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 15, 2016

 

 

GULFPORT ENERGY CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

 

 

Delaware   000-19514   73-1521290

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

 

14313 North May Avenue

Suite 100

Oklahoma City, OK

  73134
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

(405) 848-8807

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

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

 

 

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

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act

 

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

 

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

 

 

 


Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Purchase Agreement

On December 15, 2016, Gulfport Energy Corporation (“Gulfport”) and certain subsidiary guarantors entered into a purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representatives of the several initial purchasers named in the Purchase Agreement, in connection with Gulfport’s private placement of senior notes. The Purchase Agreement provides for, among other things, the issuance and sale by Gulfport of $600.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 6.375% Senior Notes due 2025 (the “Notes”) to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and to certain non-U.S. persons in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act (the “Notes Offering”). Gulfport and the subsidiary guarantors of the Notes have agreed to indemnify the initial purchasers against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments the initial purchasers may be required to make because of any of such liabilities. Under the Purchase Agreement, Gulfport also agreed to a 90-day lock-up with respect to, among other things, an offer, sale or other disposition of its U.S. dollar-denominated debt securities, subject to certain exceptions. In addition, Gulfport and the subsidiary guarantors have entered into an indenture and a registration rights agreement relating to the Notes, which are discussed further below under the headings “Indenture” and “Registration Rights Agreement,” respectively.

Gulfport estimates that its net proceeds from the Notes Offering will be approximately $590.8 million, after deducting the initial purchasers’ discounts and estimated offering expenses. Gulfport intends to use the net proceeds from the Notes Offering, together with the net proceeds from the Equity Offering (as defined below under the heading “Underwriting Agreement”), (i) primarily to fund the cash portion of the purchase price for Gulfport’s previously announced pending acquisition of certain assets of Vitruvian II Woodford, LLC (the “Pending Acquisition”) and (ii) for general corporate purposes, which may include the funding of a portion of Gulfport’s capital development plans. The Notes Offering closed on December 21, 2016.

The initial purchasers under the Purchase Agreement and their respective affiliates have provided, and may provide in the future, investment banking, commercial banking and other financial services for Gulfport or its affiliates, and have entered, and may in the future enter, into hedging transactions with Gulfport or its affiliates, in the ordinary course of business, for which they have received and will receive customary compensation. In particular, an affiliate of Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. acts as administrative agent, letter of credit issuer and sole lead manager and affiliates of each of Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Barclays Capital Inc., Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, PNC Capital Markets LLC, KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, BBVA Securities Inc., U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc., IBERIA Capital Partners L.L.C. and BOK Financial Securities, Inc. act as a lender under Gulfport’s secured revolving credit facility. Affiliates of KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc. and PNC Capital Markets LLC also act as joint lead arrangers and co-syndication agents under Gulfport’s secured revolving credit facility. Certain of the initial purchasers or their respective affiliates may hold positions in Gulfport’s outstanding 6.625% Senior Notes due 2023 and 6.000% Senior Notes due 2024. Certain of the initial purchasers or their affiliates may also be underwriters in the Equity Offering. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated or its affiliate is acting as Gulfport’s financial advisor in connection with the Pending Acquisition.

The preceding summary of the Purchase Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of such agreement, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 1.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.


Indenture

The Notes were issued under an indenture, dated as of December 21, 2016, among Gulfport, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee (the “Indenture”). Pursuant to the Indenture, interest on the Notes will accrue at a rate of 6.375% per annum on the outstanding principal amount thereof from December 21, 2016, payable semi-annually on May 15 and November 15 of each year, commencing on May 15, 2017. The Notes will mature on May 15, 2025.

The Notes are Gulfport’s senior unsecured obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all of Gulfport’s other senior indebtedness, including Gulfport’s existing senior notes, and senior in right of payment to any of Gulfport’s future subordinated indebtedness. All of Gulfport’s existing and future restricted subsidiaries that guarantee its secured revolving credit facility or certain other debt guarantee the Notes, provided, however, that the Notes are not guaranteed by Grizzly Holdings, Inc. and will not be guaranteed by any of Gulfport’s future unrestricted subsidiaries. The guarantees rank equally in right of payment with all of the senior indebtedness of the subsidiary guarantors and senior in right of payment to any future subordinated indebtedness of the subsidiary guarantors. The Notes and the guarantees are effectively subordinated to all of Gulfport’s and the subsidiary guarantors’ secured indebtedness (including all borrowings and other obligations under Gulfport’s secured revolving credit facility) to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness, and structurally subordinated to all obligations, including trade payables, of any of Gulfport’s subsidiaries that do not guarantee the Notes.

Gulfport may redeem some or all of the Notes at any time on or after May 15, 2020, at the redemption prices listed in the Indenture. Prior to May 15, 2020, Gulfport may redeem all or a portion of the Notes at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes plus a “make-whole” premium and accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date. In addition, any time prior to May 15, 2020, Gulfport may redeem Notes in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes issued prior to such date at a redemption price of 106.375%, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date, with an amount equal to the net cash proceeds from certain equity offerings.

If Gulfport experiences a change of control (as defined in the Indenture), it will be required to make an offer to repurchase the Notes at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of repurchase. If Gulfport sells certain assets and fails to use the proceeds in a manner specified in the Indenture, it will be required to use the remaining proceeds to make an offer to repurchase the Notes at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of repurchase.

The Indenture contains certain covenants that, subject to certain exceptions and qualifications, among other things, limit Gulfport’s ability and the ability of its restricted subsidiaries to incur or guarantee additional indebtedness, make certain investments, declare or pay dividends or make distributions on capital stock, prepay subordinated indebtedness, sell assets including capital stock of restricted subsidiaries, agree to payment restrictions affecting Gulfport’s restricted subsidiaries, consolidate, merge, sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets, enter into transactions with affiliates, incur liens, engage in business other than the oil and gas business and designate certain of Gulfport’s subsidiaries as unrestricted subsidiaries. Certain of these covenants are subject to termination upon the occurrence of certain events.

The preceding summary of the Indenture is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of such agreement, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 4.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

Registration Rights Agreement

In connection with the Notes Offering, Gulfport and its subsidiary guarantors entered into a Registration Rights Agreement with the representatives of the initial purchasers, dated as of December 21, 2016 (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which Gulfport agreed to file a registration statement with respect to an offer to exchange the Notes for a new issue of substantially identical debt securities registered under the Securities Act. Under the Registration Rights Agreement, Gulfport also agreed to use its commercially reasonable efforts to have the registration statement declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on or prior to the 330th day after the issue date of the Notes and to keep the exchange offer open for not less than 30 days (or longer if required by applicable law). Gulfport may be required to file a shelf registration statement to cover resales of the Notes under certain circumstances. If Gulfport fails to satisfy these obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement, it agreed to pay additional interest to the holders of the Notes as specified in the Registration Rights Agreement.


The preceding summary of the Registration Rights Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of such agreement, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 4.2 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

Underwriting Agreement

On December 15, 2016, Gulfport entered into an underwriting agreement with Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representatives of the several underwriters (the “Underwriters”) named therein (the “Underwriting Agreement”). The Underwriting Agreement relates to the public offering of 29,000,000 shares of Gulfport’s common stock (the “Firm Share Offering”) at a public offering price of $21.50 per share. Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, the Underwriters were granted a 30-day option to purchase a maximum of 4,350,000 additional shares of common stock (the “Option”) from Gulfport at the public offering price (less the underwriting discount), which Option was exercised in full by the Underwriters on December 20, 2016 (the “Optional Share Offering” and, together with the Firm Share Offering, the “Offering”). Gulfport has agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against certain liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments the Underwriters may be required to make because of any such liabilities. Under the Underwriting Agreement, Gulfport also agreed, subject to certain exceptions, that it will not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file with the SEC a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to, any shares of Gulfport’s common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any shares of its common stock, or publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge, disposition or filing, without the prior written consent of Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC for a period of 60 days from the date of the Underwriting Agreement.

Gulfport estimates that its net proceeds from the sale of an aggregate of 33,350,000 shares of common stock in this equity offering (the “Equity Offering”), will be approximately $698.8 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses. Gulfport intends to use the net proceeds from the Equity Offering, together with the net proceeds from the Notes Offering, (i) primarily to fund the cash portion of the purchase price for the Pending Acquisition and (ii) for general corporate purposes, which may include the funding of a portion of Gulfport’s capital development plans. In connection with the Offering, the Underwriters have agreed to reimburse Gulfport for an aggregate of approximately $50,000 of Gulfport’s transactional expenses. The Equity Offering closed on December 21, 2016.

The Equity Offering was made pursuant to Gulfport’s effective automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-215078), filed with the SEC on December 14, 2016 (the “Shelf Registration Statement”), and a prospectus, which consists of a base prospectus, filed with the SEC on December 14, 2016, a preliminary prospectus supplement, filed with the SEC on December 15, 2016, and a prospectus supplement, filed with the SEC on December 19, 2016 (collectively, the “Prospectus”).

Certain of the Underwriters and their affiliates have performed investment and commercial banking and advisory services for Gulfport and its affiliates from time to time for which they have received customary fees and expenses. In particular, an affiliate of Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. acts as administrative agent, letter of credit issuer and sole lead manager and affiliates of each of Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Barclays Capital Inc., Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and IBERIA Capital Partners L.L.C. act as a lender under Gulfport’s secured revolving credit facility. An affiliate of KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc. also acts as joint lead arranger and co-syndication agent under Gulfport’s secured revolving credit facility. Certain of the Underwriters or their affiliates may also be initial purchasers under the Notes Offering. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated or its affiliate is acting as Gulfport’s financial advisor in connection with the Pending Acquisition.

The preceding summary of the Underwriting Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of such agreement, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 1.2 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.


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

The information set forth in Item 1.01 above with respect to the Notes Offering is incorporated herein by reference, as applicable.

 

Item 3.03. Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

The information set forth in Item 1.01 above with respect to the Indenture’s limitations on the payment of dividends, redemption of stock or other distributions to Gulfport’s stockholders is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 8.01. Other Events.

Borrowing Base Confirmation under Revolving Credit Facility

As previously disclosed, on December 13, 2016, Gulfport entered into a seventh amendment to its senior secured revolving credit facility, which provided that any future senior notes issuances will reduce the facility’s borrowing base by 25% of the amount of such issuance (net of any proceeds used to repurchase or redeem senior notes). On December 16, 2016, the lenders under Gulfport’s senior secured revolving credit facility waived the automatic reduction in the borrowing base of $150.0 million that would have otherwise been triggered by the Notes Offering and confirmed that, after giving effect to the closing of the Notes Offering, Gulfport’s borrowing base will remain at $700.0 million.

Exhibit 5.1 Legal Opinion

Gulfport is filing a legal opinion of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P., attached as Exhibit 5.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, to incorporate such opinion by reference into the Shelf Registration Statement and into the Prospectus.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits.

 

Number

  

Exhibit

  1.1    Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 15, 2016, by and among Gulfport Energy Corporation, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representatives of the several initial purchasers.
  1.2    Underwriting Agreement, dated December 15, 2016, by and among Gulfport Energy Corporation and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein.
  4.1    Indenture, dated as of December 21, 2016, among Gulfport Energy Corporation, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee (including the form of Gulfport Energy Corporation’s 6.375% Senior Notes due 2025).
  4.2    Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of December 21, 2016, among Gulfport Energy Corporation, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representatives of the several initial purchasers.
  5.1    Opinion of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P.
23.1    Consent of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P. (included in Exhibit 5.1).


SIGNATURE

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

 

    GULFPORT ENERGY CORPORATION
Date: December 21, 2016     By:  

/s/ Aaron Gaydosik

      Aaron Gaydosik
      Chief Financial Officer


Exhibit Index

 

Number

  

Exhibit

  1.1    Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 15, 2016, by and among Gulfport Energy Corporation, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representatives of the several initial purchasers.
  1.2    Underwriting Agreement, dated December 15, 2016, by and among Gulfport Energy Corporation and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein.
  4.1    Indenture, dated as of December 21, 2016, among Gulfport Energy Corporation, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee (including the form of Gulfport Energy Corporation’s 6.375% Senior Notes due 2025).
  4.2    Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of December 21, 2016, among Gulfport Energy Corporation, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representatives of the several initial purchasers.
  5.1    Opinion of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P.
23.1    Consent of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P. (included in Exhibit 5.1).

Exhibit 1.1

EXECUTION VERSION

$600,000,000

GULFPORT ENERGY CORPORATION

6.375% Senior Notes due 2025

PURCHASE AGREEMENT

December 15, 2016

C REDIT S UISSE S ECURITIES (USA) LLC

M ERRILL L YNCH , P IERCE , F ENNER  & S MITH

                          I NCORPORATED

as Representatives of the several Purchasers

c/o Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC,

   Eleven Madison Avenue,

      New York, N.Y. 10010-3629

Dear Sirs:

1. Introductory. Gulfport Energy Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), agrees with the several initial purchasers named in Schedule A hereto (the “ Purchasers ”), subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, to issue and sell to the several Purchasers U.S.$600,000,000 principal amount of its 6.375% Senior Notes due 2025 (“ Notes ”) to be issued under an indenture, to be dated as of the Closing Date (as defined below) (the “ Indenture ”), between the Company, the Guarantors (as defined herein) and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”). The Notes will be unconditionally guaranteed as to the payment of principal and interest by each subsidiary listed on Schedule D hereto (the “ Guarantors ” and such Guarantees, the “ Guarantees ”). Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC (“ Credit Suisse ”) and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“ Merrill Lynch ”) have agreed to act as the representatives (together, the “ Representatives ”) of the Purchasers in connection with the offering and sale of the Notes.

The holders of the Notes will be entitled to the benefits of a Registration Rights Agreement dated as of the Closing Date among the Company, the Guarantors and the Purchasers (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”), pursuant to which the Company and the Guarantors agree to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) (a) a registration statement (the “ Exchange Offer Registration Statement ”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), relating to another series of the Company’s notes with terms substantially identical to the Notes, except for the restrictions on transfer and certain administrative terms (the “ Exchange Notes ”), to be offered in exchange for the Notes (the “ Exchange Offer ”) and (b) under certain circumstances, a shelf registration statement (the “ Shelf Registration Statement ”) pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act relating to the resale of the Notes and the related Guarantees. The Notes and the Guarantees are herein collectively referred to as the “ Offered Securities ” and the Exchange Notes and related Guarantees are herein collectively referred to as the “ Exchange Securities .”

Each of the Company and the Guarantors hereby agrees with the several Purchasers as follows:

2. Representations and Warranties of the Company and the Guarantors. Each of the Company and the Guarantors represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the several Purchasers that:

(a) Offering Circulars; Certain Defined Terms . The Company has prepared or will prepare a Preliminary Offering Circular and a Final Offering Circular.


For purposes of this Agreement:

Applicable Time ” means 7:20 P.M., New York time, on the date of this Agreement.

Closing Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3 hereof.

Commission ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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

Final Offering Circular ” means the final offering circular relating to the Offered Securities to be offered by the Purchasers that discloses the offering price and other final terms of the Notes and is dated as of the date of this Agreement (even if finalized and issued subsequent to the date of this Agreement).

Free Writing Communication ” means a written communication (as such term is defined in Rule 405) that constitutes an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the Offered Securities and is made by means other than the Preliminary Offering Circular or the Final Offering Circular.

General Disclosure Package ” means the Preliminary Offering Circular together with any Issuer Free Writing Communication existing at the Applicable Time which is intended for general distribution to prospective investors, as evidenced by its being specified in Schedule B hereto.

Issuer Free Writing Communication ” means a Free Writing Communication prepared by or on behalf of the Company, used or referred to by the Company or containing a description of the final terms of the Offered Securities or of their offering, in the form retained in the Company’s records.

Preliminary Offering Circular ” means the preliminary offering circular, dated December 15, 2016, relating to the Offered Securities to be offered by the Purchasers.

Rules and Regulations ” means the rules and regulations of the Commission.

Securities Laws ” means, collectively, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“ Sarbanes-Oxley ”), the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the Rules and Regulations, the auditing principles, rules, standards and practices applicable to auditors of “issuers” (as defined in Sarbanes-Oxley) promulgated or approved by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and, as applicable, the rules of the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (“ Exchange Rules ”).

Supplemental Marketing Material ” means any Issuer Free Writing Communication other than any Issuer Free Writing Communication specified on Schedule B hereto. Supplemental Marketing Materials include, but are not limited to, the electronic Bloomberg roadshow slides and the accompanying audio recording.

Unless otherwise specified, a reference to a “rule” is to the indicated rule under the Securities Act.

(b) Disclosure . As of the date of this Agreement, the Final Offering Circular does not, and as of the Closing Date, the Final Offering Circular will not, include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. At the Applicable Time, and as of the Closing Date, neither (i) the General Disclosure Package, nor (ii) any individual Supplemental Marketing Material, when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, included, or will include, any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, or will omit, to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding two sentences do not apply to statements in or omissions from the Preliminary Offering Circular, the Final Offering Circular, the General Disclosure Package or any Supplemental Marketing Material based upon written information furnished to the Company by any Purchaser through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information is that described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.

 

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(c) Good Standing of the Company . The Company has been duly incorporated and is existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with power and authority (corporate and other) to own and/or lease its properties and conduct its business as described in the General Disclosure Package; and the Company is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in good standing in all other jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), business, properties, prospects or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (a “ Material Adverse Effect ”).

(d) Corporate Structure . Except for Grizzly Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Grizzly ”) and SCOOP Acquisition Company, LLC (“ SCOOP ”), the Guarantors listed on Schedule D hereto are the only subsidiaries, direct or indirect, of the Company.

(e) Subsidiaries . Each Guarantor, Grizzly and SCOOP has been duly formed and is existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, with power and authority (corporate and other) to own and/or lease its properties and conduct its business as described in the General Disclosure Package; and each Guarantor, Grizzly and SCOOP is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation or limited liability company, as the case may be, in good standing in all other jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not result in a Material Adverse Effect; all of the issued and outstanding equity interests in each subsidiary of the Company that is a corporation have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable and all of the limited liability company interests in each subsidiary of the Company that is a limited liability company have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreement of such subsidiary and are fully paid (to the extent required under such subsidiary’s limited liability company agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act); and, in each case except as otherwise disclosed in the General Disclosure Package with respect to the pledge thereof in connection with the Company’s revolving credit facility, equity interests in each subsidiary of the Company are owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, free from liens, encumbrances and defects.

(f) Indenture . The Indenture, at the Closing Date, will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Company and the Guarantors, and assuming due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Trustee will constitute a valid and binding agreement of the Company and the Guarantors, enforceable against the Company and the Guarantors in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or conveyance or other similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equity principles, and except as rights to indemnification and contribution may be limited by applicable law.

(g) The Notes and the Guarantees . On the Closing Date, the Notes to be purchased by the Purchasers from the Company (i) will be in the form contemplated by the Indenture, (ii) will have been duly authorized by the Company for issuance and sale pursuant to this Agreement and the Indenture, (iii) will have been duly executed by the Company, (iv) when authenticated by the Trustee in the manner provided for in the Indenture on the Closing Date and delivered against payment of the purchase price therefor, will have been duly authenticated, issued, executed and delivered and will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy,

 

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insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or conveyance or other similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles and except as rights to indemnification and contribution may be limited by applicable law and (v) will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture. On the Closing Date, the Guarantees of the Notes will be in the respective forms contemplated by the Indenture and will have been duly authorized by the Guarantors for issuance pursuant to this Agreement and the Indenture. When issued by each of the Guarantors, the Guarantees of the Notes will have been duly executed and delivered by each of the Guarantors at the Closing Date and, when the Notes have been authenticated in the manner provided for in the Indenture and issued and delivered against payment of the purchase price therefor, the Guarantees will constitute valid and legally binding agreements of the Guarantors and will be entitled to the benefits provided by the Indenture.

(h) Trust Indenture Act . On the Closing Date, the Indenture will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “ Trust Indenture Act ”), and the Rules and Regulations applicable to an indenture which is qualified thereunder.

(i) No Finder’s Fee . Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any person that would give rise to a valid claim against the Company or any Purchaser for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or other like payment in connection with the issuance, purchase and sale of the Notes.

(j) Registration Rights Agreement . The Registration Rights Agreement will have been duly authorized by the Company and the Guarantors on the Closing Date; and, when the Notes are delivered and paid for pursuant to this Agreement on the Closing Date, the Registration Rights Agreement will have been duly executed and delivered and will be the valid and legally binding obligation of each of the Company and the Guarantors, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or conveyance or other similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles and except as rights to indemnification and contribution may be limited by applicable law.

(k) Exchange Securities . On the Closing Date, the Exchange Notes will have been duly and validly authorized for issuance by the Company, and when issued and authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Exchange Offer, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or conveyance or other similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles and except as rights to indemnification and contribution may be limited by applicable law, and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture. When issued by each Guarantor, the Guarantees of the Exchange Notes will be in the respective forms contemplated by the Indenture and, on the Closing Date, will have been duly authorized by such Guarantors for issuance pursuant to the Indenture. When the Exchange Notes have been authenticated in the manner provided for in the Indenture and issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Exchange Offer, the Guarantees of the Exchange Notes will constitute valid and legally binding agreements of the Guarantors.

(l) Accurate Descriptions . This Agreement, the Offered Securities, the Exchange Securities, the Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement will conform in all material respects to the respective statements relating thereto contained in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Circular.

 

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(m) No Registration Rights . Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company or the Guarantors, on the one hand, and any person, on the other hand, granting such person the right to require the Company or the Guarantors to file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to any debt securities of the Company or the Guarantors or to require the Company or the Guarantors to include such securities with the Notes to be registered pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement.

(n) Absence of Further Requirements . Subject to compliance by the Purchasers with the representations and warranties set forth in Section 4 hereof and with the offer and sale procedures set forth in this Agreement, no consent, approval, authorization, or order of, or filing or registration with, any person (including any governmental agency or body or any court) is required for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement in connection with the offering, issuance and sale of the Notes by the Company and the issuance of the Guarantees by the Guarantors, except for the order of the Commission declaring effective the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or, if required, the Shelf Registration Statement.

(o) Title to Property . Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package, the Company, the Guarantors and Grizzly have (i) defensible title to all their interests in the oil and gas properties described in the General Disclosure Package as being owned or leased by them, title investigations having been carried out by the Company in accordance with customary practice in the oil and gas industry and (ii) good and marketable title to all other real property and all other properties and assets described in the General Disclosure Package as owned by them, in each case free and clear of any security interests, mortgages, liens, encumbrances, equities, claims and other title defects, except for those arising under the Company’s revolving credit facility as described in the General Disclosure Package and such as do not adversely affect the value of such property and do not interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property by the Company, the Guarantors and Grizzly and that, in each case, would not result in a Material Adverse Effect. Except as disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 under Item 2. Properties, incorporated by reference in the General Disclosure Package, the Company, the Guarantors and Grizzly hold any leased real or personal property that is material to them under valid and enforceable leases; the terms and provisions of such leases do not materially interfere with the use made or to be made of such real or personal property by the Company, the Guarantors or Grizzly.

(p) Absence of Defaults and Conflicts Resulting from Transaction . The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement, and the issuance and sale of the Notes and Guarantees and compliance with the terms and provisions hereof and thereof will not result in a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default or a Debt Repayment Triggering Event (as defined below) under, or result in the imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company, the Guarantors or Grizzly pursuant to (i) the charter or bylaws or similar organizational documents of the Company, the Guarantors or Grizzly, (ii) any statute, rule, regulation or order of any governmental agency or body or any court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company, the Guarantors or Grizzly or any of their properties, or (iii) any agreement or instrument to which the Company, the Guarantors or Grizzly is a party or by which the Company, the Guarantors or Grizzly is bound or to which any of the properties of the Company, the Guarantors or Grizzly is subject, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), for any breaches, violations, defaults, liens, charges or encumbrances, which, individually or in the aggregate, would not result in a Material Adverse Effect; a “ Debt Repayment Triggering Event ” means any event or condition that gives, or with the giving of notice or lapse of time would give, the holder of any note, debenture, or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company, the Guarantors or Grizzly.

 

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(q) Absence of Existing Defaults and Conflicts . None of the Company, the Guarantors or Grizzly is in violation of its respective charter or bylaws or in default (or with the giving of notice or lapse of time would be in default) under any existing obligation agreement, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, loan agreement, mortgage, lease or other agreement or instrument to which any of them is a party or by which any of them is bound or to which any of the properties of any of them is subject, except where such violations and defaults of one or more Guarantors or Grizzly have been waived or would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(r) Authorization of Agreements. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Company and the Guarantors. The purchase agreement, dated as of December 13, 2016 (the “ Acquisition Agreement ”), by and among the Company, SCOOP and Vitruvian II Woodford, LLC (“ Vitruvian ”) entered into in connection with the Company’s acquisition of certain assets of Vitruvian (the “Acquisition”), has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles or as may be otherwise limited by the discretion of the court before which any proceeding relating thereto may be brought (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or equity), and except as rights to indemnification and contribution may be limited by applicable law and public policy consideration. The Company expects that the Acquisition will be consummated in all material respects on the terms and by the date and as contemplated by the Acquisition Agreement.

(s) Possession of Licenses and Permits . The Company, the Guarantors and Grizzly possess, and are in compliance with the terms and conditions of, all adequate certificates, authorizations, franchises, licenses and permits issued by appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory bodies (collectively, “ Licenses ”) necessary to the ownership of their assets or to the conduct of the business now conducted or proposed in the General Disclosure Package to be conducted by them, except where the failure to have obtained the same would not cause a Material Adverse Effect and have not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any Licenses that, if determined adversely to the Company, the Guarantors or Grizzly would individually or in the aggregate result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(t) Absence of Labor Dispute . No labor dispute with the employees of the Company, the Guarantors or Grizzly exists or, to the knowledge of the Company or the Guarantors, is imminent that would result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(u) Possession of Intellectual Property . The Company, the Guarantors and Grizzly own, possess or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate trademarks, trade names and other rights to inventions, know how, patents, copyrights, confidential information and other intellectual property (collectively, “ intellectual property rights ”) necessary to conduct the business now operated by them, or presently employed by them, and have not received any notice of infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any intellectual property rights that, if determined adversely to the Company, the Guarantors or Grizzly, would individually or in the aggregate result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(v) Environmental Laws . Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package, the Company, the Guarantors and Grizzly: (i) are and have been in compliance with any and all applicable federal, regional, state and local laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, orders, judgments, settlements, codes and decrees relating to pollution or the protection of human health and safety, natural resources and the environment or imposing legally enforceable standards of conduct concerning any Hazardous Materials (as hereinafter defined) (“ Environmental Laws ”); (ii) have obtained and are in compliance with all permits, licenses, registrations, authorizations, exemptions, waivers and other approvals (“ Permits ”) required of them under applicable

 

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Environmental Laws to conduct their respective operations as they are currently being conducted; (iii) have neither received notice nor knowledge of any actual or potential liability under any Environmental Law (“ Notice ”) including, without limitation, any liability arising out of or in connection with the generation, use, manufacture, refinement, storage, treatment, handling, transportation, disposal, release, or remediation of any Hazardous Materials by the Company, the Guarantors or Grizzly or, to the knowledge of the Company, any of its predecessors in interest and (iv) are not party to or affected by any pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened action, suit or proceeding alleging that the Company, the Guarantors or Grizzly is in violation of or otherwise liable under any Environmental Law, except where such non compliance with Environmental Laws, such failure to obtain and comply with Permits, such Notice, or such involvement in or effect by such action, suit or proceeding would not individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect. The term “ Hazardous Materials ” means (A) any “hazardous substance” as defined in the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, (B) any “solid waste” or “hazardous waste” as defined in the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended, (C) any petroleum hydrocarbons, petroleum products, natural gas or oil, (D) any polychlorinated biphenyl and (E) any pollutant or contaminant or hazardous or toxic chemical, material, waste or substance regulated under any applicable Environmental Law. None of the Company, the Guarantors or Grizzly has been notified that any of them is currently named as “potentially responsible party” under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended.

(w) Accurate Disclosure . The statements in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Circular under the headings “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations”, insofar as such statements summarize legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings discussed therein, are accurate and fair summaries, in all material respects, of such legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings and present the information required to be shown.

(x) Absence of Manipulation. None of the Company, the Guarantors or Grizzly has either alone or with one or more other persons taken, directly or indirectly, any action that is designed to or that has constituted or that would reasonably be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Offered Securities.

(y) Statistical and Market-Related Data . Any third-party statistical and market-related data included or incorporated by reference in the Preliminary Offering Circular, the Final Offering Circular, or any Issuer Free Writing Communication are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes to be reliable and accurate.

(z) Internal Controls and Compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act . Except as set forth in the General Disclosure Package, the Company, it subsidiaries and the Company’s Board of Directors (the “ Board ”) are in compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley and the Exchange Rules, in each case to the extent applicable. The Company maintains a system of internal controls, including, but not limited to, disclosure controls and procedures, internal controls over accounting matters and financial reporting and legal and regulatory compliance controls (collectively, “ Internal Controls ”), that comply with the Securities Laws and are sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“ GAAP ”) and to maintain accountability for assets, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. The Internal Controls are, and upon consummation of the offering of the Offered Securities will be, overseen by the Audit Committee (the “ Audit Committee ”) of the Board in accordance with Exchange Rules. The Company has not publicly disclosed or reported to the Audit Committee or the Board, and within the next 90 days the Company does not reasonably expect to publicly disclose or report to the Audit

 

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Committee or the Board, a significant deficiency, material weakness, change in Internal Controls or fraud involving management or other employees who have a significant role in Internal Controls (each, an “ Internal Control Event ”), any violation of, or failure to comply with, the Securities Laws, or any matter which, if determined adversely, would result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(aa) Absence of Accounting Issues . A member of the Audit Committee has confirmed to the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer that, except as set forth in the General Disclosure Package, the Audit Committee is not reviewing or investigating, and the Company’s independent auditors have not recommended that the Audit Committee review or investigate, (i) adding to, deleting, changing the application of, or changing the Company’s disclosure with respect to, any of the Company’s material accounting policies; (ii) any matter which could result in a restatement of the Company’s consolidated financial statements for any annual or interim period during the current or prior three fiscal years or (iii) any Internal Control Event.

(bb) Litigation . Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package, there are no pending actions, suits or proceedings (including to the Company’s knowledge any inquiries or investigations by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign) against or affecting the Company, the Guarantors, Grizzly, any of their respective properties that, if determined adversely to the Company, the Guarantors or Grizzly, as the case may be, would individually or in the aggregate result in a Material Adverse Effect, or would materially and adversely affect the ability of the Company or the Guarantors to perform their obligations under this Agreement, the Indenture or the Registration Rights Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or which are otherwise material in the context of the sale of the Offered Securities; and no such actions, suits or proceedings (including any inquiries or investigations by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign) are, to the Company or the Guarantors’ knowledge, threatened or contemplated.

(cc) Financial Statements; Auditor Independence . (i) The consolidated financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the General Disclosure Package present fairly in all material respects the financial position of (x) the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, in the case of financial statements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and (y), to the Company’s knowledge, Vitruvian, in the case of financial statements of Vitruvian, in each case as of and at the dates shown, and the consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and comprehensive income and cash flows of each of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, and Vitruvian, for the periods shown, and such financial statements of the Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, Vitruvian have been prepared in conformity with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved. The other financial and statistical data included or incorporated by reference in the General Disclosure Package are fairly presented in all material respects and prepared on a basis consistent with the financial statements presented therein and the books and records of the Company. The unaudited pro forma combined financial information and the related notes thereto with respect to Vitruvian included or incorporated by reference in the General Disclosure Package are fairly presented in all material respects and prepared on the bases described therein, have been prepared in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X, and the Company believes the assumptions underlying such unaudited pro forma combined financial information, as set forth therein, are reasonable. The Company and its consolidated subsidiaries do not have any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent (including any off balance sheet obligations or any “variable interest entities” within the meaning of Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 46), not disclosed in the General Disclosure Package.

(ii) Grant Thornton LLP, who has certified the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Circular, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company within the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and as required by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.

 

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(iii) PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP has certified the consolidated financial statements of Vitruvian included or incorporated by reference in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Circular.

(dd) Absence of Relationships . No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or its subsidiaries on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders, customers or suppliers of the Company or its subsidiaries on the other hand, which would be required by the Securities Act to be described in the Final Offering Circular if the Final Offering Circular were a prospectus included in a registration statement on Form S-1 filed with the Commission and which is not so described. The Final Offering Circular contains in all material respects the same description of the matters set forth in the preceding sentence contained in the General Disclosure Package.

(ee) No Material Adverse Change in Business . Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package, since the end of the period covered by the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the General Disclosure Package (i) there has been no change, nor any development or event involving a prospective change, in the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, business, properties or prospects of the Company, the Guarantors and Grizzly, taken as a whole, that is material and adverse, (ii) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company, the Guarantors or Grizzly on any class of their capital stock, (iii) there has been no material adverse change in the capital stock, short-term indebtedness, long-term indebtedness, net current assets or net assets of the Company, the Guarantors and Grizzly, (iv) there has not been any material transaction entered into or any material transaction that is probable of being entered into by the Company, the Guarantors or Grizzly, other than transactions in the ordinary course of business and changes and transactions described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Circular and (v) there has not been any obligation, direct or contingent, which is material to the Company, the Guarantors and Grizzly taken as a whole, incurred by the Company, the Guarantors or Grizzly, except obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business.

(ff) Investment Company Act . Neither the Company nor any Guarantor is or is required to be registered under Section 8 of the United States Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “ Investment Company Act ”) and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Offered Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the General Disclosure Package, will be an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act.

(gg) Regulations T, U, X . None of the Company, the Guarantors or Grizzly nor any agent thereof acting on their behalf has taken, and none of them will take, any action that might cause this Agreement or the issuance or sale of the Notes to violate Regulation T, Regulation U or Regulation X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

(hh) Ratings . No “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act, (i) has imposed (or has informed the Company or any Guarantor that it is considering imposing) any condition (financial or otherwise) on the Company’s or any Guarantor’s retaining any rating assigned to the Company or any Guarantor or any securities of the Company or any Guarantor or (ii) has indicated to the Company or any Guarantor in writing that it is considering any of the actions described in Section 7(d)(ii) hereof.

(ii) Class of Securities Not Listed . No securities of the same class (within the meaning of Rule 144A(d)(3) of the Securities Act) as the Notes are listed on any national securities exchange registered under Section 6 of the Exchange Act or quoted in a U.S. automated inter-dealer quotation system.

(jj) No Registration . Assuming that the representations and warranties in Section 4 of this Agreement are true and correct and the Purchasers comply with the offer and sale procedures set forth in this Agreement, the offer and sale of the Offered Securities by the Company to the several Purchasers in the manner contemplated by this Agreement will be exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act by reason of Section 4(a)(2) thereof; and it is not necessary to qualify the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.

 

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(kk) No General Solicitation; No Directed Selling Efforts . Neither the Company, nor the Guarantors, nor any of their respective affiliates, nor any person acting on its or their behalf (other than any Purchaser or any Purchaser’s affiliates or any of their representatives, as to whom the Company and the Guarantors make no representation or warranty) (i) has, within the six-month period prior to the date hereof, offered or sold in the United States or to any U.S. person (as such terms are defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act) the Notes or any security of the same class or series as the Notes or (ii) has offered or will offer or sell the Notes (A) in the United States by means of any form of general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Rule 502(c) or (B) with respect to any such securities sold in reliance on Rule 903 of Regulation S (“ Regulation S ”) under the Securities Act, by means of any directed selling efforts within the meaning of Rule 902(c) of Regulation S. Each of the Company, the Guarantors, their respective affiliates and any person acting on its or their behalf (other than any Purchaser or any Purchaser’s affiliate or any of their representatives, as to whom the Company and the Guarantors make no representation or warranty) have complied and will comply with the offering restrictions requirement of Regulation S. Neither the Company nor the Guarantors has entered and neither the Company nor the Guarantors will enter into any contractual arrangement with respect to the distribution of the Notes except for this Agreement.

(ll) Reporting Status . The Company is subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

(mm) Insurance . The Company, the Guarantors and Grizzly are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as the Company believes are adequate for the conduct of their business. All such policies of insurance insuring the Company, the Guarantors and Grizzly are in full force and effect and none of the Company, the Guarantors or Grizzly has any reason to believe that any of them will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business.

(nn) Taxes. The Company, the Guarantors and Grizzly have filed on a timely basis all foreign, federal, state and local tax returns that are required to be filed or have requested extensions thereof (except in any case in which the failure so to file would not cause a Material Adverse Effect) and have paid all taxes required to be paid by them and any other assessment, fine or penalty levied against it to the extent due and payable, except for any such assessment, fine or penalty that is currently being contested in good faith or would not cause a Material Adverse Effect.

(oo) No Unlawful Payments. To the best of knowledge of the Company, the Guarantors or any director or executive officer of the Company or the Guarantors, none of the Company, the Guarantors or Grizzly nor any director, officer, agent, employee or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company, the Guarantors or Grizzly has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 or (iv) made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment.

(pp) Anti-Money Laundering. The operations of the Company, the Guarantors and Grizzly are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “ Money Laundering Laws ”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company, the Guarantors or Grizzly with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

 

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(qq) Compliance with OFAC. None of the Company, the Guarantors, Grizzly or any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company, the Guarantors or Grizzly is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“ OFAC ”); and the Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering of the Notes hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

(rr) ERISA. The minimum funding standard under Section 302 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (“ ERISA ”), has been satisfied by each “pension plan” (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA) which has been established or maintained by the Company, the Guarantors or Grizzly, and the trust forming part of each such plan which is intended to be qualified under Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, is so qualified; each of the Company, the Guarantors and Grizzly has fulfilled its obligations, if any, under Section 515 of ERISA; none of the Company, the Guarantors or Grizzly maintains or is required to contribute to a “welfare plan” (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA) which provides retiree or other post-employment welfare benefits or insurance coverage (other than “continuation coverage” (as defined in Section 602 of ERISA)); each pension plan and welfare plan established or maintained by the Company, the Guarantors and Grizzly are in compliance with the currently applicable provisions of ERISA, except where the failure to comply would not cause a Material Adverse Effect; and none of the Company, the Guarantors or Grizzly has incurred or would reasonably be expected to incur any withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA, any liability under Section 4062, 4063 or 4064 of ERISA, or any other liability under Title IV of ERISA.

(ss) Reserve Report Data . The oil and gas reserve estimates of each of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and Vitruvian contained in or incorporated by reference into the General Disclosure Package have been prepared by independent reserve engineers or by the Company or Vitruvian, as applicable, in accordance with Commission guidelines applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, and the Company has no reason to believe that such estimates do not fairly reflect the oil and gas reserves of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries or Vitruvian, as applicable, as of the dates indicated. Except as described in the General Disclosure Package, the Company is not aware of any facts or circumstances that would cause a Material Adverse Effect in the reserves or the present value of future net cash flows therefrom as described in the General Disclosure Package.

(tt) Independent Reserve Engineers. Netherland, Sewell and Associates, Inc., who have certified the reserve information of each of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and Vitruvian, are independent reserve engineers with respect to each of the Company and Vitruvian in accordance with guidelines established by the Commission.

3. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Notes. On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Company agrees to sell to the several Purchasers, and each of the Purchasers agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at a purchase price of 98.560% of the principal amount thereof, the respective principal amounts of the Notes set forth opposite the names of the several Purchasers in Schedule A hereto.

The Company will deliver the Notes to the Trustee under the Indenture for the account of Credit Suisse, Merrill Lynch or the several Purchasers, as instructed by the Representatives, in the form of one or more global notes in such denominations and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of the Depositary Trust Company, as representatives may designate against payment of the purchase price by the Purchasers in Federal (same day) funds by wire transfer to an account at a bank specified by the Company and reasonably acceptable to the Representatives drawn to the order of Gulfport Energy Corporation at the office of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, at 10:00 A.M., New York time, on December 21, 2016 or at such other time not later than seven full business days thereafter as the Representatives and the Company determine, such time being herein referred to as the “ Closing Date ”. The Notes so to be delivered or evidence of their issuance will be made available for checking at the above office of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP at least 24 hours prior to the Closing Date .

 

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4. Representations by Purchasers; Resale by Purchasers. (a) Each Purchaser severally represents and warrants to the Company and the Guarantors that it is an institutional “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1),(2),(3) or (7) under the Securities Act.

(b) Each Purchaser severally acknowledges that the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act and represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Company and the Guarantors that it will not offer or sell the Offered Securities within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons, except (i) pursuant to Rule 144A or any other exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, if available, or (ii) to non-U.S. persons outside the United States, in accordance with Regulation S. Each Purchaser severally represents and agrees that it has offered and sold the Notes, and will offer and sell the Notes (i) as part of its distribution at any time and (ii) otherwise until 40 days after the later of the commencement of the offering and the Closing Date, only in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 144A. Accordingly, neither such Purchaser nor its affiliates, nor any persons acting on its or their behalf, have engaged or will engage in any directed selling efforts with respect to the Notes, and such Purchaser, its affiliates and all persons acting on its or their behalf have complied and will comply with the offering restrictions requirement of Rule 144A and Regulation S. Each Purchaser severally agrees that, at or prior to confirmation of sale of the Notes, other than a sale pursuant to Rule 144A, such Purchaser will have sent to each distributor, dealer or person receiving a selling concession, fee or other remuneration that purchases the Notes from it during the restricted period a confirmation or notice to substantially the following effect:

“The Securities covered hereby have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (i) as part of their distribution at any time or (ii) otherwise until 40 days after the later of the date of the commencement of the offering and the closing date, except in either case in accordance with Regulation S (or Rule 144A if available) under the Securities Act. Terms used above have the meanings given to them by Regulation S.”

Terms used in this subsection (b) have the meanings given to them by Regulation S.

(c) Each Purchaser severally agrees that it and each of its affiliates has not entered and will not enter into any contractual arrangement with respect to the distribution of the Notes except for any such arrangements with the other Purchasers or affiliates of the other Purchasers or with the prior written consent of the Company.

(d) Each Purchaser severally agrees that it and each of its affiliates will not offer or sell the Notes in the United States by means of any form of general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Rule 502(c), including, but not limited to (i) any advertisement, article, notice or other communication published in any newspaper, magazine or similar media or broadcast over television or radio, or (ii) any seminar or meeting whose attendees have been invited by any general solicitation or general advertising. Each Purchaser severally agrees, with respect to resales made in reliance on Rule 144A of any of the Notes, to deliver either with the confirmation of such resale or otherwise prior to settlement of such resale a notice to the effect that the resale of such Notes has been made in reliance upon the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act provided by Rule 144A.

 

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5. Certain Agreements of the Company and the Guarantors. The Company and Guarantors agree with the several Purchasers that:

(a) Amendments and Supplements to Offering Circulars . The Company and the Guarantors will promptly advise the Representatives of any proposal to amend or supplement the Preliminary Offering Circular or the Final Offering Circular at any time and will offer the Representatives a reasonable opportunity to comment on any such amendment or supplement; and the Company will also advise the Representatives promptly of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities in any jurisdiction or the institution or threatening of any proceedings for such purpose. If, at any time prior to the completion of the resale of the Notes by the Purchasers, any event occurs as a result of which the Final Offering Circular as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is necessary at any time to amend or supplement the Preliminary Offering Circular or the Final Offering Circular, the General Disclosure Package or any Supplemental Marketing Material to comply with applicable law, the Company and the Guarantors promptly will notify the Representatives of such event and promptly will prepare and furnish, at its own expense, to the Purchasers and the dealers and to any other dealers at the request of the Representatives, an amendment or supplement which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance. Neither the Representatives’ consent to, nor the Purchasers’ delivery to offerees or investors of, any such amendment or supplement shall constitute a waiver of any of the conditions set forth in Section 7.

(b) Furnishing of Offering Circulars . The Company and the Guarantors will furnish to the Representatives copies of the Preliminary Offering Circular, each other document comprising a part of the General Disclosure Package, the Final Offering Circular, all amendments and supplements to such documents and each item of Supplemental Marketing Material, in each case as soon as available and in such quantities as the Representatives reasonably request. At any time when the Company is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, and any Notes remain “restricted securities” within the meaning of the Securities Act, the Company and the Guarantors will promptly furnish or cause to be furnished to the Representatives (and, upon request, to each of the other Purchasers) and, upon request of holders and prospective purchasers of the Notes, to such holders and purchasers, copies of the information required to be delivered to holders and prospective purchasers of the Notes pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) (or any successor provision thereto) in order to permit compliance with Rule 144A in connection with resales by such holders of the Notes. The Company will pay the expenses of printing and distributing to the Purchasers all such documents.

(c) Blue Sky Qualifications . The Company and the Guarantors shall cooperate with the Purchasers and counsel for the Purchasers to qualify the Offered Securities for resale under the state securities or blue sky laws of those jurisdictions as the Representatives reasonably designate in writing, shall comply with such laws and shall continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Offered Securities by the Purchasers, provided that the Company will not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or file a general consent to service of process or take any action that would subject it to general service of process or taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not presently qualified or required to file such a consent or is subject to taxation.

(d) Reporting Requirements . For so long as the Notes remain outstanding, the Company will furnish, upon request, to the Representatives and, upon request, to each of the other Purchasers, as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year, a copy of its annual report to stockholders for such year; and the Company will furnish to the Representatives and, upon request, to each of the other Purchasers (i) as soon as available, a copy of each report and any definitive proxy statement of the Company filed with the Commission under the Exchange Act or mailed to the Company’s stockholders, the Trustee or holders of the Offered Securities and (ii) from time to time, such other information concerning the Company as the Representatives may reasonably request. However, so long as the Company is subject to the reporting requirements of either Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act and is timely filing reports with the Commission on its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (“ EDGAR ”), it is not required to furnish such reports or statements to the Purchasers.

 

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(e) Transfer Restrictions . During the period of one year after the Closing Date, the Company will, upon request, furnish to the Representatives, each of the other Purchasers and any holder of the Offered Securities a copy of the restrictions on transfer applicable to the Offered Securities.

(f) No Resales by Affiliates . During the period of one year after the Closing Date, unless permitted under Rule 144 of the Securities Act, the Company will not, and will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause its affiliates (as defined in Rule 144) not to, resell any of the Offered Securities that have been reacquired by any of them, unless such Offered Securities are resold in a transaction registered under the Securities Act.

(g) Investment Company . During the period of two years after the Closing Date, neither the Company nor any Guarantor will be or become an open-end investment company, unit investment trust or face-amount certificate company that is or is required to be registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act.

(h) Payment of Expenses . The Company and the Guarantors will pay all expenses incidental to the performance of their respective obligations under this Agreement, the Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement, including but not limited to (i) the fees and expenses of the Trustee and its professional advisers; (ii) all expenses, including transfer taxes and stamp or similar duties, if any, in connection with the execution, issue, authentication, packaging and initial delivery of the Offered Securities and, as applicable, the Exchange Securities, the preparation and printing of this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Offered Securities, the Indenture, the Preliminary Offering Circular, any other documents comprising any part of the General Disclosure Package, the Final Offering Circular, all amendments and supplements thereto, each item of Supplemental Marketing Material and any other document relating to the issuance, offer, sale and delivery of the Notes and as applicable, the Exchange Securities; (iii) the cost of any advertising approved by the Company in connection with the issue of the Notes; (iv) any expenses of counsel to the Company incurred in connection with qualification of the Offered Securities or the Exchange Securities for offer and sale under the blue sky laws or the laws of such jurisdictions in the United States and Canada as the Representatives reasonably designate in writing and the preparation and printing of memoranda relating thereto; (v) any fees charged by investment rating agencies for the rating of the Offered Securities or the Exchange Securities; (vi) costs and expenses incurred in distributing the Preliminary Offering Circular, any other documents comprising any part of the General Disclosure Package, the Final Offering Circular (including any amendments and supplements thereto) and any Supplemental Marketing Material to the Purchasers; (vii) expenses incurred for preparing, printing and distributing any Issuer Free Writing Communication to investors or prospective investors and (viii) costs and expenses of the Company’s officers and employees and any other expenses of the Company and the Guarantors relating to investor presentations on any “road show” in connection with the offering and sale of the Notes including, without limitation, any travel expenses of the Company’s and the Guarantors’ officers and employees and any other expenses of the Company and the Guarantors. The Purchasers shall pay all of their own costs and expenses, including the fees and disbursements of their counsel, except as provided in this Agreement.

(i) Use of Proceeds . The Company will use the net proceeds received by it in connection with this offering in the manner described in the “Use of Proceeds” section of the General Disclosure Package and, except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package, the Company does not intend to use any of the proceeds from the sale of the Notes hereunder to repay any outstanding debt owed to any affiliate of any Purchaser.

 

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(j) Absence of Manipulation . In connection with the offering, until the Representatives shall have notified the Company and the other Purchasers, which notice shall be promptly provided upon the written request of the Company, of the completion of the resale of the Offered Securities, neither the Company the Guarantors nor any their affiliates will, either alone or with one or more other persons, bid for or purchase for any account in which it or any of its affiliates has a beneficial interest any Offered Securities or attempt to induce any person to purchase any Offered Securities; and neither it nor any of their affiliates will make bids or purchases for the purpose of creating actual, or apparent, active trading in, or of raising the price of, the Offered Securities.

(k) Restriction on Sale of Securities . For a period of 90 days after the date hereof, neither the Company nor the Guarantors will, directly or indirectly, take any of the following actions with respect to any United States dollar-denominated debt securities issued or guaranteed by the Company or the Guarantors and having a maturity of more than one year from the date of issue or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any such dollar-denominated debt securities (“ Lock-Up Securities ”): (i) offer, sell, issue, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of Lock-Up Securities, (ii) offer, sell, issue, contract to sell, contract to purchase or grant any option, right or warrant to purchase Lock-Up Securities, (iii) enter into any swap, hedge or any other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, the economic consequences of ownership of Lock-Up Securities, (iv) establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position in Lock-Up Securities within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act or (v) file with the Commission a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to Lock-Up Securities or publicly disclose the intention to take any such action, without the prior written consent of Credit Suisse, except that the Company is permitted to make (x) such filings or public disclosures with respect to the Exchange Securities and/or Offered Securities in connection with the filing of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the consummation of the Exchange Offer, the Shelf Registration Statement and other transactions contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement and (y) a filing by the Company of a shelf registration statement on Form S-3, or any amendments or supplements thereto, under the Securities Act, which registration statement may include any dollar-denominated debt and other securities, provided further, than no sales under any such shelf registration statement shall be permitted during this 90 - day period. Neither the Company nor the Guarantors will at any time directly or indirectly, take any action referred to in clauses (i) through (v) of the preceding sentence with respect to any securities under circumstances where such offer, sale, pledge, contract or disposition would cause the exemption afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act or the safe harbor of Regulation S thereunder to cease to be applicable to the offer and sale of the Offered Securities.

(l) Eligibility for Clearance. The Company and the Guarantors will reasonably assist the Purchasers to permit the Offered Securities to be eligible for clearance and settlement through the facilities of DTC.

6. Free Writing Communications . (a)  Issuer Free Writing Communications . Each of the Company and the Guarantors represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Representatives, and each Purchaser represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Company and the Representatives, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Offered Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Communication.

(b) Term Sheets . The Company consents to the use by any Purchaser of a Free Writing Communication that (i) contains only (A) information describing the preliminary terms of the Offered Securities or their offering or (B) information that describes the final terms of the Offered Securities or their offering and that is included in or is subsequently included in the Final Offering Circular, including by means of a pricing term sheet in the form of Exhibit B-1 hereto, or (ii) does not contain any material information about the Company or the Guarantors or their respective securities that was provided by or on behalf of the Company or the Guarantors; it being understood and agreed that the Company and each Guarantor shall not be responsible to any

 

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Purchaser for liability arising from any inaccuracy in such Free Writing Communications referred to in clause (i) or (ii) as compared with the information in the Preliminary Offering Circular, the Final Offering Circular or the General Disclosure Package and any such inaccurate Free Writing Communication shall not be an Issuer Free Writing Communication for purposes of this Agreement.

7. Conditions of the Obligations of the Purchasers . The obligations of the several Purchasers to purchase and pay for the Notes will be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of each of the Company and the Guarantors herein (as though made on the Closing Date), to the accuracy of the statements of officers of each of the Company and the Guarantors made pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by each of the Company and the Guarantors of their respective obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions precedent:

(a) Accountants’ Comfort Letters . The Purchasers shall have received letters, dated, respectively, the date hereof concerning the financial information with respect to the Company and Vitruvian, as applicable, set forth or incorporated by reference in the General Disclosure Package and the Closing Date concerning the financial information with respect to (i) the Company set forth or incorporated by reference in the Final Offering Circular, of Grant Thornton LLP and (ii) Vitruvian set forth or incorporated by reference in the Final Offering Circular, of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, each confirming that they are a registered public accounting firm and independent public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Laws with respect to the Company or Vitruvian, as applicable, and substantially in the form of Schedule C-1 and C-2 hereto, respectively (except that, in any letter dated on the Closing Date, the specified date referred to in each of Schedule C-1 and C-2 hereto shall be a date no more than three days prior to such Closing Date).

(b) Reserve Engineers’ Comfort Letters . The Purchasers shall have received letters, dated, respectively, the date hereof and the Closing Date, from Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. stating the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to certain of the oil and natural gas reserves of each of the Company and Vitruvian, and certain other related information contained in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Circular, as applicable, in each case, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives and attached hereto as Schedule F-1 and F-2, respectively.

(c) Chief Reserve Engineer Certificate . The Representatives shall have received a certificate dated, respectively, the date hereof and the Closing Date, from Steven R. Baldwin, the Company’s chief reserve engineer, certifying as to the matters set forth therein and in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives and attached hereto as Schedule G.

(d) Chief Financial Officer Certificate . The Representatives shall have received a certificate dated, respectively, the date hereof and the Closing Date, from Aaron Gaydosik, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, certifying as to the matters set forth therein and in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives and attached hereto as Schedule H.

(e) No Material Adverse Change . Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred (i) any change, or any development or event involving a prospective change, in the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, business, or properties or prospects of the Company, the Guarantors and Grizzly taken as a whole which, in the judgment of the Representatives, is material and adverse and makes it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the completion of the offering or the sale of and payment for the Offered Securities; (ii) any downgrading in the rating of any debt securities of the Company or the Guarantors by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act), or any public announcement that any such organization has under surveillance or review its rating of any debt securities of the Company or the Guarantors (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading, and no implication of a possible

 

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downgrading, of such rating) or any announcement that the Company or the Guarantors has been placed on negative outlook; (iii) any change in U.S. or international financial, political or economic conditions or currency exchange rates or exchange controls the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Representatives, impractical to market or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Offered Securities, whether in the primary market or in respect of dealings in the secondary market, (iv) any suspension or material limitation of trading in securities generally on The NASDAQ Global Select Market, or any setting of minimum or maximum prices for trading on such exchange; (v) or any suspension of trading of any securities of the Company or the Guarantors on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market; (vi) any banking moratorium declared by any U.S. Federal or New York authorities; (vii) any major disruption of settlements of securities, payment, or clearance services in the United States or any other country where such securities are listed or (viii) any attack on, outbreak or escalation of hostilities or act of terrorism involving the United States, any declaration of war by Congress or any other national or international calamity or emergency if, in the judgment of the Representatives, the effect of any such attack, outbreak, escalation, act, declaration, calamity or emergency is such as to make it impractical or inadvisable to market the Offered Securities or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Notes.

(f) Opinions of Counsel for Company . The Purchasers shall have received an opinion or opinions, dated the Closing Date, of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, counsel for the Company and the Guarantors, substantially in the form set forth in Schedule E.

(g) Opinion of Counsel for Purchasers . The Purchasers shall have received from Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, counsel for the Purchasers, such opinion or opinions, dated the Closing Date , and with reference to same in the Final Offering Circular, with respect to such matters as the Representatives may require, and each of the Company and the Guarantors shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they reasonably request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

(h) Officers’ Certificate . The Purchasers shall have received certificates, dated the Closing Date, of an executive officer of the Company and the Guarantors and a principal financial or accounting officer of the Company and the Guarantors in which such officers shall state that the representations and warranties of the Company and the Guarantors in this Agreement are true and correct, that the Company and the Guarantors have complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on their part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date, and that, subsequent to the date of the most recent financial statements in the General Disclosure Package there has been no material adverse change, nor any development or event involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, business, properties or prospects of the Company, the Guarantors and Grizzly taken as a whole except as set forth in the General Disclosure Package or as described in such certificate.

(i) Additional Documents. Each of the Company and the Guarantors shall have executed and delivered the Registration Rights Agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Purchasers, and the Registration Rights Agreement shall be in full force and effect.

(j) Lock-Up Waiver . Prior to the Applicable Time, the Purchasers shall have received from the Company and each Guarantor party to the existing Purchase Agreement in respect of the Company’s 6.000% Senior Notes due 2024, dated October 6, 2016, an executed release from Credit Suisse (as representative of the purchasers under the existing Purchase Agreement) waiving the restrictions on sale of securities set forth in the first sentence of Section 5(k) of such existing Purchase Agreement.

Documents described as being “in the agreed form” are documents which are in the forms which have been initialed for the purpose of identification by Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, copies of which are held by the Company, the Guarantors and the Representatives, with such changes as the Representatives may approve.

 

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The Company and the Guarantors will furnish the Purchasers with such conformed copies of such opinions, certificates, letters and documents as the Purchasers reasonably request. The Representatives may in their sole discretion waive on behalf of the Purchasers compliance with any conditions to the obligations of the Purchasers hereunder, whether in respect of an Optional Closing Date or otherwise.

8. Indemnification and Contribution . (a)  Indemnification of Purchasers . The Company and the Guarantors will jointly and severally indemnify and hold harmless each Purchaser, its officers, employees, agents, partners, members, directors and its affiliates and each person, if any, who controls such Purchaser within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (each, an “ Indemnified Party ”), against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Indemnified Party may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, other Federal or state statutory law or regulation or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Preliminary Offering Circular or the Final Offering Circular, in each case as amended or supplemented or any Issuer Free Writing Communication (including with limitation, any Supplemental Marketing Material), any Exchange Act Report or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and will reimburse each Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating, preparing or defending against any such loss, claim, damage, liability, action, litigation, investigation or proceeding whatsoever (whether or not such Indemnified Party is a party thereto) whether threatened or commenced and in connection with the enforcement of this provision with respect to any of the above as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Company and the Guarantors will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement in or omission or alleged omission from any of such documents in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Purchaser through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information consists of the information furnished by any Purchaser described as such in subsection (b) below.

(b) Indemnification of Company . Each Purchaser will severally and not jointly indemnify and hold harmless each of the Company, the Guarantors and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and each person, if any, who controls the Company or the Guarantors within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (each, a “ Purchaser Indemnified Party ”), against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which such Purchaser Indemnified Party may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, other Federal or state statutory law or regulation or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Preliminary Offering Circular or the Final Offering Circular, in each case as amended or supplemented, or any Issuer Free Writing Communication or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Purchaser through the Representatives specifically for use therein, and will reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Purchaser Indemnified Party in connection with investigating, preparing or defending against any such loss, claim, damage, liability, action, litigation, investigation or proceeding whatsoever (whether or not such Purchaser Indemnified Party is a party thereto) whether threatened or commenced based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission as such expenses are incurred, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Purchaser consists of the following information in the Preliminary Offering Circular and the Final Offering Circular furnished on behalf of each Purchaser: the third paragraph, the second sentence of the eighth paragraph, the tenth paragraph, thirteenth paragraph, the fourteenth paragraph and the third

 

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and fourth sentences of the fifteenth paragraph, in each case under the caption “Plan of Distribution”; provided , however , that the Purchasers shall not be liable for any losses, claims, damages or liabilities arising out of or based upon the Company’s failure to perform its obligations under Section 5(a) of this Agreement.

(c) Actions against Parties; Notification . Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under subsection (a) or (b) above, notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof; but the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under subsection (a) or (b) above except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided further that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under subsection (a) or (b) above. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party and it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 8 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened action in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party unless such settlement includes (i) an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter of such action and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

(d) Contribution . If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in subsection (a) or (b) above (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Purchasers on the other from the offering of the Notes or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors on the one hand and the Purchasers on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company and the Guarantors on the one hand and the Purchasers on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total discounts and commissions received by the Purchasers from the Company under this Agreement. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company and the Guarantors or the Purchasers and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim which is the subject of this subsection (d). Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), no Purchaser shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Notes purchased by it were resold exceeds the amount of any damages which such Purchaser has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Purchasers’ obligations in this subsection (d) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective purchase obligations and not joint. The Company, the

 

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Guarantors and the Purchasers agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8(d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Purchasers were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 8(d).

9. Default of Purchasers. If any Purchaser or Purchasers default in their obligations to purchase the Notes hereunder on the Closing Date and the aggregate principal amount of the Notes that such defaulting Purchaser or Purchasers agreed but failed to purchase does not exceed 10% of the total principal amount of the Notes that the Purchasers are obligated to purchase on the Closing Date, the Representatives may make arrangements satisfactory to the Company for the purchase of such Notes by other persons, including any of the Purchasers, but if no such arrangements are made by the Closing Date, the non-defaulting Purchasers shall be obligated severally, in proportion to their respective commitments hereunder, to purchase the Notes that such defaulting Purchasers agreed but failed to purchase on the Closing Date. If any Purchaser or Purchasers so default and the aggregate principal amount of the Notes with respect to which such default or defaults occur exceeds 10% of the total principal amount of the Notes and arrangements satisfactory to the Representatives and the Company for the purchase of such Notes by other persons are not made within 36 hours after such default, this Agreement will terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Purchaser or the Company, except as provided in Section 10. As used in this Agreement, the term “Purchaser” includes any person substituted for a Purchaser under this Section 9. Nothing herein will relieve a defaulting Purchaser from liability for its default.

10. Survival of Certain Representations and Obligations. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company, the Guarantors or their respective officers and of the several Purchasers set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation, or statement as to the results thereof, made by or on behalf of any Purchaser, the Company, the Guarantors or any of their respective representatives, officers or directors or any controlling person, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Notes. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 9 or for any reason the purchase of the Notes by the Purchasers is not consummated, the Company and the Guarantors shall remain responsible for the expenses to be paid or reimbursed by it pursuant to Section 5 and the respective obligations of the Company, the Guarantors and the Purchasers pursuant to Section 8 shall remain in effect. If the purchase of the Offered Securities by the Purchasers is not consummated for any reason other than solely because of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 9 or the occurrence of any event specified in clause (iii), (iv), (vi), (vii) or (viii) of Section 7(d), the Company and the Guarantors will reimburse the Purchasers for all out-of-pocket expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel) reasonably incurred by them in connection with the offering of the Offered Securities. In addition, if any Offered Securities have been purchased hereunder, the representations and warranties in Section 2 and all obligations under Section 5 shall also remain in effect.

11. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and, if sent to the Purchasers, will be mailed, hand delivered, couriered or facsimiled and confirmed to the Purchasers, (i) c/o Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Eleven Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010-3629, Attention: LCD-IBD and (ii) c/o Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, 50 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, New York 10020; Attention: High Yield Legal Department; Facsimile: 212-901-7897, or, if sent to the Company or the Guarantors, will be mailed, hand delivered, couriered or facsimiled and confirmed to it at 14313 North May Avenue, Suite 100, Oklahoma City, OK 73134, Attention: Michael G. Moore, with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, 1700 Pacific Avenue, Suite 4100, Dallas, TX 75201, Attention: Seth R. Molay, P.C., provided, however , that any notice to a Purchaser pursuant to Section 8 will be mailed, hand delivered, couriered or facsimiled and confirmed to such Purchaser.

12. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers, directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 8, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder, except that holders of the Offered Securities shall be entitled to enforce the agreements for their benefit contained in the second and third sentences of Section 5(b) hereof against the Company as if such holders were parties thereto.

 

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13. Representation of Purchasers. The Representatives will act for the several Purchasers in connection with this purchase, and any action under this Agreement taken by the Representatives will be binding upon all the Purchasers.

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

15. Absence of Fiduciary Relationship . Each of the Company and the Guarantors acknowledges and agrees that:

(a) No Other Relationship . The Purchasers have been retained solely to act as initial purchasers in connection with the initial purchase, offering and resale of the Notes and that no fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship between the Company or the Guarantors and the Purchasers have been created in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Preliminary Offering Circular or the Final Offering Circular, irrespective of whether the Purchasers have advised or are advising the Company or the Guarantors on other matters;

(b) Arm’s-Length Negotiations . The purchase price of the Notes set forth in this Agreement was established by the Company and the Guarantors following discussions and arms-length negotiations with the Purchasers and the Company and the Guarantors are capable of evaluating and understanding and understand and accept the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

(c) Absence of Obligation to Disclose . Each of the Company and the Guarantors has been advised that the Purchasers and their affiliates are engaged in a broad range of transactions which may involve interests that differ from those of the Company or the Guarantors and that the Purchasers have no obligation to disclose such interests and transactions to the Company or the Guarantors by virtue of any fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship; and

(d) Waiver . Each of the Company and the Guarantors waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims it may have against the Purchasers for breach of fiduciary duty or alleged breach of fiduciary duty and agree that the Purchasers shall have no liability (whether direct or indirect) to the Company or the Guarantors in respect of such a fiduciary duty claim or to any person asserting a fiduciary duty claim on behalf of or in right of the Company, including stockholders, employees or creditors of the Company or the Guarantors.

16. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

Each of the Company and the Guarantors hereby submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. Each of the Company and the Guarantors irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue of any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in Federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York and irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such suit or proceeding in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

21


If the foregoing is in accordance with the Purchasers’ understanding of our agreement, kindly sign and return to the Company one of the counterparts hereof, whereupon it will become a binding agreement between the Company, the Guarantors and the several Purchasers in accordance with its terms.

 

Very truly yours,
G ULFPORT E NERGY C ORPORATION
    By:  

/s/ Michael G. Moore

  Name:   Michael G. Moore
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer and President

[Signature Page to December 2016 Purchase Agreement]

 

22


J AGUAR R ESOURCES LLC
    By:  

/s/ Michael G. Moore

  Name:   Michael G. Moore
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer
P UMA R ESOURCES , I NC .
    By:  

/s/ Michael G. Moore

  Name:   Michael G. Moore
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer
G ATOR M ARINE , I NC .
    By:  

/s/ Michael G. Moore

  Name:   Michael G. Moore
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer
G ATOR M ARINE I VANHOE , I NC .
    By:  

/s/ Michael G. Moore

  Name:   Michael G. Moore
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer
W ESTHAWK M INERALS LLC
    By:  

/s/ Michael G. Moore

  Name:   Michael G. Moore
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer
G ULFPORT B UCKEYE LLC
    By:  

/s/ Michael G. Moore

  Name:   Michael G. Moore
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer
G ULFPORT M IDSTREAM H OLDINGS , LLC
    By:  

/s/ Michael G. Moore

  Name:   Michael G. Moore
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer

[Signature Page to December 2016 Purchase Agreement]

 

23


The foregoing Purchase Agreement

is hereby confirmed and accepted

as of the date first above written.

     
C REDIT S UISSE S ECURITIES (USA) LLC      
M ERRILL L YNCH , P IERCE , F ENNER  & S MITH      
                         I NCORPORATED      

Acting on behalf of themselves

and as the Representatives of

the several Purchasers

     

B Y C REDIT S UISSE S ECURITIES (USA) LLC

  
   By:  

/s/ Ricardo Concha

  
     Name:    Ricardo Concha   
     Title:    Director   

B Y M ERRILL L YNCH , P IERCE , F ENNER  & S MITH

  
                                                        I NCORPORATED   
   By:  

/s/ J. Lex Maultsby

  
     Name:    J. Lex Maultsby   
     Title:    Managing Director   

[Signature Page to December 2016 Purchase Agreement]

 

24


SCHEDULE A

 

Purchasers

   Principal Amount of
the Notes
 

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

   $ 173,437,500.00   

Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.

     75,000,000.00   

Barclays Capital Inc

     43,750,000.00   

KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc

     43,750,000.00   

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

     43,750,000.00   

PNC Capital Markets LLC

     43,750,000.00   

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

                       Incorporated

     34,375,000.00   

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

     32,812,500.00   

BBVA Securities Inc

     28,125,000.00   

U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc

     28,125,000.00   

IBERIA Capital Partners L.L.C.

     18,750,000.00   

Samuel A. Ramirez & Company, Inc.

     18,750,000.00   

BOK Financial Securities, Inc

     15,625,000.00   

Total

   $ 600,000,000   
  

 

 

 


SCHEDULE B

Issuer Free Writing Communications (included in the General Disclosure Package)

1. Final term sheet, dated December 15, 2016, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit B-1.


EXHIBIT B-1

G ULFPORT E NERGY C ORPORATION

$600,000,000 6.375% Senior Notes due 2025

This term sheet to the preliminary confidential offering circular dated December 15, 2016 (the “Preliminary Offering Circular”) related to the offering of the notes described below should be read together with the Preliminary Offering Circular before making an investment decision with regard to the notes.

Pricing Term Sheet

 

Issuer:   Gulfport Energy Corporation

Security Description :

  Senior unsecured notes

Distribution :

  Rule 144A and Regulation S (with registration rights)

Principal Amount :

  $600,000,000

Gross Proceeds :

  $600,000,000

Maturity :

  May 15, 2025

Coupon :

  6.375%

Offering Price :

  100.000%

Yield to Maturity :

  6.375%

Spread to Treasury :

  382 bps

Benchmark :

  UST 2.125% due May 15, 2025

Ratings:

  B2 / B+ (1)

Interest Payment Dates :

  Semi-annually on each May 15 and November 15, commencing on May 15, 2017

Record Dates :

  May 1 and November 1

Equity Clawback :

  Callable prior to May 15, 2020 at 106.375% for up to 35.0%

Optional Redemption :

  Callable, on or after the following dates, and at the following prices:

 

Date

   Price      

May 15, 2020

     104.781  

May 15, 2021

     103.188  

May 15, 2022

     101.594  

May 15, 2023 and thereafter

     100.000  

 

Make-Whole :   Callable prior to May 15, 2020 at make-whole call
Trade Date :   December 15, 2016
Settlement Date :   December 21, 2016 (T +4)


  We expect that delivery of the notes will be made against payment therefor on or about December 21, 2016, which will be the fourth business day following the date of pricing of the notes (such settlement being referred to as “T+4”). Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in three business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade the notes on the date hereof will be required, by virtue of the fact that the notes initially will settle in T+4, to specify an alternate settlement cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed settlement. Purchasers of the notes who wish to trade the notes on the date hereof should consult their own advisors.
CUSIP Numbers :  

144A: 402635 AJ5

Reg S: U40347 AF0

ISIN Numbers :  

144A: US402635AJ59

Reg S: USU40347AF04

Increments :   $1,000
Bookrunners:  

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

                     Incorporated

Barclays Capital Inc.

KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc.

PNC Capital Markets LLC

Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

Co-Managers :  

BBVA Securities Inc.

BOK Financial Securities, Inc.

IBERIA Capital Partners L.L.C.

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

Samuel A. Ramirez & Company, Inc.

U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.

 

 

(1) These securities ratings have been provided by Moody’s and S&P. Neither of these ratings is a recommendation to buy, sell or hold these securities. Each rating may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time, and should be evaluated independently of any other rating.

Revisions to the Preliminary Offering Circular:

 

  1. Conforming changes are made throughout the Preliminary Offering Circular to reflect the T+4 settlement cycle, as described above under the caption “Settlement Date.”

 

 

This term sheet is confidential and is for your information only and is not intended to be used by anyone other than you. This information does not purport to be a complete description of these securities or the offering and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Preliminary Offering Circular. The information in this term sheet supplements the Preliminary Offering Circular and supersedes the Preliminary Offering Circular to the extent it is inconsistent with the information in the Preliminary Offering Circular.

This communication is being distributed in the United States solely to Qualified Institutional Buyers, as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, and outside the United States solely to non-U.S. persons as defined under Regulation S. This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction.


SCHEDULE C-1

[Form of Auditor Comfort Letter]

The Representatives shall have received letters, dated, respectively, the date hereof on the General Disclosure Package and the Closing Date on the Final Offering Circular, confirming that Grant Thornton LLP is a registered public accounting firm and independent public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Laws to the effect that:

(i) in their opinion the audited consolidated financial statements examined by them and included or incorporated by reference in the [Preliminary Offering Circular] [Final Offering Circular] comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Laws;

(ii) with respect to the period(s) covered by the unaudited quarterly consolidated financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Preliminary and Final Offering Circular, they have performed the procedures specified by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants for a review of interim financial information as described in AU 722, Interim Financial Information, on the unaudited quarterly consolidated financial statements (including the notes thereto) of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries included in the Preliminary and Final Offering Circular, and have made inquiries of certain officials of the Company who have responsibility for financial and accounting matters of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as to whether such unaudited quarterly consolidated financial statements comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act and the related published rules and regulations; they have read the latest unaudited monthly consolidated financial statements (including the notes thereto) of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries made available by the Company and the minutes of the meetings of the stockholders, Board of Directors and committees of the Board of Directors of the Company; and have made inquiries of certain officials of the Company who have responsibility for financial and accounting matters of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as to whether the unaudited monthly financial statements are stated on a basis substantially consistent with that of the audited consolidated financial statements included in the Preliminary and Final Offering Circular; and on the basis thereof, nothing came to their attention which caused them to believe that:

(A) the unaudited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Preliminary and Final Offering Circular do not comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Laws, or that any material modifications should be made to the unaudited quarterly consolidated financial statements for them to be in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles;

(B) with respect to the period subsequent to the date of the most recent unaudited quarterly consolidated financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Preliminary and Final Offering Circular, at a specified date at the end of the most recent month, there were any increases in the short-term debt or long-term debt of the Company, and its consolidated subsidiaries, or any change in stockholders’ equity or the consolidated capital stock of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries or any decreases in the net current assets or net assets of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, as compared with the amounts shown on the latest balance sheet included or incorporated by reference in the General Disclosure Package or for the period from the day after the date of the most recent unaudited quarterly consolidated financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the General Disclosure Package for such entities to such specified date, there were any decreases, as compared with the corresponding period in the preceding year, in consolidated net sales, net operating income, or in total consolidated income before extraordinary items or net income of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries except for such changes, increases or decreases set forth in such letter;


(iii) With respect to any period as to which officials of the Company have advised that no consolidated financial statements as of any date or for any period subsequent to the specified date referred to in (ii)(B) above are available, they have made inquiries of certain officials of the Company who have responsibility for the financial and accounting matters of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as to whether, at a specified date not more than three business days prior to the date of such letter, there were any increases in the short-term debt or long-term debt of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, or any change in stockholders’ equity or the consolidated capital stock of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries or any decreases in the net current assets or net assets of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, as compared with the amounts shown on the most recent balance sheet for such entities included or incorporated by reference in the General Disclosure Package; or for the period from the day after the date of the most recent unaudited quarterly financial statements for such entities included or incorporated by reference in the General Disclosure Package to such specified date, there were any decreases, as compared with the corresponding period in the preceding year, in net sales, net operating income, or in the total consolidated income before extraordinary items or net income of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and, on the basis of such inquiries and the review of the minutes described in paragraph (ii) above, nothing came to their attention which caused them to believe that there was any such change, increase, or decrease, except for such changes, increases or decreases set forth in such letter;

(iv) with respect to the period(s) covered by the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference in the Preliminary and Final Offering Circular, they have made inquiries of certain officials of the Company who have responsibility for financial and accounting matters of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as to the basis for the determination of the pro forma adjustments and whether such unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial statements comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act and the related published rules and regulations; have proved the arithmetic accuracy of the application of the pro forma adjustments to the historical amounts in the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial statements; and on the basis thereof, nothing came to their attention which caused them to believe that:

(A) the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Preliminary and Final Offering Circular do not comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Laws, and the pro forma adjustments have not been properly applied to the historical amounts in the compilation of those statements; and

(v) they have compared specified dollar amounts (or percentages derived from such dollar amounts) and other financial and statistical information contained or incorporated by reference in the Preliminary Offering Circular, each other document comprising any part of the General Disclosure Package, the Final Offering Circular and each item of Supplemental Marketing Material (other than any Supplemental Marketing Material that is an electronic road show) (in each case to the extent that such dollar amounts, percentages and other financial and statistical information are derived from the general accounting records of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries or are derived directly from such records by analysis or computation) with the results obtained from inquiries, a reading of such general accounting records and other procedures specified in such letter and have found such dollar amounts, percentages and other financial and statistical information to be in agreement with such results.


SCHEDULE C-2

[Form of Auditor Comfort Letter]

The Representatives shall have received letters, dated, respectively, the date hereof on the General Disclosure Package and the Closing Date on the Final Offering Circular, confirming that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is a registered public accounting firm and independent public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Laws to the effect that:

(i) in their opinion the audited consolidated financial statements examined by them and included or incorporated by reference in the [Preliminary Offering Circular] [Final Offering Circular] comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Laws;

(ii) with respect to the period(s) covered by the unaudited quarterly consolidated financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Preliminary and Final Offering Circular, they have performed the procedures specified by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants for a review of interim financial information as described in AU 722, Interim Financial Information, on the unaudited quarterly consolidated financial statements (including the notes thereto) of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries included in the Preliminary and Final Offering Circular, and have made inquiries of certain officials of the Company who have responsibility for financial and accounting matters of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as to whether such unaudited quarterly consolidated financial statements comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act and the related published rules and regulations; they have read the latest unaudited monthly consolidated financial statements (including the notes thereto) of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries made available by the Company and the minutes of the meetings of the stockholders, Board of Directors and committees of the Board of Directors of the Company; and have made inquiries of certain officials of the Company who have responsibility for financial and accounting matters of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as to whether the unaudited monthly financial statements are stated on a basis substantially consistent with that of the audited consolidated financial statements included in the Preliminary and Final Offering Circular; and on the basis thereof, nothing came to their attention which caused them to believe that:

(A) the unaudited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Preliminary and Final Offering Circular do not comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Laws, or that any material modifications should be made to the unaudited quarterly consolidated financial statements for them to be in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles;

(B) with respect to the period subsequent to the date of the most recent unaudited quarterly consolidated financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Preliminary and Final Offering Circular, at a specified date at the end of the most recent month, there were any increases in the short-term debt or long-term debt of the Company, and its consolidated subsidiaries, or any change in stockholders’ equity or the consolidated capital stock of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries or any decreases in the net current assets or net assets of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, as compared with the amounts shown on the latest balance sheet included or incorporated by reference in the General Disclosure Package or for the period from the day after the date of the most recent unaudited quarterly consolidated financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the General Disclosure Package for such entities to such specified date, there were any decreases, as compared with the corresponding period in the preceding year, in consolidated net sales, net operating income, or in total consolidated income before extraordinary items or net income of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries except for such changes, increases or decreases set forth in such letter;


(iii) With respect to any period as to which officials of the Company have advised that no consolidated financial statements as of any date or for any period subsequent to the specified date referred to in (ii)(B) above are available, they have made inquiries of certain officials of the Company who have responsibility for the financial and accounting matters of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as to whether, at a specified date not more than three business days prior to the date of such letter, there were any increases in the short-term debt or long-term debt of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, or any change in stockholders’ equity or the consolidated capital stock of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries or any decreases in the net current assets or net assets of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, as compared with the amounts shown on the most recent balance sheet for such entities included or incorporated by reference in the General Disclosure Package; or for the period from the day after the date of the most recent unaudited quarterly financial statements for such entities included or incorporated by reference in the General Disclosure Package to such specified date, there were any decreases, as compared with the corresponding period in the preceding year, in net sales, net operating income, or in the total consolidated income before extraordinary items or net income of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and, on the basis of such inquiries and the review of the minutes described in paragraph (ii) above, nothing came to their attention which caused them to believe that there was any such change, increase, or decrease, except for such changes, increases or decreases set forth in such letter; and

(iv) they have compared specified dollar amounts (or percentages derived from such dollar amounts) and other financial and statistical information contained or incorporated by reference in the Preliminary Offering Circular, each other document comprising any part of the General Disclosure Package, the Final Offering Circular and each item of Supplemental Marketing Material (other than any Supplemental Marketing Material that is an electronic road show) (in each case to the extent that such dollar amounts, percentages and other financial and statistical information are derived from the general accounting records of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries or are derived directly from such records by analysis or computation) with the results obtained from inquiries, a reading of such general accounting records and other procedures specified in such letter and have found such dollar amounts, percentages and other financial and statistical information to be in agreement with such results.


SCHEDULE D

 

Subsidiary

   Jurisdiction of Incorporation

Jaguar Resources LLC

   Delaware

Puma Resources, Inc.

   Delaware

Gator Marine, Inc.

   Delaware

Gator Marine Ivanhoe, Inc.

   Delaware

Westhawk Minerals LLC

   Delaware

Gulfport Buckeye LLC

   Delaware

Gulfport Midstream Holdings, LLC

   Delaware


SCHEDULE E

[Opinions to be given by Akin Gump]

(i) Each of the Company and the Guarantors (other than Gulfport Buckeye, Gulfport Midstream, Jaguar and Westhawk) is a corporation that is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, the jurisdiction of its incorporation. Each of Gulfport Buckeye, Gulfport Midstream, Jaguar and Westhawk is a limited liability company that is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. Each of the Company and the Guarantors has the corporate or limited liability company, as the case may be, power and authority to own, lease, hold and operate its properties and conduct its business, in each case as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Circular. Each of the Company and the Guarantors is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation or limited liability company, as the case may be, in good standing in each applicable jurisdiction listed on Schedule [ ] hereto.

(ii) Each of the Company and the Guarantors has the corporate or limited liability company, as the case may be, power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Purchase Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Indenture and the Notes and to perform its obligations under the Indenture (including the Guarantees set forth therein) and to authorize, issue and sell the Offered Securities contemplated by the Purchase Agreement.

(iii) The execution, delivery and performance of the Indenture (including the Guarantees set forth therein) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or limited liability company, as the case may be, action on the part of each of the Company and the Guarantors. The Indenture has been duly executed and delivered by each of the Company and the Guarantors. The execution, delivery and issuance of the Notes have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company, and, when executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee in the manner provided in the Indenture (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of the Indenture by the Trustee) and delivered against payment of the purchase price therefor, will constitute binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles. The Notes are in the forms contemplated by the Indenture. The Indenture (including the Guarantees set forth therein) constitutes the valid and binding obligation of each of the Company and the Guarantors, enforceable against the Company and the Guarantors in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer and conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles. The Notes and the Guarantees are entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.

(iv) The execution, delivery and performance of the Exchange Notes and the Guarantees thereof set forth in the Indenture have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or limited liability company, as the case may be, action on the part of each of the Company and the Guarantors, as applicable; and when the Exchange Notes are issued, executed and authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer and the Indenture, will be the valid and binding obligations of the Company and the Guarantors, as applicable, enforceable against the Company and the Guarantors, as applicable, in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer and conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.

(v) The execution, delivery and performance of the Registration Rights Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or limited liability company, as the case may be, action on the part of each of the Company and the Guarantors. The Registration Rights Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each of the Company and the Guarantors. The Registration Rights Agreement constitutes the valid and binding obligation of each of the Company and the Guarantors, enforceable


against the Company and the Guarantors in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer and conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.

(vi) No consent, approval, authorization or order of, notice to, or registration or filing with, any governmental agency or body or any court is required under any Included Law for the due execution, delivery or performance by the Company and the Guarantors of the Purchase Agreement or for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, the Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement in connection with the offering, issuance and sale of the Notes by the Company and the Guarantees by the Guarantors, except for (a) routine filings necessary in connection with the conduct of the businesses of the Company and the Guarantors, (b) filings necessary to maintain existence and good standing and (c) such other filings as have been obtained or made.

(vii) Neither the execution and delivery of the Notes, the Purchase Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Indenture (including the Guarantees therein) by the Company and the Guarantors and the performance by the Company and the Guarantors of their respective obligations under any of the foregoing, nor the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities, will (a) result in a violation by the Company or any Guarantor of the terms of its charter or bylaws or similar organizational documents, (b) breach, or result in a default or Debt Repayment Triggering Event under, any Reviewed Agreement, (c) result in the violation by the Company of any statute, rule or regulation that is an Included Law, (d) result in the violation by the Company of any Reviewed Order or (e) result in the creation or imposition under any Reviewed Agreement of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or the Guarantors except as contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, the Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement.

(viii) The execution, delivery and performance of the Purchase Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or limited liability company, as the case may be, action on the part of each of the Company and the Guarantors. The Purchase Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each of the Company and the Guarantors.

(ix) Assuming, without independent investigation, (a) that the Offered Securities are sold to the several Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, and initially resold by the Purchasers, in each case in accordance with the terms of and in the manner contemplated by, the Purchase Agreement and the Final Offering Circular, (b) the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company and the Guarantors set forth in the Purchase Agreement and in those certain certificates delivered on the date hereof, (c) the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Purchasers set forth in the Purchase Agreement, (d) the due performance by the Company, the Guarantors and the Purchasers of their respective covenants and agreements set forth in the Purchase Agreement, (e) the timely filing of all notices required to be filed with any Federal agency subsequent to the date hereof in order to secure exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, (f) the Purchasers’ compliance with the transfer procedures and restrictions described in the Final Offering Circular and (g) the accuracy of the representations and warranties made in accordance with the Purchase Agreement and the “Notice to Investors” section of the Final Offering Circular by each purchaser to whom the Purchasers initially resell the Offered Securities, it is not necessary to register the Offered Securities under the Securities Act or to qualify an indenture in respect thereof under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, in each case in connection with the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities by the Company and the Guarantors to the Purchasers or in connection with the initial resale of the Offered Securities by the Purchasers in the manner contemplated by the Purchase Agreement and the Final Offering Circular, it being expressly understood that such counsel express no opinion as to any subsequent re-offer or resale of any of the Offered Securities.

(x) Neither the Company nor any Guarantor is, and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Offered Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the General Disclosure Package, neither the Company nor any Guarantor will be, an “investment company” required to register under and within the meaning of the Investment Company Act.


(xi) The statements in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Circular under the heading “[Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations]”, insofar as such statements purport to be summaries of the terms of Federal statutes, rules or regulations, in each case that constitute Included Laws, constitute fair summaries of the terms of such statutes, rules or regulations in all material respects, subject to the qualifications and assumptions stated therein.

(xii) The statements in each of the General Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Circular under the captions “Description of the Notes” and “Description of Other Indebtedness,” insofar as they purport to be summaries of the terms of contracts and other documents specified therein, constitute fair summaries of the terms of such contracts and other documents in all material respects, subject to the qualifications and assumptions stated therein.

Negative Assurance

Because the primary purpose of such counsel’s professional engagement was not to establish or confirm factual matters or financial, accounting, statistical or reserve information, and because many determinations involved in the preparation of the General Disclosure Package or the Final Offering Circular are of a wholly or partially non-legal character, except to the extent expressly set forth in paragraphs (xi) and (xii) of this letter, such counsel is not passing upon and does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained or incorporated by reference in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Circular and such counsel makes no representation that it has independently verified the accuracy, completeness or fairness of such statements.

However, in the course of our acting as counsel to the Company in connection with its preparation of the General Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Circular, such counsel has reviewed each such document and participated in conferences and telephone conversations with representatives of the Company, the internal reserve engineer of the Company, representatives of the independent public accountants for the Company, representatives of the independent petroleum engineers of the Company, representatives of the Purchasers and representatives of the Purchasers’ counsel, during which conferences and conversations the contents of the General Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Circular and related matters were discussed, and such counsel reviewed certain corporate records and documents furnished to such counsel by the Company and certain documents publicly filed by the Company with the Commission.

Subject to the foregoing, such counsel confirms to you that, on the basis of the information we gained in the course of performing the services referred to above, no facts have come to our attention that cause such counsel to believe that:

 

  (i) the General Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; or

 

  (ii) the Final Offering Circular, as of its date and as of the date hereof, contained or contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

except that in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii) above, such counsel does not express any view as to the: financial statements and related notes and schedules or other financial data, accounting data or reports on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting; oil and gas reserves; or statistical data derived from such financial data or oil and gas reserves and related future net cash flows contained in or incorporated by reference in or omitted from the General Disclosure Package or the Final Offering Circular.


Schedule F-1

[To be Attached]


Schedule F-2

[To be Attached]


Schedule G

Gulfport Energy Corporation

Chief Reserve Engineer Certificate

Capitalized terms used but not defined in this certificate have the meaning ascribed to them in the Purchase Agreement, dated December 15, 2016, among the Gulfport Energy Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), the Guarantors party thereto and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated as representatives of the several Purchasers named in Schedule A thereto (the “Purchase Agreement”). This certificate is being delivered pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement.

In connection with the offering of the 6.375% Senior Notes due 2025, and to assist the Purchasers (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) in conducting and documenting their investigation of the affairs of the Company and the Guarantors in connection with the offering of the 6.375% Senior Notes due 2025, I, Steven R. Baldwin , Vice President of Reservoir Engineering of the Company, do hereby certify as follows:

1. As Vice President of Reservoir Engineering of the Company, for each of the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, I have had primary supervisory responsibility for the preparation of internal reports (collectively the “Reports”) of the estimates of proved reserves and related future net revenues, to the Company’s interest, for each of (i) the Company’s interest in the Bakken Play and (ii) certain other minor interests in various states.

2. I am familiar with the standards pertaining to the estimating and auditing of oil and gas reserve information promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), as in effect at each of the year ends of the respective reports.

3. The estimates of the Company’s proved reserves contained in each of the Reports, and the computations made in connection therewith, were made in accordance with the provisions of Rule 4-10 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC and have been prepared in a manner consistent and in compliance with such other published interpretations and criteria pertaining to the estimation of proved oil and gas reserves and related future net revenues promulgated by the SEC, as such Rule was in effect and as such interpretations and criteria were published as of the year end date to which the Report relates.

4. The engineering estimates were based on the latest production data available at the time of the estimates, usually through November or December of the year end to which the Report relates. As of the date of this letter, no additional information has been brought to my attention which would lead me to believe that there would be a material downward change in the estimated proved reserves at December 31, 2015 attributable to the Company’s interests other than as a result of pricing changes and production since December 31, 2015.

5. I have reviewed the circled reserve information related to certain of the Company’s proved reserves derived from the Reports on pages attached hereto as Exhibit A from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and Exhibit 99.1 thereto and from a spreadsheet reconciling such information contained in the Form 10-K and Exhibit 99.1 thereto with the Company’s proved reserves contained in the Reports. I confirm that such circled information has been accurately derived from the Reports.

[Signature Page Follows]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have signed this certificate.

Dated: December      , 2016

 

 

Name:   Steven R. Baldwin
Title:  

Vice President of Reservoir

Engineering of Gulfport Energy

Corporation

[Signature Page to Chief Reserve Engineer Certificate to the Purchase Agreement]


Schedule H

Gulfport Energy Corporation

CFO CERTIFICATE

December 21, 2016

The undersigned authorized Chief Financial Officer of Gulfport Energy Corporation (the “ Company ”), pursuant to Section 7(d) of the Purchase Agreement (the “ Purchase Agreement ”) dated as of December 15, 2016, among the Company and the Initial Purchasers listed on Schedule A thereto (the “ Initial Purchasers ”) does hereby certify, in his capacity as the authorized Chief Financial Officer of the Company, in the name and on behalf of the Company, based on an examination of the Company’s financial, accounting and corporate records and schedules undertaken by myself and members of my staff who are responsible for the Company’s financial and accounting matters and my participation in the financial and accounting affairs of the Company that:

I, or members of my staff, have prepared the numbers circled on the pages attached hereto as Exhibit A, from the preliminary offering memorandum, and hereby confirm that, to the best of my knowledge, such amounts were prepared utilizing information derived from the appropriate financial, accounting and corporate records of the Company and its subsidiaries, and that such information is accurate and correct in all material respects and there is no reason to believe any modification should be made to such information.

This certificate is to assist the Initial Purchasers in conducting and documenting their investigation of the affairs of the Company in connection with the offering of the Notes pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. Capitalized terms not defined in this certificate have the meaning ascribed to them in the Purchase Agreement.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this certificate.

 

GULFPORT ENERGY CORPORATION,
  By  

 

    Name:   Aaron Gaydosik
    Title:   Chief Financial Officer
    Date:  

[Signature Page to CFO Certificate]

Exhibit 1.2

EXECUTION VERSION

29,000,000 Shares

GULFPORT ENERGY CORPORATION

Common Stock

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

December 15, 2016

CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH

                               INCORPORATED

as Representatives (the “ Representatives ”) of the Several Underwriters,

        c/o Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

                Eleven Madison Avenue,

                        New York, N.Y. 10010-3629

Dear Sirs:

1. Introductory . Gulfport Energy Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), agrees with the several Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (the “ Underwriters ”) to issue and sell to the several Underwriters 29,000,000 shares of its common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“ Securities ”) (such 29,000,000 shares of the Securities being hereinafter referred to as the “ Firm Securities ”). The Company also agrees to issue and sell to the Underwriters, at the option of the Underwriters, an aggregate of not more than 4,350,000 additional shares of its Securities (such 4,350,000 shares of the Securities being hereinafter referred to as the “ Optional Securities ”) as set forth below. The Firm Securities and the Optional Securities are herein collectively called the “ Offered Securities ”.

2. Representations and Warranties of the Company . The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the several Underwriters that:

(a) Filing and Effectiveness of Registration Statement; Certain Defined Terms . The Company has filed with the Commission a registration statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-215078), including a related prospectus or prospectuses, covering the registration of the Offered Securities under the Act, which has become effective. “ Registration Statement ” at any particular time means such registration statement in the form then filed with the Commission, including any amendment or supplement thereto, any document incorporated by reference therein and all 430B Information and all 430C Information with respect to such registration statement, that in any case has not been superseded or modified. “ Registration Statement ” without reference to a time means the Registration Statement as of the Effective Time. For purposes of this definition, 430B Information shall be considered to be included in the Registration Statement as of the time specified in Rule 430B.


For purposes of this Agreement:

430B Information ” means information included in a prospectus then deemed to be a part of the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430B(e) or retroactively deemed to be a part of the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430B(f).

430C Information ” means information included in a prospectus then deemed to be a part of the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430C.

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

Applicable Time ” means 7:15 P.M. (New York time) on the date of this Agreement.

Closing Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3 hereof.

Commission ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Effective Time ” of the Registration Statement relating to the Offered Securities means the time of the first contract of sale for the Offered Securities.

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

Final Prospectus ” means the Statutory Prospectus that discloses the public offering price, other 430B Information and other final terms of the Offered Securities and otherwise satisfies Section 10(a) of the Act and any document incorporated by reference therein.

General Use Issuer Free Writing Prospectus ” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is intended for general distribution to prospective investors, as evidenced by its being so specified in Schedule B to this Agreement.

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus ” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, relating to the Offered Securities in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g).

Limited Use Issuer Free Writing Prospectus ” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not a General Use Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.

Rules and Regulations ” means the rules and regulations of the Commission.

Securities Laws ” means, collectively, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended (“ Sarbanes-Oxley ”), the Act, the Exchange Act, the Rules and Regulations, the auditing principles, rules, standards and practices applicable to auditors of “issuers” (as defined in Sarbanes-Oxley) promulgated or approved by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“ PCAOB ”) and the rules of the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (“ Exchange Rules ”).

Statutory Prospectus ” with reference to any particular time means the prospectus relating to the Offered Securities that is included in the Registration Statement immediately prior to that time, including any document incorporated by reference therein and all 430B Information and all 430C Information with respect to the Registration Statement. For purposes of the foregoing definition, 430B Information shall be considered to be included in the Statutory Prospectus only as of the actual time that form of prospectus (including a prospectus supplement) is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) and not retroactively.

Unless otherwise specified, a reference to a “rule” is to the indicated rule under the Act.

(b) Compliance with Securities Act Requirements . (i) (A) At the time the Registration Statement initially became effective, (B) at the time of each amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Act (whether by post effective amendment, incorporated report or form of prospectus), (C) at the Effective Time relating to

 

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the Offered Securities and (D) on the Closing Date, the Registration Statement conformed, and will conform, in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations and did not and will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and (ii) (A) on its date, (B) at the time of filing the Final Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) and (C) on the Closing Date, the Final Prospectus will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations, and will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any such document based upon written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information is that described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.

The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the General Disclosure Package, when they were filed or became effective with the Commission conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act and the Rules and Regulations thereunder and none of such documents contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the General Disclosure Package, when such documents become effective or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(c) Automatic Shelf Registration Statement. (i)  Well-Known Seasoned Issuer Status. (A) At the time of initial filing of the Registration Statement, (B) at the time of the most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of prospectus), and (C) at the time the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c)), made any offer relating to the Offered Securities in reliance on the exemption of Rule 163, the Company was a “well known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405.

(ii) Effectiveness of Automatic Shelf Registration Statement. The Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement,” as defined in Rule 405, that initially became effective within three years of the date of this Agreement. If immediately prior to the Renewal Deadline (as hereinafter defined), any of the Offered Securities remain unsold by the Underwriters, the Company will prior to the Renewal Deadline file, if it has not already done so and is eligible to do so, a new automatic shelf registration statement relating to the Offered Securities, in a form satisfactory to the Representatives. If the Company is no longer eligible to file an automatic shelf registration statement, the Company will prior to the Renewal Deadline, if it has not already done so, file a new shelf registration statement relating to the Offered Securities, in a form satisfactory to the Representatives, and will use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to be declared effective within 180 days after the Renewal Deadline. The Company will take all other action necessary or appropriate to permit the public offering and sale of the Offered Securities to continue as contemplated in the expired registration statement relating to the Offered

 

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Securities. References herein to the Registration Statement shall include such new automatic shelf registration statement or such new shelf registration statement, as the case may be. “ Renewal Deadline ” means the third anniversary of the initial effective time of the Registration Statement.

(iii) Eligibility to Use Automatic Shelf Registration Form. The Company has not received from the Commission any notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) objecting to use of the automatic shelf registration statement form. If at any time when Offered Securities remain unsold by the Underwriters the Company receives from the Commission a notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) or otherwise ceases to be eligible to use the automatic shelf registration statement form, the Company will (i) promptly notify the Representatives, (ii) promptly file a new registration statement or post-effective amendment on the proper form relating to the Offered Securities, in a form satisfactory to the Representatives, (iii) use its best efforts to cause such registration statement or post effective amendment to be declared effective as soon as practicable, and (iv) promptly notify the Representatives of such effectiveness. The Company will take all other action necessary or appropriate to permit the public offering and sale of the Offered Securities to continue as contemplated in the registration statement that was the subject of the Rule 401(g)(2) notice or for which the Company has otherwise become ineligible. References herein to the Registration Statement shall include such new registration statement or post-effective amendment, as the case may be.

(iv) Filing Fees . The Company has paid or shall pay the required Commission filing fees relating to the Offered Securities within the time required by Rule 456(b)(1) without regard to the proviso therein and otherwise in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r).

(d) Ineligible Issuer Status . (i) At the earliest time after the filing of the Registration Statement that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2)) of the Offered Securities and (ii) at the date of this Agreement, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405.

(e) General Disclosure Package . As of the Applicable Time, neither (x) the General Use Issuer Free Writing Prospectus(es) issued at or prior to the Applicable Time and the preliminary prospectus supplement, dated December 15, 2016 (the “ Preliminary Prospectus Supplement ”), including the base prospectus, dated December 14, 2016 (which is the most recent Statutory Prospectus distributed to investors generally), and the other information, if any, stated in Schedule B to this Agreement to be included in the General Disclosure Package, all considered together (collectively, the “ General Disclosure Package ”), nor (y) any individual Limited Use Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, included any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Statutory Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.

(f) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses . Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the public offer and sale of the Offered Securities or until any earlier date that the Company notified or notifies the

 

4


Representatives as described in the next sentence, did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information then contained in the Registration Statement. If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information then contained in the Registration Statement or as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, if republished immediately following such event or development, would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, (i) the Company has promptly notified or will promptly notify the Representatives and (ii) the Company has promptly amended or supplemented or will promptly amend or supplement such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.

(g) Good Standing of the Company . The Company has been duly incorporated and is existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with power and authority (corporate or other) to own and/or lease its properties and conduct its business as described in the General Disclosure Package; and the Company is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in good standing in all other jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not result, individually or in the aggregate, in a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, business, properties or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (a “ Material Adverse Effect ”).

(h) Reserved.

(i) Subsidiaries . Each subsidiary of the Company has been duly formed and is existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, with power and authority (corporate and other) to own and/or lease its properties and conduct its business as described in the General Disclosure Package; and each subsidiary of the Company is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation or limited liability company, as the case may be, in good standing in all other jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not result in a Material Adverse Effect; all of the issued and outstanding equity interests in each subsidiary of the Company that is a corporation have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable and all of the limited liability company interests in each subsidiary of the Company that is a limited liability company have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreement of such subsidiary and are fully paid (to the extent required under such subsidiary’s limited liability company agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act; and, in each case, except as otherwise disclosed in the General Disclosure Package with respect to the pledge thereof in connection with the Company’s revolving credit facility, equity interests in each subsidiary of the Company are owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, free from liens, encumbrances and defects.

(j) Offered Securities . The Offered Securities and all other outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized; the authorized equity capitalization of the Company is as set forth in the General Disclosure Package; all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are, and, when the Offered Securities have been delivered and paid for in accordance with this Agreement on each Closing Date,

 

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such Offered Securities will have been, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, will conform to the information in the General Disclosure Package and to the description of such Offered Securities contained in the Final Prospectus; the stockholders of the Company have no preemptive rights with respect to the Securities; and none of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been issued in violation of any preemptive or similar rights of any security holder. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the General Disclosure Package, there are no outstanding (i) securities or obligations of the Company convertible into or exchangeable for any capital stock of the Company, (ii) warrants, rights or options to subscribe for or purchase from the Company any such capital stock or any such convertible or exchangeable securities or obligations or (iii) obligations of the Company to issue or sell any shares of capital stock, any such convertible or exchangeable securities or obligations, or any such warrants, rights or options.

(k) No Finder’s Fee . Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any person that would give rise to a valid claim against the Company or any Underwriter for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or other like payment in connection with this offering.

(l) No Registration Rights . Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any person granting such person the right to require the Company to file a registration statement under the Act with respect to any securities of the Company owned or to be owned by such person or to require the Company to include such securities in the securities registered pursuant to the Registration Statement or in any securities being registered pursuant to any other registration statement filed by the Company under the Act (collectively, “ registration rights ”), and any person to whom the Company has granted registration rights has agreed not to exercise such rights until after the expiration of the Lock-Up Period referred to in Section 5 hereof.

(m) Listing . The Offered Securities have been approved for listing on The NASDAQ Global Select Market, subject to notice of issuance.

(n) Absence of Further Requirements . No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing or registration with, any person (including any governmental agency or body or any court) is required for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in connection with the offering, issuance and sale of the Offered Securities by the Company, except such as have been obtained or made, or as may be required under state securities laws or by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“ FINRA ”) or with respect to the listing of the Offered Securities by the Company on The NASDAQ Global Select Market, which shall have occurred by the Closing Date, except for the notification of the increase in the number of outstanding Securities required to be filed with The NASDAQ Global Select Market.

(o) Absence of Defaults and Conflicts Resulting from Transaction . The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities will not result in a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default or a Debt Repayment Triggering Event (as defined below) under, or result in the imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to (i) the charter, bylaws or similar organizational documents of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) any statute, rule, regulation or order of any governmental agency or body or any court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties, or (iii) any agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party

 

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or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the properties of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), for any breaches, violations, defaults, liens, charges or encumbrances, which, individually or in the aggregate, would not result in a Material Adverse Effect or that would not materially and adversely affect the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement; a “ Debt Repayment Triggering Event ” means any event or condition that gives, or with the giving of notice or lapse of time would give, the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

(p) Absence of Existing Defaults and Conflicts . Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of its respective charter, bylaws or other organizational documents, or in default (or with the giving of notice or lapse of time would be in default) under any existing obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, loan agreement, mortgage, lease or other agreement or instrument to which any of them is a party or by which any of them is bound or to which any of the properties of any of them is subject, except such defaults that, individually or in the aggregate, would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(q) Title to Property . Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package, the Company and its subsidiaries have (i) defensible title to all their interests in the oil and gas properties described in the General Disclosure Package as being owned or leased by them, title investigations having been carried out by the Company in accordance with customary practice in the oil and gas industry and (ii) good and marketable title to all other real property, all other properties and assets described in the General Disclosure Package as owned by them, in each case free and clear of any security interests, mortgages, liens, encumbrances, equities, claims and other title defects, except for those arising under the Company’s revolving credit facility as described in the General Disclosure Package and such as do not adversely affect the value of such property and do not interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its subsidiaries and that, in each case, would not result in a Material Adverse Effect. Except as disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 under Item 2. Properties, incorporated by reference in the General Disclosure Package, the Company and its subsidiaries hold any leased real or personal property that is material to them under valid and enforceable leases; the terms and provisions of such leases do not materially interfere with the use made or to be made of such real or personal property by the Company and its subsidiaries.

(r) Reserve Report Data . The oil and gas reserve estimates of each of the Company and Vitruvian contained or incorporated by reference into the General Disclosure Package have been prepared by independent reserve engineers or by the Company or Vitruvian, as applicable, in accordance with Commission guidelines applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, and the Company has no reason to believe that such estimates do not fairly reflect the oil and gas reserves of the Company or Vitruvian, as applicable, as of the dates indicated. Other than the production of the reserves in the ordinary course of business and intervening product price fluctuations as described in the General Disclosure Package, the Company is not aware of any facts or circumstances that would cause a material adverse effect in the reserves or the present value of future net cash flows therefrom as described in the General Disclosure Package.

(s) Authorization of Agreements . This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company. The purchase agreement, dated as of December 13, 2016

 

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(the “ Acquisition Agreement ”), by and among the Company, SCOOP Acquisition Company, LLC and Vitruvian II Woodford, LLC (“ Vitruvian ”), entered into in connection with the Company’s acquisition of certain assets of Vitruvian (the “ Acquisition ”), has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles or as may be otherwise limited by the discretion of the court before which any proceeding relating thereto may be brought (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or equity), and except as rights to indemnification and contribution may be limited by applicable law and public policy consideration. The Company expects that the Acquisition will be consummated in all material respects on the terms and by the date and as contemplated by the Acquisition Agreement.

(t) Possession of Licenses and Permits . The Company and its subsidiaries possess, and are in compliance with the terms and conditions of, all adequate certificates, authorizations, franchises, licenses and permits issued by appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory bodies (collectively, “ Licenses ”) necessary to the ownership of their assets or to the conduct of the business now conducted or proposed in the General Disclosure Package to be conducted by them, except where the failure to have obtained the same would not cause a Material Adverse Effect, and have not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any Licenses that, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(u) Absence of Labor Dispute . No labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent that would result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(v) Possession of Intellectual Property . The Company and its subsidiaries own, possess or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate trademarks, trade names and other rights to inventions, know-how, patents, copyrights, confidential information and other intellectual property (collectively, “ intellectual property rights ”) necessary to conduct the business now operated by them, or presently employed by them, and have not received any notice of infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any intellectual property rights that, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(w) Environmental Laws . Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package, the Company and its subsidiaries (i) are and have been in compliance with any and all applicable federal, regional, state and local laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, orders, judgments, settlements, codes and decrees relating to pollution or the protection of human health and safety, natural resources and the environment or imposing legally enforceable standards of conduct concerning any Hazardous Materials (as hereinafter defined) (“ Environmental Laws ”); (ii) have obtained and are in compliance with all permits, licenses, registrations, authorizations, exemptions, waivers and other approvals (“ Permits ”) required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective operations as they are currently being conducted; (iii) have neither received notice nor knowledge of any actual or potential liability under any Environmental Law (“ Notice ”) including, without limitation, any liability arising out of or in connection with the generation, use, manufacture, refinement, storage, treatment, handling, transportation, disposal, release, or remediation of any Hazardous Materials by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any of its predecessors in interest and

 

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(iv) is not a party to or affected by any pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened action, suit or proceeding alleging that the Company or any of its subsidiaries is in violation of or otherwise liable under any Environmental Law, except where such non-compliance with Environmental Laws, such failure to obtain and comply with Permits, such Notice, or such involvement in or affect by such action, suit or proceeding would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. The term “ Hazardous Materials ” means (A) any “hazardous substance” as defined in the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, (B) any “solid waste” or “hazardous waste” as defined in the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended, (C) any petroleum hydrocarbons, petroleum products, natural gas or oil, (D) any polychlorinated biphenyl and (E) any pollutant or contaminant or hazardous or toxic chemical, material, waste or substance regulated under any applicable Environmental Law. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has been notified that any of them is currently named as “potentially responsible party” under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended.

(x) Accurate Disclosure; Exhibits . The statements in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus under the headings “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax and Estate Tax Considerations for Non-U.S. Holders” and “Description of Capital Stock,” insofar as such statements summarize legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings discussed therein, are accurate and fair summaries, in all material respects, of such legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings and present the information required to be shown. There are no contracts or documents which are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the General Disclosure Package pursuant to Form S-3 or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement pursuant to Item 601 of Regulation S-K or incorporated by reference therein which have not been so described, filed or incorporated as required, except for such exhibits as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(y) Absence of Manipulation . The Company has not either alone or with one or more other persons taken, directly or indirectly, any action that is designed to or that has constituted or that would reasonably be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Offered Securities. The Company acknowledges that the Underwriters may engage in passive market making transactions in the Offered Securities on The NASDAQ Global Select Market in accordance with Regulation M.

(z) Statistical and Market-Related Data . Any third-party statistical and market-related data included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, a Statutory Prospectus or the General Disclosure Package are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes to be reliable and accurate.

(aa) Internal Controls and Compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act . Except as set forth in the General Disclosure Package, the Company, its subsidiaries and the Company’s Board of Directors (the “ Board ”) are in compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley and all applicable Exchange Rules. The Company maintains a system of internal controls, including, but not limited to, disclosure controls and procedures, internal controls over accounting matters and financial reporting and legal and regulatory compliance controls (collectively, “ Internal Controls ”), that comply with the Securities Laws and are sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“ GAAP ”) and to maintain accountability for assets, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization and (iv) the recorded

 

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accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. The Internal Controls are, and upon consummation of the offering of the Offered Securities will be, overseen by the Audit Committee (the “ Audit Committee ”) of the Board in accordance with Exchange Rules. The Company has not publicly disclosed or reported to the Audit Committee or the Board, and within the next 90 days the Company does not reasonably expect to publicly disclose or report to the Audit Committee or the Board, a significant deficiency, material weakness, change in Internal Controls or fraud involving management or other employees who have a significant role in Internal Controls (each, an “ Internal Control Event ”), any violation of, or failure to comply with, the Securities Laws, or any matter which, if determined adversely, would result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(bb) Absence of Accounting Issues . A member of the Audit Committee has confirmed to the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer that, except as set forth in the General Disclosure Package, the Audit Committee is not reviewing or investigating, and the Company’s independent auditors have not recommended that the Audit Committee review or investigate, (i) adding to, deleting, changing the application of, or changing the Company’s disclosure with respect to, any of the Company’s material accounting policies; (ii) any matter which could result in a restatement of the Company’s consolidated financial statements for any annual or interim period during the current or prior three fiscal years or (iii) any Internal Control Event.

(cc) Litigation . Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package, there are no pending actions, suits or proceedings (including to the Company’s knowledge any inquiries or investigations by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign) against or affecting the Company, any of its subsidiaries, any of their respective properties that, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate result in a Material Adverse Effect, or would materially and adversely affect the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or which are otherwise material in the context of the sale of the Offered Securities; and no such actions, suits or proceedings (including any inquiries or investigations by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign) are, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened or contemplated.

(dd) Financial Statements; Auditor Independence . The consolidated financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the General Disclosure Package present fairly in all material respects the financial position of (i) the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, in the case of financial statements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and (ii), to the Company’s knowledge, Vitruvian, in the case of financial statements of Vitruvian, in each case, as of and at the dates shown, and the consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and comprehensive income and cash flows of each of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, and Vitruvian, for the periods shown, and such financial statements of the Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, Vitruvian, have been prepared in conformity with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved. The other financial and statistical data included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the General Disclosure Package are fairly presented in all material respects and prepared on a basis consistent with the financial statements presented therein and the books and records of the Company. The unaudited pro forma combined financial information and the related notes thereto with respect to Vitruvian included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the General Disclosure Package are fairly presented in all material respects and prepared on the bases described therein, have been

 

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prepared in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X, and the Company believes the assumptions underlying such unaudited pro forma combined financial information, as set forth therein, are reasonable. The Company and its consolidated subsidiaries do not have any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent (including any off-balance sheet obligations or any “variable interest entities” within the meaning of Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 46), not disclosed in the Registration Statement or the General Disclosure Package. There are no financial statements that are required to be included in the Registration Statement or the General Disclosure Package that are not included as required. Grant Thornton LLP, who has certified the consolidated financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company within the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission and the PCAOB and as required by the Act and the Exchange Act. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP has certified the consolidated financial statements of Vitruvian included or incorporated by reference in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.

(ee) No Material Adverse Change in Business . Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package, since the end of the period covered by the latest audited financial statements included in the General Disclosure Package (i) there has been no change, nor any development or event involving a prospective change, in the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, business, properties or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, that is material and adverse, (ii) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of its capital stock, (iii) there has been no material adverse change in the capital stock, short-term indebtedness, long-term indebtedness, net current assets or net assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, (iv) there has not been any material transaction entered into or any material transaction that is probable of being entered into by the Company, other than transactions in the ordinary course of business and changes and transactions described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus and (v) there has not been any obligation, direct or contingent, which is material to the Company taken as a whole, incurred by the Company, except obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business.

(ff) Investment Company Act . The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Offered Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the General Disclosure Package, will not be an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “ Investment Company Act ”).

(gg) Ratings . No “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act, (i) has imposed (or has informed the Company that it is considering imposing) any condition (financial or otherwise) on the Company’s retaining any rating assigned to the Company or any securities of the Company or (ii) has indicated to the Company in writing that it is considering any of the actions described in Section 7(c)(ii) hereof.

(hh) Insurance . The Company and its subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as the Company believes are adequate for the conduct of their business. All such policies of insurance insuring the Company and its subsidiaries are in full force and effect and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has any reason to believe that any of them will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business.

 

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(ii) Taxes. The Company and its subsidiaries have filed on a timely basis all foreign, federal, state and local tax returns that are required to be filed or have requested extensions thereof (except in any case in which the failure so to file would not cause a Material Adverse Effect) and have paid all taxes required to be paid by them and any other assessment, fine or penalty levied against it to the extent due and payable, except for any such assessment, fine or penalty that is currently being contested in good faith or would not cause a Material Adverse Effect.

(jj) Absence of Relationships. No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or its subsidiaries on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders, customers or suppliers of the Company or its subsidiaries on the other hand, which is required to be described or incorporated by reference in the General Disclosure Package and which is not so described or incorporated therein. The Final Prospectus contains in all material respects the same description of the matters set forth in the preceding sentence contained in the General Disclosure Package.

(kk) No Unlawful Payments . To the best of knowledge of the Company or any director or executive officer of the Company, neither the Company or any of its subsidiaries, nor any director, officer, agent, employee or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended or (iv) made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment.

(ll) ERISA. The minimum funding standard under Section 302 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (“ ERISA ”), has been satisfied by each “pension plan” (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA) which has been established or maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, and the trust forming part of each such plan which is intended to be qualified under Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, is so qualified; each of the Company and its subsidiaries has fulfilled its obligations, if any, under Section 515 of ERISA; neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries maintain or are required to contribute to a “welfare plan” (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA) which provides retiree or other post-employment welfare benefits or insurance coverage (other than “continuation coverage” (as defined in Section 602 of ERISA)); each pension plan and welfare plan established or maintained by the Company and/or any of its subsidiaries are in compliance with the currently applicable provisions of ERISA, except where the failure to comply would not cause a Material Adverse Effect; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries have incurred or would reasonably be expected to incur any withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA, any liability under Section 4062, 4063 or 4064 of ERISA, or any other liability under Title IV of ERISA.

(mm) Anti-Money Laundering . The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “ Money Laundering Laws ”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or

 

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governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

(nn) Compliance with OFAC. None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“ OFAC ”); and the Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering of the Offered Securities hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

(oo) Independent Reserve Engineers. Netherland, Sewell and Associates, Inc., who have certified the reserve information of each of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and Vitruvian, are independent reserve engineers with respect to each of the Company and Vitruvian in accordance with guidelines established by the Commission.

3. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of Offered Securities . On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Company agrees to sell to the several Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at a purchase price of $20.96250 per share, the respective number of Firm Securities set forth opposite the names of the Underwriters in Schedule A hereto.

The Company will deliver the Firm Securities to or as instructed by the Representatives for the accounts of the several Underwriters in a form reasonably acceptable to the Representatives against payment of the purchase price by the Underwriters in Federal (same day) funds by a wire transfer to an account at a bank specified by the Company (and acceptable to the Representatives) drawn to the order of the Company, at the office of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, 825 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY 10019, at 10:00 A.M., New York time, on December 21, 2016, or at such other time not later than seven full business days thereafter as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Representatives, such time being herein referred to as the “ First Closing Date .” For purposes of Rule 15c6-1 under the Exchange Act, the First Closing Date (if later than the otherwise applicable settlement date) shall be the settlement date for payment of funds and delivery of securities for all the Offered Securities sold pursuant to the offering. Delivery of the Firm Securities will be made through the facilities of the DTC unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct.

In addition, upon written notice from the Representatives given to the Company from time to time not more than 30 days subsequent to the date of the Final Prospectus, the Underwriters may purchase all or less than all of the Optional Securities at the purchase price per Security to be paid for the Firm Securities. Such notice shall set forth (i) the aggregate number of Optional Shares to be sold by the Company as to which the Underwriters are exercising the option and (ii) the time, date and place at which the Optional Shares will be delivered (each time for the delivery of and payment for the Optional Securities, being herein referred to as an “ Optional Closing Date ”, which may be the First Closing Date) (the First Closing Date and each Optional Closing Date, if any, being sometimes referred to as a “ Closing Date ”). The Company agrees to sell to the Underwriters the number of shares of Optional Securities specified in such notice and the Underwriters agree, severally and not jointly, to purchase such Optional Securities. Such Optional Securities shall be purchased for the account of each Underwriter in the same proportion as the number of shares of Firm Securities set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name bears to the total number of shares of Firm Securities (subject to adjustment by the Representatives to eliminate fractions) and may be purchased by the Underwriters only for the purpose of covering

 

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over-allotments made in connection with the sale of the Firm Securities. No Optional Securities shall be sold or delivered unless the Firm Securities previously have been, or simultaneously are, sold and delivered. The right to purchase the Optional Securities or any portion thereof may be exercised from time to time and to the extent not previously exercised may be surrendered and terminated at any time upon notice by the Representatives to the Company.

Each Optional Closing Date shall be determined by the Representatives but shall be not later than five full business days after written notice of election to purchase Optional Securities is given. The Company will deliver the Optional Securities being purchased by the Underwriters to or as instructed by the Representatives for the accounts of the several Underwriters in a form reasonably acceptable to the Representatives against payment of the purchase price for such Optional Securities by the Underwriters in Federal (same day) funds by wire transfer to an account at a bank specified by the Company (and acceptable to the Representatives) drawn to the order of the Company, at the above office of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP. Delivery of the Optional Securities will be made through the facilities of the DTC unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct.

4. Offering by Underwriters . It is understood that the several Underwriters propose to offer the Offered Securities for sale to the public as set forth in the Final Prospectus.

5. Certain Agreements of the Company . The Company agrees with the several Underwriters that:

(a) Filing of Prospectuses . The Company has filed or will file each Statutory Prospectus (including the Final Prospectus) pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 424(b)(2) (or, if applicable and consented to by the Representatives, subparagraph (5)) not later than the second business day following the earlier of the date it is first used or the execution and delivery of this Agreement. The Company has complied and will comply with Rule 433.

(b) Filing of Amendments; Response to Commission Requests . The Company will promptly advise the Representatives of any proposal to amend or supplement the Registration Statement or any Statutory Prospectus at any time and will offer the Representatives a reasonable opportunity to comment on any such amendment or supplement; and the Company will also advise the Representatives promptly of (i) the filing of any such amendment or supplement, (ii) any request by the Commission or its staff for any amendment to the Registration Statement, for any supplement to any Statutory Prospectus or for any additional information, (iii) the institution by the Commission of any stop order proceedings in respect of the Registration Statement or the threatening of any proceeding for that purpose and (iv) the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Offered Securities in any jurisdiction or the institution or threatening of any proceedings for such purpose. The Company will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order or the suspension of any such qualification and, if issued, to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.

(c) Continued Compliance with Securities Laws . If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Offered Securities is (or but for the exemption in Rule 172 would be) required to be delivered under the Act by any Underwriter or dealer, any event occurs as a result of which the Final Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is necessary at any time to amend the Registration Statement or supplement the Final Prospectus to comply with the Act, the Company will promptly notify the Representatives of such event and will promptly

 

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prepare and file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and the dealers and any other dealers upon request of the Representatives, an amendment or supplement which will correct such statement or omission or an amendment which will effect such compliance. Neither the Representatives’ consent to, nor the Underwriters’ delivery of, any such amendment or supplement shall constitute a waiver of any of the conditions set forth in Section 7 hereof.

(d) Rule 158 . As soon as practicable, but not later than 16 months, after the date of this Agreement, the Company will make generally available to its securityholders an earnings statement covering a period of at least 12 months beginning after the date of this Agreement and satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158.

(e) Furnishing of Prospectuses . The Company will furnish to the Representatives copies of the Registration Statement, including all exhibits, any Statutory Prospectus, the Final Prospectus and all amendments and supplements to such documents, in each case as soon as available and in such quantities as the Representatives reasonably request. The Company will pay the expenses of printing and distributing to the Underwriters all such documents.

(f) Blue Sky Qualifications . The Company shall cooperate with the Underwriters and counsel for the Underwriters to qualify or register the Offered Securities for resale under (or obtain exemptions from the application of) the state securities or blue sky laws of those jurisdictions as designated by the Underwriters, shall comply with such laws and shall continue such qualifications, registrations and exemptions in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Offered Securities by the Underwriters, provided that the Company will not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or file a general consent to service of process or take any action that would subject it to general service of process or taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not presently qualified or required to file such a consent or is not subject to taxation.

(g) Reporting Requirements . During the period of five years hereafter, the Company will furnish, upon request, to the Representatives and, upon request, to each of the other Underwriters, as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year, a copy of its annual report to stockholders for such year; and the Company will furnish to the Representatives and, upon request, to each of the other Underwriters (i) as soon as available, a copy of each report and any definitive proxy statement of the Company filed with the Commission under the Exchange Act or mailed to the Company’s stockholders and (ii) from time to time, such other information concerning the Company as the Representatives may reasonably request. However, so long as the Company is subject to the reporting requirements of either Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act and is timely filing reports with the Commission on its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (“ EDGAR ”), it is not required to furnish such reports or statements to the Underwriters.

(h) Payment of Expenses . The Company will pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including but not limited to (i) any filing fees and reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred by the Company or the Underwriters in connection with qualifying or registering (or obtaining exemptions from the qualification or registration of) all or any part of the Offered Securities for offer and sale under the state securities or blue sky laws, and, if requested by the Underwriters, preparing and printing a blue sky survey or memorandum, and any other supplements thereto, (ii) the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters, in connection with FINRA’s review and approval of the Underwriters’ participation in the offering and distribution of the Offered Securities, to the extent applicable to the offering and distribution of the Offered Securities, (iii) costs and expenses of the Company’s officers and employees and any other

 

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expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations or any “road show” in connection with the offering and sale of the Offered Securities including, without limitation, room rentals, any travel expenses of the Company’s officers and employees and any other expenses of the Company, (iv) fees and expenses incident to listing the Offered Securities on The NASDAQ Global Select Market, (v) fees and expenses in connection with the registration of the Offered Securities under the Exchange Act and expenses incurred in distributing preliminary prospectuses and the Final Prospectus (including any amendments and supplements thereto) to the Underwriters, (vi) expenses incurred for preparing, printing and distributing any Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses to investors or prospective investors and (vii) all other fees, costs and expenses referred to in Item 14 of part II of the Registration Statement. The Underwriters shall pay their own costs and expenses, including the fees and disbursements of their counsel, except as provided in this Agreement.

(i) Use of Proceeds . The Company will use the net proceeds received by it in connection with this offering in the manner described in the “Use of Proceeds” section of the General Disclosure Package and, except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package, the Company does not intend to use any of the proceeds from the sale of the Offered Securities hereunder to repay any outstanding debt owed to any affiliate of any Underwriter.

(j) Absence of Manipulation . The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any securities of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Offered Securities.

(k) Restriction on Sale of Securities . For the period specified below (the “ Lock-Up Period ”), the Company will not, directly or indirectly, take any of the following actions with respect to its Securities or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any of its Securities (“ Lock-Up Securities ”): (i) offer, sell, issue, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of Lock-Up Securities, (ii) offer, sell, issue, contract to sell, contract to purchase or grant any option, right or warrant to purchase Lock-Up Securities, (iii) enter into any swap, hedge or any other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, the economic consequences of ownership of Lock-Up Securities, (iv) establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position in Lock-Up Securities within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act or (v) file with the Commission a registration statement under the Act relating to Lock-Up Securities or publicly disclose the intention to take any such action, without the prior written consent of Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC (“ Credit Suisse ”); provided that the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to (x) the filing of any registration statement contemplated by Section 2(c)(iii) of this Agreement, (y) the offer and sale of the Offered Securities by the Company pursuant to this Agreement and (z) grants of employee stock options, restricted stock or any other equity awards pursuant to the terms of a plan in effect on the date hereof and described in the General Disclosure Package or upon the exercise of any stock options or warrants, or vesting of restricted stock, in each case outstanding on the date hereof and described in the General Disclosure Package. The initial Lock-Up Period will commence on the date hereof and continue for 60 days after the date hereof or such earlier date that Credit Suisse consents to in writing.

6. Free Writing Prospectuses . The Company represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Representatives, and each Underwriter represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Company and the Representatives, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Offered Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405, required to be filed with the Commission. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the

 

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Company and the Representatives is hereinafter referred to as a “ Permitted Free Writing Prospectus .” The Company represents that it has treated and agrees that it will treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, and has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including timely Commission filing where required, legending and record keeping.

7. Conditions of the Obligations of the Underwriters . The obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Firm Securities on the First Closing Date and the Optional Securities to be purchased on each Optional Closing Date will be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company herein (as though made on such Closing Date), to the accuracy of the statements of Company officers made pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions precedent:

(a) Accountants’ Comfort Letters . The Representatives shall have received letters, dated, respectively, the date hereof concerning the financial information with respect to the Company and Vitruvian, as applicable, set forth or incorporated by reference in the General Disclosure Package and each Closing Date concerning the financial information with respect to (i) the Company set forth or incorporated by reference in the Final Prospectus, of Grant Thornton LLP and (ii) Vitruvian set forth or incorporated by reference in the Final Prospectus, of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, each confirming that they are a registered public accounting firm and independent public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Laws with respect to the Company or Vitruvian, as applicable, in the form of Schedule C-1 and C-2 hereto, respectively (except that, in any letter dated on any Closing Date, the specified date referred to in each of Schedule C-1 and Schedule C-2 hereto shall be a date no more than three days prior to such Closing Date).

(b) Reserve Engineers’ Comfort Letters . The Representatives shall have received letters, dated, respectively, the date hereof and each Closing Date, from Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. stating the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to certain of the oil and natural gas reserves of each of the Company and Vitruvian, and certain other related information contained in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, as applicable, in each case, in the form attached hereto as Schedule D-1 and D-2, respectively.

(c) Chief Reserve Engineer Certificate . The Representatives shall have received a certificate dated, respectively, the date hereof and each Closing Date, from Steven R. Baldwin, the Company’s chief reserve engineer, certifying as to the Company’s internal reserve report for the year ended December 31, 2015 and in the form of Schedule E hereto.

(d) Filing of Prospectus . The Final Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission in accordance with the Rules and Regulations and Section 5(a) hereof. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any part thereof shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or, to the knowledge of the Company or any Underwriter, shall be contemplated by the Commission.

(e) No Material Adverse Change . Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred (i) any change, or any development or event involving a prospective change, in the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, business, properties or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole which, in the judgment of the Representatives, is material and adverse and makes it impractical or inadvisable to market the Offered Securities; (ii) any downgrading in the rating of any debt securities or

 

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preferred stock of the Company by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act), or any public announcement that any such organization has under surveillance or review its rating of any debt securities or preferred stock of the Company (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading, and no implication of a possible downgrading, of such rating) or any announcement that the Company has been placed on negative outlook; (iii) any change in U.S. or international financial, political or economic conditions or currency exchange rates or exchange controls the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Representatives, impractical to market or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Offered Securities, whether in the primary market or in respect of dealings in the secondary market; (iv) any suspension or material limitation of trading in securities generally on The NASDAQ Global Select Market, or any setting of minimum or maximum prices for trading on such exchange; (v) or any suspension of trading of any securities of the Company on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market; (vi) any banking moratorium declared by any U.S. Federal or New York authorities; (vii) any major disruption of settlements of securities, payment, or clearance services in the United States or any other country where such securities are listed or (viii) any attack on, outbreak or escalation of hostilities or act of terrorism involving the United States, any declaration of war by Congress or any other national or international calamity or emergency if, in the judgment of the Representatives, the effect of any such attack, outbreak, escalation, act, declaration, calamity or emergency is such as to make it impractical or inadvisable to market the Offered Securities or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Offered Securities.

(f) Opinions of Counsel for Company . The Representatives shall have received an opinion or opinions, dated each Closing Date, of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld LLP, counsel for the Company, as to the matters and in the form set forth in Schedule F.

(g) Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters . The Representatives shall have received from Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated each Closing Date, with respect to such matters as the Representatives may require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they reasonably request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

(h) Officer’s Certificate . The Representatives shall have received a certificate, dated each Closing Date, of an executive officer of the Company and a principal financial or accounting officer of the Company in which such officers shall state that the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in this Agreement are true and correct, that the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to such Closing Date, that no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or, to the best of their knowledge and after reasonable investigation, are contemplated by the Commission, and that, subsequent to the date of the most recent financial statements in the General Disclosure Package, there has been no material adverse change, nor any development or event involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, business, properties or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole except as set forth in the General Disclosure Package or as described in such certificate.

(i) Lock-Up Agreements . On or prior to the date hereof, Credit Suisse shall have received lock-up letters substantially in the form attached hereto as Schedule G (“ Lock-Up Agreement ”) and reasonably satisfactory to Credit Suisse from each of the executive officers and directors of the Company.

 

18


(j) Chief Financial Officer Certificate . The Representatives shall have received a certificate dated, respectively, the date hereof and the Closing Date, from Aaron Gaydosik, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, certifying as to the matters set forth therein and in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives and attached hereto as Schedule H.

Documents described as being “in the agreed form” are documents which are in the forms which have been initialed for the purpose of identification by Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, copies of which are held by the Company and the Representatives, with such changes as the Representatives may approve.

The Company will furnish the Representatives with such conformed copies of such opinions, certificates, letters and documents as the Representatives reasonably request. the Representatives may in their sole discretion waive on behalf of the Underwriters compliance with any conditions to the obligations of the Underwriters hereunder, whether in respect of an Optional Closing Date or otherwise.

8. Indemnification and Contribution .

(a) Indemnification of Underwriters . The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its partners, members, directors, officers, employees, agents and its affiliates and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (each, an “ Indemnified Party ”), against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Indemnified Party may become subject, under the Act, the Exchange Act, other Federal or state statutory law or regulation or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any part of the Registration Statement at any time, any Statutory Prospectus as of any time, the Final Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse each Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or preparing against any loss, claim, damage, liability, action, litigation, investigation or proceeding whatsoever (whether or not such Indemnified Party is a party thereto), whether threatened or commenced, and in connection with the enforcement of this provision with respect to any of the above as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement in or omission or alleged omission from any of such documents in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in subsection (c) below.

(b) Indemnification of Company . Each Underwriter will severally and not jointly indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors and each of its officers who signs a Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (each, an “ Underwriter Indemnified Party ”), against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which such Underwriter Indemnified Party may become subject, under the Act, the Exchange Act, other Federal or state statutory law or regulation or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of

 

19


any material fact contained in any part of the Registration Statement at any time, any Statutory Prospectus as of any time, the Final Prospectus, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, and will reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending against any such loss, claim, damage, liability, action, litigation, investigation or proceeding whatsoever (whether or not such Underwriter Indemnified Party is a party thereto), whether threatened or commenced, based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission as such expenses are incurred, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the following information in the Final Prospectus furnished on behalf of each Underwriter: the concession and reallowance figures appearing in the fourth paragraph, the lock-up release provisions appearing in the ninth paragraph and information with respect to stabilization transactions appearing in the twelfth paragraph and the disclosure appearing in the fifteenth paragraph, in each case under the caption “Underwriting”.

(c) Actions against Parties; Notification . Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under subsection (a) or (b) above, notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof; but the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under subsection (a) or (b) above except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided further that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under subsection (a) or (b) above. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party and it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened action in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party unless such settlement (i) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter of such action and (ii) does not include a statement as to, or an admission of, fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

(d) Contribution . If the indemnification provided for in this Section is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in subsection (a) or (b) above (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Offered Securities pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by

 

20


applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim which is the subject of this subsection (d). Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations in this subsection (d) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8(d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 8(d).

9. Default of Underwriters . If any Underwriter or Underwriters default in their obligations to purchase Offered Securities hereunder on either the First Closing Date or any Optional Closing Date and the aggregate number of shares of Offered Securities that such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase does not exceed 10% of the total number of shares of Offered Securities that the Underwriters are obligated to purchase on such Closing Date, the Representatives may make arrangements satisfactory to the Company for the purchase of such Offered Securities by other persons, including any of the Underwriters, but if no such arrangements are made by such Closing Date, the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated severally, in proportion to their respective commitments hereunder, to purchase the Offered Securities that such defaulting Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase on such Closing Date. If any Underwriter or Underwriters so default and the aggregate number of shares of Offered Securities with respect to which such default or defaults occur exceeds 10% of the total number of shares of Offered Securities that the Underwriters are obligated to purchase on such Closing Date and arrangements satisfactory to the Representatives and the Company for the purchase of such Offered Securities by other persons are not made within 36 hours after such default, this Agreement will terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company, except as provided in Section 10 (provided that if such default occurs with respect to Optional Securities after the First Closing Date, this Agreement will not terminate as to the Firm Securities or any Optional Securities purchased prior to such termination). As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section. Nothing herein will relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

 

21


10. Survival of Certain Representations and Obligations . The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company or its officers and of the several Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation, or statement as to the results thereof, made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, the Company or any of their respective representatives, officers or directors or any controlling person, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Offered Securities. If the purchase of the Offered Securities by the Underwriters is not consummated for any reason other than solely because of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 9 hereof, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters for all out-of-pocket expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel) reasonably incurred by them in connection with the offering of the Offered Securities. In addition, if any Offered Securities have been purchased hereunder, the representations and warranties in Section 2 and all obligations under Section 5 shall also remain in effect.

11. Notices . All communications hereunder will be in writing and will be mailed, hand delivered or telecopied and confirmed to the parties thereto as follows:

If to the Underwriters:

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

Eleven Madison Avenue

New York, N.Y. 10010-3629

Attention: LCD-IBD

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

                     Incorporated

One Bryant Park

New York, N.Y. 10036

Attention: Syndicate Department

with a copy to ECM Legal

If to the Company:

Gulfport Energy Corporation

14313 North May Avenue, Suite 100

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73134

Attention: Michael G. Moore

With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

1700 Pacific Avenue, Suite 4100

Dallas, Texas 75201

Facsimile: (214) 969-4343

Attention: Seth R. Molay, P.C.

12. Successors . This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers and directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 8, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder.

13. Representation of Underwriters . The Representatives will act for the several Underwriters in connection with this financing, and any action under this Agreement taken by the Representatives will be binding upon all the Underwriters.

 

22


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

15. Absence of Fiduciary Relationship . The Company acknowledges and agrees that:

(a) No Other Relationship . The Underwriters have been retained solely to act as an underwriter in connection with the sale of Offered Securities and that no fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship between the Company, on the one hand, and the Representatives, on the other, has been created in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Final Prospectus, irrespective of whether the Underwriters have advised or are advising the Company on other matters;

(b) Arms’ Length Negotiations . The price of the Offered Securities set forth in this Agreement was established by the Company following discussions and arms-length negotiations with the Underwriters, and the Company is capable of evaluating and understanding and understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

(c) Absence of Obligation to Disclose . The Company has been advised that the Underwriters and their affiliates are engaged in a broad range of transactions which may involve interests that differ from those of the Company and that the Underwriters have no obligation to disclose such interests and transactions to the Company by virtue of any fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship; and

(d) Waiver . The Company waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims it may have against the Underwriters for breach of fiduciary duty or alleged breach of fiduciary duty and agrees that the Underwriters shall have no liability (whether direct or indirect) to the Company in respect of such a fiduciary duty claim or to any person asserting a fiduciary duty claim on behalf of or in right of the Company, including stockholders, employees or creditors of the Company.

16. Applicable Law . This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

The Company hereby submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. The Company irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue of any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in Federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York and irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such suit or proceeding in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

23


If the foregoing is in accordance with the Representatives’ understanding of our agreement, kindly sign and return to the Company one of the counterparts hereof, whereupon it will become a binding agreement between the Company and the several Underwriters in accordance with its terms.

 

Very truly yours,
G ULFPORT E NERGY C ORPORATION
By:  

/s/ Michael G. Moore

  Name:   Michael G. Moore
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer and President

 

[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]


The foregoing Underwriting Agreement

is hereby confirmed and accepted

as of the date first above written.

C REDIT S UISSE S ECURITIES (USA) LLC
By:  

/s/ Ricardo Concha

  Name:   Ricardo Concha
  Title:   Director
M ERRILL L YNCH , P IERCE , F ENNER  & S MITH
                         I NCORPORATED
By:  

/s/ Bruce Hutchinson

  Name:   Bruce Hutchinson
  Title:   Managing Director

Acting on behalf of themselves

and as the Representatives of

the several Underwriters

 

[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]


SCHEDULE A

 

Underwriter

   Number of Shares  

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

     10,222,500   

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

                      Incorporated

     2,900,000   

Barclays Capital Inc.

     1,595,000   

KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc.

     1,595,000   

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

     1,595,000   

Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.

     1,595,000   

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

     1,595,000   

Capital One Securities, Inc.

     435,000   

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

     435,000   

Johnson Rice & Company, L.L.C.

     435,000   

Piper Jaffray & Co.

     435,000   

SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc.

     435,000   

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

     435,000   

Wunderlich Securities, Inc.

     435,000   

Canaccord Genuity Inc.

     362,500   

Seaport Global Securities LLC

     362,500   

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

     362,500   

Guggenheim Securities, LLC

     362,500   

Heikkinen Energy Securities, L.L.C.

     362,500   

IBERIA Capital Partners L.L.C.

     362,500   

Jefferies LLC

     362,500   

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

     362,500   

Mizuho Securities USA Inc.

     362,500   

Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Inc.

     362,500   

USCA Securities LLC

     362,500   

Coker & Palmer, Inc.

     290,000   

Tuohy Brothers Investment Research, Inc.

     290,000   

The Williams Capital Group, L.P.

     290,000   

Total

     29,000,000   


SCHEDULE B

 

1. General Use Free Writing Prospectuses (included in the General Disclosure Package)

None.

 

2. Other Information Included in the General Disclosure Package

Public Offering Price per Share: $21.50


SCHEDULE C-1

[Form of Auditor Comfort Letter]


SCHEDULE C-2

[Form of Auditor Comfort Letter]


SCHEDULE D-1

[Form of Reserve Engineer Comfort Letter]


SCHEDULE D-2

[Form of Reserve Engineer Comfort Letter]


SCHEDULE E

Gulfport Energy Corporation

CHIEF RESERVE ENGINEER CERTIFICATE

Capitalized terms used but not defined in this certificate have the meaning ascribed to them in the Underwriting Agreement, dated December 15, 2016, between the Gulfport Energy Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated as Representatives of the several Underwriters named in Schedule A thereto (the “Underwriting Agreement”). This certificate is being delivered pursuant to the terms of the Underwriting Agreement.

In connection with the public offering of shares of common stock of the Company, and to assist the Underwriters in conducting and documenting their investigation of the affairs of the Company in connection with the offering of Securities, I, Steven R. Baldwin , Vice President of Reservoir Engineering of the Company, do hereby certify as follows:

1. As Vice President of Reservoir Engineering of the Company, for each of the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, I have had primary supervisory responsibility for the preparation of internal reports (collectively the “Reports”) of the estimates of proved reserves and related future net revenues, to the Company’s interest, for each of (i) the Company’s interest in the Bakken Play and (ii) certain other minor interests in various states.

2. I am familiar with the standards pertaining to the estimating and auditing of oil and gas reserve information promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), as in effect at each of the year ends of the respective reports.

3. The estimates of the Company’s proved reserves contained in each of the Reports, and the computations made in connection therewith, were made in accordance with the provisions of Rule 4-10 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC and have been prepared in a manner consistent and in compliance with such other published interpretations and criteria pertaining to the estimation of proved oil and gas reserves and related future net revenues promulgated by the SEC, as such Rule was in effect and as such interpretations and criteria were published as of the year end date to which the Report relates.

4. The engineering estimates were based on the latest production data available at the time of the estimates, usually through November or December of the year end to which the Report relates. As of the date of this letter, no additional information has been brought to my attention which would lead me to believe that there would be a material downward change in the estimated proved reserves at December 31, 2015 attributable to the Company’s interests other than as a result of pricing changes and production since December 31, 2015.

5. I have reviewed the circled reserve information related to certain of the Company’s proved reserves derived from the Reports on pages attached hereto as Exhibit A from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and Exhibit 99.1 thereto and from a spreadsheet reconciling such information contained in the Form 10-K and Exhibit 99.1 thereto with the Company’s proved reserves contained in the Reports. I confirm that such circled information has been accurately derived from the Reports.

[Signature Page Follows]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have signed this certificate.

Dated:              , 2016

 

 

Name:   Steve R. Baldwin
Title:  

VP of Reservoir Engineering of

Gulfport Energy Corporation

[Signature Page to Chief Reserve Engineer Certificate to the Underwriting Agreement]


SCHEDULE F

Form of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP Opinion

 

1. The Company is a corporation that is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, the jurisdiction of its incorporation, and the Company is duly qualified and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction listed on Schedule 2 hereto.

 

2. The Company has the corporate power and authority to own, lease, hold and operate its properties and to conduct the business in which it is engaged as described in the Registration Statement, the Final Prospectus and the General Disclosure Package.

 

3. The Company (a) has the corporate power to execute, deliver and perform the Underwriting Agreement, (b) has taken all corporate action necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of the Underwriting Agreement and (c) has duly executed and delivered the Underwriting Agreement.

 

4. The execution and delivery by the Company of the Underwriting Agreement do not, and the performance by it of its obligations thereunder will not, (i) whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or both, constitute a breach of, or default or Debt Repayment Triggering Event under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company pursuant to, any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 or any of the Company’s subsequent Current Reports on Form 8-K and, in each case, to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound, or to which any of the assets, properties or operations of the Company is subject (collectively, the “Reviewed Agreements”), (ii) result in a violation by the Company of the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, (iii) result in the violation by the Company of any statute, rule or regulation that is an Included Law (as defined below), or (iv) result in any violation by the Company of any order, writ, judgment or decree of any governmental authority identified in Schedule 3 hereto.

 

5. No consent, authorization, approval or other action by, and no notice to or registration or filing with, any United States Federal or state governmental authority or regulatory body, or any third party that is a party to any Reviewed Agreement, is required under any Included Law for the due execution, delivery or performance by the Company of the Underwriting Agreement, except as have been obtained or made.

 

6. The Company is not, and as a result of the transactions contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement (including the receipt of proceeds from the offering contemplated therein and the application of the proceeds therefrom as described in the Final Prospectus) will not be, required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.


7. The Offered Securities have been duly authorized by the Company and, when issued and delivered as provided in the Underwriting Agreement, the Offered Securities will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and the issuance of the Offered Securities will not, as of the date hereof, be subject to preemptive rights pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”), the Certificate of Incorporation, the By-Laws or any Reviewed Agreement.

 

8. The authorized equity capitalization as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation consists of 200,000,000 shares of Common Stock and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share.

 

9. The Offered Securities conform in all material respects to the description thereof set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.

 

10. The Registration Statement became automatically effective under the Act on December 14, 2016 and the Final Prospectus was filed with the Commission on [●], 2016 in accordance with Rule 424(b) under the Act. To our knowledge, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending before or contemplated by the Commission.

 

11. The statements in the Final Prospectus and the General Disclosure Package under the caption “Description of Capital Stock,” insofar as such statements purport to be summaries of the documents referred to therein, matters of law under Included Laws or legal proceedings, constitute fair summaries in all material respects, subject to the qualifications and assumptions stated therein.

 

12. The statements made in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus under the caption “Material U.S. Federal Income and Estate Tax Considerations for Non-U.S. Holders,” insofar as they purport to be summaries of the terms of statutes, rules or regulations, in each case that constitute Included Laws, constitute fair summaries of the terms of such statutes, rules or regulations in all material respects, subject to the qualifications and assumptions stated therein.

 

13. To our knowledge, no holder of any security of the Company has any right to require registration of shares of Common Stock or any other security of the Company in the Registration Statement.

Negative Assurance

Because the primary purpose of such counsel’s professional engagement was not to establish or confirm factual matters or financial, accounting, statistical or reserve information, and because many determinations involved in the preparation of the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus are of a wholly or partially non-legal character, except to the extent expressly set forth in paragraphs 9, 11 and 12 of this letter, such counsel is not passing upon and does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement,


the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus and such counsel makes no representation that it has independently verified the accuracy, completeness or fairness of such statements.

However, in the course of our acting as special counsel to the Company in connection with its preparation of the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, prior to the filing of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus, such counsel has reviewed each such document and participated in conferences and telephone conversations with representatives of the Company, the internal reserve engineer of the Company, representatives of the independent public accountants for the Company, representatives of the independent petroleum engineers of the Company, representatives of the Underwriters and representatives of the Underwriters’ counsel, during which conferences and conversations the contents of the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus and related matters were discussed, and such counsel reviewed certain corporate records and documents furnished to such counsel by the Company and certain documents publicly filed by the Company with the Commission.

Subject to the foregoing, such counsel confirms to you that, on the basis of the information we gained in the course of performing the services referred to above:

 

  (a) Each of the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, and each amendment or supplement thereto, in each case as of its respective effective or issue date appeared on its face, as supplemented or amended, to be appropriately responsive in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder, except that (i) we express no view as to the financial statements and related notes and schedules or other financial data, accounting data or reports on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting; oil and gas reserves; or statistical data derived from such financial data or oil and gas reserves and related future net cash flows contained or incorporated by reference in or omitted from the Registration Statement, the Final Prospectus or the General Disclosure Package and (ii) we express no view as to the anti-fraud provisions of the U.S. Federal securities Laws and the rules and regulations promulgated under such provisions; and

 

  (b) No facts have come to our attention that cause us to believe that:

 

  (i) the Registration Statement, as of its most recent effective date, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;

 

  (ii) the General Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; or


  (iii) the Final Prospectus, as of its date and as of the date hereof, contained or contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

except that in the case of each of clauses (i) – (iii) above, such counsel does not express any view as to the financial statements and related notes and schedules or other financial data, accounting data or reports on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting; oil and gas reserves; or statistical data derived from such financial data or oil and gas reserves and related future net cash flows contained in or incorporated by reference in or omitted from the Registration Statement, the Final Prospectus or the General Disclosure Package.

Included Laws

We express no opinion as to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the Included Laws. We have made no special investigation or review of any published constitutions, treaties, statutes, laws, rules or regulations or judicial or administrative decisions (“Laws”), other than a review of (i) the DGCL, (ii) the Federal securities Laws of the United States of America, (iii) solely with respect to the opinion expressed in paragraph 4 of this letter, the Laws of the State of Texas and (iv) solely with respect to the opinion expressed in paragraph 12 of this letter, the Federal tax Laws of the United States of America. For purposes of this letter, the term “Included Laws” means the items described in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) of the preceding sentence that are, in our experience, normally applicable to transactions of the type contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement. The term Included Laws specifically excludes (a) Laws of any counties, cities, towns, municipalities and special political subdivisions, or foreign governments and, in each case, any agencies thereof, (b) zoning, land use, building and construction Laws, (c) Federal Reserve Board margin regulations, (d) any antifraud, environmental, labor, pension, employee benefit, antiterrorism, money laundering, insurance, antitrust or intellectual property Laws, (e) except to the extent set forth in paragraphs 6 and 10 of this letter, securities Laws, (f) except to the extent set forth in paragraph 12 of this letter, tax Laws and (g) Laws relating to the regulation of the conduct of the business of the Company, including, without limitation, the business of oil and natural gas exploration and production companies.


SCHEDULE G

December [    ], 2016

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC (“ Credit Suisse ”)

As Representative (the “ Representative ”) of the Several Underwriters,

c/o Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

Eleven Madison Avenue,

New York, N.Y. 10010-3629

Dear Sirs:

As an inducement to the Underwriters to execute the Underwriting Agreement, pursuant to which an offering will be made that is intended to result in an orderly market for the common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Securities ”), of Gulfport Energy Corporation, and any successor (by merger or otherwise) thereto, (the “ Company ”), the undersigned hereby agrees that during the period specified in the following paragraph (the “ Lock-Up Period ”), the undersigned will not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any Securities, enter into a transaction which would have the same effect, or enter into any swap, hedge or other arrangement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Securities, whether any such aforementioned transaction is to be settled by delivery of the Securities or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, or publicly disclose the intention to make any such offer, sale, pledge or disposition, or to enter into any such transaction, swap, hedge or other arrangement, without, in each case, the prior written consent of Credit Suisse.

The initial Lock-Up Period will commence on the date of this Lock-Up Agreement and continue and include the date 60 days after the public offering date set forth on the final prospectus used to sell the Securities (the “ Public Offering Date ”) pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.

Any Securities received upon exercise of options granted to the undersigned will also be subject to this Agreement. Any Securities acquired by the undersigned in the open market will not be subject to this Agreement. Further, this Lock-Up Agreement shall not apply to any transfer(s) of Securities by or on behalf of the undersigned (i) as a bona fide gift or gifts, (ii) to a family member, trust, family limited partnership or family limited liability company for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or its family member, (iii) by testate or intestate succession or (iv) if the undersigned is an entity, to the limited partners, members or stockholders as part of a distribution, or to any corporation, partnership or other business that is its affiliate; provided, in each case, that, each donee, distributee or transferee agrees to be bound in writing by the terms of this Lock-Up Agreement prior to such donation, distribution or transfer, such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value and no filing by any party (donor, donee, distributor, distributee, transferor or transferee) under the Exchange Act shall be required or shall be voluntarily made in connection with such transfer (other than a filing on a Form 5). Further, this Lock-Up Agreement shall not apply to (i) the registration of the offer and sale of the Securities as contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement, (ii) the entering into a written trading plan designed to comply with Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), provided that no sales are made pursuant to such trading plan during the Lock-Up Period or (iii) the sale, together with sales by other executive officers or directors of the Company, each signing an agreement substantially similar to this agreement, of up to 500,000 shares of the Securities in the aggregate, as allocated by the Company. In addition, the undersigned agrees that, without the prior written consent of Credit Suisse, it will not, during the Lock-Up Period, make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any Securities or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for the Securities.

In furtherance of the foregoing, the Company and its transfer agent and registrar are hereby authorized to decline to make any transfer of shares of Securities if such transfer would constitute a violation or breach of this Agreement.

This Agreement shall be binding on the undersigned and the successors, heirs, personal representatives and assigns of the undersigned. This Lock-Up Agreement shall lapse and become null and void, and the undersigned


shall be released from all obligations under this Lock-Up Agreement, if the Public Offering Date shall not have occurred on or before December 31, 2016, or if the Underwriting Agreement (other than the provisions thereof that survive termination) shall terminate or be terminated prior to payment for, and delivery of, the Securities. This agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

[ Signature Page Follows ]


Very truly yours,

 

Name:  
Title:  

[Signature Page to the Lock-up Agreement]


SCHEDULE H

CFO CERTIFICATE

December 15, 2016

The undersigned authorized Chief Financial Officer of Gulfport Energy Corporation (the “ Company ”), pursuant to Section 7(j) of the Underwriting Agreement (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”) dated as of December 15, 2016, among the Company and the several Underwriters listed on Schedule A thereto (the “ Underwriters ”) does hereby certify, in his capacity as the authorized Chief Financial Officer of the Company, in the name and on behalf of the Company, based on an examination of the Company’s financial, accounting and corporate records and schedules undertaken by myself and members of my staff who are responsible for the Company’s financial and accounting matters and my participation in the financial and accounting affairs of the Company that:

I, or members of my staff, have prepared the numbers circled on the pages attached hereto as Exhibit A, from the preliminary prospectus supplement, and hereby confirm that, to the best of my knowledge, such amounts were prepared utilizing information derived from the appropriate financial, accounting and corporate records of the Company and its subsidiaries, and that such information is accurate and correct in all material respects and there is no reason to believe any modification should be made to such information.

This certificate is to assist the Underwriters in conducting and documenting their investigation of the affairs of the Company in connection with the public offering of shares of common stock of the Company pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement. Capitalized terms not defined in this certificate have the meaning ascribed to them in the Underwriting Agreement.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this certificate.

 

GULFPORT ENERGY CORPORATION,
    By  

 

  Name:   Aaron Gaydosik
  Title:   Chief Financial Officer
  Date:                     

[Signature Page to CFO Certificate]

Exhibit 4.1

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

 

Gulfport Energy Corporation

Issuer

6.375% Senior Notes due 2025

 

 

INDENTURE

Dated as of December 21, 2016

 

 

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

Trustee

 

 

 


CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE

 

Trust

Indenture

Act

Section

   Indenture
Section

310(a)(1)

   7.10

(a)(2)

   7.10

(a)(3)

   N.A.

(a)(4)

   N.A.

(b)

   7.08; 7.10

(c)

   N.A.

311(a)

   7.11

(b)

   7.11

(c)

   N.A.

312(a)

   2.05

(b)

   11.03

(c)

   11.03

313(a)

   7.06

(b)(1)

   N.A.

(b)(2)

   7.06

(c)

   11.02

(d)

   7.06

314(a)

   4.02;
   4.10; 11.02

(b)

   N.A.

(c)(1)

   11.04

(c)(2)

   11.04

(c)(3)

   N.A.

(d)

   N.A.

(e)

   11.05


(f)

   4.10

315(a)

   7.01

(b)

   7.05; 11.02

(c)

   7.01

(d)

   7.01

(e)

   6.11

316(a)(last sentence)

   11.0

(a)(1)(A)

   6.05

(a)(1)(B)

   6.04

(a)(2)

   N.A.

(b)

   6.07

317(a)(1)

   6.08

(a)(2)

   6.09

(b)

   2.04

318(a)

   11.01

N.A. means Not Applicable.

 

 

Note:     This Cross-Reference Table shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be part of this Indenture.

 

3


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  
Article 1   
Definitions and Incorporation by Reference   

SECTION 1.01.

 

Definitions

     1   

SECTION 1.02.

 

Other Definitions

     41   

SECTION 1.03.

 

Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act

     42   

SECTION 1.04.

 

Rules of Construction

     42   
Article 2   
The Securities   

SECTION 2.01.

 

Form and Dating

     43   

SECTION 2.02.

 

Execution and Authentication

     43   

SECTION 2.03.

 

Registrar and Paying Agent

     44   

SECTION 2.04.

 

Paying Agent To Hold Money in Trust

     45   

SECTION 2.05.

 

Securityholder Lists

     45   

SECTION 2.06.

 

Transfer and Exchange

     45   

SECTION 2.07.

 

Replacement Securities

     45   

SECTION 2.08.

 

Outstanding Securities

     45   

SECTION 2.09.

 

Temporary Securities

     46   

SECTION 2.10.

 

Cancellation

     46   

SECTION 2.11.

 

Defaulted Interest

     46   

SECTION 2.12.

 

CUSIP Numbers, ISINs, etc

     46   

SECTION 2.13.

 

Issuance of Additional Securities

     47   
Article 3   
Redemption   

SECTION 3.01.

 

Notices to Trustee

     47   

SECTION 3.02.

 

Selection of Securities to Be Redeemed

     48   

SECTION 3.03.

 

Notice of Redemption

     48   

SECTION 3.04.

 

Effect of Notice of Redemption

     49   

SECTION 3.05.

 

Deposit of Redemption Price

     49   

SECTION 3.06.

 

Securities Redeemed in Part

     49   

 

i


Article 4   
Covenants   

SECTION 4.01.

 

Payment of Securities

     49   

SECTION 4.02.

 

SEC Reports

     50   

SECTION 4.03.

 

Limitation on Indebtedness

     51   

SECTION 4.04.

 

Limitation on Restricted Payments

     55   

SECTION 4.05.

 

Limitation on Restrictions on Distributions from Restricted Subsidiaries

     59   

SECTION 4.06.

 

Limitation on Sales of Assets and Subsidiary Stock

     62   

SECTION 4.07.

 

Limitation on Affiliate Transactions

     67   

SECTION 4.08.

 

Limitation on Line of Business

     69   

SECTION 4.09.

 

Change of Control

     69   

SECTION 4.10.

 

Limitation on Liens

     71   

SECTION 4.11.

 

Future Subsidiary Guarantors

     71   

SECTION 4.12.

 

Compliance Certificate

     71   

SECTION 4.13.

 

Further Instruments and Acts

     71   

SECTION 4.14.

 

Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws

     72   

SECTION 4.15.

 

Termination of Covenants

     72   
Article 5   
Successor Company   

SECTION 5.01.

 

When Company May Merge or Transfer Assets

     72   
Article 6   
Defaults and Remedies   

SECTION 6.01.

 

Events of Default

     74   

SECTION 6.02.

 

Acceleration

     76   

SECTION 6.03.

 

Other Remedies

     77   

SECTION 6.04.

 

Waiver of Past Defaults

     77   

SECTION 6.05.

 

Control by Majority

     77   

SECTION 6.06.

 

Limitation on Suits

     78   

SECTION 6.07.

 

Rights of Holders to Receive Payment

     78   

SECTION 6.08.

 

Collection Suit by Trustee

     78   

SECTION 6.09.

 

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

     78   

SECTION 6.10.

 

Priorities

     79   

SECTION 6.11.

 

Undertaking for Costs

     79   

 

ii


Article 7   
Trustee   

SECTION 7.01.

 

Duties of Trustee

     79   

SECTION 7.02.

 

Rights of Trustee

     81   

SECTION 7.03.

 

Individual Rights of Trustee

     81   

SECTION 7.04.

 

Trustee’s Disclaimer

     81   

SECTION 7.05.

 

Notice of Defaults

     82   

SECTION 7.06.

 

Reports by Trustee to Holders

     82   

SECTION 7.07.

 

Compensation and Indemnity

     82   

SECTION 7.08.

 

Replacement of Trustee

     83   

SECTION 7.09.

 

Successor Trustee by Merger

     84   

SECTION 7.10.

 

Eligibility; Disqualification

     84   

SECTION 7.11.

 

Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company

     84   
Article 8   
Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture; Defeasance   

SECTION 8.01.

 

Discharge of Liability on Securities; Defeasance

     84   

SECTION 8.02.

 

Conditions to Defeasance

     85   

SECTION 8.03.

 

Application of Trust Money

     87   

SECTION 8.04.

 

Repayment to Company

     87   

SECTION 8.05.

 

Indemnity for Government Obligations

     87   

SECTION 8.06.

 

Reinstatement

     87   
Article 9   
Amendments   

SECTION 9.01.

 

Without Consent of Holders

     88   

SECTION 9.02.

 

With Consent of Holders

     89   

SECTION 9.03.

 

Compliance with Trust Indenture Act

     90   

SECTION 9.04.

 

Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers

     90   

SECTION 9.05.

 

Notation on or Exchange of Securities

     90   

SECTION 9.06.

 

Trustee To Sign Amendments

     91   

SECTION 9.07.

 

Payment for Consent

     91   
Article 10   
Subsidiary Guarantees   

SECTION 10.01.

 

Guarantees

     91   

SECTION 10.02.

 

Limitation on Liability

     93   

 

iii


SECTION 10.03.

 

Successors and Assigns

     93   

SECTION 10.04.

 

No Waiver

     93   

SECTION 10.05.

 

Modification

     94   

SECTION 10.06.

 

Release of Subsidiary Guarantor

     94   

SECTION 10.07.

 

Contribution

     94   
Article 11   
Miscellaneous   

SECTION 11.01.

 

Trust Indenture Act Controls

     95   

SECTION 11.02.

 

Notices

     95   

SECTION 11.03.

 

Communication by Holders with Other Holders

     95   

SECTION 11.04.

 

Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent

     96   

SECTION 11.05.

 

Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion

     96   

SECTION 11.06.

 

When Securities Disregarded

     96   

SECTION 11.07.

 

Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar

     97   

SECTION 11.08.

 

Legal Holidays

     97   

SECTION 11.09.

 

Governing Law

     97   

SECTION 11.10.

 

No Recourse Against Others

     97   

SECTION 11.11.

 

Successors

     97   

SECTION 11.12.

 

Multiple Originals

     97   

SECTION 11.13.

 

Table of Contents; Headings

     97   

Rule 144A/Regulation S Appendix

 

Exhibit 1 –

  

Form of Initial Security

Exhibit A –

  

Form of Exchange Security or Private Exchange Security

Exhibit B –

  

Form of Guaranty Agreement

 

iv


INDENTURE dated as of December 21, 2016, among Gulfport Energy Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), those Subsidiary Guarantors that from time to time become parties to this Indenture and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., a national banking association (the “ Trustee ”).

Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other parties and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Initial Securities, Exchange Securities, Private Exchange Securities and any Additional Securities:

Article 1

Definitions and Incorporation by Reference

SECTION 1.01. Definitions .

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

Additional Securities ” means Securities issued under this Indenture after the Issue Date and in compliance with Sections 2.13 and 4.03, it being understood that any Securities issued in exchange for or replacement of any Initial Security issued on the Issue Date shall not be an Additional Security, including any such Securities issued pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

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

(1) the sum of:

 

  (a)

discounted future net revenue from proved oil and natural gas reserves of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines before any state or federal income taxes, as estimated in a reserve report prepared as of the end of the fiscal year ending prior to the date of determination (or, if the date of determination is within 45 days after the end of the immediately preceding fiscal year and no reserve report as of the end of such fiscal year has at the time been prepared, as of the end of the second preceding fiscal year), which reserve report is prepared or audited by the Company’s petroleum engineers or independent petroleum engineers, as increased by , as of


  the date of determination, the discounted future net revenue calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in such year-end reserve report) of:

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

(ii) estimated oil and natural gas reserves of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries attributable to extensions, discoveries and other additions and upward determinations of estimates of proved oil and natural gas reserves (including previously estimated development costs incurred during the period and the accretion of discount since the prior period end) due to exploration, development or exploitation, production or other activities which reserves were not reflected in such reserve report;

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

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

(iv) reductions in the estimated oil and natural gas reserves of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries reflected in such reserve report since the date of such reserve report attributable to downward determinations of estimates of proved oil and natural gas reserves due to exploration, development or exploitation, production or other activities conducted or otherwise occurring since the date of such reserve report;

provided , however , that, in the case of each of the determinations made pursuant to clauses (i) through (iv), such increases and decreases shall be estimated by the Company’s petroleum engineers or any independent petroleum engineer engaged by the Company for such purpose, in accordance with customary reserve engineering practices;

 

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

 

  (c) the Net Working Capital as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements of the Company have been made available prior to the date of determination; and

 

2


  (d) the greater of (i) the net book value as of a date no earlier than the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements of the Company have been made available prior to the date of determination and (ii) the appraised value, as estimated by independent appraisers, of other tangible assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of a date within the immediately preceding twelve months (provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to obtain such an appraisal of such assets if no such appraisal has been performed); minus

(2) to the extent not otherwise taken into account in the immediately preceding clause (1), the sum of:

 

  (a) minority interests;

 

  (b) any net natural gas balancing liabilities of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the effective date of the reserve report referred to in (1)(a) above;

 

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

 

  (d) the discounted future net revenue before any state or federal income taxes, as of the effective date of such reserve report, calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the same prices utilized in the Company’s year-end reserve report), attributable to reserves that are required to be delivered to third parties to fully satisfy the obligations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to Volumetric Production Payments on the schedules specified with respect thereto; and

 

3


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

Whether the Company uses the successful efforts method of accounting or the full cost (or similar method) method of accounting, “Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” will be calculated as if the Company were using the full cost method of accounting.

Adjusted Treasury Rate ” means, with respect to any redemption date, (i) the yield, under the heading which represents the average for the immediately preceding week, appearing in the most recently published statistical release designated “H.15(519)” or any successor publication which is published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and which establishes yields on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity under the caption “Treasury Constant Maturities,” for the maturity corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue (if no maturity is within three months before or after May 15, 2020, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue shall be determined and the Adjusted Treasury Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated from such yields on a straight line basis, rounding to the nearest month) or (ii) if such release (or any successor release) is not published during the week preceding the calculation date or does not contain such yields, the rate per year equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date, in each case calculated on the third Business Day immediately preceding the redemption date, in each case, plus 0.50%.

Affiliate ” of any specified Person means any other Person, directly or indirectly, controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing. For purposes of Sections 4.04, 4.06 and 4.07 only, “Affiliate” shall also mean any beneficial owner of Capital Stock representing 10% or more of the total voting power of the Voting Stock (on a fully diluted basis) of the Company or of rights or warrants to purchase such Capital Stock (whether or not currently exercisable). No Person shall be deemed an Affiliate of an oil and gas royalty trust solely by virtue of ownership of units of beneficial interest in such trust.

 

4


Applicable Premium ” means with respect to a Security at any redemption date, the greater of (1) 1.00% of the principal amount of such Security and (2) the excess of (A) the present value at such redemption date of (i) the redemption price of such Security on May 15, 2020 (such redemption price being described in paragraph 5(a) of the Securities, exclusive of any accrued interest) plus (ii) all required remaining scheduled interest payments due on such Security through May 15, 2020 (but excluding accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date), computed using a discount rate equal to the Adjusted Treasury Rate, over (B) the principal amount of such Security on such redemption date. The Company will calculate the Applicable Premium and deliver such calculation to the Trustee prior to the applicable redemption date. The Trustee will not be responsible for the calculation of the Applicable Premium.

ASC ” means the Financial Standards Accounting Board’s Accounting Standards Codification.

Asset Disposition ” means any sale, lease, transfer or other disposition or issuance (or series of related sales, leases, transfers or other dispositions or issuances) by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, including by means of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction (each, a “disposition”), of:

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

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

(3) any other assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary outside of the ordinary course of business of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following shall be deemed not to be Asset Dispositions for purposes of Section 4.06: (A) a disposition by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary; (B) a disposition that constitutes (i) a Restricted Payment that is not prohibited by Section 4.04 or (ii) a Permitted Investment; (C) a disposition of all or substantially all the assets of the Company in accordance with Section 5.01, or any disposition that constitutes a Change of Control; (D) a disposition in any single transaction or series of related transactions of assets with a Fair Market Value of less than $10.0 million; (E) a disposition of cash or Temporary Cash Investments; (F) the creation of a Lien (but not the sale or other disposition of the property subject to such Lien); (G) the trade or exchange by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of any Hydrocarbon and Mineral Property or any related assets or other assets commonly used in the Oil and Gas Business owned or held by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, or any Capital Stock of a Person all or

 

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substantially all of whose assets consist of one or more of such types of assets, for (i) assets of such types owned or held by another Person or (ii) the Capital Stock of another Person all or substantially all of whose assets consist of assets of such types and any cash or cash equivalents necessary in order to achieve an exchange of equivalent value; provided , however , that the Fair Market Value of the property or Capital Stock received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in such trade or exchange (including any cash or cash equivalents) is substantially equal to the Fair Market Value of the property (including any cash or cash equivalents) so traded or exchanged; provided , further , that an amount equal to the amount of Net Available Cash from such disposition must be applied in accordance with the covenant described under Section 4.06; (H) any Production Payment and Reserve Sales created, issued or assumed in connection with the financing of the acquisition of oil and gas properties that are subject thereto (and within 90 days after such acquisition), if the owner or purchaser of such Production Payment and Reserve Sale has recourse solely to such oil and gas properties and to the proceeds thereof, subject to the obligation of the grantor or transferor of such Production Payment and Reserve Sale to operate and maintain the related oil and gas properties in a prudent manner or other customary standard, to deliver the associated production (if required) and to indemnify with respect to environmental, title and other matters customary in the Oil and Gas Business; (I) a disposition of oil and gas properties in connection with tax credit transactions complying with Section 45K or any successor or analogous provisions of the Code; (J) a disposition of the Capital Stock of or any Investment in any Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than Grizzly Holdings); (K) surrender or waiver of contract rights or the settlement, release or surrender of contract, tort or other claims of any kind; (L) any Sale/Leaseback Transaction with respect to an asset acquired after the Issue Date; provided , however , that such transaction occurs within 180 days after the date of the acquisition of such asset by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary; (M) any disposition of defaulted receivables that arose in the ordinary course of business for collection; and (N) a disposition of property pursuant to condemnation or eminent domain (or deed in lieu thereof); provided , however , that an amount equal to the amount of Net Available Cash from such disposition must be applied in accordance with Section 4.06.

For the avoidance of doubt: (i) any disposition of Hydrocarbons and Minerals; (ii) any abandonment, relinquishment, farm-in, farm-out, lease, sub-lease, pooling, unitization, deemed transfer of working interests under any joint operating agreement or other similar or other disposition of developed or undeveloped or both developed and underdeveloped Hydrocarbon and Mineral Properties; (iii) the provision of services, equipment and other assets for the operation and development of the Company’s and its Restricted Subsidiaries’ oil and natural gas wells (notwithstanding that any such transaction may be recorded as an asset sale in accordance with full cost accounting guidelines); (iv) any assignment of a working, overriding royalty or net profits interest to an employee or consultant of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with the generation of prospects or the exploration or development of oil and natural gas projects; (v) the licensing or abandonment of intellectual property in the ordinary course of business; (vi) the granting of leases or subleases that do not interfere in any material respect with the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries; (vii) the disposition of obsolete or worn out equipment or

 

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equipment that is no longer used in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and that is disposed of in each case in the ordinary course of business; (viii) the liquidation of any assets received in settlement of claims owed to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; and (ix) the disposition of, or voluntary or involuntary termination of, a Hedging Obligation, in each such case in the ordinary course of business of the Company or its Subsidiaries or as otherwise customary in the Oil and Gas Business, will not constitute an Asset Disposition.

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

Bankruptcy Law ” means Title 11, United States Code, or any similar Federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

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

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

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

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

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

(1) any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company; provided , however , that, for the purposes of this clause (1), a person shall be deemed (x) to have “beneficial ownership” of all shares that any such person has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time and (y) to beneficially own any Voting Stock of a Person (the “specified person”)

 

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held by any other Person (the “parent entity”), if such person is the beneficial owner (as defined above in this clause (1)), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of such parent entity;

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

(3) the merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another Person or the merger of another Person with or into the Company, or the sale of all or substantially all the assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (determined on a consolidated basis) to another Person other than a transaction following which (A) in the case of a merger or consolidation transaction, one or more holders of securities that represented 100% of the Voting Stock of the Company immediately prior to such transaction (or other securities into which such securities are converted as part of such merger or consolidation transaction) own directly or indirectly at least a majority of the voting power of the Voting Stock of the surviving Person in such merger or consolidation transaction immediately after such transaction and (B) in the case of a sale of assets transaction, each transferee is or becomes an obligor in respect of the Securities and a Subsidiary of the transferor of such assets;

but, notwithstanding the foregoing, Permitted Grizzly Dispositions shall not constitute or give rise to a Change of Control.

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

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

Comparable Treasury Issue ” means the United States Treasury security selected by the Quotation Agent as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Securities from the redemption date to May 15, 2020, 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 May 15, 2020.

Comparable Treasury Price ” means, with respect to any redemption date, if clause (ii) of the Adjusted Treasury Rate definition is applicable, the average of three, or such lesser number as is obtained by the Quotation Agent, Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date.

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

(1) the aggregate amount of EBITDA for the period of the most recent four consecutive fiscal quarters ending at least 45 days prior to the date of such determination to

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

 

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provided , however , that:

(A) if the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary has Incurred any Indebtedness since the beginning of such period that remains outstanding or if the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Coverage Ratio is an Incurrence of Indebtedness, or both, then EBITDA and Consolidated Interest Expense for such period shall be calculated after giving effect on a pro forma basis to such Indebtedness and the use of the proceeds thereof as if such Indebtedness had been Incurred on the first day of such period and such proceeds had been applied as of such date; provided , however , that the pro forma calculation of Consolidated Interest Expense shall not give effect to any Indebtedness Incurred on the date of determination pursuant to Section 4.03(b);

(B) if the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary has repaid, repurchased, defeased or otherwise discharged any Indebtedness since the beginning of such period or if any Indebtedness is to be repaid, repurchased, defeased or otherwise discharged on the date of the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Coverage Ratio, then EBITDA and Consolidated Interest Expense for such period shall be calculated on a pro forma basis as if such discharge had occurred on the first day of such period and as if the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary had not earned the interest income actually earned (if any) during such period in respect of cash or Temporary Cash Investments used to repay, repurchase, defease or otherwise discharge such Indebtedness; provided , however , that the pro forma calculation of Consolidated Interest Expense shall not give effect to the discharge on the date of determination of any Indebtedness to the extent such discharge results from the proceeds of Indebtedness Incurred pursuant Section 4.03(b);

(C) if, since the beginning of such period, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary shall have made any Asset Disposition, then EBITDA for such period shall be reduced by an amount equal to EBITDA (if positive) directly attributable to the assets which were the subject of such Asset Disposition for such period, or increased by an amount equal to EBITDA (if negative) directly attributable thereto for such period, and Consolidated Interest Expense for such period shall be reduced by an amount equal to the Consolidated Interest Expense directly attributable to any Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary repaid, repurchased, defeased or otherwise discharged with respect to the Company and its continuing Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such Asset Disposition for such period (or, if the Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary is sold, the Consolidated Interest Expense for such period directly attributable to the Indebtedness of such Restricted Subsidiary to the extent the Company and its continuing Restricted Subsidiaries are no longer liable for such Indebtedness after such sale), and interest income in respect of cash or Temporary Cash Investments received in connection with such Asset Disposition and not otherwise used (or required to be used) either to make a subsequent Investment or

 

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to purchase, repay, redeem or repurchase Indebtedness, shall be calculated on a pro forma basis as if such Asset Disposition had occurred on the first day of such period, with such cash or Temporary Cash Investments being deemed to have earned interest income at the same average rate as the Company’s and the Restricted Subsidiaries’ cash and Temporary Cash Investments actually earned interest over the period for which pro forma effect is being given;

(D) if, since the beginning of such period, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (by merger or otherwise) shall have made an Investment in any Restricted Subsidiary (or any Person which becomes a Restricted Subsidiary) or an acquisition of material assets, then EBITDA and Consolidated Interest Expense for such period shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto (including the Incurrence of any Indebtedness) as if such Investment or acquisition had occurred on the first day of such period; and

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

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to an event, the pro forma calculations shall be determined in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting Officer of the Company.

If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the date of determination had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Interest Rate Agreement applicable to such Indebtedness, but if the remaining term of such Interest Rate Agreement is less than 12 months, then such Interest Rate Agreement shall only be taken into account for that portion of the period equal to the remaining term thereof).

The Consolidated Interest Expense attributable to interest on any Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility the outstanding principal balance of which is required to be computed on a pro forma basis in accordance with the foregoing shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period, provided , however , that such average daily balance shall be reduced by the amount of any repayment of Indebtedness under such revolving credit facility during the applicable period, to the extent such repayment permanently reduced the commitments or amounts available to be borrowed under such facility.

 

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

(1) interest expense attributable to Capital Lease Obligations;

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

(3) capitalized interest;

(4) non-cash interest expense;

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

(6) net payments pursuant to Interest Rate Agreements;

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

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

(9) interest accruing on any Indebtedness of any other Person to the extent such Indebtedness is Guaranteed by (or secured by the assets of) the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; and

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

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

Consolidated Net Income ” means, for any period, the net income of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries; provided , however , that there shall not be included in such Consolidated Net Income:

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

(A) subject to the exclusion contained in clause (4) below, the Company’s equity in the net income of any such Person for such period

 

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shall be included in such Consolidated Net Income in an amount equal to the aggregate amount of cash actually distributed by such Person during such period to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary as a dividend, interest payment or other distribution (subject, in the case of a dividend, interest payment or other distribution paid to a Restricted Subsidiary, to the limitations contained in clause (3) below); and

(B) the Company’s equity in a net loss of any such Person for such period shall not be included in determining such Consolidated Net Income, except to the extent of the aggregate cash actually contributed to such Person by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary during such period;

(2) solely for purposes of determining the aggregate amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 4.04(a)(3), any net income (or loss) of any Person acquired by the Company or a Subsidiary in a pooling of interests transaction (or any transaction accounted for in a manner similar to a pooling of interests) for any period prior to the date of such acquisition;

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

(A) subject to the exclusion contained in clause (4) below, the net income of any such Restricted Subsidiary for such period shall be included in such Consolidated Net Income in an amount equal to the aggregate amount of cash actually distributed by such Restricted Subsidiary during such period to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary as a dividend, interest payment or other distribution (subject, in the case of a dividend, interest payment or other distribution paid to another Restricted Subsidiary, to the limitation contained in this clause); and

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

(4) any gain or loss, together with any related provision for taxes on such gain or loss and all related fees and expenses, realized in connection with (A) the sale or other disposition of any assets of the Company, its consolidated Subsidiaries or any other Person that are not sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business and (B) the disposition of any securities of any Person or the extinguishment of any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

 

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(5) extraordinary or nonrecurring gains or losses, together with any related provision for taxes on such gains or losses and all related fees and expenses;

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

(7) any asset impairment, write-off or write-down on or related to oil and gas properties under GAAP or SEC guidelines;

(8) any after-tax gain or loss realized on the termination of any employee pension benefit plan;

(9) any adjustments of a deferred tax liability or asset pursuant to ASC 740 that result from changes in enacted tax laws or rates;

(10) costs incurred in connection with acquisitions that were eligible for capitalization treatment under GAAP but instead were expensed at the time of incurrence, provided , however , that any such costs shall instead reduce Consolidated Net Income for any period to the extent of any amortization in such period that would have occurred if they had been capitalized;

(11) income or losses attributable to discontinued operations (including operations disposed of during such period whether or not such operations were classified as discontinued according to GAAP);

(12) non-cash charges relating to grants of performance shares, stock options, stock awards, stock purchase agreements, management compensation plans or other equity-based awards for officers, directors, employees or consultants of the Company or a Subsidiary (excluding any such non-cash charge to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash charges in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense that was paid in a prior period) to the extent that such non-cash charges are deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; provided , however , that if the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary makes a cash payment in respect of a non-cash charge in any period, such cash payment shall (without duplication) be deducted from the Consolidated Net Income for such period;

(13) any unrealized non-cash gains or losses or charges in respect of Hedging Obligations (including those resulting from the application of ASC 815);

(14) gains and losses due to fluctuations in exchange rates or currency values; and

(15) gains and losses due to fluctuations in the value of Post-Closing Payments,

in each case, for such period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the purposes of Section 4.04 only, there shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income (1) any repurchases,

 

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repayments or redemptions of Investments, proceeds realized on the sale of Investments or return of capital to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to the extent such repurchases, repayments, redemptions, proceeds or returns increase the amount of Restricted Payments permitted under such Section pursuant to Section 4.04(a)(3)(D) thereof and (2) any dividends or other distributions of assets received by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary from Unrestricted Subsidiaries as dividends or other distributions by such Unrestricted Subsidiaries to the extent used to make Restricted Payments pursuant to Section 4.04(b)(12)(B).

Credit Agreements ” means one or more credit facilities, including the Existing Credit Agreement, other revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables financings, debt securities or other forms of debt, convertible debt or exchangeable debt financings or letters of credit and including any promissory notes, mortgages, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, any amendments, supplements, modifications or Refinancings thereof and any such credit facilities that replace in any manner (whether upon or after termination or otherwise) or Refinance, restate, amend, supplement or modify any part of the loans, notes or commitments thereunder, including any such Refinanced, restated, amended, supplemented or modified facility that increases the amount permitted to be borrowed thereunder or alters the maturity thereof ( provided that such increase in borrowings is permitted under Section 4.03) or adds the Company or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder and whether by the same or any other agent, lender or group of lenders or creditor or group of creditors.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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in each case on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the date of the Stated Maturity of the Securities; provided , however , that any Capital Stock that would not constitute Disqualified Stock but for provisions thereof giving holders thereof the right to require such Person to repurchase or redeem such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of an “asset sale” or “change of control” occurring prior to the date that is 91 days after the date of the Stated Maturity of the Securities shall not constitute Disqualified Stock if: (A) the “asset sale” or “change of control” provisions applicable to such Capital Stock are not more favorable to the holders of such Capital Stock than the terms applicable to the Securities in Sections 4.06 and 4.09 of this Indenture and (B) any such requirement only becomes operative after compliance with such terms applicable to the Securities, including the repurchase of any Securities tendered pursuant thereto.

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

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

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

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

(2) Consolidated Interest Expense;

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

(4) all other non-cash charges of the Company and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding any such non-cash charge to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash expenditures in any future period) less all non-cash items of income of the Company and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries (other than accruals of revenue by the Company and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business);

 

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

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

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

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

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

Existing Credit Agreement ” means the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of December 27, 2013 and amended or modified on or prior to the Issue Date, by and among the Company, as borrower, The Bank of Nova Scotia, as administrative agent, sole lead arranger and sole bookrunner, Amegy Bank National Association, as syndication agent, KeyBank National Association, as documentation agent, and the other lenders party thereto, together with the related documents thereto (including the revolving notes thereunder and any guarantees and security documents).

Fair Market Value ” means, with respect to any asset or property, the price which could be negotiated in an arm’s length, free market transaction, for cash, between a willing seller and a willing and able buyer, neither of whom is under undue pressure or compulsion to complete the transaction. Fair Market Value will be determined in good faith by an Officer of the Company who has responsibility for such transaction, whose determination will be conclusive, or, if in excess of $50.0 million, the Board of Directors, whose determination will be conclusive and evidenced by a resolution of such Board of Directors.

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

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

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

 

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

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

(4) the rules and regulations of the SEC governing the inclusion of financial statements (including pro forma financial statements) in periodic reports required to be filed pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act, including opinions and pronouncements in staff accounting bulletins and similar written statements from the accounting staff of the SEC. All ratios and computations based on GAAP contained in this Indenture shall be computed in conformity with GAAP.

Grizzly Holdings ” means Grizzly Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its successors.

Grizzly Oil Sands ULC ” means Grizzly Oil Sands ULC, a Canadian unlimited liability company, and its successors.

Grizzly Sponsor Contribution Agreement ” means that certain Sponsor Contribution Agreement, dated as of October 5, 2012, among Grizzly Oil Sands ULC, Wexford Capital LP, Grizzly Oil Sands Inc., the Company and Grizzly Holdings, as amended from time to time to the extent such amendments are not materially adverse to the Company.

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

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

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

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

Guaranty Agreement ” means a supplemental indenture, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, pursuant to which a Subsidiary Guarantor guarantees the Company’s obligations with respect to the 6.375% Senior Notes due 2025 on the terms provided for in this Indenture.

 

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

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

Hydrocarbon and Mineral Properties ” means all properties, including any interest therein, which contain or are believed to contain Hydrocarbons and Minerals.

Hydrocarbons and Minerals ” means oil, natural gas, other hydrocarbons, sand, minerals and all constituents, elements or compounds thereof, and other products commonly created, recovered or produced in association therewith or refined or processed therefrom.

Incur ” means issue, assume, Guarantee, incur or otherwise become liable for; provided , however , that any Indebtedness of a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (whether by merger, consolidation, acquisition or otherwise) shall be deemed to be Incurred by such Person at the time it becomes a Restricted Subsidiary. The term “Incurrence” when used as a noun shall have a correlative meaning. Solely for purposes of determining compliance with Section 4.03:

(1) the accrual of interest or dividends, the amortization of original issue discount or debt discount or the accretion of principal, accreted value or liquidation preference;

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

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

(4) unrealized losses or charges in respect of Hedging Obligations (including those resulting from the application of ASC 815); and

(5) increases in the amount of Indebtedness outstanding solely as a result of fluctuations in exchange rates or currency values;

in each case will be deemed not to be Incurrences of Indebtedness.

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

(1) the principal in respect of (A) indebtedness of such Person for money borrowed and (B) indebtedness evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds

 

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or other similar instruments for the payment of which such Person is responsible or liable, including, in each case, any premium on such indebtedness to the extent such premium has become due and payable;

(2) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person;

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

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

(5) the amount of all obligations of such Person with respect to the redemption, repayment or other repurchase of any Disqualified Stock of such Person or, with respect to any Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person, the principal amount of such Preferred Stock to be determined in accordance with this Indenture (but excluding, in each case, any accrued dividends) (and the term “Incur Indebtedness” and similar terms include issuances of such Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock);

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

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

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

(9) any guarantee by such Person of production or payment with respect to a Production Payment (but, for the avoidance of doubt, excluding all other obligations associated with such Production Payments, such as guarantees with respect to operation and maintenance of the related oil and gas properties in a prudent manner, delivery of the associated production (if required) and other such contractual obligations).

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, in connection with the purchase by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of any business, the term “Indebtedness” will exclude (i) any post-closing payment to which the seller or any of its Affiliates may become entitled to the extent such payment is determined by a final closing balance sheet or such payment depends on the performance of such business after the closing (“ Post-Closing Payments ”); provided , however , that, at the time of closing, the amount of any such payment is not determinable and, to the extent such payment thereafter becomes fixed and determined, the amount is paid within 60 days thereafter, (ii) accrued expenses and royalties arising in the ordinary course of business, (iii) obligations to satisfy customer prepayment arrangements arising in the ordinary course of business, (iv) asset retirement obligations, (v) obligations in respect of environmental reclamation or site rehabilitation, (vi) workers compensation obligations (including superannuation, pensions and retiree medical care) that are not overdue by more than 90 days, (vii) obligations under farm-in and farm-out agreements or operating agreements, (viii) obligations arising out of the endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business and (ix) customary indemnification obligations. In addition, except as expressly provided in clause (9) above, Production Payments and Reserve Sales shall not constitute “Indebtedness.”

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

Indenture ” means this Indenture as amended or supplemented from time to time.

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

Investment ” in any Person means any direct or indirect advance, loan (other than advances to customers in the ordinary course of business that are recorded as accounts receivable on the balance sheet of the lender) or other extensions of credit (including by way of Guarantee or similar arrangement) or capital contribution to (by means of any transfer of cash or other property to others or any payment for property or services for the account or use of others), or any purchase or acquisition for value of Capital Stock, Indebtedness or other similar instruments issued by, such Person. If the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary issues, sells or otherwise disposes of any Capital Stock of a Person that is a Restricted Subsidiary such that, after giving effect thereto, such Person is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary, any Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in such Person remaining after giving effect thereto will be deemed to be a new Investment at such time. Except as otherwise provided for herein, the amount of an Investment shall be its Fair Market Value at the time the Investment is made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value or write-ups, write-downs or write-offs with respect to such Investment.

 

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For purposes of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary,” the definition of “Restricted Payment” and Section 4.04:

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

(2) any property transferred to or from an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be valued at its Fair Market Value at the time of such transfer.

Investment Grade Rating ” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB– (or the equivalent) by Standard & Poor’s.

Issue Date ” means December 21, 2016.

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

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

Material Change ” means an increase or decrease (excluding changes that result solely from changes in prices and changes resulting from the incurrence of previously estimated development costs) of more than 30% during a fiscal quarter in the discounted future net revenues from proved oil and natural gas reserves of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, calculated in accordance with clause (1)(a) of the definition of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets; provided , however , that the following will be excluded from the calculation of Material Change:

(1) any acquisitions during the fiscal quarter of oil and natural gas reserves that have been estimated by independent petroleum engineers and with respect to which a report or reports of such engineers exist; and

(2) any disposition of properties existing at the beginning of such fiscal quarter that have been disposed of in compliance with Section 4.06.

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

Net Available Cash ” from an Asset Disposition means cash payments received therefrom (including any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or otherwise and proceeds from the sale or other disposition of any securities received as consideration, but only as and when received, but excluding any other consideration received in the form of assumption by the

 

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acquiring Person of Indebtedness or other obligations relating to such properties or assets or received in any other non-cash form), in each case net of:

(1) all accounting, engineering, investment banking, brokerage, legal, title and recording tax expenses, commissions and other fees and expenses incurred, and all Federal, state, provincial, foreign and local taxes required to be accrued as a liability under GAAP, as a consequence of such Asset Disposition, and any relocation expenses incurred or assumed in connection with such Asset Disposition;

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

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

(4) the deduction of appropriate amounts provided by the seller as a reserve for adjustment in respect of the sale price of the assets that were the subject of such Asset Disposition or as a reserve, in accordance with GAAP, against any liabilities associated with such assets and retained by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary after such Asset Disposition; and

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

Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that any or all of the Net Available Cash from an Asset Disposition made outside the United States of America is prohibited or delayed from being repatriated to the United States pursuant to applicable local law (or to the extent that the Board of Directors of the Company determines, in good faith, that repatriation of such Net Available Cash would have a material adverse tax consequence to the Company) despite reasonable effort by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary to exclude or release those funds from such restrictions or to avoid such tax, the portion of such Net Available Cash so affected shall be deemed excluded from Net Available Cash for so long as such restrictions or material adverse tax consequences exist.

Net Cash Proceeds ,” with respect to any issuance or sale of Capital Stock or Indebtedness, means the cash proceeds of such issuance or sale net of attorneys’ fees,

 

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accountants’ fees, underwriters’ or placement agents’ fees, discounts or commissions and brokerage, consultant and other fees actually incurred in connection with such issuance or sale and net of taxes paid or payable as a result thereof.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, all references herein to “Net Cash Proceeds” shall be deemed to mean cash in an amount equal to the amount of Net Cash Proceeds, but not necessarily the actual cash received from the relevant issuance or sale. The Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall have no obligation to segregate, trace or otherwise identify Net Cash Proceeds (other than the amount thereof), it being agreed that cash is fungible and that the Company’s obligations may be satisfied by the application of funds from other sources.

Net Working Capital ” of the Company means:

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

(2) all current liabilities of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, except current liabilities included in Indebtedness (including the Securities), current liabilities from commodity price risk management activities arising in the ordinary course of business, current liabilities recorded with respect to stock-based compensation and current liabilities that constitute estimated abandonment costs pursuant to ASC 410;

in each case, determined in accordance with GAAP.

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

Offering Circular ” means the final offering circular, dated December 15, 2016, relating to the offering of $600.0 million of 6.375% Senior Notes due 2025 issued on the Issue Date.

Officer ” means the Chairman of the Board, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, any Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Company.

Officers’ Certificate ” means a certificate signed by two Officers.

Oil and Gas Business ” means:

(1) the acquisition, exploration, exploitation, development, production, operation and disposition of interests in Hydrocarbon and Mineral Properties;

(2) the gathering, marketing, distribution, treating, processing, storage, refining, selling and transporting of any production from Hydrocarbon and Mineral Properties and the marketing of Hydrocarbons and Minerals obtained therefrom and from unrelated Persons;

 

23


(3) any business or activity relating to or arising from exploration for or exploitation, development, production, treatment, processing, storage, refining, transportation, gathering or marketing of Hydrocarbons and Minerals;

(4) any business relating to oilfield services and any other business providing assets or services used or useful in connection with the activities described in clauses (1) through (3) of this definition, including the sale, leasing, ownership or operation of drilling rigs, fracturing units or other assets used or useful in any such business; and

(5) any activity necessary, appropriate or incidental to the activities described in the preceding clauses (1) through (4) of this definition.

Oil and Gas Liens ” means:

(1) Liens on any specific property or any interest therein, construction thereon or improvement thereto or products or proceeds thereof to secure all or any part of the costs (other than Indebtedness) incurred for surveying, exploration, drilling, extraction, development, operation, production, construction, alteration, repair or improvement of, in, under or on such property and the plugging and abandonment of wells located thereon (it being understood that, in the case of oil and gas producing properties, or any interest therein, costs incurred for “development” will include costs incurred for all facilities relating to such properties or to projects, ventures or other arrangements of which such properties form a part or that relate to such properties or interests);

(2) Liens on Hydrocarbon and Mineral Properties and Hydrocarbons and Minerals to secure obligations incurred or Guarantees of obligations incurred (in each case, other than Indebtedness) in connection with or necessarily incidental to commitments for the purchase or sale of, or the transportation or distribution of, Hydrocarbons and Minerals;

(3) Liens arising under partnership agreements, oil and gas leases and subleases, overriding royalty agreements, net profits agreements, production payment agreements, royalty trust agreements, incentive compensation programs on terms that are reasonably customary in the Oil and Gas Business for geologists, geophysicists and other providers of technical services to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, farm-out agreements, farm-in agreements, division orders, contracts for the sale, purchase, exchange, transportation, gathering or processing of Hydrocarbons and Minerals, unitizations and pooling designations, declarations, orders and agreements, development agreements, joint venture agreements, working interests, joint interest billing arrangements, production sale contracts, operating agreements, marketing agreements, royalty agreements, gas balancing or deferred production agreements, production sharing agreements, area

 

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of mutual interests agreements, injection, repressuring and recycling agreements, salt water or other disposal agreements, seismic or geophysical permits or agreements, licenses and sublicenses, and other agreements that are customary in the Oil and Gas Business; provided , however , that in all instances such Liens are limited to the assets that are the subject of the relevant agreement, program, order or contract;

(4) Liens securing Production Payments and Reserve Sales; provided , however , that such Liens are limited to the property that is subject to such Production Payments and Reserve Sales, and such Production Payments and Reserve Sales either:

 

  (a) were in existence on the Issue Date,

 

  (b) were created in connection with the acquisition of property after the Issue Date and such Lien was incurred in connection with the financing of, and within 180 days after, the acquisition of the property subject thereto, or

 

  (c) constitute Asset Dispositions made in compliance with Section 4.06; and

(5) Liens on pipelines or pipelines facilities that arise by operation of law.

Oil and Natural Gas Hedging Contract ” means futures contract, swap, option, floor, cap, collar, forward sale, forward purchase or other agreement or arrangement relating to, or the value of which is dependent upon, crude oil, condensate, natural gas, natural gas liquids or other Hydrocarbons and Minerals, steam, electricity, by-products of the utilization of Hydrocarbons and Minerals or other assets commonly created, recovered, produced or used in the Oil and Gas Business or revenues or costs (including basis) associated with the Oil and Gas Business, and equities, bonds, or indices based on any of the foregoing and any other derivative agreement or arrangement based on any of the foregoing.

Opinion of Counsel ” means a written opinion from legal counsel who is acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or the Trustee.

Permitted Business Investments ” means Investments made in the ordinary course of, and of a nature that is or shall have become customary in, the Oil and Gas Business, either generally or in the particular geographical location or industry segment in which such Investment is made, in each case as determined in good faith by the Company, including investments or expenditures for actively exploiting, exploring for, acquiring, developing, producing, processing, gathering, marketing, transporting or otherwise dealing with Hydrocarbons and Minerals or Hydrocarbon and Mineral Properties (including with respect to plugging and abandonment) through agreements, transactions, interests or arrangements that permit one to share risk or costs, comply with

 

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regulatory requirements regarding local ownership or satisfy other objectives customarily achieved through the conduct of the Oil and Gas Business jointly with third parties, including:

(1) ownership of Hydrocarbon and Mineral Properties or any interest therein or gathering, transportation, processing, storage or related systems or ancillary real or personal property interests (including intellectual property), either directly or indirectly, including through entities the primary business of which is to own or operate any of the foregoing;

(2) the entry into and Investments in the form of or pursuant to operating agreements, joint ventures, processing agreements, working interests, royalty interests, mineral leases, farm-in agreements, farm-out agreements, development agreements, production sharing agreements, production sales and marketing agreements, area of mutual interest agreements, contracts for the sale, transportation or exchange of Hydrocarbons and Minerals, unitization agreements, pooling arrangements, joint bidding agreements, service contracts, partnership agreements (whether general or limited), subscription agreements, stock purchase agreements, stockholder agreements or other similar or customary agreements (including for limited liability companies), incentive compensation programs for geologists, geophysicists and other providers of technical services, and other similar or customary agreements, transactions, properties, interests or arrangements, and Investments and expenditures in connection therewith or pursuant thereto, in each case made or entered into in the ordinary course of the Oil and Gas Business; and

(3) direct or indirect ownership interests in drilling rigs, fracturing units, vehicles, vessels and other equipment customarily used or useful in the Oil and Gas Business.

Permitted Grizzly Disposition ” means a sale, lease, transfer or other disposition or issuance of any or all (or substantially all) of the Capital Stock or assets of Grizzly Holdings.

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

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

(2) another Person if, as a result of such Investment, such other Person is merged or consolidated with or into, or transfers or conveys all or substantially all its assets to, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary; provided , however , that such Person’s primary business is a Related Business;

(3) cash and Temporary Cash Investments;

 

26


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

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

(6) extensions of credit to employees, officers, directors, customers and suppliers made in the ordinary course of business of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary;

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

(8) any Person to the extent such Investment represents the non-cash portion of the consideration received for (i) an Asset Disposition as permitted pursuant to Section 4.06 or (ii) a disposition of assets not constituting an Asset Disposition;

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

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

(11) any Person to the extent such Investments consist of Hedging Obligations not prohibited by Section 4.03;

(12) any extension, modification, exchange, conversion or renewal of an Investment or any Investment constituting proceeds of, or made with proceeds of, the disposition of an Investment, but in each case only to the extent not involving additional advances, contributions or other Investments of cash or other assets or other increases thereof (other than as a result of the appreciation, accrual or accretion of interest or original issue discount or the issuance of pay-in-kind securities, in each case, pursuant to the terms of such original Investment);

 

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

(14) Permitted Business Investments;

(15) Guarantees issued or made in accordance with Section 4.03 other than Guarantees of Indebtedness of an Affiliate of the Company that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

(16) obligations of one or more officers, directors, or employees of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such individual’s acquisition of shares of Capital Stock of the Company (and Refinancings of the principal thereof and accrued interest thereon) so long as no net cash is paid by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to such individuals in connection with the acquisition of any such obligations;

(17) Investments acquired after the Issue Date as a result of the acquisition by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of another Person, including by way of a merger, amalgamation, or consolidation with or into the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, in a transaction that is not prohibited by Section 5.01 to the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation;

(18) advances and prepayments for asset purchases in the ordinary course of business;

(19) Grizzly Oils Sands ULC in the amounts required by, or Grizzly Holdings in amounts sufficient to permit Grizzly Holdings to make the Investments required by, the Grizzly Sponsor Contribution Agreement;

(20) any Person to the extent consisting of Capital Stock of Grizzly Holdings or assets received from Grizzly Holdings;

(21) Investments received in connection with a Permitted Grizzly Disposition; and

(22) Persons to the extent that, at the time of each such Investment, the aggregate amount of such Investments made during each period ending December 31 after October 17, 2012, beginning with the period starting on October 17, 2012 and ending on December 31, 2012, and continuing thereafter with calendar years, when taken together with all other Investments made after October 17, 2012 and during such period pursuant to this clause (22), does not exceed the greater of $100.0 million and 4.0% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, determined as of the date of such Investment.

 

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For purposes of this definition, in the event that a proposed Investment (or portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Investments described in clauses (1) through (22) above, the Company will be entitled to classify (but not reclassify) such Investment (or portion thereof) in one or more of such categories set forth above, but, notwithstanding the foregoing, any Investment made in a Person pursuant to clause (22) above may be reclassified as outstanding under clause (1) above (and no longer outstanding under clause (22) above) if such Person thereafter becomes a Restricted Subsidiary.

Permitted Liens ” means, with respect to any Person:

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

(2) (a) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business (other than in connection with Indebtedness) or imposed by law, such as carriers’, operators’, repairmens’, vendors’, suppliers’, workers’, landlords’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’ and construction Liens, in each case for sums not yet overdue for more than 60 days or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (b) Liens arising out of judgments or awards against such Person with respect to which such Person shall then be proceeding with an appeal or other proceedings for review or which do not constitute an Event of Default, (c) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business (other than in connection with Indebtedness) relating to banker’s Liens, rights of set-off, rights of revocation, refund, chargeback or similar rights and remedies as to deposit accounts, instruments or other funds maintained with a creditor depository institution; provided, however, that such deposit account is not a dedicated cash collateral account and is not subject to restrictions against access by the Company in excess of those set forth by regulations promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board and (d) notices of lis pendens and associated rights related to litigation being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been made;

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

 

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

(5) survey exceptions, encumbrances, servitudes, permits, conditions, covenants, ground leases, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights-of-way, roads, pipelines, transmission lines, transportation lines, distribution lines for the removal of gas, oil, coal or other minerals or timber, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar purposes, or for the joint or common use of real estate rights of way, facilities and equipment, Liens related to surface leases and surface operations, or zoning or other restrictions (including minor defects or irregularities in title and similar encumbrances) as to the use of real property or Liens that were not Incurred in connection with Indebtedness and that do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of said properties or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of such Person;

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

(7) prior to the Termination Date, Liens to secure Indebtedness permitted under the provisions described in Section 4.03(b)(1) and related obligations;

(8) Liens existing on the Issue Date (other than Liens Incurred to secure obligations under the Existing Credit Agreement);

(9) Liens on property or shares of Capital Stock of another Person at the time such other Person becomes a Subsidiary of such Person (other than a Lien Incurred in connection with, or to provide all or any portion of the funds or credit support utilized to consummate, the transaction or series of transactions pursuant to which such Person becomes a Subsidiary); provided , however , that the Liens may not extend to any other property owned by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than assets and property affixed or appurtenant thereto and improvements, additions and accessions thereto and proceeds and distributions thereof);

 

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(10) Liens on property at the time such Person or any of its Subsidiaries acquires the property, including any acquisition by means of a merger or consolidation with or into such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person (other than a Lien Incurred in connection with, or to provide all or any portion of the funds or credit support utilized to consummate, the transaction or series of transactions pursuant to which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries acquired such property); provided , however , that the Liens may not extend to any other property owned by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than assets and property affixed or appurtenant thereto and improvements, additions and accessions thereto and proceeds and distributions thereof);

(11) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations owing to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;

(12) Liens securing Hedging Obligations so long as such Hedging Obligations are not prohibited by Section 4.03;

(13) Oil and Gas Liens;

(14) Liens securing the Securities or any Subsidiary Guarantee;

(15) Liens on the Capital Stock of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

 

  (16) Liens arising under this Indenture in favor of the Trustee for its own benefit and similar Liens in favor of other trustees, agents and representatives arising under instruments governing Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred under this Indenture; provided , however , that such Liens are solely for the benefit of the trustees, agents, or representatives in their capacities as such and not for the benefit of the holders of such Indebtedness;

(17) Liens arising from the deposit of funds, cash equivalents or securities or other property in trust for the purpose of decreasing, discharging, redeeming or defeasing Indebtedness so long as such deposit of funds, cash equivalents or securities or other property and such decreasing, discharging, redeeming or defeasing of Indebtedness are not prohibited by Section 4.04;

(18) Liens to secure any Refinancing (or successive Refinancings) as a whole, or in part, of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien referred to in clauses (6), (8), (9), (10) or (14) of this definition; provided , however , that:

 

  (A) such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property and assets that secured or, under the written agreements pursuant to which the original Lien arose, could have secured the original Lien (plus assets or property affixed or appurtenant thereto, improvements, additions and accessions thereto and proceeds and distributions thereof); and

 

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  (B) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (x) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of such Indebtedness at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien and (y) an amount necessary to pay accrued but unpaid interest and any fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such Refinancing;

 

  (19) Liens Incurred to secure cash management services in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (20) Liens on assets pursuant to merger agreements, stock or asset purchase agreements and similar agreements limiting the disposition of such assets pending the closing of the transactions contemplated thereby;

 

  (21) Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of the premiums with respect thereto;

 

  (22) Liens on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement;

 

  (23) prior to the Termination Date, Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 4.03(b)(14) to the extent such Liens extend only to the assets that are the subject of the agreements described in such Section 4.03(b)(14);

 

  (24) any interest or title of a lessor under any lease;

 

  (25) Liens encumbering property or assets under construction arising from progress or partial payments by a customer of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries relating to such property or assets;

 

  (26) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods;

 

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

 

  (28) any encumbrance or restriction (including put and call arrangements) with respect to Capital Stock of any joint venture or any interest acquired pursuant to a Permitted Business Investment;

 

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  (29) Liens (A) on advances of cash or Temporary Cash Investments in favor of the seller of any asset to be acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to be applied against the purchase price for such asset, (B) consisting of an agreement to dispose of any property in a disposition not prohibited by this Indenture and (C) on cash earnest money deposits made by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement not prohibited by this Indenture;

 

  (30) Liens reserved in oil and gas mineral leases for bonus or rental payments and for compliance with the terms of such leases;

 

  (31) prior to the Termination Date, other Liens to the extent that, at the time of each such incurrence, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the obligations secured thereby does not exceed the greater of (a) 4.0% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets determined as of the date of such incurrence and (b) $100.0 million at any one time outstanding; and

 

  (32) from and after the Termination Date, other Liens to the extent that, at the time of each such incurrence, the aggregate outstanding principal or face amount of the obligations secured thereby does not exceed the greater of (a) 15.0% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets determined as of the date of such incurrence, and (b) the aggregate principal or face amount of obligations outstanding on the Termination Date and at such time secured by Liens permitted under this definition of Permitted Liens clauses (7), (23) and (31).

In each case set forth above and in the definition of the term “Oil and Gas Liens,” notwithstanding any stated limitation on the assets or property that may be subject to such Lien, a Permitted Lien or an Oil and Gas Lien on a specified asset or property or group or type of assets or property may include Liens on all improvements, repairs, additions, attachments and accessions thereto, assets and property affixed or appurtenant thereto, construction thereon, parts, replacements and substitutions therefor, and all products and proceeds thereof, including dividends, distributions, interest and increases in respect thereof.

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

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

 

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

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

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

Purchase Money Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness (including Capital Lease Obligations) (1) consisting of the deferred purchase price of property, conditional sale obligations, obligations under any title retention agreement, other purchase money obligations and obligations in respect of industrial revenue bonds or similar Indebtedness, in each case where the maturity of such Indebtedness does not exceed the anticipated useful life of the asset being financed, and (2) Incurred to finance the purchase, lease or improvement by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of such property; provided , however , that such Indebtedness is Incurred within 180 days after such acquisition of such property.

Qualifying Equity Offering ” means the issuance after the Issue Date of Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) to any Person or Persons other than a Subsidiary of the Company.

Quotation Agent ” means the Reference Treasury Dealer appointed by the Company.

Reference Treasury Dealer ” means Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and their respective successors or affiliates and assigns and one other nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Company that is a primary U.S. Government securities dealer.

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

Refinance ” means, in respect of any Indebtedness, to refinance or refund or to issue other Indebtedness in exchange or replacement for, such Indebtedness (whether contemporaneously with the satisfaction of such Indebtedness or within 180 days of such satisfaction). “Refinanced” and “Refinancing” shall have correlative meanings.

 

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Refinancing Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness that Refinances any Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary existing on the Issue Date or Incurred in compliance with this Indenture, including Indebtedness that Refinances Refinancing Indebtedness; provided , however , that:

(1) such Refinancing Indebtedness has a Stated Maturity no earlier than the earlier of (a) the date 367 days after the Stated Maturity of the Securities and (b) the Stated Maturity of the Indebtedness being Refinanced;

(2) such Refinancing Indebtedness has an Average Life at the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is Incurred that is equal to or greater than the lesser of (a) the Average Life of the Securities at such time plus 367 days and (b) the Average Life of the Indebtedness being Refinanced;

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

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

provided further , however , that Refinancing Indebtedness shall not include (A) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor that Refinances Indebtedness of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor and (B) Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary that Refinances Indebtedness of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

Registration Rights Agreement ” means the Registration Rights Agreement dated the Issue Date, among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the initial purchasers.

Related Business ” means any Oil and Gas Business, any business in which the Company, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any Person in which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary had an Investment was engaged on the Issue Date, and any business related, ancillary or complementary to any of the foregoing.

 

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Restricted Payment ” with respect to any Person means:

(1) the declaration or payment, without duplication, of any dividends or any other distributions of any sort in respect of its Capital Stock (including any payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving such Person) or similar payment to the direct or indirect holders of its Capital Stock (other than (A) dividends or distributions payable solely in its Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock), (B) dividends or distributions payable to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary and (C) to the holders of any class of its Capital Stock on a pro rata basis, dividends or other distributions made by a Subsidiary);

(2) the purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Capital Stock of the Company held by any Person (other than by a Restricted Subsidiary) or of any Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary held by any Affiliate of the Company (other than by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary and other than transactions involving all holders of any class of Capital Stock of such Restricted Subsidiary on a pro rata basis), including in connection with any merger or consolidation and including the exercise of any option to exchange any Capital Stock (other than into Capital Stock of the Company that is not Disqualified Stock);

(3) the purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value, prior to scheduled maturity, scheduled repayment or scheduled sinking fund payment of any Subordinated Obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor (other than (A) Subordinated Obligations held by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary and (B) the purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Obligations purchased in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of such purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement); or

(4) the making of any Investment (other than a Permitted Investment) in any Person.

Restricted Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of the Company that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

Sale/Leaseback Transaction ” means an arrangement relating to property owned by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary on the Issue Date or thereafter acquired by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary whereby the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary transfers such property to a Person (other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) and thereafter the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary leases it from such Person.

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

Securities ” means the Initial Securities, the Exchange Securities, the Private Exchange Securities and any Additional Securities, treated as a single class.

 

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

Senior Indebtedness ” means with respect to any Person:

(1) Indebtedness of such Person, whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter Incurred; and

(2) all other Obligations of such Person (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to such Person whether or not post-filing interest is allowed in such proceeding) in respect of Indebtedness described in clause (1) above

unless, in the case of clauses (1) and (2), in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding, it is provided that such Indebtedness or other Obligations are subordinate in right of payment to the Securities or the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Person, as the case may be; provided , however , that Senior Indebtedness shall not include:

(A) any obligation of such Person to the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company;

(B) any liability for Federal, state, local or other taxes owed or owing by such Person;

(C) any accounts payable or other liability to trade creditors arising in the ordinary course of business;

(D) any Indebtedness or other Obligation of such Person that is subordinate in right of payment to any other Indebtedness or other Obligation of such Person; or

(E) that portion of any Indebtedness that at the time of Incurrence was Incurred in violation of this Indenture.

Significant Subsidiary ” means any Restricted Subsidiary that would be a “Significant Subsidiary” of the Company within the meaning of Rule 1-02 under Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC.

Standard  & Poor’s ” means Standard & Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and any successor to its rating agency business.

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

 

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Subordinated Obligation ” means, with respect to a Person, any Indebtedness of such Person (whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter Incurred) that is subordinate in right of payment to the Securities or a Subsidiary Guarantee of such Person, as the case may be, pursuant to a written agreement to that effect.

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, association, partnership or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Voting Stock is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by (1) such Person, (2) such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or (3) one or more Subsidiaries of such Person.

Unless otherwise specified, “Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary of the Company.

Subsidiary Guarantee ” means a Guarantee by a Subsidiary Guarantor of the Company’s obligations with respect to the Securities.

Subsidiary Guarantor ” means each Subsidiary of the Company that executes this Indenture as a guarantor and each other Subsidiary of the Company that thereafter Guarantees the Securities pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, in each case unless and until such Subsidiary is released from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

Temporary Cash Investments ” means any of the following:

(1) any investment in direct obligations of the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof or obligations guaranteed by the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof;

(2) investments in demand and time deposit accounts, bankers’ acceptances, overnight bank deposits, certificates of deposit and money market deposits maturing within 12 months of the date of acquisition thereof issued by a bank or trust company which is organized under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or any foreign country recognized by the United States of America, and which bank or trust company has capital, surplus and undivided profits aggregating in excess of $500.0 million (or the foreign currency equivalent thereof) and has outstanding debt which is rated “A” (or such similar equivalent rating) or higher by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization (registered pursuant Section 15E of the Exchange Act) or any money-market fund sponsored by a registered broker dealer or mutual fund distributor;

(3) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than 180 days for underlying securities of the types described in clause (1) above entered into with a bank or trust company meeting the qualifications described in clause (2) above;

(4) investments in commercial paper issued by a corporation (other than an Affiliate of the Company) organized and in existence under the laws of

 

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the United States of America or any foreign country recognized by the United States of America with a rating at the time as of which any investment therein is made of “P-1” (or higher) according to Moody’s or “A-1” (or higher) according to Standard and Poor’s;

(5) investments in securities with maturities of nine months or less from the date of acquisition issued or fully guaranteed by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States of America, or by any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof, and, at the time of acquisition, rated at least “A” by Standard & Poor’s or “A” by Moody’s (or equivalent ratings by any other nationally recognized rating agency);

(6) investments in money market funds that invest substantially all their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (1) through (5) above; and

(7) investments in deposits available for withdrawal on demand with any commercial bank or similar institution that is organized under the laws of any country in which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary maintains an office or is engaged in the Oil and Gas Business, provided , however , that (i) all such deposits have been made in such accounts in the ordinary course of business and (ii) such deposits do not at any one time exceed $5.0 million in the aggregate.

Trustee ” means Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. until a successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor.

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

Trust Officer ” means the Chairman of the Board, the President or any other officer or assistant officer of the Trustee assigned by the Trustee to administer its corporate trust matters.

Uniform Commercial Code ” means the New York Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time.

Unrestricted Subsidiary ” means:

(1) any Subsidiary of the Company that at the time of determination shall be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Board of Directors in the manner provided below;

(2) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary; and

(3) Grizzly Holdings;

in each case unless and until such time as such Subsidiary is designated a Restricted Subsidiary for the purposes of this Indenture. The Board of Directors may designate any

 

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Subsidiary of the Company (including any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries owns any Capital Stock or Indebtedness of, or holds any Lien on any property of, the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated; provided , however , that either (A) the Subsidiary to be so designated has total assets of $1,000 or less or (B) if such Subsidiary has assets greater than $1,000, such designation would not be prohibited by Section 4.04 (the amount of any such Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment being calculated in the manner set forth in the definition of the term “Investment”).

The Board of Directors may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided , however , that immediately after giving effect to such designation (A) the Company could Incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness under Section 4.03(a) and (B) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing. Any such designation by the Board of Directors shall be evidenced to the Trustee by promptly filing with the Trustee a copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors giving effect to such designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing provisions.

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

Volumetric Production Payments ” means production payment obligations recorded as deferred revenue in accordance with GAAP, together with all undertakings and obligations in connection therewith.

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

Wholly Owned Subsidiary ” means a Restricted Subsidiary all the Capital Stock of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares and shares required by applicable law to be held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) is owned by the Company or one or more other Wholly Owned Subsidiaries.

 

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SECTION 1.02. Other Definitions .

 

Term

   Defined in
Section

Affiliate Transaction

   4.07(a)

Appendix

   2.01

Asset Disposition Offer

   4.06(b)

Change of Control Offer

   4.09(b)

Change of Control Purchase Price

   4.09(b)(1)

Commission

   1.03

covenant defeasance option

   8.01(b)

Event of Default

   6.01

Exchange Securities

   Appendix
Section 1.1

Guaranteed Obligations

   10.01(a)

indenture securities

   1.03

indenture security holder

   1.03

indenture to be qualified

   1.03

indenture trustee

   1.03

Initial Lien

   4.10

Initial Securities

   Appendix
Section 1.1

legal defeasance option

   8.01(b)

Offer Amount

   4.06(c)(2)

Offer Period

   4.06(c)(2)

Paying Agent

   2.03

Post-Closing Payments

   1.01
(“Indebtedness”)

Private Exchange Securities

   Appendix
Section 1.1

Purchase Date

   4.06(c)(1)

Registrar

   2.03

Successor Company

   5.01(a)(1)

Termination Date

   4.15(a)

 

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SECTION 1.03. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act. This Indenture is subject to the mandatory provisions of the Trust Indenture Act which are incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following Trust Indenture Act terms have the following meanings:

Commission ” means the SEC;

indenture securities ” means the Securities and the Subsidiary Guarantees;

indenture security holder ” means a Securityholder;

indenture to be qualified ” means this Indenture;

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

obligor ” on the indenture securities means the Company, each Subsidiary Guarantor and any other obligor on the indenture securities.

All other Trust Indenture Act terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the Trust Indenture Act, defined by Trust Indenture Act reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule have the meanings assigned to them by such definitions.

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

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

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

(3) “or” is not exclusive;

(4) “including” means including without limitation;

 

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

(6) Indebtedness shall not be considered subordinate in right of payment to any other Indebtedness solely by virtue of being unsecured, secured with a subset of the collateral securing such other Indebtedness or with different collateral, secured to a lesser extent or secured with lower priority, by virtue of structural subordination, by virtue of maturity date, order of payment or order of application of funds, or by virtue of not being guaranteed by all guarantors of such other Indebtedness, and any subordination in right of payment must be pursuant to a written agreement or instrument;

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

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

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

Article 2

The Securities

SECTION 2.01. Form and Dating. Provisions relating to the Initial Securities, the Private Exchange Securities and the Exchange 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 Initial Securities and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication 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 Exchange Securities, the Private Exchange Securities and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The Securities may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule, agreements to which the Company is subject, if any, or usage (provided that any such notation, legend or endorsement is in a form acceptable to the Company). Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication. The terms of the Securities set forth in the Appendix and Exhibit A are part of the terms of this Indenture.

SECTION 2.02. Execution and Authentication. Two Officers shall sign the Securities for the Company by manual or facsimile signature. The Company’s seal shall be impressed, affixed, imprinted or reproduced on the Securities and may be in facsimile form.

 

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If an Officer whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Security, the Security shall be valid nevertheless.

A Security shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee manually signs the certificate of authentication on the Security. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this Indenture.

On the Issue Date, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver $600.0 million of 6.375% Senior Notes due 2025 and, at any time and from time to time thereafter, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver Securities for original issue in an aggregate principal amount specified in such order, in each case upon a written order of the Company signed by two Officers or by an Officer and either an Assistant Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary of the Company. Such order shall specify the amount of the Securities to be authenticated and the date on which the original issue of Securities is to be authenticated and, in the case of an issuance of Additional Securities pursuant to Section 2.13 after the Issue Date, shall certify that such issuance is in compliance with Section 4.03.

The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent reasonably acceptable to the Company to authenticate the 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 as any Registrar, Paying Agent or agent for service of notices and demands.

SECTION 2.03. 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 payment (the “ Paying Agent ”). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Securities and of their transfer and exchange. The Company may have one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent.

The Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Registrar, Paying Agent or co-registrar not a party to this Indenture, which shall incorporate the terms of the Trust Indenture Act. 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. 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 Wholly Owned Subsidiary incorporated or organized within The United States of America may act as Paying Agent, Registrar, co-registrar or transfer agent.

The Company initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar and Paying Agent in connection with the Securities.

 

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SECTION 2.04. Paying Agent To Hold Money in Trust. Prior to each due date of the principal and interest on any Security, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such principal and interest when so becoming due. 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 Securityholders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of or 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. 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 2.05. Securityholder 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 Securityholders. 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 Securityholders.

SECTION 2.06. Transfer and Exchange. The Securities shall be issued in registered form and shall be transferable only upon the surrender of a Security for registration of transfer. When a Security is presented to the Registrar or a co-registrar with a request to register a transfer, the Registrar shall register the transfer as requested if the requirements of this Indenture and Section 8-401(a) of the Uniform Commercial Code are met. When Securities are presented to the Registrar or a co-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.

SECTION 2.07. 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 requirements of Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code are met and the Holder satisfies any other reasonable requirements of the Trustee. If required by the Trustee or the Company, such Holder shall furnish an indemnity bond sufficient in the judgment of the Company and the Trustee to protect the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar and any co-registrar from any loss which any of them may suffer if a Security is replaced. The Company and the Trustee may charge the Holder for their expenses in replacing a Security.

Every replacement Security is an additional Obligation of the Company.

SECTION 2.08. 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

 

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outstanding. A Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Security, but, in certain circumstances, Section 11.06 provides that certain Securities shall be disregarded.

If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee and the Company receive proof satisfactory to them that the replaced Security is held by a protected purchaser (as defined in Section 8-303 of the Uniform Commercial Code).

If the Paying Agent segregates and holds in trust, in accordance with this Indenture, on a redemption date or 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.

SECTION 2.09. Temporary Securities. Until definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Securities. Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of definitive Securities but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate definitive Securities and deliver them in exchange for temporary Securities.

SECTION 2.10. 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 destroy (subject to the record retention requirements of the Exchange Act) all Securities surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment or cancellation and deliver a certificate of such destruction to the Company unless the Company directs the Trustee to deliver canceled Securities to the Company. The Company may not issue new Securities to replace Securities it has redeemed, paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

SECTION 2.11. 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) in any lawful manner. The Company may pay the defaulted interest to the Persons who are Securityholders 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, when the Securities are represented by Global Securities, cause the Depository to send electronically pursuant to its applicable procedures) to each Securityholder a notice that states the special record date, the payment date and the amount of defaulted interest to be paid.

SECTION 2.12. CUSIP Numbers, ISINs, etc.  The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers, ISINs and “Common Code” numbers (in each case if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers,

 

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ISINs and “Common Code” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided , however , that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company shall advise the Trustee in writing of any change in any “CUSIP” numbers, ISINs or “Common Code” numbers applicable to the Securities.

SECTION 2.13. Issuance of Additional Securities. After the Issue Date, the Company shall be entitled, subject to its compliance with Section 4.03, to issue Additional Securities under this Indenture, which Securities shall have identical terms as the Initial Securities issued on the Issue Date, other than with respect to the date of issuance and issue price. All the Securities issued under this Indenture shall be treated as a single class for all purposes of this Indenture including waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase.

With respect to any Additional Securities, the Company shall set forth in a resolution of the Board of Directors and an Officers’ Certificate and, if the Company so elects, a supplemental indenture, a copy of each which shall be delivered to the Trustee, the following information:

(1) the aggregate principal amount of such Additional Securities to be authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture and the provision of Section 4.03 that the Company is relying on to issue such Additional Securities;

(2) the issue price, the issue date and the CUSIP number of such Additional Securities; provided , however , that a separate CUSIP number will be issued for any Additional Securities if the Securities and the Additional Securities are not fungible for U.S. federal income tax purposes; and

(3) whether such Additional Securities shall be Initial Securities or shall be issued in the form of Exchange Securities as set forth in Exhibit A.

Article 3

Redemption

SECTION 3.01. Notices to Trustee. If the Company elects to redeem Securities pursuant to paragraph 5 of the Securities, it shall notify the Trustee in writing of the redemption date, the principal amount of Securities to be redeemed and the paragraph of the Securities or this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption will occur.

The Company shall give each notice to the Trustee provided for in this Section at least 60 days before the redemption date unless the Trustee consents to a shorter period. Such notice shall be accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel from the Company to the effect that such redemption will comply with the conditions herein.

 

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SECTION 3.02. Selection of Securities to Be Redeemed. If fewer than all the Securities are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed on a pro rata basis to the extent practicable and in accordance with the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository. The Trustee shall make the selection from outstanding Securities not previously called for redemption. Securities and portions of them the Trustee selects shall be in principal amounts of $2,000 or any greater integral multiple of $1,000 thereof. Securities of $2,000 or less shall be redeemed in whole and not in part. 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 to be redeemed.

SECTION 3.03. Notice of Redemption. At least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a date for redemption of Securities, the Company shall cause a notice of redemption to be sent to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed at such Holder’s registered address, except that redemption notices may be sent more than 60 days prior to the redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Securities or a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture. Any inadvertent defect in the notice of redemption, including an inadvertent failure to give notice, to any Holder selected for redemption shall not impair or affect the validity of the redemption of any other Security redeemed in accordance with provisions of this Indenture.

The notice shall identify the Securities to be redeemed and shall state:

(1) the redemption date;

(2) the redemption price;

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

(4) that Securities called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;

(5) if fewer than all the outstanding Securities are to be redeemed, the identification and principal amounts of the particular Securities to be redeemed;

(6) that, unless the Company defaults in making such redemption payment, interest on Securities (or portion thereof) called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;

(7) the “CUSIP” number, ISIN or “Common Code” number, if any, printed on the Securities being redeemed;

(8) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the “CUSIP” number, ISIN, or “Common Code” number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Securities; and

 

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(9) if the notice of redemption is subject to one or more conditions precedent as provided in Section 3.04, a statement to that effect and a description of such condition or conditions.

At the Company’s request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at the Company’s expense. In such event, the Company shall provide the Trustee with the information required by this Section.

SECTION 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption. Once notice of redemption is sent, Securities called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price stated in the notice; provided that notice of any redemption in connection with any Qualifying Equity Offering or other securities offering or any other financing, or in connection with a transaction (or a series of related transactions) that constitute a Change of Control, may, at the Company’s discretion, be given prior to the completion thereof and be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including completion of the related Qualifying Equity Offering, securities offering, financing or Change of Control. If a redemption is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, the redemption date may be delayed up to 10 Business Days; provided that if such conditions precedent are not satisfied within 10 Business Days of the proposed redemption date, such redemption shall not occur and the notice thereof shall be rescinded. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Securities shall be paid at the redemption price stated in the notice, plus accrued interest to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the related interest payment date), and such Securities shall be canceled by the Trustee.

SECTION 3.05. Deposit of Redemption Price. Prior to 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) money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on all Securities to be redeemed on that date other than Securities or portions of Securities called for redemption which have been delivered by the Company to the Trustee for cancellation.

SECTION 3.06. Securities Redeemed in Part. Upon surrender of a Security that is redeemed in part, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder (at the Company’s expense) a new Security equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Security surrendered.

Article 4

Covenants

SECTION 4.01. Payment of Securities. The Company shall promptly pay the principal of and interest on the Securities on the dates and in the manner provided in the Securities and in this Indenture. Principal and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if on such date the Trustee or the Paying Agent holds in accordance with this Indenture money sufficient to pay all principal and interest then due.

 

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

SECTION 4.02. SEC Reports. Whether or not the Company is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company shall file with or furnish to the SEC, as applicable, subject to the next sentence, and provide the Trustee and Securityholders with, such annual and other reports as are specified in Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act and applicable to a U.S. corporation subject to such Sections (but without exhibits in the case of reports provided to Holders), such reports to be so filed and provided at the times specified for the filings of such reports under such Sections (after giving effect to all applicable extensions and cure periods) and containing all the information, audit reports and exhibits required for such reports.

If, at any time, the Company is not subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act for any reason, the Company shall nevertheless continue filing the reports specified in the preceding sentence with the SEC within such time periods unless the SEC will not accept such a filing. The Company agrees that it will not take any action for the purpose of causing the SEC not to accept such filings. If, notwithstanding the foregoing, the SEC will not accept such filings for any reason, the Company will post the reports specified in the preceding sentence on its website within the time periods (after giving effect to all applicable extensions and cure periods) that would apply if the Company were required to file those reports with the SEC.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the immediately preceding paragraph, if the Company is not required to file reports with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, (i.e., is a “voluntary filer”), the reports described in the preceding paragraph shall not be required to contain certain disclosures relating to the Company’s controls and procedures, corporate governance, code of ethics, director independence, market for the Company’s equity securities and executive compensation.

At any time that any of the Company’s Subsidiaries are Unrestricted Subsidiaries, then the quarterly and annual financial information required by the preceding paragraph will include a reasonably detailed presentation, either on the face of the financial statements or in the footnotes thereto, and in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” of the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition and results of operations of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the Company.

In addition, the Company shall furnish to the Holders of the Securities and to prospective investors, upon the requests of such Holders, any information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act so long as the Securities are not freely transferable under the Securities Act.

 

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The Company also shall comply with the other provisions of Trust Indenture Act § 314(a).

The Company shall be deemed to have furnished such reports to the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities if it has filed such reports with the SEC using the EDGAR (or any successor) filing system and such reports are publicly available through such filing system.

In the event that any direct or indirect parent company of the Company becomes a guarantor of the Securities, the Company may satisfy its obligations under this covenant by furnishing financial information relating to such parent; provided , however , that (a) such financial statements are accompanied by consolidating financial information for such parent, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Subsidiaries of the Company that are not Subsidiary Guarantors in the manner prescribed by the SEC and (b) such parent is not engaged in any business in any material respect other than incidental to its ownership, directly or indirectly, of the Capital Stock of the Company.

So long as any Securities are outstanding, the Company shall also:

(1) as promptly as reasonably practicable after filing with the SEC or posting the annual and quarterly reports required by the first paragraph of this Section 4.02, hold a conference call to discuss such reports and the results of operations for the relevant reporting period; and

(2) issue a press release to the appropriate nationally recognized wire services prior to the date of the conference call required to be held in accordance with clause (1) of this paragraph, announcing the time and date of such conference call and including all information necessary to access the call.

This covenant shall be deemed not to impose any duty on the Company under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the related SEC rules that would not otherwise be applicable.

Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only, and the Trustee’s receipt of such reports, information and documents 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 an Officers’ Certificate).

SECTION 4.03. Limitation on Indebtedness. (a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, Incur, directly or indirectly, any Indebtedness; provided , however , that the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall be entitled to Incur Indebtedness if, on the date of such Incurrence and after giving effect thereto on a pro forma basis, the Consolidated Coverage Ratio exceeds 2.00 to 1.00.

 

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(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing paragraph (a), the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries shall be entitled to Incur any or all of the following Indebtedness:

(1) Indebtedness Incurred by the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors pursuant to Credit Agreements; provided , however , that, after giving effect to any such Incurrence, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness Incurred under this clause (1) and then outstanding does not exceed the greater of (i) $1,000.0 million and (ii) 35.0% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets determined as of the date of such Incurrence;

(2) Indebtedness owed to and held by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary; provided , however , that (A) any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock which results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any subsequent transfer of such Indebtedness (other than to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute the Incurrence of such Indebtedness by the obligor thereon, (B) if the Company is the obligor on such Indebtedness, unless such Indebtedness is owing to a Subsidiary Guarantor, such Indebtedness is expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all obligations with respect to the Securities and (C) if a Subsidiary Guarantor is the obligor on such Indebtedness, unless such Indebtedness is owing to the Company or another Subsidiary Guarantor, such Indebtedness is expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor with respect to its Subsidiary Guarantee;

(3) the Securities (including the Exchange Securities issued in exchange therefor but excluding any Additional Securities) and all Subsidiary Guarantees thereof;

(4) Indebtedness outstanding on the Issue Date (other than Indebtedness described in clause (1), (2) or (3) of this Section 4.03(b));

(5) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary outstanding on or prior to the date on which it became a Restricted Subsidiary or secured by a Lien on an asset acquired by the Company or by a Restricted Subsidiary (other than Indebtedness Incurred in connection with, or to provide all or any portion of the funds or credit support utilized to consummate, the transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which such entity became a Restricted Subsidiary or such asset was so acquired); provided , however , that on the date such entity became a Restricted Subsidiary or such asset was so acquired and after giving pro forma effect thereto, the Company would have been entitled to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.03(a);

(6) Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03(a) or pursuant to clause (3), (4) or (5) of this Section 4.03(b) or this clause (6); provided , however , that to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness directly or indirectly Refinances Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary Incurred pursuant to clause (5), such Refinancing

 

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Indebtedness shall be Incurred only by such Restricted Subsidiary or, so long as such Restricted Subsidiary has no liability with respect to such Refinancing Indebtedness, by the Company or by a Subsidiary Guarantor;

(7) Hedging Obligations consisting of Interest Rate Agreements related to Indebtedness outstanding on the Issue Date or permitted to be Incurred by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to this Indenture;

(8) Hedging Obligations consisting of Oil and Natural Gas Hedging Contracts and Currency Agreements, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of limiting risks that arise in the ordinary course of business of the Company and its Subsidiaries;

(9) obligations in respect of workers’ compensation claims, health, disability or other benefits, unemployment or other insurance or self-insurance obligations and other social security or similar legislation, old age pension or public liability obligations, statutory obligations, government contracts, trade contracts, regulatory obligations, leases, utility contracts and similar obligations, plugging and abandonment, appeal, performance, tender, bid and surety bonds, completion guarantees and other reimbursement obligations provided by, or for the account of, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business (in each case other than for an obligation for money borrowed), including any Guarantees, contingent reimbursement obligations or other contingent obligations with respect to letters of credit or bank guarantees functioning as or supporting or issued to assure payment or performance of any of the foregoing bonds or obligations;

(10) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business;

(11) Indebtedness consisting of any Guarantee by the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor of Indebtedness outstanding on the Issue Date or permitted by this Indenture to be incurred by the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor; provided , however , that if the Indebtedness being guaranteed is subordinated to the Securities or a Subsidiary Guarantee, then the Guarantee thereof shall be subordinated to at least the same extent as the Indebtedness being Guaranteed;

(12) Purchase Money Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary Incurred to finance the purchase, lease or improvement of property (real or personal), and any Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness, in an aggregate principal amount which, when added together with the amount of Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (12) and then outstanding, does not exceed the greater of (i) $100.0 million and (ii) 4.0% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets determined as of the date of such Incurrence;

 

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(13) Indebtedness in respect of the financing of insurance premiums with the providers of such insurance or their Affiliates in the ordinary course of business;

(14) Indebtedness arising from any agreement providing for indemnities, contribution, Guarantees, purchase price adjustments, holdbacks, earn-outs, deferred compensation, contingency payment obligations based on the performance of the acquired or disposed assets or similar obligations (in each case, other than Guarantees of Indebtedness) incurred or assumed by any Person in connection with the acquisition or disposition of assets;

(15) in-kind obligations relating to oil and natural gas balancing obligations arising in the ordinary course of business; and

(16) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount which, when taken together with all other Indebtedness outstanding on the date of such Incurrence under this clause (16), does not exceed the greater of (i) $100.0 million and (ii) 4.0% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets determined as of the date of such Incurrence.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary Guarantor shall Incur any Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.03(b) if the proceeds thereof are used, directly or indirectly, to Refinance any Subordinated Obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor unless such Indebtedness shall be subordinated to the Securities or the applicable Subsidiary Guarantee to at least the same extent as such Subordinated Obligations.

(d) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.03, in the event that an item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the types of Indebtedness described herein, the Company, in its sole discretion, shall classify such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) at the time of Incurrence and shall only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness in one of the above clauses and the Company shall be entitled to divide and classify and reclassify from time to time an item of Indebtedness in more than one of the types of Indebtedness described herein.

(e) For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar-denominated restriction on the Incurrence of Indebtedness, the making of Investments or any other covenant, limitation or ratio in this Indenture, the U.S. dollar-equivalent of the principal amount of Indebtedness, Investment or other amount denominated in a foreign currency shall be utilized, calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was Incurred, such Investment was made, or such other amount was expended or incurred. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the maximum amount of Indebtedness that the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may Incur pursuant to this Indenture shall be deemed not to be exceeded and all other covenants, limitations and ratios in this Indenture be deemed not to be breached or exceeded, solely as a result of fluctuations in exchange rates or currency values.

 

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SECTION 4.04. Limitation on Restricted Payments. (a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, make a Restricted Payment if at the time the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary makes such Restricted Payment:

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

(2) the Company is not entitled to Incur an additional $1.00 of Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.03(a); or

(3) the aggregate amount of such Restricted Payment and all other Restricted Payments since October 17, 2012 (all payment calculations being made as if the provisions of this Section 4.04 had been in effect as of October 17, 2012 and at all times thereafter) would exceed the sum of (without duplication):

(A) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income accrued during the period (treated as one accounting period) from October 1, 2012 to the end of the most recent fiscal quarter ending at least 45 days prior to the date of such Restricted Payment (or, in case such Consolidated Net Income shall be a deficit, minus 100% of such deficit); plus

(B) 100% of the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds or the Fair Market Value of property other than cash (including Capital Stock of Persons engaged in the Oil and Gas Business or assets used in the Oil and Gas Business) received by the Company from the issuance or sale of its Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) subsequent to October 17, 2012 (other than an issuance or sale to a Subsidiary of the Company and other than an issuance or sale to an employee stock ownership plan or to a trust established by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for the benefit of their employees) and 100% of any capital contribution received by the Company from its shareholders subsequent to October 17, 2012; plus

(C) the amount by which Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary is reduced on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet upon the conversion or exchange (other than by a Subsidiary of the Company) subsequent to October 17, 2012 of any Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary convertible or exchangeable for Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company (less the amount of any cash, or the Fair Market Value of any other property, distributed by the Company upon such conversion or exchange); provided , however , that the foregoing amount shall not exceed the Net Cash Proceeds received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from the sale of such Indebtedness (excluding any Net Cash Proceeds from sales to a Subsidiary of the Company or to an employee stock ownership plan or a trust established by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for the benefit of their employees); plus

 

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(D) an amount equal to the sum of (x) the net reduction subsequent to October 17, 2012 in the Investments (other than Permitted Investments) made by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in any Person resulting from repurchases, repayments, releases or redemptions of such Investments by such Person, proceeds realized on the sale of such Investment and proceeds representing the return of capital (excluding dividends and distributions), in each case received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, and (y) if such Person is an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the portion (proportionate to the Company’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of such Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time subsequent to October 17, 2012 such Unrestricted Subsidiary is designated as, merged or consolidated into, or transfers or otherwise disposes of all or substantially all of its properties or assets to or is liquidated into, a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that the foregoing sum shall not exceed, in the case of any such Person, the amount of Investments (excluding Permitted Investments) previously made (and treated as a Restricted Payment) subsequent to October 17, 2012 by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in such Person.

(b) The provisions of Section 4.04(a) shall not prohibit:

(1) any Restricted Payment made out of the Net Cash Proceeds of the substantially concurrent issuance or sale of, or made by conversion into or exchange for, Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock and other than Capital Stock issued or sold to a Subsidiary of the Company or an employee stock ownership plan or to a trust established by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for the benefit of their employees) or a substantially concurrent cash capital contribution received by the Company from one or more of its shareholders; provided , however , that (A) such Restricted Payment shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments and (B) the Net Cash Proceeds from such sale or such cash capital contribution (to the extent so used for such Restricted Payment) shall be excluded from the calculation of amounts under Section 4.04(a)(3)(B);

(2) any purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of Subordinated Obligations of the Company or of any Subsidiary Guarantor made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent Incurrence of, Indebtedness of such Person which is permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03; provided , however , that such purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;

(3) any purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of Disqualified Stock of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor made by conversion into or exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent issuance or sale (other than to a

 

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Subsidiary of the Company or an employee stock ownership plan or to a trust established by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for the benefit of their employees) of, Disqualified Stock of the Company which is permitted to be issued pursuant to Section 4.03; provided , however , that such purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;

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

(5) the purchase, repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement of shares of Capital Stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from employees, former employees, directors or former directors of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or permitted transferees of such employees, former employees, directors or former directors), pursuant to the terms of the agreements (including employment agreements) or plans (or amendments thereto) approved by the Board of Directors under which such individuals purchase or sell or are granted the option to purchase or sell, shares of such Capital Stock; provided , however , that the aggregate amount of such Restricted Payments (excluding amounts representing cancelation of Indebtedness or funded by “key man” life insurance policies) shall not exceed $15.0 million in any calendar year, with unused amounts in any calendar year being permitted to be carried forward to succeeding calendar years subject to a maximum of $30.0 million in any calendar year; provided further, however, that such Restricted Payments shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;

(6) declarations and payments of dividends on Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary issued pursuant to Section 4.03; provided , however , that such dividends shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;

(7) repurchases, redemptions and other acquisitions and retirements of Capital Stock deemed to occur upon exercise, exchange or vesting of any equity compensation (including, without limitation, stock options, restricted stock, phantom stock, warrants, incentives, rights to acquire Capital Stock or other derivative securities) if such Capital Stock represents a portion of the exercise or other price or cost thereof, and repurchases, redemptions and other acquisitions and retirements of Capital Stock made in lieu of withholding for, or to satisfy taxes in connection with any exercise, exchange or vesting of stock options, restricted stock, phantom stock, warrants, incentives, rights to acquire Capital Stock or other derivative securities; provided , however , that such Restricted Payments shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;

 

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(8) cash payments in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares in connection with any transaction otherwise permitted by this Section 4.04; provided , however , that any such cash payment shall not be for the purpose of evading the limitation of this Section 4.04 (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors); provided further , however , that such payments shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;

(9) in the event of a Change of Control or an Asset Disposition, and if no Default shall have occurred and be continuing, and within 60 days after the completion of the offer to repurchase the Securities under Section 4.06 or 4.09 (including the purchase of all Securities tendered), the payment, purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Obligations or Disqualified Stock of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, in each case, at a purchase price not greater than 101% of the principal amount of such Subordinated Obligations or Disqualified Stock, plus any accrued and unpaid interest or dividends thereon; provided , however , that prior to such payment, purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement, the Company (or a third party to the extent permitted by this Indenture) has made a Change of Control Offer or an Asset Disposition Offer with respect to the Securities as a result of such Change of Control or Asset Disposition and has repurchased all Securities validly tendered and not withdrawn in connection with such Change of Control Offer or Asset Disposition Offer; provided further , however , that such payments, purchases, repurchases, redemptions, defeasances or other acquisitions or retirements shall be included in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;

(10) payments of intercompany subordinated Indebtedness, the Incurrence of which was permitted under Section 4.03(b)(2); provided , however , that such payments shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;

(11) payments to dissenting stockholders of the Company not to exceed $5.0 million in the aggregate (A) pursuant to applicable law or (B) in connection with the settlement or other satisfaction of legal claims made pursuant to or in connection with a consolidation, merger or transfer of assets in connection with a transaction that is not prohibited by this Indenture; provided , however , that such payments shall be included in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;

(12) the declaration and payment of dividends or other distributions of (A) shares of Capital Stock of, or Indebtedness owed to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary by, Unrestricted Subsidiaries, or (B) assets received by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary from Unrestricted Subsidiaries as dividends or other distributions by such Unrestricted Subsidiaries; provided , however , that such declaration and payment of dividends or other distributions shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments; provided further , however , that this clause (12) shall not apply to dividends or distributions of Capital Stock of, Indebtedness owed by, or assets received from, Grizzly Holdings; or

 

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(13) other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount which, when taken together with all other Restricted Payments made pursuant to this clause (13) at any one time outstanding, does not exceed $25.0 million; provided , however , that such amounts shall be included in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments.

(c) If any Person in which an Investment is made, which Investment constitutes a Restricted Payment or a Permitted Investment under clause (22) of such definition when made, thereafter becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, all such Investments previously made in such Person shall no longer be counted as Restricted Payments or Permitted Investments under such clause for purposes of calculating the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments made or Permitted Investments made pursuant to such clause.

SECTION 4.05. Limitation on Restrictions on Distributions from Restricted Subsidiaries. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, create or otherwise cause or permit to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to (a) pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or pay any Indebtedness owed to the Company, (b) make any loans or advances to the Company or (c) transfer any of its property or assets to the Company, except:

(1) with respect to clauses (a), (b) and (c),

(A) any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to an agreement in effect at or entered into on the Issue Date;

(B) any encumbrance or restriction with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary or any property or assets thereof pursuant to an agreement of such Restricted Subsidiary (including the Capital Stock thereof) outstanding on the date on which such Restricted Subsidiary was acquired by the Company or otherwise became a Restricted Subsidiary (other than agreements relating to Indebtedness Incurred as consideration in, or to provide all or any portion of the funds or credit support utilized to consummate, the transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which such Restricted Subsidiary was acquired by the Company or otherwise became a Restricted Subsidiary);

(C) any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to an agreement effecting a Refinancing of Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to an agreement referred to in Section 4.05(1)(A) or (B) or this clause (C) or contained in any amendment to or renewal or replacement of an agreement referred to in Section 4.05(1)(A) or (B) or this clause (C); provided , however , that the

 

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encumbrances and restrictions with respect to such Restricted Subsidiary contained in any such Refinancing agreement or amendment, renewal or replacement are not materially less favorable, taken as a whole, to the Securityholders than the encumbrances and restrictions with respect to such Restricted Subsidiary contained in such predecessor agreement;

(D) any encumbrance or restriction with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary imposed pursuant to an agreement entered into for the sale or disposition of all or substantially all the Capital Stock or assets of such Restricted Subsidiary pending the closing of such sale or disposition;

(E) any encumbrance or restriction on the disposition or distribution of assets or property, including cash or other deposits, under agreements entered into in the ordinary course of the Oil and Gas Business of the types described in clause (2) of the definition of Permitted Business Investments;

(F) any encumbrance or restriction contained in the terms of any agreement or instrument governing any Indebtedness for money borrowed or Hedging Obligation if (x) either (i) the encumbrance or restriction applies only in the event of and during the continuance of a payment default or a default with respect to a financial covenant contained in such agreement or instrument or (ii) the Company determines at the time any such Indebtedness or Hedging Obligation is Incurred (and at the time of any modification of the terms of any such encumbrance or restriction) that any such encumbrance or restriction will not materially affect the Company’s ability to make principal or interest payments on the Securities and (y) the encumbrance or restriction is not materially more disadvantageous to the Holders than is customary in comparable financings or agreements (as determined by the Company in good faith);

(G) customary supermajority voting provisions and other customary provisions with respect to the disposition or distribution of assets, each contained in corporate charters, bylaws, stockholders’ agreements, limited liability company agreements, partnership agreements, joint venture agreements and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(H) any restrictions on cash, cash equivalents or other deposits or net worth requirements imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(I) provisions contained in any license, permit or other accreditation with a regulatory authority or directly or indirectly required by any applicable laws, statutes, rules, regulations, orders, requirements, guidelines, interpretations, directives and requests (whether or not having the force of law) from and of, and plans, memoranda and agreements with, any regulatory authority;

 

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(J) provisions in agreements or instruments that prohibit the payment or making of dividends or other distributions other than on a pro rata basis;

(K) any encumbrance or restriction contained in the terms of Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary that does not expressly restrict the ability of a Restricted Subsidiary to pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock (other than requirements to pay dividends or liquidation preferences on such Preferred Stock prior to paying any dividends or making any other distributions on such other Capital Stock); and

(L) customary subordination provisions governing Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 4.03; and

(2) with respect to clause (c) only,

(A) any encumbrance or restriction consisting of customary nonassignment provisions in Hydrocarbon and Mineral Properties purchase and sale or exchange agreements or similar operational agreements, agreements of the types described in the defined term “Permitted Business Investments” and leases governing leasehold interests and licenses to the extent such provisions restrict the transfer of the lease or license or the property leased or licensed thereunder;

(B) any encumbrance or restriction with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary imposed pursuant to an agreement entered into for the sale or disposition of any Capital Stock or assets of such Restricted Subsidiary pending the closing of such sale or disposition to the extent such encumbrance or restriction restricts the transfer of the property subject to such agreement;

(C) any encumbrance or restriction contained in security agreements or mortgages securing Indebtedness or other obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary and related documents to the extent such encumbrance or restriction restricts the transfer of the property subject to such security agreements or mortgages;

(D) any encumbrance or restriction contained in any agreement or instrument assumed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or for which any of them becomes liable as in effect at the time of such transaction (except to the extent such agreement or instrument was entered into in connection with or in contemplation of such transaction), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any assets other than assets acquired in connection with such transaction and all improvements, additions and accessions thereto and products and proceeds thereof;

 

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(E) encumbrances and restrictions contained in contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business, not relating to any Indebtedness, and that do not, individually or in the aggregate, detract from the value of, or the ability of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to realize the value of, property or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in any manner material to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole;

(F) any encumbrance or restriction contained in agreements governing or relating to reserves that are the subject of Production Payments and Reserve Sales;

(G) customary restrictions set forth in “lock up” agreements entered into in connection with securities offerings; and

(H) any encumbrance or restriction with respect to the Capital Stock of Grizzly Holdings.

In each case set forth above, notwithstanding any stated limitation on the assets or property that may be subject to such encumbrance or restriction, an encumbrance or restriction on a specified asset or property or group or type of assets or property may also apply to all improvements, repairs, additions, attachments and accessions thereto, assets and property affixed or appurtenant thereto, construction thereon, parts, replacements and substitutions therefor, and all products and proceeds thereof, including dividends, distributions, interest and increases in respect thereof.

SECTION 4.06. Limitation on Sales of Assets and Subsidiary Stock.  (a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary or, so long as it is an Unrestricted Subsidiary, Grizzly Holdings, to, directly or indirectly, consummate any Asset Disposition unless:

(1) the Company or such Subsidiary receives consideration at the time of such Asset Disposition at least equal to the Fair Market Value, including as to the value of all non-cash consideration (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, an Officer or an officer of such Subsidiary with responsibility for such transaction, such determination to be made as of the date of contractually agreeing to such Asset Disposition, which determination shall be conclusive evidence of compliance with this provision) of the shares or assets subject to such Asset Disposition;

(2) at least 75% of the consideration thereof received by the Company or such Subsidiary is in the form of cash or cash equivalents, Hydrocarbon and Mineral Properties, capital assets to be used by the Company or such Subsidiary (or any Restricted Subsidiary) in the Oil and Gas Business, Capital Stock of a Person primarily engaged in a Related Business and, in the case of an Asset

 

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Disposition by, or of the Capital Stock of, Grizzly Holdings, other securities or Indebtedness that are by their terms payable within two years of the date of such Asset Disposition in cash or other assets described in this clause (a)(2); and

(3) an amount equal to 100% of the Net Available Cash from such Asset Disposition is applied by the Company (or such Subsidiary, as the case may be)

(A) to the extent the Company so elects (or is required by the terms of any Indebtedness), to prepay, repay, purchase, repurchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value Senior Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor or Indebtedness or Preferred Stock of such Subsidiary or of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor (in each case other than Indebtedness owed to the Company or an Affiliate of the Company) within one year (or in the case of an Asset Disposition by, or of the Capital Stock of, Grizzly Holdings, two years) from the later of the date of such Asset Disposition or the receipt of such Net Available Cash;

(B) to the extent the Company so elects, to acquire Additional Assets or make capital expenditures in the Oil and Gas Business within one year (or in the case of an Asset Disposition by, or of the Capital Stock of, Grizzly Holdings, two years) from the later of the date of such Asset Disposition or the receipt of such Net Available Cash; and

(C) to the extent of the balance of the amount of Net Available Cash after application in accordance with clauses (A) and (B), or, if the Company so elects, at any earlier time, to make an offer to the holders of the Securities (and to holders of other Senior Indebtedness of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor designated by the Company) to purchase Securities (and such other Senior Indebtedness) pursuant to and subject to the conditions contained in this Indenture;

provided , however , that in connection with any prepayment, repayment, purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of Indebtedness pursuant to clause (A) or (C) above (other than Indebtedness outstanding pursuant to Section 4.03(b)(1)), the Company or such Subsidiary shall permanently retire such Indebtedness and shall cause the related loan commitment (if any) to be permanently reduced in an amount equal to the principal amount so prepaid, repaid, purchased or otherwise retired.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.06, the Company and such Subsidiaries shall not be required to apply any amount of Net Available Cash in accordance with this Section 4.06 except to the extent that the aggregate amount of Net Available Cash from all Asset Dispositions which is not applied in accordance with this Section 4.06 exceeds $25.0 million.

 

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Pending application of any amount of Net Available Cash pursuant to this Section 4.06, such amount may be invested in any manner not prohibited by this Indenture, including to temporarily reduce revolving credit indebtedness.

For the purposes of Section 4.06(a)(2), the following are deemed to be cash or cash equivalents: (i) the release of, pursuant to a novation or other agreement, or the discharge of, the Company or such Subsidiary from all liability on Indebtedness in connection with such Asset Disposition; (ii) with respect to any Asset Disposition of Hydrocarbon and Mineral Properties, any agreement by the transferee (or an Affiliate thereof) to pay all or a portion of the Company’s or a Restricted Subsidiary’s share of any costs or expenses related to the exploration, development, completion or production of Hydrocarbon and Mineral Properties and activities related thereto; and (iii) any securities, notes or other obligations received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are, within 90 days after the Asset Disposition, converted by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash, to the extent of the cash received in that conversion.

The requirement of Section 4.06(a)(3)(B) shall be deemed to be satisfied if an agreement (including a lease, whether a capital lease or an operating lease) committing to make the acquisitions or expenditures referred to therein is entered into by the Company or such Subsidiary (or any Restricted Subsidiary) within the time period specified in such clause and the amount of such Net Available Cash is subsequently applied in accordance with such agreement within six months following such agreement.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that a Subsidiary that is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary effects an Asset Disposition and dividends or distributes to all of its stockholders (including the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) on a pro rata basis any Net Available Cash from such Asset Disposition, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary need only apply an amount equal to its pro rata share of such Net Available Cash in accordance with Section 4.06(a)(3) above.

(b) In the event of an Asset Disposition that requires the purchase of Securities (and other Senior Indebtedness of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor) pursuant to Section 4.06(a)(3)(C), the Company shall make such offer to purchase Securities on or before the 366 th day (or in the case of an Asset Disposition by, or of the Capital Stock of, Grizzly Holdings, the 731st day) after the later of the date of such Asset Disposition or the receipt of such Net Available Cash and will purchase Securities tendered pursuant to an offer (an “ Asset Disposition Offer ”) by the Company for the Securities (and such other Senior Indebtedness) at a purchase price of 100% of their principal amount ( or, in the event such other Senior Indebtedness was issued with significant original issue discount, 100% of the accreted value thereof) without premium, plus accrued but unpaid interest, subject to the rights of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date (or, in respect of such other Senior Indebtedness, such lesser price, if any, as may be provided for by the terms of such Senior Indebtedness) in accordance with the procedures (including prorating in the event of oversubscription) set forth in Section 4.06(c). If the aggregate purchase price of the securities tendered exceeds the Net Available Cash allotted to their

 

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purchase, the Company will select the securities to be purchased on a pro rata basis but in round denominations, which in the case of the Securities will be denominations of $2,000 principal amount or any greater multiple of $1,000. The Company shall not be required to make such an offer to purchase Securities (and other Senior Indebtedness) pursuant to this Section 4.06 if the amount of Net Available Cash available therefor is less than $25.0 million (which lesser amount shall be carried forward for purposes of determining whether such an offer is required with respect to the Net Available Cash from any subsequent Asset Disposition). Upon completion of such an offer to purchase, Net Available Cash shall be deemed to be reduced by the aggregate amount of such offer.

(c) (1) Promptly, and in any event within 10 days after the Company becomes obligated to make an Asset Disposition Offer, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee, and cause to be sent to each Holder, a written notice stating that the Holder may elect to have its Securities purchased by the Company either in whole or in part (subject to prorating as described in Section 4.06(b) in the event the Asset Disposition Offer is oversubscribed) in denominations of $2,000 of principal amount or any greater integral multiple of $1,000 thereof, at the applicable purchase price. The notice shall specify a purchase date not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days after the date of such notice (the “ Purchase Date ”) and shall contain such information concerning the business of the Company which the Company in good faith believes will enable such Holders to make an informed decision (which at a minimum will include (A) the most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K (including audited consolidated financial statements) of the Company, the most recent subsequently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and any Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed subsequent to such Quarterly Report, other than Current Reports describing Asset Dispositions otherwise described in the offering materials (or corresponding successor reports), (B) a description of material developments in the Company’s business subsequent to the date of the latest of such Reports, and (C) if material, appropriate pro forma financial information) and all instructions and materials necessary to tender Securities pursuant to the Offer, together with the information contained in clause (3).

(2) Not later than the date upon which written notice of an Asset Disposition Offer is delivered to the Trustee as provided below, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate as to (A) the amount of the Offer (the “ Offer Amount ”), including information as to any other Senior Indebtedness included in the Asset Disposition Offer, (B) the allocation of the Net Available Cash from the Asset Dispositions pursuant to which such Asset Disposition Offer is being made and (C) the compliance of such allocation with the provisions of Section 4.06(a) and (b). On such date, the Company shall also irrevocably deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust) in Temporary Cash Investments, maturing on the last day prior to the Purchase Date or on the Purchase Date if funds are immediately available by open of business, an amount equal to the Offer Amount to be held for payment in accordance with the provisions of this Section. If the Asset Disposition Offer includes other Senior

 

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Indebtedness, the deposit described in the preceding sentence may be made with any other paying agent pursuant to arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee. Upon the expiration of the period for which the Asset Disposition Offer remains open (the “ Offer Period ”), the Company shall deliver to the Trustee for cancellation the Securities or portions thereof which have been properly tendered to and are to be accepted by the Company. The Trustee shall, on the Purchase Date, mail or deliver payment (or cause the delivery of payment) to each tendering Holder in the amount of the purchase price. In the event that the aggregate purchase price of the Securities delivered by the Company to the Trustee is less than the Offer Amount applicable to the Securities, the Trustee shall deliver the excess to the Company immediately after the expiration of the Offer Period for application in accordance with this Section 4.06.

(3) Holders electing to have a Security purchased shall be required to surrender the Security, with an appropriate form duly completed, to the Company at the address specified in the notice at least three Business Days prior to the Purchase Date. Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Trustee or the Company receives, not later than one Business Day prior to the Purchase Date, a facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Security which was delivered for purchase by the Holder and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its election to have such Security purchased. Holders whose Securities are purchased only in part shall be issued new Securities equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Securities surrendered.

(4) At the time the Company delivers Securities to the Trustee which are to be accepted for purchase, the Company shall also deliver an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Securities are to be accepted by the Company pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of this Section. A Security shall be deemed to have been accepted for purchase at the time the Trustee, directly or through an agent, mails or otherwise sends or delivers payment therefor to the surrendering Holder.

(d) The Company shall comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations in connection with the repurchase of Securities pursuant to this Section 4.06. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with provisions of this Section 4.06, the Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall be deemed not to have breached its obligations under this Section 4.06 by virtue of its compliance with such securities laws or regulations.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.06, all references herein to “ Net Available Cash ” shall be deemed to mean cash in an amount equal to the amount of Net Available Cash but not necessarily the actual cash received from the relevant Asset Disposition. The Company and its Subsidiaries shall have no obligation to segregate, trace or otherwise identify Net Available Cash (other than the amount thereof), it being agreed that cash is fungible and that the Company’s obligations under this covenant may be satisfied by the application of funds from other sources.

 

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SECTION 4.07. Limitation on Affiliate Transactions. (a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any transaction (including the purchase, sale, lease or exchange of any property, employee compensation arrangements or the rendering of any service) with (which term, for purposes of this Section 4.07, shall include “for the benefit of” where appropriate in the context) any Affiliate of the Company involving aggregate consideration in excess of $1.0 million (an “ Affiliate Transaction ”) unless:

(1) the terms of the Affiliate Transaction, taken as a whole, are no less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that could reasonably be expected to be obtained at the time of the Affiliate Transaction in arm’s-length dealings with a Person who is not an Affiliate;

(2) if such Affiliate Transaction involves an amount in excess of $20.0 million, the terms of the Affiliate Transaction are set forth in writing and an officer of the Company disinterested with respect to such Affiliate Transaction shall have determined in good faith that the criteria set forth in Section 4.07(a)(1) are satisfied and shall have approved the relevant Affiliate Transaction as evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee stating that such Affiliate Transaction complies with this Indenture; and

(3) if such Affiliate Transaction involves an amount in excess of $50.0 million, the terms of the Affiliate Transaction are set forth in writing and a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company disinterested with respect to such Affiliate Transaction shall have determined in good faith that the criteria set forth in clause (1) are satisfied and shall have approved the relevant Affiliate Transaction, all as evidenced by a resolution of the Board of Directors.

(b) The provisions of Section 4.07(a) shall not prohibit:

(1) any Investment or other Restricted Payment (or any other payments excluded from such definitions or their component definitions), in each case not prohibited to be made pursuant to Section 4.04;

(2) any issuance of securities, or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment and consulting arrangements, stock options and stock ownership plans or other benefit plans approved by the Board of Directors;

(3) loans or advances to officers, directors and employees in the ordinary course of business of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries, but in any event not to exceed $2.5 million in the aggregate outstanding at any one time;

 

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(4) reasonable fees, compensation and other benefits paid to, severance arrangements with, and indemnity and similar arrangements provided on behalf of, officers, directors, employees and consultants of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company as determined in good faith by the Company’s Board of Directors or senior management;

(5) any transaction with the Company, a Restricted Subsidiary or joint venture or other Person (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary) that would constitute an Affiliate Transaction solely because the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary owns, directly or indirectly, an equity interest in or otherwise controls such Restricted Subsidiary, joint venture or other Person; provided that no Affiliate of the Company, other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, shall have a beneficial interest or otherwise participate in such Restricted Subsidiary, joint venture or other Person other than through such Affiliate’s ownership of the Company;

(6) the issuance or sale of any Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company and the granting of customary registration rights in connection therewith;

(7) any transaction with Affiliates pursuant to or contemplated by any agreement that is described in the Offering Circular or that is described in a filing with the SEC that is incorporated by reference in the Offering Circular and in each case any amendments, renewals or extensions of any such agreement (so long as such amendments, renewals or extensions are not materially less favorable to the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, than the agreement so amended, renewed or extended) and all transactions pursuant thereto or contemplated thereby;

(8) transactions with customers, clients, vendors, suppliers or other purchasers or sellers of goods or services, in each case, in their capacities as such and in the ordinary course of business (including pursuant to joint venture agreements);

(9) any transaction on arm’s-length terms with any non-Affiliate that becomes an Affiliate as a result of such transaction;

(10) Permitted Grizzly Dispositions;

(11) transactions between the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and any Person that would not otherwise constitute an Affiliate Transaction except for the fact that a director or manager of such Person is also a director or manager of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary if such director or manager abstains from voting as a director or manager of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, on such transaction;

(12) pledges by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of (or any guarantee by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary limited in recourse solely to) Equity Interests in Unrestricted Subsidiaries for the benefit of lenders or other creditors of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries; and

 

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(13) agreements of the types described in the defined term “Permitted Business Investments,” contracts for exploring for, drilling, developing, producing, processing, gathering, transporting, marketing or storing Hydrocarbons and Minerals or activities or services reasonably related or ancillary thereto, and other operational contracts, that are entered into in the ordinary course of business on terms substantially similar to those contained in similar contracts entered into by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with unrelated third parties, or if neither the Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary has entered into a similar contract with a third party, then on terms no less favorable than those available from third parties on an arm’s length basis, in each case as determined in good faith by the Company, and all transactions pursuant to or contemplated by such agreements and contracts.

SECTION 4.08. Limitation on Line of Business. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, engage in any business other than a Related Business, except to the extent that such business would not be material to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

SECTION 4.09. Change of Control. (a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each Holder shall have the right to require that the Company repurchase such Holder’s Securities at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof on the date of purchase plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date).

(b) Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Company shall send a notice to each Holder with a copy to the Trustee (the “ Change of Control Offer ”) stating:

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

(2) the circumstances and relevant facts regarding such Change of Control (including information with respect to pro forma historical income, cash flow and capitalization, in each case after giving effect to such Change of Control);

(3) the purchase date (which shall be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is sent); and

 

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

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

(d) On the purchase date, all Securities purchased by the Company under this Section shall be delivered by the Company to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Company shall pay the purchase price plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Holders entitled thereto.

(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, the Company shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer following a Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Section applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and purchases all Securities validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer or if notice of redemption has been given pursuant to paragraph 6 of the Securities.

(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, a Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, conditional upon such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time of making of the Change of Control Offer.

(g) The Company shall comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations in connection with the repurchase of Securities as a result of a Change of Control. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Section, the Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall be deemed not to have breached its obligations under this Section by virtue of its compliance with such securities laws or regulations.

(h) In the event that Holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Securities accept a Change of Control Offer and the Company (or any third party making such Change of Control Offer in lieu of the Company as described above) purchases all of the Securities tendered by such Holders, the Company shall have the right, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior notice, given not more than 30 days following the purchase pursuant to the Change of Control Offer described above, to redeem all of the Securities that remain outstanding following such purchase at a redemption price equal to the Change of Control Purchase Price, including interest to the date of redemption (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date).

 

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SECTION 4.10. Limitation on Liens.  The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary Guarantor to, directly or indirectly, Incur or permit to exist any Lien (the “ Initial Lien ”) of any nature whatsoever on any of its properties (including Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary), whether owned at the Issue Date or thereafter acquired, securing any Indebtedness, other than Permitted Liens, without effectively providing that the Securities or such Subsidiary Guarantor’s Subsidiary Guarantee , as applicable, shall be secured equally and ratably with (or, at the Company’s election, prior to) the Indebtedness so secured for so long as such Indebtedness is so secured.

Any such Lien thereby created securing the Securities or any Subsidiary Guarantee pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon (i) the release and discharge of each Initial Lien to which it relates, (ii) in the case of such Lien securing any such Subsidiary Guarantee, the termination and discharge of such Subsidiary Guarantee in accordance with this Indenture or (iii) any sale, exchange or transfer to any Person not an Affiliate of the Company of the property or assets secured by such Initial Lien.

SECTION 4.11. F uture Subsidiary Guarantors. The Company shall cause each Restricted Subsidiary that enters into a Guarantee of any Indebtedness of the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary (other than a Foreign Subsidiary that Guarantees only Indebtedness Incurred by a Foreign Subsidiary) to, in each case, within 30 days thereafter, execute and deliver to the Trustee a Guaranty Agreement pursuant to which such Restricted Subsidiary will Guarantee payment of the Securities on the same terms and conditions as those set forth in Article 10 of this Indenture and applicable to the other Subsidiary Guarantors.

SECTION 4.12. Compliance Certificate. (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 in the course of the performance by the signers of their duties as Officers of the Company they would normally have knowledge of any Default and whether or not the signers know of any Default that occurred during such period. If they do, the certificate shall describe the Default, its status and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto. Such Officers’ Certificate shall comply with Trust Indenture Act § 314(a)(4).

(b) So long as any of the Securities are outstanding, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 30 days after the occurrence of a Default or Event of Default, an Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default, its status, and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

SECTION 4.13. Further Instruments and Acts. Upon request of the Trustee, the Company shall execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more effectively the purpose of this Indenture.

 

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SECTION 4.14. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws. The Company (to the extent it may lawfully do so) shall not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture. The Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and shall not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

SECTION 4.15. Termination of Covenants .

(a) On the day (such date, the “ Termination Date ”) after the Issue Date on which:

(1) the Securities have an Investment Grade Rating from both Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s;

(2) no Default has occurred and is continuing; and

(3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee the Officers’ Certificate described below,

the covenants listed in this sentence will be permanently terminated and the Company and its Subsidiaries, as applicable, will not be subject to the provisions of Sections 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 4.06, 4.07, 4.08 and Section 5.01(a)(3). On the Termination Date, the Company will provide an Officers’ Certificate to the Trustee regarding such occurrence. The Trustee shall have no obligation to independently determine or verify if the Termination Date has occurred or notify the Holders of the Termination Date. The Trustee may provide a copy of such Officers’ Certificate to any Holder of the Securities upon written request.

Article 5

Successor Company

SECTION 5.01. When Company May Merge or Transfer Assets.  (a) The Company shall not consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all its assets to, any Person, unless:

(1) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person (the “ Successor Company ”) shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, and the Successor Company (if not the Company) shall expressly assume, by an indenture

 

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supplemental thereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, all the obligations of the Company under the Securities and this Indenture;

(2) immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Company or a Subsidiary as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Company or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction), no Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

(3) immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction, (x) the Successor Company would be able to Incur an additional $1.00 of Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.03(a) or (y) the Consolidated Coverage Ratio of the Company or the Successor Company will be equal to or greater than the Consolidated Coverage Ratio of the Company immediately prior to such transaction;

(4) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, together stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with this Indenture; and

(5) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such transaction 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 transaction had not occurred;

provided , however , that clause (3) will not be applicable to (A) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary consolidating with, merging into, conveying, transferring or leasing all or part of its assets to the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor or (B) the Company merging with an Affiliate of the Company solely for the purpose and with the sole effect of reincorporating the Company in another jurisdiction.

For purposes of this Section 5.01(a), the sale, lease, conveyance, assignment, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of one or more Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company, which properties and assets, if held by the Company instead of such Restricted Subsidiaries, would constitute all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company on a consolidated basis, shall be deemed to be the transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; provided , however , that this Section 5.01(a) shall not be applicable to Permitted Grizzly Dispositions.

The Successor Company (if not the Company) shall be the successor to the Company and shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture, and the predecessor Company, except in the case of a lease, shall be released from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest on the Securities.

 

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For all purposes of this Indenture, Subsidiaries of any Successor Company will, upon any transaction subject to this Section 5.01(a), become Restricted Subsidiaries or Unrestricted Subsidiaries as provided pursuant to this Indenture, and all Indebtedness and Liens of the Successor Company and its Subsidiaries that were not Indebtedness or Liens on property or assets, as the case may be, of the Company and its Subsidiaries immediately prior to such transaction shall be deemed to have been Incurred upon such transaction.

(b) The Company shall not permit any Subsidiary Guarantor to consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, all or substantially all of its assets to any Person unless:

(1) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person (if not such Subsidiary) shall be a Person organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction under which such Subsidiary was organized or under the laws of the United States of America, or any State thereof or the District of Columbia, and such Person (if not the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor) shall expressly assume, by a Guaranty Agreement, all the obligations of such Subsidiary, if any, under its Subsidiary Guarantee; provided , however , that this clause (1) shall not apply if such Person is not a Subsidiary of the Company if in connection therewith the Company provides an Officers’ Certificate to the Trustee to the effect that the Company will comply with its obligations, if any, under Section 4.06 in respect of such transaction;

(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction or transactions on a pro forma basis (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an obligation of such Subsidiary as a result of such transaction as having been issued by such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction), no Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and

(3) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, together stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such Guaranty Agreement, if any, complies with this Indenture.

Article 6

Defaults and Remedies

SECTION 6.01. Events of Default . An “Event of Default” occurs if:

(1) the Company defaults in any payment of interest on any Security when the same becomes due and payable, and such default continues for a period of 30 days;

 

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(2) the Company defaults in the payment of the principal of any Security when the same becomes due and payable at its Stated Maturity, upon optional redemption, upon required purchase, upon declaration of acceleration or otherwise;

(3) the Company fails to comply with its obligations in Section 5.01;

(4) the Company fails to comply for (i) 30 days after notice with any of its obligations in Sections 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 4.06 (other than a failure to purchase Securities), 4.07, 4.08, 4.09 (other than a failure to purchase Securities), 4.10 or 4.11 or (ii) 90 days after notice with any of its obligations in Section 4.02;

(5) the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor fails to comply for 60 days after notice with its other agreements contained in this Indenture;

(6) Indebtedness of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary is not paid within any applicable grace period after final maturity or is accelerated by the holders thereof because of a default and the total amount of such Indebtedness unpaid or accelerated exceeds $50.0 million;

(7) the Company or any Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

(A) commences a voluntary case;

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

(C) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for any substantial part of its property; or

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

or takes any comparable action under any foreign laws relating to insolvency;

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

(A) is for relief against the Company or any Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case;

(B) appoints a Custodian of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or for any substantial part of its property; or

(C) orders the winding up or liquidation of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary;

 

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or any similar relief is granted under any foreign laws and, in each case, the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days;

(9) any judgment or decree for the payment of money in excess of $50.0 million above the coverage under applicable insurance policies and indemnities, as to which the relevant insurer or indemnitor has not disclaimed responsibility, is entered against the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, remains outstanding for a period of 60 consecutive days following the entry of such judgment or decree and is not discharged, waived or stayed; or

(10) any Subsidiary Guarantee ceases to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with the terms of such Subsidiary Guarantee) or any Subsidiary Guarantor denies or disaffirms its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee.

The foregoing will constitute Events of Default whatever the reason for any such Event of Default and whether it is voluntary or involuntary or is effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body.

A Default under clauses (4) and (5) shall not constitute an Event of Default until the Trustee or the holders of 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities notify the Company of the Default and the Company does not cure such Default within the time specified after receipt of such notice. Such notice must specify the Default, demand that it be remedied, and state that such notice is a “Notice of Default”.

SECTION 6.02. Acceleration .

(a) If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(7) or (8) with respect to the Company) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee by notice to the Company, or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities by notice to the Company and the Trustee, may declare the principal of and accrued but unpaid interest on all the Securities to be due and payable. Upon such a declaration, such principal and interest shall be due and payable immediately.

(b) If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(7) or (8) with respect to the Company occurs and is continuing, the principal of and interest on all the Securities shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Securityholders.

(c) The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities by notice to the Trustee may rescind an acceleration and its consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default have been cured or waived except nonpayment of principal or interest that has become due solely because of acceleration. No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereto.

 

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(d) In the event of a declaration of acceleration of the Securities solely because an Event of Default described in Section 6.01(6) has occurred and is continuing, the declaration of acceleration of the Securities shall be automatically rescinded and annulled if the event of default or payment default triggering such Event of Default pursuant to Section 6.01(6) shall be remedied or cured by the Company or such Subsidiary or waived by the holders of the relevant Indebtedness within 20 Business Days after the declaration of acceleration with respect thereto and if the rescission and annulment of the acceleration of the Securities would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Trustee for the payment of amounts due on the Securities.

SECTION 6.03. Other Remedies .

(a) If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal of or interest on the Securities or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Securities or this Indenture.

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

SECTION 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities by notice to the Trustee may waive an existing Default and its consequences except:

(a) a Default in the payment of the principal of or interest on a Security;

(b) a Default arising from the failure to redeem or purchase any Security when required pursuant to this Indenture; or

(c) a Default in respect of a provision that under Section 9.02 cannot be amended without the consent of each Securityholder affected.

When a Default is waived, it is deemed cured, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any consequent right.

SECTION 6.05. Control by Majority. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or, subject to Section 7.01, that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Securityholders or would involve the Trustee in personal liability; provided , however , that the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction.

 

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SECTION 6.06. Limitation on Suits. Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium (if any) or interest when due, no Securityholder may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Securities unless:

(1) such holder has previously given the Trustee notice that an Event of Default is continuing;

(2) holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities have requested the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

(3) such holders have offered the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against any loss, liability or expense;

(4) the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt thereof and the offer of security or indemnity; and

(5) holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities have not given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period.

A Securityholder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Securityholder or to obtain a preference or priority over another Securityholder. In the event that the Definitive Securities are not issued to any beneficial owner promptly after the Registrar has received a request from the Holder of a Global Security to issue such Definitive Securities to such beneficial owner of its nominee, the Company expressly agrees and acknowledges, with respect to the right of any Holder to pursue a remedy pursuant to this Indenture, the right of such beneficial holder of Securities to pursue such remedy with respect to the portion of the Global Security that represents such beneficial holder’s Securities as if such Definitive Securities had been issued.

SECTION 6.07. Rights of Holders to Receive Payment. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of and interest on the Securities held by such Holder, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Securities, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

SECTION 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(1) or (2) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount then due and owing (together with interest on any unpaid interest to the extent lawful) and the amounts provided for in Section 7.07.

SECTION 6.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. The Trustee may file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or

 

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advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and the Securityholders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company, its creditors or its property and, unless prohibited by law or applicable regulations, may vote on behalf of the Holders in any election of a trustee in bankruptcy or other Person performing similar functions, and any Custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and its counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07.

SECTION 6.10. Priorities. If the Trustee collects any money or property pursuant to this Article 6, it shall pay out the money or property in the following order:

FIRST : to the Trustee for amounts due under Section 7.07;

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

THIRD : to the Company.

Subject to the requirements of the following sentence, the Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Securityholders pursuant to this Section. At least 15 days before such record date, the Company shall cause to be sent to each Securityholder and the Trustee a notice that states the record date, the payment date and amount to be paid.

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, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.07 or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Securities.

Article 7

Trustee

SECTION 7.01. Duties of Trustee. (a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise as a prudent Person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such Person’s own affairs.

 

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

(1) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

(2) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.

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

(1) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section;

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

(3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.05.

(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.

(e) 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.

(f) Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

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

(h) Every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section and to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

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SECTION 7.02. Rights of Trustee. (a) The Trustee may rely on any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.

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

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

(d) To the extent permitted under the Trust Indenture Act, 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.

(e) The Trustee may consult with counsel, and the advice or opinion of counsel with respect to legal matters relating to this Indenture and the Securities shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect to any action taken, omitted or suffered by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel.

(f) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred therein or thereby.

(g) The Trustee shall have no duty to inquire as to the performance of the Company’s covenants in Article 4. In addition, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default except: (i) any Event of Default occurring pursuant to Section 6.01(1) or 6.01(2); or (ii) any Default or Event of Default of which a Trust Officer shall have received written notification.

SECTION 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee. The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Paying Agent, Registrar, co-registrar or co-paying 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 shall not be responsible for and 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, and it shall not be responsible for any statement of the Company in this Indenture or in any document issued in connection with the sale of the Securities or in the Securities other than the Trustee’s certificate of authentication.

 

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SECTION 7.05. Notice of Defaults. If a Default occurs, is continuing and is known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall send to each Securityholder notice of the Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a Default in the payment of principal of or interest on any Security (including payments pursuant to the mandatory purchase provisions of such Security), the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a committee of its Trust Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is not opposed to the interests of the Securityholders.

SECTION 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders. As promptly as practicable after each May 15 beginning with May 15, 2017, and in any event prior to July 15 in each year, the Trustee shall mail (or, when the Securities are represented by Global Securities, cause the Depository to send electronically pursuant to its applicable procedures) to each Securityholder a brief report dated as of May 15 that complies with Trust Indenture Act § 313(a). The Trustee also shall comply with Trust Indenture Act § 313(b).

A copy of each report at the time of its delivery to Securityholders shall be filed with the SEC and each stock exchange (if any) on which the Securities are listed. The Company agrees to notify promptly the Trustee whenever the Securities become listed on any stock exchange and of any delisting thereof.

SECTION 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity. The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for its services. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred or made by it, including costs of collection, in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee’s agents, counsel, accountants and experts. The Company shall indemnify the Trustee against any and all loss, liability or expense (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by it in connection with the administration of this trust and the performance of its duties hereunder. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder. The Company shall defend the claim and the Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or expense incurred by the Trustee that has been adjudicated to have been the result of the Trustee’s own wilful misconduct, negligence or bad faith.

To secure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee other than money or property held in trust to pay principal of and interest on particular Securities.

The Company’s payment obligations pursuant to this Section shall survive the discharge of this Indenture. When the Trustee incurs expenses after the occurrence of a Default specified in Section 6.01(7) or (8) with respect to the Company, the expenses are intended to constitute expenses of administration under the Bankruptcy Law.

 

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SECTION 7.08. Replacement of Trustee .

(a) The Trustee may resign at any time by so notifying the Company. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and may appoint a successor Trustee.

(b) The Company shall remove the Trustee if:

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

(B) the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent;

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

(D) the Trustee otherwise becomes incapable of acting.

(c) If the Trustee resigns, is removed by the Company or by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities and such Holders do not reasonably promptly appoint a successor Trustee, or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason (the Trustee in such event being referred to herein as the retiring Trustee), the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee.

(d) A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon 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. The successor Trustee shall send a notice of its succession to Securityholders. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.07.

(e) If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee or the Holders of 10% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(f) If the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10, any Securityholder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(g) Notwithstanding the replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.07 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

 

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SECTION 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger .

(a) If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all its corporate trust business or assets to, another corporation or banking association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.

(b) In case at the time such successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture any of the Securities shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee, and deliver such Securities so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Securities shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Securities either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor to the Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Securities or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have.

SECTION 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification. The Trustee shall at all times satisfy the requirements of Trust Indenture Act § 310(a). The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with Trust Indenture Act § 310(b); provided , however , that there shall be excluded from the operation of Trust Indenture Act § 310(b)(1) any indenture or indentures under which other securities or certificates of interest or participation in other securities of the Company are outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in Trust Indenture Act § 310(b)(1) are met.

SECTION 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against  Company. The Trustee shall comply with Trust Indenture Act § 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in Trust Indenture Act § 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Trust Indenture Act § 311(a) to the extent indicated.

Article 8

Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture; Defeasance

SECTION 8.01. Discharge of Liability on Securities;  Defeasance. (a) When (1) the Company delivers to the Trustee all outstanding Securities (other than Securities replaced pursuant to Section 2.07) for cancellation or (2) all outstanding Securities have become due and payable, whether at maturity or as a result of the sending of a notice of redemption pursuant to Article 3 hereof, or will become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year, and, in the case of clause (2), the Company irrevocably deposits with the Trustee or the Paying Agent, as applicable, (x) cash in United States dollars or (y) cash in United States dollars, U.S. Government Obligations, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as, in the aggregate, will be sufficient (in the case of clause (y), (A) in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants or a nationally recognized investment banking firm, or (B) if no such opinion in the immediately preceding clause (A) can be reasonably

 

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obtained, in the opinion of the chief financial officer of the Company) to pay at maturity or upon redemption all outstanding Securities, including interest thereon to maturity or such redemption date (other than Securities replaced pursuant to Section 2.07), and if in either case the Company pays all other sums payable hereunder by the Company, then this Indenture shall, subject to Section 8.01(c), be satisfied and discharged and cease to be of further effect. The Trustee shall acknowledge satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture on demand of the Company accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel and at the cost and expense of the Company.

(b) Subject to Sections 2.03, 2.06, 2.07, 8.01(c) and 8.02, the Company at any time may terminate (1) all its obligations under the Securities and this Indenture (“legal defeasance option”) or (2) its obligations under Sections 4.02, 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 4.06, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10 and 4.11 and the operation of Sections 6.01(6), 6.01(7), 6.01(8), 6.01(9) and 6.01(10) (but, in the case of Sections 6.01(7) and (8), with respect only to Subsidiaries) and the limitations contained in Section 5.01(a)(3) (“covenant defeasance option”).

The Company may exercise its legal defeasance option notwithstanding its prior exercise of its covenant defeasance option. If the Company exercises its legal defeasance option, payment of the Securities may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default with respect thereto. If the Company exercises its covenant defeasance option, payment of the Securities may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in Sections 6.01(4), 6.01(6), 6.01(7), 6.01(8), 6.01(9) and 6.01(10) (but, in the case of Sections 6.01(7) and (8), with respect only to Subsidiaries) or because of the failure of the Company to comply with Section 5.01(a)(3). If the Company exercises its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option, each Subsidiary Guarantor shall be automatically released from all of its obligations with respect to its Subsidiary Guarantee.

Upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth herein and upon request of the Company, the Trustee shall acknowledge in writing the discharge of those obligations that the Company terminates.

(c) Notwithstanding clauses (a) and (b) above, the Company’s obligations in Sections 2.03, 2.04, 2.05, 2.06, 2.07, 7.07 and 7.08 and in this Article 8 shall survive until the Securities have been paid in full. Thereafter, the Company’s obligations in Sections 7.07, 8.04 and 8.05 shall survive.

SECTION 8.02. Conditions to Defeasance. The Company may exercise its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option only if:

(1) the Company irrevocably deposits in trust with the Trustee (x) cash in United States dollars or (y) cash in United States dollars, U.S. Government Obligations, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as, in the aggregate, will be sufficient (in the case of clause (y), (A) in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants or a nationally recognized investment banking firm, or (B) if no such opinion in the immediately preceding

 

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clause (A) can be reasonably obtained, in the opinion of the chief financial officer of the Company) for the payment of principal of and interest on the Securities to redemption or maturity, as the case may be;

(2) the Company delivers to the Trustee a certificate from a nationally recognized firm of independent accountants expressing their opinion (or, if two or more nationally recognized firms of independent accountants decline to issue such opinion after the Company has made reasonable efforts to obtain such an opinion, a certificate from the Company’s chief financial officer expressing such opinion) that the payments of principal and interest when due and without reinvestment on the deposited U.S. Government Obligations plus any deposited money without investment will provide cash at such times and in such amounts as will be sufficient to pay principal and interest when due on all the Securities to maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

(3) 91 days pass after the deposit is made and during the 91-day period no Default specified in Sections 6.01(7) or (8) with respect to the Company occurs which is continuing at the end of the period;

(4) the deposit does not constitute a default under any other agreement binding on the Company (other than a default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit and any similar concurrent deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of any Lien to secure such borrowings in connection therewith);

(5) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the trust resulting from the deposit does not constitute, or is qualified as, a regulated investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940;

(6) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (B) since the date of this Indenture there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Securityholders will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred (and, in the case of legal defeasance only, such Opinion of Counsel must be based on a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or other change in applicable Federal income tax law);

(7) in the case of the covenant defeasance option, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Securityholders will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit or 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 deposit or covenant defeasance had not occurred; and

 

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(8) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, together stating that all conditions precedent to the defeasance of the Securities as contemplated by this Article 8 have been complied with.

Before or after a deposit, the Company may make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of Securities at a future date in accordance with Article 3.

SECTION 8.03. Application of Trust Money. The Trustee shall hold in trust money or U.S. Government Obligations deposited with it pursuant to this Article 8. It shall apply the deposited money and the money from U.S. Government Obligations through the Paying Agent and in accordance with this Indenture to the payment of principal of and interest on the Securities.

SECTION 8.04. Repayment to Company. The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall promptly turn over to the Company upon request any excess money or securities held by them at any time.

Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, the Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal or interest that remains unclaimed for two years, and, thereafter, Securityholders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors.

SECTION 8.05. Indemnity for Government Obligations. The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against deposited U.S. Government Obligations or the principal and interest received on such U.S. Government Obligations.

SECTION 8.06. Reinstatement. If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article 8 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company’s and each Subsidiary Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture, each Subsidiary Guarantee and the Securities shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article 8 until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article 8; provided , however , that, if the Company has made any payment of interest on or principal of any Securities because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money or U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

 

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Article 9

Amendments

SECTION 9.01. Without Consent of Holders . The Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee may amend this Indenture, the Securities and the Subsidiary Guarantees without notice to or consent of any Securityholder:

(1) to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency;

(2) to provide for the assumption by a successor corporation of the obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor under this Indenture as contemplated by Article 5;

(3) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities ( provided that the uncertificated Securities are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Code, or in a manner such that the uncertificated Securities are described in Section 163(f)(2)(B) of the Code);

(4) to add Guarantees with respect to the Securities , including any Subsidiary Guarantees, or to secure the Securities;

(5) to add to the covenants of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor;

(6) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any holder of the Securities in any material respect;

(7) to comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;

(8) to make any amendment to the provisions of this Indenture relating to the transfer and legending of Securities; provided , however , that (a) compliance with this Indenture as so amended would not result in Securities being transferred in violation of the Securities Act or any other applicable securities law and (b) such amendment does not materially and adversely affect the rights of Holders to transfer Securities;

(9) to conform the text of this Indenture, the Securities or the Subsidiary Guarantees to any provision of the “Description of the Notes” section of the Offering Circular to the extent that such provision in the “Description of the Notes” was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of this Indenture, the Securities or the Subsidiary Guarantees; or

(10) to reflect the issuance of Additional Securities in compliance with the terms of this Indenture.

 

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After an amendment under this Section becomes effective, the Company shall send to Securityholders a notice briefly describing such amendment. The failure to give such notice to all Securityholders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this Section.

SECTION 9.02. With Consent of Holders .

(a) The Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee may amend this Indenture, the Securities or the Subsidiary Guarantees with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Securities then outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange for the Securities) and any past default or compliance with any provisions may also be waived with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Securities then outstanding. However, without the consent of each Securityholder affected thereby, an amendment or waiver may not:

(A) reduce the amount of Securities whose Holders must consent to an amendment;

(B) reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest on any Security;

(C) reduce the principal of or change the Stated Maturity of any Security;

(D) reduce the amount payable upon the redemption of any Security or change the date on which any Security may be redeemed pursuant to paragraph 5 of the Securities ( provided that the foregoing shall not include changing the notice periods for any redemption);

(E) make any Security payable in money other than that stated in the Security;

(F) impair the right of any holder of the Securities to receive payment of principal of and interest on such holder’s Securities on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such holder’s Securities;

(G) make any change in Section 6.04 or 6.07 or the second sentence of this Section;

(H) make any change in the ranking or priority of any Security that would adversely affect the Securityholders; or

(I) make any change in, or release other than in accordance with this Indenture, any Subsidiary Guarantee that would adversely affect the Securityholders.

 

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

(c) After an amendment under this Section becomes effective, the Company shall send to Securityholders a notice briefly describing such amendment. The failure to give such notice to all Securityholders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this Section 9.02.

(d) Notwithstanding the preceding, (i) the provisions under this Indenture, including Section 4.06, relative to the obligation to make an offer to repurchase the Securities as a result of an Asset Disposition and (ii) the provisions under this Indenture, including Section 4.09, relative to the Company’s obligation to make an offer to repurchase the Securities as a result of a Change of Control, in each case may be waived or modified with the written consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities.

SECTION 9.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act. Every amendment to this Indenture or the Securities shall comply with the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.

SECTION 9.04. Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers .

(a) A consent to an amendment or a waiver by a Holder of a Security shall bind the Holder and every subsequent Holder of that Security or portion of the Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if notation of the consent or waiver is not made on the Security. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent or waiver as to such Holder’s Security or portion of the Security if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date the amendment or waiver becomes effective. After an amendment or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every Securityholder. An amendment or waiver becomes effective upon the execution of such amendment or waiver by the Trustee.

(b) The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Securityholders entitled to give their consent or take any other action described above or required or permitted to be taken pursuant to this Indenture. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Securityholders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to give such consent or to revoke any consent previously given or to take any such action, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record date.

SECTION 9.05. Notation on or Exchange of Securities. If an amendment changes the terms of a Security, the Trustee may require the Holder of the Security to deliver it to the Trustee. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation on the Security regarding the changed terms and return it to the Holder. Alternatively, if the

 

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Company or the Trustee so determines, the Company in exchange for the Security shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a new Security that reflects the changed terms. Failure to make the appropriate notation or to issue a new Security shall not affect the validity of such amendment.

SECTION 9.06. Trustee To Sign Amendments. The Trustee shall sign any amendment authorized pursuant to this Article 9 if the amendment does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. If it does, the Trustee may but need not sign it. In signing such amendment the Trustee shall be entitled to receive indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it and to receive, and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that such amendment is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.

SECTION 9.07. Payment for Consent. Neither the Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary shall, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration, whether by way of interest, fee or otherwise, to any Holder for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture or the Securities unless such consideration is offered to all Holders and is paid to all Holders that so consent, waive or agree to amend in the time frame set forth in solicitation documents relating to such consent, waiver or agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be permitted in any such solicitation, offer (including any tender or exchange offer) or payment to exclude any category of Holders (including by jurisdiction) if (a) (i) applicable law, regulatory guidance, listing requirements or common practice could reasonably be interpreted as requiring the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to file a registration statement, prospectus or similar document in connection therewith or (ii) such solicitation, offer or payment would not be permitted under applicable law with respect to Holders in such category, and (b) each excluded Holder shall have the right, in each case if such right is permitted under applicable law and will not give rise to a filing requirement of the type described in clause (a)(i), to (i) receive any applicable solicitation materials as if it were not an excluded Holder and (ii) accept a payment in an amount equal to the payment such Holder would have had the right to receive if it had not been an excluded Holder and had accepted such offer.

Article 10

Subsidiary Guarantees

SECTION 10.01. Guarantees. (a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Article 10, each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees, jointly and severally, to each Holder and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns (i) the full and punctual payment of principal of and interest on the Securities when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, and all other monetary obligations of the Company under this Indenture and the Securities and (ii) the full and punctual performance within applicable grace periods of all other obligations of the Company under this Indenture and the Securities (all the foregoing being hereinafter collectively called the “ Guaranteed Obligations ”). Each Subsidiary Guarantor further

 

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agrees that the Guaranteed Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice or further assent from such Subsidiary Guarantor and that such Subsidiary Guarantor will remain bound under this Article 10 notwithstanding any extension or renewal of any Obligation.

(b) Each Subsidiary Guarantor waives presentation to, demand of, payment from and protest to the Company of any of the Guaranteed Obligations and also waives notice of protest for nonpayment. Each Subsidiary Guarantor waives notice of any default under the Securities or the Guaranteed Obligations. The obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder shall not be affected by (1) the failure of any Holder or the Trustee to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any right or remedy against the Company or any other Person (including any Subsidiary Guarantor) under this Indenture, the Securities or any other agreement or otherwise; (2) any extension or renewal of any thereof; (3) any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture, the Securities or any other agreement; (4) the release of any security held by any Holder or the Trustee for the Guaranteed Obligations or any of them; (5) the failure of any Holder or the Trustee to exercise any right or remedy against any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations; or (6) except as set forth in Section 10.06, any change in the ownership of such Subsidiary Guarantor.

(c) Each Subsidiary Guarantor further agrees that its Subsidiary Guarantee herein constitutes a guarantee of payment, performance and compliance when due (and not a guarantee of collection) and waives any right to require that any resort be had by any Holder or the Trustee to any security held for payment of the Guaranteed Obligations.

(d) Except as expressly set forth in Sections 8.01(b), 10.02 and 10.06, the obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason, including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise, and shall not be subject to any defense of setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever or by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor herein shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by the failure of any Holder or the Trustee to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy under this Indenture, the Securities or any other agreement, by any waiver or modification of any thereof, by any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of the obligations, or by any other act or thing or omission or delay to do any other act or thing which may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of such Subsidiary Guarantor or would otherwise operate as a discharge of such Subsidiary Guarantor as a matter of law or equity.

(e) Each Subsidiary Guarantor further agrees that its Guarantee herein shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of principal of or interest on any Guaranteed Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by any Holder or the Trustee upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company or otherwise.

 

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(f) In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right which any Holder or the Trustee has at law or in equity against any Subsidiary Guarantor by virtue hereof, upon the failure of the Company to pay the principal of or interest on any Guaranteed Obligation when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, or to perform or comply with any other Guaranteed Obligation, each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby promises to and shall, upon receipt of written demand by the Trustee, forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, in cash, to the Holders or the Trustee an amount equal to the sum of (A) the unpaid amount of such Guaranteed Obligations, (B) accrued and unpaid interest on such Guaranteed Obligations (but only to the extent not prohibited by law) and (C) all other monetary Guaranteed Obligations of the Company to the Holders and the Trustee.

(g) Each Subsidiary Guarantor agrees that, as between it, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (i) the maturity of the Guaranteed Obligations hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 for the purposes of such Subsidiary Guarantor’s Subsidiary Guarantee herein, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby, and (ii) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such Guaranteed Obligations as provided in Article 6, such Guaranteed Obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by such Subsidiary Guarantor for the purposes of this Section.

(h) Each Subsidiary Guarantor also agrees to pay any and all costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred by the Trustee or any Holder in enforcing any rights under this Section.

SECTION 10.02. Limitation on Liability. Any term or provision of this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, the maximum aggregate amount of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereunder by any Subsidiary Guarantor shall not exceed the maximum amount that can be hereby guaranteed without rendering this Indenture, as it relates to such Subsidiary Guarantor, voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally.

SECTION 10.03. Successors and Assigns. This Article 10 shall be binding upon each Subsidiary Guarantor and its successors and assigns and shall enure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Trustee and the Holders and, in the event of any transfer or assignment of rights by any Holder or the Trustee, the rights and privileges conferred upon that party in this Indenture and in the Securities shall automatically extend to and be vested in such transferee or assignee, all subject to the terms and conditions of this Indenture.

SECTION 10.04. No Waiver. Neither a failure nor a delay on the part of either the Trustee or the Holders in exercising any right, power or privilege under this Article 10 shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall a single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise of any right, power or privilege. The rights, remedies and benefits of the Trustee and the Holders herein expressly specified are cumulative and not exclusive of any other rights, remedies or benefits which either may have under this Article 10 at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise.

 

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SECTION 10.05. Modification. No modification, amendment or waiver of any provision of this Article 10, nor the consent to any departure by any Subsidiary Guarantor therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Trustee, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. No notice to or demand on any Subsidiary Guarantor in any case shall entitle such Subsidiary Guarantor to any other or further notice or demand in the same, similar or other circumstances.

SECTION 10.06. Release of Subsidiary Guarantor. A Subsidiary Guarantor will be automatically released from its obligations under this Article 10 (other than any obligation that may have arisen under Section 10.07):

(1) upon any consolidation with or merger with or into, or conveyance, transfer or lease, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of its assets to any Person by such Subsidiary Guarantor except as required pursuant to Section 5.01(b)(1);

(2) upon the disposition of all or a portion of the Capital Stock of such Subsidiary Guarantor such that such Subsidiary Guarantor ceases to be a Subsidiary, if in connection therewith the Company provides an Officers’ Certificate to the Trustee to the effect that the Company will comply with its obligations, if any, under Section 4.06 in respect of such disposition;

(3) upon the designation of such Subsidiary Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(4) at such time as such Subsidiary Guarantor does not have any Guarantees outstanding that would have required such Subsidiary Guarantor to enter into a Guaranty Agreement pursuant to Section 4.11; or

(5) if the Company exercises its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option in Section 8.01 or if the Company’s obligations under this Indenture are discharged in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

Upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that any of the conditions described above has occurred, the Trustee shall execute any supplemental indenture or other documents reasonably requested by the Company in order to evidence the release of any Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee and this Indenture.

SECTION 10.07. Contribution. Each Subsidiary Guarantor that makes a payment under its Subsidiary Guarantee shall be entitled upon payment in full of all Guaranteed Obligations under this Indenture to a contribution from each other Subsidiary Guarantor in an amount equal to such other Subsidiary Guarantor’s pro rata portion of such payment based on the respective net assets of all the Subsidiary Guarantors at the time of such payment determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

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Article 11

Miscellaneous

SECTION 11.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls. If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision which is required to be included in this Indenture by the Trust Indenture Act, the required provision shall control.

SECTION 11.02. Notices. (a) Any notice or communication shall be in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail addressed as follows:

if to the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor:

Gulfport Energy Corporation

3001 Quail Springs Pkwy.

Oklahoma City, OK 73134

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Facsimile: (405) 848-8816

if to the Trustee:

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

750 N. St. Paul Place, Suite 1750

Dallas, Texas 75201

MAC: T9263-170

Attention: Corporate, Municipal and Escrow Services

Telecopier No.: (214) 756-7401

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

(c) Any notice or communication mailed or otherwise sent to a Securityholder shall be sent to the Securityholder at the Securityholder’s address as it appears on the registration books of the Registrar and shall be sufficiently given if so mailed within the time prescribed.

(d) Failure to mail or otherwise send a notice or communication to a Securityholder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Securityholders. If a notice or communication is mailed or sent in the manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

SECTION 11.03. Communication by Holders with Other Holders.  Securityholders may communicate pursuant to Trust Indenture Act § 312(b) with other Securityholders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities. The Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of Trust Indenture Act § 312(c).

 

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SECTION 11.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.  Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take or refrain from taking any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:

(1) an Officers’ Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and

(2) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.

SECTION 11.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.  Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a covenant or condition provided for in this Indenture shall include:

(1) a statement that the individual making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

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

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

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

SECTION 11.06. When Securities Disregarded. In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Securities have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Securities owned by the Company or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding, except that, for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Securities which the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Also, subject to the foregoing, only Securities outstanding at the time shall be considered in any such determination.

 

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SECTION 11.07. Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Securityholders. The Registrar and the Paying Agent may make reasonable rules for their functions.

SECTION 11.08. Legal Holidays. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday, payment shall be made on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period. If a regular record date is a Legal Holiday, the record date shall not be affected.

SECTION 11.09. Governing Law. This Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

SECTION 11.10. No Recourse Against Others. A director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder, as such, of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor (other than a stockholder that is the Company or another Subsidiary Guarantor) shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor under the Securities, any Subsidiary Guarantee or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. By accepting a Security, each Securityholder shall waive and release all such liability. The waiver and release shall be part of the consideration for the issuance of the Securities.

SECTION 11.11. Successors. All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Securities shall bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors.

SECTION 11.12. Multiple 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 agreement. One signed copy is enough to prove this Indenture. 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.

SECTION 11.13. Table of Contents; Headings. The table of contents, cross-reference sheet and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not intended to be considered a part hereof and shall not modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

 

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

 

GULFPORT ENERGY CORPORATION,

            By  

/s/ Michael Moore

  Name:   Michael Moore
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer and President

JAGUAR RESOURCES LLC,

             By  

/s/ Michael Moore

  Name:   Michael Moore
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer

PUMA RESOURCES, INC.,

            By  

/s/ Michael Moore

  Name:   Michael Moore
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer

GATOR MARINE, INC.,

            By  

/s/ Michael Moore

  Name:   Michael Moore
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer

 

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GATOR MARINE IVANHOE, INC.,

            By  

/s/ Michael Moore

  Name:   Michael Moore
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer

WESTHAWK MINERALS LLC,

            By  

/s/ Michael Moore

  Name:   Michael Moore
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer

GULFPORT BUCKEYE LLC,

            By  

/s/ Michael Moore

  Name:   Michael Moore
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer

GULFPORT MIDSTREAM HOLDINGS, LLC,

            By  

/s/ Michael Moore

  Name:   Michael Moore
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer

 

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WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.,

        By  

/s/ Patrick T. Giordano

  Name:   Patrick T. Giordano
  Title:   Vice President

 

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RULE 144A/REGULATION S APPENDIX

PROVISIONS RELATING TO INITIAL SECURITIES,

PRIVATE EXCHANGE SECURITIES

AND EXCHANGE SECURITIES

1. Definitions

1.1 Definitions

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

Applicable Procedures ” means, with respect to any transfer or transaction involving a Temporary Regulation S Global Security or beneficial interest therein, the rules and procedures of the Depository for such a Temporary Regulation S Global Security, to the extent applicable to such transaction and as in effect from time to time.

Definitive Security ” means a certificated Initial Security or Exchange Security or Private Exchange Security bearing, if required, the appropriate restricted securities legend set forth in Section 2.3(e).

Depository ” means The Depository Trust Company, its nominees and their respective successors.

Distribution Compliance Period ”, with respect to any Securities, means the period of 40 consecutive days beginning on and including the later of (i) the day on which such Securities are first offered to Persons other than distributors (as defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act) in reliance on Regulation S and (ii) the issue date with respect to such Securities.

Exchange Securities ” means (1) the 6.375% Senior Notes due 2025 issued pursuant to this Indenture in connection with a Registered Exchange Offer pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement and (2) Additional Securities, if any, issued pursuant to a registration statement filed with the SEC under the Securities Act.

IAI ” means an institutional “accredited investor”, as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) and (7) of Regulation D under the Securities Act.

Initial Purchasers ” means (1) with respect to the Initial Securities issued on the Issue Date, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Barclays Capital Inc., KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., PNC Capital Markets LLC, Scotia Capital (USA) Inc., Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, BBVA Securities Inc., BOK Financial Securities, Inc., IBERIA Capital Partners L.L.C., Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Samuel A. Ramirez & Company, Inc. and U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. and (2) with respect to each issuance of Additional Securities, the Persons purchasing such Additional Securities under the related Purchase Agreement.


Initial Securities ” means (1) $600.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.375% Senior Notes due 2025 issued on the Issue Date and (2) Additional Securities, if any, issued in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

Private Exchange ” means the offer by the Company, pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, to the Initial Purchasers to issue and deliver to each Initial Purchaser, in exchange for the Initial Securities held by the Initial Purchaser as part of its initial distribution, a like aggregate principal amount of Private Exchange Securities.

Private Exchange Securities ” means any 6.375% Senior Notes due 2025 issued in connection with a Private Exchange.

Purchase Agreement ” means (1) with respect to the Initial Securities issued on the Issue Date, the Purchase Agreement dated December 15, 2016, among the Company and the Initial Purchasers, and (2) with respect to each issuance of Additional Securities, the purchase agreement or underwriting agreement among the Company and the Persons purchasing such Additional Securities.

QIB ” means a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A.

Registered Exchange Offer ” means the offer by the Company, pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, to certain Holders of Initial Securities, to issue and deliver to such Holders, in exchange for the Initial Securities, a like aggregate principal amount of Exchange Securities registered under the Securities Act.

Registration Rights Agreement ” means (1) with respect to the Initial Securities issued on the Issue Date, the Registration Rights Agreement dated December 21, 2016 among the Company and the Initial Purchasers and (2) with respect to each issuance of Additional Securities issued in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, the registration rights agreement, if any, among the Company and the Persons purchasing such Additional Securities under the related Purchase Agreement.

Rule 144A Securities ” means all Securities offered and sold to QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A.

Securities ” means the Initial Securities, the Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange Securities, treated as a single class.

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933.

Securities Custodian ” means the custodian with respect to a Global Security (as appointed by the Depository), or any successor Person thereto and shall initially be the Trustee.

 

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Shelf Registration Statement ” means the registration statement issued by the Company in connection with the offer and sale of Initial Securities or Private Exchange Securities pursuant to the a Registration Rights Agreement.

Transfer Restricted Securities ” means Securities that bear or are required to bear the legend relating to restrictions on transfer relating to the Securities Act set forth in Section 2.3(e) hereto.

1.2 Other Definitions

 

Term

   Defined in
Section:

Agent Members

   2.1(b)

Global Securities

   2.1(a)

IAI Global Security

   2.1(a)

Permanent Regulation S Global Security

   2.1(a)

Regulation S

   2.1(a)

Regulation S Global Security

   2.1(a)

Rule 144A

   2.1(a)

Rule 144A Global Security

   2.1(a)

Temporary Regulation S Global Security

   2.1(a)

2. The Securities.

2.1(a)  Form and Dating. The Initial Securities will be offered and sold by the Company pursuant to a Purchase Agreement. The Initial Securities will be resold initially only to (i) QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act (“ Rule 144A ”) and (ii) Persons other than U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S) in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act (“ Regulation S ”). Initial Securities may thereafter be transferred to, among others, QIBs, IAIs and purchasers in reliance on Regulation S, subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth herein. Initial Securities initially resold pursuant to Rule 144A shall be issued initially in the form of one or more permanent global Securities in definitive, fully registered form (collectively, the “ Rule 144A Global Security ”); Initial Securities initially resold to IAIs shall be issued initially in the form of one or more permanent global Securities in definitive, fully registered form (collectively, the “ IAI Global Security ”); and Initial Securities initially resold pursuant to Regulation S shall be issued initially in the form of one or more temporary global securities in fully registered form (collectively, the “ Temporary Regulation S Global

 

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Security ”), in each case without interest coupons and with the global securities legend and the applicable restricted securities legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto, which shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Initial Securities represented thereby with the Securities Custodian and registered in the name of the Depository or a nominee of the Depository, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as provided in this Indenture. Except as set forth in this Section 2.1(a), beneficial ownership interests in the Temporary Regulation S Global Security will not be exchangeable for interests in the Rule 144A Global Security, the IAI 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 Distribution Compliance Period and then, after the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, may be exchanged for interests in a Rule 144A Global Security, an IAI Global Security or the Permanent Regulation S Global Security only upon certification in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee that (i) 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 and (ii) in the case of an exchange for an IAI Global Security, certification that the interest in the Temporary Regulation S Global Security is being transferred to an institutional “accredited investor” under the Securities Act that is an institutional accredited investor acquiring the securities for its own account or for the account of an institutional accredited investor.

Beneficial interests in Temporary Regulation S Global Securities or IAI Global Securities may be exchanged for interests in Rule 144A Global Securities if (1) such exchange occurs in connection with a transfer of Securities in compliance with Rule 144A and (2) the transferor of the beneficial interest in the Temporary Regulation S Global Security or the IAI Global Security, as applicable, first delivers to the Trustee a written certificate (in a form satisfactory to the Trustee) to the effect that the beneficial interest in the Temporary Regulation S Global Security or the IAI Global Security, as applicable, is being transferred to a Person (a) who the transferor reasonably believes to be a QIB, (b) purchasing for its own account or the account of a QIB in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, and (c) in accordance with all applicable securities laws of the States of the United States and other jurisdictions.

Beneficial interests in Temporary Regulation S Global Securities and Rule 144A Global Securities may be exchanged for an interest in IAI Global Securities if (1) such exchange occurs in connection with a transfer of the securities in compliance with an exemption under the Securities Act and (2) the transferor of the Regulation S Global Security or Rule 144A Global Security, as applicable, first delivers to the trustee a written certificate (substantially in the form of Exhibit 2) to the effect that (A) the Regulation S Global Security or Rule 144A Global Security, as applicable, is being transferred (a) to an “accredited investor” within the meaning of 501(a)(1),(2),(3) and (7) under the Securities Act that is an institutional investor acquiring the securities for its own account or for the account of such an institutional accredited investor, in each case in a minimum principal amount of the securities of $250,000, for investment purposes and not with a view to or for offer or sale in connection with any distribution in violation of the Securities Act and (B) in accordance with all applicable securities laws of the States of the United States and other jurisdictions.

 

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

The Rule 144A Global Security, the IAI Global Security, the Temporary Regulation S Global Security and the Permanent Regulation S Global Security are collectively referred to herein as “ Global Securities ”. 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 Depository or its nominee 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 Depository.

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 (i) shall be registered in the name of the Depository for such Global Security or Global Securities or the nominee of such Depository and (ii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to the Depository or pursuant to the Depository’s instructions or held by the Trustee as custodian for the Depository.

Members of, or participants in, the Depository (“ Agent Members ”) shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Security held on their behalf by the Depository or by the Trustee as the custodian of the Depository 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 Depository 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 Depository or impair, as between the Depository and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices of such Depository governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of a beneficial interest in any Global Security.

(c) Definitive Securities. Except as provided in this Section 2.1 or Section 2.3 or 2.4, owners of beneficial interests in Global Securities shall not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Definitive Securities.

2.2 Authentication.  The Trustee shall authenticate and deliver: (1) on the Issue Date, an aggregate principal amount of $600.0 million 6.375% Senior Notes due 2025, (2) any Additional Securities for an original issue in an aggregate principal amount specified in the written order of the Company pursuant to Section 2.02 of this Indenture

 

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and (3) Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities for issue only in a Registered Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange, respectively, pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement, for a like principal amount of Initial Securities, in each case upon a written order of the Company signed by two Officers or by an Officer and either an Assistant Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary of the Company. Such order shall specify the amount of the Securities to be authenticated and the date on which the original issue of Securities is to be authenticated and, in the case of any issuance of Additional Securities pursuant to Section 2.13 of this Indenture, shall certify that such issuance is in compliance with Section 4.03 of this Indenture.

2.3 Transfer and Exchange.

(a) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Securities . When Definitive Securities are presented to the Registrar with a request:

 

  (x) to register the transfer of such Definitive Securities; or

 

  (y) to exchange such Definitive Securities for an equal principal amount of Definitive 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 Definitive Securities surrendered for transfer or exchange:

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

(ii) if such Definitive 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(b) or pursuant to clause (A), (B) or (C) below, and are accompanied by the following additional information and documents, as applicable:

(A) if such Definitive 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 Definitive Securities are being transferred to the Company, a certification to that effect; or

(C) if such Definitive 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(e)(i).

 

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(b) Restrictions on Transfer of a Definitive Security for a Beneficial Interest in a Global Security. A Definitive Security may not be exchanged for a beneficial interest in a Rule 144A Global Security, an IAI 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 Definitive 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 Definitive Security is either (A) being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, (B) being transferred to an IAI or (C) being transferred after expiration of the Distribution Compliance 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 (b)(i)(A)), IAI Global Security (in the case of a transfer pursuant to clause (b)(1)(B)) or Permanent Regulation S Global Security (in the case of a transfer pursuant to clause (b)(i)(B)) to reflect an increase in the aggregate principal amount of the Securities represented by the Rule 144A Global Security, IAI Global Security or Permanent Regulation S Global Security, as applicable, such instructions to contain information regarding the Depository account to be credited with such increase,

then the Trustee shall cancel such Definitive 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, IAI Global Security or Permanent Regulation S Global Security, as applicable, to be increased by the aggregate principal amount of the Definitive 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, IAI Global Security or Permanent Regulation S Global Security, as applicable, equal to the principal amount of the Definitive Security so canceled. If no Rule 144A Global Securities, IAI 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, IAI Global Security or Permanent Regulation S Global Security, as applicable, in the appropriate principal amount.

 

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(c) Transfer and Exchange of Global Securities.

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

(ii) If the proposed transfer is a transfer of a beneficial interest in one Global Security to a beneficial interest in another Global Security, the Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and an increase in the principal amount of the Global Security to which such interest is being transferred in an amount equal to the principal amount of the interest to be so transferred, and the Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and a corresponding decrease in the principal amount of the Global Security from which such interest is being transferred.

(iii) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Appendix (other than the provisions set forth in Section 2.4), a Global Security may not be transferred as a whole except by the Depository to a nominee of the Depository or by a nominee of the Depository to the Depository or another nominee of the Depository or by the Depository or any such nominee to a successor Depository or a nominee of such successor Depository.

(iv) In the event that a Global Security is exchanged for Definitive Securities pursuant to Section 2.4 of this Appendix, prior to the consummation of a Registered Exchange Offer or the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to such Securities, 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 Initial Securities intended to ensure that such transfers comply with Rule 144A, 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.

(d) Restrictions on Transfer of Temporary Regulation S Global Securities. During the Distribution Compliance Period, beneficial ownership interests in Temporary Regulation S Global Securities may only be sold, pledged or transferred in

 

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accordance with the Applicable Procedures 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.

(e) Legend.

(i) Except as permitted by the following paragraphs (ii), (iii) and (iv), each Security certificate evidencing the Global Securities (and all Securities issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof), in the case of Securities offered otherwise than in reliance on Regulation S shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

THIS SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM.

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT (A) THIS SECURITY MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, ONLY (I) IN THE UNITED STATES TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (II) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (III) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE) OR (IV) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH OF CASES (I) THROUGH (IV) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES, AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS SECURITY FROM IT OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO IN (A) ABOVE.

 

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Each certificate evidencing a Security offered in reliance on Regulation S shall, in addition to the foregoing, bear a legend in substantially the following form:

THIS SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION ORIGINALLY EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, ANY U.S. PERSON EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ALL APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. TERMS USED ABOVE HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

Each Definitive 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.

(ii) Upon any sale or transfer of a Transfer Restricted Security (including any Transfer Restricted Security represented by a Global 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 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).

(iii) After a transfer of any Initial Securities or Private Exchange Securities pursuant to and during the period of the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to such Initial Securities or Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, all requirements pertaining to legends on such Initial Security or such Private Exchange Security will cease to apply, the requirements requiring any such Initial Security or such Private Exchange Security issued to certain Holders be issued in global form will cease to apply, and a certificated Initial Security or Private Exchange Security or an Initial Security or Private Exchange Security in global form, in each case without restrictive transfer legends, will be available to the transferee of the Holder of such Initial Securities or

 

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Private Exchange Securities upon exchange of such transferring Holder’s certificated Initial Security or Private Exchange Security or directions to transfer such Holder’s interest in the Global Security, as applicable.

(iv) Upon the consummation of a Registered Exchange Offer with respect to the Initial Securities, all requirements pertaining to such Initial Securities that Initial Securities issued to certain Holders be issued in global form will still apply with respect to Holders of such Initial Securities that do not exchange their Initial Securities, and Exchange Securities in certificated or global form, in each case without the restricted securities legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto will be available to Holders that exchange such Initial Securities in such Registered Exchange Offer.

(v) Upon the consummation of a Private Exchange with respect to the Initial Securities, all requirements pertaining to such Initial Securities that Initial Securities issued to certain Holders be issued in global form will still apply with respect to Holders of such Initial Securities that do not exchange their Initial Securities, and Private Exchange Securities in global form with the global securities legend and the applicable restricted securities legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto will be available to Holders that exchange such Initial Securities in such Private Exchange.

(f) Cancellation or Adjustment of Global Security. At such time as all beneficial interests in a Global Security have either been exchanged for Definitive Securities, redeemed, purchased or canceled, such Global Security shall be returned to the Depository 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 Securities Custodian for such Global Security) with respect to such Global Security, by the Trustee or the Securities Custodian, to reflect such reduction.

(g) No Obligation of the Trustee .

(i) The Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a Global Security, a member of, or a participant in the Depository or other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depository or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Securities or with respect to the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depository) of any notice (including any notice of redemption) or the payment of any amount, under or with respect to such Securities. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders under the Securities shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the registered Holders (which shall be

 

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the Depository or its nominee in the case of a Global Security). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Security shall be exercised only through the Depository subject to the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository. The Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the Depository with respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners.

(ii) 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 Depository 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 Definitive Securities.

(a) A Global Security deposited with the Depository or with the Trustee as Securities Custodian for the Depository pursuant to Section 2.1 shall be transferred to the beneficial owners thereof in the form of Definitive Securities in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Security, in exchange for such Global Security, only if such transfer complies with Section 2.3 hereof and (i) the Depository notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depository for such Global Security and the Depository fails to appoint a successor depository or if at any time such Depository ceases to be a “clearing agency” registered under the Exchange Act, in either case, and a successor depository is not appointed by the Company within 90 days of such notice (ii) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or (iii) the Company, in its sole discretion, notifies the Trustee in writing that it elects to cause the issuance of Definitive Securities under this Indenture.

(b) Any Global Security that is transferable to the beneficial owners thereof pursuant to this Section 2.4 shall be surrendered by the Depository to the Trustee located at its principal corporate trust office in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, 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 Definitive 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 minimum denominations of $2,000 principal amount and any greater integral multiple of $1,000 thereof and registered in such names as the Depository shall direct. Any Definitive Security delivered in exchange for an interest in a Transfer Restricted Security shall, except as otherwise provided by Section 2.3(e) hereof, bear the applicable restricted securities legend and definitive securities legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto.

 

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(c) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.1(b) hereof, the registered Holder of a Global Security shall be entitled to grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Securities.

(d) In the event of the occurrence of one of the events specified in Section 2.4(a) hereof, the Company shall promptly make available to the Trustee a reasonable supply of Definitive Securities in definitive, fully registered form without interest coupons. In the event that such Definitive Securities are not issued, the Company expressly acknowledges, with respect to the right of any Holder to pursue a remedy pursuant to Section 6.06 of this Indenture, the right of any beneficial owner of Securities to pursue such remedy with respect to the portion of the Global Security that represents such beneficial owner’s Securities as if such Definitive Securities had been issued.

 

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EXHIBIT 1

to

RULE 144A/REGULATION S/IAI APPENDIX

[FORM OF FACE OF INITIAL SECURITY]

[Global Securities Legend]

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

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

[[FOR REGULATION S GLOBAL SECURITY ONLY] UNTIL 40 DAYS AFTER THE LATER OF COMMENCEMENT OR COMPLETION OF THE OFFERING, AN OFFER OR SALE OF SECURITIES WITHIN THE UNITED STATES BY A DEALER (AS DEFINED IN THE SECURITIES ACT) MAY VIOLATE THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT IF SUCH OFFER OR SALE IS MADE OTHERWISE THAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144A THEREUNDER.]

[Restricted Securities Legend for Securities offered otherwise than in Reliance on Regulation S)

THIS SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM.


THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT (A) THIS SECURITY MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, ONLY (I) IN THE UNITED STATES TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (II) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (III) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE) OR (IV) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH OF CASES (I) THROUGH (IV) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES, AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS SECURITY FROM IT OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO IN (A) ABOVE.

[Restricted Securities Legend for Securities Offered in Reliance on Regulation S.]

THIS SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION ORIGINALLY EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, ANY U.S. PERSON EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ALL APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. TERMS USED ABOVE HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

[Temporary Regulation S Global Security Legend]

EXCEPT AS SET FORTH BELOW, BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP INTERESTS IN THIS TEMPORARY REGULATION S GLOBAL SECURITY WILL NOT BE EXCHANGEABLE FOR INTERESTS IN THE PERMANENT REGULATION S GLOBAL SECURITY OR ANY OTHER SECURITY REPRESENTING AN INTEREST IN THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY WHICH DO NOT CONTAIN A LEGEND CONTAINING RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER, UNTIL THE EXPIRATION OF THE “40-DAY DISTRIBUTION COMPLIANCE PERIOD” (WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 903(b)(2) OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) AND THEN ONLY UPON CERTIFICATION IN FORM REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE TRUSTEE THAT SUCH BENEFICIAL INTERESTS 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. DURING SUCH 40-DAY DISTRIBUTION COMPLIANCE PERIOD, BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP INTERESTS IN THIS TEMPORARY

 

2


REGULATION S GLOBAL SECURITY MAY ONLY BE SOLD, PLEDGED OR TRANSFERRED (I) TO THE COMPANY, (II) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN A TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (III) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH OF CASES (I) THROUGH (III) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES. HOLDERS OF INTERESTS IN THIS TEMPORARY REGULATION S GLOBAL SECURITY WILL NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS SECURITY OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO ABOVE, IF THEN APPLICABLE.

AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF THE DISTRIBUTION COMPLIANCE PERIOD BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN THIS TEMPORARY REGULATION S GLOBAL SECURITY MAY BE EXCHANGED FOR INTERESTS IN A RULE 144A GLOBAL SECURITY ONLY IF (1) SUCH EXCHANGE OCCURS IN CONNECTION WITH A TRANSFER OF THE SECURITIES IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A AND (2) THE TRANSFEROR OF THE REGULATION S GLOBAL SECURITY FIRST DELIVERS TO THE TRUSTEE A WRITTEN CERTIFICATE (IN THE FORM ATTACHED TO THIS CERTIFICATE) TO THE EFFECT THAT THE REGULATION S GLOBAL SECURITY IS BEING TRANSFERRED (A) TO A PERSON WHO THE TRANSFEROR REASONABLY BELIEVES TO BE A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A, (B) TO A PERSON WHO IS PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, AND (C) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF THE STATES OF THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER JURISDICTIONS.

AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF THE DISTRIBUTION COMPLIANCE PERIOD, BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN THIS TEMPORARY REGULATION S GLOBAL SECURITY MAY BE EXCHANGED FOR INTERESTS IN AN IAI GLOBAL SECURITY ONLY IF (1) SUCH EXCHANGE OCCURS IN CONNECTION WITH A TRANSFER OF THE SECURITIES IN COMPLIANCE WITH AN EXEMPTION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND (2) THE TRANSFEROR OF THE REGULATION S GLOBAL SECURITY FIRST DELIVERS TO THE TRUSTEE A WRITTEN CERTIFICATE (IN THE FORM ATTACHED TO THIS CERTIFICATE) TO THE EFFECT THAT THE REGULATION S GLOBAL SECURITY IS BEING TRANSFERRED (A) TO AN “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 501(A)(1),(2),(3) OR (7) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISHED THE TRUSTEE A SIGNED LETTER CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY (THIS FORM OF WHICH CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE) AND, IF SUCH TRANSFER IS IN RESPECT OF AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF SECURITIES LESS THAN $250,000, AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT AND (B) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF THE STATES OF THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER JURISDICTIONS.

 

3


BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN A RULE 144A GLOBAL SECURITY OR AN IAI 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 40-DAY DISTRIBUTION COMPLIANCE PERIOD, ONLY IF THE TRANSFEROR FIRST DELIVERS TO THE TRUSTEE A WRITTEN CERTIFICATE (IN THE FORM ATTACHED TO THIS CERTIFICATE) TO THE EFFECT THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR 904 OF REGULATION S OR RULE 144 (IF AVAILABLE).

[Definitive Securities 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.

 

4


[FORM OF INITIAL NOTE]

 

No.               
     

$          [or such greater or lesser

amount as may be indicated on the

Schedule of Increases or Decreases

in Global Security attached hereto] 1

6.375% Senior Notes due 2025

Gulfport Energy Corporation, a Delaware corporation, promises to pay to          , or registered assigns, the principal sum of          dollars [(or such greater or lesser amount as may be indicated on the Schedule of Increases or Decreases in Global Security attached hereto)]1 on May 15, 2025.

Interest Payment Dates: May 15 and November 15.

Record Dates: May 1 and November 1.

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

Dated:                     

 

GULFPORT ENERGY CORPORATION

            By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
            By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

 

1   Add if Global Security

 

5


TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF

            AUTHENTICATION

WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.

as Trustee, certifies

that this is one of

the Securities referred

to in the Indenture.

  By:  

 

    Authorized Signatory

 

6


[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF INITIAL SECURITY]

6.375% Senior Notes due 2025

 

1. Interest

Gulfport Energy Corporation, a Delaware corporation (such corporation, and its successors and assigns under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, being herein called the “ Company ”), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Security at the rate per annum shown above; provided , however , that if a Registration Default (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) occurs, additional interest will accrue on this Security at a rate of 0.25% per annum (increasing by an additional 0.25% per annum with respect to each subsequent 90-day period until all Registration Defaults have been cured, up to a maximum additional interest rate of 0.50%) from and including the date on which any such Registration Default shall occur to but excluding the earlier of (x) the date on which all Registration Defaults have been cured and (y) the date on which no Securities are Transfer Restricted Securities. The Company will pay interest semiannually on May 15 and November 15 of each year, commencing May 15, 2017. Interest on the Securities will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from December 21, 2016. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. The Company will pay interest on overdue principal at the rate borne by this Security plus 1.0% per annum, and it will pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful.

 

2. Method of Payment

The Company will pay interest on the Securities (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered holders of Securities at the close of business on the May 1 or November 1 next preceding the interest payment date even if Securities are canceled after the record date and on or before the interest payment date. Holders must surrender Securities to a Paying Agent to collect principal payments. The Company will pay principal and interest in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Payments in respect of the Securities represented by a Global Security (including principal, premium and interest) will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by The Depository Trust Company. The Company will make all payments in respect of a certificated Security (including principal, premium and interest) by mailing a check to the registered address of each Holder thereof; provided , however , that payments on a certificated Security will 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).

 

7


3. Paying Agent and Registrar

Initially, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., a national banking association (the “ Trustee ”), will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may appoint and change any Paying Agent, Registrar or co-registrar without notice. The Company or any of its domestically incorporated Wholly Owned Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent, Registrar or co-registrar.

 

4. Indenture

The Company issued the Securities under an Indenture dated as of December 21, 2016, as such may be amended or supplemented from time to time (the “ Indenture ”), among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee. The terms of the Securities include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of the Indenture (the “ Act ”). Terms defined in the Indenture and not defined herein have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture. The Securities are subject to all such terms, and Securityholders are referred to the Indenture and the Act for a statement of those terms.

The Securities are general unsecured obligations of the Company. The Company shall be entitled, subject to its compliance with Section 4.03 of the Indenture, to issue Additional Securities pursuant to Section 2.13 of the Indenture. The Initial Securities issued on the Issue Date, any Additional Securities and all Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities issued in exchange therefor will be treated as a single class for all purposes under the Indenture. The Indenture contains covenants that limit the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to incur additional indebtedness; pay dividends or distributions on, or redeem or repurchase capital stock; make investments; engage in transactions with affiliates; create liens on assets; transfer or sell assets; guarantee indebtedness; restrict dividends or other payments of subsidiaries; and consolidate, merge or transfer all or substantially all of its assets and the assets of its subsidiaries. These covenants are subject to important exceptions and qualifications and are subject to termination upon the occurrence of certain events.

 

5. Optional Redemption

Except as set forth below and in Section 4.09(h) of the Indenture, the Company shall not be entitled to redeem the Securities at its option.

(a) On and after May 15, 2020, the Company shall be entitled, at its option, to redeem all or a portion of the Securities, at the redemption prices (expressed in percentages of principal amount on the redemption date), plus accrued interest 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 commencing on May 15 of the years set forth below:

 

Period

   Redemption
Price
 

2020

     104.781

2021

     103.188

2022

     101.594

2023 and thereafter

     100.000

 

8


(b) In addition, any time prior to May 15, 2020, the Company shall be entitled, at its option on one or more occasions, to redeem Securities (which includes Additional Securities, if any) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities (which includes Additional Securities, if any) issued prior to such date at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) of 106.375%, plus accrued and unpaid interest 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), with an amount equal to the net cash proceeds from one or more Qualifying Equity Offerings; provided , however , that (1) at least 65% of such aggregate principal amount of Securities (which includes Additional Securities, if any) remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption (with Securities held, directly or indirectly, by the Company or its Affiliates being deemed to be not outstanding for purposes of such calculation); and (2) each such redemption occurs within 90 days after the date of the related Qualifying Equity Offering.

(c) Prior to May 15, 2020, the Company shall be entitled, at its option, to redeem all or a portion of the Securities at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Securities plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest 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).

 

6. Notice of Redemption

Notice of redemption shall be sent at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed at its registered address, except that redemption notices may be sent more than 60 days prior to the redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Securities or a satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture. Any inadvertent defect in the notice of redemption, including an inadvertent failure to give notice, to any Holder selected for redemption shall not impair or affect the validity of the redemption of any other Security redeemed in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture. Securities in denominations larger than $2,000 principal amount may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $1,000. If money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on all Securities (or portions thereof) to be redeemed on the redemption date is deposited with the Paying Agent on or before the redemption date and certain other conditions are satisfied, on and after such date interest ceases to accrue on such Securities (or such portions thereof) called for redemption.

 

9


Notice of any redemption in connection with any Qualifying Equity Offering or other securities offering or any other financing, or in connection with a transaction (or a series of related transactions) that constitute a Change of Control, may, at the Company’s discretion, be given prior to the completion thereof and be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including completion of the related Qualifying Equity Offering, securities offering, financing or Change of Control. If a redemption is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, the redemption date may be delayed up to 10 Business Days; provided that if such conditions precedent are not satisfied within 10 Business Days of the proposed redemption date, such redemption shall not occur and the notice thereof shall be rescinded.

 

7. Put Provisions

Upon a Change of Control, each Holder shall have the right to require the Company to repurchase such Holder’s Securities at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the Securities to be repurchased plus accrued interest, if any, to the date of repurchase (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the related interest payment date) as provided in, and subject to the terms of, the Indenture.

The Indenture provides that, under certain circumstances, the Company shall be required to use the Net Available Cash from an Asset Disposition to make an offer to Holders to purchase Securities at a purchase price of 100% of their principal amount plus accrued but unpaid interest, subject to the rights of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date.

 

8. Guarantee

The payment by the Company of the principal of, and premium and interest on, the Securities is fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several senior basis by each of the Subsidiary Guarantors to the extent set forth in the Indenture.

 

9. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange

The Securities are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 principal amount and whole multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. 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 any Securities selected for redemption (except, in the case of a Security to be redeemed in part, the portion of the Security not to be redeemed) or any Securities for a period of 15 days before a selection of Securities to be redeemed or 15 days before an interest payment date.

 

10


10. Persons Deemed Owners

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

 

11. Unclaimed Money

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

 

12. Discharge and Defeasance

Subject to certain conditions, the Company at any time shall be entitled to terminate some or all of its obligations under the Securities and the Indenture if the Company deposits with the Trustee (x) cash in United States dollars or (y) cash in United States dollars, U.S. Government Obligations, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as, in the aggregate, will be sufficient (in the case of clause (y), (A) in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants or a nationally recognized investment banking firm, or (B) if no such opinion in the immediately preceding clause (A) can be reasonably obtained, in the opinion of the chief financial officer of the Company) for the payment of principal of and interest on the Securities to redemption or maturity, as the case may be.

 

13. Am endment, Waiver

Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, (a) the Indenture and the Securities may be amended with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount outstanding of the Securities and (b) any default or noncompliance with any provision may be waived with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount outstanding of the Securities. Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, without the consent of any Securityholder, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee shall be entitled to amend the Indenture or the Securities to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency, to comply with Article 5 of the Indenture, to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities, to add guarantees with respect to the Securities, including Subsidiary Guarantees, to secure the Securities, to add additional covenants or surrender rights and powers conferred on the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors, to comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with qualifying the Indenture under the Act, to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder in any material respect, to make amendments to provisions of the Indenture relating to the transfer and legending of the Securities, to conform the text of the Securities to any provision of the “Description of the Notes” section of the Offering Circular to the extent that such provision in the “Description of the Notes” was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of the Indenture, the Securities or the Subsidiary Guarantees, or to reflect the issuance of Additional Securities.

 

11


14. Defaults and Remedies

Under the Indenture, Events of Default include (a) default for 30 days in payment of interest on the Securities; (b) default in payment of principal on the Securities at maturity, upon optional redemption, upon declaration of acceleration or otherwise, or failure by the Company to redeem or purchase Securities when required; (c) failure by the Company to comply with other agreements in the Indenture or the Securities, in certain cases subject to notice and lapse of time; (d) certain accelerations (including failure to pay within any grace period after final maturity) of other Indebtedness of the Company if the amount accelerated (or so unpaid) exceeds $50.0 million; (e) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company and the Significant Subsidiaries; (f) certain judgments or decrees for the payment of money in excess of $50.0 million; and (g) certain defaults with respect to Subsidiary Guarantees. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Securities may declare all the Securities to be due and payable immediately. Certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company are Events of Default that will result in the Securities being due and payable immediately upon the occurrence of such Events of Default.

Securityholders may not enforce the Indenture or the Securities except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee may refuse to enforce the Indenture or the Securities unless it receives indemnity or security satisfactory to it. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Securityholders notice of any continuing Default (except a Default in payment of principal or interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in the interest of the Holders.

 

15. Trustee Dealings with the Company

Subject to certain limitations imposed by the Act, the Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with and collect obligations owed to it by the Company or its Affiliates and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.

 

16. No Recourse Against Others

A director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder, as such, of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Securities or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of such obligations or their creation. By accepting a Security, each Securityholder waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Securities.

 

12


17. Authentication

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

 

18. Abbreviations

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

 

19. CUSIP Numbers

Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Securities and has directed the Trustee to use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Securityholders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

 

20. Holders’ Compliance with Registration Rights Agreement.

Each Holder of a Security, by acceptance hereof, acknowledges and agrees to the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement, including the obligations of the Holders with respect to a registration and the indemnification of the Company to the extent provided therein.

 

21. Governing Law.

THIS SECURITY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

The Company will furnish to any Securityholder upon written request and without charge to the Securityholder a copy of the Indenture which has in it the text of this Security in larger type. Requests may be made to:

Gulfport Energy Corporation

3001 Quail Springs Pkwy.

Oklahoma City, OK 73134

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Facsimile: (405) 848-8816

 

13


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.

In connection with any transfer of any of the Securities evidenced by this certificate, the undersigned confirms that such Securities are being transferred in accordance with its terms:

CHECK ONE BOX BELOW

 

(1)       to the Company; or
(2)       pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933; or
(3)       inside the United States to a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933) that purchases 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)       outside the United States in an offshore transaction 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 the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933.
(6)       pursuant to any other exemption from registration under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

14


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) is checked, the Trustee shall be entitled to require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Securities, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company 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, such as the exemption provided by Rule 144 under such Act.

 

 

   

Signature

   
Signature Guarantee:    

 

   

 

Signature must be guaranteed

   

Signature

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.

 

15


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 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

 

16


[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL SECURITIES]

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY

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

 

Date of

Exchange

 

Amount of decrease in

Principal amount of this

Global Security

 

Amount of increase in

Principal amount of this

Global Security

 

Principal amount of this

Global Security following

such decrease or increase)

 

Signature of authorized

officer of Trustee or

Securities Custodian

       
       
       

 

17


OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Security purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.06 or 4.09 of the Indenture, check the box:  ☐

If you want to elect to have only part of this Security purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.06 or 4.09 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.

 

18


EXHIBIT A

[FORM OF FACE OF EXCHANGE SECURITY

OR PRIVATE EXCHANGE SECURITY] * / ** /

 

 

*/ If the Security is to be issued in global form add the Global Securities Legend from Exhibit 1 to Appendix A, the bracketed language in two places on the face of the Security, and the attachment from such Exhibit 1 captioned “[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL SECURITIES] - SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY”.
**/ If the Security is a Private Exchange Security issued in a Private Exchange to an Initial Purchaser holding an unsold portion of its initial allotment, add the Restricted Securities Legend from Exhibit 1 to Appendix A and replace the Assignment Form included in this Exhibit A with the Assignment Form included in such Exhibit 1.


[FORM OF EXCHANGE NOTE]

No.          

$          [or such greater or lesser

amount as may be indicated on the

Schedule of Increases or Decreases

in Global Security attached hereto] 2

6.375% Senior Notes due 2025

Gulfport Energy Corporation, a Delaware corporation, promises to pay to          , or registered assigns, the principal sum of          dollars [(or such greater or lesser amount as may be indicated on the Schedule of Increases or Decreases in Global Security attached hereto)]2 on May 15, 2025.

Interest Payment Dates: May 15 and November 15.

Record Dates: May 1 and November 1.

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

Dated:                     

 

GULFPORT ENERGY CORPORATION

            By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
            By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

 

2   Add if Global Security

 

2


   

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF

            AUTHENTICATION

    WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.
   

as Trustee, certifies

that this is one of

the Securities referred

to in the Indenture.

      By:  

 

      Authorized Signatory

 

3


[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF EXCHANGE SECURITY

OR PRIVATE EXCHANGE SECURITY]

6.375% Senior Notes due 2025

 

1. Interest

Gulfport Energy Corporation , a Delaware corporation (such corporation, and its successors and assigns under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, being herein called the “ Company ”), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Security at the rate per annum shown above[; provided , however , that if a Registration Default (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) occurs, additional interest will accrue on this Security at a rate of 0.25% per annum (increasing by an additional 0.25% per annum with respect to each subsequent 90-day period until all Registration Defaults have been cured, up to a maximum additional interest rate of 0.50%) from and including the date on which any such Registration Default shall occur to but excluding the earlier of (x) the date on which all Registration Defaults have been cured and (y) the date on which no Initial Securities are Transfer Restricted Securities.] 3 The Company will pay interest semiannually on May 15 and November 15 of each year, commencing May 15, 2017. Interest on the Securities will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from December 21, 2016. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. The Company will pay interest on overdue principal at the rate borne by this Security plus 1.0% per annum, and it will pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful.

 

2. Method of Payment

The Company will pay interest on the Securities (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered holders of Securities at the close of business on the May 1 or November 1 next preceding the interest payment date even if Securities are canceled after the record date and on or before the interest payment date. Holders must surrender Securities to a Paying Agent to collect principal payments. The Company will pay principal and interest in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Payments in respect of the Securities represented by a Global Security (including principal, premium and interest) will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by The Depository Trust Company. The Company will make all payments in respect of a certificated Security (including principal, premium and interest) by mailing a check to the registered address of each Holder thereof; provided , however , that payments on a certificated Security will 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).

 

 

3   Insert if at the date of issuance of the Exchange Security or Private Exchange Security (as the case may be) any Registration Default has occurred with respect to the related Initial Securities during the interest period in which such date of issuance occurs.

 

4


3. Paying Agent and Registrar

Initially, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., a national banking association (the “ Trustee ”), will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may appoint and change any Paying Agent, Registrar or co-registrar without notice. The Company or any of its domestically incorporated Wholly Owned Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent, Registrar or co-registrar.

 

4. Indenture

The Company issued the Securities under an Indenture dated as of December 21, 2016, as such may be amended or supplemented from time to time (the “ Indenture ”), among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee. The terms of the Securities include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of the Indenture (the “ Act ”). Terms defined in the Indenture and not defined herein have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture. The Securities are subject to all such terms, and Securityholders are referred to the Indenture and the Act for a statement of those terms.

The Securities are general unsecured obligations of the Company. The Company shall be entitled, subject to its compliance with Section 4.03 of the Indenture, to issue Additional Securities pursuant to Section 2.13 of the Indenture. The Initial Securities issued on the Issue Date, any Additional Securities and all Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities issued in exchange therefor will be treated as a single class for all purposes under the Indenture. The Indenture contains covenants that limit the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to incur additional indebtedness; pay dividends or distributions on, or redeem or repurchase capital stock; make investments; engage in transactions with affiliates; create liens on assets; transfer or sell assets; guarantee indebtedness; restrict dividends or other payments of subsidiaries; and consolidate, merge or transfer all or substantially all of its assets and the assets of its subsidiaries . These covenants are subject to important exceptions and qualifications and are subject to termination upon the occurrence of certain events.

 

5. Optional Redemption

Except as set forth below and in Section 4.09(h) of the Indenture, the Company shall not be entitled to redeem the Securities at its option.

(a) On and after May 15, 2020, the Company shall be entitled, at its option, to redeem all or a portion of the Securities, at the redemption prices (expressed in percentages of principal amount on the redemption date), plus accrued interest 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 commencing on May 15 of the years set forth below:

 

Period

   Redemption
Price
 

2020

     104.781

2021

     103.188

2022

     101.594

2023 and thereafter

     100.000

 

5


(b) In addition, any time prior to May 15, 2020, the Company shall be entitled, at its option on one or more occasions, to redeem Securities (which includes Additional Securities, if any) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities (which includes Additional Securities, if any) issued prior to such date at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) of 106.375%, plus accrued and unpaid interest 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), with an amount equal to the net cash proceeds from one or more Qualifying Equity Offerings; provided , however , that (1) at least 65% of such aggregate principal amount of Securities (which includes Additional Securities, if any) remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption (with Securities held, directly or indirectly, by the Company or its Affiliates being deemed to be not outstanding for purposes of such calculation); and (2) each such redemption occurs within 90 days after the date of the related Qualifying Equity Offering.

(c) Prior to May 15, 2020, the Company shall be entitled, at its option, to redeem all or a portion of the Securities at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Securities plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest 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).

 

6. Notice of Redemption

Notice of redemption shall be sent at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed at its registered address, except that redemption notices may be sent more than 60 days prior to the redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Securities or a satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture. Any inadvertent defect in the notice of redemption, including an inadvertent failure to give notice, to any Holder selected for redemption shall not impair or affect the validity of the redemption of any other Security redeemed in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture. Securities in denominations larger than $2,000 principal amount may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $1,000. If money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on all Securities (or portions thereof) to be redeemed on the redemption date is deposited with the Paying Agent on or before the redemption date and certain other conditions are satisfied, on and after such date interest ceases to accrue on such Securities (or such portions thereof) called for redemption.

 

6


Notice of any redemption in connection with any Qualifying Equity Offering or other securities offering or any other financing, or in connection with a transaction (or a series of related transactions) that constitute a Change of Control, may, at the Company’s discretion, be given prior to the completion thereof and be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including completion of the related Qualifying Equity Offering, securities offering, financing or Change of Control. If a redemption is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, the redemption date may be delayed up to 10 Business Days; provided that if such conditions precedent are not satisfied within 10 Business Days of the proposed redemption date, such redemption shall not occur and the notice thereof shall be rescinded.

 

7. Put Provisions

Upon a Change of Control, each Holder shall have the right to require the Company to repurchase such Holder’s Securities at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the Securities to be repurchased plus accrued interest, if any, to the date of repurchase (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the related interest payment date) as provided in, and subject to the terms of, the Indenture.

The Indenture provides that, under certain circumstances, the Company shall be required to use the Net Available Cash from an Asset Disposition to make an offer to Holders to purchase Securities at a purchase price of 100% of their principal amount plus accrued but unpaid interest, subject to the rights of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date.

 

8. Guarantee

The payment by the Company of the principal of, and premium and interest on, the Securities is fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several senior basis by each of the Subsidiary Guarantors to the extent set forth in the Indenture.

 

9. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange

The Securities are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 principal amount and whole multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. 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 any Securities selected for redemption (except, in the case of a Security to be redeemed in part, the portion of the Security not to be redeemed) or any Securities for a period of 15 days before a selection of Securities to be redeemed or 15 days before an interest payment date.

 

7


10. Persons Deemed Owners

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

 

11. Unclaimed Money

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

 

12. Discharge and Defeasance

Subject to certain conditions, the Company at any time shall be entitled to terminate some or all of its obligations under the Securities and the Indenture if the Company deposits with the Trustee (x) cash in United States dollars or (y) cash in United States dollars, U.S. Government Obligations, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as, in the aggregate, will be sufficient (in the case of clause (y), (A) in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants or a nationally recognized investment banking firm, or (B) if no such opinion in the immediately preceding clause (A) can be reasonably obtained, in the opinion of the chief financial officer of the Company) for the payment of principal of and interest on the Securities to redemption or maturity, as the case may be.

 

13. Amendment, Waiver

Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, (a) the Indenture and the Securities may be amended with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount outstanding of the Securities and (b) any default or noncompliance with any provision may be waived with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount outstanding of the Securities. Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, without the consent of any Securityholder, the Company , the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee shall be entitled to amend the Indenture or the Securities to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency, to comply with Article 5 of the Indenture, to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities, to add guarantees with respect to the Securities, including Subsidiary Guarantees, to secure the Securities, to add additional covenants or surrender rights and powers conferred on the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors, to comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with qualifying the Indenture under the Act, to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder in any material respect, to make amendments to provisions of the Indenture relating to the transfer and legending of the Securities, to conform the text of the Securities to any provision of the “Description of the Notes” section of the Offering Circular to the extent that such provision in the “Description of the Notes” was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of the Indenture, the Securities or the Subsidiary Guarantees, or to reflect the issuance of Additional Securities.

 

8


14. Defaults and Remedies

Under the Indenture, Events of Default include (a) default for 30 days in payment of interest on the Securities; (b) default in payment of principal on the Securities at maturity, upon optional redemption, upon declaration of acceleration or otherwise, or failure by the Company to redeem or purchase Securities when required; (c) failure by the Company to comply with other agreements in the Indenture or the Securities, in certain cases subject to notice and lapse of time; (d) certain accelerations (including failure to pay within any grace period after final maturity) of other Indebtedness of the Company if the amount accelerated (or so unpaid) exceeds $50.0 million; (e) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company and the Significant Subsidiaries; (f) certain judgments or decrees for the payment of money in excess of $50.0 million; and (g) certain defaults with respect to Subsidiary Guarantees. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Securities may declare all the Securities to be due and payable immediately. Certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company are Events of Default that will result in the Securities being due and payable immediately upon the occurrence of such Events of Default.

Securityholders may not enforce the Indenture or the Securities except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee may refuse to enforce the Indenture or the Securities unless it receives indemnity or security satisfactory to it. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Securityholders notice of any continuing Default (except a Default in payment of principal or interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in the interest of the Holders.

 

15. Trustee Dealings with the Company

Subject to certain limitations imposed by the Act, the Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with and collect obligations owed to it by the Company or its Affiliates and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.

 

16. No Recourse Against Others

A director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder, as such, of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Securities or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of such obligations or their creation. By accepting a Security, each Securityholder waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Securities.

 

9


17. Authentication

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

 

18. Abbreviations

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

 

19. CUSIP Numbers

Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Securities and has directed the Trustee to use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Securityholders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

 

20. Holders’ Compliance with Registration Rights Agreement.

Each Holder of a Security, by acceptance hereof, acknowledges and agrees to the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement, including the obligations of the Holders with respect to a registration and the indemnification of the Company to the extent provided therein.

 

21. Governing Law.

THIS SECURITY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

The Company will furnish to any Securityholder upon written request and without charge to the Securityholder a copy of the Indenture which has in it the text of this Security in larger type. Requests may be made to:

Gulfport Energy Corporation

3001 Quail Springs Pkwy.

Oklahoma City, OK 73134

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Facsimile: (405) 848-8816

 

10


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.

 

11


OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Security purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.06 or 4.09 of the Indenture, check the box:  ☐

If you want to elect to have only part of this Security purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.06 or 4.09 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.


EXHIBIT 2 to Rule 144A/REGULATION S/IAI APPENDIX

Form of

Transferee Letter of Representation

Gulfport Energy Corporation

In care of

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

750 N. St. Paul Place, Suite 1750

Dallas, Texas 75201

MAC: T9263-170

Attention: Corporate, Municipal and Escrow Services

Telecopier No.: (214) 756-7401

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This certificate is delivered to request a transfer of $[        ] principal amount of the 6.375% Senior Notes due 2025 (the “ Securities ”) of Gulfport Energy Corporation (the “ Company ”).

Upon transfer, the Securities would be registered in the name of the new beneficial owner as follows:

 

Name:  

 

 
Address:  

 

 
Taxpayer ID Number:  

 

 

The undersigned represents and warrants to you that:

1. We are an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”)), purchasing for our own account or for the account of such an institutional “accredited investor” at least $250,000 principal amount of the Securities, and we are acquiring the Securities not with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution in violation of the Securities Act. We have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of our investment in the Securities, and we invest in or purchase securities similar to the Securities in the normal course of our business. We, and any accounts for which we are acting, are each able to bear the economic risk of our or its investment.


2. We understand that the Securities have not been registered under the Securities Act and, unless so registered, may not be sold except as permitted in the following sentence. We agree on our own behalf and on behalf of any investor account for which we are purchasing Securities to offer, sell or otherwise transfer such Securities prior to the date that is two years after the later of the date of original issue and the last date on which the Company or any affiliate of the Company was the owner of such Securities (or any predecessor thereto) (the “ Resale Restriction Termination Date ”) only (i) to the Company, (ii) in the United States to a person whom the seller reasonably believes is a qualified institutional buyer in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, (iii) to an institutional “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act that is an institutional accredited investor purchasing for its own account or for the account of an institutional accredited investor, in each case in a minimum principal amount of the Securities of $250,000, (iv) outside the United States in a transaction complying with the provisions of Rule 904 under the Securities Act, (v) pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act provided by Rule 144 (if available) or (vi) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, in each of cases (i) through (vi) subject to any requirement of law that the disposition of our property or the property of such investor account or accounts be at all times within our or their control and in compliance with any applicable state securities laws. The foregoing restrictions on resale will not apply subsequent to the Resale Restriction Termination Date. If any resale or other transfer of the Securities is proposed to be made pursuant to clause (iii) above prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date, the transferor shall deliver a letter from the transferee substantially in the form of this letter to the Company and the Trustee, which shall provide, among other things, that the transferee is an institutional “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act and that it is acquiring such Securities for investment purposes and not for distribution in violation of the Securities Act. Each purchaser acknowledges that the Company and the Trustee reserve the right prior to the offer, sale or other transfer prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date of the Securities pursuant to clause (iii), (iv) or (v) above to require the delivery of an opinion of counsel, certifications or other information satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee.

 

TRANSFEREE:                                                                 ,

by:

 

 

 

 

2


EXHIBIT B

[FORM OF GUARANTY AGREEMENT]

[                    ] SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

[                    ] SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “ Supplemental Indenture ”), dated as of [            ], 20[    ] among Gulfport Energy Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), the New Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined below), and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., a national banking association, as trustee under the Indenture referred to below (the “ Trustee ”).

W I T N E S S E T H :

WHEREAS, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors have heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture, dated as of December 21, 2016 ([as supplemented by                      ,] the “ Indenture ”), providing for the issuance of 6.375% Senior Notes due 2025 (the “ Securities ”);

WHEREAS, on December 21, 2016, the Company issued $600,000,000 in principal amount of Securities;

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section [4.11] [ 5.01(b) ] of the Indenture, the Company is required to cause each of the subsidiaries of the Company listed on Annex A (the “ New Subsidiary Guarantors ”) to execute and deliver to the Trustee this Supplemental Indenture;

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01[2][4] , the Company wishes to amend, without the consent of any Securityholder, the Indenture to [add Subsidiary Guarantors][provide for the assumption by a successor corporation of the obligations of any Subsidiary Guarantor]; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section [4.11] [ 5.01(b) ] of the Indenture, the Trustee, the Company and each of the New Subsidiary Guarantors are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company, each of the New Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the holders of the Securities as follows:

1. Definitions; Construction.

(a) Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

(b) For all purposes of this Supplemental Indenture, except as otherwise herein expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires: (i) the terms and expressions used herein shall have the same meanings as corresponding terms and expressions used in the Indenture; and (ii) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereby” and other words of similar import used in this Supplemental Indenture refer to this Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular section hereof.


2. The New Subsidiary Guarantors.

(a) In accordance with Sections [4.11][5.01(b)] and 9.01[(2)][(4)] of the Indenture, each New Subsidiary Guarantor by its signature below hereby becomes a party to the Indenture as a Subsidiary Guarantor and unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees, jointly and severally, to each Holder and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns (i) the full and punctual payment of principal of and interest on the Securities when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, and all other monetary obligations of the Company under the Indenture and the Securities and (ii) the full and punctual performance within applicable grace periods of all other Guaranteed Obligations, in each case on the same terms and conditions as applicable to the other Subsidiary Guarantors set forth in the Indenture, including those terms and conditions set forth in Article 10 of the Indenture, with the same force and effect as if originally named therein as a Subsidiary Guarantor.

(b) Each New Subsidiary Guarantor hereby agrees to all of the terms and conditions of the Indenture applicable to it as a Subsidiary Guarantor thereunder. Each reference to a “Subsidiary Guarantor” in the Indenture shall be deemed to include each New Subsidiary Guarantor.

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

4. Trustee Makes No Representation . The recitals herein contained are made by the Company and the New Subsidiary Guarantors and not by the Trustee, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness thereof. The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture.

5. Counterparts . The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. One signed copy is enough to prove this Supplemental Indenture. The exchange of copies of this Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Supplemental Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

6. Effect of Headings . The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not effect the construction thereof.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

2


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

 

GULFPORT ENERGY CORPORATION
    By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
[NEW SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR[S]]
    By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
[TRUSTEE]
    By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

[Signature Page to Guaranty Agreement]


Annex A

New Subsidiary Guarantor

Exhibit 4.2

$600,000,000

GULFPORT ENERGY CORPORATION

6.375% Senior Notes due 2025

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

December 21, 2016

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

                       Incorporated

c/o Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

        Eleven Madison Avenue New York,

        New York 10010-3629

Dear Sirs:

Gulfport Energy Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “ Issuer ”), proposes to issue and sell to Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Barclays Capital Inc., KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., PNC Capital Markets LLC, Scotia Capital (USA) Inc., Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, BBVA Securities Inc., BOK Financial Securities, Inc., IBERIA Capital Partners L.L.C., Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Samuel A. Ramirez & Company, Inc. and U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. (collectively, the “ Initial Purchasers ”), upon the terms set forth in a purchase agreement dated December 15, 2016 (the “ Purchase Agreement ”), $600,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 6.375% Senior Notes due 2025 (the “ Initial Securities ”) to be unconditionally guaranteed (the “ Guaranties ”) by each subsidiary listed on Schedule A hereto (the “ Guarantors ” and together with the Issuer, the “ Company ”). The Initial Securities will be issued pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of December 21, 2016 (the “ Indenture ”), among the Issuer, the Guarantors and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (the “ Trustee ”). As an inducement to the Initial Purchasers, the Company agrees with the Initial Purchasers, for the benefit of the holders of the Initial Securities (including, without limitation, the Initial Purchasers), the Exchange Securities (as defined below) and the Private Exchange Securities (as defined below) (collectively the “ Holders ”), as follows:

1. Registered Exchange Offer . The Company shall, at its own cost, prepare and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) a registration statement (along with any document or information incorporated by reference therein, the “ Exchange Offer Registration Statement ”) on an appropriate form under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), with respect to a proposed offer (the “ Registered Exchange Offer ”) to the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities (as defined in Section 6 hereof), who are not prohibited by any law or policy of the Commission from participating in the Registered Exchange Offer, to issue and deliver to such Holders, in exchange for the Initial Securities, a like aggregate principal amount of debt securities (the “ Exchange Securities ”) of the Issuer issued under the Indenture and identical in all material respects to the Initial Securities (except for the transfer restrictions relating to the Initial Securities and the provisions relating to the matters described in Section 6 hereof) that would be registered under the Securities Act. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities Act within 330 days (or if the 330th day is not a business day, the first business day thereafter) after the date of original issue of the Initial Securities (the “ Issue Date ”) and shall keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement effective for not less than 30 days (or longer, if required by applicable law) after the date notice of the Registered Exchange Offer is mailed to the Holders (such period being called the “ Exchange Offer Registration Period ”). For purposes of this Agreement, “business day” shall mean a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law to close in New York City.


If the Company effects the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company will be entitled to close the Registered Exchange Offer 30 days after the commencement thereof (or longer, if required by applicable law, or if the 30 th day is not a business day, the first business day thereafter) provided that the Company has accepted all the Initial Securities theretofore validly tendered in accordance with the terms of the Registered Exchange Offer.

Following the declaration of the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Company shall promptly commence the Registered Exchange Offer, it being the objective of such Registered Exchange Offer to enable each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (as defined in Section 6 hereof) electing to exchange the Initial Securities for Exchange Securities (assuming that such Holder is not an “affiliate,” as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act, of the Company, acquires the Exchange Securities in the ordinary course of such Holder’s business and at the time of the commencement of the Registered Exchange Offer it has no arrangements or understandings with any person to participate in the distribution of the Exchange Securities within the meaning of the Securities Act and is not prohibited by any law or policy of the Commission from participating in the Registered Exchange Offer) to trade such Exchange Securities from and after their receipt without any limitations or restrictions under the Securities Act and without material restrictions under the securities laws of the several states of the United States; provided, however, that Participating Broker-Dealers (as defined below) receiving Exchange Securities in the Registered Exchange Offer will have a prospectus delivery requirement with respect to the resale of such Exchange Securities.

The Company acknowledges that, pursuant to current interpretations by the Commission’s staff of Section 5 of the Securities Act, in the absence of an applicable exemption therefrom, (i) each Holder that is a broker-dealer electing to exchange Initial Securities, acquired for its own account as a result of market making activities or other trading activities, for Exchange Securities (an “ Exchanging Dealer ”), is required to deliver a prospectus containing the information set forth in (a) Annex A hereto on the cover, (b) Annex B hereto in the “Exchange Offer Procedures” section and the “Purpose of the Exchange Offer” section, and (c) Annex C hereto in the “Plan of Distribution” section of such prospectus in connection with a sale of any such Exchange Securities received by such Exchanging Dealer pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and (ii) an Initial Purchaser that elects to sell Exchange Securities acquired in exchange for Initial Securities constituting any portion of an unsold allotment is required to deliver a prospectus containing the information required by Items 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, as applicable, in connection with such sale.

The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement effective and to amend and supplement the prospectus contained therein, in order to permit such prospectus to be lawfully delivered by all persons subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act for such period of time as such persons must comply with such requirements in order to resell the Exchange Securities; provided, however , that (i) in the case where such prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto must be delivered by an Exchanging Dealer or an Initial Purchaser, such period shall be the lesser of 180 days following the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer and the date on which all Exchanging Dealers and the Initial Purchasers have sold all Exchange Securities held by them (unless such period is extended pursuant to Section 3(j) below) and (ii) the Company shall make such prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto available upon request to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any resale of any Exchange Securities for a period of not less than 90 days after the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer (or such shorter period in which such persons are required by applicable law to deliver such prospectus).

If, upon consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, any Initial Purchaser holds Initial Securities acquired by it as part of its initial distribution, the Company, simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange Securities pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer, shall issue and deliver to such Initial Purchaser upon the written request of such Initial Purchaser, in exchange (the “ Private Exchange ”) for the Initial Securities held by such Initial Purchaser, a like principal amount of debt securities of the Issuer issued under the Indenture and identical in all material respects (including the existence of restrictions on transfer under the Securities Act and the securities laws of the several states of the United States, but excluding provisions relating to the matters described in Section 6 hereof) to the Initial Securities (the “ Private Exchange Securities ”). The Initial Securities, the Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange Securities are herein collectively called the “ Securities ”.


In connection with the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company shall:

(a) mail to each Holder a copy of the prospectus forming part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an appropriate letter of transmittal and related documents;

(b) keep the Registered Exchange Offer open for not less than 30 days (or longer, if required by applicable law) after the date notice thereof is mailed to the Holders;

(c) utilize the services of a depositary for the Registered Exchange Offer with an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, which may be the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee;

(d) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Initial Securities at any time prior to the close of business, New York time, on the last business day on which the Registered Exchange Offer shall remain open; and

(e) otherwise comply with all applicable laws.

As soon as practicable after the close of the Registered Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange, as the case may be, the Company shall:

(x) accept for exchange all the Initial Securities validly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange, as the case may be;

(y) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all the Initial Securities so accepted for exchange; and

(z) cause the Trustee to authenticate and deliver promptly to each Holder of the Initial Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, equal in principal amount to the Initial Securities of such Holder so accepted for exchange.

The Indenture will provide that the Exchange Securities will not be subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the Indenture and, except as set forth in Section 9.07 of the Indenture, that all the Securities will vote and consent together on all matters as one class and that none of the Securities will have the right to vote or consent as a class separate from one another on any matter.

Interest on each Exchange Security and Private Exchange Security issued pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and in the Private Exchange, respectively, will accrue from the last interest payment date on which interest was paid on the Initial Securities surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest has been paid on the Initial Securities, from the Issue Date.

Each Holder participating in the Registered Exchange Offer shall be required to represent in writing to the Company that at the time of the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer (i) any Exchange Securities received by such Holder will be acquired in the ordinary course of business, (ii) such Holder will have no arrangements or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution of the Securities or the Exchange Securities within the meaning of the Securities Act, (iii) such Holder is not an “affiliate,” as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act, of the Company or if it is an affiliate, such Holder will comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act to the extent applicable, (iv) if such Holder is not a broker-dealer, that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, the distribution of the Exchange Securities and (v) if such Holder is a broker-dealer, that it will receive Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for Initial Securities that were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities and that it will be required to acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.


Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the Company will ensure that (i) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and any prospectus forming part thereof and any supplement thereto complies in all material respects with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, (ii) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment thereto does not, when it becomes effective, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and (iii) any prospectus forming part of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and any supplement to such prospectus, does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

2. Shelf Registration . If, (i) because of any change in law or in applicable interpretations thereof by the staff of the Commission, the Company is not permitted to effect a Registered Exchange Offer, as contemplated by Section 1 hereof, (ii) the Registered Exchange Offer is not consummated within 365 days of the Issue Date, (iii) any Initial Purchaser so requests with respect to the Initial Securities (or the Private Exchange Securities) not eligible to be exchanged for Exchange Securities in the Registered Exchange Offer and held by it following consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer or (iv) any Holder (other than an Exchanging Dealer) notifies the Company that (x) it is prohibited by law or SEC policy from participating in the Registered Exchange Offer or (y) may not resell the Exchange Securities acquired by them in the Registered Exchange Offer to the public without delivering a prospectus, then, upon written request, the Company shall take the following actions:

(a) The Company shall, at its cost, as promptly as practicable (but in no event more than 30 days after so requested pursuant to this Section 2) (such 30th day being a “ Shelf Registration Statement Filing Deadline ”) file with the Commission and thereafter shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be declared effective (unless it becomes effective automatically upon filing) a registration statement (the “ Shelf Registration Statement ” and, together with the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, a “ Registration Statement ”) on an appropriate form under the Securities Act relating to the offer and sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities (as defined in Section 6 hereof) by the Holders thereof from time to time in accordance with the methods of distribution set forth in the Shelf Registration Statement and Rule 415 under the Securities Act (hereinafter, along with any document or information incorporated by reference therein, the “ Shelf Registration ”) in the case of clause (i) above on or prior to the later to occur of (A) the 365th day following the Issue Date and (B) the 180th day after the date of the event described in clause (i) above, and on or prior to the 90th day after the date on which the Shelf Registration Statement is required to be filed in the case of clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv) above; provided, however, that no Holder (other than an Initial Purchaser) shall be entitled to have the Securities held by it covered by such Shelf Registration Statement unless such Holder agrees in writing to be bound by all the provisions of this Agreement applicable to such Holder.

(b) The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective in order to permit the prospectus included therein to be lawfully delivered by the Holders of the relevant Securities, until the earlier of (i) two years (or for such longer period if extended pursuant to Section 3(j) below) from the Issue Date and (ii) the date on which no Securities are Transfer Restricted Securities (the “ Shelf Registration Period ”).

(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall cause the Shelf Registration Statement and the related prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, as of the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement, amendment or supplement, (i) to comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission and (ii) not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.


3. Registration Procedures . In connection with any Shelf Registration contemplated by Section 2 hereof and, to the extent applicable, any Registered Exchange Offer contemplated by Section 1 hereof, the following provisions shall apply:

(a) The Company shall: (i) furnish to each Initial Purchaser, prior to the filing thereof with the Commission, a copy of the Registration Statement and each amendment thereof and each supplement, if any, to the prospectus included therein and, in the event that an Initial Purchaser (with respect to any portion of an unsold allotment from the original offering) is participating in the Registered Exchange Offer or the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to reflect in each such document, when so filed with the Commission, such comments as such Initial Purchaser reasonably may propose; (ii) include the information set forth in Annex A hereto on the cover, in Annex B hereto in the “Exchange Offer Procedures” section and the “Purpose of the Exchange Offer” section and in Annex C hereto in the “Plan of Distribution” section of the prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and include the information set forth in Annex D hereto in the Letter of Transmittal delivered pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer; (iii) if requested by an Initial Purchaser, include the information required by Items 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, as applicable, in the prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement; (iv) include within the prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement a section entitled “Plan of Distribution,” reasonably acceptable to the Initial Purchasers, which shall contain a summary statement of the positions taken or policies made by the staff of the Commission with respect to the potential “underwriter” status of any broker-dealer that is the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”)) of Exchange Securities received by such broker-dealer in the Registered Exchange Offer (a “ Participating Broker-Dealer ”), whether such positions or policies have been publicly disseminated by the staff of the Commission or such positions or policies, in the reasonable judgment of the Initial Purchasers based upon advice of counsel (which may be in-house counsel), represent the prevailing views of the staff of the Commission; and (v) in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, include in the prospectus included in the Shelf Registration Statement (or, if permitted by Commission Rule 430B(b), in a prospectus supplement that becomes a part thereof pursuant to Commission Rule 430B(f)) that is delivered to any Holder pursuant to Section 3(d) and Section 3(f) hereof, the names of the Holders, who propose to sell Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, as selling security holders.

(b) The Company shall give written notice to the Initial Purchasers, the Holders and any Participating Broker-Dealer from whom the Company has received prior written notice that it will be a Participating Broker-Dealer in the Registered Exchange Offer (which notice pursuant to clauses (ii)-(v) hereof shall be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the prospectus until the requisite changes have been made):

(i) when the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto has been filed with the Commission and when the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has become effective;

(ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the prospectus included therein or for additional information;

(iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, of the issuance by the Commission of a notification of objection to the use of the form on which the Registration Statement has been filed, and of the happening of any event that causes the Company to become an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Commission Rule 405;


(iv) of the receipt by the Company or its legal counsel of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and

(v) of the happening of any event during the period that the Registration Statement is effective that requires the Company to make changes in the Registration Statement or the prospectus in order that the Registration Statement or the prospectus do not contain an untrue statement of a material fact nor omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of the prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading.

(c) The Company shall make every commercially reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal, at the earliest possible time, of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement.

(d) The Company shall furnish to each Holder of Securities included within the coverage of the Shelf Registration who so requests in writing, without charge, at least one copy of the Shelf Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment or supplement thereto, including financial statements and schedules, and, if the Holder so requests in writing, all exhibits thereto (including those, if any, incorporated by reference). The Company shall not, without the prior consent of the Initial Purchasers, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned, make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute a “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Commission Rule 405.

(e) The Company shall upon request deliver to each Exchanging Dealer and each Initial Purchaser, and to any other Holder who so requests in writing, without charge, at least one copy of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, and, if any Initial Purchaser or any such Holder requests, all exhibits thereto (including those incorporated by reference).

(f) The Company shall, during the Shelf Registration Period, deliver to each Holder of Securities included within the coverage of the Shelf Registration, without charge, as many copies of the prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) included in the Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as such person may reasonably request. The Company consents, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to the use of the prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities covered by the prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, included in the Shelf Registration Statement.

(g) The Company shall deliver to each Initial Purchaser, any Exchanging Dealer, any Participating Broker-Dealer and such other persons required to deliver a prospectus following the Registered Exchange Offer, without charge, as many copies of the final prospectus included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as such persons may reasonably request. The Company consents, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to the use of the prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by any Initial Purchaser, if necessary, any Participating Broker-Dealer and such other persons required to deliver a prospectus following the Registered Exchange Offer in connection with the offering and sale of the Exchange Securities covered by the prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, included in such Exchange Offer Registration Statement.

(h) Prior to any public offering of the Securities, pursuant to any Registration Statement, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the Holders included therein and their respective counsel in connection with the registration or qualification of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or “blue sky” laws of such states of the United States as any Holder reasonably requests in writing and do any and all other


acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the offer and sale in such jurisdictions of the Securities covered by such Registration Statement; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or (ii) take any action which would subject it to general service of process or to taxation in any jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.

(i) Unless the Securities are in book entry form, the Company shall cooperate with the Holders to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing the Securities to be sold pursuant to any Registration Statement free of any restrictive legends and in such denominations and registered in such names as the Holders may request a reasonable period of time prior to sales of the Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement.

(j) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by paragraphs (ii) through (v) of Section 3(b) above during the period for which the Company is required to maintain an effective Registration Statement, the Company shall promptly prepare and file a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the related prospectus and any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to Holders or purchasers of Securities, the prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If the Company notifies the Initial Purchasers, the Holders and any known Participating Broker-Dealer in accordance with paragraphs (ii) through (v) of Section 3(b) above to suspend the use of the prospectus until the requisite changes to the prospectus have been made, then the Initial Purchasers, the Holders and any such Participating Broker-Dealers shall suspend use of such prospectus, and the period of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement provided for in Section 2(b) above and the Exchange Offer Registration Statement provided for in Section 1 above shall each be extended by the number of days from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when the Initial Purchasers, the Holders and any known Participating Broker-Dealer shall have received such amended or supplemented prospectus pursuant to this Section 3(j). During the period during which the Company is required to maintain an effective Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to this Agreement, the Company will prior to the three-year expiration of that Shelf Registration Statement file, and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be declared effective (unless it becomes effective automatically upon filing) within a period that avoids any interruption in the ability of Holders of Securities covered by the expiring Shelf Registration Statement to make registered dispositions, a new registration statement relating to the Securities, which shall be deemed the “Shelf Registration Statement” for purposes of this Agreement.

(k) Not later than the effective date of the applicable Registration Statement, the Company will provide a CUSIP number for the Initial Securities, the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, and provide the applicable trustee with printed certificates for the Initial Securities, the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company unless such Securities are in book entry form.

(l) The Company will comply with all rules and regulations of the Commission to the extent and so long as they are applicable to the Registered Exchange Offer or the Shelf Registration and will make generally available to its security holders (or otherwise provide in accordance with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder) an earnings statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder, no later than 45 days after the end of a 12-month period (or 90 days, if such period is a fiscal year) beginning with the first month of the Company’s first fiscal quarter commencing after the effective date of the Registration Statement, which statement shall cover such 12-month period.

(m) The Company shall cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, in a timely manner as required by the rules and regulations of the Commission and containing such changes, if any, as shall be necessary for such qualification. In


the event that such qualification would require the appointment of a new trustee under the Indenture, the Company shall appoint a new trustee thereunder pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Indenture.

(n) The Company may require each Holder of Securities to be sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement to furnish to the Company such information regarding the Holder and the distribution of the Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably require for inclusion in the Shelf Registration Statement, and the Company may exclude from such registration the Securities of any Holder that unreasonably fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time after receiving such request.

(o) The Company shall enter into such customary agreements (including, if requested, an underwriting agreement in customary form) and take all such other action, if any, as any Holder shall reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Securities pursuant to any Shelf Registration.

(p) In the case of any Shelf Registration, if requested by the Company subject to the delivery of customary confidentiality agreements (with customary exceptions) by all parties prior to review of such information, the Company shall (i) make reasonably available for inspection by the Holders, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by the Holders or any such underwriter, at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, all relevant financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and (ii) cause the Company’s officers, directors, employees, accountants and auditors to supply all relevant information reasonably requested by the Holders or any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, in each case, as shall be reasonably necessary to enable such persons, to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act; provided, however, that the foregoing inspection and information gathering shall be coordinated on behalf of the Initial Purchasers by you and on behalf of the other parties, by one counsel designated by and on behalf of such other parties as described in Section 4 hereof, and the Company shall have no obligation to pay the fees and expenses of such persons or entities other than as contemplated by Section 4.

(q) In the case of any Shelf Registration, the Company, if requested by any Holder of Securities covered thereby, shall cause: (i) its counsel to deliver an opinion and negative assurance letter and updates thereof relating to the Securities addressed to such Holders and the Managing Underwriters (as defined in Section 8 hereof), if any, in form, scope and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Managing Underwriters, covering the matters customarily covered in opinions and negative assurance letters, reasonably requested in underwritten offerings, and dated, in the case of the initial opinion and negative assurance letter, the effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement; (ii) its officers to execute and deliver all customary documents and certificates and updates thereof requested by any underwriters of the applicable Securities; (iii) its independent public accountants to provide to the selling Holders of the applicable Securities and any underwriter therefor a comfort letter in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in comfort letters in connection with primary underwritten offerings, subject to receipt of appropriate documentation as contemplated, and only if permitted, by Statement of Auditing Standards No. 72 (or any successor bulletins); and (iv) its independent reserve engineers to provide to the selling Holders of the applicable Securities and any underwriter therefor a comfort letter in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in comfort letters in connection with primary underwritten offerings, subject to receipt of appropriate documentation as contemplated.

(r) In the case of the Registered Exchange Offer, if requested by any Initial Purchaser or any known Participating Broker-Dealer, the Company shall cause (i) its counsel to deliver to such Initial Purchaser or such Participating Broker-Dealer a signed opinion in the form set forth in Schedule E of the Purchase Agreement with such changes as are customary in connection with the


preparation of a Registration Statement, (ii) its independent public accountants to deliver to such Initial Purchaser or such Participating Broker-Dealer a comfort letter, in customary form, meeting the requirements as to the substance thereof as set forth in Schedule C of the Purchase Agreement, with appropriate date changes, and (iii) its independent reserve engineers to deliver to such Initial Purchaser or such Participating Broker-Dealer a comfort letter, in customary form, meeting the requirements as to the substance thereof as set forth in Schedule F of the Purchase Agreement, with appropriate date changes, with appropriate date changes.

(s) If a Registered Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange is to be consummated, upon delivery of the Initial Securities by Holders to the Company (or to such other Person as directed by the Company) in exchange for the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall mark, or cause to be marked, on the Initial Securities so exchanged that such Initial Securities are being canceled in exchange for the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be; in no event shall the Initial Securities be marked as paid or otherwise satisfied.

(t) If so requested by Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Securities covered by such Registration Statement, or by the managing underwriters, if any, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to (a) if the Initial Securities have been rated prior to the initial sale of such Initial Securities, confirm such ratings will apply to the Securities covered by a Registration Statement, or (b) if the Initial Securities were not previously rated, cause the Securities covered by a Registration Statement to be rated with the appropriate rating agencies.

(u) In the event that any broker-dealer registered under the Exchange Act shall underwrite any Securities or participate as a member of an underwriting syndicate or selling group or “assist in the distribution” (within the meaning of the Conduct Rules (the “ Rules ”) of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“ FINRA ”)) thereof, whether as a Holder of such Securities or as an underwriter, a placement or sales agent or a broker or dealer in respect thereof, or otherwise, the Company will assist such broker-dealer in complying with the requirements of such Rules, including, without limitation, by (i) if such Rules, including Rule 5121, shall so require, engaging a “qualified independent underwriter” (as defined in Rule 5121) to participate in the preparation of the Registration Statement relating to such Securities, to exercise usual standards of due diligence in respect thereto and, if any portion of the offering contemplated by such Registration Statement is an underwritten offering or is made through a placement or sales agent, to recommend the yield of such Securities, (ii) indemnifying any such qualified independent underwriter to the extent of the indemnification of underwriters provided in Section 5 hereof and (iii) providing such information to such broker-dealer as may be required in order for such broker-dealer to comply with the requirements of the Rules.

(v) The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to take all other steps necessary to effect the registration of the Securities covered by a Registration Statement contemplated hereby.

4. Registration Expenses . The Company shall bear all fees and expenses incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations under Sections 1 through 3 hereof (including the reasonable fees and expenses, if any, of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, counsel for the Initial Purchasers, incurred in connection with the Registered Exchange Offer), whether or not the Registered Exchange Offer is consummated or a Registration Statement is filed or becomes effective, and, in the event of a Shelf Registration, shall bear or reimburse the Holders of the Securities covered thereby for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one firm of counsel designated by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Initial Securities covered thereby to act as counsel for the Holders of the Initial Securities in connection therewith.

5. Indemnification . (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, any Participating Broker-Dealer and each person, if any, who controls such Holder or such Participating Broker-Dealer within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (each Holder, any


Participating Broker-Dealer and such controlling persons are referred to collectively as the “ Indemnified Parties ”) from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, or any actions in respect thereof (including, but not limited to, any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions relating to purchases and sales of the Securities) to which each Indemnified Party may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus or “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Commission Rule 433 (“ Issuer FWP ”), relating to a Shelf Registration, or arise out of, or are based upon, the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and shall reimburse, as incurred, the Indemnified Parties for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof; provided, however, that (i) the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in a Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus or Issuer FWP relating to a Shelf Registration in reliance upon and in conformity with written information pertaining to such Holder and furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion therein and (ii) with respect to any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration Statement, the indemnity agreement contained in this subsection (a) shall not inure to the benefit of any Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer from whom the person asserting any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities purchased the Securities concerned, to the extent that a prospectus relating to such Securities was required to be delivered (including through satisfaction of the conditions of Commission Rule 172) by such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer under the Securities Act in connection with such purchase and any such loss, claim, damage or liability of such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer results from the fact that there was not conveyed to such person, at or prior to the time of the sale of such Securities to such person, an amended or supplemented prospectus or, if permitted by Section 3(d), an Issuer FWP correcting such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission if the Company had previously furnished copies thereof to such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer; provided further, however, that this indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have to such Indemnified Party. The Company shall also indemnify underwriters, their officers and directors and each person who controls such underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Holders if requested by such Holders.

(b) Each Holder, severally and not jointly, will indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities or any actions in respect thereof, to which the Company or any such controlling person may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus or Issuer FWP relating to a Shelf Registration, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but in each case only to the extent that the untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information pertaining to such Holder and furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion therein; and, subject to the limitation set forth immediately preceding this clause, shall reimburse, as incurred, the Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company or any such controlling person in connection with investigating or defending any loss, claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which such Holder may otherwise have to the Company or any of its controlling persons.

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 5 of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding (including a governmental investigation), such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 5,


notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof; but the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability that it may have under Section 5(a) or Section 5(b) above except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided further that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under Section 5(a) or Section 5(b) above. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 5 for any legal or other expenses, other than reasonable costs of investigation, subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party effect any settlement of any pending or threatened action in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party unless such settlement (i) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter of such action, and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 5 is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Section 5(a) or Section 5(b) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to in Section 5(a) or Section 5(b) above (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other from the exchange of the Securities, pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer, or (ii) if the allocation provided by the foregoing clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the parties shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or such Holder or such other indemnified party, as the case may be, on the other, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim which is the subject of this subsection (d). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 5(d), the Holders shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds received by such Holders from the sale of the Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement exceeds the amount of damages which such Holders have otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this subsection (d), each person, if any, who controls such indemnified party within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such indemnified party and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.

(e) The agreements contained in this Section 5 shall survive the sale of the Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination or cancellation of this Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of any indemnified party.


6. Additional Interest Under Certain Circumstances . (a) Additional interest (the “ Additional Interest ”) with respect to the Initial Securities shall be assessed as follows if any of the following events occur (each such event in clauses (i) through (iv) below a “ Registration Default ”):

(i) If the Shelf Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not filed with the Commission on or prior to the Shelf Registration Filing Deadline (other than a failure to file the Exchange Offer Registration Statement if the Issuer has become obligated to file a Shelf Registration Statement);

(ii) If on or prior to the 365th day following the Issue Date, the Registered Exchange Offer has not been consummated and the Shelf Registration Statement has not been declared effective by the Commission;

(iii) If the Shelf Registration Statement (if required in lieu of the Registered Exchange Offer) has not been declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the applicable date specified in Section 2(a) hereof; or

(iv) If after either the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement is declared (or becomes automatically) effective (A) such Registration Statement thereafter ceases to be effective; or (B) such Registration Statement or the related prospectus ceases to be usable (except as permitted in Section 6(b) hereof) in connection with resales of Transfer Restricted Securities during the periods specified herein, and in either case such failure to remain effective or usable, as the case may be, continues for 30 consecutive days or exists for more than an aggregate of 60 days in any 12-month period, because either (1) any event occurs as a result of which the related prospectus forming part of such Registration Statement would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading, (2) it shall be necessary to amend such Registration Statement or supplement the related prospectus, to comply with the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or the respective rules thereunder, or (3) such Registration Statement is a Shelf Registration Statement that has expired before a replacement Shelf Registration Statement has become effective.

Additional Interest shall accrue on the principal amount of the Initial Securities over and above the interest set forth in the title of the Securities from and including the date on which any such Registration Default shall occur to but excluding the earlier of (y) the date on which all such Registration Defaults have been cured and (z) the date on which no Initial Securities are Transfer Restricted Securities, at a rate of 0.25% per annum for the first 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of such Registration Default. The Additional Interest rate shall increase by an additional 0.25% per annum with respect to each subsequent 90-day period until all Registration Defaults have been cured, up to a maximum Additional Interest rate of 0.5% per annum.

(b) A Registration Default referred to in Section 6(a)(iii) hereof shall be deemed not to have occurred and be continuing in relation to a Shelf Registration Statement or the related prospectus if (i) such Registration Default has occurred solely as a result of (x) the filing of a post-effective amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement to incorporate annual audited financial information with respect to the Company where such post-effective amendment is not yet effective and needs to be declared effective to permit Holders to use the related prospectus or (y) other material events, with respect to the Company that would need to be described in such Shelf Registration Statement or the related prospectus and (ii) in the case of clause (y), the Company is proceeding promptly and in good faith to amend or supplement such Shelf Registration Statement and related prospectus to describe such events; provided, however, that in any case if such Registration Default occurs for a continuous period in excess of 30 days, Additional Interest shall be payable in accordance with the above paragraph from the day such Registration Default occurs until such Registration Default is cured.

(c) The remedy set forth in Section 6(a) hereof shall constitute liquidated damages and shall be the sole and exclusive remedy of the Holders for each and any Registration Default.


(d) Any amounts of Additional Interest due pursuant to Section 6(a) above will be payable in cash on the regular interest payment dates with respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities. The amount of Additional Interest will be determined by multiplying the applicable Additional Interest rate by the principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days such Additional Interest rate was applicable during such period (determined on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months), and the denominator of which is 360.

(e) “ Transfer Restricted Securities ” means each Security until the earliest of (i) the date on which such Transfer Restricted Security has been exchanged by a person other than a broker-dealer for a freely transferable Exchange Security in the Registered Exchange Offer, (ii) following the exchange by a broker-dealer in the Registered Exchange Offer of an Initial Security for an Exchange Security, the date on which such Exchange Security is sold to a purchaser who receives from such broker-dealer on or prior to the date of such sale a copy of the prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, (iii) the date on which such Initial Security has been effectively registered under the Securities Act and disposed of in accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement; and (iv) the date on which such Security is disposed of to the public in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act.

(f) Notwithstanding the foregoing in this Section 6: (i) the amount of Additional Interest payable shall not increase because more than one Registration Default has occurred and is pending; (ii) a Holder of a Transfer Restricted Security who is not entitled to the benefits of the Shelf Registration Statement (i.e., such Holder has not elected to furnish information to the Company in accordance with Section 3(n) hereof) shall not be entitled to Additional Interest with respect to a Registration Default relating to the Shelf Registration Statement; and (iii) no Holder who (x) was eligible to exchange such Holder’s outstanding Securities at the time the Exchange Offer was pending and consummated and (y) failed to validly tender such Securities for exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offer shall be entitled to receive any Additional Interest that would otherwise accrue subsequent to the date the Exchange Offer is consummated.

7. Rules 144 and 144A . The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to file the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act in a timely manner and, if at any time the Company is not required to file such reports, it will, upon the request of any Holder of Initial Securities, make publicly available other information so long as necessary to permit sales of their Securities pursuant to Rules 144 and 144A. The Company covenants that it will take such further action as any Holder of Initial Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell Initial Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rules 144 and 144A (including the requirements of Rule 144A(d)(4)). To the extent not available on EDGAR, the Company will provide a copy of this Agreement to prospective purchasers of Initial Securities identified to the Company by the Initial Purchasers upon request. Upon the request of any Holder of Initial Securities, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 7 shall be deemed to require the Company to register any of its securities pursuant to the Exchange Act.

8. Underwritten Registrations . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement may be sold in an underwritten offering under the Shelf Registration Statement without the prior written consent of the Company. If any of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by any Shelf Registration are to be sold in an underwritten offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers that will administer the offering (“ Managing Underwriters ”) will be selected by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such Transfer Restricted Securities to be included in such offering, subject to the Company’s consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).

No person may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person’s Transfer Restricted Securities on the basis reasonably provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.


9. Miscellaneous.

(a) Amendments and Waivers . The provisions of this Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, except by the Company and the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consents.

(b) Notices . All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand delivery, first-class mail, facsimile transmission, or air courier which guarantees overnight delivery:

(1) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder to the Company.

(2) if to the Initial Purchasers:

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

Eleven Madison Avenue

New York, NY 10010-3629

Fax No.: (212) 325-4296

Attention: LCD-IBD

and

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

50 Rockefeller Plaza

New York, NY 10020

Fax No.: (212) 901-7897

Attention: High Yield Legal Department

with a copy to, which shall not constitute notice:

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP

Worldwide Plaza

825 Eighth Avenue

New York, NY 10019

Attention: William J. Whelan, III

(3) if to the Company, at its address as follows:

Gulfport Energy Corporation

3001 Quail Springs Pkwy.

Oklahoma City, OK 73134

Fax: (405) 848-8816

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

with a copy to, which shall not constitute notice:

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP

1700 Pacific Avenue, Suite 4100

Dallas, TX 75201

Attention: Seth R. Molay, P.C.

All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; three business days after being deposited in the mail, postage


prepaid, if mailed; when receipt is acknowledged by recipient’s facsimile machine operator, if sent by facsimile transmission; and on the day delivered, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.

(c) No Inconsistent Agreements . The Company has not, as of the date hereof, entered into, nor shall it, on or after the date hereof, enter into, any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders herein or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.

(d) Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns.

(e) Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

(f) Headings . The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

(g) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS.

(h) Severability . If any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.

(i) Securities Held by the Company . Whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of principal amount of Securities is required hereunder, Securities held by the Company or its affiliates (other than subsequent Holders if such subsequent Holders are deemed to be affiliates solely by reason of their holdings of such Securities) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage.


If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to the Issuer a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement among the several Initial Purchasers, the Issuer and the Guarantors in accordance with its terms.

 

Very truly yours,
GULFPORT ENERGY CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ Michael G. Moore

  Name:   Michael G. Moore
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer and President
J AGUAR R ESOURCES LLC
By:  

/s/ Michael G. Moore

  Name:   Michael G. Moore
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer
P UMA R ESOURCES , I NC .
By:  

/s/ Michael G. Moore

  Name:   Michael G. Moore
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer
G ATOR M ARINE , I NC .
By:  

/s/ Michael G. Moore

  Name:   Michael G. Moore
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer
G ATOR M ARINE I VANHOE , I NC .
By:  

/s/ Michael G. Moore

  Name:   Michael G. Moore
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer
W ESTHAWK M INERALS LLC
By:  

/s/ Michael G. Moore

  Name:   Michael G. Moore
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer

[Signature page to 2016 Registration Rights Agreement]


G ULFPORT B UCKEYE LLC
  By:  

/s/ Michael G. Moore

    Name:   Michael G. Moore
    Title:   Chief Executive Officer
G ULFPORT M IDSTREAM H OLDINGS , LLC
  By:  

/s/ Michael G. Moore

    Name:   Michael G. Moore
    Title:   Chief Executive Officer

[Signature page to 2016 Registration Rights Agreement]


The foregoing Registration

Rights Agreement is hereby confirmed

and accepted as of the date first

above written.

  
C REDIT S UISSE S ECURITIES (USA) LLC   
M ERRILL L YNCH , P IERCE , F ENNER  & S MITH   
                         I NCORPORATED   

Acting on behalf of themselves and as the Representatives of

the several Purchasers

  

B Y C REDIT S UISSE S ECURITIES (USA) LLC

  
   By:  

/s/ Lawrence Labanowski

  
     Name:    Lawrence Labanowski   
     Title:    Director   

B Y M ERRILL L YNCH , P IERCE , F ENNER  & S MITH

  
                                                        I NCORPORATED   
   By:  

/s/ Brian C. Fox

  
     Name:    Brian C. Fox   
     Title:    Director   


ANNEX A

Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. The Letter of Transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act. This Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of Exchange Securities received in exchange for Initial Securities where such Initial Securities were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed that, for a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date (as defined herein), it will make this Prospectus available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. See “Plan of Distribution.”


ANNEX B

Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for Securities, where such Initial Securities were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. See “Plan of Distribution.”


ANNEX C

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. This Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of Exchange Securities received in exchange for Initial Securities where such Initial Securities were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed that, for a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date, it will make this prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. In addition, until             , 20    , all dealers effecting transactions in the Exchange Securities may be required to deliver a prospectus. (1)

The Company will not receive any proceeds from any sale of Exchange Securities by broker-dealers. Exchange Securities received by broker-dealers for their own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions, through the writing of options on the Exchange Securities or a combination of such methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or negotiated prices. Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from any such broker-dealer or the purchasers of any such Exchange Securities. Any broker-dealer that resells Exchange Securities that were received by it for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer and any broker or dealer that participates in a distribution of such Exchange Securities may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and any profit on any such resale of Exchange Securities and any commission or concessions received by any such persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act. The Letter of Transmittal states that, by acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act.

For a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date the Company will promptly send additional copies of this Prospectus and any amendment or supplement to this Prospectus to any broker-dealer that requests such documents in the Letter of Transmittal. The Company has agreed to pay all expenses incident to the Exchange Offer (including the expenses of one counsel for the Holders) other than commissions or concessions of any brokers or dealers and will indemnify the Holders (including any broker-dealers) against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

 

(1 ) In addition, the legend required by Item 502(b) of Regulation S-K will appear on the back cover page of the Exchange Offer prospectus.


ANNEX D

☐ CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH TO RECEIVE 10 ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO.

 

Name:  

 

 
Address:  

 

 
 

 

 

If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned represents that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of Exchange Securities. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for Initial Securities that were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, it acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act.


SCHEDULE A

 

Subsidiary

   Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Formation

Jaguar Resources LLC

   Delaware

Puma Resources, Inc.

   Delaware

Gator Marine, Inc.

   Delaware

Gator Marine Ivanhoe, Inc.

   Delaware

Westhawk Minerals LLC

   Delaware

Gulfport Buckeye LLC

   Delaware

Gulfport Midstream Holdings, LLC

   Delaware

Exhibit 5.1

 

LOGO

December 21, 2016

Gulfport Energy Corporation

14313 North May Avenue, Suite 100

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73134

 

Re: Gulfport Energy Corporation

Registration Statement on Form S-3

File No. 333-215078

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Gulfport Energy Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), in connection with the registration, pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-3/ASR (File No. 333-215078) (the “ Registration Statement ”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Act ”), of the offering and sale by the Company of 33,350,000 shares (including 4,350,000 shares subject to the Underwriters’ (as defined below) option to purchase additional shares) (the “ Shares ”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“ Common Stock ”), pursuant to the terms of an underwriting agreement, dated December 15, 2016, by and between the Company and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein (the “ Underwriters ”). This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Act.

We have examined originals or certified copies of such corporate records of the Company and other certificates and documents of officials of the Company, public officials and others as we have deemed appropriate for purposes of this letter. We have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to authentic original documents of all copies submitted to us as conformed, certified or reproduced copies. We have also assumed that, upon sale and delivery, the certificates for the Shares will conform to the specimen thereof filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and will have been duly countersigned by the transfer agent and duly registered by the registrar for the Common Stock or, if uncertificated, valid book-entry notations for the issuance of the Shares in uncertificated form will have been duly made in the share register of the Company. As to various questions of fact relevant to this letter, we have relied, without independent investigation, upon certificates of public officials and certificates of officers of the Company, all of which we assume to be true, correct and complete.

 

1700 Pacific Avenue, Suite 4100 | Dallas, Texas 75201-4675 | 214.969.2800 | fax: 214.969.4343 | akingump.com


LOGO

Gulfport Energy Corporation

December 21, 2016

Page 2

 

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, exceptions, qualifications and limitations set forth herein, we are of the opinion that the Shares have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable.

The opinion and other matters in this letter are qualified in their entirety and subject to the following:

 

A. We express no opinion as to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. As used herein, the term “General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware” includes the statutory provisions contained therein and all applicable provisions of the Delaware Constitution and reported judicial decisions interpreting such law.

 

B. This letter is limited to the matters expressly stated herein and no opinion is to be inferred or implied beyond the opinion expressly set forth herein. We undertake no, and hereby disclaim any, obligation to make any inquiry after the date hereof or to advise you of any changes in any matter set forth herein, whether based on a change in the law, a change in any fact relating to the Company or any other person or entity or any other circumstance.

We hereby consent to the filing of this letter as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company with the Commission on or about the date hereof, to the incorporation by reference of this letter into the Registration Statement and to the use of our name in the Prospectus dated December 14, 2016, Preliminary Prospectus Supplement dated December 15, 2016 and the Final Prospectus Supplement dated December 15, 2016, forming a part of the Registration Statement under the caption “Legal Matters.” In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

Very truly yours,

/s/ AKIN GUMP STRAUSS HAUER & FELD LLP

AKIN GUMP STRAUSS HAUER & FELD LLP