lease Obligations) permitted by clause (4) of the second paragraph of Section 1111 of this Supplemental Indenture covering only the assets acquired with or financed by such Indebtedness;

(3) 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 or 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 or customs duties or for the payment of rent, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(4) landlords’, carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s, operators’ or similar Liens arising by contract or statute in the ordinary course of business and with respect to amounts which are not yet delinquent or are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

(5) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings provided appropriate reserves have been made in respect thereof to the extent required pursuant to GAAP;

(6) Liens in favor of the issuers of surety or performance bonds or bankers’ acceptances issued pursuant to the request of and for the account of such Person in the ordinary course of its business;

 

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(7) 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 properties or Liens incidental to the conduct of the business of such Person or to the ownership of its properties 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;

(8) leases and subleases of real property which do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

(9) any attachment or judgment Liens not giving rise to an Event of Default;

(10) Liens for the purpose of securing the payment of all or a part of the purchase price of, or Capital Lease Obligations with respect to, or the repair, improvement or construction cost of, assets or property acquired or repaired, improved or constructed in the ordinary course of business; provided that:

(a) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness secured by such Liens is otherwise permitted to be incurred under the Indenture and does not exceed the cost of the assets or property so acquired or repaired, improved or constructed plus fees and expenses in connection therewith; and

(b) such Liens are created within 180 days of repair, improvement or construction or acquisition of such assets or property and do not encumber any other assets or property of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary other than such assets or property and assets affixed or appurtenant thereto (including improvements);

(11) Liens arising solely by virtue of any statutory or common law provisions relating to banker’s Liens, rights of setoff or similar rights and remedies as to deposit accounts or other funds maintained or deposited with a depositary institution; provided 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;

(12) 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 or otherwise not arising in connection with security for Indebtedness;

(13) Liens existing on the Issue Date;

(14) Liens on property at the time the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary acquired the property, including any acquisition by means of a merger or consolidation with or into the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary; provided , however , that such Liens are not created, incurred or assumed in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition; provided further , however, that such Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary other than those of the Person merged or consolidated with the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary;

(15) Liens on property or Capital Stock of a Person at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary; provided , however , that such Liens are not created, incurred or assumed in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary; provided further , however , that such Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(16) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor;

 

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(17) Liens securing the Notes, the Subsidiary Guarantees and other obligations arising under the Indenture;

(18) Liens securing Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary incurred to refinance Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary that was previously so secured; provided that any such Lien is limited to all or part of the same property or assets (plus improvements, accessions, proceeds or dividends or distributions in respect thereof) that secured (or, under the written arrangements under which the original Lien arose, could secure) the Indebtedness being refinanced or is in respect of property or assets that is the security for a Permitted Lien hereunder;

(19) Liens in respect of Production Payments and Reserve Sales;

(20) Liens on pipelines and pipeline facilities that arise by operation of law;

(21) Liens arising under joint venture agreements, partnership agreements, oil and gas leases or subleases, assignments, purchase and sale agreements, division orders, contracts for the sale, purchasing, processing, transportation or exchange of oil or natural gas, unitization and pooling declarations and agreements, development agreements, area of mutual interest agreements, licenses, sublicenses, net profits interests, participation agreements, Farm-Out Agreements, Farm-In Agreements, carried working interest, joint operating, unitization, royalty, sales and similar agreements relating to the exploration, development or operation of, or production from, oil and gas properties entered into in the ordinary course of business in a Related Business;

(22) Liens reserved in oil and gas mineral leases for bonus, royalty or rental payments and for compliance with the terms of such leases;

(23) Liens on, or related to, properties or assets to secure all or part of the costs incurred in the ordinary course of a Related Business for exploration, drilling, development, production, processing, transportation, marketing, storage, disposal, abandonment or operation;

(24) Liens arising under the Indenture in favor of the Trustee for its own benefit and similar Liens in favor of other trustees, agents and representatives arising under instruments governing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under the Indenture, provided that such Liens are solely for the benefit of the trustees, agents or representatives in their capacities as such and not for the benefit of the holders of the Indebtedness;

(25) Liens securing obligations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries under non-speculative Hedging Obligations;

(26) Liens on and pledges of the Equity Interests of any Unrestricted Subsidiary or any joint venture owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to the extent securing Non-Recourse Debt of such Unrestricted Subsidiary or joint venture;

(27) Liens securing Indebtedness of any Foreign Subsidiary which Indebtedness is permitted by the Indenture;

(28) Liens on property securing a defeasance trust;

(29) Liens securing any insurance premium financing under customary terms and conditions; provided that no such Lien extends to or covers any assets or property other than the insurance being acquired with such financing, the proceeds thereof and any unearned or refunded insurance premiums relating thereto;

(30) Liens upon specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances or commercial letters of credit issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or goods;

 

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(31) Liens on and pledges of the Equity Interests of any Unrestricted Subsidiary or any joint venture owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to the extent securing Non-Recourse Debt of such Unrestricted Subsidiary or joint venture; and

(32) other Liens with respect to obligations that, at any one time outstanding, do not exceed the greater of (a) $30.0 million and (b) 3% of the Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company.

In each case set forth above, notwithstanding any stated limitation therein on the assets that may be subject to a Lien such Lien on a specified asset or group or type of assets may include a Lien on any improvements, additions and accessions thereto and all products and proceeds thereof (including dividends, distributions and increases and insurance and insurance proceeds in respect thereof).

Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness ” means any Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, any Disqualified Stock of the Company or any preferred stock of any Restricted Subsidiary (1) issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to extend, renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease, discharge or otherwise retire for value, in whole or in part, or (2) constituting an amendment, modification or supplement to or a deferral or renewal of ((1) and (2) above, collectively, a “ Refinancing, ” and the term “ Refinanced ” has a corresponding meaning), any other Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than intercompany Indebtedness), any Disqualified Stock of the Company or any preferred stock of a Restricted Subsidiary in a principal amount or, in the case of Disqualified Stock of the Company or preferred stock of a Restricted Subsidiary, liquidation preference, not to exceed (after deduction of reasonable and customary fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Refinancing) the lesser of:

(1) the principal amount or, in the case of Disqualified Stock or preferred stock, liquidation preference, of the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock so Refinanced (plus, in the case of Indebtedness, the amount of premium, if any paid in connection therewith), and

(2) if the Indebtedness being Refinanced was issued with any original issue discount, the accreted value of such Indebtedness (as determined in accordance with GAAP) at the time of such Refinancing.

Notwithstanding the preceding, no Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock will be deemed to be Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, unless:

(1) such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock has a final maturity date or redemption date, as applicable, no earlier than the final maturity date or redemption date, as applicable, of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock being Refinanced;

(2) if the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock being Refinanced is contractually subordinated or otherwise junior in right of payment to the Notes, such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock has a final maturity date or redemption date, as applicable, no earlier than the final maturity date or redemption date, as applicable, of, and is contractually subordinated or otherwise junior in right of payment to, the Notes, on terms at least as favorable to the Holders of Notes as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock being Refinanced at the time of the Refinancing; and

(3) such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock is incurred or issued by the Company or such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock is incurred or issued by the Restricted Subsidiary that is the obligor on the Indebtedness being Refinanced or the issuer of the Disqualified Stock or preferred stock being Refinanced; provided that a Restricted Subsidiary that is also a Subsidiary Guarantor may guarantee Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred by the Company, regardless of whether such Restricted Subsidiary was an obligor or guarantor of the Indebtedness being Refinanced.

 

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

Place of Payment ,” when used with respect to the Notes, means the place or places where the principal of and any premium and interest on the Notes are payable as specified in Section 1102.

Predecessor Note ” of any particular Note means every previous Note evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Note; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Note authenticated and delivered under Section 406 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note.

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

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

Purchase Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1115 of this Supplemental Indenture.

Rating Agency ” means each of S&P and Moody’s, or if (and only if) S&P or Moody’s or both shall not make a rating on the notes publicly available, a nationally recognized statistical rating agency or agencies, as the case may be, selected by the Company, which shall be substituted for S&P or Moody’s, or both, as the case may be.

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

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

Regular Record Date ” for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Notes means the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 401.

Related Business ” means any business which is the same as or related, ancillary or complementary to any of the businesses of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on the Issue Date, which includes (1) the acquisition, exploration, exploitation, development, production, operation, servicing and disposition of interests in oil, natural gas and other hydrocarbon properties, and the utilization of the Company’s and any Restricted Subsidiary’s properties, (2) the gathering, marketing, treating, processing, storage, refining, selling and transporting of Hydrocarbons, (3) oil field sales and services and related activities, (4) development, purchase and sale of real estate and interests therein, and (5) any business or activity relating to, arising from, or necessary, appropriate or incidental to the activities described in the foregoing clauses (1) through (4) of this definition.

Reporting Failure ” means the failure of the Company to file with the SEC and make available or otherwise deliver to the Trustee and each Holder of Notes, within the time periods specified in Section 1106 of this Supplemental Indenture (after giving effect to any grace period specified under Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange Act), the periodic reports, information, documents or other reports that the Company may be required to file with the SEC pursuant to such provision.

 

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Responsible Officer ,” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer within the Corporate Trust Division of the Trustee (or any successor division or unit of the Trustee) or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

Restricted Investment ” means any Investment other than a Permitted Investment.

Restricted Payment ” has the meaning specified in Section 1112, clauses (1) through (4) of this Supplemental Indenture.

Restricted Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of the Company other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

SEC ” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

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

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

Security Register ” and “ Security Registrar ” have the respective meanings specified in Section 405.

Senior Credit Agreement ” means the Credit Agreement dated as of January 8, 2008, as amended by the First through Twelfth Amendments thereto, among (i) the Company, as borrower, (ii) Approach Oil & Gas Inc., a Delaware corporation, Approach Oil & Gas (Canada) Inc., an Alberta, Canada corporation, and Approach Resources I, LP, a Texas limited partnership, as guarantors, (iii) Frost National Bank, as administrative agent and lender, and (iv) the lenders party thereto from time to time, and any related notes, Guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and in each case as further amended, restated, modified, supplemented, increased, renewed, refunded, replaced (including replacement after the termination of such credit facility), supplemented, restructured or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time in one or more agreements or instruments.

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 under the Securities Act.

Special Record Date ” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 407.

Stated Maturity ” means, with respect to any installment of interest or principal on any series of Indebtedness, the date on which the payment of interest or principal was scheduled to be paid in the documentation governing such Indebtedness as of its issue date, and will not include any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.

Subordinated Debt ” means Indebtedness of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor that is contractually subordinated in right of payment (by its terms or the terms of any document or instrument relating thereto), to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable.

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any specified Person:

(1) any corporation, association or other business entity (other than a partnership) of which more than 50% of the total voting power of its Voting Stock is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof); and

 

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(2) any partnership (a) the sole general partner or the managing general partner of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person or (b) the only general partners of which are that Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person (or any combination thereof).

Subsidiary Guarantee ” means any Guarantee of the Notes by any Subsidiary Guarantor in accordance with Article Sixteen of this Supplemental Indenture.

Subsidiary Guarantor ” means each Restricted Subsidiary named on the signature page of this Indenture and any Restricted Subsidiary that becomes obligated under a Subsidiary Guarantee, in accordance with the terms of Article Sixteen of this Supplemental Indenture, but only for so long as such Subsidiary remains so obligated pursuant to the terms of the Indenture.

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

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

Unrestricted Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of the Company (including any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary or a Person becoming a Subsidiary through merger or consolidation or Investment therein) that is designated by the Board of Directors of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a resolution of such Board of Directors, but only to the extent that such Subsidiary:

(1) has no Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Debt;

(2) is a Person with respect to which neither the Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary has any direct or indirect obligation (a) to subscribe for additional Equity Interests or (b) to maintain or preserve such Person’s financial condition or to cause such Person to achieve any specified levels of operating results; and

(3) has not guaranteed or otherwise directly or indirectly provided credit support for any Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, except to the extent such Guarantee or credit support would be released upon such designation.

Any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall also be an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

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

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

Voting Stock ” of any specified Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency and after giving effect to any voting agreement or stockholders’ agreement that effectively transfers voting power) to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.

 

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Weighted Average Life to Maturity ” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing:

(1) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect of the Indebtedness, by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by

(2) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.

Section 202. Compliance Certificates and Opinions .

Upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take or refrain from taking any action under any provision of the Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee such certificates and opinions as may be required under the Trust Indenture Act. Each such certificate or opinion shall be given in the form of an Officers’ Certificate, if to be given by an Officer of the Company, or an Opinion of Counsel, if to be given by counsel, and shall comply with the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and any other requirements set forth in the Indenture.

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

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

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

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

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

Section 203. 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 his 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 the Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.

 

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Section 204. Acts of Holders; Record Dates .

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by the Indenture to be given, made or taken by Holders of the Notes may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed (either physically or by means of a facsimile or an electronic transmission, provided that such electronic transmission is transmitted through the facilities of a Depositary) by such Holders in person or by 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 or the Subsidiary Guarantors. 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 the Indenture and conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company and, if applicable, the Subsidiary Guarantors, if made in the manner provided in this Section.

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

The ownership, principal amount and serial numbers of Notes held by any Person, and the date of commencement of such Person’s holding of same, shall be proved by the Security Register.

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Note shall bind every future Holder of Notes and the Holder of every Note 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 or, if applicable, the Subsidiary Guarantors in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Note.

The Company may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Notes entitled to give, make or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act provided or permitted by the Indenture to be given, made or taken by Holders of Notes, 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 Notes 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 Notes 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 Notes on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Company, at its own expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Trustee in writing and to each Holder of Notes in the manner set forth in Section 206.

The Trustee may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Notes entitled to join in the giving or making of (1) any Notice of Default, (2) any declaration of acceleration referred to in Section 602, (3) any request to institute proceedings referred to in Section 607(2) or (4) any direction referred to in Section 612. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Notes 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 Notes on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Trustee from setting a new record date for

 

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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 Notes 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 Notes in the manner set forth in Section 206.

With respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section, the party hereto which sets such record date may designate any day as the “Expiration Date” and from time to time may change the Expiration Date to any earlier or later day; provided that no such change shall be effective unless notice of the proposed new Expiration Date is given to each other party hereto in writing, and to each Holder of Notes in the manner set forth in Section 206, on or prior to the existing Expiration Date. If an Expiration Date is not designated with respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section, the party hereto which set such record date shall be deemed to have initially designated the 180th day after such record date as the Expiration Date with respect thereto, subject to its right to change the Expiration Date as provided in this paragraph. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Expiration Date shall be later than the 180th day after the applicable record date.

Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to take any action hereunder with regard to the Notes may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Note 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.

Section 205. Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company .

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

(1) the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company or by any Subsidiary Guarantor shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing in the English language to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, Attention: Corporate Trust Services, or

(2) the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing in the English language and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, addressed to the Company at the address of its principal office specified in the first paragraph of this instrument or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors.

Section 206. Notice to Holders; Waiver .

Where the Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing in the English language and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder affected by such event, at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders. If notice is mailed to Holders in the manner provided in this Section 206, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it. Where the 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.

When the Notes are not Global Notes, 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.

 

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Section 207. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act .

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

Section 208. 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 209. Successors and Assigns .

All covenants and agreements in the Indenture by the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors or the Trustee shall bind their respective successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

Section 210. Separability Clause .

In case any provision in the Indenture (including the Subsidiary Guarantees) or the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforce ability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

Section 211. Benefits of Indenture .

Nothing in the Indenture (including the Subsidiary Guarantees) or the Notes, 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 the Indenture.

Section 212. Governing Law .

This Supplemental Indenture, the Indenture, the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

Section 213. Legal Holidays .

In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, purchase date or Stated Maturity of any Note shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of the Indenture or of the Notes (other than a provision of any Note which specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section)) payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or purchase date, or at the Stated Maturity.

Section 214. No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders .

No director, officer, employee, incorporator, stockholder, member, manager or partner of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor under the Notes, the Indenture or the Subsidiary Guarantees or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

 

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Section 215. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements .

The 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. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret the Indenture.

Section 216. U.S.A. Patriot Act .

The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties to this Supplemental Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information within their possession or control as it may reasonably request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.

Section 217. Force Majeure .

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 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 resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

Section 218. [Intentionally Deleted] .

Section 219. Counterpart Originals .

The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture, and each party hereto may sign any number of separate copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Supplemental Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

ARTICLE THREE

NOTE FORMS

Section 301. Forms Generally .

The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the respective forms set forth in Annex A hereto, and the notations of Subsidiary Guarantee shall be in substantially the form set forth in Annex B hereto. The Notes may have such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by the Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of any securities exchange or Depositary therefor or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Notes as evidenced by their execution thereof.

The definitive Notes shall be printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers executing such Notes, as evidenced by their execution of such Notes.

The Initial Notes shall be issued initially in the form of a Global Note, which shall be deposited with the Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary. The aggregate principal amount of any Global Note may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the schedule attached to such Global Note or on other records of the Trustee, acting as custodian for the Depositary.

 

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Section 302. Form of Legend for Global Notes .

Every Global Note authenticated and delivered under the Indenture shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

THIS NOTE IS A GLOBAL NOTE WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A NOTE REGISTERED, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE 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.

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 ISSUER 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.

ARTICLE FOUR

THE NOTES

Section 401. Title and Terms .

The Notes shall be entitled the “7.00% Senior Notes due 2021.” The Trustee shall authenticate the Notes to be authenticated and delivered under this Supplemental Indenture on the Issue Date in an aggregate amount equal to $250,000,000, upon delivery of a Company Order. The Trustee shall authenticate Additional Notes thereafter from time to time in unlimited amount for original issue upon receipt of a Company Order (subject to compliance with Section 1111). Any such Company Order shall also specify the date on which the original issue of Notes is to be authenticated and, in relation to any Additional Notes, it shall also specify the principal amount thereof to be issued and shall certify that such issuance is not prohibited by Section 1111.

The Notes will mature on June 15, 2021. Interest on the Notes will accrue at the rate of 7.00% per annum and will be payable semiannually in cash on each June 15 and December 15, commencing on December 15, 2013, in the case of the Initial Notes, to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the June 1 and December 1 immediately preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date. Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from and including the date of issuance to but excluding the actual Interest Payment Date.

The Notes shall be redeemable as provided in Article Twelve and subject to Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance as provided in Article Fourteen. The Notes shall have such other terms as are indicated in Annex A.

Section 402. Denominations .

The Notes shall be issuable only in fully registered form without coupons and only in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

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Section 403. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating .

The Notes shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Vice Chairman of the Board, its President or one of its Vice Presidents. If its corporate seal is reproduced thereon, it shall be attested by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company. The signature of any of these officers on the Notes may be manual or facsimile.

If the Company elects to reproduce its corporate seal on the Notes, then such seal may be in the form of a facsimile thereof and may be impressed, affixed, imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Notes.

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

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture and as provided in Section 401, the Company may deliver Notes executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Notes, and the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Notes.

Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication.

No Note shall be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Note a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for in Annex A, signed manually in the name of the Trustee by an authorized signatory, and such certificate upon any Note shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Note has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Note shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Note to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 409, for all purposes of the Indenture such Note shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.

Section 404. Temporary Securities .

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

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

Section 405. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange .

The Company shall cause to be kept at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment required by a register (the register maintained in such office or agency being herein sometimes 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 Notes and of transfers of Notes. The Trustee is hereby appointed “Security Registrar” for the purpose of registering Notes and transfers of Notes as herein provided, and its Corporate Trust Office is the initial office or agency where the Securities Register will be maintained. The Company may at any time replace such Security

 

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Registrar, change such office or agency or act as its own Security Registrar; provided , however , that there shall be only one Security Register. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any change of the Security Registrar or of the location of such office or agency.

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Note at the office of the Security Registrar, Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Notes, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.

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

Every Note 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 its attorney duly authorized in writing.

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Notes, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or other governmental taxes and fees that may be required by law or imposed by the Indenture in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Notes, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 404, 1006, 1110, 1115 or 1208 not involving any transfer.

If the Notes are to be redeemed in part, the Company shall not be required (1) to register the transfer of or exchange any Notes during a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes for redemption under Section 1204, or (2) to register the transfer of or exchange any Note so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.

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

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

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision in the Indenture, no Global Note may be exchanged in whole or in part for Notes registered, and no transfer of a Global Note in whole or in part may be registered, in the name of any Person other than the Depositary for such Global Note or a nominee thereof, unless (A) such Depositary (i) has notified the Company that it is unwilling or unable to discharge its responsibilities properly as Depositary for such Global Note or (ii) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and in either case the Company has not appointed a qualified successor within 90 days, (B) a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Depositary has notified the Company and the Trustee of its decision to exchange such Global Note for Notes in certificated form or (C) subject to the Depositary’s rules, the Company, at its option, has elected to terminate the book-entry system through the Depositary.

(3) Subject to clause (2) above, any exchange of a Global Note for other Notes may be made in whole or in part, and all Notes issued in exchange for a Global Note or any portion thereof shall be registered in such names as the Depositary for such Global Note shall direct.

(4) Every Note authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Note or any portion thereof, whether pursuant to this Section, Section 404, 406, 1006, 1110, 1115 or 1208 or otherwise, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Note, unless such Note is registered in the name of a Person other than the Depositary for such Global Note or a nominee thereof.

 

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The Depositary for a Global Note may surrender such Global Note in exchange in whole or in part for Notes in definitive registered form on such terms as are acceptable to the Company, the Trustee and such Depositary. Thereupon, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of Notes in definitive registered form, shall authenticate and deliver, without service charge:

(1) to the Person specified by such Depositary a new Note or Notes, with a notation of the Subsidiary Guarantee executed by the Subsidiary Guarantors, of any authorized denominations as requested by such Person, in an aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for such Person’s beneficial interest in the Global Note; and

(2) to such Depositary a new Global Note, with a notation of the Subsidiary Guarantee executed by the Subsidiary Guarantors, in a denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the principal amount of the surrendered Global Note and the aggregate principal amount of Notes authenticated and delivered pursuant to clause (1) above.

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

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

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

(3) the Depositary and its participants make book-entry transfers of beneficial ownership among, and receive and transmit distributions of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Global Notes to, such Persons in accordance with their own procedures; and

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

Section 406. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Notes .

If any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Note 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 Note 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 Note has been acquired by a protected purchaser, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Note, a new Note of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

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

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

 

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

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

Section 407. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved .

Interest on any Note 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 Note (or one or more Predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest.

Any interest on any Note 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 to the Persons in whose names the Notes (or their respective Predecessor Notes) 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 Note 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 Notes in the manner set forth in Section 206, 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 sent, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Notes (or their respective Predecessor Notes) 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 Notes in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Notes 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, each Note delivered under the Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Note shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Note.

Section 408. Persons Deemed Owners .

Prior to due presentment of a Note for registration of transfer, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee and any agent of the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Note is registered as the owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and any premium and (subject to Section 407) any interest on such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Note be overdue, and none of the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee nor any of their respective agents shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

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Section 409. Cancellation .

All Notes surrendered for payment, redemption, purchase, registration of transfer or exchange 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 Notes 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 Notes previously authenticated hereunder which the Company has not issued and sold, and all Notes so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee. No Notes shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Notes cancelled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by the Indenture. All cancelled Notes held by the Trustee shall be disposed of in accordance with the Trustee’s standard provisions or as directed by a Company Order.

Section 410. Computation of Interest .

Interest on the Notes shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

Section 411. CUSIP or CINS Numbers .

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

ARTICLE FIVE

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

Section 501. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture .

The Indenture shall cease to be of further effect as to all Notes issued hereunder, and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company upon Company Request, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture, when

(1) either

(a) all Notes theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Notes which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 406 and (ii) Notes for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 1103), have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(b) all such Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation

(i) have become due and payable, or

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

 

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(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 or any Subsidiary Guarantor in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) of subclause (b) of this Section 501(1), has irrevocably deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for such purpose cash in Dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination thereof in such amounts as will be sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal and any premium and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Notes which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;

(2) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of the deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit or the grant of liens securing such borrowing);

(3) such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other than the Indenture) to which the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor is a party or by which the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor is bound;

(4) the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by it under the Indenture;

(5) the Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Securities at their Stated Maturity or on the Redemption Date, as the case may be; and

(6) the Company has delivered to the Trustee (i) an Officers’ Certificate, stating that all conditions precedent set forth in clauses (1) through (5) above have been satisfied, and (ii) an Opinion of Counsel, stating that all conditions precedent set forth in clauses (3) and (5) above have been satisfied.

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture in respect of the Notes, the obligations of the Company to the Holders under Sections 405 and 406, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 707, the obligations of the Trustee to any Authenticating Agent under Section 714 and, if cash or Government Securities shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (b) of clause (1) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 502 and the last paragraph of Section 1103 shall survive.

Section 502. Application of Trust Money .

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1103, all cash and Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 501 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Notes and the Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal and any premium and interest for whose payment such cash and Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) have been deposited with the Trustee.

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or Government Securities in accordance with Section 501 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 and any Subsidiary Guarantor’s obligations under the Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 501; provided that if the Company has made any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, any Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or Government Securities held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

 

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ARTICLE SIX

REMEDIES

Section 601. Events of Default .

An “ Event of Default ,” wherever used herein, means any one of the following events in relation to the Notes (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

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

(2) default in the payment of the principal of or any premium on any Note when due at its Stated Maturity, upon optional redemption, upon required repurchase, upon declaration of acceleration or otherwise;

(3) failure by the Company to comply with its obligations under Article Nine of this Supplemental Indenture or to consummate a purchase of Notes when required pursuant to Section 1110 or Section 1115 of this Supplemental Indenture;

(4) failure by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary for 30 days after receipt of a written notice (specifying such failure, requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” under the Indenture) from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then Outstanding Notes to comply with Section 1111 or Section 1112 of this Supplemental Indenture or to comply with the provisions described under Section 1110 or Section 1115 of this Supplemental Indenture to the extent not described in clause (3) of this Section 601;

(5) failure by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary for 60 days (or 180 days in the case of a Reporting Failure) after receipt of a written notice (specifying such failure, requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” under the Indenture) from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then Outstanding Notes to comply with any of the other agreements in the Indenture or the Notes;

(6) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (or the payment of which is Guaranteed by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary), whether such Indebtedness or Guarantee now exists, or is created after the Issue Date, if that default:

(a) is caused by a failure to pay principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on such Indebtedness prior to the expiration of the grace period provided in such Indebtedness (“ Payment Default ”); or

(b) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its Stated Maturity;

and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $15.0 million or more;

(7) failure by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or any group of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $15.0 million (net of any amounts covered by a reputable and creditworthy insurance company that has not disclaimed coverage) which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days;

 

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(8) except as permitted by the Indenture, any Subsidiary Guarantee is held in a judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or ceases for any reason to be in full force and effect, or any Subsidiary Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any Subsidiary Guarantor, denies or disaffirms its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee;

(9) the Company, any Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, pursuant to or within the meaning of Bankruptcy Law:

(a) commences a voluntary case;

(b) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case;

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

(d) generally is not paying its debts as they become due; or

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

(a) is for relief against the Company, any Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, in an involuntary case; or

(b) appoints a custodian of the Company, any Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, or for all or substantially all of the property of the Company, any Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary; or

(c) orders the liquidation of the Company, any Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary;

and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days.

Section 602. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment .

In the case of an Event of Default specified in Section 601(9) or 601(10), all then Outstanding Notes will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice. If any other Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then Outstanding Notes may declare all of the Notes to be due and payable immediately by notice in writing to the Company and, in case of a notice by Holders, also to the Trustee specifying the respective Event of Default and that it is a notice of acceleration. Upon any such declaration, the Notes shall become due and payable immediately.

At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to the Notes has been made, the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if

 

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(1) such rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction;

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

(a) all overdue interest on all the Notes,

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

(c) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue interest at the rate prescribed therefor in such Notes, 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

(3) all Events of Default with respect to the Notes, other than the non-payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes that have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 613.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default specified in Section 601(6) above shall have occurred and be continuing, such Event of Default and any consequential acceleration (to the extent not in violation of any applicable law or in conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction) shall be automatically rescinded if (1) the Indebtedness that is the subject of such Event of Default has been repaid or (2) if the default relating to such Indebtedness is waived by the holders of such Indebtedness or cured and if such Indebtedness has been accelerated, then the holders thereof have rescinded their declaration of acceleration in respect of such Indebtedness, in each case within 30 days after the declaration of acceleration with respect thereto, and (3) any other existing Events of Default, except nonpayment of principal, premium or interest on the Notes that became due solely because of the acceleration of the Notes, have been cured or waived.

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

Section 603. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee .

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any action or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid or enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or the Indenture, and may prosecute any such action or proceedings to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against the Subsidiary Guarantors or the Company or any other obligor upon the Notes (and collect in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Subsidiary Guarantors or the Company or any other obligor upon the Notes wherever situated the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable).

Section 604. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim .

In case of any judicial proceeding relative to the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors or any other obligor upon the Notes, or the property or creditors of the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors, 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 for the compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 707.

 

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No provision of the 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 Notes 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 605. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Notes .

All rights of action and claims under the Indenture or the Notes may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Notes or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee 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 compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

Section 606. Application of Money Collected .

Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal or any premium or interest, upon presentation of the Notes 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 707;

SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of and any premium and interest on the Notes, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Notes for principal and any premium and interest, respectively; and

THIRD: The remainder, if any, shall be paid to the Subsidiary Guarantors or the Company, as applicable, or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

Section 607. Limitation on Suits .

No Holder shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to the Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy thereunder, unless:

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

(2) the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes 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 security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;

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

(5) the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes have not waived such Event of Default or otherwise given the Trustee a direction that, in the opinion of the Trustee, is inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period;

 

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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 the 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 the Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all of such Holders.

Section 608. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest .

Notwithstanding any other provision in the Indenture, the Holder of any Notes shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and any premium and (subject to Section 407) interest on such Notes on the Stated Maturity expressed in such Notes (or, in the case of redemption or offer by the Company to purchase the Notes pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, on the Redemption Date or purchase date, as applicable), and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

Section 609. Restoration of Rights and Remedies .

If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under the 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 Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

Section 610. Rights and Remedies Cumulative .

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes in the last paragraph of Section 406, 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 611. Delay or Omission Not Waiver .

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

Section 612. Control by Holders .

Subject to Section 703(5), the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes 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 Notes, provided that

(1) the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with any rule of law or with the Indenture or that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder or would involve the Trustee in personal liability, and

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

 

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Section 613. Waiver of Past Defaults .

The Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes may on behalf of the Holders of all the Notes waive any past default hereunder and its consequences or compliance with any covenant or provision hereof, except a default

(1) in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on the Notes (including any Note which is required to have been purchased by the Company pursuant to an offer to purchase by the Company made pursuant to the terms of the Indenture), or

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

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

Section 614. Undertaking for Costs .

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

Section 615. Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws .

Each of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors 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 the 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.

ARTICLE SEVEN

THE TRUSTEE

Section 701. Certain Duties and Responsibilities .

The duties and responsibilities of the Trustee shall be as provided by Section 315 of the Trust Indenture Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no implied covenants shall be read into the Indenture against the Trustee, and no provision of the 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. Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of the Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.

Section 702. Notice of Defaults .

Within 90 days after the occurrence of any Default with respect to the Notes and is deemed to be known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall send to all Holders of Notes, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, notice of such Default known to the Trustee, unless such Default shall have been cured or waived; provided ,

 

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however , that, except in the case of a Default in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest with respect to any Note, the Trustee may withhold from Holders of Notes notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default if the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Holders of Notes; and, provided , further , that (1) in the case of any Default of the character specified in Section 601(4), no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof, and (2) in the case of any Default of the character specified in Section 601(5), no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 60 days after the occurrence thereof.

Section 703. Certain Rights of Trustee .

Subject to the provisions of Section 701:

(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) 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;

(3) whenever in the administration of the 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 Officers’ Certificate;

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

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

(6) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney;

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

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

(9) the Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice or be charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has received written notice of any event that is in fact such a Default or Event of Default at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Notes and the Indenture;

 

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

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

(12) anything in the Indenture notwithstanding, in no event shall the Trustee be liable for special, indirect, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to loss of profit), even if the Trustee has been advised as to the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

Section 704. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Notes .

The recitals contained herein and in the Notes, except the Trustee’s certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of the Indenture or of the Notes. Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Notes or the proceeds thereof.

Section 705.  May Hold Notes .

The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, 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 Notes and, subject to Sections 708 and 713, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.

Section 706. Money Held in Trust .

Money and Government Securities held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed with the Company.

Section 707. Compensation and Reimbursement .

The Company agrees

(1) to pay to the Trustee from time to time compensation 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 the Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence or bad faith; and

(3) to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without gross 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 costs and expenses of defending itself

 

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against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder. When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in paragraph (9) or (10) of Section 601, such expenses and the compensation for such services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable Bankruptcy Law.

The obligations of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors under this Section 707 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture.

To secure the Company’s and the Subsidiary Guarantors’ payment obligations in this Section 707, the Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal and interest on particular Notes. Such Lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture.

Trustee ” for purposes of this Section shall include any predecessor Trustee; provided , however , that the negligence or bad faith of any Trustee hereunder shall not affect the rights of any other Trustee hereunder.

Section 708. Conflicting Interests .

If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act after a Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest within 90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to continue as trustee or resign. 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 the Base Indenture with respect to Securities of more than one series.

Section 709. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility .

There shall at all times be one (and only one) Trustee hereunder with respect to the Notes. Each Trustee shall be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such, and 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 and to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee with respect to the Notes shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

Section 710. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor .

No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 711.

The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Notes by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 711 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Notes.

The Trustee may be removed at any time by Act of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes, delivered to the Trustee and to the Company.

If at any time:

(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 708 after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Note for at least six months, or

 

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(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 709 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Holder, or

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

then, in any such case, (a) the Company by a Board Resolution may remove the Trustee, or (b) subject to Section 614, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Note for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Notes 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 Notes, the Company, by a Board Resolution, shall within 60 days appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Notes and shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 711. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Notes shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes 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 711, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Notes and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Notes shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 711, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Note for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Notes.

The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee and each appointment of a successor Trustee to all Holders of Notes in the manner provided in Section 206. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

Section 711. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor .

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

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

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

Section 712. 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 such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article,

 

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without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Notes shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Notes so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Notes.

Section 713. 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 Notes, the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against the Company or any such other obligor.

Section 714. Appointment of Authenticating Agent .

The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Notes issued upon original issue and upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof or pursuant to Section 406, and Notes so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Wherever reference is made in this Supplemental Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Notes by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

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

An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall give notice of such appointment in the manner provided in Section 206 to all Holders of Notes with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.

The Trustee agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section, and the Trustee shall be entitled to be reimbursed for such payments, subject to the provisions of Section 707.

 

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If an appointment with respect to one or more series is made pursuant to this Section, the Notes may have endorsed thereon, in addition to the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternative certificate of authentication in the following form:

This is one of the 7.00% Senior Notes due 2021 referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee

By:     
  As Authenticating Agent
By:     
  Authorized Officer

ARTICLE EIGHT

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

Section 801. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders .

The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee

(1) semi-annually, not later than each Interest Payment Date for the Notes in each year, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of Notes as of the preceding Regular Record Date, and

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

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

Section 802. 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 801 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 801 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

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

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

Section 803. Reports by Trustee .

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

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

 

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Section 804. Reports by Company .

The Company shall comply with the provisions of Trust Indenture Act Section 314(a).

ARTICLE NINE

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

Section 901. Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms .

The Company will not (i) consolidate or merge with or into another Person (regardless of whether the Company is the surviving corporation), convert into another form of entity or continue in another jurisdiction; or (ii), directly or indirectly, sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to another Person, unless:

(1) either: (a) the Company is the surviving corporation; or (b) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger or resulting from such conversion (if other than the Company) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition has been made is a corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia;

(2) the Person formed by or surviving any such conversion, consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or the Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition has been made assumes all the obligations of the Company under the Notes and the Indenture pursuant to agreements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;

(3) immediately after such transaction or transactions, no Default or Event of Default exists;

(4) the Company or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition has been made, would (on the date of such transaction after giving pro forma effect thereto and to any related financing transactions as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period) either:

(a) be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of Section 1111 of this Supplemental Indenture; or

(b) have a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio that is not less than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately before such transaction; and

(5) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with this Article Nine;

provided that, unless such Person is a corporation, a corporate co-issuer of the Notes will be added to the Indenture by a supplemental indenture reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee.

For purposes of this Section 901, the sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of one or more Subsidiaries of the Company, which properties or assets, if held by the Company instead of such Subsidiaries, would constitute all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company on a consolidated basis, shall be deemed to be the transfer of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company.

 

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The surviving entity will succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under the Indenture and the predecessor Company shall be discharged and released from all obligations under the Indenture and the Notes; provided, however, that the Company will not be released from the obligation to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the notes in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of the Company’s properties or assets in a transaction that is subject to, and that complies with the provisions of, this Section 901.

Notwithstanding the restrictions described in Section 901(4), any Restricted Subsidiary may consolidate with, merge into or dispose of all or part of its properties or assets to the Company, the Company may merge into a Restricted Subsidiary for the purpose of reincorporating the Company in another jurisdiction, and any Restricted Subsidiary may consolidate with, merge into or dispose of all or part of its properties or assets to another Restricted Subsidiary.

Section 902. Successor Substituted .

Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company in a transaction that is subject to, and that complies with the provisions of, Section 901 of this Supplemental Indenture, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Company is merged or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for the Company (so that from and after the date of such consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the provisions of the Indenture referring to the “Company” shall refer instead to the successor Person and not to the Company), and may exercise every right and power of the Company under the Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein and the predecessor Company will be discharged and released from all obligations under the Indenture and the Notes; provided , however , that the predecessor Company shall not be relieved from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest on the Notes in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of the Company’s properties or assets in a transaction that is subject to, and that complies with the provisions of, Section 901.

ARTICLE TEN

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

Section 1001. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders .

Without the consent of any Holders, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may amend or supplement the Indenture, the Subsidiary Guarantees or the Notes to:

(1) cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake or defect or to correct or supplement any provision herein that may be inconsistent with any other provision herein;

(2) evidence the succession of another Person to the Company and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company herein and, to the extent applicable, to the Securities;

(3) provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes;

(4) add a Subsidiary Guarantee and cause any Person to become a Subsidiary Guarantor, and/or to evidence the succession of another Person to a Subsidiary Guarantor and the assumption by any such successor of the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor herein or to release a Subsidiary Guarantor in compliance with the Indenture;

(5) secure the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees;

(6) add to the covenants of the Company such further covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions as the Company shall consider to be appropriate for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions are to be for the benefit of less

 

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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 therein conferred upon the Company or to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a Default in any such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions an Event of Default permitting the enforcement of all or any of the several remedies provided in the Indenture as set forth therein; provided , that in respect of any such additional covenant, restriction, condition or provision, such supplemental indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after Default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other Defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such an Event of Default or may limit the right of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes to waive such an Event of Default;

(7) make any change to any provision of the Indenture that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of Securities or that does not adversely affect the rights or interests of any such Holder;

(8) provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Supplemental Indenture on the date of this Supplemental Indenture;

(9) add any additional Defaults or Events of Default in respect of all or any series of Securities;

(10) change or eliminate any of the provisions of the Indenture; provided that any such change or elimination shall become effective only when there is no Security Outstanding of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture that is entitled to the benefit of such provision;

(11) establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Section 201 and Section 301, including to reopen any series of any Securities as permitted under Section 301;

(12) evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Notes and to add to or change any of the provisions of the Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 711;

(13) conform the text of the Indenture (and/or any supplemental indenture) or the Notes or any Securities or the Guarantees issued thereunder to any provision of a description of such Securities appearing in a prospectus or prospectus supplement or an offering memorandum or offering circular pursuant to which such Securities were offered to the extent that such description was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of the Indenture or any Securities or Guarantees issued thereunder;

(14) add a corporate co-issuer in accordance with Section 901; or

(15) modify, eliminate or add to the provisions of the Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to effect the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, or under any similar federal statute subsequently enacted, and to add to the Indenture such other provisions as may be expressly required under the Trust Indenture Act.

Upon the request of the Company, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 1003, the Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company and any Subsidiary Guarantor in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained and to accept the conveyance, transfer, assignment, mortgage, charge or pledge of any property thereunder, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into any such supplemental indenture that affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Indenture or otherwise.

 

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Section 1002. Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders .

The Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture, the Securities Guarantees and the Securities with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series of Securities affected by such amendment or supplemental indenture, with each such series voting as a separate class (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Securities) and, subject to Section 608 and Section 613, any existing Default or Event of Default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture, the Securities Guarantees or the Securities may be waived with respect to each series of Securities with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series voting as a separate class (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Securities).

Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a Board Resolution authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee of the consent of the Holders of Securities as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 1003, the Trustee will join with the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors in the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture unless such amended or supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but will not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental Indenture.

It is not necessary for the consent of the Holders of Securities under this Section 1002 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, supplement or waiver, but it is sufficient if such consent approves the substance of the proposed amendment, supplement or waiver.

After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 1002 becomes effective, the Company shall send to the Holders of Securities affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Company to give such notice, or any defect therein, will not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental indenture or waiver.

Subject to Section 608 and Section 613, the application of or compliance with, either generally or in any particular instance, any provision of the Indenture, the Securities or the Securities Guarantees may be waived as to each series of Securities by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series. However, without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 1002 may not (with respect to any Securities held by a non-consenting Holder):

(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 602, or change any Place of Payment where, or the coin or currency in which, any Security or any premium or the interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date therefor);

(2) reduce the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such amendment, supplement or waiver;

(3) modify any of the provisions of Section 608 or Section 613, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of the Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of each Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby;

(4) waive a redemption payment with respect to any Security; provided , however , that any purchase or repurchase of Securities shall not be deemed a redemption of the Securities;

 

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(5) release any Subsidiary Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee or the Indenture, except in accordance with the terms of the Indenture (as supplemented by any supplemental indenture); or

(6) make any change in the foregoing amendment and waiver provisions.

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

Section 1003. Execution of Supplemental Indentures .

In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by the Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by the Indenture.

Section 1004. Effect of Supplemental Indentures .

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

Section 1005. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act .

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

Section 1006. Reference in Notes to Supplemental Indentures .

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

Section 1007. Effect of Consents .

Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Security is a continuing consent by the Holder of a Security and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Security. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.

ARTICLE ELEVEN

COVENANTS

Section 1101. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest .

The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Notes that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and any premium and interest on the Notes in accordance with the terms of the Notes and the Indenture. Principal, premium, if any, and interest will be considered paid on the date due if a Paying Agent, if other than the Company or a Subsidiary thereof, holds as of 11 a.m., New York City time, on the due date money deposited by the Company in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest then due.

 

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

Section 1102. Maintenance of Office or Agency .

The Company will maintain, in the City and State of New York and in any other Place of Payment, an office or agency where Notes may be presented or surrendered for payment, and it will maintain an office or agency in the United States where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and the Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands. The Company hereby irrevocably designates as a Place of Payment for the Notes the City and State of New York, and initially appoints Wells Fargo Bank National Association at its corporate trust office in the City of New York, which, at the date hereof, is located at 45 Broadway, 14 th Floor, New York, New York 10006, Attn: Corporate Trust Administratoin, as the Company’s office or agency in such city where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for payment.

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

Section 1103. Money for Notes Payments to Be Held in Trust .

If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent, it will, before 11 a.m., New York City time, on each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on any of the Notes, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal and any premium and interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for the Notes, it will, prior to 11 a.m., New York City time, on each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on the Notes, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such amount, such sum to be held as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

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

The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture 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.

 

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Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on the Notes 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 Notes shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided , however , that, if there are then outstanding any Notes not in global form, the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in a newspaper published in the English language, customarily published on each Business Day and of general circulation in the City and State of New York notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

Section 1104. Annual Compliance Certificate; Statement by Officers as to Default .

The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall deliver to the Trustee within 150 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the Issue Date an Officers’ Certificate signed by the principal executive officer, the principal accounting officer or the principal financial officer of each of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether each of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors has performed its obligations under the Indenture, and further stating whether or not the signers know of any Default or Event of Default that occurred during such period. If they do, the certificate shall describe such Default or Event of Default, its status and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

The Company shall, so long as any Note is Outstanding, deliver to the Trustee within five days after becoming aware of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, written notice (which need not be an Officers’ Certificate) setting forth the details of such Default or Event of Default, and what action the Company is taking or proposing to take with respect thereto.

Section 1105. Existence .

Subject to Article Nine, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect the existence, rights (charter and statutory) and franchises of the Company; provided , however , that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right or franchise if it shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company.

Section 1106. Reports .

Regardless of whether required by the rules and regulations of the SEC, so long as any Notes are Outstanding, the Company will file with the SEC for public availability, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations (unless the SEC will not accept such a filing, in which case the Company will comply with the requirements described in the next following paragraph of this Section 1106):

(1) all quarterly and annual reports that would be required to be filed with the SEC on Forms 10-Q and 10-K under the Exchange Act if the Company were required to file such reports; and

(2) all current reports that would be required to be filed with the SEC on Form 8-K under the Exchange Act if the Company were required to file such reports.

 

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All such reports will be prepared in all material respects in accordance with all of the rules and regulations applicable to such reports. Each annual report on Form 10-K will include a report on the Company’s consolidated financial statements by the Company’s certified independent accountants.

If, at any time, the Company is no longer subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act for any reason, the Company will nevertheless continue filing the reports specified in the first paragraph of this Section 1106 with the SEC within the time periods specified in the first paragraph of this Section 1106 unless the SEC will not accept such a filing. The Company will 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 the Company’s filings for any reason, the Company will post the reports referred to in the first paragraph of this Section 1106 on its website within the time periods that would apply if the Company were required to file those reports with the SEC.

If the Company has designated any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries, then the quarterly and annual financial information required by the preceding paragraphs of this Section 1106 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.

In the event any direct or indirect parent company of the Company becomes a guarantor of the Notes, the Company may satisfy its obligations in this Section 1106 with respect to financial information relating to the Company by furnishing financial information relating to such parent company; provided that the same is accompanied by consolidating information that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to such parent, on the one hand, and the information relating to the Company and its Subsidiaries on a standalone basis, on the other hand.

The availability of the foregoing materials on the SEC’s website or on a freely accessible page on the Company’s website shall be deemed to satisfy the foregoing delivery obligations.

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

Section 1107. Payment of Taxes .

The Company shall pay, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to pay, prior to delinquency, any taxes, assessments, and governmental levies except such as are contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings or where the failure to effect such payment is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes.

Section 1108. [ Reserved ].

Section 1109. [ Reserved ].

Section 1110. Repurchase of Notes Upon a Change of Control .

If a Change of Control occurs, each Holder of Notes will have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000) of that Holder’s Notes pursuant to an offer (a “ Change of Control Offer ”) on the terms set forth in this Section 1110. In the Change of Control Offer, the Company will offer a payment in cash (the “ Change of Control Payment ”) equal to not less than 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes repurchased to the date of purchase (the “ Change of Control Payment Date ”), subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date. Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Company will send a notice to each Holder describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control and stating:

 

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(1) that the Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 1110 and that all Notes tendered will be accepted for payment;

(2) the purchase price and the Change of Control Payment Date, which shall be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is sent;

(3) that any Note not tendered will continue to accrue interest;

(4) that, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Change of Control Payment, all Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer will cease to accrue interest after the Change of Control Payment Date;

(5) that Holders electing to have any Notes purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required to surrender the Notes, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” attached to the Notes completed, or transfer by book-entry transfer, to the Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date;

(6) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the Paying Agent receives, not later than the close of business on the second Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of Notes delivered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have the Notes purchased; and

(7) that Holders whose Notes are being purchased only in part will be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered (or transferred by book-entry transfer), which unpurchased portion must be equal to $2,000 in principal amount or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000.

The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes as a result of a Change of Control. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with Section 1110, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under Section 1110 by virtue of such compliance.

On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company will, to the extent lawful:

(1) accept for payment all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;

(2) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered; and

(3) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions of Notes being purchased by the Company.

The Paying Agent will promptly mail or wire transfer to each Holder of Notes properly tendered the Change of Control Payment for such Notes (or, if all the Notes are then in global form, make such payment through the facilities of the Depositary), and the Trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes

 

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surrendered, if any; provided that each such new Note will be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. Any Note so accepted for payment will cease to accrue interest on and after the Change of Control Payment Date unless the Company defaults in making the Change of Control Payment.

The Company will publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Payment Date.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 1110, the Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if (1) a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the price, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Section 1110 applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under the Change of Control Offer or (2) notice of redemption has been given pursuant to paragraph 5 of the Notes unless and until there is a default in payment of the applicable redemption price.

A Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, and conditioned upon the occurrence of such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time of making the Change of Control Offer. Notes repurchased by the Company pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will have the status of Notes issued but not Outstanding or will be retired and cancelled, at the Company’s option. Notes purchased by a third party pursuant to the sixth paragraph of this Section 1110 will have the status of Notes issued and Outstanding.

In the event that Holders of at least 90% of the aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes accept a Change of Control Offer and the Company (or any third party making such Change of Control Offer, in lieu of the Company, as described in the sixth paragraph of this Section 1110) purchases all of the Notes held by such Holders, the Company will have the right, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, given not more than 30 days following a Change of Control Payment Date, to redeem all, but not less than all, of the Notes that remain Outstanding at a Redemption Price equal to the Change of Control Payment plus, to the extent not included in the Change of Control Payment, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes that remain Outstanding, to the Redemption Date (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

Section 1111. Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock .

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly create, incur, issue, assume, Guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise, with respect to (collectively, “ incur ”; with “ incurrence ” having a correlative meaning) any Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt), and the Company will not issue any Disqualified Stock and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to issue any preferred stock; provided , however , that the Company may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) and issue Disqualified Stock, and Subsidiary Guarantors may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) and issue preferred stock, if (i) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company’s most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock or preferred stock is issued, as the case may be, would have been at least 2.25 to 1.0, determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been incurred or the Disqualified Stock or preferred stock had been issued, as the case may be, at the beginning of such four-quarter period and (ii) no Default would occur as a consequence of, and no Event of Default would be continuing following, the incurrence of the Indebtedness or the transactions relating to such incurrence, including any related application of the proceeds thereof.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the preceding paragraph of this Section 1111 will not prohibit the incurrence or issuance of any of the following items of Indebtedness or the issuance of any Disqualified Stock or preferred stock described in clauses (5) and (7) of this paragraph (collectively, “ Permitted Debt ”):

(1) the incurrence by the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness under Credit Facilities in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding under this clause (1) (with letters of credit being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the maximum potential liability of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries thereunder) not to exceed the greater of (a) $500.0 million and (b) the sum of $200.0 million plus an amount equal to 35% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company, determined as of the date of the incurrence of such Indebtedness after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence and the application of the proceeds therefrom;

 

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(2) the incurrence by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Existing Indebtedness;

(3) the incurrence by the Company of Indebtedness represented by the Notes to be issued on the Issue Date and by any Subsidiary Guarantor of the Subsidiary Guarantees;

(4) the incurrence by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness represented by Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings or purchase money obligations, in each case, incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or cost of design, construction, installation, improvement, deployment, refurbishment or modification of property, plant or equipment or furniture, fixtures and equipment, in each case, used in the business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to extend, renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease, discharge or otherwise retire for value any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (4), not to exceed the greater of (a) $25.0 million and (b) 2% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company, determined as of the date of the incurrence of such Indebtedness;

(5) the incurrence or issuance by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to extend, renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease, discharge or otherwise retire for value any Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness) or Disqualified Stock of the Company, or Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness) or preferred stock of any Restricted Subsidiary, in each case that was permitted by the Indenture to be incurred or issued under the first paragraph of this Section 1111 or clause (2), (3), (4), (10), (14) or (16) of this paragraph or this clause (5);

(6) the incurrence by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary; provided , however , that (a) if the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor is the obligor on such Indebtedness and the payee is not the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor, such Indebtedness must be expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all obligations then due with respect to the Notes, in the case of the Company, or the Subsidiary Guarantee, in the case of a Subsidiary Guarantor; and (b)(i) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such Indebtedness being held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person that is not either the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary will be deemed, in each case, to constitute an incurrence of such Indebtedness by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, that was not permitted by this clause (6);

(7) the issuance by any Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or to any Restricted Subsidiary of any preferred stock; provided , however , that:

(a) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such preferred stock being held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary; and

(b) any sale or other transfer of any such preferred stock to a Person that is not either the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, will be deemed, in each case, to constitute an issuance of such preferred stock by such Restricted Subsidiary that was not permitted by this clause (7);

(8) the incurrence of obligations of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Hedging Obligations, in each case entered into for the non-speculative purpose of limiting risks that arise in business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

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(9) the Guarantee by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor of Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary that was permitted to be incurred by another provision of this Section 1111; provided that if the Indebtedness being Guaranteed is subordinated to or pari passu with the Notes, then the Guarantee shall be subordinated or pari passu , as applicable, to the same extent as the Indebtedness Guaranteed;

(10) the incurrence by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness;

(11) the incurrence by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds, so long as such Indebtedness is covered within five Business Days;

(12) the incurrence by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness consisting of the financing of insurance premiums in customary amounts consistent with the operations and business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(13) the incurrence by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness constituting reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit; provided that upon the drawing of such letters of credit, such obligations are reimbursed within 30 days following such drawing;

(14) the incurrence by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness arising from Guarantees of Indebtedness of joint ventures at any time outstanding not to exceed the greater of (a) $35.0 million and (b) 4% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company, in each case, determined as of the date of incurrence of such Indebtedness after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence and the application of proceeds thereof;

(15) the incurrence of Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price, earn-outs or similar obligations, in each case incurred or assumed in connection with the disposition or acquisition of any business, assets or a Subsidiary in accordance with this Indenture, other than guarantees of Indebtedness incurred or assumed by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition; and

(16) the incurrence by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount that, when taken together with all other Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on the date of such incurrence (other than Indebtedness permitted by clauses (1) through (15) above or the first paragraph of this Section 1111) and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to extend, renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease, discharge or otherwise retire for value any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (16) does not exceed the greater of (a) $50.0 million and (b) 5% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company, determined as of the date of the incurrence of such Indebtedness after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence and the application of the proceeds therefrom.

The Company will not incur, and will not permit any Subsidiary Guarantor to incur, any Indebtedness (including Permitted Debt) that is contractually subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor unless such Indebtedness is also contractually subordinated in right of payment to the Notes and the applicable Subsidiary Guarantee, on substantially identical terms; provided , however , that no Indebtedness will be deemed to be contractually subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Company solely by virtue of being unsecured or by virtue of being secured on a first or junior Lien basis.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 1111, (a) in the event that an item of proposed Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Debt described in clauses (1) through (16) of the second paragraph of this Section 1111, or is entitled to be incurred or issued pursuant to the first paragraph of Section 1111, the Company will be permitted to divide and

 

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classify such item, in whole or in part, on the date of its incurrence or issuance, or later divide and reclassify all or a portion of such item, in any manner that complies with this Section 1111 and (b) all Indebtedness outstanding on the Issue Date or committed to on or prior to the Issue Date, in each case under the Senior Credit Agreement shall be deemed incurred on the Issue Date under clause (1) of the second paragraph of this Section 1111. The accrual of interest, the accretion or amortization of original issue discount, the payment of interest on any Indebtedness in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, the reclassification of preferred stock as Indebtedness due to a change in accounting principles, fluctuations in the termination value of Hedging Obligations and the payment of dividends on Disqualified Stock or preferred stock in the form of additional Disqualified Stock or preferred stock of the same class will be deemed not to be an incurrence of Indebtedness or an issuance of Disqualified Stock or preferred stock for purposes of this Section 1111; provided , in each such case, that the amount of any such accrual, accretion or payment is included in Fixed Charges of the Company as accrued. The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date shall be (a) the accreted value thereof in the case of any Indebtedness issued with original issue discount and (b) the principal amount or liquidation preference thereof, in the case of any other Indebtedness. If obligations in respect of letters of credit are incurred pursuant to a Credit Facility and are being treated as incurred pursuant to clause (1) of the second paragraph of this Section 1111 and the letters of credit relate to other Indebtedness, then such other Indebtedness shall not be included.

For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar-denominated restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness, the U.S. dollar-equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was incurred, in the case of term Indebtedness, or first committed, in the case of revolving credit Indebtedness; provided that if such Indebtedness is incurred to refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such refinancing would cause the applicable U.S. dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such U.S. dollar-denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 1111, the maximum amount of Indebtedness that the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may incur pursuant to this Section 1111 shall not be deemed to be exceeded solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies. The principal amount of any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refinance other Indebtedness, if incurred in a different currency from the Indebtedness being refinanced, shall be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of such refinancing.

Section 1112. Restricted Payments .

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

(1) declare or pay any dividend or make any other payment or distribution on account of the Company’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s Equity Interests (including, without limitation, any payment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary) or to the direct or indirect holders of the Company’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s Equity Interests in their capacity as such (other than dividends or distributions payable in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company and other than dividends or distributions payable to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary);

(2) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value (including, without limitation, any such purchase, redemption, acquisition or retirement made in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company) any Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent company of the Company (other than any Equity Interests owned by any Restricted Subsidiary);

(3) make any payment on or with respect to, or purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Subordinated Debt, except a payment of interest or principal at the Stated Maturity thereof (excluding (a) any intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or (b) the purchase or other acquisition of Subordinated Debt acquired 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 or other acquisition); or

 

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(4) make any Restricted Investment;

(all such payments and other actions set forth in clauses (1) through (4) above being collectively referred to as “ Restricted Payments ”), unless, at the time of and after giving effect to such Restricted Payment:

(1) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur as a consequence of such Restricted Payment;

(2) the Company would, at the time of such Restricted Payment and after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Restricted Payment had been made at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, have been permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of Section 1111; and

(3) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries since the Issue Date (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9) and (13) of the next succeeding paragraph of this Section 1112), is equal to or less than the sum, without duplication, of:

(a) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Company for the period (taken as one accounting period) from April 1, 2013 to the end of the Company’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment (or, if such Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, less 100% of such deficit); plus

(b) 100% of (i)(A) the aggregate net cash proceeds and (B) the Fair Market Value of (x) marketable securities (other than marketable securities of the Company or an Affiliate of the Company), (y) Capital Stock of a Person (other than the Company or an Affiliate of the Company) engaged primarily in any Related Business and (z) other assets used or useful in any Related Business, in each case received by the Company since the Issue Date as a contribution to its common equity capital or from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or from the issue or sale of convertible or exchangeable Disqualified Stock or convertible or exchangeable debt securities of the Company since the Issue Date that have been converted into or exchanged for such Equity Interests (other than Equity Interests (or Disqualified Stock or debt securities) sold to a Subsidiary of the Company), (ii) with respect to Indebtedness that is incurred on or after the Issue Date, the amount by which such Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary is reduced on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet upon the conversion or exchange after the Issue Date of any such Indebtedness into or for Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock), and (iii) the aggregate net cash proceeds, if any, received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary upon any conversion or exchange described in clause (i) or (ii) above; plus

(c) with respect to Restricted Investments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date, an amount equal to the sum, without duplication, of (i) the net reduction in such Restricted Investments in any Person resulting from (A) repayments of loans or advances, or other transfers of assets, in each case to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, (B) other repurchases, repayments or redemptions of such Restricted Investments, (C) the sale of any such Restricted Investment to a purchaser other than the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company or (D) the release of any Guarantee (except to the extent any amounts are paid under such Guarantee) that constituted a Restricted Investment plus (ii) with respect to any Unrestricted Subsidiary designated as such after Issue Date that is redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date, the lesser of (A) the Fair Market Value of the Company’s Investment in such Subsidiary held by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation and (B) the aggregate amount of Investments made by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in such Subsidiary upon or after the designation of such Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary and prior to the redesignation of such Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary; plus

 

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(d) 100% of any dividends received by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date from an Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than to the extent such Investment constituted a Permitted Investment or a Restricted Payment made pursuant to clause (13) of the second paragraph of this Section 1112), to the extent such dividends were not otherwise included in the Consolidated Net Income of the Company for such period; plus

(e) any amount that previously qualified as a Restricted Investment made after the Issue Date on account of any guarantee entered into by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, to the extent that such guarantee has not been called upon and the obligation arising thereunder no longer exists.

The preceding paragraph of this Section 1112 will not prohibit:

(1) the payment of any dividend or the consummation of an irrevocable redemption within 60 days after the date of declaration of the dividend or giving of notice of the redemption if, at the date of declaration or notice, such dividend or redemption would have complied with the provisions of the indenture (assuming in the case of a redemption payment, the giving of such notice would have been deemed a Restricted Payment at such time and such deemed Restricted Payment would have been permitted at such time);

(2) the making of any Restricted Payment in exchange for, or out of the net cash proceeds from the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company) of, Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock and other than Equity Interests issued or sold to an employee stock ownership plan, option plan or similar trust to the extent such sale to an employee stock ownership plan, option plan or similar trust is financed by loans from or Guaranteed by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary unless such loans have been repaid with cash on or prior to the date of determination) or from the substantially concurrent contribution of common equity capital to the Company; provided that the amount of any such net cash proceeds that are utilized for any such Restricted Payment will be excluded from clause (3) (b) of the immediately preceding paragraph of this Section 1112 and clause (7) of this paragraph of Section 1112;

(3) the purchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of Subordinated Debt (including the payment of any required premium and any fees and expenses incurred in connection with such purchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement) with the net cash proceeds from a substantially concurrent incurrence of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness;

(4) repurchases or other acquisitions for value of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon the vesting, exercise or exchange of equity compensation (including without limitation restricted stock awards or stock options, warrants or other convertible securities or phantom stock), if such Equity Interests represents a portion or all of the purchase, exercise or exchange price thereof or made in lieu of withholding taxes in connection with any such vesting, exercise or exchange;

(5) payments to fund the purchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value by the Company of fractional Equity Interests arising out of stock dividends, splits or combinations, business combinations or other transactions permitted by the Indenture;

(6) as long as no Default has occurred and is continuing or would be caused thereby, the purchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Equity Interests of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary held by any of the Company’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s current or former directors or employees; provided that the aggregate price paid for all such purchased, redeemed, acquired or retired Equity Interests may not exceed the sum of (a) $5.0 million, in any fiscal year (with unused amounts in any fiscal year to be carried over to the next succeeding fiscal year), plus (b) the aggregate amount of cash proceeds received by the Company from the sale of the Company’s Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) to any such directors or employees that occurs after the Issue Date; provided that the amount of such cash proceeds utilized for any such purchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement will be excluded from clause (3)(b) the immediately preceding paragraph of this Section 1112 and clause (2) of this paragraph plus (c) the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date;

 

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(7) as long as no Default has occurred and is continuing or would be caused thereby, the declaration and payment of regularly scheduled or accrued dividends to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Company or any class or series of preferred stock of any Restricted Subsidiary issued on or after the Issue Date in accordance with the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of Section 1111;

(8) the payment of any dividend (or, in the case of any partnership or limited liability company, any similar distribution) by a Restricted Subsidiary to the holders of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of such Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such dividend or similar distribution is paid to all holders of such Equity Interests on a pro rata basis based on their respective holdings of such Equity Interests;

(9) purchases of Subordinated Debt at a purchase price not greater than (a) 101% of the principal amount of such Subordinated Debt and accrued and unpaid interest thereon in the event of a Change of Control or (b) 100% of the principal amount of such Subordinated Debt and accrued and unpaid interest thereon in the event of an Asset Sale in connection with any change of control offer or asset sale offer required by the terms of such Subordinated Debt, but only if:

(a) in the case of a Change of Control, the Company has first complied or is simultaneously complying with and fully satisfied its obligations under Section 1110; or

(b) in the case of an Asset Sale, the Company has complied with and fully satisfied its obligations under Section 1115;

(10) in the case of a Change of Control, the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition for value of Equity Interests of the Company held by any future, present or former employee, or director, of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to the 2007 Plan, but only if, the Company has first complied with and fully satisfied its obligations pursuant to Section 1110; provided that all such repurchases, retirement or other acquisitions pursuant to this clause (11) will not exceed the greater of (a) 5% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company and (b) $50.0 million;

(11) payments or distributions to dissenting stockholders pursuant to applicable law in connection with a merger, consolidation or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company that complies with Article Nine;

(12) redemptions for nominal value of securities issued to stockholders of the Company in connection with any rights offering; and

(13) other Restricted Payments since the Issue Date in an aggregate amount at any time outstanding not to exceed $35.0 million.

The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) shall be the Fair Market Value, on the date of such Restricted Payment, of the Restricted Investment proposed to be made or the asset(s) or securities proposed to be paid, transferred or issued by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to such Restricted Payment, except the Fair Market Value of any non-cash dividend made within 60 days after the date of declaration shall be determined as of such date. The Fair Market Value of any cash Restricted Payment shall be its face amount, and the Fair Market Value of any non-cash Restricted Payment shall be determined in accordance with the definition of that term.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 1112, if a Restricted Payment meets the criteria of more than one of the types of Restricted Payments described in clauses (1) through (13) above, the Company, in its sole discretion, may order and classify and subsequently re-order and re-classify, such Restricted Payment in any manner in compliance with this Section 1112.

 

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In computing Consolidated Net Income under this Section 1112, (1) the Company shall use audited financial statements for the portions of the relevant period for which audited financial statements are available on the date of determination and unaudited financial statements and other current financial data based on the books and records of the Company for the remaining portion of such period and (2) the Company shall be permitted to rely in good faith on the financial statements and other financial data derived from the books and records of the Company that are available on the date of determination.

Section 1113. Limitation on Liens .

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur or permit to exist any Lien (the “ Initial Lien ”), other than Permitted Liens, upon any of its property or assets (including Capital Stock and Indebtedness of any Subsidiaries of the Company and including any income or profits from such property or assets), whether owned on the Issue Date or thereafter acquired, which Lien secures any Subordinated Debt or other Indebtedness, unless:

(1) in the case of Liens securing Subordinated Debt of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor, the Notes or Subsidiary Guarantee, as applicable, are secured by a Lien on such property or assets on a senior basis to the Subordinated Debt so secured with the same priority as the Notes or such Subsidiary Guarantee, as applicable, has to such Subordinated Debt until such time as such Subordinated Debt is no longer so secured by a Lien; and

(2) in the case of Liens securing other Indebtedness of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor, the Notes or Subsidiary Guarantees, as applicable, are secured by a Lien on such property or assets on an equal and ratable basis with the other Indebtedness so secured until such time as such other Indebtedness is no longer so secured by a Lien.

Any Lien securing the Notes or Subsidiary Guarantees created pursuant to the preceding paragraph of this Section 1113 shall provide by its terms that such Lien shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon the unconditional release and discharge of the Initial Lien.

Section 1114. Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries .

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or permit to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to:

(1) pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, or pay any Indebtedness owed to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(2) make loans or advances to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; or

(3) sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary.

However, the preceding restrictions in the first paragraph of this Section 1114 will not apply to encumbrances or restrictions existing under, by reason of or with respect to:

(1) the Senior Credit Agreement, any Existing Indebtedness, Capital Stock or any other agreements or instruments, in each case, in effect on the Issue Date and any amendments, restatements, modifications, renewals, extensions, supplements, increases, refundings, replacements or refinancings thereof; provided that the encumbrances and restrictions in any such amendments, restatements, modifications, renewals, extensions, supplements, increases, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the reasonable good faith judgment of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those contained in the applicable agreements or instruments as in effect on the Issue Date;

 

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(2) the Indenture, the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees;

(3) applicable law, rule, regulation, order, approval, permit or similar restriction;

(4) any instrument governing Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary as in effect at the time of such acquisition (except to the extent such Indebtedness or Capital Stock was incurred in connection with or in contemplation of such acquisition), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person, or the property or assets of the Person, so acquired and any amendments, restatements, modifications, renewals, extensions, supplements, increases, refundings, replacements or refinancings thereof; provided , that the encumbrances and restrictions in any such amendments, restatements, modifications, renewals, extensions, supplements, increases, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the reasonable good faith judgment of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those in effect on the date of the acquisition; provided , further , that, in the case of Indebtedness, such Indebtedness was permitted by the terms of the Indenture to be incurred;

(5) customary non-assignment provisions in contracts, leases, licenses and sublicenses (including, without limitation, licenses of intellectual property) and provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing a leasehold interest (including leases governing leasehold interests or Farm-In Agreements or Farm-Out Agreements) relating to leasehold interests in oil and gas properties) of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(6) any agreement for the sale or other disposition of the Equity Interests in, or all or substantially all of the properties or assets of, a Restricted Subsidiary, that restricts distributions by the applicable Restricted Subsidiary pending the sale or other disposition;

(7) Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness; provided that the restrictions contained in the agreements governing such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness are not in the reasonable good faith judgment of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those contained in the agreements governing the Indebtedness being refinanced;

(8) Liens permitted to be incurred under the provisions of Section 1113 that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets subject to such Liens and the security documents relating thereto;

(9) the issuance of preferred stock by a Restricted Subsidiary or the payment of dividends thereon in accordance with the terms thereof; provided that issuance of such preferred stock is permitted pursuant to Section 1111 and the terms of such preferred stock do not expressly restrict the ability of a Restricted Subsidiary to pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock (other than requirements to pay dividends or liquidation preferences on such preferred stock prior to paying any dividends or making any other distributions on such other Capital Stock);

(10) other Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary permitted to be incurred pursuant to an agreement entered into subsequent to the Issue Date in accordance with Section 1111; provided that the provisions relating to such encumbrance or restriction contained in such Indebtedness are not materially less favorable to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in the reasonable good faith judgment of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, than the provisions contained in the Senior Credit Agreement or any other agreement described in clause (1) above as in effect on the Issue Date;

 

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(11) Indebtedness incurred or Capital Stock issued by any Restricted Subsidiary, provided that the restrictions contained in the agreements or instruments governing such Indebtedness or Capital Stock (a) apply only in the event of a payment default or a default with respect to a financial covenant in such agreement or instrument or (b) will not materially affect the Company’s ability to pay all principal, interest and premium, if any, on the Notes, in the reasonable good faith judgment of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company;

(12) Hedging Obligations permitted from time to time under the Indenture;

(13) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth or similar requirements imposed by customers, suppliers and landlords, or surety, insurance or bonding companies entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(14) customary restrictions on the disposition or distribution of assets or property in agreements entered into in the ordinary course of the oil and gas business of the types described in the definition of Permitted Business Investments;

(15) provisions limiting the disposition or distribution of assets or property in, or transfer of assets (including Capital Stock) in, joint venture agreements, asset sale agreements, sale-leaseback agreements, stock sale agreements, operating agreements, development agreements, area of mutual interest agreements and other agreements that are customary in the oil and gas business and other similar agreements entered into (i) in the ordinary course of business, or (ii) with the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors, which limitations are applicable only to the assets, property or Capital Stock that are the subject of such agreements;

(16) any agreement or other instrument of a Unrestricted Subsidiary that is designated a Restricted Subsidiary, in each case that is in existence at the time of such designation (but not created in contemplation of or in connection thereof); and

(17) Capital Lease Obligations, security agreements, mortgages, purchase money agreements or similar instruments 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.

Section 1115. Asset Sales .

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, consummate an Asset Sale unless:

(1) the Company (or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the Fair Market Value of the assets or Equity Interests issued or sold or otherwise disposed of; and

(2) at least 75% of the aggregate consideration received in respect of such Asset Sale and all other Asset Sales since the Issue Date by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents; provided that, for purposes of this provision, each of the following will be deemed to be cash:

(a) any liabilities, as shown on the Company’s most recent consolidated balance sheet, of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than contingent liabilities, Subordinated Debt and any obligations in respect of preferred stock) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets or Equity Interests pursuant to novation agreements (or other legal documentation with the same effect) that includes a full release of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from any and all liability therefor;

 

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(b) any securities, notes or other obligations received by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash within 180 days after the date of the Asset Sale, to the extent of the cash received in that conversion; and

(c) Additional Assets.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the 75% limitation referred to in clause (2) of the first paragraph of this Section 1115 shall be deemed satisfied with respect to any Asset Sale in which the cash or Cash Equivalents portion of the consideration received therefrom, determined in accordance with clause (2) of the first paragraph of this Section 1115 on an after-tax basis, is equal to or greater than what the after-tax proceeds would have been had such Asset Sale complied with the aforementioned 75% limitation.

Within 365 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale, the Company (or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) may apply such Net Proceeds, at its option:

(1) to repay, prepay, redeem or purchase (x) Indebtedness and other Obligations under a Credit Facility; provided that, in the case of any such action with respect to a revolving Credit Facility shall be accompanied by a reduction of the related commitments or facility amount, (y) any Indebtedness and other Obligations that were secured by the assets sold in such Asset Sale or (z) other pari passu Indebtedness and Obligations with respect thereto; provided , that in the case of this clause (z), the Company shall also equally and ratably reduce Indebtedness under the notes by making an offer (in accordance with the procedures set forth below for an Asset Sale) to all holders to purchase at a purchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, the pro rata principal amount of Notes;

(2) to invest in Additional Assets; or

(3) to make capital expenditures in respect of a Related Business of the Company or Restricted Subsidiary.

provided that the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries will be deemed to have complied with this paragraph if and to the extent that, within 365 days after the Asset Sale that generated the Net Proceeds, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary has entered into and not abandoned or rejected a binding agreement to consummate any such investment described in this paragraph with the good faith expectation that such Net Proceeds will be applied to satisfy such commitment within 180 days after the end of such 365-day period; provided , further , that if such commitment is later canceled or terminated before such Net Proceeds are applied or otherwise not applied within such 180 day period, then such Net Proceeds shall constitute “Excess Proceeds.”

However, pending application or investment of such Net Proceeds as provided in clauses (1) through (3) of the immediately preceding paragraph, such Net Proceeds may be applied to temporarily reduce revolving credit Indebtedness. An amount equal to any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not applied or invested as provided in clauses (1) through (3) above will constitute “Excess Proceeds.”

Within ten Business Days after the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $20.0 million, the Company will make an offer (an “ Asset Sale Offer ”) to all Holders of Notes and all holders of other Indebtedness that is pari passu with the Notes containing provisions similar to those set forth in this Section 1115 with respect to offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets, to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds. The offer price for the Notes in any Asset Sale Offer will be equal to 100% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase, and will be payable in cash. If any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may use those Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by the Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other pari passu Indebtedness tendered into such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Company will use the Excess Proceeds to purchase the Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness on a pro rata basis. Upon completion of each Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds will be reset at zero.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, the sale, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, will be governed by Sections 901 and/or 1110 of this Supplemental Indenture, as applicable, and not by this Section 1115.

The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with each repurchase of Notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with this Section 1115, or compliance with this Section 1115 would constitute a violation of any such laws or regulations, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section 1115 by virtue of such compliance.

In the event that, pursuant to this Section 1115, the Company is required to commence an Asset Sale Offer, it will follow the procedures specified below:

(1) The Asset Sale Offer shall be made to all Holders and all holders of other Indebtedness that is pari passu with the Notes containing provisions similar to those set forth in this Section 1115. The Asset Sale Offer will remain open for a period of at least 20 Business Days following its commencement and not more than 30 Business Days, except to the extent that a longer period is required by applicable law (the “ Offer Period ”). No later than three Business Days after the termination of the Offer Period (the “ Purchase Date ”), the Company will apply all Excess Proceeds (the “ Offer Amount ”) to the purchase of Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness (on a pro rata basis, if applicable) or, if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes and other Indebtedness tendered in response to the Asset Sale Offer. Payment for any Notes so purchased will be made in the same manner as interest payments are made.

(2) If the Purchase Date is on or after an interest record date and on or before the related Interest Payment Date, any accrued and unpaid interest will be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such record date, and no additional interest will be payable to Holders who tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer.

(3) Upon the commencement of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company will send a notice to the Trustee and each of the Holders. The notice will contain all instructions and materials necessary to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer. The notice, which will govern the terms of the Asset Sale Offer, will state:

(a) that the Asset Sale Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 1115 and the length of time the Asset Sale Offer will remain open;

(b) the Offer Amount, the purchase price and the Purchase Date;

(c) that any Note not tendered or accepted for payment will continue to accrue interest;

(d) that, unless the Company defaults in making such payment, any Note accepted for payment pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer will cease to accrue interest after the Purchase Date;

(e) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer may elect to have Notes purchased in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000 only;

(f) that Holders electing to have Notes purchased pursuant to any Asset Sale Offer will be required to surrender the Notes, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” attached to the Notes completed, or transfer by bookentry transfer, to the Company, a depositary, if appointed by the Company, or a Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the Purchase Date;

 

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(g) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the Company, the depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, receives, not later than the expiration of the Offer Period, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Note the Holder delivered for purchase and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased;

(h) that, if the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other pari passu Indebtedness surrendered by Holders thereof exceeds the Offer Amount, the Company will select the Notes and other pari passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis based on the principal amount of Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness surrendered (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Company so that only Notes in denominations of $2,000, or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000, will be purchased); and

(i) that Holders whose Notes were purchased only in part will be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered (or transferred by book-entry transfer), which unpurchased portion must be equal to $2,000 in principal amount or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000.

(4) On or before the Purchase Date, the Company will, to the extent lawful, accept for payment, on a pro rata basis to the extent necessary, the Offer Amount of Notes or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer, or if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes tendered, and will deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Notes or portions thereof were accepted for payment by the Company in accordance with the terms of this Section 1115. The Company, the depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, will promptly (but in any case not later than five days after the Purchase Date) mail or deliver to each tendering Holder an amount equal to the purchase price of the Notes tendered by such Holder and accepted by the Company for purchase, and the Company will promptly issue a new Note, and the Trustee, upon written request from the Company, will authenticate and mail or deliver (or cause to be transferred by book entry) such new Note to such Holder, in a principal amount equal to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered. Any Note not so accepted shall be promptly mailed or delivered by the Company to the Holder thereof. The Company will publicly announce the results of the Asset Sale Offer on the Purchase Date.

Section 1116. Transactions with Affiliates .

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or Guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of the Company (each, an “ Affiliate Transaction ”) involving aggregate consideration to or from the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in excess of $1.0 million, unless:

(1) the Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are no less favorable to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with a Person that is not an Affiliate of the Company; and

(2) the Company delivers to the Trustee:

(a) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration to or from the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, in excess of $15.0 million an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions complies with this Section 1116; and

 

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(b) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration to or from the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, in excess of $30.0 million, a majority of the Disinterested Members of the Board of Directors (or, if there is only one Disinterested Member, such Disinterested Member) have determined that the criteria set forth in clause (1) above are satisfied with respect to such Affiliate Transaction(s) and have approved such Affiliate Transaction(s), as evidenced by a Board Resolution delivered to the Trustee and certified by an Officers’ Certificate as having been adopted by such Disinterested Member on behalf of the Board of Directors.

The following items will not be deemed to be Affiliate Transactions and, therefore, will not be subject to the provisions of the prior paragraph of this Section 1116:

(1) any employment, consulting, severance, termination or similar agreement or arrangement, stock option or stock ownership plan, employee benefit plan, officer or director compensation or indemnification agreement, restricted stock agreement, severance agreement or other compensation plan or arrangement entered into by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business and payments, awards, grants or issuances of securities pursuant thereto;

(2) transactions between or among the Company and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries and the issuance of Guarantees for the benefit of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;

(3) transactions with a Person (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary) that is an Affiliate of the Company solely because the Company owns, directly or through a Subsidiary, an Equity Interest in, or controls, such Person;

(4) fees and expenses and compensation paid to, and indemnification or insurance provided on behalf of, officers, directors or employees of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(5) any issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company to, or receipt of a capital contribution from, Affiliates of the Company;

(6) Restricted Payments that do not violate Section 1112 and any Permitted Investments;

(7) loans or advances to employees in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(8) advances to or reimbursements of employees for moving, entertainment and travel expenses, drawing accounts and similar expenditures in the ordinary course of business;

(9) the performance of obligations of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary under the terms of any written agreement to which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary was a party on the Issue Date, as these agreements may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time; provided , however , that any future amendment, modification or supplement entered into after the Issue Date will be permitted to the extent that its terms do not materially and adversely affect the rights of any Holders of the Notes (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company) as compared to the terms of the agreements in effect on the Issue Date;

(10) (a) guarantees of performance by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries of Unrestricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, except for Guarantees of Indebtedness in respect of borrowed money, and (b) pledges of Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries for the benefit of lenders of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(11) transactions between the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and any Person, a director of which is also a director of the Company or any direct or indirect parent company 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 abstains from voting as director of the Company or such direct or indirect parent company of the Company, as the case may be, on any matter involving such other Person;

 

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(12) (i) contracts for (A) drilling or other oil-field services or supplies, (B) the sale, storage, gathering or transport of hydrocarbons or (C) the lease or rental of office or storage space or (ii) transactions with customers, clients, suppliers, or purchasers or sellers of assets or services, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of the Indenture, provided that in the reasonable determination of the Board of Directors of the Company or the senior management of the Company, such transactions are on terms not materially less favorable to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that could reasonably be expected to be obtained in a comparable transaction at such time on an arm’s-length basis from a Person that is not an Affiliate of the Company; and

(13) any transaction with a joint venture or similar entity that would constitute an Affiliate Transaction solely because the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary owns, directly or indirectly, an Equity Interest in or otherwise controls such joint venture or similar entity.

Section 1117. Future Subsidiary Guarantees .

The Company will cause each Restricted Subsidiary that (x) Guarantees any Indebtedness or becomes an obligor under a Credit Facility, in either case in excess of a De Minimis Amount (other than a Foreign Subsidiary created or acquired by the Company or one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries), or (y) issues any preferred stock to become a Subsidiary Guarantor by executing and delivering a supplemental indenture, substantially in the form provided for in Annex C of this Supplemental Indenture, to the Trustee within 30 days of the date on which it incurred such Indebtedness or issued such preferred stock (in each case, referred to in clause (1) or (2) of this sentence). Such supplemental indenture shall be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel to the Trustee to the effect that such supplemental indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by that Restricted Subsidiary and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of such Subsidiary, enforceable in accordance with its terms (subject to customary exceptions).

Each Subsidiary Guarantee shall be released in accordance with Section 1604.

Section 1118. Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries .

The Board of Directors of the Company may designate any Restricted Subsidiary to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary if that designation would not cause a Default. If a Restricted Subsidiary is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the aggregate Fair Market Value of all outstanding Investments owned by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the Subsidiary designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be deemed to be an Investment made as of the time of the designation. That designation will only be permitted if the applicable Restricted Subsidiary meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary and if such Investment would be permitted at that time, either pursuant to (1) Section 1112 or (2) the definition of Permitted Investment.

Any designation of a Subsidiary of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a certified copy of a Board Resolution of the Company giving effect to such designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the preceding conditions and was permitted by Section 1112. If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the requirements of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary” set forth in Section 201 of this Supplemental Indenture, it will thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of the Indenture and any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary will be deemed to be incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary as of such date and, if such Indebtedness is not permitted to be incurred as of such date under Section 1111, the Company will be in Default of the covenant in Section 1111.

The Board of Directors of the Company may at any time designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such designation will be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of any outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary, and such designation will only be permitted if (1) such Indebtedness is permitted under Section 1111, calculated on a pro forma basis as if such designation had occurred at the beginning of the four-quarter reference period; and (2) no Default or Event of Default would be in existence following such designation.

 

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Section 1119. Termination of Certain Covenants .

From and after the time when (i) the Notes have Investment Grade Ratings from both Rating Agencies and (ii) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under the Indenture (the occurrence of the events described in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) being collectively referred to as a “ Covenant Termination Event ”), the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall not be subject to clause (4) of Section 901 and Sections 1111, 1112, 1114, 1115 and 1116 of this Supplemental Indenture. Upon the occurrence of a Covenant Termination Event, the amount of Excess Proceeds from Net Proceeds shall be set to zero under the Indenture.

ARTICLE TWELVE

REDEMPTION OF NOTES

Section 1201. Applicability of Article .

The Notes shall be redeemable at the election of the Company in accordance with their terms and in accordance with this Article Twelve.

Section 1202. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee .

In case of any redemption of less than all Notes, the Company shall, at least five Business Days prior to the giving of notice of such redemption (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee in writing of the Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed. In the case of any redemption of Notes (1) prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of the Notes or elsewhere in the Indenture or (2) pursuant to an election of the Company that is subject to a condition specified in the terms of the Notes or elsewhere in the Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee, prior to giving notice of such redemption, with an Officers’ Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction or condition.

Section 1203. Optional Redemption .

At its option, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, in principal amounts of $2,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, at any time or from time to time, at the applicable Redemption Prices determined as set forth in the form of Note attached as Annex A hereto, in accordance with the terms set forth in the Notes, and in accordance with this Article Twelve.

Section 1204. Selection by Trustee of Notes to Be Redeemed .

If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at any time, the Trustee will select the Notes to be redeemed among the Holders of the Notes on a pro rata basis (or, in the case of Global Notes, the Trustee will select the Notes for redemption based on DTC’s method that most nearly approximates a pro rata selection), unless otherwise required by law or applicable securities exchange requirements.

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Notes selected for redemption and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption, the principal amount at maturity thereof to be redeemed. No Notes in amounts of $2,000 or less shall be redeemed in part. Notes and portions of Notes selected shall be in amounts of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof; except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed, the entire Outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, even if less than $2,000 and/or a non-multiple of $1,000, shall be redeemed. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, provisions of the Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption.

 

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Section 1205. Notice of Redemption .

Subject to the final paragraph of this Section 1205, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a Redemption Date, the Company shall send a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address; provided , however , that (notwithstanding the foregoing) notices of redemption may be sent more than 60 days prior to a Redemption Date if such notice is issued in connection with a Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance of the Notes or the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

The notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed and shall state:

(1) the Redemption Date;

(2) the Redemption Price, or if not then ascertainable, the manner of calculation thereof;

(3) if any Note is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Note to be redeemed and that, after the Redemption Date upon surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the original Note shall be issued in the name of the Holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Note;

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

(5) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the Redemption Price and become due on the date fixed for redemption, unless the redemption is subject to a condition precedent that is not satisfied or waived;

(6) that, unless the Company defaults in making such redemption payment, interest, if any, on Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the Redemption Date;

(7) the paragraph of the Notes and/or Section of this Supplemental Indenture pursuant to which the Notes called for redemption are being redeemed;

(8) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP or CINS number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes; and

(9) any conditions that must be satisfied prior to the Company becoming obligated to consummate such redemption.

At the Company’s request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at the Company’s expense; provided , however , that the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee, at least five Business Days prior to sending of notice of the redemption (or such shorter period of time as may be acceptable to the Trustee), a Company Request that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the preceding paragraph.

Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Section 1205, notice of any redemption with the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings may be given prior to the completion of the related Equity Offering, and any such redemption or notice may at the Company’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to completion of the related Equity Offering.

Section 1206. Deposit of Redemption Price .

Prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1103) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on, all the Notes which are to be redeemed on that date.

 

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Section 1207. Notes Payable on Redemption Date .

Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Notes 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 or unless a condition specified in the notice of redemption is not satisfied) such Notes shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Notes for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Notes shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest to the Redemption Date; provided , however , that installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Notes, or one or more Predecessor Notes, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant record dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 407.

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

Section 1208. Notes Redeemed in Part .

Any Note 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 its attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Note without service charge, a new Note or Notes of like tenor, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Note so surrendered.

ARTICLE THIRTEEN

[INTENTIONALLY DELETED]

ARTICLE FOURTEEN

DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

Section 1401. Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance .

The Company may elect, at its option at any time, to have Section 1402 or Section 1403 applied to the Notes, upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article. Any such election shall be evidenced in a Board Resolution set forth in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee.

Section 1402. Defeasance and Discharge .

Upon the Company’s exercise of its option to have this Section applied to the Notes, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to such Notes as provided in this Section on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 1404 are satisfied (hereinafter called “ Defeasance ”). For this purpose, such Defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by such Notes and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Notes and the Indenture insofar as the Notes 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 Notes to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 1404 and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of and any premium and interest on such Notes when payments are due; (2) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Notes under Sections 404, 405, 406, 1102 and 1103 and its obligations under Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act; (3) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Company’s and the Subsidiary Guarantors’ obligations in connection therewith; and (4) this Article. If the Company exercises its defeasance option pursuant to this Section 1402, the Subsidiary Guarantees will terminate with respect to the Notes, and payment of the Notes may not be accelerated pursuant to Section 602 because of an Event of Default. Subject to compliance with this Article, the Company may exercise its option to have this Section applied to any Notes notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option to have Section 1403 applied to such Notes.

 

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Section 1403. Covenant Defeasance .

Upon the Company’s exercise of its option to have this Section applied to the Notes, (1) the Company shall be released from its obligations under Section 901(4), Section 1106, Sections 1110 through 1118, inclusive; (2) the occurrence of any event specified in Sections 601(3) (with respect only to the obligation under Section 901(4)), 601(4), 601(5), 601(6), 601(7), 601(9) (with respect only to Significant Subsidiaries) or 601(10) (with respect only to Subsidiaries), shall be deemed not to be or to result in an Event of Default and (3) the Subsidiary Guarantees shall be automatically released, in each case with respect to such Notes as provided in this Section on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 1404 are satisfied (hereinafter called “ Covenant Defeasance ”). For this purpose, such Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to such Notes, 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 Article or by reason of any reference in any such Section or Article to any other provision herein or in any other document, but the remainder of the Indenture and such Notes shall be unaffected thereby.

Section 1404. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance .

The following shall be the conditions to the application of Section 1402 or Section 1403 to any Notes:

(1) the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee (or another trustee that satisfies the requirements of and agrees to comply with the provisions of this Article Fourteen applicable to it), in trust, for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination of cash in U.S. dollars and non-callable Government Securities, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, nationally recognized appraisal firm, or nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants to pay the principal of, or interest and premium, if any, on the Outstanding Notes on the stated date for payment thereof or on the applicable Redemption Date, as the case may be, and the Company must specify whether the Notes are being defeased to such stated date for payment or to a particular Redemption Date;

(2) in the case of an election under Section 1402 hereof, the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that:

(a) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling; or

(b) since the Issue Date, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law,

in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel will confirm that, the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. 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;

(3) in the case of an election under Section 1403 hereof, the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

(4) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit or the grant of Liens securing such borrowing);

(5) such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance and the related deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound;

 

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(6) the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders over the other creditors of the Company with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any creditors of the Company or others;

(7) the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate, stating that all conditions precedent set forth in clauses (1) through (6) of this Section 1404 have been complied with; and

(8) the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel, stating that all conditions precedent set forth in clause (5) of this Section 1404 has been complied with.

Section 1405. Deposited Money and Government Securities to Be Held in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions .

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1103, all money and Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee or other qualifying trustee (solely for purposes of this Section and Section 1406, the Trustee and any such other trustee are referred to collectively as the “ Trustee ”) pursuant to Section 1404 in respect of any Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and the 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 Notes, of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal and any premium 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 Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 1404 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 Notes.

Anything in this Article to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 1404 with respect to any Notes which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 1404(1)), 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 Notes.

Section 1406. Reinstatement .

If the Trustee or any Paying Agent is unable to apply any money in accordance with this Article with respect to any Notes by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the obligations under the Indenture and such Notes from which the Company has been discharged or released pursuant to Section 1402 or 1403 shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article with respect to such Notes, until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all money held in trust pursuant to Section 1405 with respect to such Notes in accordance with this Article; provided , however , that if the Company makes any payment of principal of or any premium or interest on any such Note following such reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights (if any) of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money so held in trust.

ARTICLE FIFTEEN

[INTENTIONALLY DELETED]

 

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ARTICLE SIXTEEN

SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES

Section 1601. Unconditional Guarantee .

For value received, each of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby fully and unconditionally guarantees (the “ Subsidiary Guarantee ”) to the Holders and to the Trustee the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on the Notes and all other amounts due and payable under the Indenture and the Notes by the Company (collectively, the “ Obligations ”), when and as such principal, premium, if any, and interest shall become due and payable, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, according to the terms of the Notes and the Indenture, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 1603.

Failing payment when due of any amount guaranteed pursuant to its Subsidiary Guarantee, for whatever reason, each of the Subsidiary Guarantors will be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. Each Subsidiary Guarantee hereunder is intended to be a general, unsecured, senior obligation of each of the Subsidiary Guarantors and will rank pari passu in right of payment with all debt of such Subsidiary Guarantor that is not, by its terms, expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Subsidiary Guarantee. Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be full, unconditional and absolute, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes, the Subsidiary Guarantee of any other Subsidiary Guarantor or the Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of the Notes with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Company or any other Subsidiary Guarantor, or any action to enforce the same or any other circumstances which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of the Subsidiary Guarantors. Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby agrees that in the event of a default in payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, legal proceedings may be instituted by the Trustee on behalf of the Holders or, subject to Section 607, by the Holders, on the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture, directly against such Subsidiary Guarantor to enforce its Subsidiary Guarantee without first proceeding against the Company or any other Subsidiary Guarantor.

The obligations of each of the Subsidiary Guarantors under this Article shall be as aforesaid full and unconditional and shall not be impaired, modified, released or limited by any occurrence or condition whatsoever, including, without limitation, (1) any compromise, settlement, release, waiver, renewal, extension, indulgence or modification of, or any change in, any of the obligations and liabilities of the Company or any of the other Subsidiary Guarantors contained in the Notes or the Indenture, (2) any impairment, modification, release or limitation of the liability of the Company, any of the other Subsidiary Guarantors or any of their estates in bankruptcy, or any remedy for the enforcement thereof, resulting from the operation of any present or future provision of any applicable bankruptcy law, or other statute or from the decision of any court, (3) the assertion or exercise by the Company, any of the other Subsidiary Guarantors or the Trustee of any rights or remedies under the Notes or the Indenture or their delay in or failure to assert or exercise any such rights or remedies, (4) the assignment or the purported assignment of any property as security for the Notes, including all or any part of the rights of the Company or any of the other Subsidiary Guarantors under the Indenture, (5) the extension of the time for payment by the Company or any of the other Subsidiary Guarantors of any payments or other sums or any part thereof owing or payable under any of the terms and provisions of the Notes or the Indenture or of the time for performance by the Company or any of the other Subsidiary Guarantors of any other obligations under or arising out of any such terms and provisions or the extension or the renewal of any thereof, (6) the modification or amendment (whether material or otherwise) of any duty, agreement or obligation of the Company or any of the other Subsidiary Guarantors set forth in the Indenture, (7) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets, marshaling of assets and liabilities, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of or other similar proceeding affecting, the Company or any of the other Subsidiary Guarantors or any of their respective assets, or the disaffirmance of the Notes, the Subsidiary Guarantee or the Indenture in any such proceeding, (8) the release or discharge of the Company or any of the other Subsidiary Guarantors from the performance or observance of any agreement, covenant, term or condition contained in any of such instruments by operation of law, (9) the unenforceability of the Notes or the Indenture or (10) any other circumstances (other than payment in full or discharge of all amounts guaranteed pursuant to the Subsidiary Guarantees) which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge of a surety or guarantor.

 

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Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby (1) waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of the merger, insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors, and all demands whatsoever, (2) acknowledges that any agreement, instrument or document evidencing its Subsidiary Guarantee may be transferred and that the benefit of its obligations hereunder shall extend to each holder of any agreement, instrument or document evidencing the Subsidiary Guarantee without notice to it and (3) covenants that its Subsidiary Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the Subsidiary Guarantee. Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors further agrees that if at any time all or any part of any payment theretofore applied by any Person to its Subsidiary Guarantee is, or must be, rescinded or returned for any reason whatsoever, including without limitation, the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Subsidiary Guarantee shall, to the extent that such payment is or must be rescinded or returned, be deemed to have continued in existence notwithstanding such application, and the Subsidiary Guarantee shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, as though such application had not been made.

Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors shall be subrogated to all rights of the Holders and the Trustee against the Company in respect of any amounts paid by such Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture; provided , however , that such Subsidiary Guarantor, shall not be entitled to enforce or to receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until all of the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees shall have been paid in full or discharged.

Section 1602. Execution and Delivery of Notation of Subsidiary Guarantee .

To further evidence its Subsidiary Guarantee set forth in Section 1601, each of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby agrees that a notation relating to such Subsidiary Guarantee, substantially in the form attached hereto as Annex B, shall be endorsed on each Note entitled to the benefits of the Subsidiary Guarantee authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and executed by either manual or facsimile signature of an Officer of such Subsidiary Guarantor, or in the case of a Subsidiary Guarantor that is a limited partnership, an Officer of the general partner of each Subsidiary Guarantor. Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby agrees that the Subsidiary Guarantee set forth in Section 1601 shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Note a notation relating to its Subsidiary Guarantee. If any Officer of the Subsidiary Guarantor, or in the case of a Subsidiary Guarantor that is a limited partnership, any Officer of the general partner of the Subsidiary Guarantor, whose signature is on the Indenture or a Note no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates such Note or at any time thereafter, the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Note shall be valid nevertheless. The delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the Subsidiary Guarantees set forth in the Indenture on behalf of the Subsidiary Guarantors.

Section 1603. Limitation on Subsidiary Guarantors’ Liability .

Each Subsidiary Guarantor and by its acceptance hereof each Holder of a Note entitled to the benefits of the Subsidiary Guarantee hereby confirm that it is the intention of all such parties that the guarantee by such Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to its Subsidiary Guarantee not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of any Federal or State law. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Holders of a Note entitled to the benefits of the Subsidiary Guarantees and the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Subsidiary Guarantor and to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee, result in the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under the Subsidiary Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under Federal or State law.

Section 1604. Release of Subsidiary Guarantors from Guarantee .

Each Subsidiary Guarantor will be released and relieved of any obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee as set forth in the second paragraph of Section 1117, and the Subsidiary Guarantee of a Subsidiary Guarantor will also be released immediately:

(1) upon any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of such Subsidiary Guarantor (including by way of merger or consolidation) to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor, if the sale or other disposition at the date thereof does not violate Section 1115;

 

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(2) upon any sale or other disposition of the Capital Stock of such Subsidiary Guarantor to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor, if the sale or other disposition at the date thereof does not violate Section 1115 and such Subsidiary Guarantor no longer qualifies as a Subsidiary of the Company as a result of such disposition;

(3) upon designation of such Subsidiary Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with Section 1118;

(4) upon Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance in accordance with Article Fourteen or satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture in accordance with Article Five;

(5) upon the liquidation or dissolution of such Subsidiary Guarantor, provided that no Default or Event of Default occurs as a result thereof or shall have occurred and is continuing; or

(6) in the case of any Restricted Subsidiary which after the Issue Date is required to guarantee the notes pursuant to Section 1117, upon the release or discharge in full from its (x) guarantee of such Indebtedness or (y) obligation under such Credit Facility, in each case, which resulted in such Restricted Subsidiary’s obligation to guarantee the Notes.

The Trustee shall deliver an appropriate instrument evidencing any release of a Subsidiary Guarantor from the Subsidiary Guarantee upon receipt of a Company Request accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel the Subsidiary Guarantor is entitled to such release in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture.

Any Subsidiary Guarantor not released in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture will remain liable for the full amount of principal of (and premium, if any, on) and interest on the Notes as provided in this Article Sixteen, subject to the limitations of Section 1603.

Section 1605. Subsidiary Guarantor Contribution .

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

Section 1606. Subsidiary Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms .

A Subsidiary Guarantor may not sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets to, or consolidate with or merge with or into (regardless of whether such Subsidiary Guarantor is the surviving Person) another Person, other than the Company or another Subsidiary Guarantor, unless:

(1) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists; and

(2) either:

(a) (i) such Subsidiary Guarantor is the surviving Person or (ii) the Person acquiring the properties or assets in any such sale or other disposition or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Subsidiary Guarantor) assumes all the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under the Indenture (including its Subsidiary Guarantee), on the terms set forth herein, pursuant to a supplemental indenture satisfactory to the Trustee; or

 

86


(b) such transaction at the date thereof does not violate the provisions of Section 1115.

In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale or other disposition and upon the assumption by the successor Person, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor and the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants and conditions of the Indenture to be performed by the Subsidiary Guarantor, such successor Person will succeed to and be substituted for the Subsidiary Guarantor with the same effect as if it had been named herein as a Subsidiary Guarantor. Such successor Person thereupon may cause to be signed any or all of the Subsidiary Guarantee notations to be endorsed upon all of the Notes issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by such Subsidiary Guarantor and delivered to the Trustee. All the Subsidiary Guarantees so issued will in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under the Indenture as the Subsidiary Guarantees theretofore and thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of the Indenture as though all of such Subsidiary Guarantees had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.

 

 

The Trustee hereby accepts the trusts in the Indenture upon the terms and conditions herein set forth.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

87


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

 

APPROACH RESOURCES INC.
By:    /s/ J. Ross Craft
  Name: J. Ross Craft
  Title: President & Chief Executive Officer

 

APPROACH OIL & GAS INC.

APPROACH SERVICES, LLC

APPROACH OPERATING, LLC

APPROACH DELAWARE, LLC

APPROACH MIDSTREAM HOLDINGS LLC

By:    /s/ J. Ross Craft
  Name: J. Ross Craft
  Title: President & Chief Executive Officer

 

APPROACH RESOURCES I, LP
By:    Approach Operating, LLC, its general partner

 

By:    /s/ J. Ross Craft
  Name: J. Ross Craft
  Title: President & Chief Executive Officer

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION as Trustee
By:    /s/ Patrick T. Giordano
  Authorized Signatory

 

S-1


ANNEX A

CUSIP 03834A AA1

ISIN US03834AAA16

[Form of Face of Note]

[If a Global Note, insert the Global Note Legend]

APPROACH RESOURCES INC.

7.00% Senior Note due 2021

 

No.    $                    

Approach Resources Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the “ Company ,” which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or registered assigns, the principal sum of              Dollars on June 15, 2021 [f this Note is a Global Note , insert — or such greater or lesser amount as may be indicated on the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note attached hereto].

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

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed by its undersigned officer.

 

APPROACH RESOURCES INC.
By:     
 

Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication

This is one of the 7.00% Senior Notes due 2021 referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION as Trustee
By:     
  Authorized Signatory

Dated: June 11, 2013

 

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[Form of Reverse of Note]

7.00% Senior Note due 2021

Capitalized terms used herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated. To the extent that any of the terms and provisions of this Note conflict with the express provisions of the Indenture, the terms and provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

(1) INTEREST. Interest on the Notes will accrue at the rate of 7.00% per annum and will be payable semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15, beginning on December 15, 2013. Interest on the Notes will accrue from the date of original issuance or, if interest has already been paid, from the date it was most recently paid. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a Place of Payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue on such payment for the intervening period. The Company will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any applicable Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, at the interest rate specified in the Notes to the extent lawful; and it will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any applicable Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same rate to the extent lawful.

(2) METHOD OF PAYMENT. The Company will pay interest on the Notes (except Defaulted Interest) to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the June 1 or December 1 next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 407 of the Indenture with respect to Defaulted Interest. Holders must surrender Notes to the Paying Agent to collect payments of principal and premium, if any, due at Maturity. The Notes will be payable as to principal, premium, if any, and interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose in the City and State of New York, which, at the Issue Date, is the office of the Trustee located at 45 Broadway, 14 th Floor, New York, New York 1006, or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the Security Register; provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required with respect to principal of and interest and premium, if any, on, all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which will have provided wire transfer instructions to the Company or the Paying Agent. Such payment will be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

(3) PAYING AGENT AND SECURITY REGISTRAR. Initially, U.S. Bank National Association, the Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and Security Registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Security Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company may act in any such capacity.

(4) INDENTURE. The Notes are a series of Securities issued by the Company under an Indenture, dated as of June 11, 2013, by and among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors parties thereto and the Trustee (the “ Original Indenture ”), as amended and supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture thereto, dated as of June 11, 2013, by and among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors parties thereto and the Trustee (the “ Supplemental Indenture ”), and designated as the “7.00% Senior Notes due 2021.” The Original Indenture, as amended and supplemented by the Supplemental Indenture, and as further amended and supplemented as permitted thereunder, is referred to herein as the “ Indenture. ” The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act. The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a statement of such terms. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling. The Notes are unsecured obligations of the Company. The Indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of Notes or any other series of Securities that may be issued thereunder.

(5) OPTIONAL REDEMPTION. Except as described below, the Notes are not redeemable until June 15, 2016. On and after June 15, 2016, the Company may redeem all or a part of the Notes, from time to time, at the following Redemption Prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes redeemed to the applicable Redemption Date (subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date), if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on June 15 of the years indicated below:

 

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Year

   Redemption
Price
 

2016

     105.250

2017

     103.500

2018

     101.750

2019 and thereafter

     100.000

At any time or from time to time prior to June 15, 2016, the Company may also redeem all or a part of the Notes, at a Redemption Price equal to the Make-Whole Price, subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date.

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

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

(2) the sum of the present values of (a) the Redemption Price of such Notes at June 15, 2016 (as set forth above) and (b) the remaining scheduled payments of interest from the Redemption Date to June 15, 2016 (not including any portion of such payments of interest accrued as of the Redemption Date) discounted back to the Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate (as defined below) plus 50 basis points;

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

Comparable Treasury Issue ” means, with respect to Notes to be redeemed, the U.S. Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity most nearly equal to the period from the Redemption Date to June 15, 2016, 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 comparable maturity; provided that if such period is less than one year, then the U.S. Treasury security having a maturity of one year shall be used.

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

Independent Investment Banker ” means J.P. Morgan Securities LLC or one of its successors, or, if such firm or its successors, if any, as the case may be, are unwilling or unable to select the Comparable Treasury Issue, an independent investment banking institution of national standing appointed by the Company.

Reference Treasury Dealer ” means J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and a Primary Treasury Dealer designated by J.P. Morgan Securities, LLC and two additional primary Government Securities dealers in New York City (each a “ Primary Treasury Dealer ”) selected by the Company, and their respective successors; provided , however , that if any such firm or any such successor, as the case may be, shall cease to be a primary Government Securities dealer in New York City, the Company shall substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer.

Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations ” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by the 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 preceding such Redemption Date.

Treasury Rate ” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, (1) the yield, under the heading which represents the average for the immediately preceding week, appearing in the most recently published statistical release designated “H.15(159)” or any successor publication that is published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and that establishes yields on actively traded U.S. Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity under the caption “Treasury Constant Maturities,” for the maturity corresponding to the Comparable

 

A-4


Treasury Issue (if no maturity is within three months before or after the stated maturity, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue shall be determined, and the Treasury Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated from such yields on a straight-line basis, rounding to the nearest month) or (2) if such release (or any successor release) is not published during the week preceding the calculation date or does not contain such yields, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, calculated using a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such Redemption Date. The Treasury Rate shall be calculated on the third Business Day preceding the Redemption Date.

The notice of redemption with respect to the foregoing redemption need not set forth the Make-Whole Price but only the manner of calculation thereof. The Company will notify the Trustee of the Make-Whole Price with respect to any redemption promptly after the calculation, and the Trustee shall not be responsible for such calculation.

Prior to June 15, 2016, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the principal amount of the Notes, with all or a portion of the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings at a Redemption Price equal to 107.000% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes redeemed to the Redemption Date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date); provided that:

(1) at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes issued on the Issue Date (excluding Notes held by the Company and its Subsidiaries) remains Outstanding after each such redemption; and

(2) the redemption occurs within 180 days after the closing of such Equity Offering.

Notice of any redemption with the net cash proceeds of one or more an Equity Offerings may be given prior to the completion of the related Equity Offering, and any such redemption or notice may at the Company’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to completion of the related Equity Offering.

In the event that Holders of at least 90% of the aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes accept a Change of Control Offer and the Company (or any third party making such Change of Control Offer, in lieu of the Company, as described in the sixth paragraph of Section 1110 of the Supplemental Indenture) purchases all of the Notes held by such Holders, the Company will have the right, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, given not more than 30 days following a Change of Control Payment Date, to redeem all, but not less than all, of the Notes that remain Outstanding at a Redemption Price equal to the Change of Control Payment plus, to the extent not included in the Change of Control Payment, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes that remain Outstanding, to the date of redemption (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

Unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Redemption Price, interest, if any, will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption on the applicable Redemption Date.

(6) NOTE PURCHASES; MANDATORY REDEMPTION. The Company may at any time and from time to time purchase Notes in the open market and otherwise. The Company is not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes. However, under certain circumstances, the Company may be required to offer to purchase Notes pursuant to Section 1110 or 1115 of the Supplemental Indenture.

(7) REPURCHASE AT THE OPTION OF HOLDER.

(a) If there is a Change of Control, the Company will be required to make an offer (a “ Change of Control Offer ”) to each Holder to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess $2,000) of each Holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to not less than 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to the date of purchase, subject to the rights of

 

A-5


Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date (the “ Change of Control Payment ”). Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Company will send a notice to each Holder setting forth the procedures governing the Change of Control Offer as required by the Indenture.

(b) If the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company consummates any Asset Sales, within 10 Business Days of each date on which the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $20.0 million, the Company will make an offer (an “ Asset Sale Offer ”) to all Holders of Notes and all holders of other Indebtedness that is pari passu with the Notes containing provisions similar to those set forth in the Indenture with respect to offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets pursuant to Section 1115 of the Supplemental Indenture to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds. The offer price in any Asset Sale will be equal to 100% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture. If any Excess Proceeds remain unapplied after the consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company (or any Restricted Subsidiary) may use the Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by the Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other pari passu Indebtedness tendered into such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Company will use the Excess Proceeds to purchase the Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness on a pro rata basis. Holders of Notes that are the subject of an offer to purchase will receive notice of an Asset Sale Offer from the Company prior to any related purchase date and may elect to have such Notes purchased by completing the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” attached to the Notes.

(8) NOTICE OF REDEMPTION . Notice of redemption will sent at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address, except that redemption notices may be sent more than 60 days prior to a Redemption Date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture. Notes in denominations larger than $2,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $ 1,000, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder are to be redeemed.

(9) DENOMINATIONS , TRANSFER , EXCHANGE. The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Security Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents in connection with a transfer of its Notes, and the Company may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Company need not exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part. Also, the Company need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed or during the period between a record date and the corresponding Interest Payment Date.

(10) PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS. The registered Holder of a Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes.

(11) AMENDMENT , SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER. Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture and the Notes may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then Outstanding (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes), and any existing default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture or the Notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then Outstanding (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes). Without the consent of any Holder of a Note, the Indenture or the Notes may be amended or supplemented to, among other things, cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, or make any change that does not adversely affect the rights or interests of any such Holder.

(12) DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES. In the case of an Event of Default arising from events of bankruptcy or insolvency specified in clause (9) or (10) of Section 601 of the Supplemental Indenture, all Outstanding Notes will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice. If any other Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then Outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately by notice in writing to the Company specifying the Event of Default. Holders of the Notes may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided

 

A-6


in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then Outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the Notes notice of any Default or Event of Default (except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of principal, premium or interest) if and so long as the Trustee in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Notes. The Company is required to deliver to the Trustee annually an Officers’ Certificate regarding the compliance with the Indenture, and the Company is required, within five Business Days after becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default. The Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then Outstanding may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any past default and its consequences under the Indenture, except a default in the payment of interest or any premium on, or the principal of, the Notes and except as provided in Section 613(2) of the Supplemental Indenture. The Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then Outstanding Notes will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee with respect to the Notes. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the Indenture, or that may involve the Trustee in personal liability, and may take any other action it deems proper that is not inconsistent with any such direction received from Holders of Notes.

(13) TRUSTEE DEALINGS WITH COMPANY. The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.

(14) NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS. No director, officer, employee, incorporator, stockholder, member, manager or partner of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor under the Notes, the Indenture or the Subsidiary Guarantees or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

(15) AUTHENTICATION. This Note will not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.

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

(17) CUSIP NUMBERS. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP and CINS numbers to be printed on the Notes, and the Trustee may use CUSIP and CINS numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption, and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

( 18 ) GOVERNING LAW. THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE AND ENFORCE THE INDENTURE AND THIS NOTE.

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

Approach Resources Inc.

One Ridgmar Centre

6500 West Freeway, Suite 800

Fort Worth, Texas 76116

Attention: General Counsel

 

A-7


ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

 

(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to:       
   (Insert assignee’s legal name)

 

  

 

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

and irrevocably appoint     
to transfer this Note 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 face of this Note)

Signature Guarantee:*                                 

 

 

* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

A-8


Option of Holder to Elect Purchase

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 1110 or Section 1115 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box below:

¨   Section 1110              ¨   Section 1115

If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 1110 or Section 1115 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased:

$                          

Date:                         

 

Your Signature:     
  (Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)

 

Tax Identification No.:     
 

Signature Guarantee:*                                 

 

 

* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

A-9


SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE*

The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for other Notes have been made:

 

Date of Exchange

 

Amount of decrease in
Principal Amount of

this Global Note

 

Amount of increase in Principal
Amount of this Global Note

 

Principal Amount of this Global
Note following such decrease
(or increase)

 

Signature of authorized
signatory of Trustee or
Custodian

 

 

* This schedule should be included only if the Note is issued in global form.

 

A-10


ANNEX B

NOTATION OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEE

Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors (which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture (as defined below)), has fully and unconditionally guaranteed, to the extent set forth in Article Sixteen of the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of June 11, 2013, by and among Approach Resources Inc., as issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors and Wells Fargo Bank National Association, as Trustee (the “ Supplemental Indenture ”) to the Indenture, dated as of June 11, 2013 among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee (the “ Base Indenture ” and as supplemented by the Supplemental Indenture, the “ Indenture ”), and subject to the provisions in the Indenture, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on the Notes and all other amounts due and payable under the Indenture and the Notes by the Company.

The obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors to the Holders of Notes and to the Trustee pursuant to the Subsidiary Guarantee and the Indenture are expressly set forth in Article Sixteen of the Supplemental Indenture and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for the precise terms of the Subsidiary Guarantee and the conditions upon which it may be released.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Subsidiary Guarantors has caused this notation to be duly executed.

 

[Name of Subsidiary Guarantor(s)]
By:     
  Name:
  Title:

 

B-1


ANNEX C

FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

TO BE DELIVERED BY FUTURE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “ Supplemental Indenture ”), dated as of             , 20__, among [Name of Future Subsidiary Guarantor] (the “ New Subsidiary Guarantor ”), a subsidiary of Approach Resources Inc., a Delaware corporation [or its permitted successor] (the “ Company ”), the existing Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined in the Indenture referred to herein), the Company, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee under the Indenture referred to herein (the “ Trustee ”). The New Subsidiary Guarantor and the existing Subsidiary Guarantors are sometimes referred to collectively herein as the “ Subsidiary Guarantors, ” or individually as a “ Subsidiary Guarantor.

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, the Company and the existing Subsidiary Guarantors have heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture, dated as of June 11, 2013, and a First Supplemental Indenture (herein so called) dated as of June 11, 2013 relating to the 7.00% Senior Notes due 2021 (the “ Securities ”) of the Company;

WHEREAS, Section 1117 of the First Supplemental Indenture obligates the Company to cause certain Restricted Subsidiaries to become Subsidiary Guarantors by executing a supplemental indenture as provided in such Section; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 1001 of the First Supplemental Indenture, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture to amend or supplement the Indenture without the consent of any Holder;

NOW THEREFORE, to comply with the provisions of the First Supplemental Indenture and in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the New Subsidiary Guarantor, the other Subsidiary Guarantors, the Company and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities as follows:

1. C APITALIZED T ERMS . Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the First Supplemental Indenture.

2. A GREEMENT TO G UARANTEE . The New Subsidiary Guarantor hereby agrees, jointly and severally, with all other Subsidiary Guarantors, to fully and unconditionally Guarantee to each Holder and to the Trustee the Obligations, to the extent set forth in Article Sixteen of the First Supplemental Indenture and subject to the provisions thereof. The obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors to the Holders of Securities and to the Trustee pursuant to the Subsidiary Guarantees and the Indenture are expressly set forth in Article Sixteen of the First Supplemental Indenture and reference is hereby made to such Article for the precise terms of the Subsidiary Guarantees.

3. N EW Y ORK L AW TO G OVERN . THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE AND ENFORCE THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE.

4. C OUNTERPARTS . The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.

This Supplemental Indenture may be executed in multiple counterparts which, when taken together, shall constitute one instrument.

5. E FFECT OF H EADINGS . The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

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6. T HE T RUSTEE . Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no duties, responsibilities or liabilities are assumed, or shall be construed to be assumed, by the Trustee by reason of this Supplemental Indenture. This Supplemental Indenture is executed and accepted by the Trustee subject to all the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture with the same force and effect as if those terms and conditions were repeated at length herein and made applicable to the Trustee with respect hereto.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank. Signature Page Follows.]

 

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

Dated:                  , 20__

 

[NEW SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR]
By:     
  Name:
  Title:

 

[OTHER SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS]
By:     
  Name:
  Title:

 

APPROACH RESOURCES INC.
By:     
  Name:
  Title:

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By:     
  Authorized Signatory

 

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Exhibit 5.1

T HOMPSON & K NIGHT LLP

 

   
        

ATTORNEYS AND

COUNSELORS

       

AUSTIN

DALLAS

DETROIT

FORT WORTH

HOUSTON

LOS ANGELES

NEW YORK

SAN FRANCISCO

 

 

ALGIERS

LONDON

MONTERREY

PARIS

    

ONE ARTS PLAZA

1722 ROUTH STREET • SUITE 1500

DALLAS, TEXAS 75201-2533

(214) 969-1700

FAX (214) 969-1751

www.tklaw.com

     

June 11, 2013

Approach Resources Inc.

One Ridgmar Center

6500 West Freeway, Suite 800

Fort Worth, Texas 76116

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special counsel for Approach Resources Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), in connection with the issuance of $250 million aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 7.00% Senior Notes due 2021 (the “ Notes ”), to be sold in a registered public offering.

In this opinion letter:

(a) Each of the Company and Approach Oil & Gas Inc., a Delaware corporation, is referred to as an “ Approach Corporation ”.

(b) Each of Approach Delaware, LLC, Approach Operating, LLC, Approach Services, LLC and Approach Midstream Holdings LLC, each a Delaware limited liability company, is referred to as an “ Approach LLC ”.

(c) Approach Resources I, LP, a Texas limited partnership, is referred to as the “ Approach Partnership ”.

(d) The Approach Corporations (other than the Company), the Approach LLCs and the Approach Partnership are referred to as the “ Guarantors ”.

(e) The Approach Corporations, the Approach LLCs and the Approach Partnership are referred to herein as the “ Relevant Parties ”.

In connection with this opinion letter, we have examined original counterparts, copies of original counterparts or unexecuted forms of the following:

(a) The form of Senior Indenture to be dated June 11, 2013 (the “ Base Indenture ”) among the Company, the Guarantors and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”) setting forth the terms of the Notes.

(b) The form of Supplemental Indenture to be dated June 11, 2013 (together with the Base Indenture, the “ Indenture ”) among the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee.


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(c) The form of the Notes, including the notations of guarantee (the “ Guarantees ”) by the Guarantors attached thereto.

The documents identified in items (a), (b) and (c) above are referred to herein as the “ Transaction Documents ”.

We have also examined originals or copies of such other records of the Relevant Parties, certificates of public officials and of officers or other representatives of the Relevant Parties and agreements and other documents as we have deemed necessary, subject to the assumptions set forth below, as a basis for the opinions expressed below.

In rendering the opinions expressed below, we have assumed:

(i) The genuineness of all signatures.

(ii) The authenticity of the originals of the documents submitted to us.

(iii) The conformity to authentic originals of any documents submitted to us as copies.

(iv) As to matters of fact, the truthfulness of the representations made or otherwise incorporated in the Transaction and representations and statements made in certificates of public officials and officers or other representatives of the Company.

(v) That the Transaction Documents constitute valid, binding and enforceable obligations of each party thereto (other than the Relevant Parties).

(vi) That:

(A) the execution, delivery and performance by each Relevant Party of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party do not, except with respect to Applicable Laws, violate any law, rule or regulation applicable to it, or

(B) except as required by Applicable Laws, no authorization, approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory body or (to the extent the same is required under any agreement or document binding on it) any other third party is required for the due execution, delivery or performance by any Relevant Party of any Transaction Document to which it is a party or, if any such authorization, approval, action, notice or filing is required, it has been duly obtained, taken, given or made and is in full force and effect.

We have not independently established the validity of the foregoing assumptions.

As used herein, “ Applicable Laws ” means

 


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(a) for purposes of our opinions in paragraphs 1(a) and 2(a), Delaware General Corporation Law;

(b) for purpose of our opinions in paragraphs 1(b) and 2(b), the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act;

(c) for purposes of our opinions in paragraphs 1(c) and 2(c), the Texas Business Organizations Code; and

(d) for purposes of our opinions in paragraphs 3 and 4, the laws, rules and regulations of the State of New York;

in each case including all applicable provisions of the constitution of each such jurisdiction and reported judicial decisions interpretations thereof.

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications and limitations herein set forth, we are of the opinion that:

1.     (a) Each Approach Corporation is a corporation validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.

(b) Each Approach LLC is a limited liability company validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.

(c) The Approach Partnership is a limited partnership that is validly existing, and its authority to transact business is active, under the laws of the State of Texas.

2.     (a) Each Approach Corporation:

(i) has the corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform the Transaction Documents to which it is a party, and

(ii) has taken all corporate action necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of such Transaction Documents.

(b) Each Approach LLC:

(i) has the limited liability company power and authority to execute, deliver and perform the Transaction Documents to which it is a party, and

(ii) has taken all corporate, limited liability company or partnership action necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of such Transaction Documents.

(c) The Approach Partnership:

(i) has the partnership power and authority to execute, deliver and perform the Transaction Documents to which it is a party, and

 


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(ii) has taken all corporate, limited liability company or partnership action, as applicable, necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of such Transaction Documents.

3. Upon the due execution and delivery of the Notes by the Company and Guarantees by the Guarantors, the due authentication of the Notes by the Trustee in accordance with the Indenture and the due payment therefor:

(a) the Notes will be the valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, and

(b) the Guarantees will be the valid and binding obligations of the Guarantors enforceable against the Guarantors in accordance with their terms.

4. Upon the due execution and delivery by the Relevant Parties and the Trustee of the Indenture, the Indenture will constitute the valid and binding obligation of each Relevant Party, enforceable against such Relevant Party in accordance with its terms.

The opinion set forth above is subject to the following qualifications and exceptions:

(a) Our opinions are limited to Applicable Laws, and we do not express any opinion herein concerning any other laws.

(b) Our opinions are subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, receivership, moratorium or similar laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors generally.

(c) Our opinions are subject to general principles of equity exercisable in the discretion of a court (including without limitation obligations and standards of good faith, fair dealing, materiality and reasonableness and defenses relating to unconscionability or to impracticability or impossibility of performance).

(d) We express no opinion in paragraph 3 or 4 with respect to:

(i) The enforceability of indemnification provisions, or of waiver, release or exculpation provisions, contained in the Transaction Documents referred to therein to the extent that enforcement thereof is contrary to public policy regarding the indemnification against or release or exculpation of criminal violations, intentional harm, violations of securities laws or acts of gross negligence or willful misconduct or to the extent that the same relate to punitive damages.

(ii) Any waiver of defenses of a guarantor by a Guarantor in the Indenture.

This opinion letter is rendered to you in connection with the filing of the Registration Statement in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act. This opinion letter has been prepared, and is to be understood, in accordance with customary practice of lawyers who regularly give and lawyers who regularly advise recipients regarding opinions of this kind, is limited to the matters expressly stated herein and is

 


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provided solely for purposes of complying with the requirements of the Securities Act, and no opinions may be inferred or implied beyond the matters expressly stated herein. The opinions expressed herein are rendered and speak only as of the date hereof and we specifically disclaim any responsibility to update such opinions subsequent to the date hereof or to advise you of subsequent developments affecting such opinions.

We consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 and Section 11 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

Respectfully submitted,

/s/ Thompson & Knight LLP

WPW/JWH/JEB

RHS