UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 23, 2015

 

 

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charters)

 

 

 

Oklahoma   1-13726   73-1395733

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation or organization)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

6100 North Western Avenue

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

  73118
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (405) 848-8000

 

 

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.

As previously disclosed, on December 2, 2015, Chesapeake Energy Corporation (the “Company”) commenced private offers to eligible holders (“Holders”) to exchange (the “Exchange Offers”) up to $3.0 billion aggregate principal amount of newly issued 8.00% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2022 (the “Second Lien Notes”) for its outstanding (i) 6.25% euro-denominated senior notes due 2017, (ii) 6.5% senior notes due 2017, (iii) 7.25% senior notes due 2018, (iv) floating rate senior notes due 2019, (v) 6.625% senior notes due 2020, (vi) 6.875% senior notes due 2020, (vii) 6.125% senior notes due 2021, (viii) 5.375% senior notes due 2021, (ix) 4.875% senior notes due 2022 and (x) 5.75% senior notes due 2023 (the “Existing Notes”). The deadline for holders of Existing Notes to tender their Existing Notes in exchange for the early tender exchange consideration was 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on December 18, 2015 (the “Early Tender Deadline”). On December 23, 2015, the Company elected to accept and settle the Exchange Offers for all Existing Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn prior to the Early Tender Deadline. The settlement date for Existing Notes validly tendered after the Early Tender Deadline and accepted will occur promptly after the Exchange Offers expire at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on December 30, 2015, subject to all conditions to the Exchange Offers having been satisfied or waived by the Company.

On December 23, 2015, the Company and its domestic subsidiaries that are guarantors under the Company’s Credit Facility (as defined below) (the “Subsidiary Guarantors”) entered into an indenture (the “Indenture”) with Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee (in such capacity, the “Trustee”) and as collateral trustee (in such capacity, the “Collateral Trustee”). On that date, the Company issued approximately $2.4 billion aggregate principal amount of the Second Lien Notes in exchange for approximately $3.9 billion aggregate principal amount of Existing Notes and other senior notes of the Company in the Exchange Offers and other privately negotiated exchange transactions.

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

The information included in Item 2.03 of this Current Report is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01 of this Current Report.

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

Indenture and Second Lien Notes

The Second Lien Notes are the senior obligations of the Company and will be secured by second-priority liens on all of the Company’s and Subsidiary Guarantors’ assets that secure that certain Credit Agreement dated December 15, 2014, among the Company, MUFG Union Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, co-syndication agent, a swingline lender and a letter of credit issuer; Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as co-syndication agent, a swingline lender and a letter of credit issuer; and certain other lenders named therein, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time (the “Credit Facility”) (such assets, the “Collateral”), and be effectively subordinated, pursuant to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement described below, to any indebtedness of the Company secured on a priority basis to the Second Lien Notes, including indebtedness under the Credit Facility, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness.

The Second Lien Notes are unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, on a senior basis, by the Subsidiary Guarantors. Certain of the Subsidiary Guarantors will execute mortgages covering the Collateral (such Subsidiary Guarantors, the “Mortgagors”). The guarantees are the senior obligations of each of the Subsidiary Guarantors and, in the case of the Mortgagors, will be secured by second-priority liens on all of such Mortgagor’s Collateral, and in the case of a Mortgagor, be effectively subordinated, pursuant to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, to any indebtedness of the applicable Mortgagor secured on a priority basis to the guarantees, including indebtedness under the Credit Facility, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness.


Security for the Notes

The Collateral consists of certain of the Company’s and the Subsidiary Guarantors’ oil and natural gas properties and other personal property, which will be mortgaged during a period after the date of the Indenture as provided for in the Indenture.

Interest and Maturity

The Second Lien Notes will mature on December 15, 2022, and will bear interest at a rate of 8.00% per year, payable semiannually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning on June 15, 2016.

Optional Redemption

The Company has three optional redemption rights. First, prior to December 15, 2018, the Company may on one or more occasions use an amount of cash not greater than the net cash proceeds to the Company from one or more equity offerings (if any) to redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Second Lien Notes issued under the Indenture at a redemption price of 108.00% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), provided that:

 

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

 

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

Second, prior to December 15, 2018, the Company may redeem all or part of the Second Lien Notes upon not less than 30 or more than 60 days’ notice, at a redemption price equal to the sum of:

 

    100% of the principal amount thereof, plus

 

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

 

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

Third, on and after December 15, 2018, the Company has the option to redeem all or a part of the Second Lien Notes, upon not less than 30 or more than 60 days’ notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Second Lien Notes redeemed to the applicable redemption date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), if redeemed during the twelve-month period (or, in the case of the period beginning December 15, 2020, such twelve-month period and thereafter) beginning on December 15 of the years indicated below:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2018

     104.000 %

2019

     102.000 %

2020 and thereafter

     100.000

Mandatory Principal Payments

If the Second Lien Notes would otherwise constitute “applicable high yield discount obligations” (“AHYDOs”) within the meaning of Section 163(i)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, at the end of all accrual periods ending after the fifth anniversary of the initial issue date of the Second Lien Notes (each, an “AHYDO Payment Date”), but not including the final accrual period, the Company will be required to make pro-rata cash payments to all holders of each Second Lien Note then outstanding in an amount equal to the portion of such Second Lien Note’s principal required to be paid as of each AHYDO Payment Date to prevent such Second Lien Note from being treated as an AHYDO within the meaning of Section 163(i)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code. No partial payments, redemptions or repurchases of the Second Lien Notes prior to an AHYDO Payment Date pursuant to any other provision of the Indenture or the Second Lien Notes will alter the Company’s obligation to make such mandatory principal payment with respect to the Second Lien Notes that remain outstanding on an AHYDO Payment Date.


Certain Covenants

The Indenture contains covenants that, among other things, limit the ability of the Company and its restricted subsidiaries to: (i) create liens securing certain indebtedness; (ii) enter into certain sale-leaseback transactions; (iii) sell Collateral and use proceeds from such sales; and (iv) consolidate or merge with or into any person, or sell, convey, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to any person.

If on any date (a) either (1) both (x) the rating of the Index Debt (as defined in the Indenture) is (i) BB+ or higher from Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (“S&P”) and Ba2 or higher from Moody’s Investor’s Services, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or (ii) Ba1 or higher from Moody’s and BB or higher S&P and (y) the Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Facility, and all component definitions thereof are as defined therein, in each case, as in effect on the date of the Indenture) of the Company (as of the date of its most recent annual or quarterly financial statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) is less than or equal to 3.00:1.00 or (2) the rating of the Index Debt is (i) BBB- or higher from S&P and Ba1 or higher from Moody’s or (ii) Baa3 or higher from Moody’s and BB+ or higher from S&P (this clause (a) the “Collateral Termination Test”) or (b) upon consummation of a contemplated transaction, immediately after giving effect to such transaction and pro forma for such transaction, and any indebtedness incurred in connection therewith and the use of proceeds therefrom, the Company would be able to satisfy the Collateral Termination Test (including as evidenced by indicative ratings from S&P and Moody’s), on and after such date, in the case of clause (a), or on consummation of such transaction, in the case of clause (b), the Company and its restricted subsidiaries will not be subject to the covenant restricting the sale of Collateral and all liens on the Collateral will be released. As a result, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Indenture, after such time, the Second Lien Notes will be the senior unsecured obligations of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors.

Events of Default

Upon a continuing event of default, the trustee or the holders of 25% of the principal amount of the Second Lien Notes may declare the Second Lien Notes immediately due and payable, except that a default resulting from a bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization with respect to the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, will automatically cause all Second Lien Notes to become due and payable. Each of the following constitutes an “Event of Default” under the Indenture:

 

    default by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor in the payment of principal of or any premium on the Second Lien Notes when due and payable at maturity;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

subject to a cure provision;

 

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

 

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

 

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


    the occurrence of the following:

 

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

 

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

 

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

The information included in Item 1.01 of this Current Report is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03 of this Current Report.

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

Intercreditor Agreement

On December 23, 2015, MUFG Union Bank, N.A., as priority lien agent, and the Collateral Trustee, as second lien collateral trustee, entered into an intercreditor agreement, which was acknowledged and agreed to by the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors (the “Intercreditor Agreement”) to govern the relationship of holders of the Second Lien Notes and holders of any other obligations secured on an equal and ratable basis with the Second Lien Notes that the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor may incur in the future (if any), the lenders under the Credit Facility and holders of other priority lien obligations and holders of any junior lien debt that the Company may incur in the future (if any), with respect to the Collateral and certain other matters.

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

Collateral Trust Agreement

On December 23, 2015, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee, as representative of the holders of Second Lien Notes, and the Collateral Trustee entered into a collateral trust agreement (the “Collateral Trust Agreement”) pursuant to which the Collateral Trustee will receive, hold, administer, maintain, enforce and distribute the proceeds of all of its liens upon the Collateral for the benefit of the current and future holders of the Second Lien Notes and other obligations secured on an equal and ratable basis with the Second Lien Notes, if any.

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


Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

 

  4.1

   Indenture, dated as of December 23, 2015, among Chesapeake Energy Corporation, the guarantors named therein, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee and as collateral trustee.

10.1

   Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of December 23, 2015, by and among MUFG Union Bank, N.A., as priority lien agent, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as second lien collateral trustee, and acknowledged and agreed to by Chesapeake Energy Corporation and certain of its subsidiaries.

10.2

   Collateral Trust Agreement, dated as of December 23, 2015, by and among Chesapeake Energy Corporation, the guarantors named therein, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas as the representative of the holders of the Second Lien Notes and as collateral trustee.


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.

 

    Chesapeake Energy Corporation
Date: December 23, 2015     By:   /s/ James R. Webb
      James R. Webb
      Executive Vice President—General Counsel and Corporate Secretary


INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

EXHIBIT
NUMBER

  

DESCRIPTION

  4.1    Indenture, dated as of December 23, 2015, among Chesapeake Energy Corporation, the guarantors named therein, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee and as collateral trustee.
10.1    Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of December 23, 2015, by and among MUFG Union Bank, N.A., as priority lien agent, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as second lien collateral trustee, and acknowledged and agreed to by Chesapeake Energy Corporation and certain of its subsidiaries.
10.2    Collateral Trust Agreement, dated as of December 23, 2015, by and among Chesapeake Energy Corporation, the guarantors named therein, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas as the representative of the holders of the Second Lien Notes and as collateral trustee.

Exhibit 4.1

 

 

 

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION,

as Issuer,

THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO,

as Subsidiary Guarantors,

AND

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS,

as Trustee and Collateral Trustee

 

 

INDENTURE

DATED AS OF DECEMBER 23, 2015

 

 

8.00% SENIOR SECURED SECOND LIEN NOTES DUE 2022

 

 

 

 

 

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


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE ONE

  DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE      1   

SECTION 1.01

  DEFINITIONS      1   

SECTION 1.02

  OTHER DEFINITIONS      27   

SECTION 1.03

  [RESERVED]      28   

SECTION 1.04

  RULES OF CONSTRUCTION      28   

ARTICLE TWO

  THE SECURITIES      28   

SECTION 2.01

  FORM AND DATING      28   

SECTION 2.02

  FORM OF TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION      29   

SECTION 2.03

  AMOUNT UNLIMITED; ISSUANCE OF ADDITIONAL SECURITIES      29   

SECTION 2.04

  EXECUTION OF SECURITIES      29   

SECTION 2.05

  AUTHENTICATION AND DELIVERY OF SECURITIES      30   

SECTION 2.06

  REGISTRAR AND PAYING AGENT      30   

SECTION 2.07

  PAYING AGENT TO HOLD MONEY IN TRUST      31   

SECTION 2.08

  HOLDER LISTS      31   

SECTION 2.09

  TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE      31   

SECTION 2.10

  REPLACEMENT SECURITIES      32   

SECTION 2.11

  OUTSTANDING SECURITIES      33   

SECTION 2.12

  TEMPORARY SECURITIES      33   

SECTION 2.13

  SECURITIES ISSUABLE IN THE FORM OF A GLOBAL SECURITY      34   

SECTION 2.14

  CANCELLATION      35   

SECTION 2.15

  DEFAULTED INTEREST      36   

SECTION 2.16

  CUSIP NUMBERS AND ISINS      36   

ARTICLE THREE

  REDEMPTION      36   

SECTION 3.01

  OPTIONAL REDEMPTION      36   

SECTION 3.02

  NOTICE TO TRUSTEE      37   

SECTION 3.03

  SELECTION OF SECURITIES TO BE REDEEMED      37   

SECTION 3.04

  NOTICE OF REDEMPTION      38   

SECTION 3.05

  EFFECT OF NOTICE OF REDEMPTION      39   

SECTION 3.06

  DEPOSIT OF REDEMPTION PRICE      39   

SECTION 3.07

  SECURITIES REDEEMED IN PART      40   

SECTION 3.08

  NO MANDATORY REDEMPTION OR SINKING FUND      40   

ARTICLE FOUR

  COVENANTS      40   

SECTION 4.01

  PAYMENT OF SECURITIES      40   

SECTION 4.02

  SEC REPORTS      41   

SECTION 4.03

  COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATES      41   

SECTION 4.04

  MAINTENANCE OF OFFICE OR AGENCY      41   

SECTION 4.05

  CONTINUED EXISTENCE      42   

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

SECTION 4.06

  WAIVER OF STAY, EXTENSION OR USURY LAWS      42   

SECTION 4.07

  PAYMENT OF TAXES AND OTHER CLAIMS      42   

SECTION 4.08

  MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTIES AND INSURANCE      43   

SECTION 4.09

  LIMITATION ON LIENS SECURING FUNDED DEBT      43   

SECTION 4.10

  LIMITATION ON SALE/LEASEBACK TRANSACTIONS      44   

SECTION 4.11

  LIMITATION ON COLLATERAL SALES      45   

SECTION 4.12

  COLLATERAL AND COLLATERAL SALE COVENANT TERMINATION      49   

ARTICLE FIVE

  SUCCESSORS      50   

SECTION 5.01

  WHEN COMPANY MAY MERGE, ETC      50   

SECTION 5.02

  SUCCESSOR SUBSTITUTED      50   

ARTICLE SIX

  DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES      51   

SECTION 6.01

  EVENTS OF DEFAULT      51   

SECTION 6.02

  ACCELERATION      53   

SECTION 6.03

  OTHER REMEDIES      54   

SECTION 6.04

  WAIVER OF PAST DEFAULTS      54   

SECTION 6.05

  CONTROL BY MAJORITY      54   

SECTION 6.06

  LIMITATION ON REMEDIES      54   

SECTION 6.07

  RIGHTS OF HOLDERS TO RECEIVE PAYMENT      55   

SECTION 6.08

  COLLECTION SUIT BY TRUSTEE      55   

SECTION 6.09

  TRUSTEE MAY FILE PROOFS OF CLAIM      55   

SECTION 6.10

  PRIORITIES      55   

SECTION 6.11

  UNDERTAKING FOR COSTS      56   

ARTICLE SEVEN

  TRUSTEE      56   

SECTION 7.01

  DUTIES OF TRUSTEE      56   

SECTION 7.02

  RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE      57   

SECTION 7.03

  INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE      58   

SECTION 7.04

  TRUSTEE’S DISCLAIMER      58   

SECTION 7.05

  NOTICE OF DEFAULTS      59   

SECTION 7.06

  TIA AND LISTINGS      59   

SECTION 7.07

  COMPENSATION AND INDEMNITY      59   

SECTION 7.08

  REPLACEMENT OF TRUSTEE      60   

SECTION 7.09

  SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE BY MERGER, ETC      61   

SECTION 7.10

  ELIGIBILITY; DISQUALIFICATION      61   

SECTION 7.11

  PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST COMPANY      61   

ARTICLE EIGHT

  DEFEASANCE      61   

SECTION 8.01

  [RESERVED]      61   

SECTION 8.02

  OPTION TO EFFECT LEGAL DEFEASANCE OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE      61   

SECTION 8.03

  LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND DISCHARGE      61   

SECTION 8.04

  COVENANT DEFEASANCE      62   

SECTION 8.05

  CONDITIONS TO LEGAL OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE      62   

 

-iii-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

SECTION 8.06

  DEPOSITED MONEY AND U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES TO BE HELD IN TRUST; OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS      64   

SECTION 8.07

  REPAYMENT TO COMPANY      64   

SECTION 8.08

  REINSTATEMENT      64   

ARTICLE NINE

  AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS      65   

SECTION 9.01

  WITHOUT CONSENT OF HOLDERS      65   

SECTION 9.02

  WITH CONSENT OF HOLDERS      66   

SECTION 9.03

  [RESERVED]      68   

SECTION 9.04

  REVOCATION AND EFFECT OF CONSENTS      68   

SECTION 9.05

  NOTATION ON OR EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES      68   

SECTION 9.06

  TRUSTEE PROTECTED      69   

ARTICLE TEN

  GUARANTEES      69   

SECTION 10.01

  [RESERVED]      69   

SECTION 10.02

  UNCONDITIONAL GUARANTEE      69   

SECTION 10.03

  SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS MAY CONSOLIDATE, ETC., ON CERTAIN TERMS      70   

SECTION 10.04

  ADDITION OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS      70   

SECTION 10.05

  RELEASE OF A SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR      71   

SECTION 10.06

  LIMITATION OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR’S LIABILITY      71   

SECTION 10.07

  CONTRIBUTION      72   

SECTION 10.08

  SEVERABILITY      72   

ARTICLE ELEVEN

  COLLATERAL AND SECURITY      72   

SECTION 11.01

  SECURITY INTEREST      72   

SECTION 11.02

  POST-ISSUE DATE COLLATERAL REQUIREMENTS      73   

SECTION 11.03

  FURTHER ASSURANCES; LIENS ON ADDITIONAL PROPERTY      74   

SECTION 11.04

  INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT      76   

SECTION 11.05

  COLLATERAL TRUST AGREEMENT      76   

SECTION 11.06

  RELEASE OF LIENS IN RESPECT OF SECURITIES      76   

SECTION 11.07

  COLLATERAL TRUSTEE      77   

ARTICLE TWELVE

  SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE      78   

SECTION 12.01

  SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE      78   

SECTION 12.02

  APPLICATION OF TRUST MONEY      79   

ARTICLE THIRTEEN

  MISCELLANEOUS      80   

SECTION 13.01

  [RESERVED]      80   

SECTION 13.02

  NOTICES      80   

SECTION 13.03

  COMMUNICATION BY HOLDERS WITH OTHER HOLDERS      81   

SECTION 13.04

  CERTIFICATE AND OPINION AS TO CONDITIONS PRECEDENT      81   

SECTION 13.05

  STATEMENTS REQUIRED IN CERTIFICATE OR OPINION      82   

SECTION 13.06

  RULES BY TRUSTEE AND AGENTS      82   

SECTION 13.07

  LEGAL HOLIDAYS      82   

SECTION 13.08

  GOVERNING LAW      82   

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

SECTION 13.09

  NO ADVERSE INTERPRETATION OF OTHER AGREEMENTS      82   

SECTION 13.10

  NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS      83   

SECTION 13.11

  SUCCESSORS      83   

SECTION 13.12

  DUPLICATE ORIGINALS      83   

SECTION 13.13

  SEVERABILITY      83   

SECTION 13.14

  FORCE MAJEURE      83   

SECTION 13.15

  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL      83   

SECTION 13.16

  U.S.A. PATRIOT ACT      83   

SECTION 13.17

  EXECUTION IN COUNTERPARTS      84   

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

APPENDIX AND ANNEX

 

RULE 144A/REGULATION S APPENDIX

     App. - 1   

EXHIBIT 1 Form of Security

     Exhibit 1 to App. - 1   

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

 

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INDENTURE, dated as of December 23, 2015, among CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION, an Oklahoma corporation (the “ Company ”), the SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS party hereto and DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, a New York banking corporation, as Trustee (the “ Trustee ”) and Collateral Trustee (the “ Collateral Trustee ”).

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY AND THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS

WHEREAS, the Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor have duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of the Company’s 8.00% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2022 (herein called the “ Securities ”), and the guarantee by Subsidiary Guarantors of the Securities;

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

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

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

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

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

ARTICLE ONE

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

SECTION 1.01 Definitions .

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

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


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

 

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

 

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

“Additional Securities” means, subject to the Company’s compliance with Section 4.09, 8.00% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2022 issued from time to time after the Issue Date under the terms of this Indenture (other than Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities pursuant to Section 2.09, Section 2.10, Section 2.12, Section 2.13, Section 3.07, or Section 9.05 of this Indenture or Section 2.3 or Section 2.4 of the Appendix).

“Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” or “ACNTA” means (without duplication), as of the date of determination, (a) the sum of (i) discounted future net revenue from proved oil and gas reserves of the Company and its Subsidiaries calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines before any state or federal income taxes, as estimated by petroleum engineers (which may include the Company’s internal engineers) in a reserve report prepared as of the end of the Company’s most recently completed fiscal year, as increased by, as of the date of determination, the discounted future net revenue of (A) estimated proved oil and gas reserves of the Company and its Subsidiaries attributable to any acquisition consummated since the date of such year-end reserve report, and (B) estimated proved oil and gas reserves of the Company and its Subsidiaries attributable to extensions, discoveries and other additions and upward revisions of estimates of proved oil and gas reserves due to exploration, development or exploitation, production or other activities conducted or otherwise occurring since the date of such year-end reserve report, which, in the case of sub-clauses (A) and (B), would, in accordance with standard industry practice, result in such increases as calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in such year-end reserve report), and decreased by, as of the date of determination, the discounted future net revenue of (C) estimated proved oil and gas reserves of the Company and its Subsidiaries produced or disposed of since the date of such year-end reserve report and (D) reductions in the estimated oil and gas reserves of the Company and its Subsidiaries since the date of such year-end reserve report attributable to downward revisions of estimates of proved oil and gas reserves due to exploration, development or exploitation, production or other activities conducted or otherwise occurring since the date of such year-end reserve report which, in the case of sub-clauses (C) and (D), would, in accordance with standard industry practice, result in such decreases as calculated in accordance with SEC

 

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guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in such year-end reserve report); provided that, in the case of each of the determinations made pursuant to clauses (A) through (D), such increases and decreases may be estimated by the Company’s engineers, (ii) the capitalized costs that are attributable to oil and gas properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries to which no proved oil and gas reserves are attributable, based on the Company’s books and records as of a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest annual or quarterly financial statements, (iii) the Net Working Capital on a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest annual or quarterly financial statements and (iv) the greater of (I) the net book value on a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest annual or quarterly financial statements and (II) the appraised value, as estimated by independent appraisers, of other tangible assets (including Investments in unconsolidated Subsidiaries) of the Company and its Subsidiaries, as of a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest audited financial statements, minus (b) the sum of (i) minority interests, (ii) any gas balancing liabilities of the Company and its Subsidiaries reflected as a long-term liability in the Company’s latest annual or quarterly financial statements, (iii) the discounted future net revenue, calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in the Company’s year-end reserve report), attributable to reserves which are required to be delivered to third parties to fully satisfy the obligations of the Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to Volumetric Production Payments on the schedules specified with respect thereto, (iv) the discounted future net revenue, calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines, attributable to reserves subject to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments which, based on the estimates of production included in determining the discounted future net revenue specified in (a) (i) above (utilizing the same prices utilized in the Company’s year-end reserve report), would be necessary to fully satisfy the payment obligations of the Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments on the schedules specified with respect thereto and (v) the discounted future net revenue, calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the same prices utilized in the Company’s year-end reserve report), attributable to reserves subject to participation interests, overriding royalty interests or other interests of third parties, pursuant to participation, partnership, vendor financing or other agreements then in effect, or which otherwise are required to be delivered to third parties. If the Company changes its method of accounting from the full cost method to the successful efforts method or a similar method of accounting, Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets will continue to be calculated as if the Company were still using the full cost method of accounting.

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

 

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“Adjusted Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the yield, under the heading which represents the average for the immediately preceding week, appearing in the most recently published Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) or any successor publication which is published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or, if such release (or any successor release) is not published, any publicly available source of similar market data) and which establishes yields on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity under the caption “Treasury Constant Maturities,” for the maturity corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue (if no maturity is within three months before or after December 15, 2018, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue shall be determined and the Adjusted Treasury Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated from such yields on a straight line basis, rounding to the nearest month), calculated on the third Business Day immediately preceding the redemption date, plus 50 basis points.

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

“Agent” means any Registrar or Paying Agent.

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

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

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

“Borrowing Base” means the maximum amount in United States dollars determined or re-determined by the lenders under the Priority Lien Credit Agreement as the aggregate lending value to be ascribed to the Oil and Gas Properties of the Company and the

 

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Subsidiary Guarantors against which commercial banks are prepared to provide loans or other Indebtedness to the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors under the Priority Lien Credit Agreement, using their customary practices and standards for determining reserve-based loans and which are generally applied by commercial lenders to borrowers in the Oil and Gas Business, as determined semi-annually during each year and/or on such other occasions as may be provided for by the Priority Lien Credit Agreement, and which is based upon, inter alia, the review by such lenders of the Hydrocarbon reserves, royalty interests and assets and liabilities of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors.

“Business Day” means any day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading and which is not a Legal Holiday.

“Capital Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock, partnership or limited liability company interests or other equity securities (including, without limitation, beneficial interests in or other securities of a trust) and any and all warrants, options and rights with respect thereto (whether or not currently exercisable), including each class of common stock and preferred stock of such Person.

“Cash Equivalents” means any of the following:

 

  (a) U.S. dollars;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

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

“Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, S.A. or any successor securities clearing agency.

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

  (i) the unwinding of any Hedging Obligations;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

  (n) any Production Payments and Reserve Sales; provided that any such Production Payments and Reserve Sales, other than incentive compensation programs on terms that are reasonably customary in the Oil and Gas Business for geologists, geophysicists and other providers of technical services to the Company or a Subsidiary, shall have been created, incurred, issued, assumed or guaranteed in connection with the financing of, and within 180 days after the acquisition of, the property that is subject thereto;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

Comparable Treasury Issue ” means the United States Treasury security selected by the Company as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Securities from the redemption date to December 15, 2018 that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of a maturity most nearly equal to December 15, 2018.

“Corporate Trust Office” means the principal office of the Trustee at which at any time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at Trust and Agency Services, 60 Wall Street, 16 th Floor, New York, NY 10005, Attention: Corporates Team, Chesapeake Energy Corporation, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Company, or the principal corporate trust office of any successor Trustee (or such other address as such successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders of Securities and the Company).

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

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“Equity Interests” means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock; provided that any instrument evidencing Indebtedness convertible or exchangeable into Capital Stock, whether or not such debt securities include any right of participation with Capital Stock, shall not be deemed to be an Equity Interest unless and until such instrument is so converted or exchanged.

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

 

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

 

  (b) issuances to any Subsidiary.

“Euroclear” means the Euroclear System, or any successor securities clearing agency.

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

Excluded Property ” means (a) any property or assets to the extent the grant or maintenance of a Lien on such property is (i) prohibited by applicable law, (ii) could reasonably be expected to result in material adverse tax consequences to the Company or any Subsidiary, (iii) requires a consent not obtained of any governmental authority pursuant to applicable law or (iv) is prohibited by, or constitutes a breach or default under or results in the termination of or requires any consent not obtained under, any contract, license, agreement, instrument or other document evidencing or giving rise to such property, except to the extent that such term in such contract, license, agreement, instrument or other document or similar agreement providing for such prohibition, breach, default or termination or requiring such consent is ineffective under applicable law (including without limitation, pursuant to Section 9-406, 9-407, 9-408 or 9-409 of the applicable Uniform Commercial Code), (b) motor vehicles and other assets subject to certificates of title, (c) deposit accounts and securities accounts, (d) all real property not constituting Oil and Gas Properties, (e) property and assets owned by the Company or any Subsidiary that are subject of Permitted Liens described in clause (viii) of the definition thereof, (f) properties or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary that is or may be provided to providers of Cash Management Services, issuers of letters of credit and certain counterparties in respect of Hedging Obligations pursuant to the Priority Lien Documents rather than (I) generally to the holders of Priority Lien Obligations or (II) to the Priority Lien Agent for the benefit of the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations as a whole, (g) property or assets securing Indebtedness under a Credit Facility that does not constitute Priority Lien Debt and that is incurred after the Issue Date, but only to the extent that the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness at any time outstanding does not exceed the greater of (i) 3.5% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets and (ii) 10% of the Borrowing Base, in each case, at such time, and (h) any property as to which the Priority Lien Agent and the Company agree in writing that the costs of obtaining a security interest in, or Lien on, such property, or perfection thereof, are excessive in relation to the value to the parties secured thereby of the security interest afforded thereby.

 

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“Existing Unsecured Notes” means the Company’s outstanding (a) 3.25% Senior Notes due 2016, (b) 6.25% Euro-denominated Senior Notes due 2017, (c) 6.5% Senior Notes due 2017, (d) 7.25% Senior Notes due 2018, (e) Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2019, (f) 6.625% Senior Notes due 2020, (g) 6.875% Senior Notes due 2020, (h) 6.125% Senior Notes due 2021, (i) 5.375% Senior Notes due 2021, (j) 4.875% Senior Notes due 2022, (k) 5.75% Senior Notes due 2023, (l) 2.75% Contingent Convertible Senior Notes due 2035, (m) 2.5% Contingent Convertible Senior Notes due 2037 and (n) 2.25% Contingent Convertible Senior Notes due 2038.

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

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

“Funded Debt” means, with regard to any Person, all Indebtedness incurred, created, assumed or guaranteed by such Person, which matures, or is renewable by such Person to a date, more than one year after the date as of which Funded Debt is being determined.

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

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

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

 

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

Hedging Obligations ” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person incurred in the normal course of business and not for speculative purposes under Hedge Agreements.

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

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

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

“Indebtedness” means, without duplication, with respect to any Person, (a) all obligations of such Person, including those evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments, for the repayment of money borrowed (whether or not the recourse of the lender is to the whole of the assets of such Person or only to a portion thereof); (b) all liabilities of others of the kind described in the preceding clause (a) that such Person has guaranteed; and (c) Indebtedness (as otherwise defined in this definition) of another Person secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person, the amount of such obligations being deemed to be the lesser of (1) the full amount of such obligations so secured, and (2) the fair market value of such asset, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of such Person, which determination shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution. For the avoidance of doubt, neither Dollar-Denominated Production Payments nor Volumetric Production Payments shall be deemed to be Indebtedness.

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

Index Debt ” means the senior, unsecured, long-term indebtedness for borrowed money of the Company that is not guaranteed by any other Person (but may be guaranteed by one or more Subsidiary Guarantors) or subject to any other credit enhancement.

 

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“Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding” means:

 

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

 

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

 

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

“Intercreditor Agreement” means the Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, among the Collateral Trustee, the Trustee, the Priority Lien Agent, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the other parties from time to time party thereto, as it may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Indenture.

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

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

“Issue Date” means December 23, 2015.

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

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

 

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“Junior Lien Collateral” means all “collateral”, as defined in any Junior Lien Document, and any other assets of any Mortgagor now or at any time hereafter subject to Liens which secure, but only to the extent securing, any Junior Lien Obligations.

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

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

“Junior Lien Representative” means, in the case of any Series of Junior Lien Debt, the trustee, agent or representative of the holders of such Series of Junior Lien Debt who maintains the transfer register for such Series of Junior Lien Debt and is appointed as a representative of the Junior Lien Debt (for purposes related to the administration of the security documents) pursuant to the indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Junior Lien Debt.

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

 

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

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

Make-Whole Premium ” means, with respect to a Security, at any applicable redemption date, the excess of (i) the present value at such redemption date of (A) the redemption price of such Security on December 15, 2018 (such redemption price being described in paragraph 5(a) of the Security) exclusive of any accrued interest plus (B) all required remaining scheduled interest payments due on such Security through December 15, 2018 (but excluding accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date), computed using a discount rate equal to the Adjusted Treasury Rate, over (ii) the principal amount of such Security on such redemption date.

“Maturity Date” means December 15, 2022.

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

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

“Mortgagor” means the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, in each case executing and delivering a Mortgage.

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

“Net Cash Proceeds” means, with respect to Collateral Sales of any Person, cash proceeds actually received by the Company or any other Mortgagor (including, without limitation, any cash or Cash Equivalents received upon the sale or other disposition of

 

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Designated Non-Cash Consideration received in a Collateral Sale), net of the costs relating to such Collateral Sale and the sale of such Designated Non-Cash Consideration, including legal, accounting and investment banking fees, payments made in order to obtain a necessary consent or required by applicable law, and brokerage and sales commissions, all dividends, distributions or other payments required to be made to minority interest holders in the Mortgagor as a result of any such Collateral Sale by such Mortgagor, the amount of any purchase price or similar adjustment claimed by any Person to be owed by the Company or any other Mortgagor or otherwise estimated in good faith by the Company, until such time as such claim shall have been settled or otherwise finally resolved, or paid or payable by the Company or any other Mortgagor, in either case in respect of such Collateral Sale, any relocation expenses incurred as a result thereof, other fees and expenses, including title and recordation expenses, survey costs, title insurance premiums, the Company’s good faith estimate of Taxes paid and payable as a result thereof or any transactions occurring or deemed to occur to effectuate a payment (including, for the avoidance of doubt, withholding Taxes and Taxes imposed on the distribution of any such net proceeds) under this Indenture, amounts required to be applied to the repayment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on Indebtedness or amounts required to be applied to the repayments of Indebtedness secured by a Lien on such assets and amounts required to be paid in connection with the termination of Hedging Obligations related to Indebtedness repaid with such proceeds or hedging oil, natural gas and natural gas liquid production in notional volumes corresponding to the Oil and Gas Properties subject to such Collateral Sale, as a result of such transaction, and including any deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the Company or any other Mortgagor as a reserve in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities associated with the asset disposed of in such transaction and retained by the Company or any other Mortgagor after such sale or other disposition thereof, including pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations associated with such transaction, in each case, as determined reasonably and in good faith by a Financial Officer of the Company.

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

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

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

“Offering Memorandum” means the Company’s Offering Memorandum, dated December 2, 2015, relating to the offering of the Securities.

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

“OID Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.3(d)(iv) of the Appendix.

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

“Parity Lien Debt” means:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

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

 

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“Parity Lien Representative” means:

 

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

 

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

Permitted Asset Swap ” means the substantially concurrent (and in any event occurring within 180 days of each other) purchase and sale or exchange (including Section 1031 exchanges and reverse Section 1031 exchanges, in each case made in accordance with the Code) of Related Business Assets or a combination of Related Business Assets and cash and Cash Equivalents between the Company or any other Mortgagor and another Person; provided that the Fair Market Value of the properties or assets traded or exchanged by the Company or such Mortgagor (together with any cash or Cash Equivalents) is reasonably equivalent to the Fair Market Value of the properties or assets (together with any cash or Cash Equivalents) to be received by the Company or such Mortgagor; provided , further, that any cash or Cash Equivalents received must be applied in accordance with Section 4.11 ; provided , further that such Related Business Assets shall be secured for the benefits of all Holders as Collateral.

“Permitted Liens” means (i) Liens existing on the Issue Date (excluding any Liens securing the Securities); (ii) Liens securing Indebtedness under Credit Facilities; (iii) Liens securing any renewal, extension, substitution, refinancing or replacement of secured Indebtedness; provided , that such Liens extend to or cover only the property or assets then securing the Indebtedness being refinanced and that the Indebtedness being refinanced was not incurred under the Credit Facilities; (iv) Liens on, or related to, properties to secure all or part of the costs incurred in the ordinary course of business of exploration, drilling, development or operation thereof; (v) Liens upon (a) any property of or any interests in any Person existing at the time of acquisition of such property or interests by the Company or a Subsidiary, (b) any property of or interests in a Person existing at the time such Person is merged or consolidated with the Company or any Subsidiary or existing at the time of the sale or transfer of any such property of or interests in such Person to the Company or any Subsidiary, or (c) any property of or interests in a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided , that in each case such Lien has not been created in contemplation of such sale, merger, consolidation, transfer or acquisition, and provided , further , that in each such case no such Lien shall extend to or cover any property of the Company or any Subsidiary other than the property being acquired and improvements thereon; (vi) Liens on deposits to secure public or statutory obligations or in lieu of surety or appeal bonds entered into in the ordinary course of business; (vii) Liens in favor of collecting or payor banks having a right of setoff, revocation, refund or chargeback with respect to money or instruments of the Company or any Subsidiary on deposit with or in

 

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possession of such bank; (viii) purchase money security interests granted in connection with the acquisition of assets in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices, provided , that (a) such Liens attach only to the property so acquired with the purchase money indebtedness secured thereby and (b) such Liens secure only Indebtedness that is not in excess of 100% of the purchase price of such assets; (ix) Liens reserved in oil and gas mineral leases for bonus or rental payments and for compliance with the terms of such leases; (x) Liens arising under partnership agreements, oil and gas leases, farm-out agreements, division orders, contracts for the sale, purchase, exchange, transportation or processing of oil, gas or other hydrocarbons, unitization and pooling declarations and agreements, development agreements, operating agreements, area of mutual interest agreements, and other similar agreements which are customary in the Oil and Gas Business; (xi) Liens securing obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under Oil and Gas Hedging Contracts; (xii) Liens in favor of the United States, any State thereof, any foreign country or any department, agency or instrumentality or political subdivision of any such jurisdiction, to secure partial, progress, advance or other payments pursuant to any contract or statute or to secure any indebtedness incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or the cost of constructing or improving the property subject to such Liens, including without limitation, Liens to secure Funded Debt of the pollution control or industrial revenue bond type; and (xiii) Liens in favor of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor.

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

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

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

 

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

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

Priority Lien Credit Agreement ” means the Credit Agreement dated as of December 15, 2014 among the Company, the Lenders and MUFG Union Bank, N.A., as administrative agent for the Lenders, including any related notes, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith (in each case, as the same has been amended and as it may be amended, restated, supplemented, modified, renewed or refunded, or replaced or refinanced with any Priority Substitute Credit Facility (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement), in each case from time to time hereafter in accordance with the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement).

“Priority Lien Debt” means:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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  (iii) all other requirements set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement as to the confirmation, grant or perfection of the Priority Lien Agent’s Liens to secure such Indebtedness or Obligations in respect thereof are satisfied.

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

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

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

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

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

“Proved Developed Reserves” means Proved Reserves that, in accordance with the Definitions for Oil and Gas Reserves promulgated by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (or any generally recognized successor), as in effect at the time in question, are classified as one of the following: (a) “Developed Producing Reserves” or (b) “Developed Non-Producing Reserves”; and Proved Developed Reserves in the aggregate comprise Proved Reserves that are “Developed Producing Reserves” and “Developed Non-Producing Reserves.”

“Proved Reserves” means oil and gas reserves that, in accordance with the Definitions for Oil and Gas Reserves promulgated by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (or any generally recognized successor), as in effect at the time in question, are classified as both “Proved Reserves” and one or more of the following: (a) “Developed Producing Reserves,” (b) “Developed Non-Producing Reserves” or (c) “Undeveloped Reserves”; and “Proved Reserves” in the aggregate comprise Proved Reserves that are “Developed Producing Reserves”, “Developed Non-Producing Reserves”, and “Undeveloped Reserves.”

 

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

“Qualified Equity Interests” means any Equity Interests that are not Disqualified Stock.

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

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

“Representative” means the trustee, agent or representative (if any) for an issue of Senior Indebtedness.

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Volumetric Production Payments” means sales of limited-term overriding royalty interests in natural gas and oil reserves that (i) entitle the purchaser to receive scheduled production volumes over a period of time from specific lease interests; (ii) are free and clear of

 

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all associated future production costs and capital expenditures; (iii) are nonrecourse to the seller ( i.e. , the purchaser’s only recourse is to the reserves acquired); (iv) transfer title of the reserves to the purchaser; and (v) allow the seller to retain all production beyond the specified volumes, if any, after the scheduled production volumes have been delivered.

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

SECTION 1.02 Other Definitions .

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

 

Term

   Defined in Section

“Additional Collateral Lien”

   11.03

“Agent Members”

   2.13

“AHYDOs”

   3.08

“AHYDO Payment Date”

   3.08

“Appendix”

   2.01

“Bankruptcy Law”

   6.01

“Certificated Securities”

   2.13

“Code”

   3.08

“Collateral Sale Offer”

   4.11

“Collateral Termination Trust”

   4.12

“Covenant Defeasance”

   8.04

“Custodian”

   6.01

“DTC”

   2.13

“EDGAR”

   4.02

“Event of Default”

   6.01

“Excess Collateral Proceeds

   4.11

“Excess Proceeds”

   4.10

“Funding Guarantor”

   10.07

“Guarantee”

   10.02

“Legal Defeasance”

   8.03

“Legal Holiday”

   13.07

“Mandatory Principal Payment”

   3.08

“Mandatory Principal Payment Amount”

   3.08

“Net Proceeds Offer”

   4.10

“Net Proceeds Offer Triggering Event”

   4.10

“Net Proceeds Payment Date”

   4.10

“Notes Obligations”

   11.01

“Offer Notice”

   4.10

“Paying Agent”

   2.06

“Payment Default”

   6.01

“Register”

   2.06

“Registrar”

   2.06

 

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“Regulation S”

     Appendix   

“Securities”

     Preamble   

“Successor”

     5.01   

SECTION 1.03 [Reserved] .

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

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

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

(c) “or” is not exclusive;

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

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

(f) provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

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

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

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

ARTICLE TWO

THE SECURITIES

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

 

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

SECTION 2.02 Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication . The Trustee’s certificates of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

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

 

     

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS

By: Deutsche Bank National Trust Company

As Trustee

Date:     By:  

 

      Authorized Signatory

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

On the Issue Date, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver $2,398,363,000 aggregate principal amount of Securities.

The Company shall be entitled, subject to its compliance with Section 4.09 , to issue Additional Securities under this Indenture which shall have identical terms as the Securities issued on the Issue Date, other than with respect to the date of issuance and issue price. The Securities issued on the Issue Date and any Additional Securities shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture, including waivers, consents, directions, declarations, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase; provided , however , that if any Additional Securities are not fungible with the Securities issued on the Issue Date for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such Additional Securities shall be issued under a separate CUSIP number (and, if applicable, ISIN).

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

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

 

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

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

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

The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

If any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 2.14 , such Security shall for all purposes of this Indenture be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

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

Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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Every replacement Security is an additional obligation of the Company.

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

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

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

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

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

In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Securities which a Responsible Officer actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned as described in the immediately preceding sentence which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor.

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

ARTICLE THREE

REDEMPTION

SECTION 3.01 Optional Redemption .

(a) Except as set forth in this Section 3.01(a), the Company shall not be entitled to optionally redeem the Securities prior to December 15, 2018.

(1) At any time prior to December 15, 2018, the Company will be entitled at its option to redeem the Securities, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed plus the Make-Whole Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), in accordance with paragraph 4 of the Securities.

 

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(2) At any time prior to December 15, 2018, the Company will be entitled at its option on any one or more occasions to redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities issued under this Indenture at a redemption price equal to 108.0% of the principal amount of the Securities redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), with an amount of cash not greater than the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings by the Company; provided that, with respect to each such redemption:

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

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

(b) At any time on or after December 15, 2018, the Company may redeem the Securities, in whole or in part, at its option, at the redemption prices set forth in paragraph 5(a) of the Securities, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), in accordance with paragraph 5 of the Securities.

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

SECTION 3.02 Notice to Trustee . If the Company elects to redeem all or any part of the Securities pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Article 3 and the Securities, it shall furnish to the Trustee and the Registrar, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date (unless the Trustee consents to a shorter period), an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the redemption date, the principal amount of Securities to be redeemed and the redemption price (or the manner of calculation thereof) for Securities to be redeemed.

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

 

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to be redeemed, the entire outstanding amount of such Securities held by such Holder, even if not a multiple of $1,000, shall be redeemed. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Securities called for redemption also apply to portions of Securities called for redemption. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of the Securities or portions of Securities selected for redemption.

SECTION 3.04 Notice of Redemption .

(a) At least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company shall mail or cause to be mailed a notice of redemption by first-class mail to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed at such Holder’s registered address or send such notice in accordance with the Depositary’s applicable procedures. The notice shall state:

(1) the redemption date;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(9) any condition precedent to such redemption; and

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

SECTION 3.08 No Mandatory Redemption or Sinking Fund .

(a) Except as set forth in Section 3.08(b), the Company shall not be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Securities, nor (except pursuant to Section 4.10 and Section 4.11) shall the Company be required to repurchase the Securities at the option of the Holders.

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

ARTICLE FOUR

COVENANTS

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

 

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

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

SECTION 4.03 Compliance Certificates .

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

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

SECTION 4.04 Maintenance of Office or Agency . The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment an office or agency where Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange or for presentation for payment, and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities and this Indenture may be served. The Company

 

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will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the address of the Trustee set forth in Section 13.02 or at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

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

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

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

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

 

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SECTION 4.08 Maintenance of Properties and Insurance .

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

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

SECTION 4.09 Limitation on Liens Securing Funded Debt .

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

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4.09(a) , the Company or any Subsidiary may create, incur or assume Funded Debt secured by Liens (including the Securities) which would otherwise be subject to the restrictions of such section, if the aggregate principal amount of such Funded Debt and all other Funded Debt of the Company and any Subsidiary theretofore created, incurred or assumed pursuant to the exception in this Section 4.09(b) and outstanding at such time does not exceed 15% of the Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company, less, without duplication, the outstanding principal amount of the Securities outstanding at such time.

 

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SECTION 4.10 Limitation on Sale/Leaseback Transactions .

(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into any Sale/Leaseback Transaction with any Person (other than the Company or any other Subsidiary) unless (i) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, would be entitled to incur Funded Debt secured by Liens in a principal amount equal to the Attributable Indebtedness (treated as if such Attributable Indebtedness were Funded Debt) with respect to such Sale/Leaseback Transaction in accordance with Section 4.09 or (ii) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary receives proceeds from such Sale/Leaseback Transaction at least equal to the Fair Market Value thereof and such proceeds are applied in accordance with paragraphs (b) to (c) hereof (or, in the case of a Sale/Leaseback Transaction that constitutes a Collateral Sale, such proceeds are applied in accordance with Section 4.11 ); provided , however , that Attributable Indebtedness in respect of any Sale/Leaseback Transaction entered into pursuant to clause (i)  shall not count against the amount of Funded Debt permitted under Section 4.09(b) for any other purpose, including when determining the amount available thereunder for future Sale/Leaseback Transactions or any Funded Debt transactions.

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

(c) If, upon completion of the 365-day period referred to in Section 4.10(b), any portion of the Net Available Proceeds (other than Net Cash Proceeds of a Sale/Leaseback Transaction that constitutes a Collateral Sale) shall not have been applied by the Company as described in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) of Section 4.10(b) and such remaining Net Available Proceeds, together with any remaining net cash proceeds from any prior Sale/Leaseback Transaction (such aggregate constituting “ Excess Proceeds ”), exceed $60,000,000, then the Company will be obligated to make an offer (the “ Net Proceeds Offer ”) to purchase the Securities and any other Senior Indebtedness in respect of which such an offer to purchase is required to be made concurrently with the Net Proceeds Offer having an aggregate principal amount equal to the Excess Proceeds (such purchase to be made on a pro rata basis if the amount available for such repurchase is less than the principal amount of the Securities and other Senior Indebtedness tendered in such Net Proceeds Offer) at a purchase price of 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Securities and other Senior Indebtedness so repurchased to the date of repurchase. Upon the completion of the Net Proceeds Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds will be reset to zero.

(d) Within 15 days after the Company becomes obligated to make a Net Proceeds Offer (a Net Proceeds Offer Triggering Event ), the Company (with notice to the Trustee and the Paying Agent), or the Trustee at the Company’s request and expense, will mail or cause to be mailed (or otherwise communicate in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary) to all Holders on the date of the Net Proceeds Offer Triggering Event a notice prepared by the Company (the Offer Notice ) of the occurrence of such Net Proceeds Offer Triggering Event and of the Holders’ rights arising as a result thereof. The Offer Notice will contain all instructions and materials necessary to enable Holders to tender their Securities to the Company. The Offer Notice, which shall govern the terms of the Net Proceeds Offer, shall state: (1) that the Net Proceeds Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 4.10 ; (2) the purchase

 

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price and the Net Proceeds Payment Date; (3) that any Security not tendered will continue to accrue interest at the stated rate; (4) that any Security accepted for payment pursuant to the Net Proceeds Offer shall cease to accrue interest on the Net Proceeds Payment Date; (5) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the Company, Depositary or Paying Agent, as the case may be, receives, not later than the expiration of the Net Proceeds Offer, or such longer period as may be required by law, a notice to such effect in the form specified in the Offer Notice; and (6) that Holders whose Securities are purchased only in part will be issued Securities equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Securities surrendered. The Net Proceeds Offer shall be deemed to have commenced upon mailing (or other communication in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary) of the Offer Notice and shall terminate 20 Business Days after its commencement, unless a longer offering period is required by law.

(e) Promptly after the termination of the Net Proceeds Offer (the Net Proceeds Payment Date ), the Company shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, (i) accept for payment Securities or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Net Proceeds Offer, (ii) deposit with the Depositary or Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the purchase price of all Securities or portions thereof so tendered and (iii) deliver to the Trustee Securities so accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the Securities or portions thereof tendered to the Company. The Depositary, the Company or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, shall promptly mail or deliver to the Holders of Securities so accepted payment in an amount equal to the purchase price (representing those funds received pursuant to clause (ii) of this Section 4.10(e) ), and the Trustee shall promptly authenticate and mail or deliver to each such Holder a new Security equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Security surrendered; provided that each such new Security will be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. For purposes of this Section 4.10 , the Trustee shall act as the Paying Agent.

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

SECTION 4.11 Limitation on Collateral Sales .

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

(E) any Designated Non-Cash Consideration received by the Company or any other Mortgagor in respect of the applicable Collateral Sale having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Designated Non-Cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (E) at any time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (x) $500,000,000 and

 

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(y) 10% of ACNTA determined as of the time of the receipt of such Designated Non-Cash Consideration, with the Fair Market Value of each item of Designated Non-Cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value.

(b) Within 365 days after the receipt of any Net Cash Proceeds, the Company or any of the other Mortgagors may apply such Net Cash Proceeds at its option:

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

(2) to permanently prepay, repay, redeem, defease or repurchase Parity Lien Debt and other outstanding Parity Lien Obligations other than Indebtedness owed to the Company or another Subsidiary; provided that if the Company shall so prepay, repay, redeem, defease or repurchase any such Parity Lien Debt, the Company shall equally and ratably repay (or offer to repay) the Securities as provided either, at the Company’s option, under Section 3.01, through open-market purchases (to the extent such purchases are at or above 100% of the principal amount thereof) or by making an offer (in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 4.11 for a Collateral Sale Offer) to all Holders to purchase their Securities at 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus the amount of accrued but unpaid interest, if any, on the amount of Securities that would otherwise be prepaid;

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

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

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

(6) any combination of the foregoing;

provided that in the case of clauses (3), (4) and (5) above (or combination thereof), a binding commitment to make such acquisitions or expenditures is entered into within 365 days of the consummation of the Collateral Sale that generated the Net Cash Proceeds shall be treated as a permitted application of the Net Cash Proceeds from the date of such commitment so long as such Mortgagor enters into such commitment with the good faith expectation that such Net Cash Proceeds will be applied to satisfy such commitment within 545 days after the consummation of the Collateral Sale that generated such Net Cash Proceeds and, in the event such commitment is later cancelled or terminated for any reason before the Net Cash Proceeds are applied in connection therewith, then such Net Cash Proceeds shall constitute Excess Collateral Proceeds as described herein as of the date of such cancellation or termination.

 

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(c) Any Net Cash Proceeds from Collateral Sales that are not applied or invested as provided in Section 4.11(b) will constitute Excess Collateral Proceeds .” When the aggregate amount of Excess Collateral Proceeds exceeds $60,000,000, the Company will, within 45 days, make an offer to all Holders, and, if required by the terms of other Parity Lien Debt containing provisions similar to those set forth in this Section 4.11 with respect to offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets, to all holders of such other similar Parity Lien Debt (a Collateral Sale Offer ) to purchase the maximum principal amount of Securities and/or such Parity Lien Debt that may be purchased out of the Excess Collateral Proceeds. The offer price in any Collateral Sale Offer will be equal to 100% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, to, but excluding, the date of purchase, and will be payable in cash.

(d) The Company shall commence a Collateral Sale Offer by mailing (with notice to the Trustee and the Paying Agent), or the Trustee at the Company’s request and expense, mailing or causing to be mailed (or otherwise communicating in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary) to all Holders, a notice prepared by the Company of the Collateral Sale Offer and of the Holders’ rights arising as a result thereof. The notice will contain all instructions and materials necessary to enable Holders to tender their Securities to the Company. The notice, which shall govern the terms of the Collateral Sale Offer, shall state: (1) that the Collateral Sale Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 4.11 ; (2) the purchase price and the payment date; (3) that any Security not tendered will continue to accrue interest at the stated rate; (4) that any Security accepted for payment pursuant to the Collateral Sale Offer shall cease to accrue interest on the payment date; (5) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the Company, Depositary or Paying Agent, as the case may be, receives, not later than the expiration of the Collateral Sale Offer, or such longer period as may be required by law, a notice to such effect in the form specified in the Collateral Sale Offer; and (6) that Holders whose Securities are purchased only in part will be issued Securities equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Securities surrendered. The Collateral Sale Offer shall be deemed to have commenced upon mailing (or other communication in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary) of the notice and shall terminate 20 Business Days after its commencement, unless a longer offering period is required by law. If the aggregate principal amount of Securities and other Parity Lien Debt tendered into such Collateral Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Collateral Proceeds, the Excess Collateral Proceeds will be allocated between the Securities and such other Parity Lien Debt based on the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Securities and such other Parity Lien Debt tendered and the Trustee will select the Securities to be purchased in the manner described in Section 4.11(g) . Upon completion of each Collateral Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Collateral Proceeds will be reset at zero.

(e) Pending the final application of any Net Cash Proceeds pursuant to this Section 4.11 , the holder of such Net Cash Proceeds may apply such Net Cash Proceeds temporarily to reduce obligations under a revolving credit facility or otherwise invest such Net Cash Proceeds in any manner not prohibited by the Indenture. If any Excess Collateral Proceeds remain after consummation of the Collateral Sale Offer, the Company may use those funds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by the Indenture and they will no longer constitute Excess Collateral Proceeds.

 

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

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

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

SECTION 4.12 Collateral and Collateral Sale Covenant Termination . If on any date (a) either (1) both (x) the rating of the Index Debt is (i) BB+ or higher from S&P and Ba2 or higher from Moody’s or (ii) Ba1 or higher from Moody’s and BB or higher S&P and (y) the Leverage Ratio (as such term and all component definitions thereof are defined in the Priority Lien Credit Agreement as in effect on the Issue Date) of the Company (as of the date of its most recent annual or quarterly financial statements filed with the SEC) is less than or equal to 3.00:1.00 or (2) the rating of the Index Debt is (i) BBB- or higher from S&P and Ba1 or higher from Moody’s or (ii) Baa3 or higher from Moody’s and BB+ or higher from S&P (this clause (a), the Collateral Termination Test ) or (b) upon consummation of a contemplated transaction, immediately after giving effect to such transaction and pro forma for such transaction, any Indebtedness incurred in connection therewith and the use of proceeds therefrom, the Company would be able to satisfy the Collateral Termination Test (including as evidenced by indicative ratings from S&P and Moody’s), on and after such date, in the case of clause (a), or on consummation of such transaction, in the case of clause (b), the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to the provisions of Section 4.11 and the Liens on the Collateral will be released.

 

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ARTICLE FIVE

SUCCESSORS

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

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

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

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

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

 

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ARTICLE SIX

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

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

(1) default by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor in the payment of principal of, or any premium on, the Securities when due and payable at maturity;

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

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

(4) default in the performance, or breach of, any covenant or agreement of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor in this Indenture and, in each such case, failure to remedy such default within a period of 60 days after written notice thereof from the Trustee or Holders of 25% of the principal amount of the Securities; provided , however , that the Company shall have 90 days after the receipt of such written notice to remedy, or receive a waiver for, any failure to comply with its obligations under this Indenture so long as the Company is attempting to cure such failure as promptly as reasonably practicable;

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

 

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(6) the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

(A) commences a voluntary case or proceeding,

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

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

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

or

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

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

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

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

or

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

(8) the occurrence of any of the following:

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

SECTION 6.07 Rights of Holders to Receive Payment . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the Holder of any Securities will have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and interest on such Securities on the due date and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such right may not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

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

SECTION 6.09 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim .

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

ARTICLE SEVEN

TRUSTEE

SECTION 7.01 Duties of Trustee .

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

SECTION 7.02 Rights of Trustee . Subject to Section 7.01 :

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary Guarantor shall be obligated to reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability, claim or damage incurred by the Trustee determined to have been caused by the Trustee’s own negligence or willful misconduct. To secure the payment obligations of the Company in this Section, the Trustee shall have a claim

 

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prior to that of the Holders of the Securities on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal of and interest on, or the redemption price of, particular Securities. The Trustee’s right to receive payment of any amounts due under this Section 7.07 shall not be subordinate to any other liability or Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

ARTICLE EIGHT

DEFEASANCE

SECTION 8.01 [Reserved] .

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

SECTION 8.03 Legal Defeasance and Discharge . Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.02 of the option applicable to this Section 8.03 , the Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to all outstanding Securities on the date all conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “ Legal Defeasance ”). For this purpose, such Legal Defeasance means that the Company and any Subsidiary Guarantors shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Securities and any Guarantees thereof, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 8.06 and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 8.03 , and to have satisfied all their other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture and the other Note Documents (insofar as related to the Securities and this Indenture) (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the

 

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following which shall survive such satisfaction and discharge until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (a) the rights of Holders of outstanding Securities to receive solely from the trust fund described in Section 8.06 , and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of, and any premium and interest on, such Securities when such payments are due, (b) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities under Sections 2.06 , 2.09 , 2.10 , 2.12 and 4.04 , (c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Company’s obligations in connection therewith (including, but not limited to, Section 7.07 ) and (d) this Article Eight . Subject to compliance with this Article Eight , the Company may exercise its option under this Section 8.03 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.04 .

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

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

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

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

(a) The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or cause to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 7.10 who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Article Eight applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of Securities, (a) cash in U.S. Legal Tender in an amount, or (b) U.S. Government Securities which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in

 

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respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment, cash in U.S. Legal Tender in an amount, or (c) a combination thereof, in such amounts, as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) to pay the principal of, and any premium and interest on, the outstanding Securities on each date on which such principal or any premium or interest is due and payable or on any redemption date established pursuant to the last paragraph of Section 8.06 ; provided that the Trustee shall have been irrevocably instructed to apply such money or the proceeds of such U.S. Government Securities to said payments with respect to the Securities;

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or U.S. Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.05 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Securities.

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

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

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

SECTION 8.08 Reinstatement . If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any U.S. Legal Tender or U.S. Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.03 or 8.04 , as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining, or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s obligations under this Indenture, the Securities and the other Note Documents (insofar as related to this Indenture and the Securities) shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.03 or 8.04 until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to

 

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apply all such money in accordance with this Article Eight ; provided , however , that, if the Company makes any payment of principal of, or any premium or interest on, or redemption price on the Securities following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of the Securities to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent. In the event the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Securities are revived and reinstated pursuant to this Section 8.08 , then the obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor under its Guarantee, if any, and this Indenture that were released pursuant to Section 10.05 as a result of the Company’s exercise of its rights under this Article Eight shall be revived and reinstated as though such release had not occurred.

ARTICLE NINE

AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS

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

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

(b) to comply with Sections 5.01 and 10.03 ;

(c) [Reserved];

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

(e) [Reserved];

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

(g) [Reserved];

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

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

(j) to conform the text of the Note Documents (i) to any provision under the heading “Description of Second Lien Notes” in the Offering Memorandum, to the extent that the Trustee (and Collateral Trustee, if applicable) has received an Officers’ Certificate stating that such text constitutes an unintended conflict with, or is inconsistent with, the description of the

 

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corresponding provision in such “Description of Second Lien Notes” or (b) as may be necessary or advisable to preserve and confirm the relative priorities of the Secured Debt Documents as such priorities are contemplated by and set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement, as set forth in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee (and Collateral Trustee, if applicable);

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

(4) reduce the amount payable upon the redemption of any Security;

(5) [Reserved];

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

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

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

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

 

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

SECTION 9.03 [Reserved] .

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

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

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

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

 

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

ARTICLE TEN

GUARANTEES

SECTION 10.01 [Reserved] .

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

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

 

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Subsidiary Guarantor, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article Six for the purposes of this Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article Six , such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by each Subsidiary Guarantor for the purpose of this Guarantee.

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

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

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

SECTION 10.04 Addition of Subsidiary Guarantors .

(a) The Company shall cause each Person that becomes a domestic Subsidiary after the Issue Date and that guarantees any other Indebtedness of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor in excess of a De Minimis Guaranteed Amount to execute and deliver a supplemental indenture pursuant to which such Subsidiary shall guarantee the payment of such Securities pursuant to the terms hereof within 60 days after the later of (i) the date that such Person

 

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becomes a domestic Subsidiary and (ii) the date that such Person guarantees such other Indebtedness; provided that no guarantee shall be required if the Subsidiary merges into the Company or merges into an existing Subsidiary Guarantor and the surviving entity remains a Subsidiary Guarantor.

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

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

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

 

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such other Subsidiary Guarantor under its Guarantee or pursuant to Section 10.07 , result in the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under the Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under federal, state or foreign law. This Section 10.06 is for the benefit of the creditors of each Subsidiary Guarantor, and, for purposes of applicable fraudulent transfer and fraudulent conveyance law, any Indebtedness of a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to Credit Facilities shall be deemed to have been incurred prior to the incurrence by such Subsidiary Guarantor of its liability under the Guarantee.

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

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

ARTICLE ELEVEN

COLLATERAL AND SECURITY

SECTION 11.01 Security Interest .

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

(b) Each Holder of Securities, by its acceptance thereof and of the Guarantees, consents and agrees to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Trust Agreement and the Security Documents (including, without limitation, the provisions providing for

 

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foreclosure and release of Collateral and amendments to the Security Documents) as the same may be in effect or may be amended from time to time in accordance with their terms, and authorizes and appoints Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas as the Trustee and as the Collateral Trustee. The Trustee hereby authorizes and appoints Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas as Collateral Trustee, and each Holder of Securities and the Trustee direct the Collateral Trustee to enter into the Security Documents (including any amendments thereto contemplated by Section 7.1 of the Collateral Trust Agreement and any security documents to secure additional Parity Lien Debt in accordance with Section 5.3 of the Collateral Trust Agreement, all as more particularly described in the Collateral Trust Agreement) and to perform its obligations and exercise its rights thereunder in accordance therewith, subject to the terms and conditions thereof, including, the limitations on duties of the Collateral Trustee provided in Section 5.12 of the Collateral Trust Agreement. The Trustee, the Collateral Trustee and each Holder of Securities, by accepting the Securities and the Guarantees of the Subsidiary Guarantors, acknowledges that, as more fully set forth in the Security Documents, the Collateral as now or hereafter constituted shall be held, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, for the benefit of all the holders of Parity Lien Obligations, the Collateral Trustee and the Trustee, and the Lien of this Indenture and the Security Documents is subject to and qualified and limited in all respects by the Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Trust Agreement, the Security Documents and actions that may be taken thereunder.

SECTION 11.02 Post-Issue Date Collateral Requirements .

(a) Within 60 days of the Issue Date, the Company shall, or shall cause the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor to, (i) execute and deliver to the Collateral Trustee, as mortgagee or beneficiary, as applicable, such Mortgages, together with satisfactory evidence of the completion (or satisfactory arrangements for the completion) of all recordings and filings of such Mortgages in the proper recorders’ offices or appropriate public records (and payment of any taxes or fees in connection therewith) as may be necessary to create a valid, perfected second-priority Lien (subject to the Intercreditor Agreement), against the Oil and Gas Properties and related assets of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors that are subject to Liens securing the Priority Lien Obligations on the Issue Date and (ii) on the date that each such Mortgage is so filed or recorded, cause its counsel for the jurisdiction in which the relevant Oil and Gas Properties and related assets are located to execute and deliver to the Collateral Trustee a favorable Opinion of Counsel with respect thereto in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Trustee.

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

 

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SECTION 11.03 Further Assurances; Liens on Additional Property .

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

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

(c) In addition, from and after the Issue Date, if the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor acquires any property or asset that constitutes collateral for the Priority Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt, and any Priority Lien Document or Junior Lien Document, as applicable, requires any supplemental security document for such collateral or other actions to achieve a perfected Lien on such collateral, the Company shall, or shall cause the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor to, promptly (but in any event no later than the date that is 60 days after which such supplemental security documents are executed and delivered (or other action taken) under such Priority Lien Documents or Junior Lien Documents, as applicable), to the extent permitted by applicable law, execute and deliver to the Collateral Trustee appropriate Security Documents (or amendments thereto) in such form as shall be necessary in the Collateral Trustee’s reasonable discretion to grant the Collateral Trustee a perfected second-priority Lien

 

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on such Collateral or take such other actions in favor of the Collateral Trustee as shall be reasonably necessary to grant a valid and enforceable perfected second-priority Lien on such Collateral to the Collateral Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders and holders of any other Parity Lien Obligations, subject to the terms of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement and the other Note Documents. Additionally, subject to this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement and the other Note Documents, if the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor creates any additional Lien upon any assets or property that is required to become Collateral, or takes any additional actions to perfect any existing Lien on Collateral, in each case for the benefit of the holders of the Priority Lien Debt or the holders of Junior Lien Debt, after the Issue Date, the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, within 60 days after such Lien is granted or other action taken, grant a valid and enforceable perfected second-priority Lien upon such property or asset, or take such additional perfection actions, as applicable, for the benefit of the Holders and obtain all related deliverables as those delivered to the Priority Lien Representative or Junior Lien Agent, as applicable, in each case as security for the Notes Obligations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that any Lien on any Collateral is perfected by the possession or control of such Collateral or of any account in which such Collateral is held, and if such Collateral or any such account is in fact in the possession or under the control of the Priority Lien Agent, or of agents or bailees of the Priority Lien Agent, the perfection actions and related deliverables described in this Section 11.03(c) shall not be required.

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

(d) as to any Collateral of a Mortgagor that is sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by a Mortgagor to a Person that is not (either before or after such sale, transfer or disposition) the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction or other circumstance that does not violate Section 4.11 (other than the obligation to apply proceeds of such Collateral Sale as provided in such section) and is permitted by all of the other Note Documents (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Section 4.01(a)(i) of the Intercreditor Agreement), at the time of such sale, transfer or other disposition or to the extent of the interest sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of; provided that the Collateral Trustee’s Liens upon the Collateral will not be released if the sale or disposition is subject to Section 5.01 ;

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

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

(g) as provided under Section 4.12; or

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

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

SECTION 11.07 Collateral Trustee .

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

ARTICLE TWELVE

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

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

(a) either

(1) all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.10 , and (ii) Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been, as provided in Section 2.07 , deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 8.07 ) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

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

(A) have become due and payable,

(B) will become due and payable at their Maturity Date within one year, or

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

and the Company in the case of (A), (B) or (C) above, has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for this purpose an amount of money in U.S. Legal Tender sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal of, and any premium and interest thereon, to the Maturity Date or applicable redemption date, as the case may be in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and the Securities;

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

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

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

SECTION 12.02 Application of Trust Money . Subject to the provisions of Section 8.07 , all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 12.01 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal and any premium and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee.

 

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ARTICLE THIRTEEN

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 13.01 [Reserved] .

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

If to the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor:

Chesapeake Energy Corporation

6100 North Western Avenue

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73118

Attention: Treasurer

Facsimile: (405) 849-6119

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

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas

Trust and Agency Services

60 Wall Street, 16th Floor

Mail Stop: NYC60-1630

New York, New York 10005

USA

Attn: Corporates Team, Chesapeake Energy Corp.

Facsimile: (732) 578-4635 with a copy to:

Deutsche Bank National Trust Company

for Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas

Trust and Agency Services

100 Plaza One – 6th Floor

MSJCY03-0699

Jersey City, NJ 07311-3901

USA

Attn: Corporates Team, Chesapeake Energy Corp.

Facsimile: (732) 578-4635

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

 

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

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

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

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

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or any Security, where this Indenture or any Security provides for notice of any event (including any notice of redemption) to a Holder of a Global Security (whether by mail or otherwise), such notice also shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary for such Security (or its designee), pursuant to the customary procedures of such Depositary, not later than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice.

SECTION 13.03 Communication by Holders with Other Holders . Holders may communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities.

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

SECTION 13.16 Patriot Act . In order to comply with the laws, rules, regulations and executive orders in effect from time to time applicable to banking institutions, including, without limitation, those relating to the funding of terrorist activities and money laundering, including Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act of the United States (“Applicable Law”), the Trustee is required to obtain, verify, record and update certain information relating to individuals

 

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and entities which maintain a business relationship with the Trustee. Accordingly, each of the parties agree to provide to the Trustee, upon their request from time to time such identifying information and documentation as may be available for such party in order to enable the Trustee to comply with Applicable Law.

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

 

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SIGNATURES

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

 

   

COMPANY:

 

    CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION
    By:   /s/ Caleb G. Morgret
     

Name: Caleb G. Morgret

Title: Vice President and Treasurer

SIGNATURE PAGE TO INDENTURE


SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS:

CHESAPEAKE AEZ EXPLORATION, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE APPALACHIA, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE-CLEMENTS ACQUISITION, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE E&P HOLDING CORPORATION

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY LOUISIANA CORPORATION

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY MARKETING, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE NG VENTURES CORPORATION

CHESAPEAKE EXPLORATION, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE LAND DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE LOUISIANA, L.P.

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

CHESAPEAKE MIDSTREAM DEVELOPMENT, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE OPERATING, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE PLAZA, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE ROYALTY, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE VRT, L.L.C.

CHK-MAC, L.L.C.

COMPASS MANUFACTURING, L.L.C.

EMLP, L.L.C.

EMPRESS, L.L.C.

GSF, L.L.C.

MC LOUISIANA MINERALS, L.L.C.

MC MINERAL COMPANY, L.L.C.

MIDCON COMPRESSION, L.L.C.

NOMAC SERVICES, L.L.C.

NORTHERN MICHIGAN EXPLORATION COMPANY, L.L.C.

WINTER MOON ENERGY CORPORATION

CHK UTICA, L.L.C.

SPARKS DRIVE SWD, INC.

CHK ENERGY HOLDINGS, INC.

EMPRESS LOUISIANA PROPERTIES, L.P.

BY: EMLP, L.L.C., its General Partner

 

By:

 

/s/ Caleb G. Morgret

Name: Caleb G. Morgret

Title: Vice President and Treasurer

SIGNATURE PAGE TO INDENTURE


TRUSTEE:

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS,

as Trustee and Collateral Trustee

        By:  

Deutsche Bank National Trust Company

 

By:

 

  /s/ Robert S. Peschler

   

Name: Robert S. Peschler

Title: Vice President

  By:  

  /s/ Wanda Camacho

   

Name: Wanda Camacho

Title: Vice President

SIGNATURE PAGE TO INDENTURE


RULE 144A/REGULATION S APPENDIX

PROVISIONS RELATING TO SECURITIES

 

1. Definitions

 

  1.1 Definitions.

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

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

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

 

  1.2 Other Definitions .

 

Term

   Defined in Section:
“Permanent Regulation S Global Security”    2.1(b)
“Regulation S”    2.1(a)
“Regulation S Global Security”    2.1(b)
“Resale Restriction Termination Date”    2.3(d)
“Restricted Global Security”    2.1(a)
“Restricted Period”    2.1(b)
“Rule 144A”    2.1(b)
“Rule 144A Global Security”    2.1(a)
“Temporary Regulation S Global Security”    2.1(a)

 

2.

 

  2.1 The Securities.

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

 

App. - 2


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

 

  2.2 [Reserved].

 

  2.3 Transfer and Exchange .

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

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

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

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

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

 

App. - 3


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

then the Trustee shall cancel such Certificated Security and cause, or direct the Securities custodian to cause, in accordance with the standing instructions and procedures existing between the Depository and the Securities custodian, the aggregate principal amount of Securities represented by the Rule 144A Global Security or Permanent Regulation S Global Security, as

 

App. - 4


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

(d) Legend .

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

THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “U.S. SECURITIES ACT”) OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”)) OR (B) IT IS NOT A “U.S. PERSON” AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION” AS DEFINED IN REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, (2) AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR FOR WHICH IT HAS EXCHANGED SECURITIES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) THAT IS [IN THE CASE OF SECURITIES INITIALLY ISSUED TO QIBS: ONE YEAR (OR SUCH SHORTER PERIOD AS IS PRESCRIBED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AS THEN IN EFFECT OR ANY SUCCESSOR RULE WITHOUT ANY VOLUME OR MANNER OF SALE RESTRICTIONS OR COMPLIANCE BY THE COMPANY WITH ANY CURRENT PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS THEREUNDER) AFTER THE LATER OF THE ISSUE DATE AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES WERE THE OWNER OF SUCH SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR THERETO)] [IN THE CASE OF REGULATION S GLOBAL SECURITY: 40 DAYS AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE DATE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY) WAS FIRST OFFERED TO PERSONS OTHER THAN DISTRIBUTORS (AS DEFINED IN RULE 902 OF REGULATION S) IN RELIANCE ON REGULATION S] ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY, THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE

 

App. - 5


U.S. SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO PERSONS WHO ARE NOT U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES TO ANY REQUIREMENT OR LAW THAT THE DISPOSITION OF ITS PROPERTY OR THE PROPERTY OF SUCH INVESTOR ACCOUNT OR ACCOUNTS BE AT ALL TIMES WITHIN ITS OR THEIR CONTROL AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND ANY APPLICABLE LOCAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL GIVE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND; PROVIDED, THAT THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE AND THE TRANSFER AGENT SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER (I) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (D) PRIOR TO THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE OR PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM AND (II) IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES, TO REQUIRE THAT A CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING ON THE REVERSE OF THIS SECURITY IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEROR TO THE TRUSTEE.

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AND WARRANTED THAT EITHER (1) NO PORTION OF THE ASSETS USED BY SUCH HOLDER TO ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS SECURITY CONSTITUTES THE ASSETS OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN THAT IS SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE U.S. EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), OF A PLAN, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER ARRANGEMENT THAT IS SUBJECT TO SECTION 4975 OF THE U.S. INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”) OR PROVISIONS UNDER ANY OTHER FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, NON-U.S. OR OTHER LAWS OR REGULATIONS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO SUCH PROVISIONS OF ERISA OR THE CODE (“SIMILAR LAWS”), OR OF AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS ARE CONSIDERED TO INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY SUCH PLAN, ACCOUNT OR ARRANGEMENT, OR (2) THE ACQUISITION AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A NON-EXEMPT PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE OR A SIMILAR VIOLATION UNDER ANY APPLICABLE SIMILAR LAWS.

 

App. - 6


Each Certificated Security shall also bear the following additional legend:

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

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

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

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

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

 

App. - 7


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

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

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

SOLELY FOR UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES, THIS SECURITY WILL BE TREATED AS ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT (“OID”). UPON REQUEST, THE COMPANY WILL PROMPTLY MAKE AVAILABLE TO A HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: (1) THE ISSUE PRICE AND ISSUE DATE OF THIS SECURITY, (2) THE AMOUNT OF OID, (3) THE YIELD TO MATURITY OF THIS SECURITY, AND (4) ANY OTHER INFORMATION REQUIRED TO BE MADE AVAILABLE BY U.S. TREASURY REGULATIONS. HOLDERS SHOULD CONTACT THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AT 6100 NORTH WESTERN AVENUE, OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA 73118.

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

 

App. - 8


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

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

 

  2.4 Certificated Securities.

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

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

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

 

App. - 9


EXHIBIT 1 TO RULE 144A/REGULATION S APPENDIX

FORM OF SECURITY

[FACE OF SECURITY]

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

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

[Restricted Securities Legend]

THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “U.S. SECURITIES ACT”) OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”)) OR (B) IT IS NOT A “U.S. PERSON” AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION” AS DEFINED IN REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, (2) AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR FOR WHICH IT HAS EXCHANGED SECURITIES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) THAT IS [IN THE CASE OF

 

 

1  

To be included in a Global Security


SECURITIES INITIALLY ISSUED TO QIBS: ONE YEAR (OR SUCH SHORTER PERIOD AS IS PRESCRIBED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AS THEN IN EFFECT OR ANY SUCCESSOR RULE WITHOUT ANY VOLUME OR MANNER OF SALE RESTRICTIONS OR COMPLIANCE BY THE COMPANY WITH ANY CURRENT PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS THEREUNDER) AFTER THE LATER OF THE ISSUE DATE AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES WERE THE OWNER OF SUCH SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR THERETO)] [IN THE CASE OF REGULATION S SECURITIES: 40 DAYS AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE DATE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY) WAS FIRST OFFERED TO PERSONS OTHER THAN DISTRIBUTORS (AS DEFINED IN RULE 902 OF REGULATION S) IN RELIANCE ON REGULATION S] ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY, THE GUARANTORS OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO PERSONS WHO ARE NOT U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES TO ANY REQUIREMENT OR LAW THAT THE DISPOSITION OF ITS PROPERTY OR THE PROPERTY OF SUCH INVESTOR ACCOUNT OR ACCOUNTS BE AT ALL TIMES WITHIN ITS OR THEIR CONTROL AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND ANY APPLICABLE LOCAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL GIVE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND; PROVIDED, THAT THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE AND THE TRANSFER AGENT SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER (I) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (D) PRIOR TO THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE OR PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM AND (II) IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES, TO REQUIRE THAT A CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING ON THE REVERSE OF THIS SECURITY IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEROR TO THE TRUSTEE.

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AND WARRANTED THAT EITHER (1) NO PORTION OF THE ASSETS USED BY SUCH HOLDER TO ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS SECURITY CONSTITUTES THE ASSETS OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN THAT IS SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE U.S. EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), OF A PLAN, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER ARRANGEMENT THAT IS SUBJECT TO SECTION 4975 OF THE U.S. INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”) OR PROVISIONS


UNDER ANY OTHER FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, NON-U.S. OR OTHER LAWS OR REGULATIONS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO SUCH PROVISIONS OF ERISA OR THE CODE (“SIMILAR LAWS”), OR OF AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS ARE CONSIDERED TO INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY SUCH PLAN, ACCOUNT OR ARRANGEMENT, OR (2) THE ACQUISITION AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A NON-EXEMPT PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE OR A SIMILAR VIOLATION UNDER ANY APPLICABLE SIMILAR LAWS.

[Temporary Regulation S Legend]

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

[OID Legend]

SOLELY FOR UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES, THIS SECURITY WILL BE TREATED AS ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT (“OID”). UPON REQUEST, THE COMPANY WILL PROMPTLY MAKE AVAILABLE TO A HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: (1) THE ISSUE PRICE AND ISSUE DATE OF THIS SECURITY, (2) THE AMOUNT OF OID, (3) THE YIELD TO MATURITY OF THIS SECURITY, AND (4) ANY OTHER INFORMATION REQUIRED TO BE MADE AVAILABLE BY U.S. TREASURY REGULATIONS. HOLDERS SHOULD CONTACT THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AT 6100 NORTH WESTERN AVENUE, OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA 73118.


Certificate No.    [CUSIP NO. [                      ]]
$    [ISIN NO. [                      ]]

8.00% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2022

Chesapeake Energy Corporation, an Oklahoma corporation, promises to pay to                     , or registered assigns, the principal sum of                                         Dollars [(as may be increased or decreased as set forth on the Schedule of Increases or Decreases in Global Security attached hereto)] 2 on December 15, 2022.

Interest Payment Dates: June 15 and December 15

Record Dates: June 1 and December 1

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

 

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF

AUTHENTICATION

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

 

 

 

 

      DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
     

By: Deutsche Bank National Trust Company

As Trustee

Date:  

 

    By:  

 

        Authorized Signatory

 

 

2   To be included in a Global Security.


[REVERSE SIDE OF SECURITY]

8.00% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2022

 

1. Interest

Chesapeake Energy Corporation, an Oklahoma corporation (such corporation, and its successors and assigns under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, being herein called the “Company”), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Security at the fixed rate per annum shown above. The Company shall pay interest semiannually on June 15 and December 15 of each year. The first interest payment date shall be June 15, 2016. Interest on the Security shall accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from December 23, 2015. Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.

 

2. Method of Payment

The Company shall pay interest on the Securities (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered holders of Securities at the close of business on the June 1 or December 1 next preceding the interest payment date even if Securities are canceled after the record date and on or before the interest payment date. Holders must surrender Securities to a Paying Agent to collect principal payments. The Company shall pay principal and interest in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Payments in respect of the Securities represented by a Global Security (including principal, premium and interest) shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Depositary. The Company shall make all payments in respect of a certificated Security (including principal, premium and interest), at the Company’s option, at the corporate trust office of the Trustee or by mailing a check to the registered address of each Holder thereof; provided , however , that payments on a certificated Security shall be made by wire transfer to a U.S. dollar account maintained by the payee with a bank in the United States if such Holder elects payment by wire transfer by giving written notice to the Trustee or the Paying Agent to such effect designating such account no later than 30 days immediately preceding the relevant due date for payment (or such other date as the Trustee may accept in its discretion).

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

 

3. Indenture

The Company issued the Securities under an Indenture dated as of December 23, 2015, among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee and the Collateral Trustee (“Indenture”). The terms of the Securities include those stated in the Indenture. Terms defined in the Indenture and not defined herein have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture. The Securities are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture for a statement of those terms. The Securities are entitled to the benefits of the Security Documents, subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, all as more fully set forth in the Indenture.


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

 

4. Make-Whole Redemption

Except as set forth below in this paragraph 4 or paragraph 5, or in the Indenture, the Company shall not be entitled to optionally redeem the Securities prior to December 15, 2018.

At any time prior to December 15, 2018, the Company shall be entitled at its option to redeem the Securities, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed plus the Make-Whole Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date). Any redemption pursuant to this paragraph 4 shall be made, to the extent applicable, pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.07 of the Indenture.

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

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

“Adjusted Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the yield, under the heading which represents the average for the immediately preceding week, appearing in the most recently published Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) or any successor publication which is published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or, if such release (or any successor release) is not published, any publicly available source of similar market data) and which establishes yields on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity under the caption “Treasury Constant Maturities,” for the maturity corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue (if no maturity is within three months before or after December 15, 2018, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue shall be determined and the Adjusted Treasury Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated from such yields on a straight line basis, rounding to the nearest month), calculated on the third Business Day immediately preceding the redemption date, plus 50 basis points.

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by the Company as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Securities from the redemption date to December 15, 2018 that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of a maturity most nearly equal to December 15, 2018.

“Make-Whole Premium” means with respect to a Security at any applicable redemption date, the excess of (i) the present value at such redemption date of (A) the redemption price of such Security on December 15, 2018 (such redemption price being described in paragraph 5 below) exclusive of any accrued interest plus (B) all required remaining scheduled interest


payments due on such Security through December 15, 2018 (but excluding accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date), computed using a discount rate equal to the Adjusted Treasury Rate, over (ii) the principal amount of such Security on such redemption date.

 

5. Optional Redemption

(a) At any time on or after December 15, 2018, the Company may redeem the Securities, in whole or in part, at its option, at the following redemption prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount thereof), plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), if redeemed during the 12-month period (or, in the case of the period commencing December 15, 2020, such 12-month period and thereafter) commencing on December 15 of the years set forth below:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2018

     104.00

2019

     102.00

2020 and thereafter

     100.00

(b) At any time prior to December 15, 2018, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities issued under the Indenture at a redemption price equal to 108.00% of the principal amount of the Securities redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), with an amount of cash not greater than the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings by the Company; provided that, with respect to each such redemption, (i) at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities issued under the Indenture (excluding any Securities held by the Company and its Subsidiaries) remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption and (ii) such redemption occurs within 180 days of the date of the closing of such Equity Offering.

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

 

6. Applicable High Yield Discount Obligations

If this Security would otherwise constitute “applicable high yield discount obligations” (“AHYDOs”) within the meaning of Section 163(i)(1) of the Code, at the end of all accrual periods ending after December 23, 2020 (each, an “AHYDO Payment Date”), but not including the final accrual period, the Company will make pro-rata cash payments to all Holders of this Security then outstanding in an amount equal to the Mandatory Principal Payment Amount (each such payment, a “Mandatory Principal Payment”). The “Mandatory Principal Payment Amount” means the portion of this Security’s principal required to be paid as of each AHYDO Payment Date to prevent this Security from being treated as an AHYDO within the meaning of Section 163(i)(1) of the Code. No partial payments, redemptions or repurchases of this Security


prior to an AHYDO Payment Date pursuant to any other provision of the Indenture or this Security will alter the Company’s obligation to make the Mandatory Principal Payment with respect to the amount of this Security that remain outstanding on an AHYDO Payment Date. Solely for U.S. federal income tax purposes, any Mandatory Principal Payment shall be treated as a payment of accrued OID that constitutes interest for purposes of Section 163(i)(2) of the Code.

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

 

7. Notice of Redemption

At least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company shall mail a notice of redemption by first class mail (or otherwise give such notice in accordance with the Indenture) to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed at such Holder’s registered address. If less than all of the Securities are redeemed at any time, the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed on a pro rata basis in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary, or, if the Securities are listed on any securities exchange, by any other method that complies with the requirements of such exchange; provided , however , that no Securities with a principal amount of $2,000 or less shall be redeemed in part. Unless the Company defaults in payment of the applicable redemption price, interest on the Securities to be redeemed shall cease to accrue on the applicable redemption date, whether or not such Securities are presented for payment.

 

8. Repurchase at Option of Holder

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

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

 

9. Restrictive Covenants

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


10. Ranking and Guarantees

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

 

11. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange

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

 

12. Security Documents; Intercreditor Agreement

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

 

13. Persons Deemed Owners

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

 

14. Unclaimed Money

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

 

15. Discharge and Defeasance

Subject to certain conditions, the Company at any time shall be entitled to terminate some or all of its obligations under the Securities and the Indenture and to the release of liens on the Collateral if the Company deposits with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Securities for the payment of principal and interest on the Securities to redemption or maturity, as the case may be.


16. Amendment, Supplement, Waiver

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

 

17. Successor Obligor

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

 

18. Defaults and Remedies

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

 

19. Trustee Dealings with Company and Subsidiary Guarantors

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


20. No Recourse Against Others

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

 

21. Authentication

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

 

22. Abbreviations

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

 

23. CUSIP Numbers

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

 

24. Governing Law

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


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

Chesapeake Energy Corporation

6100 North Western Avenue

Oklahoma City, OK 73118

Attention: Treasurer


ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Security, fill in the form below:

I or we assign and transfer this Security to

 

 

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

 

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. No.)

 

and irrevocably appoint                     agent to transfer this Security on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

Date:              

 

   Your signature:   

 

       
        Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Security.
Signature Guarantee:      

 

(Signature must be guaranteed)

     

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

 

 

[Include the following only if the Restricted Securities Legend is included hereon]

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


CHECK ONE BOX BELOW

 

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

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

 

 

 

Signature


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

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

 

Dated:      

                                              

    

 

       Notice: To be executed by an executive officer


SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY 3

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

 

Date of

Exchange

  

Amount of decrease in
Principal amount of

this Global Security

  

Amount of increase in
Principal amount of

this Global Security

  

Principal amount of

this Global Security

following such

decrease or increase

  

Signature of

authorized signatory

of Trustee

           
           

 

3   To be included in a Global Security.


OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Security purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.11 of the Indenture, check the box:

¨ Section 4.10              ¨ Section 4.11

If you want to elect to have only part of this Security purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.11 of the Indenture, state the amount in principal amount:

$                                  

 

Dated:          

 

   Your Signature:   

 

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

 

Signature Guarantee:
 

 

Signature must be guaranteed

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


[FORM OF CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED

IN CONNECTION WITH TRANSFERS PURSUANT TO REGULATION S]

Chesapeake Energy Corporation

6100 North Western Avenue

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73118

Facsimile: (405) 849-6119

Attention: Treasurer

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas

Trust and Agency Services

60 Wall Street, 16 th Floor

Mail Stop: NYC60-1630

New York, New York 10005

Facsimile: (732) 578-4635

Attention: Corporates Team– Chesapeake Energy Corp.

Re: Chesapeake Energy Corporation (the “Issuer”) 8.00% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2022 (the “Notes”)

Ladies and Gentlemen:

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

 

Very truly yours,
 
[Name of Transferor]

By:

   
 

Authorized Signature

Exhibit 10.1

 

 

INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT

dated as of December 23, 2015 between

MUFG Union Bank, N.A.,

as Priority Lien Agent,

and

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas,

as Second Lien Collateral Trustee

and Acknowledged and Agreed by

Chesapeake Energy Corporation and certain of its subsidiaries

 

 

THIS IS THE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT REFERRED TO IN (A) THE INDENTURE DATED AS OF DECEMBER 23, 2015, AMONG CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION, CERTAIN OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY THERETO AND DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS TRUSTEE AND COLLATERAL TRUSTEE, (B) THE CREDIT AGREEMENT DATED AS OF DECEMBER 15, 2014 AS AMENDED, SUPPLEMENTED, RESTATED OR OTHERWISE MODIFIED FROM TIME TO TIME, AMONG CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION, THE LENDERS PARTY THERETO FROM TIME TO TIME AND MUFG UNION BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, (C) THE OTHER NOTE DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO IN SUCH INDENTURE AND (D) THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO IN SUCH CREDIT AGREEMENT.

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

  

Section 1.01

  Construction; Certain Defined Terms      1   

ARTICLE II

LIEN PRIORITIES

  

Section 2.01

  Relative Priorities      18   

Section 2.02

  Prohibition on Marshalling, Etc      20   

Section 2.03

  No New Liens      20   

Section 2.04

  Similar Collateral and Agreements      21   

Section 2.05

  No Duties of Priority Lien Agent      22   

Section 2.06

  No Duties of Second Lien Collateral Trustee      22   

ARTICLE III

ENFORCEMENT RIGHTS; PURCHASE OPTION

  

Section 3.01

  Limitation on Enforcement Action      23   

Section 3.02

  Standstill Periods; Permitted Enforcement Action      25   

Section 3.03

  [Reserved]      27   

Section 3.04

  Notification of Release of Collateral      27   

Section 3.05

  No Interference; Payment Over      27   

Section 3.06

  Purchase Option      30   

ARTICLE IV

OTHER AGREEMENTS

  

Section 4.01

  Release of Liens; Automatic Release of Second Liens and Third Liens      32   

Section 4.02

  Certain Agreements With Respect to Insolvency or Liquidation Proceedings      33   

Section 4.03

  Reinstatement      40   

Section 4.04

  Refinancings; Additional Priority Lien Debt; Additional Second Lien Debt; Initial Third Lien Indebtedness; Additional Third Lien Debt      41   

Section 4.05

  Amendments to Second Lien Documents and Third Lien Documents      43   

Section 4.06

  Legends      44   

Section 4.07

  Second Lien Secured Parties and Third Lien Secured Parties Rights as Unsecured Creditors; Judgment Lien Creditor      44   

Section 4.08

  Postponement of Subrogation      45   

Section 4.09

  Acknowledgment by the Secured Debt Representatives      45   

ARTICLE V

GRATUITOUS BAILMENT FOR PERFECTION OF CERTAIN SECURITY INTERESTS

  

Section 5.01

  General      46   

ARTICLE VI

APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS; DETERMINATION OF AMOUNTS

  

Section 6.01

  Application of Proceeds      47   

Section 6.02

  Determination of Amounts      47   

 

i


ARTICLE VII

NO RELIANCE; NO LIABILITY; OBLIGATIONS ABSOLUTE;

CONSENT OF GRANTORS; ETC.

  

Section 7.01

  No Reliance; Information      48   

Section 7.02

  No Warranties or Liability      48   

Section 7.03

  Obligations Absolute      49   

Section 7.04

  Grantors Consent      50   

ARTICLE VIII

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

  

Section 8.01

  Representations and Warranties of Each Party      50   

Section 8.02

  Representations and Warranties of Each Representative      50   

ARTICLE IX

MISCELLANEOUS

  

Section 9.01

  Notices      50   

Section 9.02

  Waivers; Amendment      51   

Section 9.03

  Actions Upon Breach; Specific Performance      52   

Section 9.04

  Parties in Interest      53   

Section 9.05

  Survival of Agreement      53   

Section 9.06

  Counterparts      53   

Section 9.07

  Severability      53   

Section 9.08

  Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process      53   

Section 9.09

  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL      54   

Section 9.10

  Headings      54   

Section 9.11

  Conflicts      54   

Section 9.12

  Provisions Solely to Define Relative Rights      54   

Section 9.13

  Certain Terms Concerning the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee      54   

Section 9.14

  Certain Terms Concerning the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee      55   

Section 9.15

  Authorization of Secured Agents      55   

Section 9.16

  Further Assurances      55   

Section 9.17

  Relationship of Secured Parties      56   

Section 9.18

  Third Lien Provisions      56   

 

Annex and Exhibits

Annex I

 

Exhibit A

  Form of Priority Confirmation Joinder

Exhibit B

  Security Documents

 

ii


INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT , dated as of December 23, 2015 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof, this “ Agreement ”), between MUFG Union Bank, N.A., as administrative agent for the Priority Lien Secured Parties referred to herein (in such capacity, and together with its successors and assigns in such capacity, the “ Original Priority Lien Agent ”), and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as collateral trustee for the Second Lien Secured Parties referred to herein (in such capacity, and together with its successors in such capacity, the “ Original Second Lien Collateral Trustee ”) and acknowledged and agreed by Chesapeake Energy Corporation, an Oklahoma corporation (together with its successors and assigns, “ Chesapeake ”) and certain of its subsidiaries.

Reference is made to (a) the Priority Credit Agreement (defined below) and (b) the Second Lien Indenture (defined below) governing the Second Lien Indenture Notes (defined below).

From time to time following the date hereof, Chesapeake may (i) incur Additional Priority Lien Obligations (defined below) to the extent permitted by the Secured Debt Documents (defined below); in connection with any Additional Priority Lien Obligations, Chesapeake and the Priority Lien Agent (defined below) shall, concurrently with the incurrence of such Additional Priority Lien Obligations, enter into a Priority Lien Collateral Trust Agreement (defined below); (ii) incur Additional Notes or Additional Second Lien Obligations (each defined below) to the extent permitted by the Secured Debt Documents; in connection with any Additional Second Lien Obligations (defined below), the applicable Second Lien Representative (defined below) and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee (defined below) shall, concurrently with the incurrence of such Additional Second Lien Obligations, enter into a joinder to the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement (defined below) and (iii) incur Initial Third Lien Obligations and Additional Third Lien Obligations (each as defined below) to the extent permitted by the Secured Debt Documents; in connection with the Initial Third Lien Obligations, Chesapeake and certain of its subsidiaries, the Third Lien Representative (defined below) and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee (defined below) shall, concurrently with the incurrence of such Additional Third Lien Obligations, enter into a Third Lien Collateral Trust Agreement (defined below).

In consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Priority Lien Agent (for itself and on behalf of the Priority Lien Secured Parties) and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee (for itself and on behalf of the Second Lien Secured Parties) agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.01 Construction; Certain Defined Terms . (a) The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.” The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.” Unless the context requires otherwise, (i) any reference herein to any agreement, instrument, other document, statute or regulation shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument, other document, statute or regulation as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, but shall not be deemed to include the subsidiaries of such Person unless express reference is made to such subsidiaries, (iii) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (iv) all references herein to Articles, Sections and Annexes shall be construed to refer to Articles, Sections and Annexes of this Agreement, (v) unless otherwise expressly qualified herein, the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights and (vi) the term “or” is not exclusive.


(b) All terms used in this Agreement that are defined in Article 1, 8 or 9 of the New York UCC (whether capitalized herein or not) and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in Article 1, 8 or 9 of the New York UCC. If a term is defined in Article 9 of the New York UCC and another Article of the UCC, such term shall have the meaning assigned to it in Article 9 of the New York UCC.

(c) All terms capitalized but not defined herein shall have the meaning assigned to them in the Priority Credit Agreement as in effect on the date hereof.

(d) Unless otherwise set forth herein, all references herein to (i) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall be deemed to refer to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee in its capacity as collateral trustee under the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement and (ii) the Third Lien Collateral Trustee shall be deemed to refer to the Third Lien Collateral Trustee in its capacity as collateral trustee under the Third Lien Collateral Trust Agreement.

(e) As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:

Additional Notes ” has the meaning given to the term “Additional Securities” in the Second Lien Indenture as in effect on the date hereof.

Additional Priority Lien Debt Facility ” means any Indebtedness under any Credit Facility for which the requirements of Section 4.04(b) of this Agreement have been satisfied, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, restated, restructured, increased, supplemented, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time in accordance with each applicable Secured Debt Document; provided that neither the Priority Credit Agreement nor any Priority Substitute Credit Facility shall constitute an Additional Priority Lien Debt Facility at any time.

Additional Priority Lien Documents ” means the Additional Priority Lien Debt Facility, the Priority Lien Collateral Trust Agreement, the Additional Priority Lien Security Documents and any documents with respect to Banking Services Obligations if secured under the terms of Additional Priority Lien Security Documents.

Additional Priority Lien Obligations ” means, with respect to any Grantor, any Obligations of such Grantor owed to any Additional Priority Lien Secured Party (or any of its Affiliates) in respect of the Additional Priority Lien Documents.

Additional Priority Lien Secured Parties ” means, at any time, (a) the Priority Lien Agent, (b) the trustee, agent or other representative of the holders of any Series of Priority Lien Debt who maintains the transfer register for such Series of Priority Lien Debt, (c) each lender or issuing bank under the Additional Priority Lien Debt Facility or an Affiliate (as defined in the Additional Priority Lien Debt Facility) thereof at the time such Banking Services Obligation is entered into, and is a secured party (or a party entitled to the benefits of the security) under any Additional Priority Lien Document, (d) the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Grantor under any Additional Priority Lien Document and (e) each other holder of, or obligee in respect of, any holder or lender pursuant to any Series of Priority Lien Debt outstanding at such time; provided that the Credit Agreement Secured Parties (other than the Priority Lien Agent) shall not be deemed Additional Priority Lien Secured Parties.

 

2


Additional Priority Lien Security Documents ” means the Additional Priority Lien Debt Facility (insofar as the same grants a Lien on the Collateral) and any other security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral agency agreements, control agreements, or grants or transfers for security, now existing or entered into after the date hereof, executed and delivered by Chesapeake or any other Grantor to the Priority Lien Agent creating (or purporting to create) a Lien upon the Priority Lien Collateral in favor of the Additional Priority Lien Secured Parties.

Additional Second Lien Debt Facility ” means any Indebtedness for which the requirements of Section 4.04(b) of this Agreement have been satisfied, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, restated, restructured, increased, supplemented, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time in accordance with each applicable Secured Debt Document; provided that neither the Second Lien Indenture nor any Second Lien Substitute Facility shall constitute an Additional Second Lien Debt Facility at any time.

Additional Second Lien Documents ” means the Additional Second Lien Debt Facility and the Additional Second Lien Security Documents.

Additional Second Lien Obligations ” means, with respect to any Grantor, any Obligations of such Grantor owed to any Additional Second Lien Secured Party (or any of its Affiliates) in respect of the Additional Second Lien Documents.

Additional Second Lien Secured Parties ” means, at any time, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, the trustee, agent or other representative of the holders of any Series of Second Lien Debt who maintains the transfer register for such Series of Second Lien Debt, the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Grantor under any Additional Second Lien Document and each other holder of, or obligee in respect of, any holder or lender pursuant to any Series of Second Lien Debt outstanding at such time; provided that the Second Lien Indenture Secured Parties shall not be deemed Additional Second Lien Secured Parties.

Additional Second Lien Security Documents ” means the Additional Second Lien Debt Facility (insofar as the same grants a Lien on the Collateral) and any other security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral agency agreements, control agreements, or grants or transfers for security, now existing or entered into after the date hereof, executed and delivered by Chesapeake or any other Grantor creating (or purporting to create) a Lien upon the Second Lien Collateral in favor of the Additional Second Lien Secured Parties.

Additional Third Lien Debt Facility ” means any Indebtedness for which the requirements of Section 4.04(b) of this Agreement have been satisfied, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, restated, restructured, increased, supplemented, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time in accordance with each applicable Secured Debt Document; provided that no Third Lien Substitute Facility shall constitute an Additional Third Lien Debt Facility at any time.

Additional Third Lien Documents ” means the Additional Third Lien Debt Facility and the Additional Third Lien Security Documents.

Additional Third Lien Obligations ” means, with respect to any Grantor, any Obligations of such Grantor owed to any Additional Third Lien Secured Party (or any of its Affiliates) in respect of the Additional Third Lien Documents.

 

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Additional Third Lien Secured Parties ” means, at any time, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, the trustee, agent or other representative of the holders of any Series of Third Lien Debt who maintains the transfer register for such Series of Third Lien Debt, the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Grantor under any Additional Third Lien Document and each other holder of, or obligee in respect of, any holder or lender pursuant to any Series of Third Lien Debt outstanding at such time.

Additional Third Lien Security Documents ” means the Additional Third Lien Debt Facility (insofar as the same grants a Lien on the Collateral) and any other security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral agency agreements, control agreements, or grants or transfers for security, now existing or entered into after the date hereof, executed and delivered by Chesapeake or any other Grantor creating (or purporting to create) a Lien upon the Third Lien Collateral in favor of the Additional Third Lien Secured Parties.

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

Agreement ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

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

Banking Services Obligations ” means any and all Obligations of Chesapeake or any other Grantor, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor) in connection with Banking Services.

Bankruptcy Code ” means Title 11 of the United States Code.

Bankruptcy Law ” means the Bankruptcy Code and any similar federal, state or foreign law providing for the relief of debtors.

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

Business Day ” means any day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading and which is not a Legal Holiday.

Capital Stock ” means, with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock, partnership or limited liability company interests or other equity securities (including, without limitation, beneficial interests in or other securities of a trust) and any and all warrants, options and rights with respect thereto (whether or not currently exercisable), including each class of common stock and preferred stock of such Person.

 

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Chesapeake ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Class ” means (a) in the case of Priority Lien Debt, every Series of Priority Lien Debt, taken together, (b) in the case of Second Lien Debt, every Series of Second Lien Debt, taken together and (c) in the case of Third Lien Debt, every Series of Third Lien Debt, taken together.

Collateral ” means all of the assets and property of any Grantor, whether real, personal or mixed, constituting the Priority Lien Collateral, the Second Lien Collateral and/or the Third Lien Collateral.

Credit Agreement Debt ” means the Indebtedness under the Priority Credit Agreement (including letters of credit and reimbursement obligations with respect thereto) and Indebtedness under any Priority Substitute Credit Facility. For purposes of this Agreement, Indebtedness under the Priority Credit Agreement is permitted to be incurred under each of the Second Lien Indenture and any Initial Third Lien Document.

Credit Agreement Documents ” means the Priority Credit Agreement, the Credit Agreement Security Documents, the other “Credit Documents” (as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement), any documents with respect to Hedging Obligations and Banking Service Obligations secured under the terms of Credit Agreement Security Documents and all other loan documents, notes, guarantees, instruments and agreements governing or evidencing, or executed or delivered in connection with, any Priority Substitute Credit Facility.

Credit Agreement Obligations ” means the Credit Agreement Debt and all other Obligations in respect of or in connection with Credit Agreement Debt together with Hedging Obligations and Banking Services Obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, Hedging Obligations and Banking Services Obligations shall only constitute Credit Agreement Obligations to the extent that such Hedging Obligations or Banking Services Obligations, as applicable, are secured under the terms of the Credit Agreement Documents. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, the term “Credit Agreement Obligations” will include accrued interest, fees, costs, and other charges incurred under the Priority Credit Agreement and the other Credit Agreement Documents, whether incurred before or after commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, and whether or not allowable in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding. To the extent that any payment with respect to the Credit Agreement Obligations (whether by or on behalf of Chesapeake, as proceeds of security, enforcement of any right of set-off, or otherwise) is declared to be fraudulent or preferential in any respect, set aside, or required to be paid to a debtor in possession, trustee, receiver, or similar Person, then the Obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied will be deemed to be reinstated and outstanding as if such payment had not occurred.

Credit Agreement Secured Parties ” means, at any time, (a) the Priority Lien Agent, (b) each lender or issuing bank under the Priority Credit Agreement, (c) each holder, provider or obligee of any Hedging Obligations and Banking Services Obligations that (i) is a lender under the Priority Credit Agreement or an Affiliate (as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement) thereof, or (ii) was such a lender or Affiliate at the time such Hedging Obligation or Banking Services Obligation, as applicable, was entered into, and is a secured party (or a party entitled to the benefits of the security) under any Credit Agreement Document, (d) the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Grantor under any Credit Agreement Document, (e) each other Person that provides letters of credit, guarantees or other credit support related thereto under any Credit Agreement Document and (f) each other holder of, or obligee in respect of, any Credit Agreement Obligations (including pursuant to a Priority Substitute Credit Facility), in each case to the extent designated as a secured party (or a party entitled to the benefits of the security) under any Credit Agreement Document outstanding at such time.

 

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

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

DIP Financing ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.02(b) .

DIP Financing Liens ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.02(b) .

DIP Lenders ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.02(b) .

Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations ” means the occurrence of all of the following:

(a) termination or expiration of all commitments to extend credit that would constitute Priority Lien Debt;

(b) payment in full in cash of the principal of and interest and premium (if any) on all Priority Lien Debt (other than any undrawn letters of credit);

(c) discharge or cash collateralization (in an amount equal to the lower of (i) 105% of the aggregate undrawn amount and (ii) the percentage of the aggregate undrawn amount required for release of Liens under the terms of the applicable Priority Lien Document) of all outstanding letters of credit constituting Priority Lien Obligations and the aggregate fronting and similar fees which will accrue thereon through the stated expiry of such letters of credit;

(d) payment in full in cash of obligations in respect of Hedging Obligations constituting Priority Lien Obligations (and, with respect to any particular Hedge Agreement, termination of such agreement and payment in full in cash of all obligations thereunder or such other arrangements as have been made by the counterparty thereto (and communicated to the Priority Lien Agent) pursuant to the terms of the Priority Credit Agreement); and

(e) payment in full in cash of all other Priority Lien Obligations (including without limitation, Bank Services Obligations to the extent included in Priority Lien Obligations) that are outstanding and unpaid at the time the Priority Lien Debt is paid in full in cash (other than any obligations for taxes, costs, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities in respect of which no claim or demand for payment has been made at or prior to such time);

 

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provided that, if, at any time after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations has occurred, Chesapeake enters into any Priority Lien Document evidencing a Priority Lien Obligation which incurrence is not prohibited by the applicable Secured Debt Documents, then such Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations shall automatically be deemed not to have occurred for all purposes of this Agreement with respect to such new Priority Lien Obligations (other than with respect to any actions taken as a result of the occurrence of such first Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations), and, from and after the date on which Chesapeake designates such Indebtedness as Priority Lien Debt in accordance with this Agreement, the Obligations under such Priority Lien Document shall automatically and without any further action be treated as Priority Lien Obligations for all purposes of this Agreement, including for purposes of the Lien priorities and rights in respect of Collateral set forth in this Agreement, any Second Lien Obligations shall be deemed to have been at all times Second Lien Obligations and at no time Priority Lien Obligations and any Third Lien Obligations shall be deemed to have been at all times Third Lien Obligations and at no time Priority Lien Obligations or Second Lien Obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, a Replacement as contemplated by Section 4.04(a) shall not be deemed to cause a Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations.

Discharge of Second Lien Obligations ” means the occurrence of all of the following:

(a) termination or expiration of all commitments to extend credit that would constitute Second Lien Debt;

(b) payment in full in cash of the principal of and interest and premium (if any) on all Second Lien Debt (other than any undrawn letters of credit);

(c) discharge or cash collateralization (in an amount equal to the lower of (i) 105% of the aggregate undrawn amount and (ii) the percentage of the aggregate undrawn amount required for release of Liens under the terms of the applicable Second Lien Document) of all outstanding letters of credit constituting Second Lien Obligations and the aggregate fronting and similar fees which will accrue thereon through the stated expiry of such letters of credit;

(d) payment in full in cash of all obligations under secured Hedge Agreements constituting Second Lien Obligations (and, with respect to any particular Hedge Agreement, termination of such agreement and payment in full in cash of all obligations thereunder or such other arrangements as have been made by the counterparty thereto (and communicated to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee) pursuant to the terms of the Second Lien Documents); and

(e) payment in full in cash of all other Second Lien Obligations (including without limitation, Bank Services Obligations to the extent included in Second Lien Obligations) that are outstanding and unpaid at the time the Second Lien Debt is paid in full in cash (other than any obligations for taxes, costs, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities in respect of which no claim or demand for payment has been made at or prior to such time);

provided that, if at any time after the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations has occurred, Chesapeake enters into any Second Lien Document evidencing a Second Lien Obligation which incurrence is not prohibited by the applicable Secured Debt Documents, then such Discharge of Second Lien Obligations shall automatically be deemed not to have occurred for all purposes of this Agreement with respect to such new Second Lien Obligations (other than with respect to any actions taken as a result of the occurrence of such first Discharge of Second Lien Obligations), and, from and after the date on which Chesapeake designates such Indebtedness as Second Lien Debt in accordance with this Agreement, the Obligations under such Second Lien Document shall automatically and without any further action be treated as Second Lien Obligations for all purposes of this Agreement, including for purposes of the Lien priorities and rights in respect of Collateral set forth in this Agreement, any Third Lien Obligations shall be deemed to have been at all times Third Lien Obligations and at no time Second Lien Obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, a Replacement as contemplated by Section 4.04(a) shall not be deemed to cause a Discharge of Second Lien Obligations.

 

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Disposition ” shall mean any sale, lease, exchange, assignment, license, contribution, transfer or other disposition. “ Dispose ” shall have a correlative meaning.

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

Excluded Property ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Second Lien Indenture as in effect on the date hereof.

Governmental Authority ” means the government of the United States or any other nation, or any political subdivision thereof, whether state, provincial or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other Person exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.

Grantor ” means Chesapeake and each Subsidiary that shall have granted any Lien in favor of any of the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Third Lien Collateral Trustee on any of its assets or properties to secure any of the Secured Obligations.

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

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

Hedging Obligations ” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person incurred in the normal course of business and not for speculative purposes under Hedge Agreements.

 

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

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

Indebtedness ” means, without duplication, with respect to any Person, (a) all obligations of such Person, including those evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments, for the repayment of money borrowed (whether or not the recourse of the lender is to the whole of the assets of such Person or only to a portion thereof); (b) all liabilities of others of the kind described in the preceding clause (a) that such Person has guaranteed; and (c) Indebtedness (as otherwise defined in this definition) of another Person secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person, the amount of such obligations being deemed to be the lesser of (i) the full amount of such obligations so secured and (ii) the fair market value of such asset, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of such Person, which determination shall be evidenced by a resolution of such Board of Directors. Neither Dollar-Denominated Production Payments nor Volumetric Production Payments shall be deemed to be Indebtedness.

Initial Third Lien Debt Facility ” means Indebtedness secured by a Third Lien for which the requirements of Section 4.04(c) of this Agreement have been satisfied, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, restated, restructured, increased, supplemented, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time in accordance with each applicable Secured Debt Document.

Initial Third Lien Documents ” means the Initial Third Lien Debt Facility and the Initial Third Lien Security Documents.

Initial Third Lien Obligations ” means, with respect to any Grantor, any Obligations of such Grantor owed to any Initial Third Lien Secured Party (or any of its Affiliates) in respect of the Initial Third Lien Documents.

Initial Third Lien Secured Parties ” means, at any time, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, the trustees, agents and other representatives of the holders of the Initial Third Lien Debt Facility (including any holders of notes pursuant to supplements executed in connection with the issuance of Series of Third Lien Debt under the Initial Third Lien Debt Facility) who maintain the transfer register for such Third Lien Debt, the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Grantor under any Initial Third Lien Document and each other holder of, or obligee in respect of, any Initial Third Lien Obligations, any holder or lender pursuant to any Initial Third Lien Document outstanding at such time; provided that the Additional Third Lien Secured Parties shall not be deemed Initial Third Lien Secured Parties.

Initial Third Lien Security Documents ” means the Initial Third Lien Debt Facility (insofar as the same grants a Lien on the Collateral) and any other security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral agency agreements, control agreements, or grants or transfers for security, now existing or entered into after the date hereof, executed and delivered by Chesapeake or any other Grantor creating (or purporting to create) a Lien upon the Third Lien Collateral in favor of the Initial Third Lien Secured Parties (including any such agreements, assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust and other documents or instruments associated with any Third Lien Substitute Facility).

 

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Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding ” means:

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

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

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

Legal Holiday ” is a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banks and trust companies in The City of New York are not required by law or executive order to be open.

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

New York UCC ” means the Uniform Commercial Code as from time to time in effect in the State of New York.

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

Officer ” means, with respect to any Person, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary, any Senior Vice President, any Vice President or any Assistant Vice President of such Person.

Officers’ Certificate ” means a certificate signed on behalf of Chesapeake by any two Officers of Chesapeake.

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

 

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

Original Priority Lien Agent ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Original Second Lien Collateral Trustee ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Original Second Lien Trustee ” means Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, in its capacity as trustee under the Second Lien Indenture, and together with its successors in such capacity.

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

Priority Confirmation Joinder ” means an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A .

Priority Credit Agreement ” means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of December 15, 2014, by and among Chesapeake, as borrower, the Original Priority Lien Agent, as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto, as such agreement, in whole or in part, in one or more instances, may be amended, restated, renewed, extended, substituted, restructured, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time (including, without limitation, any successive amendments, restatements, renewals, extensions or substitutions), or replaced or refinanced with any Priority Substitute Credit Facility, and any credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument evidencing or governing the terms of any Priority Substitute Credit Facility.

Priority Lien ” means a Lien granted by Chesapeake or any other Grantor in favor of the Priority Lien Agent, at any time, upon any Property of Chesapeake or such Grantor to secure Priority Lien Obligations (including Liens on such Collateral under the security documents associated with any Priority Substitute Credit Facility).

 

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Priority Lien Agent ” means (a) the Original Priority Lien Agent, and, from and after the date of execution and delivery of a Priority Substitute Credit Facility, the agent, collateral agent, trustee or other representative of the lenders or holders of the Indebtedness and other Obligations evidenced thereunder or governed thereby, in each case, together with its successors in such capacity and (b) the Priority Lien Agent as collateral trustee or agent in respect of any Additional Priority Lien Debt Facility pursuant to the Priority Lien Collateral Trust Agreement.

Priority Lien Collateral ” shall mean all “Collateral”, as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement or any other Priority Lien Document, and any other assets of any Grantor now or at any time hereafter subject to Liens which secure, but only to the extent securing, any Priority Lien Obligation.

Priority Lien Collateral Trust Agreement ” means from and after the date of execution and delivery of any Additional Priority Lien Debt Facility and/or a Priority Substitute Credit Facility, a collateral trust agreement entered into among Chesapeake, the other Grantors, the Priority Lien Agent and the other Priority Lien Representatives, as amended, restated, adjusted, waived, renewed, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, in accordance with each applicable Priority Lien Document.

Priority Lien Debt ” means the Credit Agreement Debt and all additional Indebtedness incurred under any Additional Priority Lien Documents and with respect to which the requirements of Section 4.04(b) have been satisfied.

Priority Lien Documents ” means the Credit Agreement Documents, the Additional Priority Lien Documents and the Priority Lien Security Documents.

Priority Lien Obligations ” means the Credit Agreement Obligations, Additional Priority Lien Obligations and, in each case, all other Obligations in respect thereof. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, the term “Priority Lien Obligations” will include accrued interest, fees, costs and other charges incurred under the Priority Lien Documents, whether incurred before or after commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

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

Priority Lien Secured Parties ” means, at any time, the Credit Agreement Secured Parties and the Additional Priority Lien Secured Parties.

Priority Lien Security Documents ” means the Credit Agreement Security Documents and the Additional Priority Lien Security Documents.

Priority Substitute Credit Facility ” means any Credit Facility with respect to which the requirements contained in Section 4.04(a) of this Agreement have been satisfied and that Replaces the Priority Credit Agreement then in existence. For the avoidance of doubt, no Priority Substitute Credit Facility shall be required to be a revolving or asset-based loan facility and may be a facility evidenced or governed by a credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument; provided that any Priority Lien securing such Priority Substitute Credit Facility shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement for all purposes (including the lien priorities as set forth herein as of the date hereof).

 

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Property ” means, with respect to any Person, any interest of such Person in any kind of property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, or tangible or intangible, including, without limitation, cash, securities, accounts, contract rights, Capital Stock and other securities issued by any other Person (but excluding Capital Stock or other securities issued by such first mentioned Person).

Proved Developed Reserves ” means Proved Reserves that, in accordance with the Definitions for Oil and Gas Reserves promulgated by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (or any generally recognized successor), as in effect at the time in question, are classified as one of the following: (a) “Developed Producing Reserves” or (b) “Developed Non-Producing Reserves”; and Proved Developed Reserves in the aggregate comprise Proved Reserves that are “Developed Producing Reserves” and “Developed Non-Producing Reserves”.

Proved Reserves ” means oil and gas reserves that, in accordance with the Definitions for Oil and Gas Reserves promulgated by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (or any generally recognized successor), as in effect at the time in question, are classified as both “Proved Reserves” and one or more of the following: (a) “Developed Producing Reserves,” (b) “Developed Non-Producing Reserves” or (c) “Undeveloped Reserves”; and “Proved Reserves” in the aggregate comprise Proved Reserves that are “Developed Producing Reserves”, “Developed Non-Producing Reserves”, and “Undeveloped Reserves.”

Purchasable Obligations ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.06(b) .

Purchasable Priority Lien + DIP Obligations ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.06(a) .

Purchasable Priority Lien Obligations ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.06(a) .

Recovery ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.03(a) .

Replaces ” means, (a) in respect of any agreement with reference to the Priority Credit Agreement or the Priority Lien Obligations or any Priority Substitute Credit Facility, that such agreement refunds, refinances or replaces the Priority Credit Agreement, the Priority Lien Obligations or such Priority Substitute Credit Facility in whole (in a transaction that is in compliance with Section 4.04(a) ) and that all commitments thereunder are terminated, or, to the extent permitted by the terms of the Priority Credit Agreement, Priority Lien Obligations or such Priority Substitute Credit Facility, in part, (b) in respect of any agreement with reference to the Second Lien Documents, the Second Lien Obligations or any Second Lien Substitute Facility, that such Indebtedness refunds, refinances or replaces the Second Lien Documents, the Second Lien Obligations or such Second Lien Substitute Facility in whole (in a transaction that is in compliance with Section 4.04(a) ) and that all commitments thereunder are terminated, or, to the extent permitted by the terms of the Second Lien Documents, the Second Lien Obligations or such Second Lien Substitute Facility, in part and (c) in respect of any agreement with reference to the Third Lien Documents, the Third Lien Obligations or any Third Lien Substitute Facility, that such Indebtedness refunds, refinances or replaces the Third Lien Documents, the Third Lien Obligations or such Third Lien Substitute Facility in whole (in a transaction that is in compliance with Section 4.04(a) ) and that all commitments thereunder are terminated, or, to the extent permitted by the terms of the Third Lien Documents, the Third Lien Obligations, or such Third Lien Substitute Facility, in part. “ Replace ,” “ Replaced ,” “ Replacing ” and “ Replacement ” shall have correlative meanings.

 

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

Second Lien ” means a Lien granted by a Second Lien Document to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, at any time, upon any Collateral by any Grantor to secure Second Lien Obligations (including Liens on such Collateral under the security documents associated with any Second Lien Substitute Facility).

Second Lien Collateral ” shall mean all “Collateral”, as defined in any Second Lien Document, and any other assets of any Grantor now or at any time hereafter subject to Liens which secure-but only to the extent securing-any Second Lien Obligations, but excludes any such “Collateral” that is granted to secure the Second Lien Obligations pursuant to the second paragraph of Section 11.03(c) of the Second Lien Indenture as in effect on the date hereof and in compliance with such Section and the other Secured Debt Documents.

Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement ” means the Collateral Trust Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among Chesapeake, the other Grantors from time to time party thereto, the Second Lien Trustee, the other Second Lien Representatives from time to time party thereto and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, as amended, restated, adjusted, waived, renewed, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, in accordance with each applicable Second Lien Document.

Second Lien Collateral Trustee ” means the Original Second Lien Collateral Trustee, and, from and after the date of execution and delivery of a Second Lien Substitute Facility, the agent, collateral agent, trustee or other representative of the lenders or other holders of the Indebtedness and other obligations evidenced thereunder or governed thereby, in each case, together with its successors in such capacity appointed in accordance with the terms of the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement.

Second Lien Debt ” means the Indebtedness under the Second Lien Indenture Notes issued on the date hereof and guarantees thereof and all additional Indebtedness incurred under any Additional Second Lien Documents and all additional Indebtedness in respect of Additional Notes and guarantees thereof, in each case with respect to which the requirements of Section 4.04(b) have been (or are deemed) satisfied, and all Indebtedness incurred under any Second Lien Substitute Facility.

Second Lien Documents ” means the Second Lien Indenture Documents and the Additional Second Lien Documents.

Second Lien Indenture ” means the Indenture, dated as of the date hereof, among Chesapeake, the Grantors party thereto from time to time, the Second Lien Trustee and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, as amended, restated, adjusted, waived, renewed, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof (including any supplements executed in connection with the issuance of any Series of Second Lien Debt under the Second Lien Indenture), and any credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument evidencing or governing the terms of any Second Lien Substitute Facility.

 

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Second Lien Indenture Documents ” means the Second Lien Indenture, the Second Lien Indenture Notes, the Second Lien Indenture Security Documents and all other documents, notes, guarantees, instruments and agreements governing or evidencing the Second Lien Indenture Obligations or any Second Lien Substitute Facility.

Second Lien Indenture Notes ” means (i) the 8.00% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2022 issued under the Second Lien Indenture on the date hereof and (ii) any Additional Notes for which the requirements of Section 3.8 of the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement have been satisfied.

Second Lien Indenture Obligations ” means, with respect to any Grantor, any Obligations of such Grantor owed to any Second Lien Indenture Secured Party (or any of its Affiliates) in respect of the Second Lien Indenture Documents.

Second Lien Indenture Secured Parties ” means, at any time, the Second Lien Trustee, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, the trustees, agents and other representatives of the holders of the Second Lien Indenture Notes (including any holders of notes pursuant to supplements executed in connection with the issuance of any Series of Second Lien Debt under the Second Lien Indenture) who maintain the transfer register for such Second Lien Indenture Notes or such Series of Second Lien Debt, the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Grantor under any Second Lien Indenture Document and each other holder of, or obligee in respect of, any Second Lien Indenture Notes, any holder or lender pursuant to any Second Lien Indenture Document outstanding at such time; provided that the Additional Second Lien Secured Parties shall not be deemed Second Lien Indenture Secured Parties.

Second Lien Indenture Security Documents ” means the Second Lien Indenture (insofar as the same grants a Lien on the Collateral), the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement, each agreement listed in Part B of Exhibit B hereto and any other security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral agency agreements, control agreements, or grants or transfers for security, now existing or entered into after the date hereof, executed and delivered by Chesapeake or any other Grantor creating (or purporting to create) a Lien upon Collateral in favor of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee (including any such agreements, assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust and other documents or instruments associated with any Second Lien Substitute Facility).

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

Second Lien Purchaser Representative ” means (a) initially, the Second Lien Trustee or (b) such other Person that is appointed from time to time by the Second Lien Representatives to replace the Second Lien Trustee (or subsequent Second Lien Purchaser Representative) pursuant to a written notice to the Priority Lien Agent.

Second Lien Purchasers ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.06(a) .

Second Lien Recovery ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.03(b) .

Second Lien Representative ” means (a) in the case of the Second Lien Indenture Notes, the Second Lien Trustee, and (b) in the case of any other Series of Second Lien Debt, the trustee, agent or representative of the holders of such Series of Second Lien Debt who (i) is appointed as a Second Lien

 

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Representative (for purposes related to the administration of the Additional Second Lien Security Documents) pursuant to the indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Second Lien Debt, together with its successors in such capacity, and (ii) has become party to the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement by executing a joinder in the form required under the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement.

Second Lien Secured Parties ” means the Second Lien Indenture Secured Parties and the Additional Second Lien Secured Parties.

Second Lien Security Documents ” means the Second Lien Indenture Security Documents and the Additional Second Lien Security Documents.

Second Lien Standstill Period ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.02(a)(i) .

Second Lien Substitute Facility ” means any facility with respect to which the requirements contained in Section 4.04(a) of this Agreement have been satisfied and that Replaces the Second Lien Indenture and/or any Additional Second Lien Debt Facility then in existence. For the avoidance of doubt, no Second Lien Substitute Facility shall be required to be evidenced by notes or other instruments and may be a facility evidenced or governed by a credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument; provided that any such Second Lien Substitute Facility shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement for all purposes (including the lien priority as set forth herein as of the date hereof).

Second Lien Trustee ” means the Original Second Lien Trustee, and, from and after the date of execution and delivery of a Second Lien Substitute Facility, the agent, collateral agent, trustee or other representative of the lenders or other holders of the Indebtedness and other obligations evidenced thereunder or governed thereby, together with its successors in such capacity.

Secured Debt Documents ” means the Priority Lien Documents, the Second Lien Documents and the Third Lien Documents.

Secured Debt Representative ” means the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee.

Secured Obligations ” means the Priority Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Obligations and the Third Lien Obligations.

Secured Parties ” means the Priority Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Secured Parties and the Third Lien Secured Parties.

Security Documents ” means the Priority Lien Security Documents, the Second Lien Security Documents and the Third Lien Security Documents.

Series of Priority Lien Debt ” means, severally, the Priority Credit Agreement and each other issue or series of Priority Lien Debt (including any Additional Priority Lien Debt Facility) for which a single transfer register is maintained.

Series of Second Lien Debt ” means, severally, the Second Lien Indenture Notes and each other issue or series of Second Lien Debt (including any Additional Second Lien Debt Facility) for which a single transfer register is maintained.

 

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Series of Secured Debt ” means each Series of Priority Lien Debt, each Series of Second Lien Debt and each Series of Third Lien Debt.

Series of Third Lien Debt ” means, severally, the Initial Third Lien Debt Facility and each other issue or series of Third Lien Debt (including any Additional Third Lien Debt Facility) for which a single transfer register is maintained.

Standstill Period ” means the Second Lien Standstill Period, the Third Lien First Standstill Period and the Third Lien Second Standstill Period, as applicable.

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

Third Lien ” means a Lien granted by a Third Lien Document to the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, at any time, upon any Collateral by any Grantor to secure Third Lien Obligations (including Liens on such Collateral under the security documents associated with any Third Lien Substitute Facility).

Third Lien Collateral ” shall mean all “Collateral”, as defined in any Third Lien Document, and any other assets of any Grantor now or at any time hereafter subject to Liens which secure, but only to the extent securing, any Third Lien Obligations.

Third Lien Collateral Trust Agreement ” means from and after the date of execution and delivery of the Initial Third Lien Debt Facility, a collateral trust agreement entered into among Chesapeake, the other Grantors, the Third Lien Representatives and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, as amended, restated, adjusted, waived, renewed, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, in accordance with each applicable Third Lien Document.

Third Lien Collateral Trustee ” means from and after the date of execution and delivery of the Initial Third Lien Debt Facility, the agent, collateral agent, trustee or other representative of the lenders or other holders of the Indebtedness and other obligations evidenced thereunder or governed thereby, in each case, together with its successors in such capacity appointed in accordance with the terms of the Third Lien Collateral Trust Agreement.

Third Lien Debt ” means Indebtedness under the Initial Third Lien Debt Facility and Indebtedness incurred under any Additional Third Lien Documents and with respect to which the requirements of Section 4.04(c) have been satisfied, and all Indebtedness incurred under any Third Lien Substitute Facility.

Third Lien Documents ” means the Initial Third Lien Documents, the Additional Third Lien Documents and all other loan documents, notes, guarantees, instruments and agreements governing or evidencing any Third Lien Substitute Facility.

Third Lien First Standstill Period ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.02(a)(ii) .

 

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Third Lien Obligations ” means Third Lien Debt and all other Obligations in respect thereof. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, the term “Third Lien Obligations” will include accrued interest, fees, costs and other charges incurred under the Third Lien Documents, whether incurred before or after commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

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

Third Lien Second Standstill Period ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.02(b) .

Third Lien Secured Parties ” means the Initial Third Lien Secured Parties and the Additional Third Lien Secured Parties.

Third Lien Security Documents ” means the Initial Third Lien Security Documents and the Additional Third Lien Security Documents.

Third Lien Substitute Facility ” means any facility with respect to which the requirements contained in Section 4.04(a) of this Agreement have been satisfied and that Replaces any Initial Third Lien Debt Facility and/or Additional Third Lien Debt Facility then in existence. For the avoidance of doubt, no Third Lien Substitute Facility shall be required to be evidenced by notes or other instruments and may be a facility evidenced or governed by a credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument; provided that any such Third Lien Substitute Facility shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement for all purposes (including the lien priority as set forth herein as of the date hereof).

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

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

ARTICLE II

LIEN PRIORITIES

Section 2.01 Relative Priorities .

(a) The grant of the Priority Liens pursuant to the Priority Lien Documents, the grant of the Second Liens pursuant to the Second Lien Documents and the grant of the Third Liens pursuant to the Third Lien Documents create three separate and distinct Liens on the Collateral.

 

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(b) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement, the Priority Lien Documents, the Second Lien Documents, the Third Lien Documents or any other agreement or instrument or operation of law to the contrary, or any other circumstance whatsoever and irrespective of (i) how a Lien was acquired (whether by grant, possession, statute, operation of law, subrogation, or otherwise), (ii) the time, manner, or order of the grant, attachment or perfection of a Lien, (iii) any conflicting provision of the New York UCC or other applicable law, (iv) any defect in, or non-perfection, setting aside, or avoidance of, a Lien or a Priority Lien Document, a Second Lien Document or a Third Lien Document, (v) the modification of a Priority Lien Obligation, a Second Lien Obligation or a Third Lien Obligation, or (vi) the subordination of a Lien on Collateral securing a Priority Lien Obligation to a Lien securing another obligation of Chesapeake or other Person that is permitted under the Priority Lien Documents as in effect on the date hereof or securing a DIP Financing, each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, on behalf of itself and the other Second Lien Secured Parties, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, on behalf of itself and the other Third Lien Secured Parties, hereby agree that (i) any Priority Lien on any Collateral now or hereafter held by or for the benefit of any Priority Lien Secured Party shall be senior in right, priority, operation, effect and all other respects to (A) any and all Second Liens on any Collateral and (B) any and all Third Liens on any Collateral, (ii) any Second Lien on any Collateral now or hereafter held by or for the benefit of any Second Lien Secured Party shall be (A) junior and subordinate in right, priority, operation, effect and all other respects to any and all Priority Liens on any Collateral and (B) senior in right, priority, operation, effect and all other respects to any and all Third Liens on any Collateral and (iii) any Third Lien on any Collateral now or hereafter held by or for the benefit of any Third Lien Secured Party shall be junior and subordinate in right, priority, operation, effect and all other respects to (A) any and all Priority Liens on any Collateral and (B) any and all Second Liens on any Collateral.

(c) It is acknowledged that (i) the aggregate amount of the Priority Lien Obligations may be increased from time to time pursuant to the terms of the Priority Lien Documents, (ii) a portion of the Priority Lien Obligations consists or may consist of Indebtedness that is revolving in nature, and the amount thereof that may be outstanding at any time or from time to time may be increased or reduced and subsequently reborrowed, and (iii) (A) the Priority Lien Documents may be replaced, restated, supplemented, restructured or otherwise amended or modified from time to time and (B) the Priority Lien Obligations may be increased, extended, renewed, replaced, restated, supplemented, restructured, repaid, refunded, refinanced or otherwise amended or modified from time to time, in the case of the foregoing (A) and (B) all without affecting the subordination of the Second Liens or Third Liens hereunder or the provisions of this Agreement defining the relative rights of the Priority Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Secured Parties and the Third Lien Secured Parties. It is acknowledged that (i) the aggregate amount of the Second Lien Obligations may be increased from time to time pursuant to the terms of the Second Lien Documents (to the extent not constrained by the Priority Credit Agreement or any other relevant agreement), (ii) a portion of the Second Lien Obligations may consist of Indebtedness that is revolving in nature, and the amount thereof that may be outstanding at any time or from time to time may be increased or reduced and subsequently reborrowed, and (iii) (A) the Second Lien Documents may be replaced, restated, supplemented, restructured or otherwise amended or modified from time to time and (B) the Second Lien Obligations may be increased, extended, renewed, replaced, restated, supplemented, restructured, repaid, refunded, refinanced or otherwise amended or modified from time to time, in the case of the foregoing (A) and (B) all without affecting the subordination of the Third Liens hereunder or the provisions of this Agreement defining the relative rights of the Priority Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Secured Parties and the Third Lien Secured Parties. It is acknowledged that (i) the aggregate amount of the Third Lien Obligations may be increased from time to time pursuant to the terms of the Third Lien Documents (to the extent not constrained by the Priority Credit Agreement or any other relevant agreement), (ii) a portion of the Third Lien Obligations may consist of Indebtedness that is revolving in nature, and the amount thereof that may be outstanding at any time or from time to time may be increased or reduced and subsequently reborrowed, and (iii) (A) the Third Lien Documents may be

 

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replaced, restated, supplemented, restructured or otherwise amended or modified from time to time and (B) the Third Lien Obligations may be increased, extended, renewed, replaced, restated, supplemented, restructured, repaid, refunded, refinanced or otherwise amended or modified from time to time, in the case of the foregoing (A) and (B) all without affecting the provisions of this Agreement defining the relative rights of the Priority Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Secured Parties and the Third Lien Secured Parties. The lien priorities provided for herein shall not be altered or otherwise affected by any amendment, modification, supplement, extension, increase, renewal, restatement or Replacement of either the Priority Lien Obligations (or any part thereof), the Second Lien Obligations (or any part thereof) or the Third Lien Obligations (or any part thereof), by the release of any Collateral or of any guarantees for any Priority Lien Obligations or by any action that any Secured Debt Representative or Secured Party may take or fail to take in respect of any Collateral.

Section 2.02 Prohibition on Marshalling, Etc .

(a) Until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee will not assert any marshalling, appraisal, valuation, or other similar right that may otherwise be available to such Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself, or as a representative of another Person.

(b) Until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations and the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee will not assert any marshalling, appraisal, valuation, or other similar right that may otherwise be available to such Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself, or as a representative of another Person.

Section 2.03 No New Liens . The parties hereto agree that, (a) so long as the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations has not occurred, none of the Grantors shall, nor shall any Grantor permit any of its subsidiaries to, (i) grant or permit any additional Liens on any asset of a Grantor to secure any Third Lien Obligation, or take any action to perfect any additional Liens to secure any Third Lien Obligation, unless it has granted, or substantially concurrently therewith grants (or offers to grant), a Lien on such asset of such Grantor to secure (A) the Priority Lien Obligations and has taken all actions required to perfect such Liens and (B) the Second Lien Obligations and has taken all actions required to perfect such Liens; provided , however , the refusal or inability of the Priority Lien Agent or the Second Lien Collateral Trustee to accept such Lien will not prevent the Third Lien Collateral Trustee from taking the Lien, (ii) grant or permit any additional Liens on any asset of a Grantor to secure any Second Lien Obligation, or take any action to perfect any additional Liens to secure any Second Lien Obligation, unless it has granted, or substantially concurrently therewith grants (or offers to grant), a Lien on such asset of such Grantor to secure (A) the Priority Lien Obligations (except to the extent otherwise permitted by the Priority Lien Documents) and has taken all actions required to perfect such Liens and (B) the Third Lien Obligations and has taken all actions required to perfect such Liens; provided , however , the refusal or inability of the Priority Lien Agent or the Third Lien Collateral Trustee to accept such Lien will not prevent the Second Lien Collateral Trustee from taking the Lien, or (iii) grant or permit any additional Liens on any asset of a Grantor to secure any Priority Lien Obligation, or take any action to perfect any additional Liens to secure any Priority Lien Obligation, unless it has granted, or substantially concurrently therewith grants (or offers to grant), a Lien on such asset of such Grantor to secure (A) the Second Lien Obligations and has taken all actions required to perfect such Liens and (B) the Third Lien Obligations and has taken all actions required to perfect such Liens; provided , however , the refusal or inability of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Third Lien Collateral Trustee to accept such Lien will not prevent the Priority Lien Agent from taking the Lien and (b) after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, none of the Grantors shall, nor shall any Grantor permit any of its subsidiaries to, (i) grant or permit any additional Liens on any asset of a Grantor to secure any Second Lien Obligation, or take any action to perfect any additional Liens to secure any Second Lien Obligation, unless it has granted, or substantially concurrently therewith grants (or offers to

 

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grant), a Lien on such asset of such Grantor to secure the Third Lien Obligations and has taken all actions required to perfect such Liens, unless the Third Priority Collateral Trustee otherwise agrees; provided , however , the refusal or inability of the Third Lien Collateral Trustee to accept such Lien will not prevent the Second Lien Collateral Trustee from taking the Lien, or (ii) grant or permit any additional Liens on any asset of a Grantor to secure any Third Lien Obligations, or take any action to perfect any additional Liens to secure any Third Lien Obligation, unless it has granted, or substantially concurrently therewith grants (or offers to grant), a Lien on such asset of a Grantor to secure the Second Lien Obligations and has taken all actions required to perfect such Liens; provided , however , the refusal or inability of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee to accept such Lien will not prevent the Third Lien Collateral Trustee from taking the Lien, with each such Lien as described in clauses (a)  and (b)  of this Section 2.03 to be subject to the provisions of this Agreement. To the extent that the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence are not complied with for any reason, without limiting any other right or remedy available to the Priority Lien Agent, the other Priority Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, the other Second Lien Secured Parties, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or the other Third Lien Secured Parties, each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of the other Second Lien Secured Parties, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of the other Third Lien Secured Parties, agrees that any amounts received by or distributed to any Second Lien Secured Party or Third Lien Secured Party, as applicable, pursuant to or as a result of any Lien granted in contravention of this Section 2.03 shall be subject to Section 3.05(b) .

Section 2.04 Similar Collateral and Agreements . The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that it is their intention that the Priority Lien Collateral, the Second Lien Collateral and the Third Lien Collateral be identical (except that (x) the Priority Lien Obligations may be secured by less than all the assets in the Second Lien Collateral and the Third Lien Collateral, to the extent permitted or required by the Priority Lien Documents, (y) the Second Lien Obligations may be secured by less than all the assets in the Priority Lien Collateral and the Third Lien Collateral, to the extent permitted or required by the Second Lien Documents, and (z) the Third Lien Obligations may be secured by less than all the assets in the Priority Lien Collateral and the Second Lien Collateral, to the extent permitted or required by the Third Lien Documents). In furtherance of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree (a) to cooperate in good faith in order to determine, upon any reasonable request by the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, the specific assets included in the Priority Lien Collateral, the Second Lien Collateral and the Third Lien Collateral, the steps taken to perfect the Priority Liens, the Second Liens and the Third Liens thereon and the identity of the respective parties obligated under the Priority Lien Documents, the Second Lien Documents and the Third Lien Documents in respect of the Priority Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Obligations and the Third Lien Obligations, respectively, (b) that the Second Lien Security Documents creating Liens on the Collateral shall be in all material respects the same forms of documents as the respective Priority Lien Security Documents creating Liens on the Collateral other than (i) with respect to the priority nature of the Liens created thereunder in such Collateral, (ii) such modifications to such Second Lien Security Documents which are less restrictive than the corresponding Priority Lien Security Documents, (iii) provisions in the Second Lien Security Documents which are solely applicable to the rights and duties of the Second Lien Secured Parties, and (iv) such deletions or modifications of representations, warranties and covenants as are customary with respect to security documents establishing Liens securing publicly traded debt securities, (c) that the Third Lien Security Documents creating Liens on the Collateral shall be in all material respects the same forms of documents as the respective Priority Lien Security Documents and Second Lien Security Documents creating Liens on the Collateral other than (i) with respect to the priority nature of the Liens created thereunder in such Collateral, (ii) such modifications to such Third Lien Security Documents which are less restrictive than the corresponding Priority Lien Security Documents and Second Lien Security Documents, (iii) provisions in the Third Lien Security Documents which are solely applicable to the rights and duties of the Third Lien Secured Parties, and (iv) such deletions or modifications of representations, warranties and covenants as are customary with respect to security

 

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documents establishing Liens securing publicly traded debt securities, (d) that at no time shall there be any Grantor that is an obligor in respect of the Second Lien Obligations that is not also an obligor in respect of the Priority Lien Obligations (except to the extent otherwise permitted by the Priority Lien Documents), (e) that at no time shall there be any Grantor that is an obligor in respect of the Third Lien Obligations that is not also an obligor in respect of the Priority Lien Obligations (except as otherwise permitted by the Priority Lien Documents) and the Second Lien Obligations (except to the extent otherwise permitted by the Second Lien Documents), and (f) that at no time shall there be a Grantor that is an obligor in respect of the Priority Lien Obligations that is not also an obligor in respect of the Second Lien Obligations and the Third Lien Obligations.

Section 2.05 No Duties of Priority Lien Agent. Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, acknowledges and agrees that neither the Priority Lien Agent nor any other Priority Lien Secured Party shall have any duties or other obligations to any such Second Lien Secured Party or Third Lien Secured Party with respect to any Collateral, other than to transfer to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee any remaining Collateral and any proceeds of the sale or other Disposition of any such Collateral remaining in its possession following the associated Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, in each case without representation or warranty on the part of the Priority Lien Agent or any Priority Lien Secured Party. In furtherance of the foregoing, each Second Lien Secured Party and Third Lien Secured Party acknowledges and agrees that until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations (subject to the terms of Section 3.02 , including the rights of the Second Lien Secured Parties and the Third Lien Secured Parties following the expiration of any applicable Standstill Period), the Priority Lien Agent shall be entitled, for the benefit of the Priority Lien Secured Parties, to sell, transfer or otherwise Dispose of or deal with such Collateral, as provided herein and in the Priority Lien Documents, without regard to (a) any Second Lien or any rights to which the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any Second Lien Secured Party would otherwise be entitled as a result of such Second Lien or (b) any Third Lien or any rights to which the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any Third Lien Secured Party would otherwise be entitled as a result of such Third Lien. Without limiting the foregoing, each Second Lien Secured Party and Third Lien Secured Party agrees that neither the Priority Lien Agent nor any other Priority Lien Secured Party shall have any duty or obligation first to marshal or realize upon any type of Collateral, or to sell, Dispose of or otherwise liquidate all or any portion of such Collateral, in any manner that would maximize the return to the Second Lien Secured Parties or the Third Lien Secured Parties, notwithstanding that the order and timing of any such realization, sale, Disposition or liquidation may affect the amount of proceeds actually received by the Second Lien Secured Parties or the Third Lien Secured Parties, as applicable, from such realization, sale, Disposition or liquidation. Each of the Second Lien Secured Parties and Third Lien Secured Parties waives any claim such Second Lien Secured Party or Third Lien Secured Party may now or hereafter have against the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party arising out of any actions which the Priority Lien Agent or the Priority Lien Secured Parties take or omit to take (including actions with respect to the creation, perfection or continuation of Liens on any Collateral, actions with respect to the foreclosure upon, sale, release or depreciation of, or failure to realize upon, any of the Collateral, and actions with respect to the collection of any claim for all or any part of the Priority Lien Obligations from any account debtor, guarantor or any other party) in accordance with this Agreement and the Priority Lien Documents or the valuation, use, protection or release of any security for the Priority Lien Obligations.

Section 2.06 No Duties of Second Lien Collateral Trustee . The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, acknowledges and agrees that neither the Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party shall have any duties or other obligations to such Third Lien Secured Party with respect to any Collateral, other than to transfer to the Third Lien Collateral Trustee any remaining Collateral and any proceeds of the sale or other Disposition of any such Collateral remaining in its possession following the associated Discharge of Second Lien

 

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Obligations (provided such Discharge of Second Lien Obligations occurs after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations), in each case without representation or warranty on the part of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any Second Lien Secured Party. In furtherance of the foregoing, each Third Lien Secured Party acknowledges and agrees that after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations and until the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations (subject to the terms of Section 3.02 , including the rights of the Third Lien Secured Parties following expiration of the Third Lien Second Standstill Period), the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall be entitled, for the benefit of the Second Lien Secured Parties, to sell, transfer or otherwise Dispose of or deal with such Collateral, as provided herein and in the Second Lien Documents, without regard to any Third Lien or any rights to which the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any Third Lien Secured Party would otherwise be entitled as a result of such Third Lien. Without limiting the foregoing, each Third Lien Secured Party agrees that neither the Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party shall have any duty or obligation first to marshal or realize upon any type of Collateral, or to sell, Dispose of or otherwise liquidate all or any portion of such Collateral, in any manner that would maximize the return to the Third Lien Secured Parties, notwithstanding that the order and timing of any such realization, sale, Disposition or liquidation may affect the amount of proceeds actually received by the Third Lien Secured Parties from such realization, sale, Disposition or liquidation. Each of the Third Lien Secured Parties waives any claim such Third Lien Secured Party may now or hereafter have against the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party arising out of any actions which the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Second Lien Secured Parties take or omit to take (including actions with respect to the creation, perfection or continuation of Liens on any Collateral, actions with respect to the foreclosure upon, sale, release or depreciation of, or failure to realize upon, any of the Collateral, and actions with respect to the collection of any claim for all or any part of the Second Lien Obligations from any account debtor, guarantor or any other party) in accordance with this Agreement and the Second Lien Documents or the valuation, use, protection or release of any security for the Second Lien Obligations.

ARTICLE III

ENFORCEMENT RIGHTS; PURCHASE OPTION

Section 3.01 Limitation on Enforcement Action.

(a) Prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, hereby agrees that, subject to Sections 3.02 , 3.05(b) and 4.07 , none of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party shall commence any judicial or nonjudicial foreclosure proceedings with respect to, seek to have a trustee, receiver, liquidator or similar official appointed for or over, attempt any action to take possession of, exercise any right, remedy or power with respect to, or otherwise take any action to enforce its interest in or realize upon, or take any other action available to it in respect of, any Collateral under any Second Lien Security Document or Third Lien Security Document, as applicable, applicable law or otherwise (including but not limited to any right of setoff), it being agreed that only the Priority Lien Agent, acting in accordance with the applicable Priority Lien Documents, shall have the exclusive right (and whether or not any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding has been commenced), to take any such actions or exercise any such remedies, in each case, without any consultation with or the consent of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party. In exercising rights and remedies with respect to the Collateral, the Priority Lien Agent and the other Priority Lien Secured Parties may enforce the provisions of the Priority Lien Documents and exercise remedies thereunder, all in such order and in such manner as they may determine in their sole discretion and regardless of whether such exercise and enforcement is adverse to the interest of any Second Lien Secured Party or Third Lien Secured Party. Such exercise and enforcement shall include the rights of an agent appointed by them to Dispose of

 

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Collateral upon foreclosure, to incur expenses in connection with any such Disposition and to exercise all the rights and remedies of a secured creditor under the Uniform Commercial Code, the Bankruptcy Code or any other Bankruptcy Law. Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of the other Second Lien Secured Parties, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of the other Third Lien Secured Parties, hereby acknowledges and agrees that no covenant, agreement or restriction contained in any Second Lien Security Document, any other Second Lien Document, any Third Lien Security Document or any other Third Lien Document, as applicable, shall be deemed to restrict in any way the rights and remedies of the Priority Lien Agent or the other Priority Lien Secured Parties with respect to the Collateral as set forth in this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to Section 3.05 , the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, on behalf of the Second Lien Secured Parties, may, but will have no obligation to, take all such actions (not adverse to the Priority Liens or the rights of the Priority Lien Agent and the Priority Lien Secured Parties) it deems necessary to perfect or continue the perfection of the Second Liens in the Collateral or to create, preserve or protect (but not enforce) the Second Liens in the Collateral, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, on behalf of the Third Lien Secured Parties, may, but will have no obligation to, take all such actions (not adverse to the Priority Liens or Second Liens or the rights of the Priority Lien Agent, the Priority Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Second Lien Secured Parties) it deems necessary to perfect or continue the perfection of the Third Liens in the Collateral or to create, preserve or protect (but not enforce) the Third Liens in the Collateral. Nothing herein shall limit the right or ability of the Second Lien Secured Parties or any Third Lien Secured Parties to (i) purchase (by credit bid or otherwise) all or any portion of the Collateral in connection with any enforcement of remedies by the Priority Lien Agent to the extent that, and so long as, the Priority Lien Secured Parties receive payment in full in cash of all Priority Lien Obligations after giving effect thereto or (ii) file a proof of claim with respect to the Second Lien Obligations or the Third Lien Obligations, as applicable.

(b) Following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, hereby agrees that, subject to Sections 3.02 , 3.05(b) and 4.07 , neither the Third Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Third Lien Secured Party shall commence any judicial or nonjudicial foreclosure proceedings with respect to, seek to have a trustee, receiver, liquidator or similar official appointed for or over, attempt any action to take possession of, exercise any right, remedy or power with respect to, or otherwise take any action to enforce its interest in or realize upon, or take any other action available to it in respect of, any Collateral under any Third Lien Security Document, applicable law or otherwise (including but not limited to any right of setoff), it being agreed that only the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, acting in accordance with the applicable Second Lien Documents, shall have the exclusive right (and whether or not any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding has been commenced), to take any such actions or exercise any such remedies, in each case, without any consultation with or the consent of the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party. In exercising rights and remedies with respect to the Collateral, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the other Second Lien Secured Parties may enforce the provisions of the Second Lien Documents and exercise remedies thereunder, all in such order and in such manner as they may determine in their sole discretion and regardless of whether such exercise and enforcement is adverse to the interest of any Third Lien Secured Party. Such exercise and enforcement shall include the rights of an agent appointed by them to Dispose of Collateral upon foreclosure, to incur expenses in connection with any such Disposition and to exercise all the rights and remedies of a secured creditor under the Uniform Commercial Code, the Bankruptcy Code or any other Bankruptcy Law. The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of the other Third Lien Secured Parties, hereby acknowledges and agrees that no covenant, agreement or restriction contained in any Third Lien Security Document or any other Third Lien Document shall be deemed to restrict in any way the rights and remedies of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the other Second Lien Secured Parties with respect to the Collateral as set forth in this Agreement.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to Section 3.05 , the Third Lien Collateral Trustee may, but will have no obligation to, on behalf of the Third Lien Secured Parties, take all such actions (not adverse to the Second Liens or the rights of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Second Lien Secured Parties) it deems necessary to perfect or continue the perfection of the Third Liens in the Collateral or to create, preserve or protect (but not enforce) the Third Liens in the Collateral.

Section 3.02 Standstill Periods; Permitted Enforcement Action .

(a) Prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations and notwithstanding Section 3.01 , both before and during an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding:

(i) after a period of 180 days has elapsed (which period will be tolled during any period in which the Priority Lien Agent is not entitled, on behalf of the Priority Lien Secured Parties, to enforce or exercise any rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral as a result of (A) any injunction issued by a court of competent jurisdiction or (B) the automatic stay or any other stay in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding) since the date on which the Second Lien Collateral Trustee has delivered to the Priority Lien Agent and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee written notice of the acceleration of any Second Lien Debt (the “ Second Lien Standstill Period ”), the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the other Second Lien Secured Parties may enforce or exercise any rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral; provided , however that notwithstanding the expiration of the Second Lien Standstill Period or anything in the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement or the Second Lien Documents to the contrary, in no event may the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party enforce or exercise any rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral, or commence, join with any Person at any time in commencing, or petition for or vote in favor of any resolution for, any such action or proceeding, if the Priority Lien Agent on behalf of the Priority Lien Secured Parties or any other Priority Lien Secured Party shall have commenced, and shall be diligently pursuing (or shall have sought or requested relief from, or modification of, the automatic stay or any other stay or other prohibition in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding to enable the commencement and pursuit thereof), the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to the Collateral or any such action or proceeding (prompt written notice thereof to be given to the Second Lien Representatives by the Priority Lien Agent); provided , further , that, at any time after the expiration of the Second Lien Standstill Period, if neither the Priority Lien Agent nor any other Priority Lien Secured Party shall have commenced and be diligently pursuing (or shall have sought or requested relief from, or modification of, the automatic stay or any other stay or other prohibition in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding to enable the commencement and pursuit thereof) the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to any material portion of the Collateral or any such action or proceeding, in respect of such rights or remedies, then the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall be free to commence the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to any material portion of the Collateral or any such action or proceeding, in respect of such rights and remedies, and for so long as the Second Lien Collateral Trustee is diligently pursuing such rights or remedies, no Priority Lien Secured Party shall take any action of a similar nature with respect to such Collateral, or commence, join with any Person at any time in commencing, or petition for or vote in favor of any resolution for, any such action or proceeding (provided that during such period the Priority Lien Agent may take any of the actions the Second Lien Collateral Trustee is permitted to take during the Second Lien Standstill Period); and

(ii) after a period of 270 days has elapsed (which period will be tolled during any period in which the Priority Lien Agent is not entitled, on behalf of the Priority Lien Secured Parties, to enforce or exercise any rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral as a result of (A) any injunction issued by a court of competent jurisdiction or (B) the automatic stay or any other stay in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding) since the date on which the Third Lien Collateral Trustee has delivered to the Priority Lien Agent and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee written notice of the acceleration of any Third Lien Debt (the “ Third Lien First

 

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Standstill Period ”), the Third Lien Collateral Trustee and the other Third Lien Secured Parties may enforce or exercise any rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral; provided , however that notwithstanding the expiration of the Third Lien First Standstill Period or anything in the Third Lien Collateral Trust Agreement or the Third Lien Documents to the contrary, in no event may the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party enforce or exercise any rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral, or commence, join with any Person at any time in commencing, or petition for or vote in favor of any resolution for, any such action or proceeding, if (I) the Priority Lien Agent on behalf of the Priority Lien Secured Parties or any other Priority Lien Secured Party or (II) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee on behalf of the Second Lien Secured Parties or any other Second Lien Secured Party shall have commenced, and shall be diligently pursuing (or shall have sought or requested relief from, or modification of, the automatic stay or any other stay or prohibition in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding to enable the commencement and pursuit thereof), the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to the Collateral or any such action or proceeding (prompt written notice thereof to be given to the Third Lien Representatives by the Priority Lien Agent or the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, as applicable); provided , further , that, at any time after the expiration of the Third Lien First Standstill Period, if none of a Priority Lien Secured Party, the Priority Lien Agent, any Second Lien Secured Party or the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall have commenced and be diligently pursuing the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to any material portion of the Collateral or any such action or proceeding, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee shall have commenced the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to any material portion of the Collateral or any such action or proceeding, then for so long as the Third Lien Collateral Trustee is diligently pursuing such rights or remedies, none of any Priority Lien Secured Party, the Priority Lien Agent, any Second Lien Secured Party or the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall take any action of a similar nature with respect to such Collateral, or commence, join with any Person at any time in commencing, or petition for or vote in favor of any resolution for, any such action or proceeding (provided that during such period the Priority Lien Agent may take any of the actions the Third Lien Collateral Trustee is permitted to take during the Third Lien First Standstill Period).

(b) Following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations and notwithstanding Section 3.01 , both before and during an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, after a period of 180 days has elapsed (which period will be tolled during any period in which the Second Lien Collateral Trustee is not entitled, on behalf of the Second Lien Secured Parties, to enforce or exercise any rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral as a result of (A) any injunction issued by a court of competent jurisdiction or (B) the automatic stay or any other stay in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding) since the date on which the Third Lien Collateral Trustee has delivered to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee written notice of the acceleration of any Third Lien Debt (the “ Third Lien Second Standstill Period ”), the Third Lien Collateral Trustee and the other Third Lien Secured Parties may enforce or exercise any rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral; provided , however that notwithstanding the expiration of the Third Lien Second Standstill Period or anything in the Third Lien Collateral Trust Agreement or the Third Lien Documents to the contrary, in no event may the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party enforce or exercise any rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral, or commence, join with any Person at any time in commencing, or petition for or vote in favor of any resolution for, any such action or proceeding, if the Second Lien Collateral Trustee on behalf of the Second Lien Secured Parties or any other Second Lien Secured Party shall have commenced, and shall be diligently pursuing (or shall have sought or requested relief from, or modification of, the automatic stay or any other stay or prohibition in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding to enable the commencement and pursuit thereof), the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to the Collateral or any such action or proceeding (prompt written notice thereof to be given to the Third Lien Representatives by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee); provided , further , that, at any time after the expiration of the Third Lien Second Standstill Period, if neither the Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party shall have commenced and be diligently

 

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pursuing the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to any material portion of the Collateral or any such action or proceeding, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee shall have commenced the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to any material portion of the Collateral or any such action or proceeding, then for so long as the Third Lien Collateral Trustee is diligently pursuing such rights or remedies, neither any Second Lien Secured Party nor the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall take any action of a similar nature with respect to such Collateral, or commence, join with any Person at any time in commencing, or petition for or vote in favor of any resolution for, any such action or proceeding (provided that during such period the Second Lien Collateral Trustee may take any of the actions the Third Lien Collateral Trustee is permitted to take during the Third Lien Second Standstill Period).

Section 3.03 [Reserved] .

Section 3.04 Notification of Release of Collateral . Each of the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee shall give the other Secured Debt Representatives prompt written notice of the Disposition by it of, and Release by it of the Lien on, any Collateral. Such notice shall describe in reasonable detail the subject Collateral, the parties involved in such Disposition or Release, the place, time, manner and method thereof, and the consideration, if any, received therefor; provided, however, that the failure to give any such notice shall not in and of itself in any way impair the effectiveness of any such Disposition or Release.

Section 3.05 No Interference; Payment Over .

(a) No Interference .

(i) The Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Second Lien Secured Party, agrees that each Second Lien Secured Party (A) will not take or cause to be taken any action the purpose or effect of which is, or could be, to make any Second Lien pari passu with, or to give such Second Lien Secured Party any preference or priority relative to, any Priority Lien with respect to the Collateral or any part thereof, (B) will not challenge or question in any proceeding the validity or enforceability of any Priority Lien Obligations or Priority Lien Document, or the validity, attachment, perfection or priority of any Priority Lien, or the validity or enforceability of the priorities, rights or duties established by the provisions of this Agreement, (C) will not take or cause to be taken any action the purpose or effect of which is, or could be, to interfere, hinder or delay, in any manner, whether by judicial proceedings or otherwise, any sale, transfer or other Disposition of the Collateral by any Priority Lien Secured Party or the Priority Lien Agent in any enforcement action, (D) shall have no right to (1) direct the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party to exercise any right, remedy or power with respect to any Collateral or (2) consent to the exercise by the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party of any right, remedy or power with respect to any Collateral, (E) will not institute any suit or assert in any suit or Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding any claim against the Priority Lien Agent or other Priority Lien Secured Party seeking damages from or other relief by way of specific performance, instructions or otherwise with respect to, and neither the Priority Lien Agent nor any other Priority Lien Secured Party shall be liable for, any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Priority Lien Agent or other Priority Lien Secured Party with respect to any Priority Lien Collateral, (F) prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, will not seek, and hereby waives any right, to have any Collateral or any part thereof marshaled upon any foreclosure or other Disposition of such Collateral, (G) will not attempt, directly or indirectly, whether by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to challenge the enforceability of any provision of this Agreement, (H) will not object to forbearance by the Priority Lien Agent or any Priority Lien Secured Party, and (I) prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations will not assert, and hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any right to demand, request, plead or otherwise assert or claim the benefit of any marshalling, appraisal, valuation or other similar right that may be available under applicable law with respect to the Collateral or any similar rights a junior secured creditor may have under applicable law; and

 

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(ii) The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that each Third Lien Secured Party (A) will not take or cause to be taken any action the purpose or effect of which is, or could be, to make any Third Lien pari passu with, or to give such Third Lien Secured Party any preference or priority relative to, any Priority Lien or Second Lien with respect to the Collateral or any part thereof, (B) will not challenge or question in any proceeding the validity or enforceability of any Priority Lien Obligations, Priority Lien Document, Second Lien Obligations or Second Lien Document, or the validity, attachment, perfection or priority of any Priority Lien or Second Lien, or the validity or enforceability of the priorities, rights or duties established by the provisions of this Agreement, (C) will not take or cause to be taken any action the purpose or effect of which is, or could be, to interfere, hinder or delay, in any manner, whether by judicial proceedings or otherwise, any sale, transfer or other Disposition of the Collateral by any Priority Lien Secured Party, the Priority Lien Agent, any Second Lien Secured Party or the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, in each case in any enforcement action, (D) shall have no right to (1) direct the Priority Lien Agent, any other Priority Lien Secured Party, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party to exercise any right, remedy or power with respect to any Collateral or (2) consent to the exercise by the Priority Lien Agent, any other Priority Lien Secured Party, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party of any right, remedy or power with respect to any Collateral, (E) will not institute any suit or assert in any suit or Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding any claim against the Priority Lien Agent, any other Priority Lien Secured Party, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party seeking damages from or other relief by way of specific performance, instructions or otherwise with respect to, and none of the Priority Lien Agent, any other Priority Lien Secured Party, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party shall be liable for, any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Priority Lien Agent, any other Priority Lien Secured Party, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party with respect to any Priority Lien Collateral or Second Lien Collateral, as applicable, (F) prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations and Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, will not seek, and hereby waives any right, to have any Collateral or any part thereof marshaled upon any foreclosure or other Disposition of such Collateral, (G) will not attempt, directly or indirectly, whether by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to challenge the enforceability of any provision of this Agreement, (H) will not object to forbearance by the Priority Lien Agent, any Priority Lien Secured Party, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any Second Lien Secured Party and (I) prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations and Discharge of Second Lien Obligations will not assert, and hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any right to demand, request, plead or otherwise assert or claim the benefit of any marshalling, appraisal, valuation or other similar right that may be available under applicable law with respect to the Collateral or any similar rights a junior secured creditor may have under applicable law.

(b) Payment Over .

(i) Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, hereby agrees that if any Second Lien Secured Party or Third Lien Secured Party, as applicable, shall obtain possession of any Collateral or shall realize any proceeds or payment in respect of any Collateral, pursuant to the exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to the Collateral under any Second Lien Security Document or Third Lien Security Document, as applicable, or by the exercise of any rights available to it under applicable law or in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, to the extent permitted hereunder, at any time prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations secured, or intended to be secured, by such Collateral, then it shall hold such Collateral, proceeds or payment in trust for the Priority Lien Agent and the other Priority Lien Secured Parties and

 

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transfer such Collateral, proceeds or payment, as the case may be, to the Priority Lien Agent as promptly as practicable. Furthermore, each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, as applicable, shall, at the Grantors’ expense, promptly send written notice to the Priority Lien Agent upon receipt of such Collateral, proceeds or payment by any Second Lien Secured Party or Third Lien Secured Party, as applicable, and if directed by the Priority Lien Agent within five (5) days after receipt by the Priority Lien Agent of such written notice, shall deliver such Collateral, proceeds or payment to the Priority Lien Agent in the same form as received, with any necessary endorsements, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct. The Priority Lien Agent is hereby authorized to make any such endorsements as agent for the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party, as applicable. Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that if, at any time, it obtains written notice that all or part of any payment with respect to any Priority Lien Obligations previously made shall be rescinded for any reason whatsoever, it will promptly pay over to the Priority Lien Agent any payment received by it and then in its possession or under its direct control in respect of any such Collateral securing Priority Liens and shall promptly turn any such Collateral then held by it over to the Priority Lien Agent, and the provisions set forth in this Agreement will be reinstated as if such payment had not been made, until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations. All Second Liens and Third Liens will remain attached to and enforceable against all proceeds so held or remitted, subject to the priorities set forth in this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, this Section 3.05(b) shall not apply to any proceeds of Collateral realized in a transaction not prohibited by the Priority Lien Documents and as to which the possession or receipt thereof by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party, as applicable, is otherwise permitted by the Priority Lien Documents.

(ii) The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, hereby agrees that if any Third Lien Secured Party shall obtain possession of any Collateral or shall realize any proceeds or payment in respect of any Collateral, pursuant to the exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to the Collateral under any Third Lien Security Document or by the exercise of any rights available to it under applicable law or in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, to the extent permitted hereunder, at any time following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations secured, or intended to be secured, by such Collateral, then it shall hold such Collateral, proceeds or payment in trust for the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the other Second Lien Secured Parties and transfer such Collateral, proceeds or payment, as the case may be, to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee as soon as practicable. Furthermore, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee shall, at the Grantors’ expense, promptly send written notice to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee upon receipt of such Collateral, proceeds or payment by any Third Lien Secured Party, and if directed by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee within five (5) days after receipt by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee of such written notice, shall deliver such Collateral, proceeds or payment to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee in the same form as received, with any necessary endorsements, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct. The Second Lien Collateral Trustee is hereby authorized to make any such endorsements as agent for the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party. The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that if, at any time, it obtains written notice that all or part of any payment with respect to any Second Lien Obligations previously made shall be rescinded for any reason whatsoever, it will promptly pay over to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee any payment received by it and then in its possession or under its direct control in respect of any such Collateral securing Second Lien Obligations and shall promptly turn any such Collateral then held by it over to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, and the provisions set forth in this Agreement will be reinstated as if such payment had not been made, until the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations. All Third Liens will remain

 

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attached to and enforceable against all proceeds so held or remitted, subject to the priorities set forth in this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, this Section 3.05(b) shall not apply to any proceeds of Collateral realized in a transaction not prohibited by the Second Lien Documents and as to which the possession or receipt thereof by the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party is otherwise permitted by the Second Lien Documents.

Section 3.06 Purchase Option .

(a) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, on or at any time after (i) the commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or (ii) the acceleration of the Priority Lien Obligations, Second Lien Secured Parties and each of their respective designated Affiliates (the “ Second Lien Purchasers ”) will have the right, at its sole option and election (but will not be obligated), at any time upon prior written notice to the applicable Priority Lien Representative, to purchase (in the manner set forth in Section 3.06(b) below) from the Priority Lien Secured Parties either (x) all (but not less than all) Priority Lien Obligations (including unfunded commitments) that are outstanding on the date of such purchase (the “ Purchasable Priority Lien Obligations ”) or (y) both the Purchasable Priority Lien Obligations and any loans provided by any of the Priority Lien Secured Parties in connection with a DIP Financing that are outstanding on the date of such purchase (together with the Purchasable Priority Lien Obligations, the “ Purchasable Priority Lien + DIP Obligations ”). Promptly following the receipt of such notice, the applicable Priority Lien Representative will deliver to the Second Lien Purchaser Representative a statement of the respective amounts of Priority Lien Debt, other Priority Lien Obligations and DIP Financing provided by any of the Priority Lien Secured Parties, if any, then outstanding and the amount of the cash collateral requested by the Priority Lien Agent to be delivered pursuant to Section 3.06(b)(ii) below. The right to purchase provided for in this Section 3.06 will expire unless, within 10 Business Days after the receipt by the Second Lien Purchaser Representative of such notice from the applicable Priority Lien Representative, the Second Lien Purchaser Representative delivers to the applicable Priority Lien Representative an irrevocable commitment of the Second Lien Purchasers to purchase either (x) the Purchasable Priority Lien Obligations or (y) the Purchasable Priority Lien + DIP Obligations, and in either case to otherwise complete such purchase on the terms set forth under this Section 3.06 .

(b) On the date specified by the Second Lien Purchaser Representative (on behalf of the Second Lien Purchasers) in such irrevocable commitment (which shall not be less than five Business Days, nor more than 20 Business Days, after the receipt by the applicable Priority Lien Representative of such irrevocable commitment), the Priority Lien Secured Parties shall sell to the Second Lien Purchasers the Purchasable Priority Lien Obligations or the Purchasable Priority Lien + DIP Obligations, as specified in such irrevocable commitment (whichever was so specified, the “ Purchasable Obligations ”), subject to any required approval of any Governmental Authority then in effect, if any, and only if on the date of such sale, the applicable Priority Lien Representative receives the following:

(i) payment, as the purchase price for all Purchasable Obligations sold in such sale, of an amount equal to the full amount of (x) all Priority Lien Obligations (other than outstanding letters of credit as referred to in clause (ii)  below) and, if the Purchasable Obligations are the Purchasable Priority Lien + DIP Financing Obligations, (y) loans provided by any of the Priority Lien Secured Parties in connection with a DIP Financing then outstanding (including principal, interest, fees, reasonable attorneys’ fees and legal expenses, but excluding contingent indemnification obligations for which no claim or demand for payment has been made at or prior to such time); provided that in the case of Hedging Obligations that constitute Priority Lien Obligations the Second Lien Purchasers shall cause the applicable agreements governing such Hedging Obligations to be assigned and novated or, if such agreements have been terminated, such purchase price shall include an amount equal to the sum of any unpaid amounts then due in respect of such Hedging Obligations, calculated using the market quotation method and after giving effect to any netting arrangements;

 

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(ii) a cash collateral deposit in such amount as the applicable Priority Lien Representative determines is reasonably necessary to secure the payment of any outstanding letters of credit constituting Priority Lien Obligations that may become due and payable after such sale (but not in any event in an amount greater than one hundred five percent (105%) of the amount then reasonably estimated by the applicable Priority Lien Representative to be the aggregate outstanding amount of such letters of credit at such time), which cash collateral shall be (A) held by the applicable Priority Lien Representative as security solely to reimburse the issuers of such letters of credit that become due and payable after such sale and any fees and expenses incurred in connection with such letters of credit and (B) returned to the Second Lien Purchaser Representative (except as may otherwise be required by applicable law or any order of any court or other Governmental Authority) promptly after the expiration or termination from time to time of all payment contingencies affecting such letters of credit; and

(iii) any agreements, documents or instruments which the applicable Priority Lien Representative may reasonably request pursuant to which the Second Lien Purchaser Representative and the Second Lien Purchasers in such sale expressly assume and adopt all of the obligations of the applicable Priority Lien Representative and the Priority Lien Secured Parties under the Priority Lien Documents and, if the Purchasable Obligations are the Purchasable Priority Lien + DIP Financing Obligations, all obligations in connection with loans provided by any of the Priority Lien Secured Parties in connection with a DIP Financing on and after the date of the purchase and sale, and the Second Lien Purchaser Representative (or any other representative appointed by the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Second Lien Debt then outstanding owned by such purchasers) becomes a successor agent thereunder.

(c) Such purchase of the Purchasable Obligations shall be made on a pro rata basis among the Second Lien Purchasers (or on such other basis as such Second Lien Purchasers may determine) giving notice to the applicable Priority Lien Representative of their interest to exercise the purchase option hereunder according to each such Second Lien Purchaser’s portion of the Second Lien Debt outstanding on the date of purchase or such portion as such Second Lien Purchasers may otherwise agree among themselves. Such purchase price and cash collateral shall be remitted by wire transfer in federal funds to such bank account of the applicable Priority Lien Representative as the applicable Priority Lien Representative may designate in writing to the Second Lien Purchaser Representative for such purpose. Interest shall be calculated to but excluding the Business Day on which such sale occurs if the amounts so paid by the Second Lien Purchasers to the bank account designated by the applicable Priority Lien Representative are received in such bank account prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time, and interest shall be calculated to and including such Business Day if the amounts so paid by the Second Lien Purchasers to the bank account designated by the applicable Priority Lien Representative are received in such bank account later than 12:00 noon, New York City time.

(d) Such sale shall be expressly made without representation or warranty of any kind by the Priority Lien Secured Parties as to the Purchasable Obligations, the Collateral or otherwise and without recourse to any Priority Lien Secured Party, except that the Priority Lien Secured Parties shall represent and warrant severally as to the Purchasable Obligations: (i) that such applicable Priority Lien Secured Party owns such Purchasable Obligations; and (ii) that such applicable Priority Lien Secured Party has the necessary corporate or other governing authority to assign such interests.

(e) After such sale becomes effective, the outstanding letters of credit will remain enforceable against the issuers thereof and will remain secured by the Priority Liens upon the Collateral in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Priority Lien Documents as in effect at the time of such

 

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sale, and the issuers of letters of credit will remain entitled to the benefit of the Priority Liens upon the Collateral and sharing rights in the proceeds thereof in accordance with the provisions of the Priority Lien Documents as in effect at the time of such sale, as fully as if the sale of the Priority Lien Debt had not been made, except with respect to cash Collateral held by the issuer(s) of such letters of credit, but only the Person or successor agent to whom the Priority Liens are transferred in such sale will have the right to foreclose upon or otherwise enforce the Priority Liens and only the Second Lien Purchasers in the sale will have the right to direct such Person or successor as to matters relating to the foreclosure or other enforcement of the Priority Liens.

ARTICLE IV

OTHER AGREEMENTS

Section 4.01 Release of Liens; Automatic Release of Second Liens and Third Liens .

(a) Prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that, in the event the Priority Lien Secured Parties release their Lien on any Collateral, each of the Second Lien and Third Lien on such Collateral shall terminate and be released automatically and without further action if (i) the corresponding Liens under the Priority Lien Documents are simultaneously released or have previously been released and either (A) such release is made in connection with a sale, transfer or other Disposition of Collateral (either directly or indirectly) permitted under the Priority Lien Documents and not in violation of Section 4.11 of the Second Lien Indenture, (B) such release is in connection with a substantially concurrent grant of Liens on other property or assets of comparable or greater value to the Collateral being released, as determined in good faith by Chesapeake, or (C) at the time of such release (I) the amount of drawn commitments and the amount of undrawn commitments available to be borrowed under the Priority Credit Agreement is not less than $1.0 billion and (II) after giving effect to such release and the recording of any additional mortgages or supplements or amendments to existing mortgages on or prior to the consummation of such release, the Collateral securing the Second Lien Obligations includes Oil and Gas Properties that include not less than 80% of the total value attributable to the Proved Reserves of Chesapeake and the Subsidiaries as reflected in the most recent Reserve Report after giving effect to exploration and production activities, acquisitions, Dispositions and production since the date of such Reserve Report, (ii) such release is effected in connection with the Priority Lien Agent’s foreclosure upon, or other exercise of rights or remedies with respect to, such Collateral, or (iii) such release is effected in connection with a sale or other Disposition of any Collateral (or any portion thereof) under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code or any other provision of the Bankruptcy Code if the Priority Lien Secured Parties shall have consented to such sale or Disposition of such Collateral; provided that, in the case of each of clauses (ii)  and (iii) , the Second Liens and Third Liens on such Collateral shall remain in place (and, in the case of the Second Lien Obligations, shall remain subject and subordinate to all Priority Liens securing Priority Lien Obligations and, in the case of the Third Liens, shall remain subject and subordinate to (I) all Priority Liens securing Priority Lien Obligations and (II) all Second Liens securing Second Lien Obligations) with respect to any proceeds of a sale, transfer or other Disposition of Collateral.

(b) Following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that, in the event the Second Lien Secured Parties release their Lien on any Collateral, the Third Lien on such Collateral shall terminate and be released automatically and without further action if (i) the corresponding Liens under the Second Lien Documents are simultaneously released or have previously been released, provided that any release in connection with a sale, transfer or other Disposition of Collateral in a transaction or circumstance that does not violate the applicable

 

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provisions of the Third Lien Documents shall not be subject to the conditions of this clause (i), (ii) such release is effected in connection with the Second Lien Collateral Trustee’s foreclosure upon, or other exercise of rights or remedies with respect to, such Collateral, or (iii) such release is effected in connection with a sale or other Disposition of any Collateral (or any portion thereof) under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code or any other provision of the Bankruptcy Code if the Second Lien Secured Parties shall have consented to such sale or Disposition of such Collateral; provided that, in the case of each of clauses (ii)  and (iii) , the Third Liens on such Collateral shall remain in place (and shall remain subject and subordinate to all Second Liens securing Second Lien Obligations) with respect to any proceeds of a sale, transfer or other Disposition of Collateral.

(c) Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee agrees to execute and deliver (at the sole cost and expense of the Grantors) all such releases and other instruments as shall reasonably be requested by the Priority Lien Agent or the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, as applicable, to evidence and confirm any release of Collateral provided for in this Section 4.01 .

Section 4.02 Certain Agreements With Respect to Insolvency or Liquidation Proceedings .

(a) The parties hereto acknowledge that this Agreement is a “subordination agreement” under Section 510(a) of the Bankruptcy Code and shall continue in full force and effect, notwithstanding the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding by or against Chesapeake or any Subsidiary. All references in this Agreement to Chesapeake, any Subsidiary or any subsidiary of any other Grantor will include such Person or Persons as a debtor-in-possession and any receiver or trustee for such Person or Persons in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding. For the purposes of this Section 4.02 , unless otherwise provided herein, clauses (b)  through and including (o)  shall be in full force and effect prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations and clauses (p)  through and including (cc) shall be in full force and effect following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations.

(b) If Chesapeake or any Subsidiary shall become subject to any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding and shall, as debtor(s)-in-possession, or if any receiver or trustee for such Person or Persons shall, move for approval of financing (“ DIP Financing ”) to be provided by one or more lenders (the “ DIP Lenders ”) under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code or the use of cash collateral under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code, (i) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Second Lien Secured Party, agrees that neither it nor any other Second Lien Secured Party and (ii) the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that neither it nor any other Third Lien Secured Party, will raise any objection, contest or oppose, and each Second Lien Secured Party and Third Lien Secured Party will waive any claim such Person may now or hereafter have, to any such financing or to the Liens on the collateral securing the same (“ DIP Financing Liens ”), or to any use, sale or lease of cash collateral that constitutes Collateral or to any grant of administrative expense priority under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code, unless (A) the Priority Lien Agent or the Priority Lien Secured Parties oppose or object to such DIP Financing or such DIP Financing Liens or such use of cash collateral, (B) the maximum principal amount of Indebtedness permitted under such DIP Financing exceeds the sum of (I) the amount of Priority Lien Obligations refinanced with the proceeds thereof and (II) the greater of (1) $1.0 billion and (2) 15% of the sum of (x) the aggregate amount of indebtedness for borrowed money constituting principal outstanding under the Priority Lien Documents plus (y) the aggregate face amount of letters of credit issued and outstanding under the Priority Lien Documents on the date of the commencement of such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, or (C) the terms of such DIP Financing provide for the sale of a substantial part of the Collateral or require the confirmation of a plan of reorganization containing specific terms or provisions (other than repayment in cash of such DIP Financing on the effective date thereof), subject to the other provisions of this Agreement. To the extent such DIP Financing Liens are senior to, or rank pari passu with, the

 

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Priority Liens, (1) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee will, for itself and on behalf of the other Second Lien Secured Parties, subordinate the Second Liens on the Collateral to the Priority Liens and to such DIP Financing Liens, so long as the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, on behalf of the Second Lien Secured Parties, retains Liens on all the Collateral, including proceeds thereof arising after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, with the same priority relative to the Priority Liens and the Third Liens as existed prior to the commencement of the case under the Bankruptcy Code and (2) the Third Lien Collateral Trustee will, for itself and on behalf of the other Third Lien Secured Parties, subordinate the Third Liens on the Collateral to the Priority Liens, the Second Liens and to such DIP Financing Liens, so long as the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, on behalf of the Third Lien Secured Parties, retains Liens on all the Collateral, including proceeds thereof arising after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, with the same priority relative to the Priority Liens and the Second Liens as existed prior to the commencement of the case under the Bankruptcy Code.

(c) Prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, without the consent of the Priority Lien Agent, in its sole discretion, each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, agrees not to propose, support or enter into any DIP Financing except as permitted by clause (b) above.

(d) Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that it will not object to, oppose or contest (or join with or support any third party objecting to, opposing or contesting) a sale or other Disposition, a motion to sell or Dispose or the bidding procedure for such sale or Disposition of any Collateral (or any portion thereof) under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code or any other provision of the Bankruptcy Code if (1) the Priority Lien Agent or the requisite holders of Priority Lien Obligations shall have consented to such sale or Disposition, such motion to sell or Dispose or such bidding procedure for such sale or Disposition of such Collateral and (2) either (i) all Second Liens and Third Liens on the Collateral securing the Second Lien Obligations and the Third Lien Obligations, as applicable, shall attach to the proceeds of such sale in the same respective priorities as set forth in this Agreement with respect to the Collateral or (ii) the net cash proceeds of any Disposition under Section 363(b) of the Bankruptcy Code are permanently applied to the DIP Financing or to the Priority Lien Obligations.

(e) Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, waives any claim that may be had against the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party arising out of any DIP Financing Liens or administrative expense priority under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code (in each case that is granted in a manner that is consistent with this Agreement).

(f) The Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, agrees that neither the Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that neither the Third Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Third Lien Secured Party, will file or prosecute in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding any motion for adequate protection (or any comparable request for relief) based upon their interest in the Collateral, nor object to, oppose or contest (or join with or support any third party objecting to, opposing or contesting) (i) any request by the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party for adequate protection or (ii) any objection by the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party to any motion, relief, action or proceeding based on the Priority Lien Agent or Priority Lien Secured Parties claiming a lack of adequate protection, except that

 

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(A) the Second Lien Secured Parties may:

(I) freely seek and obtain relief granting adequate protection in the form of a replacement lien co-extensive in all respects with, but subordinated (as set forth in Section 2.01 ) to, and with the same relative priority to the Priority Liens and the Third Liens as existed prior to the commencement of the Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, all Liens granted in the Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding to, or for the benefit of, the Priority Lien Secured Parties; and

(II) freely seek and obtain any relief upon a motion for adequate protection (or any comparable relief), without any condition or restriction whatsoever, at any time after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations; and

(B) the Third Lien Secured Parties may:

(I) freely seek and obtain relief granting adequate protection in the form of a replacement lien co-extensive in all respects with, but subordinated (as set forth in Section 2.01 ) to, and with the same relative priority to the Priority Liens and the Second Liens as existed prior to the commencement of the Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, all Liens granted in the Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding to, or for the benefit of, the Priority Lien Secured Parties and the Second Lien Secured Parties; and

(II) freely seek and obtain any relief upon a motion for adequate protection (or any comparable relief), without any condition or restriction whatsoever, at any time after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations and the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations.

(g) Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each of the other of the Second Lien Secured Parties, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each of the other Third Lien Secured Parties, waives any claim it or any such other Second Lien Secured Party or Third Lien Secured Party, as applicable, may now or hereafter have against the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party (or their representatives) arising out of any election by the Priority Lien Agent or any Priority Lien Secured Parties, in any proceeding instituted under the Bankruptcy Code, of the application of Section 1111(b) of the Bankruptcy Code.

(h) The Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, agrees that in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, neither the Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, neither the Third Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Third Lien Secured Party, shall support or vote to accept any plan of reorganization or disclosure statement of Chesapeake or any other Grantor unless (i) such plan is accepted by the Class of Priority Lien Secured Parties in accordance with Section 1126(c) of the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise provides for the payment in full in cash of all Priority Lien Obligations (including all post-petition interest approved by the bankruptcy court, fees and expenses and cash collateralization of all letters of credit) on the effective date of such plan of reorganization, or (ii) such plan provides on account of the Priority Lien Secured Parties for the retention by the Priority Lien Agent, for the benefit of the Priority Lien Secured Parties, of the Liens on the Collateral securing the Priority Lien Obligations, and on all proceeds thereof whenever received, and such plan also provides that any Liens retained by, or granted to, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee are only on property securing the Priority Lien Obligations and shall have the same relative priority with respect to the Collateral or other property, respectively, as provided in this Agreement with respect to the Collateral. Except as provided herein, each of the Second Lien Secured Parties and the Third Lien Secured Parties shall remain entitled to vote their claims in any such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

 

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(i) The Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, agrees that neither the Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party shall, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that neither the Third Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Third Lien Secured Party shall, seek relief, pursuant to Section 362(d) of the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise, from the automatic stay of Section 362(a) of the Bankruptcy Code or from any other stay in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding in respect of the Collateral if the Priority Lien Agent has not received relief from the automatic stay (or it has not been lifted for the Priority Lien Agent’s benefit) without the prior written consent of the Priority Lien Agent.

(j) The Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, agrees that neither the Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party shall, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that neither the Third Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Third Lien Secured Party shall, oppose or seek to challenge any claim by the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party for allowance or payment in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding of Priority Lien Obligations consisting of post-petition interest, fees or expenses to the extent of the value of the Priority Liens (it being understood that such value will be determined without regard to the existence of the Second Liens or the Third Liens on the Collateral). Neither Priority Lien Agent nor any other Priority Lien Secured Party shall oppose or seek to challenge any claim by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party for allowance or payment in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding of Second Lien Obligations or Third Lien Obligations, as applicable, consisting of post-petition interest, fees or expenses to the extent of the value of the Second Liens or the Third Liens, as applicable, on the Collateral; provided that if the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party shall have made any claim for post-petition interest, fees or expenses in respect of Priority Lien Obligations, such claim (i) shall have been approved or (ii) will be approved contemporaneously with the approval of any such claim by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any Second Lien Secured Party or the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any Third Lien Secured Party, as applicable.

(k) Without the express written consent of the Priority Lien Agent, none of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party shall (or shall join with or support any third party in opposing, objecting to or contesting, as the case may be), in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding involving any Grantor, (i) oppose, object to or contest the determination of the extent of any Liens held by any Priority Lien Secured Party or the value of any claims of any such holder under Section 506(a) of the Bankruptcy Code or (ii) oppose, object to or contest the payment to the Priority Lien Secured Party of interest, fees or expenses under Section 506(b) of the Bankruptcy Code.

(l) Until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations has occurred, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding a determination is made that any Priority Lien encumbering any Collateral is not enforceable for any reason, then each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that, any distribution or recovery they may receive in respect of such Collateral shall be segregated and held in trust and forthwith paid over to the Priority Lien Agent for the benefit of the Priority Lien Secured Parties in the same form as received without recourse, representation or warranty (other than a

 

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representation of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, as applicable, that it has not otherwise sold, assigned, transferred or pledged any right, title or interest in and to such distribution or recovery) but with any necessary endorsements or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct. Until Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations has occurred, each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, hereby appoints the Priority Lien Agent, and any officer or agent of the Priority Lien Agent, with full power of substitution, the attorney-in-fact of each Second Lien Secured Party and Third Lien Secured Party for the limited purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Section 4.02(l) and taking any action and executing any instrument that the Priority Lien Agent may deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes of this Section 4.02(l) , which appointment is irrevocable and coupled with an interest.

(m) Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, hereby agrees that the Priority Lien Agent shall have the exclusive right to credit bid the Priority Lien Obligations and further that none of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party shall (or shall join with or support any third party in opposing, objecting to or contesting, as the case may be) oppose, object to or contest such credit bid by the Priority Lien Agent.

(n) Without the consent of the Priority Lien Agent to be granted or withheld in its sole discretion, each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees it will not file an involuntary bankruptcy petition against Chesapeake or any Subsidiary or seek the appointment of an examiner or a trustee for Chesapeake or any Subsidiary unless (i) with respect to the Second Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Standstill Period has expired, and (ii) with respect to the Third Lien Secured Parties, the Third Lien First Standstill Period and the Third Lien Second Standstill Period have expired.

(o) Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, waives any right to assert or enforce any claim under Section 506(c) or 552 of the Bankruptcy Code as against any Priority Lien Secured Party or any of the Collateral.

(p) If Chesapeake or any Subsidiary shall become subject to any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding and shall, as debtor(s)-in-possession, or if any receiver or trustee for such Person or Persons shall, move for approval of DIP Financing to be provided by one or more DIP Lenders under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code or the use of cash collateral under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that neither it nor any other Third Lien Secured Party will raise any objection, contest or oppose, and each Third Lien Secured Party will waive any claim such Person may now or hereafter have, to any such financing or to the DIP Financing Liens on the Collateral securing the same, or to any use, sale or lease of cash collateral that constitutes Collateral or to any grant of administrative expense priority under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code, unless (i) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Second Lien Secured Parties oppose or object to such DIP Financing or such DIP Financing Liens or such use of cash collateral or (ii) the maximum principal amount of Indebtedness permitted under such DIP Financing exceeds the sum of (A) the amount of Second Lien Obligations refinanced with the proceeds thereof and (B) $1.0 billion. To the extent such DIP Financing Liens are senior to, or rank pari passu with, the Second Liens, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee will, for itself and on behalf of the other Third Lien Secured Parties, subordinate the Third Liens on the Collateral to the Second Liens and to such DIP Financing Liens, so long as the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, on behalf of the Third Lien Secured Parties, retains Liens on all the Collateral, including proceeds thereof arising after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, with the same priority relative to the Priority Liens and the Second Liens as existed prior to the commencement of the case under the Bankruptcy Code.

 

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(q) Without the consent of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee in its sole discretion, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, agrees not to propose, support or enter into any DIP Financing except as permitted by clause (p) above.

(r) The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that it will not object to, oppose or contest (or join with or support any third party objecting to, opposing or contesting) a sale or other Disposition, a motion to sell or Dispose or the bidding procedure for such sale or Disposition of any Collateral (or any portion thereof) under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code or any other provision of the Bankruptcy Code if (1) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the requisite holders of Second Lien Obligations shall have consented to such sale or Disposition, such motion to sell or Dispose or such bidding procedure for such sale or Disposition of such Collateral and (2) all Third Liens will attach to the proceeds of such sale with respect to the Collateral.

(s) The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, waives any claim that may be had against the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party arising out of any DIP Financing Liens (granted in a manner that is consistent with this Agreement) or administrative expense priority under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code.

(t) The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that, following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, neither the Third Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Third Lien Secured Party will file or prosecute in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding any motion for adequate protection (or any comparable request for relief) based upon their interest in the Collateral, nor object to, oppose or contest (or join with or support any third party objecting to, opposing or contesting) (i) any request by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party for adequate protection or (ii) any objection by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party to any motion, relief, action or proceeding based on the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or Second Lien Secured Parties claiming a lack of adequate protection, except that the Third Lien Secured Parties may:

(A) freely seek and obtain relief granting adequate protection in the form of a replacement lien co-extensive in all respects with, but subordinated (as set forth in Section 2.01 ) to, and with the same relative priority to the Second Liens as existed prior to the commencement of the Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, all Liens granted in the Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding to, or for the benefit of, the Second Lien Secured Parties; and

(B) freely seek and obtain any relief upon a motion for adequate protection (or any comparable relief), without any condition or restriction whatsoever, at any time after the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations.

(u) The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each of the other of the Third Lien Secured Parties, waives any claim the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any such other Third Lien Secured Party may now or hereafter have against the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party (or their representatives) arising out of any election by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any Second Lien Secured Parties, in any proceeding instituted under the Bankruptcy Code, of the application of Section 1111(b) of the Bankruptcy Code.

 

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(v) The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, neither the Third Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Third Lien Secured Party shall support or vote for any plan of reorganization or disclosure statement of Chesapeake or any other Grantor unless (i) such plan is accepted by the Class of Second Lien Secured Parties in accordance with Section 1126(c) of the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise provides for the payment in full in cash of all Second Lien Obligations (including all post-petition interest, fees and expenses) on the effective date of such plan of reorganization, or (ii) such plan provides on account of the Second Lien Secured Parties for the retention by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for the benefit of the Second Lien Secured Parties, of the Liens on the Collateral securing the Second Lien Obligations, and on all proceeds thereof whenever received, and such plan also provides that any Liens retained by, or granted to, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee are only on property securing the Second Lien Obligations and shall have the same relative priority with respect to the Collateral or other property, respectively, as provided in this Agreement with respect to the Collateral. Except as provided herein, the Third Lien Secured Parties shall remain entitled to vote their claims in any such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

(w) The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, hereby agrees that following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but until the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations has occurred, neither the Third Lien Collateral Trustee nor any Third Lien Secured Party shall seek relief, pursuant to Section 362(d) of the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise, from the automatic stay of Section 362(a) of the Bankruptcy Code or from any other stay in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding in respect of the Collateral if the Second Lien Collateral Trustee has not received relief from the automatic stay (or it has not been lifted for the Second Lien Collateral Trustee’s benefit), without the prior written consent of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee.

(x) The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that neither the Third Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Third Lien Secured Party shall oppose or seek to challenge any claim by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party for allowance or payment in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding of Second Lien Obligations consisting of post-petition interest, fees or expenses to the extent of the value of the Second Liens (it being understood that such value will be determined without regard to the existence of the Third Liens on the Collateral). Neither the Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party shall oppose or seek to challenge any claim by the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party for allowance or payment in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding of Third Lien Obligations consisting of post-petition interest, fees or expenses to the extent of the value of the Third Liens on the Collateral; provided that if the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party shall have made any claim for post-petition interest, fees or expenses in respect of Priority Lien Obligations, such claim (i) shall have been approved or (ii) will be approved contemporaneously with the approval of any such claim by the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any Third Lien Secured Party.

(y) Without the express written consent of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, neither the Third Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Third Lien Secured Party shall (or shall join with or support any third party in opposing, objecting to or contesting, as the case may be), in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding involving any Grantor, (i) oppose, object to or contest the determination of the extent of any Liens held by any of Second Lien Secured Party or the value of any claims of any such holder under Section 506(a) of the Bankruptcy Code or (ii) oppose, object to or contest the payment to the Second Lien Secured Party of interest, fees or expenses under Section 506(b) of the Bankruptcy Code.

 

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(z) Following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding a determination is made that any Second Lien encumbering any Collateral is not enforceable for any reason, then the Third Lien Collateral Trustee for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that any distribution or recovery they may receive in respect of such Collateral shall be segregated and held in trust and forthwith paid over to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee for the benefit of the Second Lien Secured Parties in the same form as received without recourse, representation or warranty (other than a representation of the Third Lien Collateral Trustee that it has not otherwise sold, assigned, transferred or pledged any right, title or interest in and to such distribution or recovery) but with any necessary endorsements or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct. Following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, hereby appoints the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, and any officer or agent of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, with full power of substitution, the attorney-in-fact of each Third Lien Secured Party for the limited purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Section 4.02(z) and taking any action and executing any instrument that the Second Lien Collateral Trustee may deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes of this Section 4.02(z) , which appointment is irrevocable and coupled with an interest.

(aa) The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, hereby agrees that the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall have the exclusive right after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations to credit bid the Second Lien Obligations and further that neither the Third Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Third Lien Secured Party shall (or shall join with or support any third party in opposing, objecting to or contesting, as the case may be) oppose, object to or contest such credit bid by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee.

(bb) Without the consent of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee to be granted or withheld in its sole discretion, and unless the Third Lien Second Standstill Period has expired, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees it will not file an involuntary bankruptcy petition against Chesapeake or any Subsidiary or seek the appointment of an examiner or a trustee for Chesapeake or any Subsidiary.

(cc) The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, waives any right to assert or enforce any claim under Section 506(c) or 552 of the Bankruptcy Code as against any Second Lien Secured Party or any of the Collateral.

Section 4.03 Reinstatement .

(a) If any Priority Lien Secured Party is required in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or otherwise to turn over or otherwise pay to the estate of any Grantor any amount (a “ Recovery ”) for any reason whatsoever, then the Priority Lien Obligations shall be reinstated to the extent of such Recovery and the Priority Lien Secured Parties shall be entitled to a reinstatement of Priority Lien Obligations with respect to all such recovered amounts. Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that if, at any time, a Second Lien Secured Party or a Third Lien Secured Party, as applicable, receives notice of any Recovery, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party, as applicable, shall promptly pay over to the Priority Lien Agent any payment received by it and then in its possession or under its control in respect of any Collateral subject to any Priority Lien securing such Priority Lien Obligations and shall promptly turn any Collateral subject to any such Priority Lien then held by it over to the Priority Lien Agent, and the provisions set forth in this Agreement shall be reinstated as if such payment had not been made. If this Agreement shall have been terminated prior to any such Recovery, this Agreement shall be reinstated in full force and effect,

 

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and such prior termination shall not diminish, release, discharge, impair or otherwise affect the obligations of the parties hereto from such date of reinstatement. Any amounts received by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party and then in its possession or under its control on account of the Second Lien Obligations or Third Lien Obligations, as applicable, after the termination of this Agreement shall, in the event of a reinstatement of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 4.03(a) , be held in trust for and paid over to the Priority Lien Agent for the benefit of the Priority Lien Secured Parties for application to the reinstated Priority Lien Obligations until the discharge thereof.

(b) If any Second Lien Secured Party is required in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or otherwise to turn over or otherwise pay to the estate of any Grantor any amount (a “ Second Lien Recovery ”) for any reason whatsoever, then the Second Lien Obligations shall be reinstated to the extent of such Second Lien Recovery and the Second Lien Secured Parties shall be entitled to a reinstatement of Second Lien Obligations with respect to all such recovered amounts. The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that if, at any time, a Third Lien Secured Party receives notice of any Second Lien Recovery, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party, as applicable, shall promptly pay over to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee any payment received by it and then in its possession or under its control in respect of any Collateral subject to any Second Lien securing such Second Lien Obligations and shall promptly turn any Collateral subject to any such Second Lien then held by it over to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, and the provisions set forth in this Agreement shall be reinstated as if such payment had not been made. If this Agreement shall have been terminated prior to any such Second Lien Recovery, this Agreement shall be reinstated in full force and effect, and such prior termination shall not diminish, release, discharge, impair or otherwise affect the obligations of the parties hereto from such date of reinstatement. Any amounts received by the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party and then in its possession or under its control on account of the Third Lien Obligations after the termination of this Agreement shall, in the event of a reinstatement of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 4.03(b) , be held in trust for and paid over to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee for the benefit of the Second Lien Secured Parties for application to the reinstated Second Lien Obligations until the discharge thereof.

(c) This Section 4.03 shall survive termination of this Agreement.

Section 4.04 Refinancings; Additional Priority Lien Debt; Additional Second Lien Debt; Initial Third Lien Indebtedness; Additional Third Lien Debt .

(a) The Priority Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Obligations and the Third Lien Obligations may be Replaced, by any Priority Substitute Credit Facility, Second Lien Substitute Facility or Third Lien Substitute Facility, as the case may be, in each case, without notice to, or the consent of any Secured Party, all without affecting the Lien priorities provided for herein or the other provisions hereof; provided , that (i) the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee shall receive on or prior to incurrence of a Priority Substitute Credit Facility, Second Lien Substitute Facility or Third Lien Substitute Facility (A) an Officers’ Certificate from Chesapeake stating that (I) the incurrence thereof is permitted by each applicable Secured Debt Document and (II) the requirements of Section 4.06 have been satisfied, and (B) a Priority Confirmation Joinder from the holders or lenders of any Indebtedness that Replaces the Priority Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Obligations or the Third Lien Obligations (or an authorized agent, trustee or other representative on their behalf) and (ii) on or before the date of such incurrence, such Priority Substitute Credit Facility, Second Lien Substitute Facility or Third Lien Substitute Facility is designated by Chesapeake, in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, as “Priority Lien Debt”, “Second Lien Debt” or “Third Lien Debt”, as applicable, for the purposes of the Secured Debt Documents and this Agreement; provided that no Series of Secured Debt may be designated as more than one of Priority Lien Debt, Second Lien Debt or Third Lien Debt.

 

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(b) Chesapeake will be permitted to designate as an additional holder of Priority Lien Obligations, Second Lien Obligations or Third Lien Obligations hereunder each Person who is, or who becomes, the registered holder of Priority Lien Debt, Second Lien Debt or Third Lien Debt, as applicable, incurred by Chesapeake after the date of this Agreement in accordance with the terms of all applicable Secured Debt Documents. Chesapeake may effect such designation by delivering to the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, each of the following:

(i) an Officers’ Certificate stating that Chesapeake intends to incur (A) Additional Priority Lien Obligations which will be Priority Lien Debt, (B) Additional Second Lien Obligations which will be Second Lien Debt, (C) Initial Third Lien Obligations which will be Third Lien Debt or (D) Additional Third Lien Obligations which will be Third Lien Debt, which in each case is permitted by each applicable Secured Debt Document to be incurred and secured by a Priority Lien, Second Lien or Third Lien, as applicable, equally and ratably with all previously existing and future Priority Lien Debt, Second Lien Debt or Third Lien Debt, as applicable;

(ii) an authorized agent, trustee or other representative on behalf of the holders or lenders of any Additional Priority Lien Obligations, Additional Second Lien Obligations, Initial Third Lien Obligations or Additional Third Lien Obligations, as applicable, must be designated as an additional holder of Secured Obligations hereunder and must, prior to such designation, sign and deliver on behalf of the holders or lenders of such Additional Priority Lien Obligations, Additional Second Lien Obligations, Initial Third Lien Obligations or Additional Third Lien Obligations, as applicable, a Priority Confirmation Joinder, and, to the extent necessary or appropriate to facilitate such transaction, a new intercreditor agreement substantially similar to this Agreement, as in effect on the date hereof; and

(iii) evidence that Chesapeake has duly authorized, executed (if applicable) and recorded (or caused to be recorded) in each appropriate governmental office all relevant filings and recordations deemed necessary by Chesapeake and the holder of such Additional Priority Lien Obligations, Additional Second Lien Obligations, Initial Third Lien Obligations or Additional Third Lien Obligations, as applicable, or its Secured Debt Representative, to ensure that the Additional Priority Lien Obligations, Additional Second Lien Obligations, Initial Third Lien Obligations or Additional Third Lien Obligations are secured by the Collateral in accordance with the Priority Lien Security Documents, Second Lien Security Documents or the Third Lien Security Documents, as applicable ( provided that such filings and recordings may be authorized, executed and recorded following any incurrence on a post-closing basis if permitted by the Priority Lien Representative, Second Lien Representative or Third Lien Representative for such Additional Priority Lien Obligations, Additional Second Lien Obligations, Initial Third Lien Obligations or Additional Third Lien Obligations, as applicable).

The deliveries set forth in clauses (i)  through (iii)  of this Section 4.04(b) shall not be required (and shall be deemed satisfied) in connection with any issuance of Additional Notes.

(c) Chesapeake will be permitted to enter into an Initial Third Lien Debt Facility to the extent such Initial Third Lien Debt Facility is permitted by the Priority Credit Agreement, the other Priority Lien Documents, the Second Lien Indenture and the other Second Lien Documents. Any Third Lien Debt incurred pursuant to such Initial Third Lien Debt Facility may be secured by a Third Lien under and pursuant to the Initial Third Lien Security Documents provided that the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, acting for itself and on behalf of the Initial Third Lien Secured Parties, becomes a party to this Agreement by satisfying the conditions set forth in clauses (i)  and (ii)  of Section 4.04(b) .

 

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In order for the Third Lien Collateral Trustee to become a party to this Agreement,

(i) the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee shall have executed and delivered a Priority Confirmation Joinder pursuant to which (a) such Third Lien Collateral Trustee becomes a Secured Debt Representative hereunder and (b) the Third Lien Debt and the related Initial Third Lien Secured Parties become subject hereto and bound hereby;

(ii) Chesapeake shall have delivered to the Priority Lien Agent and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee (A) true and complete copies of each Initial Third Lien Document and (B) an Officers’ Certificate certifying such copies as being true and correct and identifying the obligations to be designated as Initial Third Lien Obligations and the initial aggregate principal amount thereof; and

(iii) without limiting Section 4.06 , the Initial Third Lien Documents relating to such Third Lien Debt shall provide, in a manner satisfactory to the Priority Lien Agent and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, that each Initial Third Lien Secured Party shall be subject to and bound by the provisions of this Agreement in its capacity as a holder of such Third Lien Debt.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement will be construed to allow Chesapeake or any other Grantor to incur additional Indebtedness unless otherwise permitted by the terms of each applicable Secured Debt Document.

Each of the then-existing Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee shall be authorized to execute and deliver such documents and agreements (including amendments or supplements to this Agreement) as such holders, lenders, agent, trustee or other representative may reasonably request to give effect to any such Replacement or any incurrence of Additional Priority Lien Obligations, Additional Notes, Additional Second Lien Obligations, Initial Third Lien Obligations or Additional Third Lien Obligations, it being understood that the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or (if permitted by the terms of the applicable Secured Debt Documents) the Grantors, without the consent of any other Secured Party or (in the case of the Grantors) one or more Secured Debt Representatives, may amend, supplement, modify or restate this Agreement to the extent necessary or appropriate to facilitate such amendments or supplements to effect such Replacement or incurrence all at the expense of the Grantors. Upon the consummation of such Replacement or incurrence and the execution and delivery of the documents and agreements contemplated in the preceding sentence, the holders or lenders of such Indebtedness and any authorized agent, trustee or other representative thereof shall be entitled to the benefits of this Agreement.

Section 4.05 Amendments to Second Lien Documents and Third Lien Documents .

(a) Prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, and except as permitted by the Priority Lien Documents, without the prior written consent of the Priority Lien Agent, no Second Lien Document or Third Lien Document may be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified and/or refinanced or entered into to the extent such amendment, supplement, restatement or modification and/or refinancing, or the terms of any new Second Lien Document or Third Lien Document, as applicable, would (i) adversely affect the lien priority rights of the Priority Lien Secured Parties or the rights of the Priority Lien Secured Parties to receive payments owing pursuant to the Priority Lien Documents, (ii) except as otherwise provided for in this Agreement, add any Liens securing any additional property as Collateral granted under the Second Lien Security Documents or the Third Lien Security Documents, unless such additional property is added as Collateral under the Priority Lien Documents, (iii) confer any additional rights on the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party in a manner adverse to the Priority Lien Secured Parties, or (iv) contravene the provisions of this Agreement or the Priority Lien Documents.

 

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(b) Prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, and except as permitted by the Second Lien Documents, without the prior written consent of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, no Third Lien Document may be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified and/or refinanced or entered into to the extent such amendment, supplement, restatement or modification and/or refinancing, or the terms of any new Third Lien Document, would (i) adversely affect the lien priority rights of the Second Lien Secured Parties or the rights of the Second Lien Secured Parties to receive payments owing pursuant to the Second Lien Documents, (ii) except as otherwise provided for in this Agreement, add any Liens securing any additional property as Collateral granted under the Third Lien Security Documents, unless such additional property is added as Collateral under the Second Lien Documents, (iii) confer any additional rights on the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party in a manner adverse to the Second Lien Secured Parties, or (iv) contravene the provisions of this Agreement or the Second Lien Documents.

(c) For the avoidance of doubt and subject to Sections 4.05(a) and (b) , (1) any Second Lien Security Document may be amended or supplemented in accordance with Section 7.1 of the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement and (2) any Third Lien Security Document may be amended or supplemented with the applicable provisions of the Third Lien Collateral Trust Agreement.

Section 4.06 Legends . Each of

(a) the Priority Lien Agent acknowledges with respect to the (i) Priority Credit Agreement and the Credit Agreement Security Documents and (ii) the Additional Priority Lien Debt Facility and the Additional Priority Lien Security Documents, if any,

(b) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee acknowledges with respect to (i) the Second Lien Indenture and the Second Lien Indenture Security Documents, and (ii) the Additional Second Lien Debt Facility and the Additional Second Lien Security Documents, if any, and

(c) the Third Lien Collateral Trustee acknowledges with respect to (i) the Initial Third Lien Debt Facility and the Initial Third Lien Security Documents, if any, and (ii) the Additional Third Lien Debt Facility and the Additional Third Lien Security Documents, if any, that

the Second Lien Indenture, the Initial Third Lien Debt Facility (if any), the Additional Second Lien Debt Facility (if any), the Additional Third Lien Debt Facility (if any), the Second Lien Documents (other than control agreements to which both the Priority Lien Agent and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee are parties), the Third Lien Documents (other than control agreements to which the Priority Lien Agent or the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, as applicable, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee are parties) and each associated Security Document (other than control agreements to which both the Priority Lien Agent and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee are parties or, in the case of Third Lien Security Documents, other than control agreements to which the Priority Lien Agent or the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, as applicable, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee are parties) granting any security interest in the Collateral will contain a legend to the effect set forth on Annex I .

Section 4.07 Second Lien Secured Parties and Third Lien Secured Parties Rights as Unsecured Creditors; Judgment Lien Creditor . Whether before or after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, any of the Second Lien Secured Parties and the Third Lien Secured Parties may take any actions and exercise any and all rights that would be available to a holder of unsecured claims; provided, however, that the Second Lien Secured Parties and the Third Lien Secured Parties may not take any of the actions

 

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prohibited by Section 3.05(a) or Section 4.02 or any other provisions in this Agreement; provided , further , that in the event that any of the Second Lien Secured Parties or Third Lien Secured Parties becomes a judgment lien creditor in respect of any Collateral as a result of its enforcement of its rights as an unsecured creditor with respect to the Second Lien Obligations or the Third Lien Obligations, as applicable, such judgment lien shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement for all purposes (including in relation to the Priority Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Obligations and the Third Lien Obligations, as applicable) as the Second Liens and Third Liens, as applicable, are subject to this Agreement.

Section 4.08 Postponement of Subrogation .

(a) Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, hereby agrees that no payment or distribution to any Priority Lien Secured Party pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement shall entitle any Second Lien Secured Party or Third Lien Secured Party to exercise any rights of subrogation in respect thereof until, in the case of the Second Lien Secured Parties, the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations shall have occurred and, in the case of the Third Lien Secured Parties, the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations and the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations shall have occurred. Following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, but subject to the reinstatement as provided in Section 4.03 , each Priority Lien Secured Party will execute such documents, agreements, and instruments as any Second Lien Secured Party may reasonably request to evidence the transfer by subrogation to any such Person of an interest in the Priority Lien Obligations resulting from payments or distributions to such Priority Lien Secured Party by such Person, so long as all costs and expenses (including all reasonable legal fees and disbursements) incurred in connection therewith by such Priority Lien Secured Party are paid by such Person upon request for payment thereof.

(b) Following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that no payment or distribution to any Second Lien Secured Party pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement shall entitle any Third Lien Secured Party to exercise any rights of subrogation in respect thereof. Following the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, but subject to the reinstatement as provided in Section 4.03 , each Second Lien Secured Party will execute such documents, agreements, and instruments as any Third Lien Secured Party may reasonably request to evidence the transfer by subrogation to any such Person of an interest in the Second Lien Obligations resulting from payments or distributions to such Second Lien Secured Party by such Person, so long as all costs and expenses (including all reasonable legal fees and disbursements) incurred in connection therewith by such Second Lien Secured Party are paid by such Person upon request for payment thereof.

Section 4.09 Acknowledgment by the Secured Debt Representatives . Each of the Priority Lien Agent, for itself and on behalf of the other Priority Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of the other Second Lien Secured Parties, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of the other Third Lien Secured Parties, hereby acknowledges that this Agreement is a material inducement to enter into a business relationship, that each has relied on this Agreement to enter into the Priority Lien Documents, the Second Lien Documents and the Third Lien Documents, as applicable, and all documentation related thereto, and that each will continue to rely on this Agreement in their related future dealings.

 

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ARTICLE V

GRATUITOUS BAILMENT FOR PERFECTION OF CERTAIN SECURITY INTERESTS

Section 5.01 General . (a) Prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, the Priority Lien Agent agrees that if it shall at any time hold a Priority Lien on any Collateral that can be perfected by the possession or control of such Collateral, and if such Collateral is in fact in the possession or under the control of the Priority Lien Agent, the Priority Lien Agent will serve as gratuitous bailee for (i) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee for the sole purpose of perfecting the Second Lien of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee on such Collateral and (ii) the Third Lien Collateral Trustee for the sole purpose of perfecting the Third Lien of the Third Lien Collateral Trustee on such Collateral. It is agreed that the obligations of the Priority Lien Agent and the rights of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, the other Second Lien Secured Parties, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee and the other Third Lien Secured Parties in connection with any such bailment arrangement will be in all respects subject to the provisions of Article II . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Priority Lien Agent will be deemed to make no representation as to the adequacy of the steps taken by it to perfect the Second Lien or Third Lien on any such Collateral and shall have no responsibility, duty, obligation or liability to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party or any other Person for such perfection or failure to perfect, it being understood that the sole purpose of this Article is to enable the Second Lien Secured Parties to obtain a perfected Second Lien and the Third Lien Secured Parties to obtain a perfected Third Lien in such Collateral to the extent, if any, that such perfection results from the possession or control of such Collateral by the Priority Lien Agent. The Priority Lien Agent acting pursuant to this Section 5.01(a) shall not have by reason of the Priority Lien Security Documents, the Second Lien Security Documents, the Third Lien Security Documents, this Agreement or any other document or theory, a fiduciary relationship in respect of any Priority Lien Secured Party, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any Third Lien Secured Party. Subject to Section 4.03 , from and after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, the Priority Lien Agent shall take all such actions in its power as shall reasonably be requested by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee (at the sole cost and expense of the Grantors) to transfer possession or control of such Collateral (in each case to the extent the Second Lien Collateral Trustee has a Lien on such Collateral after giving effect to any prior or concurrent releases of Liens) to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee for the benefit of all Second Lien Secured Parties.

(b) Following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee agrees that if it shall at any time hold a Second Lien on any Collateral that can be perfected by the possession or control of such Collateral, and if such Collateral is in fact in the possession or under the control of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee will serve as gratuitous bailee for the Third Lien Collateral Trustee for the sole purpose of perfecting the Third Lien of the Third Lien Collateral Trustee on such Collateral. It is agreed that the obligations of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the rights of the Third Lien Collateral Trustee and the other Third Lien Secured Parties in connection with any such bailment arrangement will be in all respects subject to the provisions of Article II . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee will be deemed to make no representation as to the adequacy of the steps taken by it to perfect the Third Lien on any such Collateral and shall have no responsibility, duty, obligation or liability to the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party or any other Person for such perfection or failure to perfect, it being understood that the sole purpose of this Article is to enable the Third Lien Secured Parties to obtain a perfected Third Lien in such Collateral to the extent, if any, that such perfection results from the possession or control of such Collateral by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee. The Second Lien Collateral Trustee acting pursuant to this Section 5.01(b) shall not have by reason of the Second Lien Security Documents, the Third Lien Security Documents, this Agreement or any other document or theory, a fiduciary relationship in respect of any Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any Third Lien Secured Party. Subject to Section 4.03 , from and after the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall take all such actions in its power as shall reasonably be requested by the Third Lien Collateral Trustee (at the sole cost and expense of the Grantors) to transfer possession or control of such Collateral (in each case to the extent the Third Lien Collateral Trustee has a Lien on such Collateral after giving effect to any prior or concurrent releases of Liens) to the Third Lien Collateral Trustee for the benefit of all Third Lien Secured Parties.

 

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ARTICLE VI

APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS; DETERMINATION OF AMOUNTS

Section 6.01 Application of Proceeds . (a) Prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, and regardless of whether an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding has been commenced, Collateral or proceeds received in connection with the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to any portion of the Collateral will be applied:

 

  (i) first , to the payment in full in cash of all Priority Lien Obligations,

 

  (ii) second , to the payment in full in cash of all Second Lien Obligations,

 

  (iii) third , to the payment in full in cash of all Third Lien Obligations, and

 

  (iv) fourth , to Chesapeake or as otherwise required by applicable law.

(b) Following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, and regardless of whether an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding has been commenced, Collateral or proceeds received in connection with the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to any portion of the Collateral will be applied:

 

  (i) first , to the payment in full in cash of all Second Lien Obligations,

 

  (ii) second , to the payment in full in cash of all Third Lien Obligations, and

 

  (iii) third , to Chesapeake or as otherwise required by applicable law.

Section 6.02 Determination of Amounts . Whenever a Secured Debt Representative shall be required, in connection with the exercise of its rights or the performance of its obligations hereunder, to determine the existence or amount of any Priority Lien Obligations, Second Lien Obligations or Third Lien Obligations (or the existence of any commitment to extend credit that would constitute any such obligations), or the existence of any Lien securing any such obligations, or the Collateral subject to any such Lien, it may request that such information be furnished to it in writing by the other Secured Debt Representatives and shall be entitled to make such determination on the basis of the information so furnished; provided , however , that if a Secured Debt Representative shall fail or refuse reasonably promptly to provide the requested information, the requesting Secured Debt Representative shall be entitled to make any such determination by such method as it may, in the exercise of its good faith judgment, determine, including by reliance upon a certificate of Chesapeake. Each Secured Debt Representative may rely conclusively, and shall be fully protected in so relying, on any determination made by it in accordance with the provisions of the preceding sentence (or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction) and shall have no liability to Chesapeake or any of their subsidiaries, any Secured Party or any other Person as a result of such determination.

 

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ARTICLE VII

NO RELIANCE; NO LIABILITY; OBLIGATIONS ABSOLUTE;

CONSENT OF GRANTORS; ETC.

Section 7.01 No Reliance; Information . The Priority Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Secured Parties and the Third Lien Secured Parties shall have no duty to disclose to any Secured Party any information relating to Chesapeake or any of the other Grantors, or any other circumstance bearing upon the risk of non-payment of any of the Priority Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Obligations or the Third Lien Obligations, as the case may be, that is known or becomes known to any of them or any of their Affiliates. In the event any Priority Lien Secured Party, any Second Lien Secured Party or any Third Lien Secured Party, in its sole discretion, undertakes at any time or from time to time to provide any such information to any Secured Party, it shall be under no obligation (a) to make, and shall not make or be deemed to have made, any express or implied representation or warranty, including with respect to the accuracy, completeness, truthfulness or validity of the information so provided, (b) to provide any additional information or to provide any such information on any subsequent occasion or (c) to undertake any investigation.

Section 7.02 No Warranties or Liability .

(a) The Priority Lien Agent, for itself and on behalf of the other Priority Lien Secured Parties, acknowledges and agrees that, except for the representations and warranties set forth in Article VIII , (i) neither the Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party has made any express or implied representation or warranty, including with respect to the execution, validity, legality, completeness, collectability or enforceability of any of the Second Lien Documents, the ownership of any Collateral or the perfection or priority of any Liens thereon and (ii) neither the Third Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Third Lien Secured Party has made any express or implied representation or warranty, including with respect to the execution, validity, legality, completeness, collectability or enforceability of any of the Third Lien Documents, the ownership of any Collateral or the perfection or priority of any Liens thereon.

(b) The Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of the other Second Lien Secured Parties, acknowledges and agrees that, except for the representations and warranties set forth in Article VIII , (i) neither the Priority Lien Agent nor any other Priority Lien Secured Party has made any express or implied representation or warranty, including with respect to the execution, validity, legality, completeness, collectability or enforceability of any of the Priority Lien Documents, the ownership of any Collateral or the perfection or priority of any Liens thereon and (ii) neither the Third Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Third Lien Secured Party has made any express or implied representation or warranty, including with respect to the execution, validity, legality, completeness, collectability or enforceability of any of the Third Lien Documents, the ownership of any Collateral or the perfection or priority of any Liens thereon.

(c) The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of the other Third Lien Secured Parties, acknowledges and agrees that, except for the representations and warranties set forth in Article VIII , (i) neither the Priority Lien Agent nor any other Priority Lien Secured Party has made any express or implied representation or warranty, including with respect to the execution, validity, legality, completeness, collectability or enforceability of any of the Priority Lien Documents, the ownership of any Collateral or the perfection or priority of any Liens thereon and (ii) neither the Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party has made any express or implied representation or warranty, including with respect to the execution, validity, legality, completeness, collectability or enforceability of any of the Second Lien Documents, the ownership of any Collateral or the perfection or priority of any Liens thereon.

 

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(d) (i) The Priority Lien Agent and the other Priority Lien Secured Parties shall have no express or implied duty to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party, (ii) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the other Second Lien Secured Parties shall have no express or implied duty to the Priority Lien Agent, any other Priority Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party, and (iii) the Third Lien Collateral Trustee shall have no express or implied duty to the Priority Lien Agent, any other Priority Lien Secured Party, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party, in each case to act or refrain from acting in a manner which allows, or results in, the occurrence or continuance of a default or an event of default under any Priority Lien Document, any Second Lien Document and any Third Lien Document (other than, in each case, this Agreement), regardless of any knowledge thereof which they may have or be charged with.

(e) Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, hereby waives any claim that may be had against the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party arising out of any actions which the Priority Lien Agent or such Priority Lien Secured Party takes or omits to take (including actions with respect to the creation, perfection or continuation of Liens on any Collateral, actions with respect to the foreclosure upon, sale, release or depreciation of, or failure to realize upon, any Collateral, and actions with respect to the collection of any claim for all or only part of the Priority Lien Obligations from any account debtor, guarantor or any other party) in accordance with this Agreement and the Priority Lien Documents or the valuation, use, protection or release of any security for such Priority Lien Obligations. The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf each other Third Lien Secured Party, hereby waives any claim that may be had against the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party arising out of any actions which the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or such Second Lien Secured Party takes or omits to take following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations (including actions with respect to the creation, perfection or continuation of Liens on any Collateral, actions with respect to the foreclosure upon, sale, release or depreciation of, or failure to realize upon, any Collateral, and actions with respect to the collection of any claim for all or only part of the Second Lien Obligations from any account debtor, guarantor or any other party) in accordance with this Agreement and the Second Lien Documents or the valuation, use, protection or release of any security for such Second Lien Obligations.

Section 7.03 Obligations Absolute . The Lien priorities provided for herein and the respective rights, interests, agreements and obligations hereunder of the Priority Lien Agent and the other Priority Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the other Second Lien Secured Parties, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee and the other Third Lien Secured Parties shall remain in full force and effect irrespective of:

(a) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Secured Debt Document;

(b) any change in the time, place or manner of payment of, or in any other term of (including the Replacing of), all or any portion of the Priority Lien Obligations, it being specifically acknowledged that a portion of the Priority Lien Obligations consists or may consist of Indebtedness that is revolving in nature, and the amount thereof that may be outstanding at any time or from time to time may be increased or reduced and subsequently reborrowed;

(c) any amendment, waiver or other modification, whether by course of conduct or otherwise, of any Secured Debt Document;

 

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(d) the securing of any Priority Lien Obligations, Second Lien Obligations or Third Lien Obligations with any additional collateral or guarantees, or any exchange, release, voiding, avoidance or non-perfection of any security interest in any Collateral or any other collateral or any release of any guarantee securing any Priority Lien Obligations, Second Lien Obligations or Third Lien Obligations;

(e) the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding in respect of Chesapeake or any other Grantor; or

(f) any other circumstances that otherwise might constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, Chesapeake or any other Grantor in respect of the Priority Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Obligations or the Third Lien Obligations.

Section 7.04 Grantors Consent . Each Grantor hereby consents to the provisions of this Agreement and the intercreditor arrangements provided for herein and agrees that the obligations of the Grantors under the Secured Debt Documents will in no way be diminished or otherwise affected by such provisions or arrangements (except as expressly provided herein).

ARTICLE VIII

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

Section 8.01 Representations and Warranties of Each Party . Each party hereto represents and warrants to the other parties hereto as follows:

(a) Such party is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and has all requisite power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement.

(b) This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such party.

(c) The execution, delivery and performance by such party of this Agreement (i) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with or any other action by any Governmental Authority of which the failure to obtain could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement as in effect on the date hereof), (ii) will not violate any applicable law or regulation or any order of any Governmental Authority or any indenture, agreement or other instrument binding upon such party which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (iii) will not violate the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of such party.

Section 8.02 Representations and Warranties of Each Representative . Each of the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee represents and warrants to the other parties hereto that it is authorized under the Priority Credit Agreement, the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement and the Third Lien Collateral Trust Agreement, as the case may be, to enter into this Agreement.

ARTICLE IX

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 9.01 Notices . All notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopy, as follows:

 

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  (a) if to the Original Priority Lien Agent, to it at:

MUFG Union Bank, N.A.

500 N. Akard, Suite 4200

Dallas, TX 75201

Attention: Randall Osterberg

Facsimile: (214) 922-4209

 

  (b) if to the Original Second Lien Collateral Trustee, to it at:

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas

Trust and Agency Services

60 Wall Street, 16th Floor

Mail Stop: NYC60-1630

New York, New York 10005

USA

Attn: Corporates Team, Chesapeake Energy Corp.

Facsimile: (732) 578-4635

With a copy to:

Deutsche Bank National Trust Company

for Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas

Trust and Agency Services

100 Plaza One – 6th Floor

MSJCY03-0699

Jersey City, NJ 07311-3901

USA

Attn: Corporates Team, Chesapeake Energy Corp.

Facsimile: (732) 578-4635

(c) if to any other Secured Debt Representative, to such address as specified in the Priority Confirmation Joinder.

Any party hereto may change its address or facsimile number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. All notices and other communications given to any party hereto in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given on the date of receipt (if a Business Day) and on the next Business Day thereafter (in all other cases) if delivered by hand or overnight courier service or sent by telecopy or on the date five Business Days after dispatch by certified or registered mail if mailed, in each case delivered, sent or mailed (properly addressed) to such party as provided in this Section 9.01 or in accordance with the latest unrevoked direction from such party given in accordance with this Section 9.01 . As agreed to in writing among Chesapeake, the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee from time to time, notices and other communications may also be delivered by e-mail to the e-mail address of a representative of the applicable person provided from time to time by such person.

Section 9.02 Waivers; Amendment . (a) No failure or delay on the part of any party hereto in exercising any right or power hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power.

 

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The rights and remedies of the parties hereto are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by any party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section 9.02, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. No notice or demand on any party hereto in any case shall entitle such party to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.

(b) Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be terminated, waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by each Secured Debt Representative; provided , however , that this Agreement may be amended from time to time as provided in the last paragraph of Section 4.04 ; provided further , however , with respect to any amendment that directly and adversely affects any express rights or obligations of Chesapeake or any other Grantor hereunder, no such amendment or modification shall be effective unless consented to by Chesapeake and any applicable Grantor in writing. Any amendment of this Agreement that is proposed to be effected without the consent of a Secured Debt Representative as permitted by the first proviso to the preceding sentence shall be submitted to such Secured Debt Representative for its review at least 5 Business Days prior to the proposed effectiveness of such amendment.

Section 9.03 Actions Upon Breach; Specific Performance . (a) (i) Prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, if any Second Lien Secured Party or Third Lien Secured Party, contrary to this Agreement, commences or participates in any action or proceeding against any Grantor or the Collateral, such Grantor, with the prior written consent of the Priority Lien Agent, may interpose as a defense or dilatory plea the making of this Agreement, and any Priority Lien Secured Party may intervene and interpose such defense or plea in its or their name or in the name of such Grantor and (ii) following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, if any Third Lien Secured Party, contrary to this Agreement, commences or participates in any action or proceeding against any Grantor or the Collateral, such Grantor, with the prior written consent of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, may interpose as a defense or dilatory plea the making of this Agreement, and any Second Lien Secured Party may intervene and interpose such defense or plea in its or their name or in the name of such Grantor.

(b) (i) Prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, should any Second Lien Secured Party or Third Lien Secured Party, contrary to this Agreement, in any way take, attempt to or threaten to take any action with respect to the Collateral (including any attempt to realize upon or enforce any remedy with respect to this Agreement), or take any other action in violation of this Agreement or fail to take any action required by this Agreement, the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party (in its own name or in the name of the relevant Grantor) or the relevant Grantor, with the prior written consent of the Priority Lien Agent, (A) may obtain relief against such Second Lien Secured Party or Third Lien Secured Party, as applicable, by injunction, specific performance and/or other appropriate equitable relief, it being understood and agreed by each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee on behalf of each Second Lien Secured Party and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party that (I) the Priority Lien Secured Parties’ damages from its actions may at that time be difficult to ascertain and may be irreparable, and (II) each Second Lien Secured Party and Third Lien Secured Party waives any defense that the Grantors and/or the Priority Lien Secured Parties cannot demonstrate damage and/or be made whole by the awarding of damages, and (B) shall be entitled to damages, as well as reimbursement for all reasonable and documented costs and expenses incurred in connection with any action to enforce the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, should any Third Lien Secured Party, contrary to this Agreement, in any way take, attempt to or threaten to take any action with respect to the Collateral (including any attempt to realize upon or enforce any remedy with respect to this Agreement), or take any other action in violation of this Agreement or fail to take any action required by

 

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this Agreement, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party (in its own name or in the name of the relevant Grantor) or the relevant Grantor, with the prior written consent of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, (A) may obtain relief against such Third Lien Secured Party by injunction, specific performance and/or other appropriate equitable relief, it being understood and agreed by the Third Lien Collateral Trustee on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party that (I) the Second Lien Secured Parties’ damages from its actions may at that time be difficult to ascertain and may be irreparable, and (II) each Third Lien Secured Party waives any defense that the Grantors and/or the Second Lien Secured Parties cannot demonstrate damage and/or be made whole by the awarding of damages, and (B) shall be entitled to damages, as well as reimbursement for all reasonable and documented costs and expenses incurred in connection with any action to enforce the provisions of this Agreement.

Section 9.04 Parties in Interest . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, as well as the other Secured Parties, all of whom are intended to be bound by, and to be third party beneficiaries of, this Agreement. No other Person will be entitled to rely on, have the benefit of or enforce this Agreement.

Section 9.05 Survival of Agreement . All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by any party in this Agreement shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

Section 9.06 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Agreement by facsimile or other electronic transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Agreement.

Section 9.07 Severability . Any provision of this Agreement held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction. The parties shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

Section 9.08 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process . (a) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

(b) Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State court or, to the extent permitted by law, in such federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that any party hereto may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement in the courts of any jurisdiction.

 

53


(c) Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any court referred to in paragraph (b)  of this Section 9.08 . Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

(d) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.01 . Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

Section 9.09 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL . EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

Section 9.10 Headings . Article, Section and Annex headings used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and are not to affect the construction of, or to be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

Section 9.11 Conflicts . In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of this Agreement and the provisions of any Secured Debt Documents, the provisions of this Agreement shall control.

Section 9.12 Provisions Solely to Define Relative Rights . The provisions of this Agreement are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the distinct and separate relative rights of the Priority Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Secured Parties and the Third Lien Secured Parties. None of Chesapeake, any other Grantor or any other creditor thereof shall have any rights or obligations hereunder, except as expressly provided in this Agreement ( provided that nothing in this Agreement (other than Sections 4.01 , 4.02 , 4.04 , or 4.05 ) is intended to or will amend, waive or otherwise modify the provisions of the Priority Lien Documents, the Second Lien Documents or the Third Lien Documents, as applicable), and except as expressly provided in this Agreement neither Chesapeake nor any other Grantor may rely on the terms hereof (other than Sections 4.01 , 4.02 , 4.04 , or 4.05 , Article VII and Article IX) . Nothing in this Agreement is intended to or shall impair the obligations of Chesapeake or any other Grantor, which are absolute and unconditional, to pay the Obligations under the Secured Debt Documents as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms.

Section 9.13 Certain Terms Concerning the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee . (a) The Second Lien Collateral Trustee is executing and delivering this Agreement solely in its capacity as such and pursuant to direction set forth in the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement; and in so doing, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall not be responsible for the terms or sufficiency of this Agreement for any purpose. The Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall have no duties or obligations under or pursuant to this Agreement other than such duties and obligations as may be expressly set forth in this Agreement as duties and obligations on its part to be performed or observed. In entering into this Agreement, or in taking (or forbearing from) any action under or pursuant to the Agreement, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall have and be protected by all of the rights, immunities, indemnities and other protections granted to it under the Second Lien Indenture and the other Second Lien Documents (including without limitation Article 5 and Section 7.8 of the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement).

 

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(b) The Third Lien Collateral Trustee is executing and delivering this Agreement solely in its capacity as such and pursuant to direction set forth in the Third Lien Collateral Trust Agreement; and in so doing, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee shall not be responsible for the terms or sufficiency of this Agreement for any purpose. The Third Lien Collateral Trustee shall have no duties or obligations under or pursuant to this Agreement other than such duties and obligations as may be expressly set forth in this Agreement as duties and obligations on its part to be performed or observed. In entering into this Agreement, or in taking (or forbearing from) any action under or pursuant to the Agreement, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee shall have and be protected by all of the rights, immunities, indemnities and other protections granted to it under any Initial Third Lien Debt Facility and the Third Lien Documents.

Section 9.14 Certain Terms Concerning the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Truste e. None of the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Third Lien Collateral Trustee shall have any liability or responsibility for the actions or omissions of any other Secured Party, or for any other Secured Party’s compliance with (or failure to comply with) the terms of this Agreement. None of the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Third Lien Collateral Trustee shall have individual liability to any Person if it shall mistakenly pay over or distribute to any Secured Party (or Chesapeake) any amounts in violation of the terms of this Agreement, so long as the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, as the case may be, is acting in good faith. Each party hereto hereby acknowledges and agrees that each of the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee is entering into this Agreement solely in its capacity under the Priority Lien Documents, the Second Lien Documents and the Third Lien Documents, respectively, and not in its individual capacity. (a) The Priority Lien Agent shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to (i) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Representative or any other Second Lien Secured Party or (ii) the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Representative or any other Third Lien Secured Party; (b) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to (i) the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party or (ii) the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Representative or any other Third Lien Secured Party; and (c) the Third Lien Collateral Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to (i) the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party or (ii) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Representative or any other Second Lien Secured Party.

Section 9.15 Authorization of Secured Agents . By accepting the benefits of this Agreement and the other Priority Lien Security Documents, each Priority Lien Secured Party authorizes the Priority Lien Agent to enter into this Agreement and to act on its behalf as collateral agent hereunder and in connection herewith. By accepting the benefits of this Agreement and the other Second Lien Security Documents, each Second Lien Secured Party authorizes the Second Lien Collateral Trustee to enter into this Agreement and to act on its behalf as collateral agent hereunder and in connection herewith. By accepting the benefits of this Agreement and the other Third Lien Security Documents, each Third Lien Secured Party authorizes the Third Lien Collateral Trustee to enter into this Agreement and to act on its behalf as collateral agent hereunder and in connection herewith.

Section 9.16 Further Assurances . Each of the Priority Lien Agent, for itself and on behalf of the other Priority Lien Secured Party, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of the other Second Lien Secured Parties, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of the other Third

 

55


Lien Secured Parties, and each Grantor party hereto, for itself and on behalf of its subsidiaries, agrees that it will execute, or will cause to be executed, any and all further documents, agreements and instruments, and take all such further actions, as may be required under any applicable law, or which the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Third Lien Collateral Trustee may reasonably request, to effectuate the terms of this Agreement, including the relative Lien priorities provided for herein.

Section 9.17 Relationship of Secured Parties . Nothing set forth herein shall create or evidence a joint venture, partnership or an agency or fiduciary relationship among the Secured Parties. None of the Secured Parties nor any of their respective directors, officers, agents or employees shall be responsible to any other Secured Party or to any other Person for any Grantor’s solvency, financial condition or ability to repay the Priority Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Obligations or the Third Lien Obligations, or for statements of any Grantor, oral or written, or for the validity, sufficiency or enforceability of the Priority Lien Documents, the Second Lien Documents or the Third Lien Documents, or any security interests granted by any Grantor to any Secured Party in connection therewith. Each Secured Party has entered into its respective financing agreements with the Grantors based upon its own independent investigation, and none of the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Third Lien Collateral Trustee makes any warranty or representation to the other Secured Debt Representatives or the Secured Parties for which it acts as agent nor does it rely upon any representation of the other agents or the Secured Parties for which it acts as agent with respect to matters identified or referred to in this Agreement.

Section 9.18 Third Lien Provisions . Notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions, until such time as the Third Lien Collateral Trustee has, pursuant to the terms hereof (including but not limited Section 4.04(c)) , entered into, and, for itself and on behalf of the Third Lien Secured Parties, agreed to be bound by the terms of, this Agreement and executed a Priority Confirmation Joinder, the provisions of this Agreement relating to the Third Lien Obligations (including, but not limited to, the definitions of “Additional Third Lien Debt Facility”, “Additional Third Lien Documents”, “Additional Third Lien Obligations”, “Additional Third Lien Secured Parties”, “Additional Third Lien Security Documents”, “Third Lien”, “Third Lien Collateral”, “Third Lien Collateral Trust Agreement”, “Third Lien Collateral Trustee”, “Third Lien Debt”, “Third Lien Documents”, “Third Lien First Standstill Period”, “Third Lien Obligations”, “Third Lien Representative”, “Third Lien Second Standstill Period”, “Third Lien Secured Parties”, “Third Lien Security Documents” and “Third Lien Substitute Facility” and provisions regarding priority, enforcement actions, Standstill Periods, release of Liens, Insolvency or Liquidation Proceedings, reinstatement, amendments to Third Lien Documents and application of proceeds) shall not be operative.

[SIGNATURES BEGIN NEXT PAGE]

 

56


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

MUFG UNION BANK, N.A. , as Priority Lien Agent
By:  

/s/ Haylee Edwards

Name:   Haylee Edwards
Title:   Vice President

Signature Page

Intercreditor Agreement


DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY
AMERICAS
, as Second Lien Collateral Trustee

By: Deutsche Bank National Trust Company

 

By:

 

/s/ Robert S. Peschler

 

Name:

 

Robert S. Peschler

 

Title:

 

Vice President

 

By:

 

/s/ Wanda Camacho

 

Name:

 

Wanda Camacho

 

Title:

 

Vice President

Signature Page

Intercreditor Agreement


ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED AS OF THE DATE FIRST ABOVE WRITTEN:

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION

  By:  

/s/ Caleb G. Morgret

    Caleb G. Morgret
    Vice President and Treasurer

Signature Page

Intercreditor Agreement


GRANTORS:   

CHESAPEAKE AEZ EXPLORATION, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE APPALACHIA, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE-CLEMENTS ACQUISITION, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE E&P HOLDING CORPORATION

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY LOUISIANA CORPORATION

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY MARKETING, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE NG VENTURES CORPORATION

CHESAPEAKE EXPLORATION, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE LAND DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE LOUISIANA, L.P.

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

                         Partner

CHESAPEAKE MIDSTREAM DEVELOPMENT, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE OPERATING, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE PLAZA, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE ROYALTY, L.L.C.

CHESAPEAKE VRT, L.L.C.

CHK-MAC, L.L.C.

COMPASS MANUFACTURING, L.L.C.

EMLP, L.L.C.

EMPRESS, L.L.C.

GSF, L.L.C.

MC LOUISIANA MINERALS, L.L.C.

MC MINERAL COMPANY, L.L.C.

MIDCON COMPRESSION, L.L.C.

NOMAC SERVICES, L.L.C.

NORTHERN MICHIGAN EXPLORATION COMPANY, L.L.C.

WINTER MOON ENERGY CORPORATION

CHK UTICA, L.L.C.

SPARKS DRIVE SWD, INC.

CHK ENERGY HOLDINGS, INC.

EMPRESS LOUISIANA PROPERTIES, L.P.

        BY: EMLP, L.L.C., its General Partner

 

    By:   /s/ Caleb G. Morgret
     

Caleb G. Morgret

Vice President and Treasurer, for and on behalf of each

of the foregoing Grantors

Signature Page

Intercreditor Agreement


ANNEX I

Provision for the Second Lien Indenture, any Additional Second Lien Debt Facility, the Second Lien Documents, the Initial Third Lien Debt Facility, any Additional Third Lien Debt Facility and the Third Lien Documents

Reference is made to the Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of December 23, 2015, between MUFG Union Bank, N.A., as Priority Lien Agent (as defined therein), and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Second Lien Collateral Trustee (as defined therein) and acknowledged and agreed by Chesapeake Energy Corporation and certain of its subsidiaries (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the “ Intercreditor Agreement ”). Each holder of [Second Lien Indenture Notes][Additional Second Lien Obligations][Initial Third Lien Obligations][Additional Third Lien Obligations] (as defined therein), by its acceptance of such [Second Lien Indenture Notes][Additional Second Lien Obligations][Initial Third Lien Obligations][Additional Third Lien Obligations] i) consents to the subordination of Liens provided for in the Intercreditor Agreement, ii) agrees that it will be bound by, and will take no actions contrary to, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement and iii) authorizes and instructs the [Second/Third] Lien Collateral Trustee (as defined therein) on behalf of each [Second/Third] Lien Secured Party (as defined therein) to enter into the Intercreditor Agreement as [Second/Third] Lien Collateral Trustee on behalf of such [Second/Third] Lien Secured Parties. The foregoing provisions are intended as an inducement to the lenders under the Priority Lien Documents (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) to extend credit to Chesapeake Energy Corporation, and such lenders are intended third party beneficiaries of such provisions and the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement.

Provision for all Second Lien Indenture Security Documents, any Additional Second Lien Security Documents, the Initial Third Lien Security Documents and the Additional Third Lien Security Documents that Grant a Security Interest in Collateral

Reference is made to the Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of December 23, 2015, between MUFG Union Bank, N.A., as Priority Lien Agent (as defined therein), and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Second Lien Collateral Trustee (as defined therein) and acknowledged and agreed by Chesapeake Energy Corporation and certain of its subsidiaries (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the “ Intercreditor Agreement ”). Each Person that is secured hereunder, by accepting the benefits of the security provided hereby, (i) consents (or is deemed to consent), to the subordination of Liens provided for in the Intercreditor Agreement, (ii) agrees (or is deemed to agree) that it will be bound by, and will take no actions contrary to, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, (iii) authorizes (or is deemed to authorize) the [Second Lien Collateral Trustee] [Third Lien Collateral Trustee] (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) on behalf of such Person to enter into, and perform under, the Intercreditor Agreement and (iv) acknowledges (or is deemed to acknowledge) that a copy of the Intercreditor Agreement was delivered, or made available, to such Person.

Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, this Agreement, the Liens created hereby and the rights, remedies, duties and obligations provided for herein are subject in all respects to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement and, to the extent provided therein, the applicable Security Documents (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement). In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of this Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement shall control.

 

Annex I - 1


EXHIBIT A

to Intercreditor Agreement

[FORM OF]

PRIORITY CONFIRMATION JOINDER

Reference is made to the Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of December 23, 2015 (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the “ Intercreditor Agreement ”) between MUFG Union Bank, N.A., as Priority Lien Agent for the Priority Lien Secured Parties (as defined therein), and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Second Lien Collateral Trustee for the Second Lien Secured Parties (as defined therein) and acknowledged and agreed by Chesapeake Energy Corporation and certain of its subsidiaries.

Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement. This Priority Confirmation Joinder is being executed and delivered pursuant to Section 4.04 [(a) ][ (b) ][ (c) ] of the Intercreditor Agreement as a condition precedent to the debt for which the undersigned is acting as representative being entitled to the rights and obligations of being [Additional [Priority/Second/Third] Lien Obligations][Initial Third Lien Obligations] under the Intercreditor Agreement.

1. Joinder . The undersigned, [            ], a [            ], (the “ New Representative ”) as [trustee] [collateral trustee] [administrative agent] [collateral agent] under that certain [describe applicable indenture, credit agreement or other document governing the Additional Priority, Second or [Initial/Additional] Third Lien Obligations] hereby:

(a) represents that the New Representative has been authorized to become a party to the Intercreditor Agreement on behalf of the [Priority Lien Secured Parties under a Priority Substitute Credit Facility] [Additional Priority Lien Secured Parties under an Additional Priority Lien Debt Facility] [Second Lien Indenture Secured Parties under the Second Lien Substitute Facility] [Additional Second Lien Secured Parties under the Additional Second Lien Debt Facility] [Initial Third Lien Secured Parties under the Initial Third Lien Debt Facility] [Additional Third Lien Secured Parties under the Additional Third Lien Debt Facility] as [a Priority Lien Agent under a Priority Substitute Credit Facility] [a Second Lien Collateral Trustee under a Second Lien Substitute Facility] [a Third Lien Collateral Trustee under a Third Lien Substitute Facility] [Secured Debt Representative] [Priority Lien Representative] [Second Lien Representative] [Third Lien Representative] under the Intercreditor Agreement for all purposes thereof on the terms set forth therein, and to be bound by the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement as fully as if the undersigned had executed and delivered the Intercreditor Agreement as of the date thereof; and

(b) agrees that its address for receiving notices pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement shall be as follows:

[Address];

2. Priority Confirmation .

[Option A: to be used if additional debt constitutes a Series of Priority Lien Debt ] The undersigned New Representative, on behalf of itself and each holder of Obligations in respect of the Series of Priority Lien Debt [that constitutes a Priority Lien Substitute Facility] [that constitutes an Additional Priority Lien Debt Facility] for which the undersigned is acting as [Priority Lien Representative] [ Priority Lien Agent] hereby agrees, for the benefit of all Secured Parties and each future Secured Debt Representative, and as a condition to being treated as Secured Obligations under the Intercreditor Agreement, that:

 

Exhibit A - 1


(a) all Priority Lien Obligations will be and are secured in accordance with the Priority Lien Collateral Trust Agreement by all Priority Liens at any time granted by Chesapeake or any other Grantor to secure any Obligations in respect of such Series of Priority Lien Debt, whether or not upon property otherwise constituting Collateral for such Series of Priority Lien Debt, and that all such Priority Liens will be enforceable by the Priority Lien Agent with respect to such Series of Priority Lien Debt for the benefit of all Priority Lien Secured Parties equally and ratably;

(b) the New Representative and each holder of Obligations in respect of the Series of Priority Lien Debt for which the undersigned is acting as [Priority Lien Representative] are bound by the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, including the provisions relating to the ranking of Priority Liens, Second Liens and Third Liens and the order of application of proceeds from enforcement of Priority Liens, Second Liens and Third Liens; and

(c) the New Representative and each holder of Obligations in respect of the Series of Priority Lien Debt for which the undersigned is acting as [Priority Lien Representative] appoints the Priority Lien Agent and consents to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and the performance by the Priority Lien Agent of, and directs the Priority Lien Agent to perform, its obligations under the Intercreditor Agreement and the Priority Lien Collateral Trust Agreement, together with all such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. [or]

[Option B: to be used if additional debt constitutes a Series of Second Lien Debt ] The undersigned New Representative, on behalf of itself and each holder of Obligations in respect of the Series of Second Lien Debt [that constitutes a Second Lien Substitute Facility] [that constitutes an Additional Second Lien Debt Facility] for which the undersigned is acting as [Second Lien Representative] [Second Lien Collateral Trustee] hereby agrees, for the benefit of all Secured Parties and each future Secured Debt Representative, and as a condition to being treated as Secured Obligations under the Intercreditor Agreement, that:

(a) all Second Lien Obligations will be and are secured equally and ratably by all Second Liens at any time granted by Chesapeake or any other Grantor to secure any Obligations in respect of such Series of Second Lien Debt, whether or not upon property otherwise constituting Collateral for such Series of Second Lien Debt, and that all such Second Liens will be enforceable by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee with respect to such Series of Second Lien Debt for the benefit of all Second Lien Secured Parties equally and ratably;

(b) the New Representative and each holder of Obligations in respect of the Series of Second Lien Debt for which the undersigned is acting as [Second Lien Representative] are bound by the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, including the provisions relating to the ranking of Priority Liens, Second Liens and Third Liens and the order of application of proceeds from enforcement of Priority Liens, Second Liens and Third Liens; and

(c) the New Representative and each holder of Obligations in respect of the Series of Second Lien Debt for which the undersigned is acting as [Second Lien Representative] appoints the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and consents to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and the performance by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee of, and directs the Second Lien Collateral Trustee to perform, its obligations under the Intercreditor Agreement and the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement, together with all such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. [or]

 

Exhibit A - 2


[ Option C: to be used if additional debt constitutes a Series of Third Lien Debt ] The undersigned New Representative, on behalf of itself and each holder of Obligations in respect of the Series of Third Lien Debt [that constitutes the Initial Third Lien Debt Facility] [that constitutes a Third Lien Substitute Facility] [that constitutes an Additional Third Lien Debt Facility] for which the undersigned is acting as [Third Lien Representative] [Third Lien Collateral Trustee] hereby agrees, for the benefit of all Secured Parties and each future Sec ured Debt Representative, and as a condition to being treated as Secured Obligations under the Intercreditor Agreement, that:

(a) all Third Lien Obligations will be and are secured equally and ratably by all Third Liens at any time granted by Chesapeake or any other Grantor to secure any Obligations in respect of such Series of Third Lien Debt, whether or not upon property otherwise constituting Collateral for such Series of Third Lien Debt, and that all such Third Liens will be enforceable by the Third Lien Collateral Trustee with respect to such Series of Third Lien Debt for the benefit of all Third Lien Secured Parties equally and ratably;

(b) the New Representative and each holder of Obligations in respect of the Series of Third Lien Debt for which the undersigned is acting as [ Third Lien Representative ] [ Third Lien Collateral Trustee ] are bound by the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, including the provisions relating to the ranking of Priority Liens, Second Liens and Third Liens and the order of application of proceeds from enforcement of Priority Liens, Second Liens and Third Liens; and

[(c) the New Representative and each holder of Obligations in respect of the Series of Third Lien Debt for which the undersigned is acting as [ Third Lien Representative ] appoints the Third Lien Collateral Trustee and consents to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and the performance by the Third Lien Collateral Trustee of, and directs the Third Lien Collateral Trustee to perform, its obligations under the Intercreditor Agreement and the Third Lien Collateral Trust Agreement, together with all such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.] 1

3. Full Force and Effect of Intercreditor Agreement . Except as expressly supplemented hereby, the Intercreditor Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

4. Governing Law and Miscellaneous Provisions . The provisions of Article IX of the Intercreditor Agreement will apply with like effect to this Priority Confirmation Joinder.

5. Expenses . Chesapeake agree to reimburse each Secured Debt Representative for its reasonable out of pocket expenses in connection with this Priority Confirmation Joinder, including the reasonable fees, other charges and disbursements of counsel.

 

 

1   Necessary only in the case of an incurrence of Additional Third Lien Obligations.

 

Exhibit A - 3


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Priority Confirmation Joinder to be executed by their respective officers or representatives as of [            , 20        ].

 

[insert name of New Representative]

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

The Priority Lien Agent hereby acknowledges receipt of this Priority Confirmation Joinder [and agrees to act as Priority Lien Agent for the New Representative and the holders of the Obligations represented thereby]:

 

 

as Priority Lien Agent

By:

   

Name:

   

Title:

   

The Second Lien Collateral Trustee hereby acknowledges receipt of this Priority Confirmation Joinder [and agrees to act as Second Lien Collateral Trustee for the New Representative and the holders of the Obligations represented thereby]:

 

 

as Second Lien Collateral Trustee

By:

   

Name:

   

Title:

   

[The Third Lien Collateral Trustee hereby acknowledges receipt of this Priority Confirmation Joinder [and agrees to act as Third Lien Collateral Trustee for the New Representative and the holders of the Obligations represented thereby]:

 

as Third Lien Collateral Trustee

By:

 

Name:

   

Title:

   

 

Exhibit A - 4


Acknowledged and Agreed to by:

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION

By:

   

Name:

   

Title:

   

 

Exhibit A - 5


EXHIBIT B

to Intercreditor Agreement

SECURITY DOCUMENTS

PART A.

List of Credit Agreement Security Documents

 

1. Mortgage, Open-End Mortgage, Multiple Indebtedness Mortgage, Line of Credit Mortgage, Deed of Trust, Assignment of As-Extracted Collateral, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated as of November 24, 2015 from Empress Louisiana Properties, L.P.; CHK Utica, L.L.C.; Chesapeake-Clements Acquisition, L.L.C.; Chesapeake Appalachia, L.L.C.; Empress, L.L.C.; GSF, L.L.C.; MC Louisiana Minerals, L.L.C., and Chesapeake Louisiana, L.P. to Randall Osterberg, as trustee, for the benefit of the Original Priority Lien Agent, as mortgagee.

PART B.

List of Second Lien Indenture Security Documents

None as of the date hereof.

PART C.

List of Initial Third Lien Security Documents

None as of the date hereof.

 

Exhibit B

Exhibit 10.2

COLLATERAL TRUST AGREEMENT

dated as of December 23, 2015

among

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION,

as the Company,

the Guarantors from time to time party hereto,

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS,

as Parity Lien Representative of the holders of the Notes,

the other Parity Lien Representatives from time to time party hereto

and

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS,

as Collateral Trustee

Reference is made to the Intercreditor Agreement (as defined herein). Each Person that is secured hereunder, by accepting the benefits of the security provided hereby, (i) consents (or is deemed to consent), to the subordination of Liens provided for in the Intercreditor Agreement, (ii) agrees (or is deemed to agree) that it will be bound by, and will take no actions contrary to, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, (iii) authorizes (or is deemed to authorize) the Collateral Trustee (as defined herein) on behalf of such Person to enter into, and perform under, the Intercreditor Agreement and (iv) acknowledges (or is deemed to acknowledge) that a copy of the Intercreditor Agreement was delivered, or made available, to such Person.

Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, this Agreement, the Liens created hereby and the rights, remedies, duties and obligations provided for herein are subject in all respects to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement and, to the extent provided therein, the applicable Security Documents (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement). In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of this Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement shall control.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS; PRINCIPLES OF CONSTRUCTION

     1   

Section 1.1

 

Defined Terms

     1   

Section 1.2

 

Rules of Interpretation.

     9   

ARTICLE 2 THE TRUST ESTATE

     10   

Section 2.1

 

Declaration of Trust.

     10   

Section 2.2

 

Collateral Shared Equally and Ratably

     11   

Section 2.3

 

Similar Collateral and Agreements

     11   

ARTICLE 3 OBLIGATIONS AND POWERS OF COLLATERAL TRUSTEE

     11   

Section 3.1

 

Appointment and Undertaking of the Collateral Trustee

     11   

Section 3.2

 

Release or Subordination of Liens

     12   

Section 3.3

 

Enforcement of Liens

     13   

Section 3.4

 

Application of Proceeds

     13   

Section 3.5

 

Powers of the Collateral Trustee.

     14   

Section 3.6

 

Documents and Communications

     15   

Section 3.7

 

For Sole and Exclusive Benefit of Holders of Parity Lien Obligations

     15   

Section 3.8

 

Additional Parity Lien Debt.

     15   

ARTICLE 4 OBLIGATIONS ENFORCEABLE BY THE COMPANY AND THE OTHER MORTGAGORS

     17   

Section 4.1

 

Release of Liens on Collateral.

     17   

Section 4.2

 

Delivery of Copies to Parity Lien Representatives

     19   

Section 4.3

 

Collateral Trustee not Required to Serve, File or Record

     19   

Section 4.4

 

Release of Liens in Respect of Notes

     20   

Section 4.5

 

Release of Liens in Respect of any Series of Parity Lien Debt other than the Notes

     20   

ARTICLE 5 IMMUNITIES OF THE COLLATERAL TRUSTEE

     20   

Section 5.1

 

No Implied Duty

     20   

Section 5.2

 

Appointment of Agents and Advisors

     20   

Section 5.3

 

Other Agreements

     21   

Section 5.4

 

Solicitation of Instructions.

     21   

Section 5.5

 

Limitation of Liability

     22   

Section 5.6

 

Documents in Satisfactory Form

     22   

Section 5.7

 

Entitled to Rely

     22   

Section 5.8

 

Parity Lien Debt Default

     22   

Section 5.9

 

Actions by Collateral Trustee

     23   

Section 5.10

 

Security or Indemnity in favor of the Collateral Trustee

     23   

Section 5.11

 

Rights of the Collateral Trustee

     23   

 

i


Section 5.12

 

Limitations on Duty of Collateral Trustee in Respect of Collateral.

     23   

Section 5.13

 

Assumption of Rights, Not Assumption of Duties

     24   

Section 5.14

 

No Liability for Clean Up of Hazardous Materials

     24   

Section 5.15

 

Other Relationships with the Company or Guarantors

     25   

ARTICLE 6 RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF THE COLLATERAL TRUSTEE

     25   

Section 6.1

 

Resignation or Removal of Collateral Trustee

     25   

Section 6.2

 

Appointment of Successor Collateral Trustee

     25   

Section 6.3

 

Succession

     26   

Section 6.4

 

Merger, Conversion or Consolidation of Collateral Trustee

     26   

Section 6.5

 

Concerning the Collateral Trustee and the Parity Lien Representatives.

     26   

ARTICLE 7 MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

     27   

Section 7.1

 

Amendment.

     27   

Section 7.2

 

Voting

     29   

Section 7.3

 

Further Assurances.

     30   

Section 7.4

 

Successors and Assigns.

     31   

Section 7.5

 

Delay and Waiver

     31   

Section 7.6

 

Notices

     31   

Section 7.7

 

Entire Agreement

     33   

Section 7.8

 

Compensation; Expenses

     33   

Section 7.9

 

Indemnity.

     34   

Section 7.10

 

Severability

     35   

Section 7.11

 

Headings

     35   

Section 7.12

 

Obligations Secured

     35   

Section 7.13

 

Governing Law

     35   

Section 7.14

 

Consent to Jurisdiction

     35   

Section 7.15

 

Waiver of Jury Trial

     36   

Section 7.16

 

Counterparts, Electronic Signatures

     36   

Section 7.17

 

Effectiveness

     37   

Section 7.18

 

Mortgagors and Additional Mortgagors

     37   

Section 7.19

 

Insolvency

     37   

Section 7.20

 

Rights and Immunities of Parity Lien Representatives

     37   

Section 7.21

 

Intercreditor Agreement

     37   

Section 7.22

 

Force Majeure

     38   

Section 7.23

 

Representations and Warranties

     38   

Section 7.24

 

Additional Persons Bound Hereby

     38   

 

ii


Exhibit A

  

Form of

  

Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate

     A-1   

Exhibit B

  

Form of

  

Collateral Trust Joinder – Additional Debt

     B-1   

Exhibit C

  

Form of

  

Collateral Trust Joinder – Additional Mortgagor

     C-1   

 

iii


This Collateral Trust Agreement (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified form time to time in accordance with Section 7.1 hereof, this “ Agreement ”) is dated as of December 23, 2015 and is by and among Chesapeake Energy Corporation (the “ Company ”), the Guarantors from time to time party hereto, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Parity Lien Representative (as defined below) of the holders of the Notes (as defined below) (the “ Trustee ”), the other Parity Lien Representatives from time to time party hereto and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Collateral Trustee (in such capacity and together with its successors in such capacity, the “ Collateral Trustee ”).

RECITALS

The Company intends to issue 8.00% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2022 (the “ Initial Notes ”) in an aggregate principal amount of $2,398,363,000 pursuant to an Indenture dated as of the date hereof (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the “ Indenture ”) among the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee, as trustee under the Indenture and as Collateral Trustee.

The Company and the Guarantors intend to secure their Obligations under the Indenture, any future Parity Lien Debt and any other Parity Lien Obligations, with Liens on all present and future Collateral to the extent that such Liens have been provided for in the applicable Parity Lien Security Documents.

This Agreement sets forth the terms on which each Parity Lien Secured Party (other than the Collateral Trustee) has appointed the Collateral Trustee to act as the collateral trustee for the present and future holders of the Parity Lien Obligations to receive, hold, maintain, administer and distribute the Collateral at any time delivered to the Collateral Trustee or the subject of the Parity Lien Security Documents, and to enforce the Parity Lien Security Documents and all interests, rights, powers and remedies of the Collateral Trustee with respect thereto or thereunder and the proceeds thereof.

Capitalized terms used in this Agreement have the meanings assigned to them above or in Article 1 below.

AGREEMENT

In consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements herein set forth, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS; PRINCIPLES OF CONSTRUCTION

Section 1.1 Defined Terms . The following terms will have the following meanings:

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

 

1


Additional Notes ” has the meaning given to the term “Additional Securities” in the Indenture as in effect on the date hereof.

Additional Parity Lien Debt ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.8(b) .

Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate ” means a notice in substantially the form of Exhibit A.

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

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

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

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

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

Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

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

Business Day ” means any day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading and which is not a Legal Holiday.

 

2


Capital Stock ” means, with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock, partnership or limited liability company interests or other equity securities (including, without limitation, beneficial interests in or other securities of a trust) and any and all warrants, options and rights with respect thereto (whether or not currently exercisable), including each class of common stock and preferred stock of such Person.

Collateral ” means all properties and assets of the Company and the Guarantors now owned or at any time hereafter acquired in which Liens have been granted, or purported to be granted, to the Collateral Trustee to secure any or all of the Parity Lien Obligations, and from and after the time the Collateral Trustee is required to release its Liens pursuant to Section 3.2 upon any properties or assets, shall exclude such properties or assets; provided that if such Liens are required to be released as a result of the sale, transfer or other disposition of any properties or assets of the Company or any Guarantor, such assets or properties will cease to be excluded from the Collateral if the Company or any Guarantor thereafter acquires or reacquires such assets or properties.

Collateral Trustee ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Collateral Trust Joinder ” means (i) with respect to the provisions of this Agreement relating to any Additional Parity Lien Debt, an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit B , and (ii) with respect to the provisions of this Agreement relating to the addition of additional Mortgagors, an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit C .

Company ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Credit Agreement ” means the “Priority Credit Agreement” as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement.

Credit Agreement Agent ” means, at any time, the Person serving at such time as the “Agent” or “Administrative Agent” under the Credit Agreement or any other representative then most recently designated in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Credit Agreement, together with its successors in such capacity.

Excluded Property ” has the meaning given to such term in the Indenture.

Guarantee ” means, individually and collectively, the guarantees given by the Guarantors pursuant to the applicable Parity Lien Documents.

Guarantors ” means the Subsidiaries of the Company that haven given Guarantees with respect to any Parity Lien Obligations, and their respective successors and assigns, in each case until their respective Guarantee of all Parity Lien Obligations is released in accordance with the terms of the applicable Parity Lien Documents.

Indebtedness ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Indenture as in effect on the date hereof, and any component definition used therein has the meaning set forth in the Indenture as in effect on the date hereof.

 

3


Indemnified Liabilities ” means any and all liabilities (including all environmental liabilities), obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, taxes, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever with respect to the execution, delivery, performance, administration or enforcement of this Agreement or any of the other Parity Lien Security Documents, including any of the foregoing relating to the use of proceeds of any Parity Lien Debt or the violation of, noncompliance with or liability under, any law (including environmental laws) applicable to or enforceable against the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or any Guarantor or any of the Collateral and all reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel selected by the Indemnitee) incurred by any Indemnitee in connection with any claim, action, investigation or proceeding in any respect relating to any of the foregoing, whether or not suit is brought.

Indemnitee ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.9(a) .

Indenture ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

Initial Notes ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding ” means:

(1) any case commenced by or against the Company or any other Mortgagor under Title 11 of the United States Code, any other proceeding for the reorganization, recapitalization or adjustment or marshalling of the assets or liabilities of the Company or any other Mortgagor, any receivership or assignment for the benefit of creditors relating to the Company or any other Mortgagor or any similar case or proceeding relative to the Company or any other Mortgagor or its creditors, as such, in each case whether or not voluntary;

(2) any liquidation, dissolution, marshalling of assets or liabilities or other winding up of or relating to the Company or any other Mortgagor, in each case whether or not voluntary and whether or not involving bankruptcy or insolvency; or

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

Intercreditor Agreement ” means that certain Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among the Company, the Guarantors, the Collateral Trustee, on behalf of itself and the holders of the Notes and any other Parity Lien Obligations, the Priority Lien Agent, and the other parties from time to time party thereto, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified or replaced from time to time.

Junior Lien ” has the meaning assigned to the term “Third Lien” in the Intercreditor Agreement.

Junior Lien Debt ” has the meaning assigned to the term “Third Lien Debt” in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

4


Junior Lien Documents ” has the meaning assigned to the term “Third Lien Documents” in the Intercreditor Agreement.

Legal Holiday is a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banks and trust companies in The City of New York are not required by law or executive order to be open.

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

Mortgage ” means all security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral agency agreements, control agreements or other grants or transfers for security executed and delivered by the Company or any Guarantor creating (or purporting to create) a Lien upon Collateral in favor of the Collateral Trustee, for the benefit of any of the Parity Lien Secured Parties, in each case, as amended, modified, renewed, restated or replaced, in whole or in part, from time to time, in accordance with its terms and Section 7.1 .

Mortgaged Property ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.8(d)(1).

Mortgagor ” means the Company or any Guarantor, in each case executing and delivering a Mortgage.

Notes ” means, collectively, the Initial Notes and the Additional Notes for which the requirements set forth in Section 3.8 of this Agreement have been satisfied.

Note Documents ” means the Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees thereof, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Notes Security Documents.

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

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

 

5


Officers’ Certificate ” means a certificate with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Agreement, signed on behalf of the Company by two officers of the Company, one of whom must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Company, including:

(a) a statement that the Person making such certificate has read such covenant or condition;

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

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

(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been satisfied.

Parity Lien ” means a Lien granted by any Mortgagor in favor of the Collateral Trustee pursuant to a Parity Lien Security Document, at any time, upon any property of such Mortgagor to secure Parity Lien Obligations.

Parity Lien Debt ” means:

(1) the Initial Notes and Guarantees thereof; and

(2) all additional Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor (including Additional Notes and Guarantees thereof), in each case that was permitted to be incurred and secured in accordance with the Secured Debt Documents equally and ratably with the Notes by a Parity Lien; provided that in the case of any Indebtedness referred to in this clause (2) , that:

(a) on or before the date on which such Indebtedness is incurred by the Company or any Guarantor, such Indebtedness is designated by the Company, in an Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate executed and delivered in accordance with Section 3.8(b) as “Parity Lien Debt” for the purposes of the Indenture and this Agreement; provided further that no such Indebtedness may be designated as both Parity Lien Debt and Priority Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt (or any combination of the three);

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

(c) all other requirements set forth in Section 3.8 have been complied with;

 

6


provided, further that in the case of any Additional Notes, on or before the date on which Indebtedness in respect of Additional Notes is incurred, the Company will deliver to the Collateral Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Indebtedness is permitted by each applicable Parity Lien Document to be incurred and secured with a Parity Lien equally and ratably with all previously existing and future Parity Lien Debt.

Parity Lien Debt Default ” means any “Event of Default” as defined in the Indenture, or any similar event or condition set forth in any other Parity Lien Document that causes, or permits holders of the applicable Series of Parity Lien Debt outstanding thereunder (with or without the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, and whether or not notice has been given or time has lapsed) to cause, the Parity Lien Debt outstanding thereunder to become immediately due and payable.

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

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

Parity Lien Representative ” means:

(1) in the case of the Notes, the Trustee; and

(2) in the case of any other Series of Parity Lien Debt, the trustee, agent or representative of the holders of such Series of Parity Lien Debt that (A) is appointed to act for the holders of such Series of Parity Lien Debt (for purposes related to the administration of the Parity Lien Security Documents) pursuant to the indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Parity Lien Debt, together with its successors in such capacity, and (B) has become a party to this Agreement by executing a Collateral Trust Joinder.

Parity Lien Secured Parties ” has the meaning assigned to the term “Second Lien Secured Parties” in the Intercreditor Agreement.

Parity Lien Security Documents ” means this Agreement, each Collateral Trust Joinder, the Indenture (insofar as the same grants a Lien on the Collateral), any additional indenture, supplemental indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing each other Series of Parity Lien Debt (in each case, insofar as the same grants a Lien on the Collateral), the Notes Security Documents, and all other security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral agency agreements, control agreements or other grants or transfers for security executed and delivered by the Company or any Guarantor creating (or purporting to create) a Lien upon Collateral in favor of the Collateral Trustee, for the benefit of any of the Parity Lien Secured Parties, in each case, as amended, modified, renewed, restated or replaced, in whole or in part, from time to time, in accordance with its terms and Section 7.1 .

 

7


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

Priority Lien ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Intercreditor Agreement.

Priority Lien Agent ” means the Credit Agreement Agent, or if the Credit Agreement ceases to exist, the collateral agent or other representative of lenders or holders of Priority Lien Obligations designated pursuant to the terms of the Priority Lien Documents pursuant to which such Priority Lien Obligations were issued and the Intercreditor Agreement.

Priority Lien Debt ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Intercreditor Agreement.

Priority Lien Documents ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Intercreditor Agreement.

Priority Lien Obligations ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Intercreditor Agreement.

Reaffirmation Agreement ” means an agreement reaffirming the security interests granted to the Collateral Trustee in substantially the form attached as Exhibit 1 to Exhibit A of this Agreement.

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

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

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

Subsidiary ” means any subsidiary of the Company. A “subsidiary” of any Person means:

(1) a corporation a majority of whose Voting Stock is at the time, directly or indirectly, owned by such Person, by one or more subsidiaries of such Person or by such Person and one or more subsidiaries of such Person;

(2) a partnership in which such Person or a subsidiary of such Person is, at the date of determination, a general or limited partner of such partnership, but only if such Person or its subsidiary is entitled to receive more than 50% of the assets of such partnership upon its dissolution, or

 

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(3) any other Person (other than a corporation or partnership) in which such Person, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination thereof, has (x) at least a majority ownership interest or (y) the power to elect or direct the election of a majority of the Board of Directors of such Person.

Trustee ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

Trust Estate ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1 .

UCC ” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York or any other applicable jurisdiction.

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

Section 1.2 Rules of Interpretation .

(a) All capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

(b) Unless otherwise indicated, any reference to any agreement or instrument will be deemed to include a reference to that agreement or instrument as assigned, amended, supplemented, amended and restated, or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time or replaced in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

(c) The use in this Agreement or any of the other Parity Lien Security Documents of the word “include” or “including,” when following any general statement, term or matter, will not be construed to limit such statement, term or matter to the specific items or matters set forth immediately following such word or to similar items or matters, whether or not non-limiting language (such as “without limitation” or “but not limited to” or words of similar import) is used with reference thereto, but will be deemed to refer to all other items or matters that fall within the broadest possible scope of such general statement, term or matter. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.”

(d) References to “Sections,” “clauses,” “recitals” and the “preamble” will be to Sections, clauses, recitals and the preamble, respectively, of this Agreement unless otherwise specifically provided. References to “Articles” will be to Articles of this Agreement unless otherwise specifically provided. References to “Exhibits” will be to Exhibits to this Agreement unless otherwise specifically provided.

(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any references contained herein to any section, clause, paragraph, definition or other provision of the Indenture (including any definition contained therein) shall be deemed to be a reference to such section, clause, paragraph, definition or other provision of the Indenture as in effect on the date of this Agreement; provided that any reference to any such section, clause, paragraph or other provision shall refer to such section, clause, paragraph or other provision of the Indenture

 

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(including any definition contained therein) as amended or modified from time to time if such amendment or modification has been made in accordance with the Indenture. Unless otherwise set forth herein, references to principal amount shall include, without duplication, any reimbursement obligations with respect to a letter of credit and the face amount of any outstanding letter of credit (whether or not such amount is, at the time of determination, drawn or available to be drawn).

This Agreement and the other Parity Lien Security Documents will be construed without regard to the identity of the party who drafted it and as though the parties participated equally in drafting it. Consequently, each of the parties acknowledges and agrees that any rule of construction that a document is to be construed against the drafting party will not be applicable either to this Agreement or the other Parity Lien Security Documents.

ARTICLE 2

THE TRUST ESTATE

Section 2.1 Declaration of Trust .

To secure the payment of the Parity Lien Obligations and in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements set forth herein, each of the Mortgagors hereby confirms the grant of Liens in favor of the Collateral Trustee, and the Collateral Trustee hereby accepts and agrees to hold, in trust under this Agreement for the benefit of all current and future Parity Lien Secured Parties, all of such Mortgagor’s right, title and interest in, to and under all Collateral and all Liens now or hereafter granted to the Collateral Trustee by each Mortgagor under any Parity Lien Security Document for the benefit of the Parity Lien Secured Parties, together with all of the Collateral Trustee’s right, title and interest in, to and under the Parity Lien Security Documents, and all interests, rights, powers and remedies of the Collateral Trustee thereunder or in respect thereof and all cash and non-cash proceeds thereof (collectively, the “ Trust Estate ”).

The Collateral Trustee and its successors and assigns under this Agreement will hold the Trust Estate in trust for the benefit solely and exclusively of all current and future Parity Lien Secured Parties as security for the payment of all present and future Parity Lien Obligations.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at any time:

(1) all Liens securing the Parity Lien Obligations have been released as provided in Section 4.1 ;

(2) the Collateral Trustee holds no other property in trust as part of the Trust Estate;

(3) no monetary obligation (other than indemnification and other contingent obligations not then due and payable and letters of credit that have been cash collateralized at the lower of (A) 105% of the aggregate undrawn amount and (B) the percentage of the aggregate undrawn amount required for release of Liens under the terms of the applicable Parity Lien Documents) is outstanding and payable under this Agreement to the Collateral Trustee or any of its co-trustees or agents (whether in an individual or representative capacity); and

 

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(4) the Company delivers to the Collateral Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all Parity Liens of the Collateral Trustee have been released in compliance with all applicable provisions of the Parity Lien Documents and that the Mortgagors are not required by any Parity Lien Document to grant any Parity Lien upon any property,

then the Trust Estate arising hereunder will terminate, except that all provisions set forth in Sections 7.8 and 7.9 that are enforceable by the Collateral Trustee or any of its co-trustees or agents (whether in an individual or representative capacity) will remain enforceable in accordance with their terms.

The parties further declare and covenant that the Trust Estate will be held and distributed by the Collateral Trustee subject to the further agreements herein.

Section 2.2 Collateral Shared Equally and Ratably . The parties to this Agreement agree that the payment and satisfaction of all of the Parity Lien Obligations will be secured equally and ratably by the Parity Liens established in favor of the Collateral Trustee for the benefit of the Parity Lien Secured Parties, notwithstanding the time of incurrence of any Parity Lien Obligations or time or method of creation or perfection of any Parity Liens securing such Parity Lien Obligations.

Section 2.3 Similar Collateral and Agreements . The parties to this Agreement agree that it is their intention that the Parity Liens be identical. In furtherance of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree that the Parity Lien Security Documents (other than the Notes Security Documents) shall be in all material respects the same forms of documents as the respective Notes Security Documents creating Liens on the Collateral.

ARTICLE 3

OBLIGATIONS AND POWERS OF COLLATERAL TRUSTEE

Section 3.1 Appointment and Undertaking of the Collateral Trustee .

(a) Each Parity Lien Secured Party (other than the Collateral Trustee) acting through its respective Parity Lien Representative hereby appoints the Collateral Trustee to serve as collateral trustee hereunder on the terms and conditions set forth herein. Subject to, and in accordance with, this Agreement, the Collateral Trustee will, as collateral trustee, for the benefit solely and exclusively of the present and future Parity Lien Secured Parties:

(1) accept, enter into, hold, maintain, administer and enforce all Parity Lien Security Documents, including all Collateral subject thereto, and all Liens created thereunder, perform its obligations hereunder and under the Parity Lien Security Documents and protect, exercise and enforce the interests, rights, powers and remedies granted or available to it under, pursuant to or in connection with the Parity Lien Security Documents;

(2) take all lawful and commercially reasonable actions permitted under the Parity Lien Security Documents that it may deem necessary or advisable to protect or preserve its interest in the Collateral subject thereto and such interests, rights, powers and remedies;

 

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(3) deliver and receive notices pursuant to this Agreement and the Parity Lien Security Documents;

(4) sell, assign, collect, assemble, foreclose on, institute legal proceedings with respect to, or otherwise exercise or enforce the rights and remedies of a secured party (including a mortgagee and trust deed beneficiary) with respect to the Collateral under the Parity Lien Security Documents and its other interests, rights, powers and remedies;

(5) remit as provided in Section 3.4 all cash proceeds received by the Collateral Trustee from the collection, foreclosure or enforcement of its interest in the Collateral under the Parity Lien Security Documents or any of its other interests, rights, powers or remedies;

(6) execute and deliver amendments to the Parity Lien Security Documents as from time to time authorized pursuant to Section 7.1 accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that the amendment was permitted under Section 7.1 ;

(7) release or subordinate any Lien granted to it by any Parity Lien Security Document upon any Collateral if and as required by Section 3.2 ; and

(8) enter into and perform its obligations and protect, exercise and enforce its interest, rights, powers and remedies under the Intercreditor Agreement.

(b) Each party to this Agreement acknowledges and consents to the undertaking of the Collateral Trustee set forth in Section 3.1(a) and agrees to each of the other provisions of this Agreement applicable to the Collateral Trustee.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Collateral Trustee will not commence any exercise of remedies or any foreclosure actions or otherwise take any action or proceeding against any of the Collateral (other than actions as necessary to prove, protect or preserve the Liens securing the Parity Lien Obligations to the extent permitted pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement) unless and until it shall have been directed by written notice of an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders and then only in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement.

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates may serve as Collateral Trustee.

Section 3.2 Release or Subordination of Liens . The Collateral Trustee will not release or subordinate any Lien of the Collateral Trustee or consent to the release or subordination of any Lien of the Collateral Trustee, except:

(a) as directed by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that the release or subordination was permitted by each applicable Parity Lien Document and otherwise satisfying the requirements of Section 4.1(b)(1) and 4.1(b)(2) ;

 

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(b) as required by Article 4 ;

(c) to release or subordinate Liens on Collateral to the extent permitted by each applicable Parity Lien Document; provided that the Collateral Trustee receives an Officers’ Certificate confirming the foregoing;

(d) as ordered pursuant to applicable law under a final and nonappealable order or judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction; or

(e) for the subordination of the Trust Estate and the Parity Liens to the extent required by the Intercreditor Agreement; provided that the Collateral Trustee receives an Officers’ Certificate confirming the foregoing.

Section 3.3 Enforcement of Liens . If the Collateral Trustee at any time receives written notice from a Parity Lien Representative stating that any event has occurred that constitutes a default under any Parity Lien Document entitling the Collateral Trustee to foreclose upon, collect or otherwise enforce its Liens under the Parity Lien Security Documents, the Collateral Trustee will promptly deliver written notice thereof to each Parity Lien Representative. Thereafter, the Collateral Trustee may await direction by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders and, subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, will act, or decline to act, as directed by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders, in the exercise and enforcement of the Collateral Trustee’s interests, rights, powers and remedies in respect of the Collateral or under the Parity Lien Security Documents or applicable law and, following the initiation of such exercise of remedies, the Collateral Trustee will act, or decline to act, with respect to the manner of such exercise of remedies as directed by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders. Unless it has been directed to the contrary by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders, the Collateral Trustee in any event may (but will not be obligated to) take or refrain from taking such action with respect to any default under any Parity Lien Document as it may deem advisable and in the interest of the holders of Parity Lien Obligations, all in the Collateral Trustee’s sole discretion.

Section 3.4 Application of Proceeds .

(a) Subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Trustee will apply the proceeds of any collection, sale, foreclosure or other realization upon, or exercise of any right or remedy with respect to, any Collateral, and any condemnation proceeds with respect to the Collateral, in the following order of application:

FIRST, to the payment of all amounts payable under this Agreement on account of the Collateral Trustee’s fees and any reasonable legal fees, costs, expenses or other liabilities of any kind incurred by the Collateral Trustee or any co-trustee or agent of the Collateral Trustee in connection with any Parity Lien Document (including, but not limited to, indemnification obligations);

 

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SECOND, to the respective Parity Lien Representatives equally and ratably for application to the payment of all outstanding Parity Lien Debt and any other Parity Lien Obligations that are then due and payable in such order as may be provided in the Parity Lien Documents in an amount sufficient to pay in full in cash all outstanding Parity Lien Debt and all other Parity Lien Obligations that are then due and payable (including, to the extent legally permitted, all interest accrued thereon after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding at the rate, including any applicable post-default rate, specified in the Parity Lien Documents, even if such interest is not enforceable, allowable or allowed as a claim in such proceeding but excluding contingent indemnity obligations for which no claim has been made), and including the discharge or cash collateralization (at the lower of (1) 105% of the aggregate undrawn amount and (2) the percentage of the aggregate undrawn amount required for release of Liens under the terms of the applicable Parity Lien Document) of all outstanding letters of credit, if any, constituting Parity Lien Debt);

THIRD, to the repayment of Junior Lien Debt and any other Obligations secured by a permitted Junior Lien on the Collateral sold or realized upon; and

FOURTH, any surplus remaining after the payment in full in cash of the amounts described in the preceding clauses will be paid to the applicable Mortgagor, and as directed in writing by the Company, its successors or assigns, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

(b) This Section 3.4 is intended for the benefit of, and will be enforceable as a third party beneficiary by, each present and future holder of Parity Lien Obligations, each present and future Parity Lien Representative and the Collateral Trustee as holder of Parity Liens. The Parity Lien Representative of each future Series of Parity Lien Debt will be required to deliver to the Collateral Trustee a Collateral Trust Joinder as provided in Section 3.8 at the time of incurrence of such Series of Parity Lien Debt (it being understood that the Trustee shall be the Parity Lien Representative of the holders of the Initial Notes and any Additional Notes, and no Collateral Trustee Joinder shall be required to be delivered in connection with an issuance of Additional Notes).

(c) In connection with the application of proceeds pursuant to Section 3.4(a) , except as otherwise directed by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders, the Collateral Trustee may sell any non-cash proceeds for cash prior to the application of the proceeds thereof.

(d) In making the determinations and allocations in accordance with Section 3.4(a) , the Collateral Trustee may conclusively rely upon information supplied by the relevant Parity Lien Representative as to the amounts of unpaid principal and interest and other amounts outstanding with respect to its respective Parity Lien Debt and any other Parity Lien Obligations.

Section 3.5 Powers of the Collateral Trustee .

(a) The Collateral Trustee is irrevocably authorized and empowered to enter into and perform its obligations and protect, perfect, exercise and enforce its interest, rights, powers and remedies under the Parity Lien Security Documents and applicable law and in equity and to act as set forth in this Article 3 or, subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, as requested in any lawful directions given to it from time to time in respect of any matter by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders.

 

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(b) No Parity Lien Representative or holder of Parity Lien Obligations (other than the Collateral Trustee) will have any liability whatsoever for any act or omission of the Collateral Trustee, and the Collateral Trustee will have no liability whatsoever for any act or omission of any Parity Lien Representative or any holder of Parity Lien Obligations.

Section 3.6 Documents and Communications . The Collateral Trustee will permit each Parity Lien Representative and each holder of Parity Lien Obligations upon reasonable written notice and at reasonable times from time to time to inspect and copy, at the cost and expense of the party requesting such copies, any and all Parity Lien Security Documents and other documents, notices, certificates, instructions or communications received by the Collateral Trustee in its capacity as such.

Section 3.7 For Sole and Exclusive Benefit of Holders of Parity Lien Obligations . The Collateral Trustee will accept, hold, administer and enforce all Liens on the Collateral at any time transferred or delivered to it and all other interests, rights, powers and remedies at any time granted to or enforceable by the Collateral Trustee and all other property of the Trust Estate solely and exclusively for the benefit of the present and future holders of present and future Parity Lien Obligations, and will distribute all proceeds received by it in realization thereon or from enforcement thereof solely and exclusively pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.4 .

Section 3.8 Additional Parity Lien Debt .

(a) The Collateral Trustee will, as trustee hereunder, perform its undertakings set forth in Section 3.1(a) with respect to any Parity Lien Obligations constituting Additional Notes or a Series of Parity Lien Debt that is issued or incurred after the date hereof; provided that:

(1) such Parity Lien Obligations are identified as Parity Lien Debt in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 3.8(b) ; and

(2) except in the case of Additional Notes, the designated Parity Lien Representative identified pursuant to Section 3.8(b) signs a Collateral Trust Joinder and delivers the same to the Collateral Trustee.

(b) The Company will be permitted to designate as an additional holder of Parity Lien Debt hereunder each Person who is, or who becomes, the registered holder of Parity Lien Debt incurred by the Company or any Guarantor after the date of this Agreement in accordance with the terms of all applicable Parity Lien Documents, Priority Lien Documents and Junior Lien Documents. The Company may only effect such designation by delivering to the Collateral Trustee an Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate that:

(1) states that the Company or applicable Mortgagor intends to incur additional Parity Lien Debt (“ Additional Parity Lien Debt ”) that is permitted by each applicable Parity Lien Document to be secured with a Parity Lien equally and ratably with all previously existing and future Parity Lien Debt;

 

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(2) except in the case of Additional Notes, specifies the name, address and contact information of the Parity Lien Representative for such series of Additional Parity Lien Debt for purposes of Section 7.6 ;

(3) attaches as Exhibit 1 to such Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate a Reaffirmation Agreement in substantially the form attached as Exhibit 1 to Exhibit A of this Agreement, which Reaffirmation Agreement has been duly executed by the Company and each Guarantor; and

(4) states that the Company has caused a copy of the Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate and, except in the case of Additional Notes, the related Collateral Trust Joinder to be delivered to each then existing Parity Lien Representative.

Although the Company shall be required to deliver a copy of each Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate and each Collateral Trust Joinder to each then existing Parity Lien Representative, the failure to so deliver a copy of the Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate and/or Collateral Trust Joinder to any then existing Parity Lien Representative shall not affect the status of such debt as Additional Parity Lien Debt if the other requirements of this Section 3.8 are complied with. Each of the Collateral Trustee and the other then existing Parity Lien Representatives shall have the right to request that the Company provide a legal opinion or opinions of counsel (subject to customary assumptions and qualifications) as to the Additional Parity Lien Debt being secured by a valid and perfected security interest in the Collateral; provided that (i) such legal opinion or opinions need not address any collateral of a type not previously covered by any legal opinion delivered by or on behalf of the Company and (ii) nothing shall preclude such legal opinion or opinions from being delivered on a post-closing basis after the incurrence of such Additional Parity Lien Debt if permitted by the Parity Lien Representative for such Additional Parity Lien Debt. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement will be construed to allow the Company or any Guarantor to incur additional Indebtedness (including Additional Notes) unless otherwise permitted by the terms of all applicable Parity Lien Documents, Priority Lien Documents and Junior Lien Documents.

(c) With respect to any Parity Lien Obligations constituting Additional Notes or a Series of Parity Lien Debt that is issued or incurred after the date hereof, the Company and each of the Guarantors agrees to take such actions (if any) as may from time to time reasonably be requested by the Collateral Trustee, any Parity Lien Representative or any Act of Parity Lien Debtholders, and enter into such technical amendments, modifications and/or supplements to the then existing Guarantees and Parity Lien Security Documents (or execute and deliver such additional Parity Lien Security Documents) as may from time to time be reasonably requested by such Persons (including as contemplated by Section 3.8(d ) below), to ensure that the Additional Notes or the Additional Parity Lien Debt, as applicable, are secured by, and entitled to the benefits of, the Parity Lien Security Documents, and each Parity Lien Secured Party (by its acceptance of the benefits hereof) hereby agrees to, and authorizes the Collateral Trustee to enter into, any such technical amendments, modifications and/or supplements (and additional Parity Lien Security Documents). The Company and the Guarantors hereby further agree that, if there are any recording, filing or other similar fees payable in connection with any of the actions to be taken pursuant to this Section 3.8(c) or Section 3.8(d) , all such amounts shall be paid by, and shall be for the account of, the Company and the Guarantors, on a joint and several basis.

 

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(d) Without limitation of the foregoing, upon reasonable request of the Collateral Trustee, any Parity Lien Representative or any Act of Parity Lien Debtholders, each Mortgagor agrees to take the following actions with respect to any real property Collateral (including Oil and Gas Properties (as defined in the Indenture as in effect on the date hereof)) with respect to all Additional Parity Lien Debt (it being understood that any such actions may be taken following the incurrence of any such Additional Parity Lien Debt on a post-closing basis if permitted by the Parity Lien Representative for such Additional Parity Lien Debt):

(1) each applicable Mortgagor shall enter into, and deliver to the Collateral Trustee, a Mortgage modification or new Mortgage with regard to each real property subject to a Mortgage (each such property a “ Mortgaged Property ”), in proper form for recording in all applicable jurisdictions, in a form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Trustee; and

(2) each applicable Mortgagor will cause to be delivered to the Collateral Trustee a local counsel opinion (subject to customary assumptions and qualifications) to the effect that the Collateral Trustee has a valid and perfected Lien with respect to each such Mortgaged Property, provided that, in the case of Additional Notes, to the extent Mortgages have previously been recorded in the public records of the state applicable to such additional Mortgages or amendments or supplements to prior Mortgages, no such opinion shall be required unless a corresponding opinion will be delivered to the Priority Lien Agent, and in the case of other Additional Parity Lien Debt, such opinion requirements will be subject to the applicable Parity Lien Documents.

The Company will deliver an Officers’ Certificate to the Collateral Trustee confirming that the foregoing conditions have been satisfied.

ARTICLE 4

OBLIGATIONS ENFORCEABLE BY THE COMPANY AND THE OTHER MORTGAGORS

Section 4.1 Release of Liens on Collateral .

(a) The Collateral Trustee’s Liens upon the Collateral will be automatically released:

(1) in whole, upon (A) payment in full in cash and discharge of all outstanding Parity Lien Debt and all other Parity Lien Obligations that are outstanding, due and payable at the time all of the Parity Lien Debt is paid in full in cash and discharged (other than contingent indemnity obligations for which no claim has been made), (B) termination or expiration of all commitments to extend credit under all Parity Lien Documents and (C) the cancellation or termination or cash collateralization (at the lower of (1) 105% of the aggregate undrawn amount and (2) the percentage of the aggregate undrawn amount required for release of Liens under the terms of the applicable Parity Lien Documents) of all outstanding letters of credit issued pursuant to any Parity Lien Documents;

 

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(2) as to any Collateral of a Mortgagor that is (A) released as a Guarantor under each Parity Lien Document and (B) not obligated (as primary obligor or guarantor) with respect to any other Parity Lien Obligations and so long as the respective release does not violate the terms of any Parity Lien Document which then remains in effect, and subject to the satisfaction of the requirements set forth in Section 4.01(a)(i) of the Intercreditor Agreement;

(3) as to any Collateral of a Mortgagor that is sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by a Mortgagor to a Person that is not (either before or after such sale, transfer or disposition) the Company or a Subsidiary in a transaction or other circumstance that does not violate Section 4.11 of the Indenture (other than the obligation to apply proceeds of such Collateral Sale (as defined in the Indenture) as provided in such Section 4.11 of the Indenture) and is permitted by all of the other Parity Lien Documents, and subject to the satisfaction of the requirements set forth in Section 4.01(a)(i) of the Intercreditor Agreement, at the time of such sale, transfer or other disposition or to the extent of the interest sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of; provided that the Collateral Trustee’s Liens upon the Collateral will not be released if the sale or other disposition is subject to Section 5.01 of the Indenture;

(4) as to a release of less than all or substantially all of the Collateral, if consent to the release of all Parity Liens on such Collateral has been given by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders;

(5) in whole, if the Liens on such Collateral have been released in accordance with the terms of each Series of Parity Lien Debt;

(6) as to a release of all or substantially all of the Collateral, if (A)consent to the release of that Collateral has been given by the requisite percentage or number of holders of each Series of Parity Lien Debt at the time outstanding as provided for in the applicable Parity Lien Documents and (B) the Company, as applicable, has delivered an Officers’ Certificate to the Collateral Trustee certifying that all such necessary consents have been obtained;

(7) as to any Collateral that becomes Excluded Property (other than under clause (g) of the definition of such term as set forth in the Indenture); or

(8) if and to the extent, and in the manner, required by Section 4.01(a) of the Intercreditor Agreement.

(b) The Collateral Trustee agrees for the benefit of the Company and the other Mortgagors that if the Collateral Trustee at any time receives:

(1) an Officers’ Certificate (which the Collateral Trustee shall be entitled to rely upon) stating that (A) the signing officer has read Article 4 of this Agreement and understands the provisions and the definitions relating hereto, (B) such officer has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an informed opinion as to whether or not the conditions precedent in this Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement and all other Parity Lien Documents, if any, relating to the release of the Collateral have been complied with, (C) in the opinion of such officer, such conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with and (D) such release of Collateral did not violate the terms of any applicable Parity Lien Document; and

 

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(2) the proposed instrument or instruments releasing such Lien as to such property in recordable form, if applicable;

then, promptly following receipt by the Collateral Trustee of the items required by this Section 4.1(b) , upon request of the Company, the Collateral Trustee will execute (with such acknowledgements and/or notarizations as are required) and deliver evidence of such release to the Company or other applicable Mortgagor; provided that, in the case of a release of Liens under Section 4.1(a)(8) , the Collateral Trustee shall execute and deliver such proposed instruments releasing its Liens contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of such similar instruments by the Priority Lien Agent in accordance with the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement.

(c) The Collateral Trustee hereby agrees that:

(1) in the case of any release pursuant to Section 4.1(a)(3) , if the terms of any such sale, transfer or other disposition require the payment of the purchase price to be contemporaneous with the delivery of the applicable release, then, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and at the written request of and at the expense of the Company or other applicable Mortgagor, the Collateral Trustee will either (A) be present at and deliver the release at the closing of such transaction or (B) deliver the release under customary escrow arrangements that permit such contemporaneous payment and delivery of the release; and

(2) at any time when a Parity Lien Debt Default has occurred and is continuing, within one Business Day of the receipt by it of any Act of Parity Lien Debtholders pursuant to Section 4.1(a)(4) , the Collateral Trustee will deliver a copy of such Act of Parity Lien Debtholders to each Parity Lien Representative.

Section 4.2 Delivery of Copies to Parity Lien Representatives . The Company will deliver to each Parity Lien Representative a copy of each Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Collateral Trustee pursuant to Section 4.1(b) , together with copies of all documents delivered to the Collateral Trustee with such Officers’ Certificate. The Parity Lien Representatives will not be obligated to take notice thereof or to act thereon. Each Parity Lien Representative shall, following receipt by it of the Officers’ Certificate and proposed release instrument(s) delivered to the Collateral Trustee pursuant to Section 4.1(b) , deliver a copy of such notice to each registered holder of the Series of Parity Lien Debt for which it acts as Parity Lien Representative to the extent and within the timeframe required by the applicable Parity Lien Debt Documents.

Section 4.3 Collateral Trustee not Required to Serve, File or Record . Subject to Section 3.2 , the Collateral Trustee is not required to serve, file, register or record any instrument releasing or subordinating its Liens on any Collateral; provided that if the Company or any other Mortgagor shall make a written demand for a termination statement under Section

 

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9-513(c) of the UCC, the Collateral Trustee shall comply with the written request of the Company or Mortgagor to comply with the requirements of such UCC provision (which written request must be accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate relating to the same); provided , further , that the Collateral Trustee must first confirm with the Parity Lien Representatives that the requirements of such UCC provisions have been satisfied.

Section 4.4 Release of Liens in Respect of Notes . In addition to any release pursuant to Section 4.1 hereof, the Collateral Trustee’s Parity Liens will no longer secure the Notes outstanding under the Indenture or any other Obligations under the Note Documents, and the right of the holders of the Notes to the benefits and proceeds of the Collateral Trustee’s Parity Liens on the Collateral will terminate and be discharged upon written certification to that effect delivered by the Trustee to the Collateral Trustee in connection with a release under the Indenture.

Section 4.5 Release of Liens in Respect of any Series of Parity Lien Debt other than the Notes . In addition to any release pursuant to Section 4.1 hereof, as to any Series of Parity Lien Debt other than the Notes, the Collateral Trustee’s Parity Lien will no longer secure such Series of Parity Lien Debt if such Parity Lien Debt has been paid in full, all commitments to extend credit in respect of such Series of Parity Lien Debt have been terminated and all other Parity Lien Obligations related thereto that are outstanding and unpaid at the time such Series of Parity Lien Debt is paid are also paid in full, or upon written certification to that effect delivered by the applicable Parity Lien Representative to the Collateral Trustee in connection with a release under such Parity Lien Debt or the Intercreditor Agreement.

ARTICLE 5

IMMUNITIES OF THE COLLATERAL TRUSTEE

Section 5.1 No Implied Duty . The Collateral Trustee will not have any fiduciary duties nor will it have responsibilities or obligations other than those expressly assumed by it in this Agreement, the other Parity Lien Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement. No implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Agreement, the other Parity Lien Documents or the Intercreditor Agreement, or otherwise exist against the Collateral Trustee. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentences, the use of the term “trustee” in this Agreement with reference to the Collateral Trustee is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law. Instead, such term is used merely as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between independent contracting parties. The Collateral Trustee will not be required to take any action that is contrary to applicable law or any provision of this Agreement, the other Parity Lien Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreement.

Section 5.2 Appointment of Agents and Advisors . The Collateral Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents, attorneys, accountants, appraisers or other experts or advisors selected by it in good faith as it may reasonably require and will not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any of them.

 

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Section 5.3 Other Agreements . The Collateral Trustee has accepted its appointment as collateral trustee hereunder and is bound by the Parity Lien Security Documents executed by the Collateral Trustee as of the date of this Agreement, and the Collateral Trustee shall at the request of the Company execute additional Parity Lien Security Documents delivered to it after the date of this Agreement (including to secure Obligations arising under Additional Parity Lien Debt to the extent such Obligations are permitted to be incurred and secured under the Parity Lien Documents); provided that such additional Parity Lien Security Documents do not adversely affect the rights, privileges, benefits and immunities of the Collateral Trustee or conflict with the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement. The Collateral Trustee will not otherwise be bound by, or be held obligated by, the provisions of any credit agreement, indenture or other agreement governing Parity Lien Debt (other than this Agreement, the Indenture and the other Parity Lien Security Documents to which it is a party).

Section 5.4 Solicitation of Instructions .

(a) The Collateral Trustee may at any time solicit written confirmatory instructions, in the form of an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders, an Officers’ Certificate, a legal opinion from counsel to the Company (which counsel may be an employee or counsel of the Company) or an order of a court of competent jurisdiction, as to any action that it may be requested or required to take, or that it may propose to take, in the performance of any of its obligations under this Agreement or the other Parity Lien Security Documents, and the Collateral Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on any such certificate, opinion or order. In the absence of bad faith on its part, the Collateral Trustee may rely, and will be protected in acting or refraining from acting, upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Collateral Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document, but, in the case of any document which is specifically required to be furnished to the Collateral Trustee pursuant to any provision hereof, the Collateral Trustee shall examine the document to determine whether it conforms to the requirements of this Agreement or the applicable Parity Lien Debt Document (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).

(b) No written direction given to the Collateral Trustee by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders that in the sole judgment of the Collateral Trustee imposes, purports to impose or might reasonably be expected to impose upon the Collateral Trustee any obligation or liability not set forth in or arising under this Agreement and the other Parity Lien Security Documents will be binding upon the Collateral Trustee unless the Collateral Trustee elects, at its sole option, to accept such direction.

(c) The Collateral Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Agreement at the request, order or direction of the Required Parity Lien Debtholders pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, unless such holders shall have furnished to the Collateral Trustee reasonable security or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred therein or thereby.

 

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Section 5.5 Limitation of Liability . The Collateral Trustee will not be responsible or liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it hereunder or under any other Parity Lien Security Document, except as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final, nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the Collateral Trustee’s negligence or willful misconduct.

Section 5.6 Documents in Satisfactory Form . The Collateral Trustee will be entitled to require that all agreements, certificates, opinions, instruments and other documents at any time submitted to it, including those expressly provided for in this Agreement, be delivered to it in a form and with substantive provisions reasonably satisfactory to it. The Collateral Trustee (i) makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of any Parity Lien Document and (ii) is not responsible for any statement in any Parity Lien Document other than its certificate of authentication and any representations and warranties made by it.

Section 5.7 Entitled to Rely . The Collateral Trustee may seek and rely upon, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, any judicial order or judgment, upon any advice, opinion or statement of legal counsel, independent consultants and other experts selected by it in good faith and upon any certification, instruction, notice or other writing delivered to it by the Company or any Guarantor in compliance with the provisions of this Agreement or delivered to it by any Parity Lien Representative as to the holders of Parity Lien Obligations for whom it acts, without being required to determine the authenticity thereof or the correctness of any fact stated therein or the propriety or validity of service thereof. The Collateral Trustee may act in reliance upon any instrument comporting with the provisions of this Agreement or any signature believed by it in good faith to be genuine and may assume that any Person purporting to give notice or receipt or advice or make any statement or execute any document in connection with the provisions hereof or the other Parity Lien Security Documents has been duly authorized to do so. To the extent an Officers’ Certificate or opinion of counsel is required or permitted under this Agreement to be delivered to the Collateral Trustee in respect of any matter, the Collateral Trustee may rely conclusively on an Officers’ Certificate or opinion of counsel as to such matter and such Officers’ Certificate or opinion of counsel shall be full warranty and protection to the Collateral Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the provisions of this Agreement and the other Parity Lien Security Documents. The Collateral Trustee (a) shall not be responsible to any Parity Lien Secured Party for any recitals, statements, information, representations or warranties of any other Person contained herein, in the Parity Lien Documents or in any document, certificate or other writing delivered in connection herewith or therewith or for the execution, effectiveness, genuineness, validity, enforceability, collectability, priority or sufficiency of this Agreement, the Parity Lien Documents or the financial condition of the Company, the Guarantors or any of them and (b) shall not be required to ascertain or inquire as to the performance or observation of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of this Agreement or any Parity Lien Document.

Section 5.8 Parity Lien Debt Default . The Collateral Trustee will not be required to inquire as to the occurrence or absence of any Parity Lien Debt Default and will not be affected by or required to act upon any notice or knowledge as to the occurrence of any Parity Lien Debt Default unless and until it is directed by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders.

 

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Section 5.9 Actions by Collateral Trustee . As to any matter not expressly provided for by this Agreement or the other Parity Lien Security Documents, the Collateral Trustee will act or refrain from acting as directed by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders and will be fully protected if it does so, and any action taken, suffered or omitted pursuant hereto or thereto shall be binding on the holders of Parity Lien Obligations.

Section 5.10 Security or Indemnity in favor of the Collateral Trustee . The Collateral Trustee will not be required to advance or expend any funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of its duties or the exercise of its powers or rights hereunder unless it has been provided with security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against any and all liability or expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take such action.

Section 5.11 Rights of the Collateral Trustee . In the event of any conflict between any terms and provisions set forth in this Agreement and those set forth in any other Parity Lien Security Document, the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall supersede and control the terms and provisions of such other Parity Lien Security Document. In the event there is any bona fide, good faith disagreement between the other parties to this Agreement or any of the other Parity Lien Security Documents resulting in adverse claims being made in connection with Collateral held by the Collateral Trustee and the terms of this Agreement or any of the other Parity Lien Security Documents do not unambiguously mandate the action the Collateral Trustee is to take or not to take in connection therewith under the circumstances then existing, or the Collateral Trustee is in doubt as to what action it is required to take or not to take hereunder or under the other Parity Lien Security Documents, it will be entitled to refrain from taking any action (and will incur no liability for doing so) until directed otherwise in writing by a request signed jointly by the parties hereto entitled to give such direction or by order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

Section 5.12 Limitations on Duty of Collateral Trustee in Respect of Collateral .

(a) Beyond the exercise of reasonable care in the custody of Collateral in its possession, the Collateral Trustee will have no duty as to any Collateral in its possession or control or in the possession or control of any agent or bailee or any income thereon or as to preservation of rights against prior parties or any other rights pertaining thereto and the Collateral Trustee will not be responsible for filing any financing or continuation statements or recording any documents or instruments in any public office at any time or times or otherwise perfecting or maintaining the perfection of any Liens on the Collateral; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Collateral Trustee will have the right but not the obligation to execute, file or record UCC-3 continuation statements and other documents and instruments to preserve, protect or perfect the security interests granted to the Collateral Trustee (subject to the priorities set forth herein) if it shall receive a specific written request to execute, file or record the particular continuation statement or other specific document or instrument by any Parity Lien Representative. The Collateral Trustee shall deliver to each other Parity Lien Representative a copy of any such written request. The Collateral Trustee will be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody of the Collateral in its possession if the Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which it accords its own property, and the Collateral Trustee will not be liable or responsible for any loss or diminution in the value of any of the Collateral by reason of the act or omission of any carrier, forwarding agency or other agent or bailee selected by the Collateral Trustee in good faith.

 

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(b) Except as provided in Section 5.12(a) , the Collateral Trustee will not be responsible for the existence, genuineness or value of any of the Collateral or for the validity, perfection, priority or enforceability of the Liens in any of the Collateral, for the validity or sufficiency of the Collateral or any agreement or assignment contained therein, for the validity of the title of any Mortgagor to the Collateral, for insuring the Collateral or for the payment of taxes, charges, assessments or Liens upon the Collateral or otherwise as to the maintenance of the Collateral. The Collateral Trustee hereby disclaims any representation or warranty to the current and future holders of the Parity Lien Obligations concerning the perfection of the security interests granted to it or in the value of any Collateral. The Collateral Trustee shall not be under any obligation to the Trustee or any holder of Parity Lien Debt to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this or any other Parity Lien Security Document or the Intercreditor Agreement or to inspect the properties, books or records of the Company or any Guarantor.

Section 5.13 Assumption of Rights, Not Assumption of Duties . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein:

(1) each of the parties thereto will remain liable under each of the Parity Lien Security Documents (other than this Agreement) to the extent set forth therein to perform all of their respective duties and obligations thereunder to the same extent as if this Agreement had not been executed;

(2) the exercise by the Collateral Trustee of any of its rights, remedies or powers hereunder will not release such parties from any of their respective duties or obligations under the other Parity Lien Security Documents; and

(3) the Collateral Trustee will not be obligated to perform any of the obligations or duties of the Company or any Mortgagor.

Section 5.14 No Liability for Clean Up of Hazardous Materials . In the event that the Collateral Trustee is required to acquire title to an asset for any reason, or take any managerial action of any kind in regard thereto, in order to carry out any fiduciary or trust obligation for the benefit of another, which in the Collateral Trustee’s sole discretion may cause the Collateral Trustee to be considered an “owner or operator” under any environmental laws or otherwise cause the Collateral Trustee to incur, or be exposed to, any environmental liability or any liability under any other federal, state or local law, the Collateral Trustee reserves the right, instead of taking such action, either to resign as Collateral Trustee (in accordance with Article 6) or to arrange for the transfer of the title or control of the asset to a court appointed receiver. The Collateral Trustee will not be liable to any Person for any environmental liability or any environmental claims or contribution actions under any federal, state or local law, rule or regulation by reason of the Collateral Trustee’s actions and conduct as authorized, empowered and directed hereunder or relating to any kind of discharge or release or threatened discharge or release of any hazardous materials into the environment.

 

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Section 5.15 Other Relationships with the Company or Guarantors . Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas and its Affiliates (and any successor Collateral Trustee and its Affiliates) may make loans to, issue letters of credit for the account of, accept deposits from, acquire equity interests in and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust, financial advisory, underwriting or other business with the Company or any Guarantor and its Affiliates as though it was not the Collateral Trustee hereunder and without notice to or consent of the Parity Lien Representatives. The Parity Lien Representatives and the holders of the Parity Lien Obligations acknowledge that, pursuant to such activities, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas or its Affiliates (and any successor Collateral Trustee and its Affiliates) may receive information regarding the Company or any Guarantor or its Affiliates (including information that may be subject to confidentiality obligations in favor of the Company, such Guarantor or such Affiliate) and acknowledge that the Collateral Trustee shall not be under any obligation to provide such information to the Parity Lien Representatives or the holders of the Parity Lien Obligations. Nothing herein shall impose or imply any obligation on the part of Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (or any successor Collateral Trustee) to advance funds.

ARTICLE 6

RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF THE COLLATERAL TRUSTEE

Section 6.1 Resignation or Removal of Collateral Trustee . Subject to the appointment of a successor Collateral Trustee as provided in Section 6.2 and the acceptance of such appointment by the successor Collateral Trustee:

(a) the Collateral Trustee may resign at any time by giving not less than 30 days’ notice of resignation to each Parity Lien Representative and the Company; and

(b) the Collateral Trustee may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders by giving not less than 30 days’ notice to the Collateral Trustee.

Section 6.2 Appointment of Successor Collateral Trustee . Upon any such resignation or removal, a successor Collateral Trustee may be appointed by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders. If no successor Collateral Trustee has been so appointed and accepted such appointment within 30 days after the predecessor Collateral Trustee gave notice of resignation or was removed, the retiring Collateral Trustee may (at the expense of the Company), at its option, appoint a successor Collateral Trustee, or petition a court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a successor Collateral Trustee, which must be a bank or trust company:

(1) authorized to exercise corporate trust powers; and

(2) having a combined capital and surplus of at least $250,000,000.

The Collateral Trustee will fulfill its obligations hereunder until a successor Collateral Trustee meeting the requirements of this Section 6.2 has accepted its appointment as Collateral Trustee and the provisions of Section 6.3 have been satisfied.

 

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Section 6.3 Succession . When the Person so appointed as successor Collateral Trustee accepts such appointment:

(1) such Person will succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the predecessor Collateral Trustee, and the predecessor Collateral Trustee will be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder; and

(2) the predecessor Collateral Trustee will (at the expense of the Company) promptly transfer all Liens and collateral security and other property of the Trust Estate within its possession or control to the possession or control of the successor Collateral Trustee and will execute instruments and assignments as may be necessary or desirable or reasonably requested by the successor Collateral Trustee to transfer to the successor Collateral Trustee all Liens, interests, rights, powers and remedies of the predecessor Collateral Trustee in respect of the Parity Lien Security Documents or the Trust Estate.

Thereafter the predecessor Collateral Trustee will remain entitled to enforce the immunities granted to it in Article 5 and the provisions of Sections 7.8 and 7.9 , and said provisions will survive termination of this Agreement for the benefit of the predecessor of the Collateral Trustee.

Section 6.4 Merger, Conversion or Consolidation of Collateral Trustee . Any Person into which the Collateral Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Collateral Trustee shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to the business of the Collateral Trustee shall be the successor of the Collateral Trustee pursuant to Section 6.3 , provided that (i)without the execution or filing of any paper with any party hereto or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, except where an instrument of transfer or assignment is required by law to effect such succession, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, such Person satisfies the eligibility requirements specified in clauses (1) and (2) of Section 6.2 and (ii) prior to any such merger, conversion or consolidation, the Collateral Trustee shall have notified the Company and each Parity Lien Representative thereof in writing.

Section 6.5 Concerning the Collateral Trustee and the Parity Lien Representatives .

(a) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, it is expressly understood and agreed by the parties hereto that this Agreement has been signed by each Parity Lien Representative not in its individual capacity or personally but solely in its capacity as trustee, representative or agent for the benefit of the related holders of the applicable Series of Parity Lien Debt in the exercise of the powers and authority conferred and vested in it under the related Parity Lien Documents, and in no event shall such Parity Lien Representative, in its individual capacity, have any liability for the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements or other obligations of any other party under this Agreement, any Parity Lien Document or in any of the certificates, reports, documents, data notices or agreements delivered by such other party pursuant hereto or thereto.

 

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(b) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, it is expressly understood and agreed by the parties hereto that this Agreement has been signed by Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, not in its individual capacity or personally but solely in its capacity as Collateral Trustee, and in no event shall Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, in its individual capacity, have any liability for the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements or other obligations of any other party under this Agreement, any Parity Lien Document or in any of the certificates, reports, documents, data notices or agreements delivered by such other party pursuant hereto or thereto.

(c) [Reserved.]

(d) In entering into this Agreement, the Collateral Trustee shall be entitled to the benefit of every provision of the Indenture relating to the rights, exculpations or conduct of, affecting the liability of or otherwise affording protection to the “Collateral Trustee” thereunder. In no event will the Collateral Trustee be liable for any act or omission on the part of the Mortgagors or any Parity Lien Representative.

(e) Except as otherwise set forth herein, neither the Collateral Trustee nor any Parity Lien Representative shall be required to exercise any discretion or take any action, but shall be required to act or refrain from acting (and shall be fully protected in so acting or refraining from acting) solely upon the instructions of the applicable Required Parity Lien Debtholders as provided in the Indenture or the related Parity Lien Document; provided that neither the Collateral Trustee nor any Parity Lien Representative shall be required to take any action that (i) it in good faith believes exposes it to personal liability unless it receives an indemnification satisfactory to it from the applicable holders of the Parity Lien Obligations with respect to such action or (ii) is contrary to this Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement or applicable law.

ARTICLE 7

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 7.1 Amendment .

(a) Except as provided in the Intercreditor Agreement, no amendment or supplement to the provisions of any Parity Lien Security Document will be effective without the approval of the Collateral Trustee acting as directed by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders, except that:

(1) any amendment or supplement that has the effect solely of:

(A) adding or maintaining Collateral, securing additional Parity Lien Debt that was otherwise permitted by the terms of the Parity Lien Documents, Priority Lien Documents and Junior Lien Documents to be secured by the Collateral or preserving, perfecting or establishing the Liens thereon or the rights of the Collateral Trustee therein; or

(B) providing for the assumption of a Mortgagor’s obligations under any Parity Lien Document in the case of a merger or consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of a Mortgagor to the extent permitted by the terms of the Indenture and the other Parity Lien Documents, as applicable;

 

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will become effective when executed and delivered by the Company or any other applicable Mortgagor party thereto and, if required for effectiveness pursuant to its terms, the Collateral Trustee;

(2) no amendment or supplement that reduces, impairs or adversely affects the right of any holder of Parity Lien Obligations:

(A) to vote its outstanding Parity Lien Debt as to any matter described as subject to an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders or direction by the Required Parity Lien Debtholders (or amends the provisions of this clause(2) or the definition of “ Act of Parity Lien Debtholders ” or “ Required Parity Lien Debtholders ”),

(B) to share in the order of application described in Section 3.4 in the proceeds of enforcement of or realization on any Collateral; or

(C) to require that Liens securing Parity Lien Obligations be released only as set forth in the provisions described in Sections 4.1 , 4.4 or 4.5 ,

will become effective without the consent of the requisite percentage or number of holders of each Series of Parity Lien Debt adversely affected thereby under the applicable Parity Lien Document; and

(3) no amendment or supplement that imposes any obligation upon the Collateral Trustee or any Parity Lien Representative or adversely affects the rights of the Collateral Trustee or any Parity Lien Representative, respectively, in its individual capacity as such will become effective without the consent of the Collateral Trustee or such Parity Lien Representative, respectively.

Any amendment or supplement to the provisions of the Parity Lien Security Documents that releases Collateral will be effective only in accordance with the requirements set forth in the applicable Parity Lien Document referenced in Sections 4.1 or 4.5 hereof. Any amendment or supplement that results in the Collateral Trustee’s Liens upon the Collateral no longer securing the Notes and the other Obligations under the Indenture and other Note Documents may only be effected in accordance with Section 4.4 hereof.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 7.1(a) but subject to Sections 7.1(a)(2) and 7.1(a)(3):

(1) any Mortgage or other Parity Lien Security Document may be amended or supplemented with the approval of the Collateral Trustee acting as directed in writing by the Required Parity Lien Debtholders, unless such amendment or supplement would not be permitted under the terms of this Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement or any Priority Lien Documents;

 

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(2) any amendment or waiver of, or any consent under, any provision of any security document that secures Priority Lien Obligations will apply automatically to any comparable provision of any comparable Parity Lien Security Document without the consent of or notice to any holder of Parity Lien Obligations and without any action by the Company or any Mortgagor or any holder of Notes or other Parity Lien Obligations; and

(3) any Mortgage or other Parity Lien Security Document, the Intercreditor Agreement and this Agreement may be amended or supplemented with the approval of the Collateral Trustee (but without the consent of or notice to any holder of Parity Lien Obligations and without any action by any holder of Notes or other Parity Lien Obligations), in reliance on an Officers’ Certificate and an opinion of counsel (i) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, or (ii) solely with respect to a Mortgage or other Parity Lien Security Document, to make other changes that do not have an adverse effect on the validity of the Lien created thereby.

(c) The Collateral Trustee will not enter into any amendment or supplement unless it has received an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that such amendment or supplement will not result in a breach of any provision or covenant contained in this Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement or any of the Parity Lien Documents. Prior to executing any amendment or supplement pursuant to this Section 7.1 , the Collateral Trustee will be entitled to receive an opinion of counsel of the Company (which counsel may be an employee or counsel of the Company) to the effect that the execution of such document is authorized or permitted hereunder, and with respect to amendments adding Collateral, an opinion of counsel of the Company (which counsel may be an employee or counsel of the Company) addressing customary creation and perfection, and if such additional Collateral consists of equity interests of any Person which equity interests constitute certificated securities, priority matters with respect to such additional Collateral (which opinion may be subject to customary assumptions and qualifications).

Section 7.2 Voting . In connection with any matter under this Agreement requiring a vote of holders of Parity Lien Debt, each Series of Parity Lien Debt will cast its votes in accordance with the Parity Lien Documents governing such Series of Parity Lien Debt. The amount of Parity Lien Debt to be voted by a Series of Parity Lien Debt will equal (1) the aggregate principal amount of Parity Lien Debt held by such Series of Parity Lien Debt (including outstanding letters of credit whether or not then available or drawn), plus (2) other than in connection with an exercise of remedies, the aggregate unfunded commitments to extend credit which, when funded, would constitute Indebtedness of such Series of Parity Lien Debt (to the extent such unfunded commitments have not been terminated by the holders of such Series of Parity Lien Debt). Following and in accordance with the outcome of the applicable vote under its Parity Lien Documents, the Parity Lien Representative of each Series of Parity Lien Debt will vote the total amount of Parity Lien Debt under that Series of Parity Lien Debt as a block in respect of any vote under this Agreement. In connection with this Section 7.2 , the Collateral Trustee may conclusively rely upon information supplied by the relevant Parity Lien Representative as to the amounts of Parity Lien Debt held by each Series of Parity Lien Debt.

 

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Section 7.3 Further Assurances .

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

(b) Upon the reasonable request of the Collateral Trustee or any Parity Lien Representative at any time and from time to time, each of the Company and the other Mortgagors will promptly execute, acknowledge and deliver such security documents, instruments, certificates, notices and other documents, and take such other actions as may be reasonably required, or that the Collateral Trustee may reasonably request, to create, perfect, protect, assure or enforce the Liens and benefits intended to be conferred, in each case as contemplated by the Parity Lien Documents for the benefit of holders of Parity Lien Obligations; provided that no such security document, instrument or other document shall contain provisions that are materially more burdensome upon the Mortgagors than the Parity Lien Documents executed and delivered (or required to be executed and delivered promptly after the date hereof) by the Mortgagors in connection with the issuance of the Initial Notes.

(c) From and after the date hereof, the Company shall, or shall cause the applicable Guarantor to, deliver such documents and take such actions as are required by Article 11 of the Indenture.

(d) Upon the request of the Collateral Trustee, the Company and the Guarantors will permit the Collateral Trustee or any of its agents or representatives, at reasonable times and intervals upon reasonable prior notice, to visit their offices and sites and inspect any of the Collateral and to discuss matters relating to the Collateral with their respective officers and independent public accountants. The Company and the Guarantors shall, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice, permit the Collateral Trustee or any of its agents or representatives to examine and make copies of and abstracts from the records and books of account of the Company and the Guarantors and their Subsidiaries, all at the Company’s expense.

(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Parity Lien Document, to the extent that the Company or any Guarantor delivers Mortgages or amendments or supplements to prior Mortgages naming the Collateral Trustee, as mortgagee or beneficiary pursuant to this Section 7.3 or any corresponding provision of any Parity Lien

 

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Document, no local counsel opinion or opinions to the effect that the Collateral Trustee has a valid and perfected Lien with respect to such Mortgaged Property (subject to customary assumptions and qualifications) will be required to be delivered to the extent Mortgages have previously been recorded in the public records of the state applicable to such additional Mortgages or amendments or supplements to prior Mortgages, unless a corresponding opinion has been or will be delivered to the Priority Lien Agent.

Section 7.4 Successors and Assigns .

(a) Except as provided in Section 5.2 and 6.1 through 6.4 , the Collateral Trustee may not, in its capacity as such, delegate any of its duties or assign any of its rights hereunder, and any attempted delegation or assignment of any such duties or rights will be null and void. All obligations of the Collateral Trustee hereunder will inure to the sole and exclusive benefit of, and be enforceable by, each Parity Lien Representative and each present and future holder of Parity Lien Obligations, each of whom will be entitled to enforce this Agreement as a third-party beneficiary hereof, and all of their respective successors and assigns.

(b) Neither the Company nor any Guarantor may delegate any of its duties or assign any of its rights hereunder, and any attempted delegation or assignment of any such duties or rights will be null and void. All obligations of the Company and the Guarantors hereunder will inure to the sole and exclusive benefit of, and be enforceable by, the Collateral Trustee, each Parity Lien Representative and each present and future holder of Parity Lien Obligations, each of whom will be entitled to enforce this Agreement as a third-party beneficiary hereof, and all of their respective successors and assigns.

Section 7.5 Delay and Waiver . No failure to exercise, no course of dealing with respect to the exercise of, and no delay in exercising, any right, power or remedy arising under this Agreement or any of the other Parity Lien Security Documents will impair any such right, power or remedy or operate as a waiver thereof. No single or partial exercise of any such right, power or remedy will preclude any other or future exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy. The remedies herein are cumulative and are not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.

Section 7.6 Notices . Any communications, including notices and instructions, between the parties hereto or notices provided herein to be given may be given to the following addresses:

 

If to the Collateral Trustee:

   Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
  

Trust and Agency Services

  

60 Wall Street, 16th Floor

  

Mail Stop: NYC60-1630

  

New York, New York 10005

  

USA

  

Attn: Corporates Team, Chesapeake Energy

  

Corp.

  

Facsimile: (732) 578-4635

 

31


with a copy to:

  Deutsche Bank National Trust Company
  for Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
  Trust and Agency Services
  100 Plaza One – 6th Floor
  MSJCY03-0699
 

Jersey City, NJ 07311-3901

USA

  Attn: Corporates Team, Chesapeake Energy Corp.
  Facsimile: (732) 578-4635

If to the Company or any other Mortgagor:

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

If to the Trustee:

  Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
  Trust and Agency Services
  60 Wall Street, 16th Floor
  Mail Stop: NYC60-1630
 

New York, New York 10005

USA

  Attn: Corporates Team, Chesapeake Energy Corp.
  Facsimile: (732) 578-4635

with a copy to:

 

Deutsche Bank National Trust Company

for Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas

  Trust and Agency Services
  100 Plaza One – 6th Floor
  MSJCY03-0699
 

Jersey City, NJ 07311-3901

USA

  Attn: Corporates Team, Chesapeake Energy Corp.
  Facsimile: (732) 578-4635

and if to any other Parity Lien Representative, to such address as it may specify by written notice to the parties named above.

All notices and communications will be mailed by first class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, or delivered by facsimile to the relevant address or number set forth above or, as to holders of Parity Lien Debt,

 

32


its address shown on the register kept by the office or agency where the relevant Parity Lien Debt may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange. Failure to mail or deliver by facsimile a notice or communication to a holder of Parity Lien Debt or any defect in it will not affect its sufficiency with respect to other holders of Parity Lien Debt.

If a notice or communication is mailed or delivered by facsimile in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

Section 7.7 Entire Agreement . This Agreement states the complete agreement of the parties relating to the undertaking of the Collateral Trustee set forth herein and supersedes all oral negotiations and prior writings in respect of such undertaking.

Section 7.8 Compensation; Expenses . The Mortgagors jointly and severally agree to pay, promptly upon demand:

(1) such compensation to the Collateral Trustee and its agents as the Company and the Collateral Trustee may agree in writing from time to time;

(2) all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Collateral Trustee and its agents in the preparation, execution, delivery, filing, recordation, administration or enforcement of this Agreement or any other Parity Lien Security Document or any consent, amendment, waiver or other modification relating hereto or thereto;

(3) all reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of legal counsel and any auditors, accountants, consultants or appraisers or other professional advisors and agents engaged by the Collateral Trustee or any Parity Lien Representative incurred in connection with the negotiation, preparation, closing, administration, performance or enforcement of this Agreement and the other Parity Lien Security Documents or any consent, amendment, waiver or other modification relating hereto or thereto and any other document or matter requested by the Company or any Guarantor;

(4) all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Collateral Trustee and its agents in creating, perfecting, preserving, releasing or enforcing the Collateral Trustee’s Liens on the Collateral, including filing and recording fees, expenses and taxes, stamp or documentary taxes and search fees;

(5) all other reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Collateral Trustee and its agents in connection with the negotiation, preparation and execution of the Parity Lien Security Documents and any consents, amendments, waivers or other modifications thereto and the transactions contemplated thereby or the exercise of rights or performance of obligations by the Collateral Trustee thereunder; and

(6) after the occurrence of any Parity Lien Debt Default, all costs and expenses incurred by the Collateral Trustee, its agents and any Parity Lien Representative in connection with the preservation, collection, foreclosure or enforcement of the Collateral subject to the Parity Lien Security Documents or any interest, right, power or remedy of the Collateral Trustee or in connection with the collection or enforcement of

 

33


any of the Parity Lien Obligations or the proof, protection, administration or resolution of any claim based upon the Parity Lien Obligations in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, including all fees and disbursements of attorneys, accountants, auditors, consultants, appraisers and other professionals engaged by the Collateral Trustee, its agents or the Parity Lien Representatives.

The agreements in this Section 7.8 will survive repayment of all other Parity Lien Obligations and the removal or resignation of the Collateral Trustee and termination of this Agreement.

Section 7.9 Indemnity .

(a) The Mortgagors jointly and severally agree to defend, indemnify, pay and hold harmless the Collateral Trustee, each Parity Lien Representative, each holder of Parity Lien Obligations and each of their respective Affiliates and each and all of their directors, officers, partners, trustees, employees, attorneys and agents, and (in each case) their respective heirs, representatives, successors and assigns (each of the foregoing, an “ Indemnitee ”) from and against any and all Indemnified Liabilities; provided that no Indemnitee will be entitled to indemnification hereunder with respect to any Indemnified Liability to the extent such Indemnified Liability is found by a final and nonappealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee. THIS INDEMNITY COVERS ORDINARY NEGLIGENCE OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING PARTIES.

(b) All amounts due under this Section 7.9 will be payable promptly upon written demand.

(c) To the extent that the undertakings to defend, indemnify, pay and hold harmless set forth in Section 7.9(a) may be unenforceable in whole or in part because they violate any law or public policy, each of the Mortgagors will contribute the maximum portion that it is permitted to pay and satisfy under applicable law to the payment and satisfaction of all Indemnified Liabilities incurred by Indemnitees or any of them.

(d) No Mortgagor will ever assert any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for any lost profits or special, indirect or consequential damages or (to the fullest extent a claim for punitive damages may lawfully be waived) any punitive damages arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement or any other Parity Lien Document or any agreement or instrument or transaction contemplated hereby or relating in any respect to any Indemnified Liability, and each of the Mortgagors hereby forever waives, releases and agrees not to sue upon any claim for any such lost profits or special, indirect, consequential or (to the fullest extent lawful) punitive damages, whether or not accrued and whether or not known or suspected to exist in its favor.

(e) The agreements in this Section 7.9 will survive repayment of all other Parity Lien Obligations and the removal or resignation of the Collateral Trustee and termination of this Agreement.

 

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Section 7.10 Severability . If any provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect or in any jurisdiction, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provision in all other respects and of all remaining provisions, and of such provision in all other jurisdictions, will not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

Section 7.11 Headings . Section headings herein have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Agreement and will in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

Section 7.12 Obligations Secured . All obligations of the Mortgagors set forth in or arising under this Agreement will be Parity Lien Obligations and are secured by all Liens granted by the Parity Lien Security Documents.

Section 7.13 Governing Law . THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Section 7.14 Consent to Jurisdiction . All judicial proceedings brought against any party hereto arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the other Parity Lien Security Documents may be brought in any state or federal court of competent jurisdiction in the State, County and City of New York. By executing and delivering this Agreement, each party hereto irrevocably:

(1) submits, for itself and its property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State court or, to the extent permitted by law, in such federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that any party hereto may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement in the courts of any jurisdiction;

(2) waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any court referred to in paragraph (1) of this Section 7.14 , and waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court;

(3) agrees that service of all process in any such proceeding in any such court may be made by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to such party at its address provided in accordance with Section 7.6 ;

 

35


(4) agrees that service as provided in clause (3) above is sufficient to confer personal jurisdiction over such party in any such proceeding in any such court and otherwise constitutes effective and binding service in every respect; and

(5) agrees each party hereto retains the right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law or to bring proceedings against any party in the courts of any other jurisdiction.

Section 7.15 Waiver of Jury Trial . EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW ITS RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER PARITY LIEN SECURITY DOCUMENTS OR ANY DEALINGS BETWEEN THEM RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS AGREEMENT OR THE INTENTS AND PURPOSES OF THE OTHER PARITY LIEN SECURITY DOCUMENTS. THE SCOPE OF THIS WAIVER IS INTENDED TO BE ALL-ENCOMPASSING OF ANY AND ALL DISPUTES THAT MAY BE FILED IN ANY COURT AND THAT RELATE TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER PARITY LIEN SECURITY DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS, BREACH OF DUTY CLAIMS AND ALL OTHER COMMON LAW AND STATUTORY CLAIMS. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS WAIVER IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT TO ENTER INTO A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP, THAT EACH PARTY HERETO HAS ALREADY RELIED ON THIS WAIVER IN ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT, AND THAT EACH PARTY HERETO WILL CONTINUE TO RELY ON THIS WAIVER IN ITS RELATED FUTURE DEALINGS. EACH PARTY HERETO FURTHER WARRANTS AND REPRESENTS THAT IT HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER WITH ITS LEGAL COUNSEL AND THAT IT KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ITS JURY TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL. THIS WAIVER IS IRREVOCABLE, MEANING THAT IT MAY NOT BE MODIFIED EITHER ORALLY OR IN WRITING (OTHER THAN BY A MUTUAL WRITTEN WAIVER SPECIFICALLY REFERRING TO THIS SECTION 7.15 AND EXECUTED BY EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO), AND THIS WAIVER WILL APPLY TO ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS, SUPPLEMENTS OR MODIFICATIONS OF OR TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER PARITY LIEN SECURITY DOCUMENTS OR TO ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS OR AGREEMENTS RELATING THERETO. IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE FILED AS A WRITTEN CONSENT TO A TRIAL BY THE COURT.

Section 7.16 Counterparts, Electronic Signatures . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts (including by facsimile), each of which when so executed and delivered will be deemed an original, but all such counterparts together will constitute but one and the same instrument. The parties hereto may sign this Agreement and any Collateral Trust Joinder and transmit the executed copy by electronic means, including facsimile or noneditable.pdf files. The electronic copy of the executed Agreement and any Collateral Trust Joinder is and shall be deemed an original signature.

 

36


Section 7.17 Effectiveness . This Agreement will become effective upon the execution of a counterpart hereof by each of the parties hereto and receipt by each party of written notification of such execution and written or telephonic authorization of delivery thereof.

Section 7.18 Mortgagors and Additional Mortgagors . Each Mortgagor represents and warrants that it has duly executed and delivered this Agreement. The Company will cause each Person that hereafter becomes a Mortgagor or is required by any Parity Lien Document to become a party to this Agreement to become a party to this Agreement, for all purposes of this Agreement, by causing such Person to execute and deliver to the Collateral Trustee a Collateral Trust Joinder, whereupon such Person will be bound by the terms hereof to the same extent as if it had executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date hereof. The Company shall promptly provide each Parity Lien Representative with a copy of each Collateral Trust Joinder executed and delivered pursuant to this Section 7.18 ; provided that the failure to so deliver a copy of the Collateral Trust Joinder to any then existing Parity Lien Representative shall not affect the inclusion of such Person as a Mortgagor if the other requirements of this Section 7.18 are complied with.

Section 7.19 Insolvency . This Agreement will be applicable both before and after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding by or against any Mortgagor. The relative rights, as provided for in this Agreement, will continue after the commencement of any such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding on the same basis as prior to the date of the commencement of any such case, as provided in this Agreement.

Section 7.20 Rights and Immunities of Parity Lien Representatives . The Trustee and the Collateral Trustee will be entitled, to the extent applicable to such entity, to all of the rights, protections, immunities and indemnities set forth in the Indenture and any future Parity Lien Representative will be entitled to all of the rights, protections, immunities and indemnities set forth in the credit agreement, indenture or other agreement governing the applicable Parity Lien Debt with respect to which such Person will act as representative, in each case as if specifically set forth herein. In no event will any Parity Lien Representative be liable for any act or omission on the part of the Mortgagors or the Collateral Trustee hereunder.

Section 7.21 Intercreditor Agreement . Each Person that is secured hereunder, by accepting the benefits of the security provided hereby, (i) consents (or is deemed to consent), to the subordination of Liens in favor of the Collateral Trustee as provided for in the Intercreditor Agreement, (ii) agrees (or is deemed to agree) that it will be bound by, and will take no actions contrary to, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, and (iii) authorizes (or is deemed to authorize) and instructs (or is deemed to instruct) the Collateral Trustee on behalf of such Person to enter into, and perform under, the Intercreditor Agreement as “Second Lien Collateral Trustee” (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement). The Collateral Trustee agrees to enter into any amendments or joinders to the Intercreditor Agreement, without the consent of any holder of Parity Lien Debt or the Parity Lien Representatives, to add additional Indebtedness as Priority Lien Debt, Parity Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt (to the extent permitted to be incurred and secured by the applicable Secured Debt Documents) and add other parties (or any authorized agent or trustee therefor) holding such Indebtedness thereto and to establish that the Lien on any Collateral securing such Indebtedness ranks equally with the Liens on such Collateral securing the other Priority Lien Debt, Parity Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt, as applicable, then

 

37


outstanding. The foregoing provisions are intended as an inducement to the lenders under the Credit Agreement to extend credit to the Company, as the borrower under the Credit Agreement, and such lenders are intended third party beneficiaries of this provision and the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, to the extent that any Lien on any Collateral is perfected by the possession or control of such Collateral or of any account in which such Collateral is held, and if such Collateral or any such account is in fact in the possession or under the control of the Priority Lien Agent, or of agents or bailees of the Priority Lien Agent, the perfection actions and related deliverables described in this Agreement or the other Parity Lien Security Documents shall not be required.

Section 7.22 Force Majeure . The Collateral Trustee shall not be liable for delays or failures in performance resulting from acts of God, strikes, lockouts, riots, acts of war, epidemics, governmental regulations superimposed after the fact, fire, communication line failures, computer viruses, power failures, earthquakes or other disasters or similar acts beyond its control.

Section 7.23 Representations and Warranties . The Collateral Trustee, the Company, each Guarantor and each Parity Lien Representative represents and warrants to the others as of the date hereof (or, in the case of any Parity Lien Representative that becomes a party hereto after the date hereof, on the date that it becomes party hereto), that: (a) neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor its performance of or compliance with the terms and provisions hereof will conflict with, or result in a breach of the terms, conditions, or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any other agreement to which it is now subject, which conflict, breach or default could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Credit Agreement as in effect on the date hereof); (b) it has all requisite authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement; and (c) this Agreement constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject only to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws and general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

Section 7.24 Additional Persons Bound Hereby . Each Parity Lien Secured Party (other than the Parity Lien Representative) and each holder of any Parity Lien Debt (other than the Parity Lien Representative) agrees, by virtue of becoming a Parity Lien Secured Party or a holder of any Parity Lien Debt, as applicable, that it shall be bound by the terms of this Agreement as if it were a party hereto.

 

38


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Collateral Trust Agreement to be executed by their respective officers or representatives as of the day and year first above written.

 

COMPANY:

    CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION
    By:   /s/ Caleb G. Morgret
    Name:   Caleb G. Morgret
    Title:   Vice President and Treasurer

[Signature Page to Collateral Trust Agreement]


GUARANTORS:     CHESAPEAKE AEZ EXPLORATION, L.L.C.
    CHESAPEAKE APPALACHIA, L.L.C.
    CHESAPEAKE-CLEMENTS ACQUISITION, L.L.C.
    CHESAPEAKE E&P HOLDING CORPORATION
    CHESAPEAKE ENERGY LOUISIANA CORPORATION
    CHESAPEAKE ENERGY MARKETING, L.L.C.
    CHESAPEAKE NG VENTURES CORPORATION
    CHESAPEAKE EXPLORATION, L.L.C.
    CHESAPEAKE LAND DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.L.C.
    CHESAPEAKE LOUISIANA, L.P.
      BY: CHESAPEAKE OPERATING, L.L.C., its General Partner
    CHESAPEAKE MIDSTREAM DEVELOPMENT, L.L.C.
    CHESAPEAKE OPERATING, L.L.C.
    CHESAPEAKE PLAZA, L.L.C.
    CHESAPEAKE ROYALTY, L.L.C.
    CHESAPEAKE VRT, L.L.C.
    CHK-MAC, L.L.C.
    COMPASS MANUFACTURING, L.L.C.
    EMLP, L.L.C.
    EMPRESS, L.L.C.
    GSF, L.L.C.
    MC LOUISIANA MINERALS, L.L.C.
    MC MINERAL COMPANY, L.L.C.
    MIDCON COMPRESSION, L.L.C.
    NOMAC SERVICES, L.L.C.
    NORTHERN MICHIGAN EXPLORATION COMPANY, L.L.C.
    WINTER MOON ENERGY CORPORATION
    CHK UTICA, L.L.C.
    SPARKS DRIVE SWD, INC.
    CHK ENERGY HOLDINGS, INC.
    EMPRESS LOUISIANA PROPERTIES, L.P.
      BY: EMLP, L.L.C., its General Partner
    By:   /s/ Caleb G. Morgret
    Name:   Caleb G. Morgret
    Title:   Vice President and Treasurer, for and on behalf of each of
      the foregoing Guarantors

[Signature Page to Collateral Trust Agreement]


DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS,

as Parity Lien Representative of the holders of the Notes

By:   Deutsche Bank National Trust Company
By:   /s/ Robert S. Peschler
Name:   Robert S. Peschler
Title:   Vice President
By:  

/s/ Wanda Camacho

Name:   Wanda Camacho
Title:   Vice President

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS ,

as Collateral Trustee

By:   Deutsche Bank National Trust Company
By:   /s/ Robert S. Peschler
Name:   Robert S. Peschler
Title:   Vice President
By:  

/s/ Wanda Camacho

Name:   Wanda Camacho
Title:   Vice President

[Signature Page to Collateral Trust Agreement]


EXHIBIT A

FORM OF

ADDITIONAL PARITY LIEN DEBT CERTIFICATE

Reference is made to the Collateral Trust Agreement, dated as of December 23, 2015 (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the “ Collateral Trust Agreement ”), among Chesapeake Energy Corporation, an Oklahoma corporation (the “ Company ”), the Guarantors from time to time party thereto, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Parity Lien Representative of the holders of the Notes (as defined therein), the other Parity Lien Representatives from time to time party thereto and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Collateral Trustee. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Collateral Trust Agreement. This Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate is being executed and delivered in order to designate additional secured debt as Parity Lien Debt entitled to the benefit of the Collateral Trust Agreement.

The undersigned, the duly appointed [ specify title ] of the Company, hereby certifies on behalf of [ the Company or applicable Mortgagor ] that:

(A) [ the Company or applicable Mortgagor ] intends to incur additional Parity Lien Debt (“ Additional Parity Lien Debt ”) which will be permitted by each applicable Parity Lien Document to be secured by a Parity Lien equally and ratably with all previously existing and future Parity Lien Debt;

(B) [the name and address of the Parity Lien Debt Representative for the Additional Parity Lien Debt for purposes of Section 7.6 of the Collateral Trust Agreement is:

 

                
                
      Telephone:              
      Fax:    ] 1         

(C) Attached as Exhibit 1 hereto is a Reaffirmation Agreement duly executed by the Company and each Guarantor; and

(D) the Company has caused a copy of this Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate [and the related Collateral Trust Joinder] 2 to be delivered to each existing Parity Lien Representative.

 

 

1   Delete if Additional Parity Lien Debt constitutes Additional Notes.
2   Delete if Additional Parity Lien Debt constitutes Additional Notes.

 

1


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate to be duly executed by the undersigned officer as of             , 20            .

 

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION

By:

   

Name:

   

Title:

   

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RECEIPT

The undersigned, the duly appointed Collateral Trustee under the Collateral Trust Agreement, hereby acknowledges receipt of an executed copy of this Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate.

 

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Collateral Trustee

By:

   

Name:

   

Title:

   

 

2


EXHIBIT 1 TO ADDITIONAL PARITY LIEN DEBT CERTIFICATE

FORM OF

REAFFIRMATION AGREEMENT

            , 20        

Reference is made to the Collateral Trust Agreement, dated as of December 23, 2015 (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the “ Collateral Trust Agreement ”), among Chesapeake Energy Corporation, an Oklahoma corporation (the “ Company ”), the Guarantors from time to time party thereto, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Parity Lien Representative of the holders of the Notes (as defined therein), the other Parity Lien Representatives from time to time party thereto and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Collateral Trustee. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Collateral Trust Agreement. This Reaffirmation Agreement is being executed and delivered as of             , 20            in connection with an Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate of even date herewith which Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate has designated Additional Parity Lien Debt entitled to the benefit of the Collateral Trust Agreement.

Each of the undersigned hereby consents to the designation of additional secured debt as Parity Lien Debt as set forth in the Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate of even date herewith and hereby confirms its respective guarantees, pledges, grants of security interests and other obligations, as applicable, under and subject to the terms of each of the Parity Lien Documents to which it is party, and agrees that, notwithstanding the designation of such additional indebtedness or any of the transactions contemplated thereby, such guarantees, pledges, grants of security interests and other obligations, and the terms of each Parity Lien Document to which it is a party, shall continue to be in full force and effect.

Governing Law and Miscellaneous Provisions . The provisions of Article 7 of the Collateral Trust Agreement will apply with like effect to this Reaffirmation Agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has caused this Reaffirmation Agreement to be duly executed as of the date written above.

 

[ names of the Company and Guarantors ]

                                                                                      

Name:                                                                          

Title:                                                                          

 

3


EXHIBIT B

FORM OF

COLLATERAL TRUST JOINDER – ADDITIONAL DEBT

Reference is made to the Collateral Trust Agreement, dated as of December 23, 2015 (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the “ Collateral Trust Agreement ”), among Chesapeake Energy Corporation, an Oklahoma corporation (the “ Company ”), the Guarantors from time to time party thereto, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Parity Lien Representative of the holders of the Notes (as defined therein), the other Parity Lien Representatives from time to time party thereto and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Collateral Trustee. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Collateral Trust Agreement. This Collateral Trust Joinder is being executed and delivered pursuant to Section 3.8 of the Collateral Trust Agreement as a condition precedent to the debt for which the undersigned is acting as agent being entitled to the benefits of being additional Parity Lien Debt under the Collateral Trust Agreement.

1. Joinder . The undersigned,             , a             , (the “ New Representative ”) as [ trustee, administrative agent ] under that certain [ described applicable indenture, credit agreement or other document governing the additional secured debt ] hereby agrees to become party as a Parity Lien Representative under the Collateral Trust Agreement for all purposes thereof on the terms set forth therein, and to be bound by the terms of the Collateral Trust Agreement as fully as if the undersigned had executed and delivered the Collateral Trust Agreement as of the date thereof.

2. Additional Secured Debt Designation

The undersigned, on behalf of itself and each holder of Obligations in respect of the Series of Parity Lien Debt for which the undersigned is acting as Parity Lien Representative, hereby agrees, for the enforceable benefit of each existing and future holder of Priority Lien Obligations, the Priority Lien Agent, all holders of each current and future Series of Parity Lien Debt, each other current and future Parity Lien Representative and each current and future holder of Parity Lien Obligations and as a condition to being treated as Parity Lien Debt under the Collateral Trust Agreement that:

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

(b) the undersigned and each holder of Obligations in respect of the Series of Parity Lien Debt for which the undersigned is acting as Parity Lien Representative are bound by the provisions of the Collateral Trust Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement, including the provisions relating to the ranking of Parity Liens and the order of application of proceeds from the enforcement of Parity Liens; and

 

1


(c) the Collateral Trustee shall perform its obligations under the Collateral Trust Agreement, the other Parity Lien Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement.

3. Governing Law and Miscellaneous Provisions . The provisions of Article 7 of the Collateral Trust Agreement will apply with like effect to this Collateral Trust Joinder.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Collateral Trust Joinder to be executed by their respective officers or representatives as of             , 20            .

 

[ insert name of the new representative or the Trustee ]
 
Name:    
Title:    

The Collateral Trustee hereby acknowledges receipt of this Collateral Trust Joinder and agrees to act as Collateral Trustee for the [ New Representative ][ Trustee ] and the holders of the Obligations represented thereby:

 

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Collateral Trustee
By:    
Name:    
Title:    

 

2


EXHIBIT C

FORM OF

COLLATERAL TRUST JOINDER – ADDITIONAL MORTGAGOR

Reference is made to the Collateral Trust Agreement, dated as of December 23, 2015 (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the “ Collateral Trust Agreement ”), among Chesapeake Energy Corporation, an Oklahoma corporation (the “ Company ”), the Guarantors from time to time party thereto, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Parity Lien Representative of the holders of the Notes (as defined therein), the other Parity Lien Representatives from time to time party thereto and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Collateral Trustee. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Collateral Trust Agreement. This Collateral Trust Joinder is being executed and delivered pursuant to Section 7.18 of the Collateral Trust Agreement.

1. Joinder . The undersigned,             , a             , hereby agrees to become party as a Mortgagor under the Collateral Trust Agreement for all purposes thereof on the terms set forth therein, and to be bound by the terms of the Collateral Trust Agreement as fully as if the undersigned had executed and delivered the Collateral Trust Agreement as of the date thereof.

2. Governing Law and Miscellaneous Provisions . The provisions of Article 7 of the Collateral Trust Agreement will apply with like effect to this Collateral Trust Joinder.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Collateral Trust Joinder to be executed by their respective officers or representatives as of             , 20            .

 

[                                                                                  ]

By:

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

The Collateral Trustee hereby acknowledges receipt of this Collateral Trust Joinder and agrees to act as Collateral Trustee with respect to the Collateral pledged by the new Mortgagor:

 

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Collateral Trustee

By:

   

Name:

   

Title:

   

 

1